Sawyer Brown entertained fans at the Stanislaus County Fair on Sunday. (Photo by Samantha McCurdy)

Sawyer Brown is still going strong after all these years. They appeared at the Stanislaus County Fair on Sunday, July 27.

Lead singer Mark Miller quipped, “You may remember us from a little thing called Star Search in 1983. I tell my kids we were the original American Idols.”

Miller was raised Pentecostal and it shows in his high energy performance as well as some of his song choices. The band performed “Six Days on the Road,” “The Boys and Me,” “I ain’t first class and I ain’t white trash,” “Some Girls Do,” “Treat Her Right,” “The Race is On” among many more. A particular favorite of the packed house was “Mission Temple Firework Stand.”

The crowd roared the chorus, “Holy Ghost, Big Bang Theory, Pentecostal, Fire and Brimstone, Mission Temple Firework Stand.”

Miller showed his generosity of spirit when his mic was snatched out of his hands by keyboard player Greg “Hobie” Hubbard who sang a song then handed the mic off to guitar-slinger Shayne Hill who also did a solo. Miller played like he was upset but he seemed to actually enjoy it even more than the crowd did. This band will likely be around for another 27 years.

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Within an hour of the concert’s end, Bowling for Soup fans were already posting positive comments about the band’s performance at the Stanislaus County Fair. The band rocked, joked and generally gave fans a performance to remember.

Some fans waited as long as four hours to make sure they had the best possible seats. The band is best known for their hits “High School Never Ends” and “1985.” In the middle of the concert, they did a rock version of Britney Spears’ “Baby, One More Time,” but the crowd really got going when they closed with “1985.” Everyone joined in and sang along. Before the song ended, the band stopped and lead singer Jaret Reddick asked who knew the words. He even looked to a couple of the food vendors in the immediate area asking who knew the words. Then, the crowd had a chance to sing the chorus starting quietly and building louder and louder:

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Forgiven by Grace performed an outdoor concert at Perfect Blend Coffee Shop in Delhi tonight. They played familiar praise and worship songs as well as some of their own songs which are favorites for their local fans. A week from tonight, they will perform from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the CenCal Stage at the Stanislaus County Fair.

The band is looking forward to their upcoming fair performance, but they always enjoy playing the small, local venues such as Perfect Blend.

Other upcoming shows include a return visit to Perfect Blend on August 30, March Against Meth in Merced on September 6, Victory Christian Center in Hilmar on September 13 and the Second Annual Christian Bikers Rally in Madera on October 4.

A volunteer group is in the process of being put together to assist with marketing and merchandise sales. Anyone interested in participating can get more information by calling 209-678-7190.

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Submitted by The Stanislaus County Fair

Like a sixth sense or being able to smell the rain before it arrives, Stanislaus County residents can sense the excitement in the air because the Stanislaus County Fair opens Friday.

The Stanislaus Fair opens on Friday, July 25 for a 10-day run. The 72-acre fairground is located at 900 N. Broadway in Turlock. Now in its 97^th year, Fair officials have been working year round to plan for the annual family extravaganza.

“The entire staff has pulled together to produce what we think may be one of the most exciting fairs ever,” said Pennie Rorex, spokesperson for the Stanislaus County Fair. “With this year’s ‘Nuts are DINO-mite’ theme, we’ve packed the grounds with adventure around every corner. There are discount days to suit the entire family, free celebrity concerts every night and with discount tickets available through July 24 guests can get an incredible value for their admission.”

This year’s salute to the valley’s robust nut industry will feature a “Nut of the Day,” hosted by local almond and walnut processors. One thousand guests each day will receive an edible nut gift, compliments of the daily host. In addition, the Almond Board of California, a major sponsor of the Fair’s themed tribute, will be offering free samples of almonds each day of the Fair.

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Tags: 38th Agricultural District, almonds, dinosaurs, fair, Jurassic Journey, nuts, Stanislaus, walnuts

It’s been a long time coming. The members of Forgiven by Grace have hoped to play at the Stanislaus County Fair and despite their best efforts and high hopes last year, they did not get a chance to play. This year, things have changed.

The local band will play at the fair on Saturday, August 2 on the CenCal Center Stage. Their two-hour set will begin at 3 p.m.

Rhythm guitarist Tim Bishop has played at the fair before with another band. This is a first for Forgiven By Grace. Bishop is looking forward to this opportunity. He and his bandmates share one concern: the length of time they have. A typical set for Forgiven by Grace lasts about an hour. They will have two hours to play at the fair. Despite having that concern, they are confident that the show will go well and they are looking forward to it.

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