LOVINGTON, N.M. – From rising stars to an “American Idol” to a Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee, the 2015 Lea County Fair and Rodeo will have the perfect mix for fairgoers.
“I think our lineup is exciting and is holding to the standards that we’ve developed over the past few years,” said Corey Helton, chairman of the Lea County Fair Board.
Helton and the rest of the folks in southeastern New Mexico should be excited. Not only does the exposition feature a top-rated carnival, a world-class rodeo and amazing local fixtures, the fair also has six amazing acts set to perform through its nine nights at the Lea County Fairgrounds in Lovington:
Saturday, Aug. 1: Richochet
Tuesday, Aug. 4: Cody Johnson
Wednesday, Aug 5: Crowder
Thursday, Aug. 6: Dan + Shay
Friday, Aug. 7: Scotty McCreery
Saturday, Aug. 8: Gregg Allman
“I think they’ll all be great shows,” Helton said.
Richochet kicks off the fair with a special show on the opening Saturday night. The country band has been around for nearly two decades and still boasts of being the only country artist to chart the national anthem. Richochet’s first No. 1 hit, “Daddy’s Money,” showcases the band’s harmonies that they’ve carried with them since the beginning.
After the Lea County Xtreme Bulls on Tuesday, the fair will celebrate Texas Country music with chart-topper Cody Johnson. He will provide a spark to the week filled with great entertainment.
“I like the crowd to sing along, yell or whatever makes them feel part of the show,” Johnson said on his website. “I love big crowds because of the energy and showmanship I can exhibit.”
That likely will be the case at the fair in Lovington, which has seen significant crowds over the last several years. A big reason for that is the economical admission price; for just $8 ($6 for children), anyone can enjoy all the festivities on the fairgrounds.
“You pay one price for the day, and you get to enjoy it all: the shows, the exhibits, the daily entertainers, the rodeo, the concerts and have the opportunity to take in all the carnival rides,” Helton said. “There’s a lot to our fair, and I think that makes it attractive.”
Crowder will be the featured piece for Christian music night. Raised in east Texas, David Crowder has loved to share his faith through music.
Country artists Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney first met in December 2012. Within a year, the duo had released its first single, “19 You + Me.” They have been nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year in the Academy of Country Music Awards.
“Country music fans are extremely passionate and loyal,” Smyers said in an interview with SheKnows.com. “We are extremely thankful for the support the country community has shown for us and can’t wait to share more of the journey with them.”
McCreery won Season 10 of “American Idol” when he was 17 years old. Since then, he has sold more than 2.5 million albums. Two singles from his inaugural album, “I Love you This Big” and “The Trouble with Girls,” have been certified platinum.
Allman was one of the founding members of the Allman Brothers Band and also has had an amazing solo career. In addition to singing and playing for the band, he also wrote many of their hits, including “Dreams,” “Whipping Post,” “Please Call Home,” “Melissa” and “Midnight Rider.”
“We seem to always bring some of the big names on the final Saturday night,” Helton said. “We always want to end our fair and rodeo with a bang, and I think we’re doing that this year.”