A comedian, a folk-rock band and a hip-hop group announce dates at the Iowa State Fair
Two more acts get ready to take the Grandstand stage at the Iowa State Fair this summer.
Comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias heads to the Grandstand on Thursday, Aug. 15, followed by festival folk-rock band The Avett Brothers with ’90s alternative hip-hop band G.Love & Special Sauce on Friday, Aug. 16.
A fair official noted that this year’s “lineup is shaping up to be one of the most diverse and genre-rich lineups. From standup comedy to roots-rock, classic rock, hip-hop, and country, the lineup has something that resonates with everyone.”
Iglesias, who last performed in Des Moines in 2019, is known for his stand-up comedy that touches on cross-cultural topics. He often dons Hawaiian shirts that match his larger-than-life personality. Iglesias tends to include different voices for his characters as well as sound effects as he tells his stories.
Tickets for his 8 p.m. show range from $30 to $65.
The Avett Brothers played Wells Fargo Arena last September. The three-time Grammy Award nominees bring their biggest songs including “Ain't No Man,” “Murder in the City,” “If It’s The Beaches” and “Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full of Promise.”
Brothers Scott Avett and Seth Avett, along with Bob Crawford and Joe Kwon made their major label debut in 2009 with “I And Love And You,” which landed at No. 16 on the Billboard Top 200. Then in 2012, “The Carpenter” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200, followed by “Magpie And The Dandelion,” which debuted at No. 5 on Billboard’s Top 200 in 2013.
G.Love & Special Sauce out of Philadelphia is known for songs such as “Baby's Got Sauce,” “Laughing in the Sunshine,” “Peace, Love and Happiness,” and “Cold Beverage.” The band last played Des Moines last summer at Water Works Park.
Tickets for the 8 p.m. show range from $35 to $70.
Tickets for both shows go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. at iowastatefair.org or 800-514-3849.
What other shows have been announced at the Iowa State Fair?
The Iowa State Fair already announced seven other concerts for this summer.
Lauren Daigle
Contemporary Christian singer Lauren Daigle performs at the Iowa State Fair for the first time when she takes the Grandstand on opening night, Aug. 8. Daigle came on the scene in 2015 when she released her debut album, “How Can It Be,” which featured her hits “First,” “Trust in You,” and “O’Lord.”
Foreigner with Melissa Etheridge
Classic rock band Foreigner takes the Grandstand stage on the second night of the fair, AKA East Side Night, a homecoming for Des Moines residents who grew up on the east side of the city. Foreigner is on their "Historic Farewell Tour." The band out of New York City formed in 1976 and released their self-titled debut album in 1977 with hits “Feels Like the First Time” and “Cold as Ice.” They followed that up with “Double Vision” and “Hot Blooded.”
Special guest Melissa Etheridge opens for Foreigner at the Iowa State Fair. The two-time Grammy winner is known for songs such as “I’m the Only One,” “If I Wanted To,” “Come to My Window,” and “I Want to Come Over.” All takes place on Aug. 9.
Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll performs on Aug. 10. The crossover artist landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart on Feb. 11, 2023, marking his 25th consecutive week on top of the charts, a new record that passed NLE Choppa’s 24 weeks in 2019 and 2020. Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, earned two Grammy nominations in 2023 for his songs about his former troubled life. He earned the CMA New Artist of the Year award in November. He also won three CMT Music Awards in 2023.
Thomas Rhett
Country singer Thomas Rhett has collected quite a few accolades in the past decade, including several CMA Awards and ACM Awards and five Grammy nominations. Rhett is the son of country singer-songwriter Rhett Akins, who has written for Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and saw success with 1990s song "That Ain't My Truck." Rhett performs on Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Mötley Crüe
Veteran rockers Mötley Crüe perform at the Iowa State Fair for the first time in August.
The heavy metal and rock act is responsible for enduring hits such as “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “Dr. Feelgood” and “Shout at the Devil.” They'll perform on Aug. 14 at 8 p.m. for their first Iowa State Fair Grandstand show. Mötley Crüe got its start in Los Angeles and features Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and Mick Mars. Joining the band at the Iowa State Fair is special guest and hard rock band Pop Evil of “Torn to Pieces” and “Footsteps” fame.
Ne-Yo
R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo is behind late 2000s hits such as “So Sick,” “Miss Independent” and “Closer.” He performs on the Grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 17. The musician was a judge on dance reality competition “World of Dance” and played the Tin Man on NBC’s “The Wiz Live!”
Kidz Bop
Get ready for a night of pop music transformed for kids’ ears when Kidz Bop Live 2024 takes the stage at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 18, the final night. The group founded in 2001 features some of the day’s biggest hits such as "Anti-Hero," "Cuff It," “As It Was,” and more. The music brand takes pop songs from performers such as Britney Spears or Outkast and swaps out kid-friendly lyrics, good for the whole family. In the past decade alone, the group recorded 900-plus songs and sold more than 22 million albums.
When does the 2024 Iowa State Fair take place?
The 2024 Iowa State Fair takes place Aug. 8-18.
How much are tickets to the Iowa State Fair?
Discounted admission tickets are already on sale for $11 for adults, a $5 discount over regular prices, and $7 for children, a $3 discount.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, X, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The Avett Brothers, G.Love & Special Sauce to play Iowa State Fair
