Minnesota State Fair 2024: Blake Shelton, Motley Crue and the pairing of Ludacris and T-Pain on tap to play the Grandstand

Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press
·10 min read

Last summer, the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand offered one of its most star-studded lineups in recent memory, with sold-out shows from the Chicks, Keith Urban, Brandi Carlile and the Jonas Brothers.

While this year’s offerings aren’t quite as spectacular, ticket prices are more reasonable than 2023, when the Black Keys — who infamously canceled their arena tour this year because of soft sales — were asking $159 for top seats. Frugality seems to be a big draw this season, as the hottest seller is the retro R&B pairing of Ludacris and T-Pain. Tickets started at $44, topped off at $88 and, now, only obstructed view seats remain.

Tickets are available through Etix, by phone at 800-514-3849 and in person at the State Fairgrounds Ticket Office. All concerts start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Here’s a look at what’s on tap.

Becky G with Los Aptos

Aug. 22: Born Rebbeca Marie Gomez in California, Latin pop star and actress Becky G began her career at the age of 9 after her parents lost their home and moved into the converted garage of her grandparents’ house. She began working as an actress and in music in 2008 and started writing songs soon after. At 13, she taught herself how to play the guitar. After posting a series of songs online, she landed a record deal with RCA. In 2014, her singles “Can’t Get Enough” and “Shower” broke her through in the U.S. as well as several European nations. In the years since, Becky G has starred in the films “Power Rangers” and “Blue Beetle” and the TV shows “Empire” and “Austin and Ally.” She has continued to record music, in both English and Spanish, and landed on the charts with the singles “Mayores,” “Sin Pijama,” “Booty,” “Ram Pam Pam,” “Mamii” and “Chanel.” $88-$44.

Chance the Rapper

Aug. 23: Chicago hip-hop star Chance the Rapper would have gone into politics if it was up to his father, who worked in the Department of Labor during President Barack Obama’s first term. But Chance fell in love with hip-hop after hearing Kanye West’s 2004 debut album, “The College Dropout.” He recorded his first music while he was a senior in high school. He got his big break when Childish Gambino, aka actor/rapper Donald Glover, invited Chance to open for his 2012 tour. The following year, Chance’s mixtape “Acid Rap” earned nearly universal acclaim. He spent the rest of the decade touring heavily, collaborating with numerous other artists and establishing himself as a feel-good rapper and philanthropist. He made his Grandstand debut in 2013 opening for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. More recently, Chance has focused on other pursuits, including releasing his 2021 concert film “Magnificent Coloring World” through AMC Theatres and serving as a coach on NBC’s “The Voice.” $148-$48.

Nate Bargatze

Aug. 24: Dubbed “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up” by the Atlantic magazine, Nate Bargatze was inspired to pursue a career in entertainment by his father, a clown turned magician. He called his 2015 debut Comedy Central special “Full Time Magic” and his debut album “Yelled at by a Clown.” He has since released two specials for Netflix, “The Tennessee Kid” and “The Greatest Average American,” as well as “Nate Bargatze: Hello World” on Amazon Prime. Bargatze is a frequent guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and he served as the host on “Saturday Night Live” in October. In a 2023 interview with Fox News, Bargatze said he keeps his shows clean because he’s afraid of disappointing his parents. “I just can’t imagine cursing in front of your parents,” he said. “I just don’t have that in me to want to offend someone or make someone feel bad.” $197-$77.

Blake Shelton with Emily Ann Roberts

Aug. 25: Country star Blake Shelton scored a No. 1 hit with his 2001 debut single, “Austin.” For the next decade, he was a mainstay on country radio and returned to the top of the charts with “The Baby,” “Some Beach,” “Home,” “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” “Hillbilly Bone,” “All About Tonight” and “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking.” But Shelton’s career really took off after he signed on to be a coach on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2011. In the decade that followed, nearly every one of his singles landed in the Top 5, including “Honey Bee,” “Sure Be Cool If You Did,” “Boys ‘Round Here,” “God’s Country,” “Nobody but You” and “Happy Anywhere.” The latter two were duets with his third wife, Gwen Stefani. After spending 23 seasons on “The Voice” — and watching nine of his chosen vocalists win — Shelton retired from the show. His season nine runner-up Emily Ann Roberts opens. $207-$77.

Happy Together Tour

Aug. 26: This retro package tour was a first-Monday-night-of-the-Fair tradition for much of the ’10s with other nostalgia acts like the Beach Boys and the Spinners taking that spot in recent years. The tour touts its artists as achieving “an undeniable 61 Billboard Top 40 smashes.” This year’s show includes Joey Molland, the sole surviving member of Badfinger’s (“Come and Get It,” “Day After Day”) classic lineup. The 77-year-old Liverpool native lives in Minneapolis. The rest of the lineup includes the Turtles (“You Showed Me,” “Happy Together”), Jay and the Americans (“Only in America,” “Come a Little Bit Closer”), the Association (“Cherish,” “Along Comes Mary”), the Vogues (“Five O’Clock World,” “You’re the One”) and the Cowsills (“Hair,” “Indian Lake”). $66-$33.

