Who is performing at Iowa State Fair free stages in 2022? Hairball, Wang Chung and more
The 2022 Iowa State Fair is less than a month away, and when it hits, festival organizers are promising a boatload of free entertainment.
While admission for the fair is required to see these shows, once on the Fairgrounds, all of the following performances are free to attend. Adult admission tickets are $9 in advance of the State Fair or $14 at the gate.
Here's a look at nine of the biggest free shows coming to the Iowa State Fair in 2022, along with the full roster of all of the free entertainment below.
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The Nadas
Iowa in the house. The Des Moines-based folk rock quintet The Nadas originally formed in 1993 in Ames and became the house band for People’s Bar & Grill in Ames. Over their 23-year career, the band opened for The Beach Boys, America, Bon Jovi and Huey Lewis and produced 11 studio albums.
Watch The Nadas on Aug. 12 at 7 and 9 p.m. on the MidAmerican Energy Stage.
Iowa State Fair Queen coronation
County queens from all over the state of Iowa vie for the title of Iowa State Fair Queen and the crown and sash she wears. Since 1964, the State Fair has crowned a queen, using criteria such as personality, attitude, leadership, citizenship, contribution to community, overall appearance, charm and poise. Miss Plymouth County McKenna Henrich of Akron hands over the reins after earning the title in 2021.
See the Iowa State Fair Queen coronation at 7 p.m. Aug. 13 on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage.
Sammy Kershaw
With 16 studio albums to his name, Sammy Kershaw is a bona fide country music star. His biggest hit, “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. His honky-tonk style brings songs such as “Cadillac Style,” “Anywhere But Here,” “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer,” and “Love of My Life.” Interesting fact: Kershaw ran for governor of his home state of Louisiana twice, but didn't win either election.
Sammy Kershaw performs on Aug. 14 at 8 p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater.
More: 8 ways to save money on value packs, food and thrill rides at the Iowa State Fair 2022
Stephen Pearcy
Comedy legend Milton Berle gave “Round and Round” from Ratt a big boost when he appeared in the music video for the song. Founder of the heavy metal band Ratt Stephen Pearcy digs deep into his catalog of songs he sang with bands such as Firedome, Crystal Pystal and Ratt Arcade, Vicious Delite, and Vertex.
Watch Stephen Pearcy perform at 8 p.m. on Aug. 15 on the MidAmerican Energy Stage.
Hairball
No, not the lovely ball your cat coughs up. Hairball is the wildly popular cover band out of Minneapolis. For the past 22 years, the boys have put on a show playing songs from the likes of Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crüe, Queen, Journey and Aerosmith. Bang your head for two nights with these wild guys.
Hairball performs on Aug. 16-17 at 8 p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater.
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Wang Chung
Did you know that Wang Chung is Chinese for yellow bell? And, no, the band is not Chinese. Neither of the main performers are. The British new wave group got its start in 1980 in London, going on to play hits such as “Dance Hall Days,” “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” and “Let’s Go.” Original members Jack Hues (vocalist/guitarist) and Nick Feldman (guitar) even recorded a version of The Beatle’s “Rain” on the ukulele.
Wang Chung performs on Aug. 18 at 8 p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater.
Slaughter
Get ready to bang your head. Las Vegas-based glam metal rockers Slaughter got huge in 1990 with their first album “Stick It to Ya.” Vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum drove fans into a frenzy with hits such as “Up All Night,” “Spend My Life,” “Mad About You” and “Fly to the Angels.”
See Slaughter perform on Aug. 20 at 8 p.m. at the Susan Knapp Amphitheater.
Anne Wilson
At just 20, Anne Wilson is already making waves in the American Christian music realm. The singer and songwriter made her debut in 2021 with “My Jesus,” which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart and Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. Don’t confuse her with Ann Wilson, the lead singer and songwriter of the rock band Heart, who opens for ZZ Top on Aug. 16.
See Anne Wilson perform on Aug. 21 at 8 p.m. at the Anne and Bill Riley Stage.
Quiet Riot
Los Angeles-based Quiet Riot still puts on a head-banging show with its hits such as “Cum On Feel the Noize,” and “Mama Weer All Crazee Now,” which both happen to be covers of the British glam band Slade, and “Metal Health (Bang Your Head).” Believe it or not, Quiet Riot originally came together in 1973, but none of the original members of the band are part of the group.
