By Karen Garcia
The Southeast Alaska State Fair has released its musical line-up for 2013, and acts include an eclectic mix of returning favorites and fresh faces, director Ross Silkman said.
Headlining Friday night are Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer, a Washington-based singer-songwriter duo specializing in rootsy folk and Americana music. It will be the duo’s first appearance at the fair, Silkman said.
Vancouver-based vaudevillian quartet Maria in the Shower will also take the main stage Friday night. The group played at the Atlin Arts and Music Festival two years ago. “They were a tremendous hit there, and so that’s why we went after them,” Silkman said.
Returning performers the Bad Tenants, a bluesy hip-hop group from the Pacific Northwest, will close out Friday night.
One World Taiko, the fair’s “kinetic” act, will play Friday and Saturday evening. A Japanese drumming duo, One World Taiko incorporates dynamic movements like jumping and spinning with their percussion, Silkman said.
Hillstomp, another group familiar with the fair, will return to top off Saturday night. The “junkbox blues” Portlanders were a huge hit last year. “People absolutely loved them, so we’re bringing them back,” Silkman said.
Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy will travel all the way from Wichita, Kansas, and bring their “eclectic blend of punk, bluegrass, Dixieland and circus tunes” to the fair Saturday night as well.
Four-piece Moonalice will close out the fair Sunday night. Silkman said although Moonalice has never performed at the fair, the Grateful Dead-esque band has played in Haines several times and developed quite the loyal following.
The headlining act for Thursday will be local, but has yet to be determined, Silkman said. Local bands the HI DE HOs, Sweet Sunny North, Julia Scott and the PBRs, Fishpickers, and Devine Funk are scheduled to perform, although more local acts are forthcoming, he said.
Scheduled regional acts include the B-Team All Stars, the Hillbilly Honeys, Adam Wood, Nicole Edwards, Irene Muller and the Windy Valley Boys.
The fair runs Thursday, July 25, to Sunday, July 28. Beth Bolander is in charge of booking.