End of Summer Concert Series to Rock L.A. County Fair

Summer may be ending, but Southern California’s best concert series is just beginning. It’s the L.A. County Fair’s End of Summer Concert Series, presented by Toyota, and featuring an all-star lineup of favorite artists live under the stars. Once again, with the Fair’s expanded dates, Sept. 8 to Oct. 1 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays), the concert series has 15 rockin’ evenings at the nation’s largest and greatest county fair.

Among this year’s bill are legendary rockers Heart and Creedence Clearwater Revisited, country songstress LeAnn Rimes, Def Jam recording artist Rihanna, disco diva Donna Summer and the biggest and best Monsters on the big-wheeled truck circuit.

The fun, which has truly become an end of summer tradition, begins Friday, Sept. 8, with Latin Legends Live featuring Tierra, Malo, and Ersi Arvisu and Mickey Lespron, formerly of El Chicano. On Saturday, Sept. 9, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson bring their solid guitar sounds to the stage with their band Heart. With hits like “Crazy On You,” “Barracuda” and “Magic Man,” they’ll be kicking off the opening weekend in true rock style. Country superstars Montgomery Gentry conclude the first weekend on Sunday, Sept. 10.

On Thursday, Sept. 14, the ground will shake with intensity as Monster Truck Madness rolls in for a good time. Expect to see Bounty Hunter, Jurassic Attack and more. The evening turns into another hot Latin night Friday, Sept. 15, as Ana Barbara and Los Tucanes de Tijuana share the stage.

On Saturday, Sept. 16, current music chart topper Rihanna brings her soulful sounds to the Fair. Her “Unfaithful” video was recently one of MTV’s Big 10 Rotation videos. Rihanna will share the evening with a special guest to be announced at a later date.

In 2001, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the United States, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo brought the grandstand crowd to tears and to their feet with an emotional rendition of “America the Beautiful” — a moment never to be forgotten. The duo returns Sunday, Sept. 17, to rock the seats with hits like “Heartbreaker” and “Love is a Battlefield.”

Bull X MotoRodeo brings its brand of excitement on Thursday, Sept. 21, with six professional bull riders, two freestyle big air quads — which will amaze the crowd with 360-degree back flips — an off-road truck long-jump contest and a monster truck wheelie contest. Back for a return visit, Creedence Clearwater Revisited brings its familiar sounds of “Born on the Bayou” and “Bad Moon Rising” on Friday, Sept. 22. Country and pop crossover artist LeAnn Rimes hits the stage Saturday, Sept. 23. With hits like “Blue” and “How Do I Live,” Rimes is expected to create quite a buzz.

Sunday, Sept. 24, sees the return of MARIACHI USA Fiesta, a display of brilliant music, lights and colors reminiscent of the eclectic 90-minute musical revue emanating annually from the Hollywood Bowl.

Crash and smash is the game Thursday, Sept. 28, with Demolition Derby. Watch as drivers wreak havoc and wreck their way to a win.

The rockin’ sounds of the ‘70s come alive on Friday, Sept. 29 with a double bill of Grand Funk Railroad and the Doobie Brothers. Grand Funk Railroad’s “We’re An American Band” and rendition of “The Locomotion” are American rock standards. The Doobie Brothers are also an American standard with hits like “Black Water,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “What a Fool Believes” and the list goes on.

Saturday, Sept. 30, sees the arrival of LG World Championships of Freestyle Motocross with its daredevil cyclists spinning, twisting and curling in mid-air.

The series closes on Sunday, Oct. 1, with disco superstar Donna Summer. The five-time Grammy winner will bring her hits “Love to Love You Baby,” “Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff” to the grandstand.

General admission seating for all End of Summer Concert Series performances is free with Fair admission. Reserved seating is available from $17.50 to $30. Box seating is $17.50 to $40 and stageside seating is available for $75 to $125. Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster locations and at Fairplex’s credentials office, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. Tickets are also available at www.lacountyfair.com and www.ticketmaster.com. For information about the concert series, call Fairplex at (909) 623-3111 or visit the Web site at www.lacountyfair.com or www.fairplex.com.