Ludacris and T-Pain

Aug. 27: This pair of R&B artists ruled the ’00s and are sharing the bill at the Grandstand. Ludacris began rapping at age 9. After graduating high school, he studied music management at Georgia State University for a year and then self-released his debut album “Incognegro” in 1999. His many hits include “What’s Your Fantasy,” “Southern Hospitality,” “Area Codes,” “Rollout (My Business),” “Stand Up,” “Money Maker” and “Act a Fool.” Florida native Faheem Najm adopted his stage name T-Pain to reflect what he called the “Tallahassee Pain” he endured growing up. After starting his career with the rap group Nappy Headz, T-Pain went solo with his 2004 debut mixtape “Back @ It.” While working on his first studio album, T-Pain began singing instead of rapping and experimenting with the heavy use of Auto-Tune, which quickly became his trademark. His two biggest singles are “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’)” and “Bartender.” While he hasn’t had a significant hit in more than a decade, T-Pain has appeared in several Adult Swim shows and won the first season of “The Masked Singer.” $88-$44.

Jon Pardi

Aug. 28: A California native, Jon Pardi began writing music as a teenager and, after graduating from high school, he moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music. He landed a contract with Capitol and hit the road in 2010 opening for his labelmate Dierks Bentley. Three years later, his second single “Up All Night” went platinum and hit No. 10. In the time since, Pardi has not been the most prolific artist in the genre and has released just a single or two each year for the past decade. But he chose wisely, as nearly all of them went platinum or better, including “Head Over Boots,” “Dirt on My Boots,” “Heartache on the Dance Floor,” “Night Shift,” “Heartache Medication” and “Ain’t Always the Cowboy.” $88-$44.

Motley Crue

Aug. 29: The latest version of ’80s rockers Motley Crue will play the Grandstand for the third time, following shows in 2005 and 2012. Known for such hits as “Home Sweet Home,” “Kickstart My Heart,” “Shout at the Devil” and “Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room,” Motley Crue splintered in 1992 when lead singer Vince Neil left the group (or was fired, depending on who you believe). Neil returned five years later, but soon after, drummer Tommy Lee retired from the group. The full lineup reunited in 2004. Motley Crue unveiled plans for their farewell tour in January 2014, but five years later they announced they were reuniting, citing renewed interest in the band following the release of “The Dirt,” a Netflix biopic based on Motley Crue’s best-selling 2001 autobiography. Founding guitarist Mick Mars, who has long struggled with the chronic form of arthritis ankylosing spondylitis, departed the group in October 2022 under mysterious circumstances. The rest of the band immediately announced former Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5 was taking his place. $207-$77.

Matchbox Twenty with Beauty School Dropout

Aug. 30: Formed in Florida in 1995, Matchbox Twenty released their debut album “Yourself or Someone Like You” the following year. After a slow start, the record took off with a string of hits including “Push,” “3 A.M.,” “Real World” and “Back 2 Good.” Prior to work on the band’s second album, lead singer Rob Thomas was asked to co-write the song “Smooth” for Carlos Santana’s album “Supernatural.” Santana himself asked Thomas to sing it after hearing his voice on the demo and it went on to become a massive hit that won three Grammy Awards, including record and song of the year. That success set the stage for Thomas’ solo career, which he kicked off in 2005 with the album “Something to Be.” Matchbox Twenty went on to release three more albums in the ’00s and early ’10s and returned to the charts with “Bent,” “If You’re Gone,” “Unwell,” “How Far We’ve Come” and “She’s So Mean.” $134-$67.

Stephen Sanchez

Aug. 31: Buzzy newcomer Stephen Sanchez first earned attention in the summer of 2020 when he posted a cover of Cage the Elephant’s “Cigarette Daydreams” on TikTok. After posting a snippet of his own song “Lady by the Sea,” singer/songwriter Jeremy Zucker reached out with an offer to produce it. That led to a deal with Republic Records, which released his debut EP “What Was, Not Now” in October 2021. Thanks to a sound heavily influenced by the music of the 1950s and early ’60s — most obviously Roy Orbison — Sanchez has been able to stand out in the crowded pop music market. His 2021 single “Until I Found You” went quadruple platinum in the U.S. and hit the charts around the world. He performed it on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “The Late Late Show with James Corden” as well as with Elton John during his headlining show at Glastonbury 2023. Sanchez released his debut album “Angel Face” last fall and embarked on a sold-out tour that included an October stop at First Avenue. $68-$34.

Kidz Bop Live

Sept. 2: The family friendly music brand Kidz Bop was unveiled in 2001 with the promise to perform current pop hits “sung by kids for kids.” Since its debut, Kidz Bop has sold more than 21 million albums and generated 4.5 billion streams. The concept has expanded to include merchandise, music videos, a live touring division and talent search competitions. The first touring version, featuring kids and an adult MC backed by a full rock band, kicked off in 2007 at Target Center in Minneapolis. 3 p.m.; $48-$24.

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