Bay Stage at the 2011 Solano County Fair to Feature Daily Live Music

By Debbie Egidio
Special to Dixon Patch

The 2011 Solano County Fair, taking place Aug. 3-7, promises a full schedule of fun and entertainment including performances and live music every day on the Bay Stage located on the Fair’s main concourse.

The daily Bay Stage music line-up is in addition to five nights of free headline concert entertainment included with the price of admission, making the Fair the best entertainment value of the summer.

“We are really excited about ALL of the entertainment at this year’s Fair, and the music acts on our Bay Stage are no exception,” commented Fair General Manager Mike Paluszak.  “We have a wide range of music genres scheduled to perform on this stage along with variety acts, dance troupes, talent competitions and a special show by the Rockin’ Radio Disney Road Show on Thursday August 4.  Add all this to our full schedule of entertainment and activities throughout the fairgrounds and it’s more fun than you can take-in in just one day!”

Bay Stage music kicks off on opening day, Wednesday Aug. 3 with Orchestra La Fuerza Gigante a high-energy group consisting of some of the best musicians of their kind in Northern California.  Blending experienced musicians with up and coming young talent, Orchestra La Fuerza Gigante has been performing some of the best Salsa Dura in the Bay Area and beyond for over ten years.  Each member brings to the music the flavor of his own country ranging from Puerto Rico, Panama, Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States.  "La Fuerza Gigante" means "The Strong Force" which is shown in their style of music and presentation, electrifying crowds.

The Matty T Band returns to the Fair this year on Thursday Aug. 4 playing rock the way it was meant to sound: bluesy, gutsy, with soul, and straight from the heart. Matty Taynton is one of Northern California's premier guitar players with a style rooted in blues. His influences range from Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan to Robert Cray and Eric Clapton.

He has played in concert settings with George Thorogood, Creedence Clearwater, Savoy Brown, Cold Blood, War, and John Cafferty. Matty T is backed by Jim Papesh on bass. Jim started playing guitar when he was 14 and was in his first band by the time he was 15, a local garage band in Massachusetts.

After joining the Air Force he played with several bands and musicians in England, Japan and the United States and in 1979 Jim was offered a job for the first time playing bass for a country band in North Carolina and decided it was a good time to learn that particular instrument.  Since then he has played guitar and/or bass in several bands.

Keith Vaughn rounds out the band on drums and has been a mainstay in the Bay Area music scene for over thirty years. A Vallejo, California native, he started playing drums at the age of eight years old and never looked back.  Many years of performing with different bands throughout the Bay Area enabled him to land a spot playing drums with one of the Bay Area's premier show bands: "Papa Joe and The Bouncers".

Performing throughout the state with this nine piece R&B powerhouse was his primary gig for over twelve years.  Keith just completed a 14-month stint with "Diamond Eyes", a Neil Diamond tribute band that toured throughout Northern California.

Friday August 5 brings the first of two acts new to the Solano County Fair: Mobility, an upbeat group of talented musicians playing rock, jazz and blues favorites, both new and old.

Brought to the Fair through Travis AFB, Mobility is a subdivision of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West and travels the West Coast bringing civilians and military personnel entertainment and American pride through music.

Under the musical leadership of Technical Sergeant Preston Keating, Mobility continues its long tradition of providing as wide-ranging a musical format as possible to meet the desires of its listeners.

Its tailored, fast-paced variety shows are presented at events ranging from official military functions, to community relations concerts, fairs and public school concerts throughout the Western United States. 

Much like its name implies, this high-powered group travels extensively throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada.  Mobility regularly entertains eager crowds at professional sporting events such as the games of the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and the Oakland A's.

Also performing on Friday Aug. 5, is McKenna Faith, a 16-year old country music singer/songwriter from Ukiah, California.  Singing since she was a little girl, McKenna grew up in the rodeo circuit performing in a variety of ways from singing the national anthem as an eight year old to competing in the World Barrel Racing Finals.

She took first place in the teen and adult divisions at Ukiah Idol, and was the ‘Peoples Choice’ in the Rising Stars competition. Having wrapped up a series of sold-out concerts promoting the release of her debut album Sugar & Spice that she recorded in Nashville in October 2010, she and her band continue to tour.  McKenna is always writing new music and pursuing her dream of hitting it big in the country world.

Once again this year, the Bay Stage will be home to two entertaining competitions: the “Talent Competition” on Friday August 5 and the “Solano Stars! Vocal Competition” on Saturday Aug. 6.

Both competitions will be held from 5-7 p.m. on the Bay Stage. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in each competition and the entry fee is included with Fair admission. The “Talent Competition” is open to musical duos, trios, bands, dancers and other entertainers, while the “Solano Stars! Vocal Competition” is open to individual vocalists only.

All contestants must live in Solano County and will be judged on talent, stage presence and entertainment appeal.  Registration for both competitions is due by July 29.  Contact Kim Mini at kmini@SCFair.org or visit the Fair’s web site, www.SCFair.com, for more information.

Sunday Aug. 7 brings the Urban Bushmen Band to this year’s Fair.  A Northern California rhythm and blues group ready to entertain, this high energy, crowd pleasing act knows how to get people up on the dance floor and keep them moving.  Founded by young blues/funk guitarist Kenny Wilson (father of child prodigy Gabi Wilson) the Urban Bushmen Band covers classic blues, R&B and neo-soul.

Whether its fan favorite grooves by other well known groups, or music of their own, the band pulsates with tight arrangements, smooth vocals and an intense rhythm section.  Lively congas, shakes and rattles complete the section, all topped off soothing saxophone melodies.

The Solano County Fair runs from August 3-7, 2011 at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo.  All entertainment, including concerts, is included FREE with Fair admission.  Pre-sale tickets to the Solano County Fair are available on-line through August 2 and offer a discount off the regular prices.

Fair admission prices are $6 in advance and $8 on-site for adults, $3 in advance and $4 on-site for children ages 6-12 and seniors 60+.  Children 5 and under are always FREE.  Military personnel and dependents with an active duty card are also always FREE. Seniors 60+ receive FREE admission all day on Seniors Day, Wednesday August 3 and children 12 and younger receive FREE admission on Kids Day, Thursday August 4.  Select activities, carnival rides and games have a separate cost.  Carnival wristbands, good all day any one day, are $20 in advance and $25 on-site.  Visit www.SCFair.com or call 707-551-2000 for more information.