Carson Rich
Words by Carson Rich
The 2023 Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair is right around the corner, taking place from Nov. 2-12. This year’s lineup for their annual concert series is stacked with great artists that will blow you away. Anticipation is high for all performers looking to take the stage, so to further your excitement, here are some thoughts shared by some of the performers taking the stage.
Dalton Dover
After blowing up in the way that you have throughout the past few years, how does it feel when you are able to go back to the community level, performing at local events such as the Jacksonville Fair?
“Playing shows on a community level is where I really got my start, so it always feels like home to me when I get to perform at local events.”
Do fairs/festivals hold any memories for you in your lifetime, and if so, how does that correlate with your feelings on being able to perform here?
“My hometown has been so supportive of me from the very beginning, and it allowed me to perform at local fairs and festivals in my home state of Georgia. Having that kind of support has shown me how so many of our communities enjoy coming together, and I can’t wait to see Jacksonville celebrate their agricultural community.”
What do you enjoy most about playing at community events like this?
“I think people tend to be more enthusiastic when it’s a localized show — it feels more exclusive and special to the area, so the crowd is always pumped to be there.”
What does the process of creating a setlist for the Jacksonville Fair look like for you? Do you try to play songs that would be familiar to the audience, or do you try to stick to your own style, trying to get your music out there more?
“We’ve been on the road quite a bit this year so we’ve had the chance to road-test a lot of songs, and I think we’ve struck a good balance. We play some of my earlier songs alongside some of my newest songs from my EP “Never Giving Up On That,” including a cover of “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys — that one always gets a crowd singalong going.”
What unique or special elements are you bringing to the table for an audience that contains such a wide variety of people?
“That’s the best part about country music: It’s universal because of the stories shared in the songs!”
Stephen Carey
What does it mean to you to be performing at such an event as the Jacksonville Fair, an event that locals look forward to every year?
“I was so excited when I got the ask for this! It means a lot to me to get to play a hometown show like this after living in Nashville the last nine years. Two of the other guys in the band, Ian Christian and Josh Ivey, are Jax natives as well so we’re all super stoked.
Do fairs/festivals hold any memories for you in your lifetime, and if so how does that correlate with your feelings on being able to perform here?
I went to the Jax fair every year as a kid. It always lands right around my birthday/Halloween which has always been my favorite time of year. If you told 6-year-old me at the fair, sticky hands from a caramel apple, powdered sugar all over my sweatshirt, that I would be a headlining country artist when I grew up, I think my little Scorpio brain might’ve exploded. Ha ha.”
What do you enjoy most about playing at community events like this?
“Easily the fact that it’s all ages. I have a ton of friends and family from age 3 to 80+ attending. It’s not allowed or as welcoming at a club or venue I would normally play for that age range. It’s just awesome that literally everyone can come enjoy it.
What does the process of creating a setlist for the Jacksonville Fair look like for you? Do you try to play songs that would be familiar to the audience, or do you try to stick to your own style?
?It’s been really fun putting this set together. I’m still a young artist in terms of releases so I have to play all of those. The fun part is figuring out which unreleased songs and cover songs to include. All I can say is there will be some fun surprises.”
What unique or special elements are you bringing to the table for an audience that contains such a wide variety of people?
“With it being all ages and Veterans Day, I knew I wanted to make sure there was something for everyone and there definitely is. Whether you’re my biggest fan, my Mom … LOL … or you’ve never heard of me, this will be a really fun and entertaining show.”
Jason Evans Band
What does it mean to you to be performing at such an event as the Jacksonville Fair, a place that locals look forward to every year?
“It is amazing to have the opportunity to play the Jacksonville Fair in 2023. I was born and raised in Jacksonville and have been attending the fair for at least 40 years. Getting to play this event is a check off the ol’ bucket list.
Do fairs/festivals hold any memories for you in your lifetime, and if so how does that correlate with your feelings on being able to perform here?
“Fairs/festivals both hold great memories for me. As a child, my dad, Doug Evans, was the frontman and right hand for a local bluegrass band called Heart of Dixie so we were always going from one bluegrass festival to another. At 6 yrs old, I was sharing the stage with bluegrass pioneers like Chubby Wise and Vassar Clements. So excited to play this great event at the Jacksonville Fair.”
What do you enjoy most about playing at community events like this?
“What I love about playing events like the Jacksonville Fair is that we are able to reach people with our music that may not have heard us before. I like the structure of it all. The process! I really like playing stages where we have enough room to actually move around and entertain.”
What does the process of creating a setlist for the Jacksonville Fair look like for you? Do you try to play songs that would be familiar to the audience, or do you try to stick to your own style?
“When creating a set list for an event like the Jacksonville Fair, for me, it is all about energy. The way one song may flow into the next. Even the key of the song matters. For instance, I wouldn’t put a song in the key of E next to a song in the key of E minor. We do try to play songs that the crowd will know, but we also have original music we will throw into a set as well.
What unique or special elements are you bringing to the table for an audience that contains such a wide variety of people?
“The Jason Evans Band always brings the heat! Regardless if there are 20 people or 200 people our energy level is always high, and we leave it all on the stage. The biggest compliment I get, and it happens every night we play, is when the metal guy at the back of the room all night staring me down comes up and says, ‘I don’t listen to country music, but you guys are bad ass.’ Those are the moments I live for! For me, getting to sing on this stage with my 18-year-old-son beside me, in front of a diverse Jacksonville, Florida crowd is a huge blessing! Thank you for asking us to play this event! The Jason Evans Band will not disappoint. Trust in God, support our troops, and stomp those boots!”
Kaden and the Meeks
What does it mean to you to be performing at such an event as the Jacksonville Fair, a place that locals look forward to every year?
“Frankly, this means the world to me. To be able to share my music with my community is always a pleasure, but to be able to do it at an event that is so near and dear is truly a blessing.”
Do fairs/festivals hold any memories for you in your lifetime, and if so how does that correlate with your feelings on being able to perform here?
“I’m a West Virginia native, and where I’m from, nobody misses the county fair. I’ve grown up going to events like this and being enamored and inspired by the artists I was able to see perform. It’s a great feeling to be in a position to possibly pass on that inspiration to others.”
What do you enjoy most about playing at community events like this?
“Definitely seeing the community join together and have some fun. The world can be a hectic place, so to see the whole community rally together and have a good time is pretty special.”
What does the process of creating a setlist for the Jacksonville Fair look like for you? Do you try to play songs that would be familiar to the audience, or do you try to stick to your own style?
“Generally, I think it’s important to do a fair mix. Familiar songs are always important. With that being said, I think I speak for all my bandmates when I say we like to stick to our style. As far as I’m concerned, a song left unsung never has the chance to become familiar.”
What unique or special elements are you bringing to the table for an audience that contains such a wide variety of people?
“My entire band is made up of musicians that come from completely different backgrounds, and it brings a diversity to our style of country music that is completely unique to us. My bandmates are not only incredible musicians but good hard working people. They have so much passion for what they do that it adds its own unique element. We’ve been looking forward to playing this event for months now, and we truly can’t wait to get out there and jam!”
Follow FOLIO!