Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

2023 Clay Co. Fair Grandstand events announced

The Clay County Fair this week announced eight nights of Grandstand events – including five shows that are part of the SRG Concert Series – for the 2023 Clay County Fair powered by SMU, Sept.9-17.

Jimmie Allen

with special guest Parmalee

Saturday, Sept. 9

Jimmie Allen launched his career with two consecutive No. 1 hits off his 2018 debut album Mercury Lane – the first being his two-time Platinum debut single "Best Shot" and second being Platinum-certified "Make Me Want To." He won the both the ACM New Male Artist of the Year award and CMA New Artist of the Year award in April and November 2021, respectively. Allen's third album, Tulip Drive, released June 2022. Its lead single "Down Home" reached the top of the Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart in January 2023, marking Allen's fourth career No. 1 song.

ACM "New Vocal Duo/Group of the Year" nominee Parmalee is one of country music's most successful acts – the Platinum-selling band of brothers is one of only four groups since 2001 to earn three consecutive Top 10 singles from a debut country album.

Katy Nichole

with special guest Community Worship Collective

Sunday, Sept. 10

Singer/songwriter Katy Nichole was singing in her church choir long before more than 150 million people around the world heard her 2022 Dove Award-nominated, K-LOVE Fan Award-winning song "In Jesus Name (God of Possible)," which is the first song this decade to reach 20 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Christian Songs chart. Since then she has been nominated for an American Music Award, made her Grand Ole Opry debut, released her self-titled EP last summer, and realized her second-straight No. 1 song with "God is in This Story."

Opening for Nichole will be the Community Worship Collective, a praise and worship band featuring talented local musicians from Spencer-area churches.

To Be Announced

Monday, Sept. 11

Lucas Oil ASCS and SLMR Late Models

Tuesday, Sept. 12

The Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series returns for the third consecutive year and will be joined by the debut of the Super Late Model Racing (SLMR) Series at the Clay County Fair Speedway.

IMCA Blue Ribbon Showdown

Wednesday, Sept. 13

The 2023 racing season at the Clay County Fair Speedway winds down with an IMCA showdown that includes Hobby Stocks, Sports Mods, Modifieds, Stock Cars and Sports Compacts.

Jo Dee Messina and Diamond Rio

Thursday, Sept. 14

Jo Dee Messina kicked off her notable career with "Heads Carolina, Tails California," a single that immediately made her a household name. Following the success of her debut, she posted nine No. 1 hits, recorded 16 Top 40 songs, and won multiple ACM, CMA and GRAMMY Awards.

Diamond Rio became the first country music group in history to reach No. 1 with a debut single, "Meet in the Middle," in 1991. Since then, the band has sold more than 10 million albums, won a GRAMMY Award, six Vocal Group of the Year wins (CMA and ACM), released two Greatest Hit albums, a live and Christmas project, earned five multi-week No. 1 singles, 22 Top 10 singles, three certified Platinum and five gold albums.

Hairball

Friday, Sept. 15

A bombastic celebration of arena rock, Hairball is celebrating its 23rd year of rocking hundreds of thousands of people across the country. Vocalists Joe Dandy, Kris Vox and Dave Moody lead the band through a two-plus hour, mind-blowing and drop-dead accurate homage to some of the biggest arena acts in the world. Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey and Aerosmith are but a few of the acts that fans will see brought to life.

Dylan Scott with

special guest Ingrid Andress

Saturday, Sept. 16

Dylan Scott has notched two No. 1 singles at radio ("My Girl" and "Nobody"), as well as the Top 5 hit "Hooked." Following his first career nomination for "Best New Country Artist" at the all-genre iHeartRadio Music Awards, his Platinum-certified ode to his wife, "Nobody," earned him a 2021 CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year.

Four-time GRAMMY nominated singer-songwriter Ingrid Andress has burned up the charts with her latest Platinum-certified No. 1 radio single, "Wishful Drinking (with Sam Hunt)." Her 2022 debut album, Lady Like, set the record as the highest streaming country female debut album of all time upon release.

Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pull

Sunday, Sept. 17

For the fourth time, the fair will conclude with the season championships of the Outlaw Truck & Tractor Pullers Association featuring two thunderous sessions of pulling action.