Here are 5 Grand Central Stage acts to catch at the Illinois State Fair
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Ayron Jones, who recently played a show with the Rolling Stones in Paris earlier this summer, and TikTok sensation and Waterloo, Illinois, native Alexandra Kay are among the performers at Grand Central Stage at the Illinois State Fair.
The daily free shows are at the south end of the Reisch Pavilion (the former Food-A-Rama structure). This year's lineup has expanded to include multiple shows on most days.
In addition to up-and-coming talent, Grand Central Station is designed to showcase a wide variety of talent, including rock, country, blues and reggae.
The fair opens Aug. 11 and runs through Aug. 21.
For a full lineup of artists at the Grand Central Stage, visit the State Fair website.
Here are five Grand Central Stage acts you don't want to miss:
Ayron Jones
Ayron Jones' music has been described as a mixture of blues, hip-hop, grunge, hard rock and soul and Jones observed his sound was like "if Michael Jackson played guitar like Jimi Hendrix in Kurt Cobain's band."
The Seattle native's song "Supercharged," from his CD "Child of the State," has been plastered all over local radio.
Jones called opening for the Rolling Stones at Paris' Hippodrome earlier this summer "the honor of my life."
Discovered by Sir Mix-a-Lot in the Pacific Northwest, Jones, known as "The Kid," has paid his dues with constant touring, playing alongside Public Enemy, Jeff Beck, Theory of a Deadman and Robin Trower, among others.
"Child of the State," which features "Mercy" and "Take Me Away," doesn't shy away from more controversial subjects.
"I'm not the stereotype, and I want people to be taken aback (by some of the subject matter)," Jones has said. "I want people to think about what 'Child of the State' means."
7 p.m., Aug. 18
Alexandra Kay
The 30-year-old singer, whose voice conjures up Alison Krauss and Lee Ann Womack, transitioned from hip hop and R&B to country and garnered some3.2 million followers and generated over 44.3 million likes on TikTok.
In the spring, Kay toured with Tim McGraw, Russell Dickerson and Brandon Davis on the McGraw Tour 2022.
Kay played competitive softball growing up the Metro East area, foregoing athletic scholarships to chase a singing career.
Kay worked with Nelly and Huey before signing an independent record deal with Nettwork Entertainment in 2013. She has appeared in NBC's "The Voice" and in the Netflix reality series "Westside."
Her country hits include “I Kinda Don’t," "All the Cowboys," "That’s What Love Is" and “We Wouldn’t Be Us.”
7 p.m., Aug. 19
Gizzae
Grammy-winning reggae artist Gizzae has been playing for over three decades, most recently centered in Chicago.
The jam-reggae ensemble, which is influenced by calypso, jazz and rock, is fronted by Brian "Rocket" Rock.
Gizzae has played or recorded with Ziggy Marley, Third World, Toots and Maytals, Burning Spear and Talking Heads among others.
8:30 p.m., Aug. 20
Trè Mutava
Trè Mutava became a TikTok sensation as a high school student in Shawnee Mission, Kansas.
The now 20-year-old Mutava brings hits "Second Guessing," "Best Year" and "GO!" to Springfield from the 2021 CD "The Movies."
Mustava, who has been making music since he was 12, uses a home studio to produce songs with lush harmonies and layered sounds.
3 p.m., Aug. 17
Georgia Thunderbolts
The quintet from Rome, Georgia, has, according to its promotional package, "a scorching signature style steeped in soulful southern swagger."
The band's full-length debut "Can We Get A Witness" came out last fall on Mascot Records, but the band has been touring in past years with Blackberry Smoke, the Kentucky Headhunters and Black Stone Cherry, which also plays the Grand Central Stage.
Influences of Hank Williams Jr, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young have seeped into songs like "Spirit of A Workin' Man" and "So You Wanna Change the World."
7 p.m., Aug. 17
Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois State Fair: Ayron Jones, Alexandra Kay among those performing
