Wisconsin State Fair announced final six main stage shows

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The music selection at this year’s Fair gets better and better as the final six shows are announced for the Main Stage presented by Potawatomi Bingo Casino. The 2013 Wisconsin State Fair, presented by U.S. Cellular, will take place Thursday, August 1st through Sunday, August 11th at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

Wacky and original singer-songwriter Weird Al” Yankovic will bring his national Alpocalypse Tour to the Fair on Friday, August 2nd. “Weird Al” is known for his hits that parody popular songs by other artists, such as “Another One Rides the Bus,” “Canadian Idiot,” “Girls Just Want to Have Lunch,” and “White & Nerdy,” along with many others. “Weird Al” has produced three gold albums and five platinum albums for his work as a parodist, and will perform at the Fair at 8 p.m. All tickets for “Weird Al” Yankovic – The Alpocalypse Tour are reserved and will be available for $25.

Country superstar Gary Allan will bring his gravelly, gritty edge to the stage on Saturday, August 3rd. With nine studio albums and a Greatest Hits record to his name, Allan has been a mainstay in the world of country since his first album, “Used Heart for Sale,” debuted in 1996. Multiple Top Ten hits including “Man to Man” and “Nothing On But The Radio” caught the ear of country fans everywhere, and his newest album’s first single, “Every Storm (Runs Out Of Rain),” has already taken the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Singer-songwriter Randy Houser will open the 8 p.m. show.

Houser appeared on the country music scene in 2008 and has received multiple award nominations from the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association. All tickets for Gary Allan with Randy Houser are reserved and will be available for $25 and $35.

Fairgoers will enjoy a night of classic hits and smooth sailing during Sail Rock 2013 starring Christopher Cross. Six other iconic artists from the ‘70s and ‘80s will perform together in one great show on Monday, August 5th, including Orleans, Gary Wright, Firefall, John Ford Coley, Robbie Dupree and Player. Concertgoers can expect to hear favorites like “Ride Like The Wind,” “Still The One,” “Dream Weaver” and “Baby Come Back,” to name just a few. These original voices will perform nothing but hits starting at 7:30 p.m. All tickets for Sail Rock 2013 starring Christopher Cross are reserved and will be available for $25 and $35.

Modern rock group Theory of a Deadman will visit the Fair on Tuesday, August 6th to tear up the stage with their post-grunge, alternative sound. Together for nearly 12 years, the band has released four albums with plenty of top hits. Multiple hits have landed on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, including two at No. 1: “Bad Girlfriend” and “Lowlife,” a song from their newest album “The Truth Is…”. Southern American rock band Black Stone Cherry will open the show at 7:30 p.m., and show off their uplifting lyrics and down-home rock sound infused with country roots in songs like “Like I Roll” and “In My Blood.” All tickets for Theory of a Deadman with Black Stone Cherry are reserved and will be available for $25 and $35.

On Thursday, August 8th concertgoers can kick-back, relax and enjoy An Evening with YES when the band visits the Fair as part of their 2013 World Tour. YES members Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White, Geoff Downes and Jon Davison as the lead singer will perform three albums in their entirety: “The Yes Album,” “Close to the Edge” and “Going for the One.” As a dominant force for more than four decades, YES has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, stretching the boundaries of progressive art-rock with their dynamic instrumental contrasts and abstract lyrics. Fans will enjoy longtime favorites, including “Yours Is No Disgrace,” “Starship Trooper,” “Wondrous Stories,” “Awaken,” and more in a completely unique format, starting at 7:30 p.m. All tickets for An Evening with YES are reserved and will be available for $25 and $35.

Heavy metal guitarist and bad boy Vince Neil of Motley Crue will rock the stage on Saturday, August 10th. Neil has been involved in music since a very young age, and after nearly 20 years as the lead vocalist for heavy metal rock band Motley Crue, Neil began a solo career in 1992. He produced the single “You’re Invited (But Your Friend Can’t Come),” which was released on his first solo album, “Exposed.” Neil rejoined Motley Crue in 1997 to work on another album, “Generation Swine,” which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Charts, but also released a third solo album as the soundtrack to his first book, Tattoos & Tequila: To Hell and Back with One of Rock’s More Notorious Frontmen. Christian glam metal group Stryper will kick off the 8 p.m. the show. Stryper has been rocking the stage since 1983, and is known for their platinum albums “The Yellow and Black Attack” and “To Hell with the Devil.” Tickets for Vince Neil with Stryper are $25 and $35. All TRACK TICKETS for this show will be GENERAL ADMISSION, STANDING ROOM ONLY – there will be NO RESERVED TRACK SEATING. Reserved seating will be available in the grandstand. All track general admission tickets will be $35; reserved grandstand seats will be $25.

All Main Stage tickets include fair admission when purchased prior to entering the Fair Park.

Tickets for these shows go ON SALE FRIDAY, APRIL 12 at 10 A.M. at WiStateFair.com and the Fair Ticket Office. The Ticket Office is located at 7722 W. Greenfield Ave. and is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.