State Fair announces "Surf & Soul," Alan Jackson and Disney star as headliners
The crowd will be Rockin’ in the U.S.A. when Grammy award winning John Mellencamp begins his setlist of rock ‘n roll classics on Friday, Aug. 4. Mellencamp’s passion for music started at a young age, and his career in music, spanning more than 35 years, has seen him transition from pop star to one of the most highly respected singer/songwriters of a generation.
Gaining fame early on in his career, and climbing the charts with singles like “Jack & Diane” and “Hurts So Good,” he made a name for himself playing more than 1,000 shows in a decade, and eventually transitioned back to his birth name, John Mellencamp. After a brief hiatus in the early ‘90s, he found his way back into the world of rock ‘n roll, and by the early 2000s, released hits like “I’m Not Running Anymore,” “Peaceful World” and “Your Life is Now.”
On Aug. 6, two legendary groups – the Beach Boys and the Temptations – will bring their new "Surf & Soul" tour to the State Fair Main Stage. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers – responsible for countless hits ("Good Vibrations," "I Get Around," "God Only Knows" and many more) and "Pet Sounds," considered by many to one of the greatest albums ever made – played the State Fair just last year. This time, however, they've got co-headliners The Temptations in tow, complete with Motown favorites like "My Girl" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone."
Sunday, Aug. 13, will be country legend Alan Jackson, alongside opening act Lee Ann Womack ("I Hope You Dance"). The two-time Grammy winner – who performed just last April at the UWM Panther Arena – has racked up an impressive 35 number one singles and nearly 60 million albums sold worldwide over the course of his career, winning over audiences with his honky tonk-hewed country hits, such as "Chattahoochee" and "Gone Country."
The complete lineup here > Wisconsin State Fair 2017