BIG Beards and BIG Lights Top the Concert Line-Up at the 2010 Oregon State Fair

Concert headliners include ZZ Top, Dierks Bentley and the Michael Jackson Laser & Dance Spectacular

The Oregon State Fair is a tradition for kids of all ages, young and old. Photos by Bonnie King

(SALEM, Ore.) - With more than 9,000 things to do, see and taste, the 2010 Oregon State Fair is too big to miss. It truly has something for everybody, with events and activities that are classic and cutting‐edge.

The 2010 Fair will feature Days of the Dinosaur Exhibition, the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series 2010 US Championships and Dogs & Logs World Championships.

Where else could you, in one day, go to a lumberjack competition, walk through Jurassic park, enter a watermelon seed spitting contest, ride a Ferris wheel, taste Oregon’s finest wines, and see country star Dierks Bentley in concert?

No where!

The performances* kick off on August 27th – the first night of the Fair – with legendary blues rock band ZZ Top. Other headliners include Dierks Bentley, Lifehouse, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Cinderella/Queensrÿche.

On September 5th, the concert series come to a flashy close with the Michael Jackson Laser & Dance Spectacular.

The 2010 Line-Up:

August 27 – ZZ TOP 8:00 PM, $40, $50, $70

Legendary blues rock trio ZZ Top is bringing their classic songs, big beards and dark sunglasses to the Oregon State Fair for a night of top entertainment. This trio is one of the longest running rock bands to retain the same lineup, with Billy Gibbons (vocals and guitar), Joseph Dusty Hill (vocals, bass, and keyboards) and Frank Beard (drums and percussion). ZZ Top is ranked number 44 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.” Their top hits include "Gimme All Your Lovin',” "Legs" and "Sharp Dressed Man."

August 28 – DIERKS BENTLEY 7:00 PM, $30, $40, $60

Hot country music artist Dierks Bentley's studio albums have accounted for thirteen singles on the country singles charts, of which seven have reached No. 1: his debut single "What Was I Thinkin,'" as well as "Come a Little Closer," "Settle for a Slowdown," "Every Mile a Memory," "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)," "Feel That Fire" and "Sideways." Four more of his singles have reached Top Five on the country charts as well.

September 2 – LIFEHOUSE 8:00 PM, $20, $30, $50

Alternative LA band Lifehouse came to prominence in 2001 with the hit single "Hanging by a Moment" from their major-label debut album, No Name Face. The single won a Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year, beating out Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys for the #1 Single of 2001. They have sold upwards of 15 million singles and albums worldwide to date.

September 3 – LYNYRD SKYNYRD 8:00 PM, $40, $50, $70

Legendary American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd’s latest, Gods & Guns, debuted on the Billboard Top 20 at #18, representing their highest debut since 1977. The band was recently inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Their classic and beloved American rock anthem “Sweet Home Alabama” has surpassed the two million mark in downloaded ringtones. With a catalog of over 60 albums and sales beyond 30 million, Lynyrd Skynyrd remains a major cultural icon that appeals to all generations.

September 4 – CINDERELLA/QUEENSRYCHE 7:00 PM, $30, $40, $60

Heavy metal band Cinderella is back! They first gained success in the mid-'80s, turning out a series of million-selling albums and hit singles while placing music videos in heavy rotation on MTV. Their top hits include “Nobody’s Fool,” “Gypsy Road,” “Shelter Me,” “Shake Me” and “Don’t Know What You’ve Got (Till It’s Gone).” Appearing with Cinderella is Queensrÿche, a heavy metal band that has sold 20 million albums worldwide. Their most acclaimed single, "Queen of the Reich,” is featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.

September 5 – MICHAEL JACKSON LASER & DANCE SPECTACULAR 9:00 PM, $15

Laser Spectacular pays tribute to the pop legend’s life and legacy with a stunning stage presentation.

The show features one of the top Michael Jackson impersonators straight from the Vegas stage, and the show's dance troupe performs all of Michael Jackson's choreography to perfection! The production includes lasers, large screen video projection, concert lighting and 50,000 watts of awesome sound. Spanning his forty year career, the show will take the audience on a visual journey that captures the essence of Michael Jackson’s worldwide concert appearances. It's a show for the ages, and for all ages! All concerts are being held in the LB Day Comcast Amphitheater.

2010 OREGON STATE FAIR DATES: August 27 to September 6, 2010 (Labor Day)

LOCATION: Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem

HOURS: Sundays-Thursdays: 10 AM-10 PM Fridays and Saturdays: 10 AM-11 PM

*Tickets for all concerts are available at TicketsWest (1-800-992-8499 or www.Ticketswest.com) and all participating Safeway TicketsWest outlets in Oregon, and at the Oregon State Fair office (2330 17th Street NE Salem, OR; 8:00 AM-5:00 PM on weekdays). All advance concert ticket sales include admission to the Fair.

To find out more about Oregon State Fair events too big to miss, visit www.oregonstatefair.org.