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Sandwich tastes good...Currington, .38 Special to headline at fair

Friday, August 29, 2008

SANDWICH - If you are looking for legendary summer-time entertainment, then set your sights on Sandwich.

This year's fair is fired up to bring area music enthusiasts one of the most popular bands of the past three decades. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, .38 Special will shoot into Sandwich for one night only, as fans are reunited with the group that defined a decade of rock.

Also on tap at the Grandstand during the fair are a performance by country superstar Billy Currington, as well as NTPA truck and tractor pulls and a concluding demolition derby.

Named after a well-known firearm, .38 Special's explosive brand of music has been rocking arenas since the early 1980s. Their sound hits the bullseye of fan appreciation, as several of their tunes climbed to the Top 10, as well as the coveted No. 1 spot on the charts.

Their most well-known songs are Hold On Loosely (1981), Caught Up In You (1982), If I'd Been the One (1983), Back Where You Belong (1984), and Second Chance (1989). With their string of hits and over 15 million albums sold, it's safe to say that .38 Special shot apart the competition.

Since the '80s, there hasn't been a cease fire in this group's schedule. They have continued to tour the globe and showcase their world-famous blues-rock sound.

Recently, .38 Special has been traveling and touring with the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr. in the Rowdy Frynds Tour. In July of 2007, the group released its most recent album, Drivetrain to rave reviews.

In addition, as if to prove their staying power and appeal to audiences across the generational divide, .38 Special tunes have been included in the latest version of the wildly popular video game Guitar Hero.

Come see these Heroes of Rock as they roll through Sandwich this September. This show is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and an air-guitar in your hands, so hold on tightly to your tickets and don't miss this chance to rock out.


Billy Currington will take to the Grandstand stage at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5.

Currington is one of the most popular voices in the music industry and, with his performance, Sandwich once again proves the fair is heading in a Good Direction.

In 2003, Currington shot onto the music scene with smash hits like Walk a Little Straighter and I Got a Feelin'. Since then, he has never looked back. More-recent releases like Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right and Good Directions have both climbed to No. 1 on the charts.

Currington's direction couldn't be better. His latest album, Complicated Man (2008) is full of southern flavor and is proving just Why, Why, Why Currington is such a huge country sensation.

As soon as Currington released his first album in 2003, he was immediately recognized by industry elites and legends as one of the hottest sounds in country music. Shania Twain contacted him in 2004 and the two quickly recorded Party for Two in Paris. The duet climbed to a Top 10 position and was released on Twain's greatest-his album that same year.

Currington also recorded She's Got a Way With Me, with legendary singer Michael McDonald. He also received accolades from publications like People Magazine and USA Today, which named him On the Verge Artist of the Year.

In addition, he's made appearances on Good Morning America and the Country Music Association Awards. There's no doubt about it, Currington has been time-tested and peer-approved within the entertainment industry.

Billy Currington is not just a studio performer, he is well known for his upbeat, romping live performances as well. Friday, Sept. 5, will allow fairgoers to experience why Currington's stage shows receive such rave reviews.

Currington has spent the past four years on the road, performing five nights a week in clubs and concert halls. This dedication to his craft has resulted in a voice that is bigger and deeper, and a performer who knows what works well with his audience.

With every song, you've got to picture standing on that stage and singing to that audience, he said. When I perform, I want people to connect with my music ... Through all my shows, I have learned which songs work, and that's what I bring to my fans.

The Sandwich Fair runs from Wednesday, Sept. 3, through Sunday, Sept. 7, and offers a mouthful of first-rate entertainment at a tremendous value. Reserved and track seats for the .38 Special and Billy Currington concerts are only $20 per show, while upper seats are on sale for $10 per concert

Tickets for all the Grandstand performances can be purchased in advance by completing a mail-in form, which can be found online, or bought directly at the Main Gate Ticket Office at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 1 (Labor Day). Tickets can also be purchased at the gate the day of the show.

For more information about the Grandstand performances or any of the events taking place at this year's fair, log onto www.sandwichfair.com or call (815) 786-2159.

Other Events

Thursday, Sept. 4, marks the arrival of the NTPA Truck Pulls at 6:30 p.m.

The National Truck Pullers Association has been tearing across the Midwest throughout the summer and the action will kick into overdrive at the Sandwich Fair.

A variety of hard-hitting classes are scheduled for this event, with some of the toughest competitors in the region turning out to take their shot at bragging rights as the battle for an NTPA Championship continues.

Tickets for Thursday's show are $15 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission.

If Thursday's NTPA doesn't satisfy your need for motor madness, a double decker of horsepower will be served up on Saturday, Sept. 6. The NTPA Tractor Pulls will tow the line for two shows - at 12:30 and 6:30 p.m.

The tractor pulls offer fun for the whole family and the only risk these monsters pose is spreading engine envy. If you have a thirst for thrust, then this is the place for you.

Tickets for each of Saturday's shows are $15 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission.

Mangled metal is the theme as Sunday's Demolition Derby will bring the 2008 Sandwich Fair to a crashing conclusion.

This fairgoer-favorite truly is an accident waiting to happen. Competitors will strap themselves in for two car-crunching performance - at 1 and 3 p.m.

Come out to see these modern-day knights joust with revving engines, spinning wheels and two tons of reinforced steel. All seats for this jaw-dropping spectacle are general admission and can be purchased for the low price of $8 each.

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