Locals, Yokels and Superstars

The Ventura County Fair means many things to many people--wild rides, fuzzy dice, goldfish, lots of junk food, and a chance to see old friends. You can learn how to compost while mingling with cute bunnies and waiting for the evening fireworks. Some people even go for the music.

This year’s musical line-up has no shortage of country music. Here’s a guide to this year’s acts:

American Made--Country music; noon and 2 p.m. Aug. 6.

Cletus Bumpus & the Other Guys--Classic rock, country and bluegrass. They are usually found at Jimmy’s Diner in Camarillo on Thursday nights. Fair show is 1 p.m. Aug. 16.

Tracy Byrd--This Guy With the Hat is a relentless road dog and a country music superstar with millions of albums. On the road, Byrd likes to play golf and fish. He sponsors his own bass tournaments and has his own line of fishing lures called Tracy Byrd’s Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous--Famous Crank Baits; 7 p.m. Aug. 7.

Johnny Counterfit--He’s a musical impersonator who sent a demo tape to the powers that be at the fair and they hired him. He does everyone from Bill Clinton to Johnny Cash; 7 and 9 p.m. Aug. 16.

Terry Sue Crawford--Country music; 5 p.m. Aug. 16.

Crosscut--Long a staple on the local music scene, these guys play classic rock; 8:30 p.m. Aug. 8; 1 p.m. Aug. 16.

Doobie Brothers--They’ve been around for more than 25 years with more than 27 charting singles since their hit “Listen to the Music” in 1972. The three guitar, three-part harmony-powered band has released 14 albums; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10.

8 Stops 7--This young local band has something going with Reprise Records following the release of its debut CD, “Birth of a Cynic”; 7 and 9 p.m. Aug. 13.

Fangboy & the Ghouls--This local band plays original rock; 7 and 9 p.m. Aug. 12.

4 Reel Entertainment--This is an R&B; outfit; 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12.

Bill Haley’s Comets featuring Al Rappa--No Bill Haley, but I’ll bet they still know “Rock Around the Clock” and “Shake, Rattle & Roll”; 7 and 9 p.m. Aug. 15.

Ty Herndon--A piano prodigy at age 5, Herndon after a lifetime of trying finally hit it big on the country charts with his album “What Mattered Most,” which featured help from the likes of Joe Diffie, Vince Gill, Blue Miller and Stephanie Miller. The Alabama-born musician was the 1993 Texas Entertainer of the Year; 7 and 9 p.m. Aug. 14.

The Harry James Orchestra--One of the most famous groups of the Big Band Era, James was possibly the greatest vocalist the band ever had, but he had several memorable others beginning with no less than Frank Sinatra, and including Dick Haymes, Helen Forrest, Kitty Kallen and Jimmy Saunders. The band will back the New Ink Spots; 1 p.m. Aug. 11.

The Java Heads--This is acoustic folk music for the jangled java junkies; 5 p.m. Aug. 13.

Jazz 911--I wonder what they play? Jazz, perhaps? 3 p.m. Aug. 13.

Jenna--Classic rock; 8:30 p.m. Aug. 9.

Steven Lord--He’s a guitarist who plays country rock, folk rock and just about anything else. A flamboyant performer who has been touring the West for years, he’s playing several times everyday.

Los Hurricanos del Norte and Banda Los Recoditos--Los Hurricanos play Norteno music and Banda plays bamba; 3 p.m. Aug. 9.

Susie Luchsinger--She started her career as one-third of the Singing McEntires, with her sisters Pake and Reba--yup, that’s Reba McEntire. After marrying rodeo champ Paul Luchsinger, Susie found religion and is one of the stars of Christian country music. Her latest album is “Real Love”; 7 and 9 p.m. Aug. 9.

Lila McCann--At 16, McCann just finished a long tour with George Strait which grossed a cool $30 million. Her debut album “Lila” is nearing the platinum mark, and McCann is just a junior in high school. “Yippy Ky Yay” is the fourth single off the album, following “Down Came a Blackbird,” “I Wanna Fall in Love” and “Almost Over You.” Things are going along so well for McCann that she even made the cover of American Cheerleader magazine; 7 and 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Raymond Michael’s Elvis Tribute Show--No mysteries here--The King is in the building; 7 and 9 p.m. Aug. 11.

The New Ink Spots--Smooth pop harmonizers from the ‘30s and ‘40s, with ballads such as “If I Didn’t Care” and “My Prayer” were big hits for the group. Influential precursors to doo-wop and R&B; music of the ‘50s, the Ink Spots were nothing if not smooth. The New Ink Spots are led by tenor James Taylor; 1 p.m. Aug. 11.

The Original Riders of the Purple Sage--Veterans of country and western swing music; 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Pablo Cruise--This is one of those classic lite rock bands from the ‘70s that sold a bunch of records. They had a couple of albums that went double platinum, and there’s probably at least one of them in your parents’ vinyl collection. A couple of their biggies were “Cool Love” and “Love Will Find a Way”; 7 and 9 p.m. Aug. 6.

Hux Reid--Swing music; 5 p.m. Aug. 14.

Rock Stew--These Ventura locals play original and classic rock; 5 p.m. Aug. 11.

Roquemore & Kuznkowski--These singing comedians perform daily from Wednesday through Aug. 8.

The Cheryl Roth Band--Soft rock and classic rock; 12:30 p.m. Aug. 13; noon Aug. 14.

Sahumar--It’s Hispanic music all day Aug. 8.

Sawyer Brown--One of country music’s most popular and long-lasting bands, Sawyer Brown has recorded 14 albums during the last 15 years. Alive and well on TNN, Sawyer Brown has had more than 27 hit videos. “Six Days on the Road” is the newest album by these five veteran road dogs; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13.

Neil Sedaka--Sedaka is a classically trained musician who has been writing hit songs since he was a teenager. His hits sold more than 25 million records during the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. Some of his biggies were “Oh! Carol,” “Calendar Girl” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.” He’s had the same band for the last 20 years and will showcase 40 years of music; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8.

Shameless--Classic rock band; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15.

Shanachie--This band plays Irish folk music several times daily Aug. 14-16.

Phil Shane--The fair listing keeps it brief: “Tribute singer.” Shane plays throughout the day Aug. 10-13.

Sweet Country--The name says it all; 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Talk of Da Town--This group keeps things low budget--they sing R&B; music a cappella; 7 and 9 p.m. Aug. 7.

Village People--Disco and weird clothes live on; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12.