American Idol’s McCreery, Travis Tritt coming to Youth Fair

Published 8:39 am Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Scotty McCreery is one of five performers set to headline the Berrien County Youth Fair this summer. Other performers include Travis Tritt, Cook and Belle, Seth Cook and Firehouse.

Scotty McCreery is one of five performers set to headline the Berrien County Youth Fair this summer. Other performers include Travis Tritt, Cook and Belle, Seth Cook and Firehouse. (Submitted photo)

American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and Grammy winner Travis Tritt headline the grandstand acts for the 2014 Berrien County Youth Fair.

Scotty McCreery

A native of North Carolina, McCreery was named Top New Artist by “Billboard” and won best new artist awards at the Academy of Country Music Awards, American Country Awards and the CMT Awards. McCreery’s hits include “See You Tonight,” “I Don’t Want to Be Your Friend,” “Carolina Moon,” and “Feeling It.” He will perform Wednesday, Aug. 13.

Travis Tritt

Country superstar Travis Tritt is scheduled to entertain fairgoers in the covered grandstand on Thursday, Aug. 14. With hits such as “Trouble,” “Tell Me I Was Dreaming” and his latest hit, a duet with his daughter, “Sometimes Love Just A’int Enough,” this Georgia native has made a name for himself in the country music world.

Country music’s ‘90s boom helped propel Tritt to stardom and awards, including two Grammys and three CMA Awards. In 2007, an album titled “The Storm” was released, but didn’t receive much publicity due to legal problems with the label.

Now, with his own label, Tritt is re-introducing the record, named “The Calm After,” with two additional tracks. At 50, Tritt believes his voice now has more control and a higher range than he had in his 30s.

Cook and Belle

With 15 years of experience performing at fairs and festivals throughout the United States, Cook and Belle are set to open up before McCreery Wednesday evening. Bret and Michelle, the lead singers of the group, have been married for 22 years and have been traveling and living their passion for music and entertainment.

They have shared the stage with artists such as Rascal Flatts, Lonestar, Charlie Daniels Band and Dierks Bentley, to name a few. Cook and Belle’s sound mixes country and soul with a gospel influence.

Seth Cook

During this portion of the show, festivalgoers will also get to see Seth Cook, Bret and Michelle’s son, who has been performing with his parents since the age of 6. In 2013, Seth made it all the way to the blind auditions for Season 5 of “The Voice.” He recently signed to a publishing and artist development deal with Veritable Music, a Nashville based publishing company.

Firehouse

On Friday, “Big Hair at the Fair” will hit the grandstand with multiple “big hair” rock bands, including Gun Shy, Firehouse and Winger.

The rest of the grandstand lineup includes the traditional Truck and Tractor Pull Monday, Aug. 11; three free Circus Continental shows on Tuesday, Aug. 12; and Bullmania on Saturday, Aug. 16. Country singer DeWayne Spaw will perform a special concert during the Bullmania event.

Tickets for grandstand shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Fair office, online at www.bcyf.org or by phone at 1-877-772-5425. Ticket fees do not include gate admission.