Joe Diffie to headline grandstand musical entertainment for Allamakee County Fair


Joe Diffie

One of the hottest country stars of the 1990s who is now making his way back into the music spotlight will be the headlining grandstand musical acts at the 161st Allamakee County Fair scheduled for July 16-20 in Waukon. Joe Diffie, known for chart-topping hits such as "John Deere Green," will own the grandstand stage Thursday, July 17 following an opening set from country rock conglomerate "The New Black 7," a group featuring Waukon native Jason Herman on guitar, all beginning at 7 p.m.

JOE DIFFIE
Joe Diffie has a total of 12 number-one hits and 20 top-10 singles to his credit from when he rode a wave of success during the 1990s. In addition to the aforementioned "John Deere Green," Diffie also recorded such chart-topping hits as "Pickup Man" and "Third Rock from the Sun," as well as such memorable tunes as "Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox" and "Home".
After an absence from the country music spotlight, Diffie has recently embarked on a return to recording and performing, with his performance at this year's Allamakee County Fair including both his new music and some old favorites. Last year's hit "1994" by rising country star Jason Aldean featured a tribute to Diffie that helped fuel his current return. A recently released collaborative single, "Girl Ridin' Shotgun," in teamwork with D. Thrash and the "hick-hop" group Jawga Boys is one of the latest products of that return, in addition to a new album scheduled to be released later this year.

THE NEW BLACK 7
Waukon High School 1994 graduate Jason Herman will hit the stage July 17 with his latest group "The New Black 7". Combining his own guitar talents with lead vocalist and guitar player Tory Stoffregen and Brentt Arcement on drums and percussion, the group provides what has been described as "an intoxicating dose of country music with a shot of 90 proof rock & roll added for good measure."

MORE GRANDSTAND
In addition to that musical entertainment, local competitors will also get the opportunity to perform in front of fair-goers again this year in each of the other four grandstand events planned for this year's fair. Local truck and tractor enthusiasts will put the power of their machines on display in the Wednesday, July 16 Truck and Tractor Pull, with the Friday, July 18 Motokazie and Sunday, July 20 Tough Truck Contest also providing locals a chance to thrill the crowd in competition on two and four wheels.
Tuff-N-Nuff Rodeo Association sanctioned rodeo competition will be featured again this year Saturday, July 19. New this year to the Allamakee County Fair scene will be a free concert being scheduled for that Saturday night following the rodeo. The northeast Iowa country music group "Stampede" out of Independence will take to the stage in the open area between the grandstand and the dairy barn to provide fair-goers some free musical entertainment.

ADVANCE TICKET SALES NOW ONLINE
The ability to purchase grandstand tickets online returns for this season's performances as well. The fair's webpage, www.allamakeecountyfair.org, has a "Buy Tickets Now" button link (pictured at right) that will take online purchasers through a check-out process using Google Checkout® or PayPal®. Tickets for the grandstand events can be purchased for all five evenings of grandstand entertainment at this year's fair, or for just a single event. Those tickets can either be mailed to the purchaser or picked up at the "will call" window at the grandstand.
Advance tickets for grandstand events can also be purchased in Waukon at the Allamakee County ISU Extension office, Waukon State Bank, Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank, Fidelity Bank & Trust, Village Farm & Home and Clark Tire Center.
Additional information about this year's fair will be published in a future edition of The Standard as fair time approaches or can be found at the fair's website, www.allamakeecountyfair.org.