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Johnson Publications file photo
Hairball will make a return performance at this year’s fair after their 2019 show was cut short by rain.

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Courtesy photo

This year’s country concert at the fair this year will feature headliner Granger Smith, with the Josh Abbott Band opening the show. 

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Joseph Llanes | Courtesy photo

This year’s country concert at the fair this year will feature headliner Granger Smith, left, with the Josh Abbott Band opening the show. 

Hairball returning for fair; Granger Smith headlining country concert

    COVID-19 made last year one to forget, not to mention nixing all but livestock activities at last year’s Chase County Fair.
    This year, the fairboard wants to put last year behind them and make 2021’s fair one to remember.
    Entertainment Chair Alex McNair said the first step in doing that is annoucing this  year’s entertainment lineup.
    When Hairball took the stage at the fair two years ago, rain cut their performance short.
    Their short performace enamored the crowd and McNair said people have been asking for them to come back since. The fair obliged, bringing them back Friday, Aug. 13.
    The fun won’t stop there.
    McNair said they have another great country concert night planned for Saturday, Aug. 14.
    This year’s country headliner will be longtime performer Granger Smith.
    In August 2020, Smith released his 10th album, “Country Things, Vol. 1.”
    “Hate You Like I Love You,” “That’s Why I Love Dirt Roads” and “Country Things” are among some of Smith’s favorite songs.
    He will follow the eight-song Vol. 1 with another eight songs on the second volume.
    Smith was in the process of making the album when he and his wife Amber’s 3-year-old son, River, drowned in a tragic accident in the family’s pool in June 2019. At that time, the singer put his music plans on hold.
    He now carries his son’s name on his forearm.
    Smith also has another side to his music—alter ego Earl Dibbles, Jr.
    Dibbles, Jr. brings a country hick look to the stage and has developed his own following with the “Yee Yee” nation brand and popular apparel.
    Opening for Smith will be the Josh Abbott Band, one of the top Red Dirt bands in the country.
    Red Dirt music draws its association from its roots in the red dirt of Oklahoma.
    Red Dirt music has sometimes been referred to as country music with an attitude.
    It exhibits its own character of music from Oklahoma south to Texas.
    The Josh Abbott Band has been a staple in the Texas music scene since forming in 2006 at Lubbock’s Texas Tech University.
    McNair said that after the last year, he feels people just want to get out and have some fun. This year’s fair runs from Aug. 8-15.

 

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