Concert Review: Ballard rocks 2nd night of county fair

Published 9:28 am Thursday, August 6, 2015

Frankie Ballard croons during the final song of his set Wednesday at the Freeborn County Fair. -Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune

Frankie Ballard croons during the final song of his set Wednesday at the Freeborn County Fair. -Hannah Dillon/Albert Lea Tribune

The energy continued to flow at the Freeborn County Fair Wednesday as Frankie Ballard rocked the Grandstand.

Ballard, of Battle Creek, Michigan, opened his set with a cover of “I Came to Git Down” by Big and Rich, which flowed right into the second song, Ballard’s own “I’m Thinking Country.”

Ballard’s most recent album, “Sunshine & Whiskey,” was released in February 2014 on Warner Bros. Records. His first album, which is self-titled, was released in May 2011 on Reprise Records.

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He continued the show with the title track of his second album, which peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Country Airplay charts.

Ballard told the crowd he’s been busy playing shows this summer while working on recording a new album. His fourth song of his set was a new song that he’d never played live before called “Sweet Time.”

He continued with his most recent single, “Young & Crazy,” which has peaked at No. 3 on the U.S. Country Airplay charts so far.

Many of Ballard’s songs featured long solo jams by Ballard or members of his band, which the crowd cheered and danced to.

Ballard also played his first single, “Tell Me You Get Lonely” from 2010, as well as a cover of Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue” — much to the delight of the crowd.

Ballard’s guitarist sang a cover of The Wallflowers’s “One Headlight” while Ballard played drums.

The crowd cheered, danced and sang along when Ballard sang his 2013 single “Helluva Life,” which peaked at No. 1 on the U.S. Country Airplay charts.

Citing his hometown of Battle Creek, Ballard then sang a cover of fellow Michigander Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll,” during which he introduced his band.

Ballard’s final song of the set was his song “Drinky Drink,” but came out for an encore after cheering from the crowd. He closed out the show with a new song called “L.A. Woman.”

Fair entertainment will continue tonight with Tyler Farr at 8:30 p.m.