Entertainment Will Rock at Merced Fair
By Diane Booth Conway,
Merced County Fair Communications & Marketing Director

“Come Rock With the Flock,” is the theme of the 2008 Merced County Fair and the entertainment is going to rock for six days.

The line-up at the Budweiser Beer Garden and the Coors and Miller Dance Slab features some of the best musical talent from all over Merced County and up and down the Valley. And as always, all entertainment at the fair is free with admission. The fair is July 15-20.

One of the attractions this year is “Showcase of the Stars.” It’s a contest that’s a knock-off of the popular “American Idol.” The competition is just for vocalists – no bands or instrumentalists. It’s open to all ages but if the winner of the Merced County Fair’s contest is 16 to 28 years old that person will qualify to go to the finals at the California State Fair in Sacramento, said Tom Salles.

Salles is in charge of the fair’s entertainment at the Budweiser Beer Garden and Coors and Miller Dance Slab.

The “Showcase” semi-final events will be held Tuesday, July 15, Wednesday, July 16 and Thursday, July 17 in the Budweiser Beer Garden. Five contestants will be chosen each night by the judges to participate in the finals on Saturday, July 19. All 15 semi-finalists will win T-shirts, CDs and other prizes provided by Radio Merced.

“We’re looking for a competitor who can represent our area at the State Fair,” said Salles. The winner of the 2008 Merced County Fair “Showcase of the Stars” event will receive $300 from the fair and also will win one night’s accommodations in Monterey and four passes to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, provided by Radio Merced. If the winner is eligible for the state finals, the $300 will be used to pay expenses to go to the Sacramento event and expenses at the State Fair finals will be covered. The vocalist who wins the California State Fair competition will win an all expenses paid trip to represent California at the national competition this fall, Salles said.

The second place winner of the Merced County Fair “Showcase” contest will be awarded $200 and the third place finalist will take home $100.

Tuesday, July 15

Budweiser Beer Garden:

• Sadie Brown, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Brown is a country artist from Modesto. She will perform solo tonight and returns Wednesday night to sing with her band, the Sadie Brown Band. She and her band have performed in Reno, at a number of casinos and at Bay Area venues.
• Hypnotist Steve Bayner, 7 to 8 p.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 p.m. Bayner combines his talent for entertaining with his skill as a superb hypnotist to captivate crowds at fairs, conventions, casinos and corporate events all over the U.S. and abroad.
• “Showcase of the Stars”: Vocal Contest, 8 to 9:45 p.m.
• Nancy Kobert’s “Funny Birds,” hosted by bird trainer, Nancy Kobert. “Lola,” the parrot, belts out ballads and tricks her trainer with new tunes and Koalabi, the cockatoo, turns up the disco inferno. Don’t miss these wildly talented avian comedians. 10 to 10:20 p.m.

Coors and Miller Dance Slab:

• Carpedium, 8 to 9 p.m. and 10 to Midnight. This trio of Merced siblings returns to the fair to perform a variety of tunes. The band is made up of sister, Lindsey, the lead vocalist; brother, Stuart on keyboards and sister, Hannah on drums.
• Asagio, 9 to 10 p.m. This band from Dos Palos beat out 20 other bands from all over the Valley and came out No. 1 at the Chowchilla Fair’s “Battle of the Bands” in May. They are a current rock band specializing in original music.

Wednesday, July 16

Budweiser Beer Garden:

• Chicks From the Sticks 5 to 6:30 p.m. This duo from Dos Palos performs original country music and covers by some of country’s stars. One of their performances that appeared on “You Tube” was a top country single for several weeks.
• Hypnotist Steve Bayner, 7 to 8 p.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 p.m.
• “Showcase of the Stars”: Vocal Contest. 8 to 9:45 p.m.
• Nancy Kobert’s “Funny Birds,” Singing and dancing bird act. 10 to 10:20 p.m.

Coors and Miller Dance Slab:

• Sadie Brown Band, 8 to 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. to Midnight.
• Asagio, 9 to 10 p.m.

Thursday, July 17

Budweiser Beer Garden:

• Jim Fucillo, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Formerly of Merced, this solo artist/guitarist now resides in Monterey and can be heard singing his varied repertoire of songs at many of the coastal city’s tourist spots.
• Hypnotist Steve Bayner, 7 to 8 p.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 p.m.
• “Showcase of the Stars”: Vocal Contest. 8 to 9:45 p.m.
• Nancy Kobert’s “Funny Birds,” Singing and dancing bird act. 10 to 10:20 p.m.

Coors and Miller Dance Slab:

• Asagio, 8 to 9 p.m.
• Deriva, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. This current, original rock band has already recorded a couple of CDs.
• Electric Soup, 9:30 p.m. to Midnight. This group is described as an “in your face” party band.

Friday, July 18

Budweiser Beer Garden:

• Hypnotist Steve Bayner, 6 to 7 p.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 p.m.
• KUBB Colgate Country Showdown, 7 to10 p.m. Sponsored by KUBB, six or seven contestants out of 35 entrants have been selected to perform at the Merced County Fair. One of the finalists will be picked to go on to compete at the Colgate Country Showdown’s national event.
• Nancy Kobert’s “Funny Birds,” Singing and dancing bird act. 10 to 10:20 p.m.

Coors and Miller Dance Slab:

• No Taboo, 8 p.m. to Midnight. This band from Nevada City specializes in classic to current cover rock and roll tunes. They’ve played the California State Fair, performed at many Sacramento venues and festivals and clubs all over Northern California and Nevada.

Saturday, July 19

Budweiser Beer Garden:

• Jim Fucillo, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
• Hypnotist Steve Bayner, 7 to 8 p.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 p.m.
• “Showcase of the Stars”: Vocal Contest Finals. 8 to 9:45 p.m.
• Nancy Kobert’s “Funny Birds,” Singing and dancing bird act. 10 to 10:20 p.m.

Coors and Miller Dance Slab:

• Aaron Avila and Second Wind, 8 p.m. to Midnight. This band is known for their take on classic and current country and country rock music.

Sunday, July 20

Budweiser Beer Garden:

• Mariachi Tlaquepaque, 4 to 7 p.m. and 8 to 10 p.m.
• Hypnotist Steve Bayner, 7 to 8 p.m. and 10:30 to 11:30 p.m.
• Nancy Kobert’s “Funny Birds,” Singing and dancing bird act. 10 to 10:20 p.m.

Coors and Miller Dance Slab:

• El Chongo, 7 to 8 p.m. This group performs classic rock and roll hits in Spanish.
• Los Verdaderos Del Ritmo, 8:15 to 9:30 p.m. This band is known for their Latin rhythm music.
• Adiz, 9:30 to 11 p.m. Fronted by band leader, Ceasar Vega, the band performs the best of popular Hispanic dance music.

For information, call the fair office at 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773. Go to the 2008 Merced County Fair’s award-winning website, www.MercedCountyFair.com

Top of page