Clarke County Fair is the Place to Be for Live Music
By Rebecca Maynard
It is almost time once again for what many consider the county’s best week of the year — the annual Clarke County Fair. The always popular event runs Sunday, August 11 through Saturday, August 17 at the Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds, located at 890 W. Main St. in Berryville. A collection of livestock exhibits, carnival rides, and farm, garden and other exhibits, the fair events convey the county’s love of agricultural and
home interests.
Live music is an important part of the fair, and this year three talented bands will take the stage.
Winchester-based band Souled Out will perform on Sunday, August 11 at 12:30pm. The high-energy dance band has opened for or performed with national recording acts such as Tower of Power, Clarence Carter, and The Average White Band. Also notable is a performance at The Rock and Soul Revue at Nissan Pavilion, which included appearances by Michael McDonald, Hall and Oates, and The Average
White Band.
“We haven’t played a local fair in quite a long time, so it’ll be nice,” said Robert Shiley of Souled Out. “We don’t get a chance to play locally a lot, and it will be nice to be outdoors and play for local people.”
Blue Ridge Thunder, a bluegrass band from the Shenandoah Valley, will perform Saturday, August 17 at 2pm. From hard driving bluegrass standards to bluegrass gospel greats, the band is versatile and provides solid vocals
and instrumentation.
“We’ve played at fairs, but never here, and we’re looking forward to it,” said Steve Good of Blue Ridge Thunder. “We’re a traditional bluegrass band from the Valley, and a lot of other musicians say musicians from the Valley have their own certain style.”
Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band will perform Saturday, August 17, at 3:30pm. The American roots band formed in West Virginia, with an authentic mountain sound that has earned them a reputation as “mainstream bluegrass at its best” (Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine) and “the heartbeat of American roots music” (The Bluegrass Jamboree).
“We are looking forward to performing for Clarke County,” said Ed McBee of Stoney Creek Bluegrass Band. “I’m excited as their booking agent to be able to get them booked there.”
The full schedule of events can also be found at the fair website, www.clarkecountyfair.org, and leaflets are available at most businesses in town. “Ride all night for $30” is held Monday through Wednesday. The fair’s many other events include SAWJAC demonstrations, figure 8 demolition derby, Berryville Baptist Rascals puppet show, animal shows, gas and diesel dirt drag, pig scrambles, car and truck show and
much more.
“The fair is an opportunity for the Clarke County Ruritan Club to give back to our community,” say event organizers. “It is one of our county’s most cherished and celebrated events, where new memories are made and old memories are shared.”
