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What's Up with the Kern County Fair Lineups?
Topics: Kern County Fair Entertainment, 2008, Bakersfield, Bakotopia, Critique, Citizen Journalism
Posted by dc Mon Jun 9, 2008 18:46:57 PDT
Viewed 969 times
0 responses 13 comments Location: 1142 South P St., Bakersfield, CA 93306

What's Up with the Kern County Fair Lineups?

L to R: Eddie Money, The Bangles, Mark Chesnutt

By David Cote, Bakotopia contributor

I've been a resident of Bakersfield for the past 10 years and have attended my share of Kern County Fairs. 

For the most part, I enjoy going.  I love the food, the drinks, the rides, and everything else the fair has to offer.  However, one part of the fair has always bugged me!  What is up with the entertainment lineups?   Don't get me wrong.  The acts the fair has booked in the past are talented but for some reason it seems like not a lot of effort is put into choosing lineups. 

For example, I have to drive through Paso Robles on a weekly basis and the lineup for that fair is posted. 

Here's an example of the entertainment:

Fergie, John Mayer, Toby Keith, Steely Dan, Stone Temple Pilots, Alan Jackson, Matchbox 20, Rod Stewart, Boz Skaggs, Sawyer Brown, Bo Bice, The Spinners, Skillet, Grand Funk Railroad, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Ozomatli, and the list goes on. 

Last year they had Aerosmith, Godsmack, and Daughtry to name a few. 

So after checking this out, I checked out the Kern County Fair lineup.  First off, there is a lot less entertainment.  Acts include: The Bangles, Tower of Power, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Life in the Fast Lane, Bellamy Brothers, Boyz II Men, Mark Chestnut, Lincoln Brewster, Average White Band, and Herman's Hermits!  Is there a theme here?  I am not dogging any of the upcoming acts but lets get real. 

There is no comparison to what our neighbors are doing with their fair.  For two years straight, I had heard Cheap Trick was supposed to play only to be replaced at the last minute by Eddie Money.  Nothing against Eddie Money but is there some reason that the fair cannot get bigger name bands or is it that it doesn't try?  If you look at the lineup for Paso Robles, it’s clear to see that they have taken everyone into consideration and there is something for everyone. 

On the other hand, where are the rock acts at the Bako fair?  Why is it that a much smaller city can get acts like Aerosmith and Matchbox 20, but a city of almost a half a million people can't do the same?  Is it can't or won't? 

I am sure I will be at this years fair at least one day, but with a city this large, I think its time to prove that Bako is on the map and is a hub for all kinds of entertainment.

KERN COUNTY FAIR CONTACT INFO LINK

Also printed in Bakotopia Magazine issue 30, 6/12/08

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Comment From: matt

Great discussion. I'd like to know how the whole thing works myself. I've been attending since before I could walk. I remember seeing Santana for FREE at the Grandstand. Incredible memories... Comment From: MojoVixen

The fair in Paso Robles isn't just the Paso Robles Fair, it's the Mid-State Fair...right? I don't think you can truly compare the two. If you looked at the type of entertainment Fresno pulls in, I'm pretty sure you'd see that it's nearly the same as Bakersfield. Comment From: soulajarmusic

Great discussion. MojoVixen brings up an excellent point. It IS the Mid-State Fair, thus you cannot compare the two. BUT, our Kern County Fair entertainment is pretty hoaky. This question of why the music acts aren't better should span much further than just the fair, but In Bakersfield in general. Why the heck can't we step it up? What's it going to take? We've got all the potential, all the tallent, all the creativity to take this music scene to a big city level, yet we're still stuck in Smallville USA. Mind boggling. Comment From: NoShitLindsay

just a side note: herman's hermits are what's up! i would rather see them than aerosmith any day. (oooh that's righ, i went there.) Comment From: djroch

Tower of Power is dope! Comment From: soulajarmusic

All good points regarding the fair's budget. On a side note regarding your last remark, I think anywhere is better than Rabo to see music! True music enthusiasts prefer outdoor concerts far more than an over-packed echo chamber. Thanks for the info.-- Comment From: theduskdevils

one yr, they had bo diddley AND los lobos. that will never, ever happen again, & not just because BD has passed. the other greats were little richard, then smokey robinson. i never expect good music at the fair, & that includes the yrs when the hard rock band i was in played... so when there IS something good, it's a happy miracle. expectations just make life too difficult!! better to expect nothing & be open to possibility... Comment From: AnnieLWhite

i quit going to the fair im tired of all the assholes and mexican music. thats kinda why also i quit going downtown. Comment From: matt

Geez Annie...The Villa Festiva is no doubt keeping the KC fair afloat-$$! How can you diss the cool Mexican music? At least they dance, unlike the Bud Pavilion where comatose often tends to be the order of the day! The working class immigrant spares no expense to have a goodtime on their day off. That's America....AMEN! Comment From: deedra

All true...all true BUT: 9/19 at 6:00pm you can see an incredible local singer/ songwriter performing with me on the Goodetime Theater Stage. His name is Nicholas Allen and he is AMAZING!!! We will be performing a 30 minute acoustic set. I discovered him online. You should see him now before he makes it big! Comment From: msjosey

From what I've heard and know from personal experience, the fair used to bring great 'paid' acts, but towards the end of having paid shows at the Fair nobody was really buying tickets. I would know because I used to sell them. I think that's probably why they went to having free shows. I also sell Mid State Fair tickets, that a whole different type of fair, and trust me putting together big paid acts is a LOT of work. I think the KC fair makes up for it in many other ways.

Comment From: Calcaneous

Come on out and support the local bands that are playing the Fair this year, the local bands of today will be the headliners of tomorrow. Comment From: Bleedingpuke

I think they need to bring back more comedians like Paul Rodriguez if they can't afford some big name music acts. I'm sure they would be cheaper and entertaining then some of these music acts listed. At least try KCF! Bangels? Meh! Joan Jett? You bet I'll be there in line!