Grandstand Performers and Concerts at the 2009 Indiana State Fair

The 2009 Indiana State Fair wouldn’t be complete without Grandstand headliners, and a host of popular bands and musical artists will grace the stage with evening concerts this year. This year’s performers will include Journey, the Oak Ridge Boys, Keith Urban, Sandi Patty, MercyMe, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Mraz, and Demi Lovato.

All performances will take place in the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand at the fairgrounds. Tickets may be purchased at the Indiana State Fair Box Office (phone 317-927-7601), at any Ticketmaster location, online, or via charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Following is a closer look at this year's lineup:

Hot with the 'tween-age Disney Channel crowd: Sixteen-year-old actress, singer and songwriter Demi Lovato of Camp Rock fame just released her second album, Here We Go Again, July 21. She’ll be joined by 18-year-old singer and songwriter Jordan Pruitt, who has opened for The Cheetah Girls and toured with the Jonas Brothers.

For those who prefer traditional Christian worship: Five-time Grammy Award winner Sandi Patty will perform with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. A Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee and the recipient of 39 Dove Awards, Sandi’s latest album, Songs for the Journey, reflects her walk in faith from childhood to the present.

For fans of contemporary Christian music: MercyMe band members Barry Graul (guitar), Robby Shaffer (drums), Mike Scheuchzer (guitar), Nathan Cochran (bass), Jim Bryson (keys) and Bart Millard (vocals) focus on praise and worship with a modern rock/pop flair. The group has released six albums since 2001, the latest being All that Is Within Me in 2007. Jeremy Camp is characterized on his website as "a rocker with a preacher’s heart.” He’s had 16 #1 songs, won 5 Dove Awards and been named “Songwriter of the Year” by the ASCAP three times. Jeremy will be going on tour this fall.

Homegrown talent for eclectic music lovers: The Indiana MusicFest will feature Jon McLaughlin, the 25-year-old singer/songwriter who performed the Oscar-nominated “So Close” in the Disney movie Enchanted; The Why Store with lead singer Chris Shaffer, a band formed in the late 1980s that split in 2000 and reemerged in 2007; and The Elms, who will release their new album “The Great American Midrange” on September 15.

For American Idol enthusiasts: Girl-next-door Kelly Clarkson shot to superstardom when she became the very first American Idol in 2002. She’s had 8 Top Ten singles and won Grammys, MTV Video Music Awards, and American Music Awards. Her album Breakaway sold over 10 million copies and stayed on the charts for two full years.

A country music superstar: Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, singer, songwriter and guitarist Keith Urban moved to Nashville in 1992 and has been the recipient of Grammy Awards, Country Music Association Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and Australia’s coveted Aria Award. Keith will be joined on stage by Jason Aldean, whose new album Wide Open features the singles “She’s Country” and “Big Green Tractor.”

Classic '70s rock: Journey has been heard on the radio for over two decades, selling over 60 million albums with a string of Top Ten singles including “Open Arms,” “Who’s Cryin’ Now,” “Faithfully,” and “Wheel in the Sky.” The band is comprised of Arnel Pineda (lead vocals), Neal Schon (all guitars), Jonathan Cain (keyboard), Ross Valory (bass), and Deen Castronovo (drums, percussion). Appearing with Journey will be another popular '70s rock band – this one comprised of sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson -- Heart.

A man of many styles: American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz has achieved global fame with hits influenced by everything from pop and rock to folk, jazz, and reggae. Mraz’s third album, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, released in 2008, debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 and hit the top ten on many international charts as well. Mraz will be joined on stage by the three-member, alternative blues band G. Love & Special Sauce and Somali-Canadian rapper K’Naan.

Legendary country artists: The Oak Ridge Boys have been a gospel and country music institution since 1961, albeit with varying band members over the years. Seventeen Oak Ridge Boys singles have made it all the way to #1 on the Billboard country singles charts, including “Elvira” and “Bobbie Sue,” which were also Top 40 pop and Adult Contemporary hits. The quartet currently consists of Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban. Appearing with them will be Larry Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers, who has 33 Top 40 singles to his credit.

The following table shows the dates, times and ticket prices for this year’s state fair acts.

In Concert at the 2009 Indiana State Fair