First Wave of Performers Announced for the New York State Fair 2024

People from all over New York State come together to experience the affordable, family-friendly, invigorating 13-day festival. The New York State Fair recently unveiled its all-star lineup of 20 amazing performances across the two weeks. Whether you like the Classic Pop or Rock n' Roll, Country or Rap, loud and obnoxious or family friendly, there is something for you! And did I mention these concerts were free with admission? We got the dates and times of who is playing this year below:

Favorites from last year like Chubby Checker, Herman's Hermits, Danielle Ponder, and Chapel Heart will be returning to the New York State Fair. Some major new additions this year include Dropkick Murphy's (who just played the MJN Convention Center in Poughkeepsie), Blue Oyster Cult, and TLC. We will be updating the list if and when more gets announced, but is a pretty stacked list already!

Wednesday, August 21st at 1pm - Chubby Checker

While he is best known for “The Twist,” the first number one song of all time from the Billboard’s Hot 100, he released singles through the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and most recently in the early 2000s.

Friday, August 23rd at 1pm - Sophie B. Hawkins

American pop legend Sophie B. Hawkins will take the Chevy Court stage at The Great New York State Fair at 1:00 pm on Friday, August 23, 2024. A native New Yorker and dynamic creative force known for a spellbinding live show, Hawkins’ appearance at The Fair is part of her tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of her platinum-selling debut album, Tongues and Tails.

Friday, August 23rd at 8pm - TLC

“Don’t go chasin’ waterfalls…” Plan a visit to the Great New York State Fair this summer instead! One of the most popular female music groups of the 1990s, TLC, is performing at The Fair on Pride Day, Friday, August 23. The ladies of TLC – Tionne “T-Boz” and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas – will take the Suburban Park stage at 8:00 p.m.

Named for the acronym that came from the first letter of the nicknames of each member (Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes died in 2002), TLC formed in 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia. The four-time Grammy award winning group went on to become one of the biggest-selling female groups of all time, producing an extensive musical resume that is supported with a variety of accolades.

Saturday, August 24th at 1pm - KIDZ BOP

Calling all the Fair’s youngest fans (and grown-ups too!): this summer, get a chance to sing and dance along with KIDZ BOP when they take the Chevy Court stage at The Great New York State Fair on Saturday, August 24 at 1:00 p.m. The #1 music brand for kids will perform today’s biggest global pop hits for fairgoers, stopping at the Fairgrounds during their KIDZ BOP LIVE 2024 tour. This announcement coincides with the release of KIDZ BOP’s latest album, 'KIDZ BOP 2024,’ which is out today, including the biggest bops of the year, sung by kids for kids.

Sunday, August 25th at 1pm - The Elders

Internationally known seasoned Celtic-rock band, The Elders will make their Great New York State Fair debut on the Chevy Court Stage at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, August 25. With 24 years of experience, an Emmy Award-winning DVD, and an induction into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame under their belt, the band is beloved by fans for their timeless sound, unique harmonies, unparalleled musicianship, and strong, narrative lyricism.

Sunday, August 25th at 8pm - Dropkick Murphy's

After nearly three decades, the Dropkick Murphys remain bigger than ever, having generated half a billion streams and continuing to sell out venues around the world. The Dropkick Murphys will return to the Chevrolet Music Festival at Chevy Court for the fourth time. The Celtic-iNFLuenced rockers Dropkick Murphys have been beloved by fairgoers since 2018, when they were booked as a last-minute replacement for Dickey Betts. Since then, they’ve returned in 2019 and 2022, and are ready to hit the Suburban Park Stage again this summer at 8 p.m. Sunday, August 25.

Monday, August 26th at 1pm - Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone

Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone will return to Chevy Court to play through their repertoire of hits, including “I’m Henry the VIII I Am,” “I’m Into Something Good,” and “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter.”

Monday, August 26th at 6pm - CAIN

Raised in Hartselle, Alabama as pastor’s kids and now residing in Nashville, the sibling trio comprised of Madison Cain Johnson, Taylor Cain Matz, and Logan Cain have been delighting audiences with their joyous performances since 2012, when they got their big break opening for Dave Barnes and Andrew Ripp. Since then, they have gone on to release four projects and shared the stage with artists such as TobyMac, Zach Williams, and Casting Crowns, while also performing on the famed stages of The Grand Ole Opry, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and Ryman Auditorium.

