When the Indiana State Fair opens each August, its two-week time frame is filled with rides, food, endless amounts of displays, animals and a wide array of entertainment as artists from all genres take to the BetIndiana Free Stage, performing in front of fair goers night after night.
This year’s fair (August 2 – 18) included performances that ranged from Ace Frehly of iconic rock group Kiss, to tours with Pop 2000 hosted by Lance Bass of *NSYNC (featuring O-Town, Aaron Carter, Ryan Cabrera, and Tyler Hilton) and the Happy Together Tour (featuring The Turtles, Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Buckinghams, and more), as well as Boyz II Men, Everclear, The Guess Who, Melissa Etheridge, and country crooners Chase Rice and David Nail.
The evening of August 4th the was already warm and humid, and when Chase Rice took the stage he created even more steam with his charismatic southern charm, abilities to pull the audience in, and a very impressive stage presence which had the audience on their feet.
The North Carolina country hunk brought an impressive set list of songs from “Jack Daniels and Jesus” to “Do It Like This” and “Carolina Can” to recent ones like “Gonna Wanna Tonight,” “Eyes On You,” and his latest single “Lonely If You Are.” Rice often chatted things up to the fans’ delight as well as adding a bit of fun by bringing a fan up for a sultry rendition of “Ride.”
The free stage always has an eclectic mix of genres for fans, and country fans are never disappointed by who shows up! While I missed seeing David Nail, the fair is always a place to listen to great music!
Check out some photos of Chase Rice at this year’s Indiana State Fair below:
For more information on the Indiana State Fair, visit their website at: www.indianastatefair.com.