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There are plenty of things to see and do at the fair ...
The Union County Fair Association brings many things to see and do during fair week, including:
- Sunday Vesper Service - 7:30 PM
- Talent Show Tryouts - Monday, 7:00 PM
- Miss Union County Pageant - Tuesday, 7:30 PM
- Talent Show - Tuesday after the Miss Union County Pageant
- Two shows nightly - Wednesday through Saturday.
In addition to the entertainment on stage, rides and midway games are provided daily by Bartlebaugh Amusements. Lions' Bingo (sponsored by the Millmont West Union Area Lions Club) is available each evening at 6:00 PM.
August 6-9, 2008 ENTERTAINMENT
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2008
7:00 PM and 9:30 PM
Townsend and O'Donnell
When singer/songwriters Tommy Townsend and Darryl O'Donnell first met they couldn't have known how similar their paths to Nashville were. Both were raised in small rural towns. Both began performing in their family bands at age five, and as teenagers they both set their sights on Nashville.
Tommy Townsend was raised in a musical family in the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Blairsville, Georgia. He started playing drums with his dad in his cousin's band at age five. When he was thirteen he began to play the guitar, formed his own band, and started playing every honky tonk and barbecue in Georgia. It was around this time that a momentous meeting occurred in the young singer's life. "Waylon Jennings played a show at Lanierland in Cumming, Georgia," Townsend explains. "My dad decided to try and get one of my tapes to him. Dad walked right up and introduced himself to someone and told them about his 'son the singer'. And, sure enough, they let him in to see Waylon." Waylon was impressed with what he heard from the young teen, and the superstar kept in touch with the family over the next years. When Townsend turned 18, Waylon and his band-member, Jerry Bridges, produced his first album titled, Southern Man. The album found much success in the Texas markets and Europe. This gave Townsend the confidence to make the move to Nashville to pursue his dream in music.
Darryl O'Donnell was also raised in a musical family. "We lived in the small town of Dry Run, Pennsylvania," he laughs, "where there's not a stop light in town, and you're out of luck if you don't get your car filled up before five P.M." At age five he sang in his father's band, which performed country and bluegrass at the local square dance hall. By nine years old he was so enthralled with the banjo that he begged his parents for one for Christmas. He remembers it as one of the best Christmas presents he ever received and says he barely laid it down for the next five years. In his early teen years, he began playing guitar and set his sights on someday professionally performing the country music he loved. "I've always been a big fan of Merle Haggard and Little Roy Lewis, and as a matter of fact, the first money I earned in the business was singing Merle Haggard's, 'Harold's Super Service,' in a talent contest," he recalls, "I won what seemed like a fortune - a hundred and twenty-five dollars!" When O'Donnell first moved to Nashville he worked several day jobs. Eventually he landed some singing gigs at the local clubs. It wasn't long before his musicianship and strong vocals were noticed and he was hired to tour with artists including Tracy Lawrence, Bobbie Cryner, Jerry Kilgore, and Wesley Dennis. After a few years, he decided to come off the road to work on his solo career and he started playing the Nashville club circuit again. It was at this time he met Tommy Townsend and they started playing some shows together. Soon, they were in such demand as a duo that the two collaborated to become Townsend O'Donnell.
With four years of writing songs together and performing about five nights a week together, Townsend O'Donnell have developed the harmonies and sound that have captured the Nashville music community. Now, with the release of "Cowboys Want It, Cowgirls Got It" they are set to capture the rest of the country.
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2008
7:00 PM and 9:30 PM
Bob Plunkert & Real Country Shows
In an era of imitations and sound alikes, there comes a refreshing change to the world of country music. Bob Plunkert has gained respect and popularity in performing traditional country music—a genre of music featured by few but requested by many.
Traditional influence from artists such as Ricky Skaggs, Ray Price, George Jones and Johnny Bush is evident in Bob’s music. Thanks to a background in country, bluegrass and gospel, the format featured by Bob and the band has become a favorite at fairs and conventions. Dancers have come to appreciate the blend of two-stepping shuffles along with traditional country ballads. Bob and the band have shared the stage with national artists such as: MARTINA MCBRIDE, PATTY LOVELESS, DIAMOND RIO, GENE WATSON, JAN HOWARD, JOHN ANDERSON, SHENANDOAH, RHETT AKINS, JEFF CARSON, BARBARA FAIRCHILD, MIKE SNIDER and others!!
In addition to vocals, Bob contributes bass, banjo and acoustic guitar to the show. Prior to forming the Real Country Band, Bob studied 5-string banjo with Tom Adams—3-time IBMA banjo instrumentalist of the year and former member of Jimmy Martin’s Sunny Mountain Boys and the Johnson Mountain Boys. In 1994, Bob formed the group ‘Real Country’ and has since enjoyed a large and loyal group of fans that have embraced the traditional country music featured by Bob and the band. In October 2001, Bob released a self-produced solo recording project entitled Your Old Standby. In October 2004, he released a new recording produced in Nashville TN by Grand Ole Opry Announcer Eddie Stubbs; entitled Something Called Happiness. In addition to a busy show schedule in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and surrounding areas, the success of Something Called happiness has made it possible for Bob to appear on the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree in Nashville TN and various venues throughout central Texas. In 2005 the new release appeared on the Kickin’ Cuts music charts, as published in Country Music People Magazine – a London, England publication.
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2008
7:00 PM and 9:30 PM
Gene Watson
Born in Palestine, Texas in 1943, Gene Watson was singing in holiness churches with his family at an early age. His earliest public country performance came when he was just 12 years old. Watson dropped out of school in the ninth grade to work fulltime and supported his family by doing auto body repair.
Doing music professionally was never his goal. He always wanted to work on cars. He didn't go looking for music. Music found him.
Before he ever made a record, The Wilburn Brothers heard Gene sing down in Houston at a nightclub. They invited him to go with them and do a couple of shows, including a performance on the Grand Ole Opry. Gene got a standing ovation and an encore singing the Hank Williams song ‘I Can’t Help It if I’m Still in Love With You.’ and ‘It Is No Secret What God Can Do’. After that, he got on stage at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop and broadcast on The Midnight Jamboree. That was his first experience with the Big Time. He was 21.”
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2008
7:00 PM and 9:30 PM
Bill Haley's Comets
They've been rocking around the clock for more than a half-century. In August, Bill Haley's Comets are coming to the Union County West End Fair in Laurelton.
Bill Haley's Comets took the world by storm back in the mid-1950s with "Rock Around the Clock." The group earned a place in The Guinness Book of World Records for selling 43 million copies of its greatest hit, "Rock Around The Clock." The song was also popular as the opening credits theme song for Henry Winkler-Ron Howard hit TV show, "Happy Days."
Bill Haley's Comets' other hits include "Shake, Rattle and Roll," "Skinny Minnie" and "See You Later, Alligator."