Tuesday August 27th at 1pm - Little Anthony

On Tuesday, August 27, doo-wap singer Little Anthony will make his debut appearance at the Fair on Chevy Court at 1:00 pm. With over 60 years in show business and over 50 million records sold worldwide, Little Anthony, as part of his beloved doo-wop group, has “shimmy shimmied’ his way into the hearts of fans across generations. He will delight crowds at the Fair with hits, including “Tears On My Pillow,” “Goin’ Out Of My Head,” “Hurt So Bad,” and “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko Bop.” Little Anthony was inducted into the 2009 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and most recently inducted into the 2018 class of The Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.

Tuesday August 27th at 6pm - Blue Oyster Cult

For five decades, Blue Öyster Cult has been thrilling fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs. The band continues to be revered within the hard rock and heavy metal scene for its pioneering work as one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn both genuine mainstream critical acclaim as well as commercial success. The band is often cited as a major iNFLuence by other acts such as Metallica, and BÖC was listed in VH1's countdown of the greatest hard rock bands of all time.

Wednesday, August 28th at 6pm - Danielle Ponder

Danielle Ponder is already well known throughout Western New York and in the Finger Lakes region. In 2018, she decided to pursue music fulltime. Now, as Danielle steps into the national spotlight with her debut album, “Some of Us Are Brave” (released in September 2022), her unique sound – a mix of pop, R&B, blues, rock and soul – is infiltrating radio stations across the country. NPR has described her music as “anthemic while compassionate; soulful, while bold and strong.”

Wednesday, August 28th at 8pm - Joan Jett and The Blackhearts

This will be Joan Jett and The Blackhearts’ fifth time playing to fans at The Fair since 2006. Joan Jett and The Blackhearts formed in 1979. When mainstream radio didn’t play their signature anthem, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” fans rallied to request it. The iconic hit spent seven weeks at #1. Over the next 40+ years, the band went on to amass nine Top 40 singles, including “Bad Reputation,” “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” and “Crimson and Clover.” They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

Thursday, August 29th at 6pm - Chapel Hart

In 17 seasons of AGT, Chapel Hart was only the second group to win the golden buzzer. The country trio dazzled judges and earned millions of fans after performing “You Can Have Him Jolene,” which was recognized as “International Song of the Year” in Scotland in 2021.

Known for their three-part harmonies, sisters Danica and Devynn Hart and their cousin, Trea Swindle, have sung together since they were children. Their sophomore album, “The Girls Are Back in Town,” delivers a blend of powerful ballads and music to dance to and has been recognized as “Album of the Year” at the British County Music Awards.

Saturday, August 31st at 8pm - Brian Kelley

While Kelley’s August 31 performance will be his first solo appearance at The Fair, it marks the third time he will grace The Fair’s stages with FGL’s debut in 2013, when they played to Chevy Court concertgoers in the middle of a downpour, and then returned a year later to open for Jason Aldean at the Grandstand.

Entering the next chapter of a record-breaking, History-making career, “BK” is first known as the Florida half of the GRAMMY-nominated Florida Georgia Line (FGL). The ACM Breakout Artist of the Decade Award recipients garnered 19 career #1s and became the first and only act to achieve two RIAA DIAMOND singles in Country music History (“Cruise” and “Meant to Be”). Surpassing 17 billion global streams, selling more than 40 million tracks and 4.8 million albums worldwide, plus playing to over four million fans, FGL has been honored by AMA, Billboard, CMA, and CMT Music Awards. He is also an established songwriter, co-writing several #1 hits, including Jason Aldean’s “Burnin’ It Down” and “You Make It Easy,” and Cole Swindell’s “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight.”

Sunday, September 1st at 1pm - Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour

Blippi inspires curiosity in preschoolers around the world by creating content and experiences that are relatable, accessible and make learning fun. So, come on! Dance, sing, and learn with Blippi and special guest Meekah as they discover what makes different cities unique and special. Will there be monster trucks, excavators, and garbage trucks galore? You bet! So, get ready to shake those wiggles out and OJ Twist your way through this brand-new musical party this Labor Day weekend!

Blippi has become a worldwide sensation with more than one billion monthly views across platforms including Netflix, HBO Max, Cartoonito, Sky, Amazon and YouTube and millions of fans around the world.  The franchise has expanded rapidly since it was acquired by Moonbug Entertainment in 2020.  Blippi is available in more than 20 languages, including American Sign Language, and is distributed by more than 30 global broadcast and streaming partners. Blippi’s buddies Meekah and Juca have spun off into their own shows and Blippi lives off the screen as well with sold-out live events, popular music tracks, and in-demand toys available at all major retailers.