See Quiet Riot perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 21 on the MidAmerican Energy Stage.
Free entertainment at the Iowa State Fair
Here's a look at all of the free entertainment at the Iowa State Fair for 2022.
Susan Knapp Amphitheater
Aug. 11 at 8 p.m., country artist Ian Munsick
Aug. 12 at 8 p.m., country artist Adam Doleac
Aug. 13 at 8 p.m., country artist Frank Ray
Aug. 14 at 8 p.m., country artist Sammy Kershaw
Aug. 15 at 5 and 7:30 p.m., Country Gold featuring country artists LeRoy VanDyke, T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang
Aug. 15 at 8 p.m., rock band Hairball
Aug. 16 at 8 p.m., Hairball
Aug. 18 at 8 p.m., new wave group Wang Chung
Aug. 19 at 8 p.m., country artist Levi Hummon
Aug. 20 at 8 p.m., rock band Slaughter
Aug. 21 at 8 p.m., country artist Casey Donahew
More: What to know about the 2022 Iowa State Fair: concerts, tickets, dates and more
Anne and Bill Riley Stage
Aug. 11-12 at 8 p.m., rock band Liliac
Aug. 13 at 7 p.m., Iowa State Fair Queen coronation
Aug. 14 at 7 p.m., Latin musical artists Parranderos Latin Combo
Aug. 15-20, at 7 and 9 p.m., hypnotist Ron Diamond
Aug. 21 at 8 p.m., singer/songwriter Anne Wilson
MidAmerican Energy Stage
Aug. 11 at 7 and 9 p.m., country singer Jason Brown
Aug. 12 at 7 and 9 p.m., alternative band The Nadas
Aug. 13 at 8 p.m., country singer Colt Ford
Aug. 14 at 8 p.m., heavy metal band BulletBoys
Aug.15 at 8 p.m., Stephen Pearcy the Voice of Ratt
Aug. 16 at 8 p.m., country singer Spencer Crandall
Aug. 17 at 8 p.m., country singer Alana Springsteen
Aug. 18 at 8 p.m., Resurrection — A Journey Tribute
Aug. 19 at 8 p.m., country singer Chase Matthew
Aug. 20 at 7 and 9 p.m., Bob Dorr’s Iowa Music Revue
Aug. 21 at 8 p.m., heavy metal band Quiet Riot
Fun Forest Stage
Aug. 11-21 at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m., Fantastick Patrick
Aug. 11-21 at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., The Rubber Chicken Show with Greg Frisbee
Other Fairgrounds entertainment
Chainsaw Artists Gary Keenan and TJ Jenkins — Country School area
Aug. 11 at 10 a.m., noon, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.; Aug. 12 at 10 a.m., noon, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.; Aug. 13-20 at 10 a.m., noon, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.; Aug. 21 at 10 a.m. and noon.
Red Trouser Show — Expo Hill
Aug. 11-21 at noon, 3 and 6 p.m.
Brian Sobaski’s Straw Art — Near Giant Slide
Aug. 11-21 at 9 a.m.
Sandscapes — Thrill Ville Entrance on Grand
Aug. 11-21 at 9 a.m.
Disc-Connected K-9s, sponsored by Mountain Valley Spring Water — Jacobson Building West Lawn
Aug. 11-19 and Aug. 21 at noon, 3 and 9 p.m.; Aug. 20 at noon, 3 and 6 p.m.
Wheels of Agriculture — Near Gate 13 and Little Hands on the Farm
Aug. 11-21 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Bandaloni, Strolling Piano, Robocars — Strolling
Aug. 11-21 at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.
More information about these events, as well as the rest of the State Fair, can be found through iowastatefair.org. Tickets for the event go on sale July 5 both online and through the Iowa State Fair ticket office.
More: 8 ways to save money on value packs, food and thrill rides at the Iowa State Fair 2022
Isaac Hamlet covers arts, entertainment and culture at the Des Moines Register. Reach him at ihamlet@gannett.com or 319-600-2124, or follow him on Twitter @IsaacHamlet.
Omar Waheed is a staff writer at the Des Moines Register. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State Fair free concerts 2022 schedule, lineup and performances
