Big shows in store for Jackson County Fair

Nick Morgan, Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore.
·5 min read

Jul. 10—Jackson County Fair organizers are anticipating what could be one of the biggest concert openers to ever hit the Bi-Mart Amphitheater.

Jackson County Expo Director Helen Baker is expecting reserved seating tickets to sell out for St. Louis-based rapper Nelly, who headlines opening day of the fair Wednesday, July 13, and general admission to fill up to capacity.

"It looks like it's going to be the biggest show so far," Baker said.

As of Friday afternoon, Baker said she was down to fewer than 300 tickets for Nelly, known for 2000s MTV and club hits such as "Hot in Herre" and "Country Grammar" — a fraction of the tickets she has for classic country act Sawyer Brown or new country hit-maker Chris Lane.

"We'll be sold out," Baker said.

Just a month ago, however, Baker said fair organizers had to think fast for its closing concert after Five for Fighting — the moniker used by Los Angeles piano singer-songwriter John Ondrasik — canceled his show originally slated for this week with seven weeks' notice.

Baker called the cancellation "a loss" for local fans, and the short timeline required some out-of-the box thinking.

"By that point, pretty much everyone's routes are pretty much cemented," Baker said.

She narrowed her options to tribute band Hotel California to headline Saturday, July 16, which Baker described as one of the best cover bands in the country.

The Southern California-based band's "Salute to the Eagles" has been active since the 1980s, and is known for "respectfully and accurately reproducing the Grammy award-winning sounds of our generation's Greatest American Songbook," according to the band's website.

Baker envisions the show will be a hit with parents and grandparents who want something relaxed to do while their kids are enjoying the rides Saturday night.

"I'm actually pretty pleased with this," Baker said. "I think considering the night, it'll actually be pretty popular."

Lawn seating is free with fair admission, and Baker encouraged anyone wanting reserved seats to "listen to the radio; listen to KBOY."

All Hotel California reserved seating tickets were given to the show's sponsors, which include Guild Mortgage, Hunter Communications, The Sign Dude, KDRV and radio station 95.7 KBOY of Stevens Media Group.

Saturday's headliner needed to be a rock act. Baker said The Expo strategically schedules its concerts to avoid country acts competing with livestock auctions.

Baker said she considers livestock auctions "the purpose of the fair" and are at the root of why there's a fair in Jackson County, and part of why every local supermarket has a meat department.

"Every (Oregon) county is statuted to have a fair; they just don't tell you how," Baker said.

She also knows that for the 4-H kids who have devoted themselves for the past year to caring for a livestock animal, "they look at it as their pinnacle."

The Jackson County Jr. Livestock Auctions for 2022 include a swine sale at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, at the Olsrud Arena at the Jackson County Expo, and a steer sale scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at the Olsrud Arena. For more information, including how to bid online, see jcjla.org.

Lambs, goats and rabbits were already shown at a spring fair back in the first week of June because of limited barn space, according to Baker.

Baker said the fair also is important to those presenting static exhibits such as art, photography or fiber arts.

"Not only do I want people to create great memories; I also want them to celebrate the artisans and the beautiful things we create here in Jackson County," Baker said.

Reach Mail Tribune web editor Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or nmorgan@rosebudmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MTwebeditor.

If You Go

Jackson County Fair

Wednesday through Sunday, July 13-17, at the Jackson County Expo, 1 Peninger Road, Central Point

Hours:

Wednesday and Thursday: 2 to 11 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to midnight

Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Admission: $12 for adults, $6 for seniors ages 62-74, seniors 75 and older and children younger than 12 admitted free. Sunday fair admission is free.

A free shuttle bus runs Wednesday through Saturday between Crater High School to the north gate of the fairgrounds starting at 3:30 p.m. daily at the top and bottom of the hour.

For more info, see attheexpo.com

Concerts at the Bi-Mart Amphitheater:

* Nelly, performing at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 13. Gates open at 6 p.m.; opener DJ Gemineye starts at 7:30 p.m.

* Chris Lane, performing at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 14. Gates open at 6 p.m.; opener Nate Botsford starts at 7:30 p.m.

* Sawyer Brown, performing at 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 15. Gates open at 6 p.m.; opener Border Patrol starts at 7:30 p.m.

* Hotel California 'A Salute to the Eagles,' performing at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 16.

Center Stage Entertainment Schedule

* Wednesday, July 13: Rogue Rage Duo at 2:30 p.m., Not Too Shabby at 5:30 p.m., DJ Gemineye at 10 p.m.

* Thursday, July 14: Robbie Dacosta at 2:30 p.m., Highway Bound at 5:30 p.m., Nate Botsford at 10 p.m.

* Friday, July 15: Old Time Fiddlers at 2:30 p.m., Nick and Shea at 5:30 p.m., Border Patrol at 10 p.m.

* Saturday, July 16: the Brothers Reed at 2:30 p.m. and Frankie Hernandez at 5:30 p.m.

* Sunday, July 17: 221 Fly at 2:30 p.m.

* Comedy and stunt performer Matt Baker performs at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, at 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday