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Grand
Funk Railroad Highlights
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Opening
Night on the Experience Stage
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at
the 2019 Great New York State Fair
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Syracuse,
NY – April 2019 / Newsmaker Alert / Legendary rock band Grand
Funk Railroad brings its American Band tour of classic hits to the Chevrolet
Music Festival at the New
York Experience Stage at 7 p.m. opening night, Wednesday, August 21.
Admission on opening day is $1 and all performances are free of charge.
“You’ve got to make time
to see this American Band because they are Some Kind of Wonderful. Let’s
get all of our classic rock fans Closer To Home, so fly, swim or even use
Locomotion if you have to, but just get here because they’re coming to
our town,” said Fair Director Troy Waffner.
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Grand Funk Railroad is one
of a diverse slate of more than two dozen shows by national touring groups
that will take place at Chevy Court and on the Experience Stage in the
New York Experience festival grounds, including, at Chevy Court:
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Bad Company, 8 p.m., August
21
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Lindsey Stirling, 8 p.m., August
23
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Dropkick Murphys, 8 p.m., August
25
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Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter
Noone, 2 p.m., August 26
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Midland, 8 p.m., August 26
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Why Don’t We, 2 p.m., August
29
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Granger Smith, 8 p.m., August
30
In addition, Rick Springfield
will perform on the Experience
Stage at 7 p.m., August 31.
Chevrolet sponsors the performances
on both stages.
Accelerating CNY Rising
Today’s announcement complements
“Central NY Rising,” the region’s comprehensive blueprint to generate robust
economic growth and community development. The State has already invested
more than $5.6 billion in the region since 2012 to lay the groundwork for
the plan – capitalizing on global market opportunities, strengthening entrepreneurship
and creating an inclusive economy. Today, unemployment is down to the lowest
levels since before the Great Recession; personal and corporate income
taxes are down; and businesses are choosing places like Syracuse, Oswego
and Auburn as a destination to grow and invest in.
Now, the region is accelerating
Central NY Rising with a $500 million State investment through the Upstate
Revitalization Initiative, announced by Governor Cuomo in December 2015.
The State’s $500 million investment will incentivize private business to
invest well over $2.5 billion – and the region’s plan, as submitted, projects
up to 5,900 new jobs. More information is available
here.
About New York State Fair
Founded in 1841, the Great
New York State Fair is America’s third largest state fair. The fair showcases
the best of New York agriculture and provides top-quality entertainment.
The 2019 Fair runs from August 21 to September 2. Information about the
Fair can be found here.
The New York State Fairgrounds
is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year.
A year-round schedule of events is available
here. Find the Great New York State Fair on Facebook,
follow @NYSFair on Twitter, on
Snapchat at nysfair and enjoy photos from the Fair on Flickr.
Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York
State Fair at statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.
About Grand Funk Railroad
“You cannot talk about rock
in the 1970s without talking about Grand Funk Railroad!” – David Fricke,
Rolling
Stone Magazine.
Originating from Flint, Michigan
in 1969, this top selling American rock group of the 70’s is “comin’ to
your town to help you party it down.” Grand
Funk Railroad is extremely excited to be touring in 2019, marking a
50-year milestone. After playing to millions of fans on the band’s tours
from 1996 to 2018, Grand Funk’s 2019 American Band Tour will continue to
reach both new and long-time fans.
Known as “The American Band,”
the high-energy five-piece group will play forty shows all over the USA
this year. Grand Funk Railroad includes original founding members Don Brewer
(vocals and drums, writer and singer of the multi-million selling hit,
“We’re An American Band”) and bassist Mel Schacher, “The God Of Thunder.”
Joining Don and Mel are true “All Stars.” Singer Max Carl is a rock veteran
from 38 Special. Max penned and sang 38’s biggest hit “Second Chance” and
was co-founder of California’s legendary Jack Mack and the Heart Attack.
Don refers to Max as “the best blue-eyed soul singer on the planet.” Lead
guitarist Bruce Kulick is best known for his 12 years with KISS and has
credits with Michael Bolton, Meatloaf and Billy Squier. (KISS members Gene
Simmons and Paul Stanley were influenced early on by Grand Funk.) Keyboardist
Tim Cashion has a master’s degree in music from the University of Miami.
Affectionately called “Dr. Tim,” his credits include stints with Bob Seger
and the Silver Bullet Band and English soul man Robert Palmer.
Grand Funk laid the groundwork
for such bands as Foreigner, Journey, Van Halen and Bon Jovi with its signature
hard driving sound, soulful vocals, muscular instrumentation and forceful
pop melodies. The fact that Grand Funk’s legacy still reigns over the classic
rock landscape fifty years after its 1969 birth in Flint, Michigan is a
testament to the group’s influence and staying power. Mega-hits “We’re
An American Band,” “I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home,” “Locomotion” and
“Some Kind Of Wonderful” still receive continuous airplay on classic rock
radio. “We’re An American Band” has received notoriety in recent years
being used in movie soundtracks and in television/radio advertising. The
huge hit was featured in a General Motors national TV ad campaign and in
Disney’s animated feature film “The Country Bears.” “We’re An American
Band” was featured in the Cuba Gooding Jr. film “Radio” and in the swashbuckler
“Sahara” starring Matthew McConaughey.
Internationally acclaimed
Grand Funk has toured the world, selling out in the U.S., Canada, Europe,
Japan and South America. A 1971 performance at New York’s Shea Stadium
sold out faster than the Beatles. The group’s widespread appeal is also
evident in its prestigious recording achievements. Over their career, Grand
Funk has had 19 charted singles, eight Top 40 hits and two Number One singles
(“We’re An American Band” and “Locomotion,” both selling more than one
million each). The group has now accumulated 13 gold and 10 platinum records
with record sales exceeding 25 million copies sold worldwide. The most
recent gold CD award was presented to the band for their greatest hits
package, “Grand Funk Railroad the Collectors Series.”
The multi-talented band carries
on the tradition of Grand Funk hits and creates a new chapter in the legacy
of Grand Funk Railroad. Grand Funk Railroad drew 25,000 people to their
Molson Canal Series Concert outside of Buffalo, 20,000 in Albany, New York,
and 20,000 fans to downtown Orlando, Florida. EMI/Capitol (Universal Music)
released a new Grand Funk greatest hits package that includes a bonus DVD
of rare concert footage. Grand Funk’s 2018 tour was a huge success and
now, with the group’s 2019 American Band Tour, seasoned Grand Funk lovers
and contemporary rock fans discovering the group for the first time will
be able to celebrate 50 years of funk with Grand
Funk Railroad!
Media Contacts:
Jola
Szubielski
Public Information Officer
NYS Department of Agriculture
& Markets
518-457-0752
Dave
Bullard
Public Relations
New York State Fair
315-487-7711 x 1377 |