CLASSIC TALENT HEADLINES ANTELOPE VALLEY FAIR 2010

For Immediate Release

LANCASTER HONDA CONCERT SERICLASSIC TALENT HEADLINES ANTELOPE VALLEY FAIR 2010 ES

LANCASTER, CA – The 2010 Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival, Aug. 20 – Aug 29, proudly announces an exciting six days of concerts featuring hard rock icon, Ted Nugent; pop culture parodist Weird Al Yankovic; baroque surfmeisters, The Beach Boys; American blues rock trio, ZZ Top and free and easy country rocker, Dierks Bentley. “We’re always thrilled to bring high profile talent to the Antelope Valley,” said Antelope Valley Fair Deputy Manager Debbie Smith.  “Our concert series, sponsored by Lancaster Honda, always delivers the best in terms of diversity, nostalgia and family entertainment. Fair officials noted that this year’s showcase includes perennial favorites to Antelope Valley audiences.  Each brings their stylistic specialty to the stage.  Marketing manager, Wendy Bozigian, noted, “In addition to our great concert line-up we are excited to announce that we are  implementing a new ticketing system through E-tix, a ticketing company used by numerous State Fairs on the East coast.  For the first time, customers can choose their own seats as opposed to ‘best available’, AND you can print your own tickets from the convenience of your home or office.” Ted Nugent Leading off the Fair concert line-up, this year, on Friday, August 20th, is Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent.  A Detroit native, Nugent acquired the moniker because of his prodigious guitar talent, his propensity for ear-shattering volume and his over-the-top onstage antics.  A world-class showman, the outspoken Nugent has sustained a five decade career, spawning multi-platinum hits like Amboy Dukes’ Journey to the Center of the Mind to classics like Stranglehold and Cat Scratch Fever. Additionally, chartbusting High Enough and cult classic Fred Bearcontinue to enthrall rock venues around the globe.  With a career resume of 34 albums and 30 million records sold, Nugent ranks among the elite in Rock & Roll history.  But to many, it is the sounds he wrings from his venerable Gibson Byrdland guitar that draws the seasoned faithful and mesmerizes the beat-hungry youngsters. Weird Al Yankovic Weird Al Yankovic takes to the stage Aug. 21st, delivering his unique blend of parody, comedy and . . . polka?  Yes, for a man who learned how to play rock ‘n roll on the accordion, polka had to fit in there, somewhere.  As for his influences in comedic and parody music, he credits Stan Freberg, Spike Jones, Allan Sherman and Frank Zappa, among others, as “wonderfully sick and twisted” artists.  Other influences one might derive from his on-stage performance are Mad Magazine and Monty Python.  When asked if artists ever deny him permission to do a parody, he noted that most are flattered, but the exception was the self-parodied artist formerly known as “The Artist Formerly Known As Prince”.  Go figure.  The song, Another One Rides the Bus, a parody of Queen’s hit, -more- Antelope Valley Fair & Alfalfa Festival -Page 2- Another One Bites the Dust, is typical of the license Yankovic employs in his act.  Fans can also relate to his satirical version of Knack’s My Sharona, which he conveniently converts to My Bologna.  In short, Yankovic remains the king of pop culture parody. The Beach Boys Serving the genres of surf rock, sunshine pop, psychedelic pop, psychedelic rock, baroque pop and art rock, The Beach Boys have rightfully been christened “America’s Band”.  Originally a family band, consisting of singer-musician-composer Brian Wilson, brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, the touring band, today, consists of Love, long time band member, Bruce Johnston and newer band members. Arguably, The Beach Boys are, as Rolling Stone Magazine noted, one of the “100 Greatest Artists of all Time”.  With thirty six U.S. Top 40 hits, (the most of any U.S. rock band) and fifty six Hot 100 Hits, their résumé reads like a ‘who’s who’ in music discography.  The hauntingGod Only Knows contrasts sharply with Surfer Girl and Kokomo, but all are beloved as this group brings Good Vibrations to the Antelope Valleyon August 23rd. ZZ Top Iconic sunglasses and chest-length beards are the visuals that come to mind when describing ZZ Top.  Ironically, one band member, Frank Beard, performs sans beard.  More importantly, Beard and fellow band members, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill hold claim to being the longest running major rock band with original personnel intact.  Often called “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas”, the trio begun in 1969, has long moved-on to national attention and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Fans will recognize the hit La Grange, which is still one of the band’s signature pieces.  The song is unabashed elemental boogie, celebrating the institution that came to be known as “the best little whorehouse in Texas.”  Later smash singles included Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man and Legs. The melding of grungy guitar-based blues with synth-pop was seamless and continued with their follow-up album, Afterburner. ZZ Top’s music is always instantly recognizable, powerful, soulful and 100% Texas American in derivation.  That makes them certified.  A certified rock institution, that is.  The group makes their AV Fair appearance on August 24th. Dierks Bentley Listeners of Dierks Bentley would describe his country style as notstraight-up-the-middle.  Growing up on a potent hybrid of honky-tonk, bluegrass, classic country and modern rock & roll, he forged his own unique sound and style.  The CMA Horizon Award winner shared, “I love the feeling of combining the best older stuff with the edginess of newer, more progressive sounds. Bentley delivers moments of introspection with songs like Pray orBetter Believer.  But those moments are book-ended by his opening slide guitar rampage that channels a Harley hauling ass in the outlaw lament Life on the Run. Inherently, Bentley understands that to connect with a lot of people, his instrumentation must be as diverse as the people packing the stadium.  His Feel That Fire delivers the pulsing energy, passion and dynamic sensibility of his praised live show. Bentley closes the Fair’s concert series on August 25th. -more- Antelope Valley Fair & Alfalfa Festival -Page 3- All Lancaster Honda concerts begin at 7:30 PM.  Dates and concert prices for each of the headliners are: Date Act Gold Circle Track Grandstands Fri., Aug 20         TED NUGENT $50               $25                    -0-                                  Sat., Aug 21        WEIRD AL YANKOVIC $50               $25                    -0- Sun., Aug 22       Latino concert TBD Mon., Aug 23      THE BEACH BOYS $50                $25                    -0-                                Tues., Aug 24      ZZ TOP $75               $40                    -0- Wed., Aug 25      DIERKS BENTLEY $65                $30                    -0- Reserved Gold Circle and Trackside tickets will be available for purchase for the Ted Nugent and Dierks Bentley concert on April 3rd. Grandstand seating is free with paid admission and available on a first come, first seat basis the night of the concert.  All concert tickets include admission to the fair and will be sold at the Fairgrounds Ticket office, and online at avfair.com. All other concert tickets will go on sale at later dates to be announced. Other Fair arena events include the Figure 8 Race, Professional Bull Riders, Rural Olympics and Demolition Derby. # # # 72nd annual Antelope Valley Fair & Alfalfa Festival August 20 – August 29, 2010 “All AG-cess!”