Country music fans won’t want to miss the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s FREE appearance on the grandstand stage on Thursday, August 20. The talented country music group will perform hit-after-hit, beginning at 8:00 pm. Seats are not reservable, so fans should plan on arriving early. Admission to this concert and parking are both free with paid gate admission to the Dodge County Fair.

The band and its story have evolved over the past five decades. The group originally started as a five-man band, has transitioned many times over the years and now currently features six members. The group now includes Jeff Hanna (acoustic guitar, electric guitar), Jimmie Fadden (drums, harmonica), Bob Carpenter (keyboards), Jim Photoglo (bass, acoustic guitar), Ross Holmes (fiddle, mandolin) and Jaime Hanna (electric and acoustic guitar). Fans will enjoy melodies and harmonies from each of its members, but mostly from the father-son duo of Jeff and Jaime Hanna.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band logo white back

The original five members debuted in 1966 when they were lining up early gigs in southern California. The group recently celebrated their fiftieth anniversary in the fall of 2015 with a sold-out show at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Fans can see them right here at the Dodge County Fair on August 20th when they perform in front of a local crowd, as part of our FREE evening concert series. Their stop in Beaver Dam is part of their extended 50th anniversary tour.

With a career that spans five decades, fans of all ages will recognize familiar country, folk and bluegrass sounds. Some of their more popular hits include “Fishin’ in the Dark”, “Mr. Bojangles” and “Modern Day Romance”.

In the late-1960s, the band appeared on the Johnny Carson Show, opened-up for Bill Cosby on stage and spent four months filming “Paint Your Wagon” with Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin. The band landed sixteen Top 10 country hits in the early 1980’s and 1990’s and a remarkable three Number 1 singles. In 2004 the band received a Grammy award for Best Country Instrumental.

With so many hits on their discography, fans will also recognize hits like “Long Hard Road”, “Make a Little Magic”, “An American Dream”, “I Saw the Light” and “Keep on the Sunnyside”. Attendees should be prepared to sing, dance, clap and stomp along to hit after recognizable hit.

Purchase a season fair ticket for $27 in advance (only $5.40 per day) or $35 at the gate. Daily gate admission is $7 before Noon; or $10 after Noon.  Families will also enjoy free admission for children ages nine years and younger. Tickets can be purchased at most Dodge County Banks, Recheks Food Pride, Beaver Dam Piggly Wiggly or at the Fairgrounds Office.

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