Freeborn County fair goers got their first look at the new seating arrangement for grandstand shows Tuesday night as Albert Lea welcomed the Oak Ridge Boys to town for the opening night show.

Although the Oak Ridge Boys are still going strong, for those that might be too young to remember, they were the darlings of the country music world in the ’70s and early ’80s. In that time they won five Grammy’s for best vocal performance, was chosen best vocal group by the Academy of Country Music in 1977, and 1979, was the Country Music Associations group of the year in 1978, and won single of the year in 1981 with their classic hit “Elvira.”

After getting the crowd started with the old time favorites “You’re the One (in a million)”, “American Made,” and “Dig a Little Deeper in the Well,” the group took time to thank the crowd for their warm welcome and announced that the Freeborn County Fair is just like home to them.

It should feel like home by now, the Oak Ridge Boys have been here more than any other group as they were performing for Freeborn County for the sixth time.

After a few well known hits the group got back to their gospel roots with songs like “Cryin Again,” “Heavens a Small Town,” “Deep Inside,” and every mans favorite, “It’s hard to be Cool in a Mini Van.”

As the show went on and the time approached 10 p.m. there were screams coming from the grandstand for some of the hits that made the Oak Ridge Boys famous around the world.

The “Boys” got the hint and brought everyone in attendance to their feet with a superb rendition of “Elvira.” With the crowd still standing, singing and dancing, the group finished off a spectacular performance with another one of their famous hits, “Bobbie Sue.”