The Freeborn County Fair’s five nights of concerts bookends the week in country musicians and fills the middle with ’80s music and a big name in Christian music.

The grandstand lineup will feature Ashley McBryde, the Roots and Boots Tour, Hairball, Casting Crowns and LANCO.

Tickets are available starting 10 a.m. Monday at midwestix.com.

 

July 30: Ashley McBryde

Ashley McBryde is one of country’s newest darlings, listed by Rolling Stone as one of the artists you need to know.

Raised in Arkansas, McBryde started sharing her voice more widely during college, later moving on to the Nashville bar beat before releasing her EP, “Jalopies and Expensive Guitars,” according to her website.

McBryde comes to the Freeborn County Fair fresh off a 2018 album with Grammy-nominated “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” up for Best Country Album. Her country music doesn’t shy away from rock and folk influence.

July 31: Roots and Boots Tour

Three ’90s country artists all with hits of their own team up with a full band to bring the Roots and Boots Tour to life. Sammy Kershaw, with three platinum albums in his list of 16 albums and a 2010 induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, is known for No. 1 hits “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” and “Love of My Life.”

He is joined by Country Music Awards and Academy of Country Music 10-time male vocalist of the year nominee Collin Raye, who is known for ’90s Billboard No. 1 hits “Love Me,” “In This Life,” “My Kind of Girl” and “I Can Still Feel You,” among others.

Aaron Tippin finishes off the trio with genre favorites “There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong with the Radio,” “That’s as Close as I’ll Get to Loving You” and “Kiss This,” along with his own history of gold and platinum certifications spread among his several studio albums.

Aug. 1: Hairball

Thursday night fairgoers are promised a smorgasbord of characters, pyrotechnics, lights, props, surprises and recreations of the ’80s arena acts whose music never left the radio.

With KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey, Van Halen and Aerosmith in its wheelhouse, Hairball’s stage constantly transforms itself into a new concert experience, according to a press release. Prepare for more than two hours of a trip down ’80s memory lane.

Aug. 2: The Casting Crowns

Long-time Christian music powerhouse Casting Crowns comes together to perform while band members continue to serve in various roles in their own churches.

It is this lifeline to the church that allows them to continue writing relevant music based on real-life experiences and conversations, front man Mark Hall said in a press release. With the release of “Every Little Thing,” Casting Crowns surpassed 10 million album sales in 2016. The group continues to add to an already-large discography that over the years has featured genre favorites “Voice of Truth,” “Who Am I,” “East to West,” “Lifesong” and “Thrive” with its newest release, “Only Jesus.”  

Aug. 3: LANCO

Country music group LANCO entered the genre with a strong debut, earning nominations at all of country’s biggest awards nights as well as the American Music Awards.

They are the only country band to achieve a platinum single — “Greatest Love Story” — prior to a debut album release, according to a press release. LANCO is in the midst of its first headline run after debuting the group’s “Hallelujah Nights” album in January.