Durham Fair’s Main Stage Entertainment
Main Stage events are FREE with a paid fair ticket.
Durham Fair Ticket Scam Alert: All concerts are included with your fair admission ticket when purchased from our official website, app, or in person. There is no additional ticket needed for entry to the concerts.
Chris Janson
Friday, Sep 27, 2024, 7:30 PM
Chris Janson is a multi-Platinum recording artist, award-winning entertainer, and celebrated singer/songwriter. The ACM Award-winner has achieved numerous accolades, including Video of the Year for his hit “Drunk Girl” and multiple NSAI “Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written” honors for “Drunk Girl” and “Buy Me A Boat.” “Buy Me A Boat” also won the iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Song of the Year. His singles “Good Vibes” and “Done” both topped the country charts. Working alongside Oscar-nominated and GRAMMY®-winning producer Julian Raymond, Janson’s fifth studio album, THE OUTLAW SIDE OF ME (2023) showcases his diverse talents. The lead single, “All I Need Is You,” recently became his fifth #1 at Country radio.
Opening Act: Jason Ingriselli and the Miles North
Friday, Sep 27, 2024, 6:00 PM
38 Special
Saturday, Sep 28, 2024, 7:15 PM
After more than four decades together, 38 Special continues to bring their signature blast of Southern Rock to over 100 cities a year and to the Durham Fair this September. At each and every show, thousands of audience members are amazed by the explosive power of the band’s performance.
With sales in excess of 20 million, most associate the band with their arena-rock pop smashes, “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ Into the Night,” “Caught Up in You,” “Fantasy Girl,” “If I’d Been the One,” “Back Where You Belong,” “Chain Lightnin’,” “Second Chance,” and more—Timeless hits that remain a staple at radio, immediately recognizable from the first opening chord, and paving the way to their present-day touring regimen.
Opening Act: Blondie & Beyond
Saturday, Sep 28, 2024, 6:00 PM
Main Stage Entertainers Through the Years at the Durham Fair
- 1970 Roy Acuff with Patsy Sledd
- 1971 Tex Ritter 1973 Skeeter Davis, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper
- 1974 Carter Family, The Stonemans
- 1975 Ferlin Husky, Charlie Walker / Slim Coxx
- 1976 Bill Anderson and Mary Lou Turner, Little Jimmy Dickens
- 1977 Sonny James, Kitty Wells, Johnny Wright, Bobby Wright
- 1978 Tom T. Hall, George Hamilton IV
- 1979 Stella Parton, Jim and Jesse, Justin Tubb
- 1980 The Kendalls, Wilburn Brothers, Charlie Walker
- 1981 Bill Monroe, Jimmy C. Newman, Ray Pillow
- 1982 Porter Wagoner, The Stonemans, Jan Howard
- 1983 Boxcar Willie, Johnny Russell, Mac Wiseman
- 1984 Ronnie McDowell, Jeannie C. Riley, Wilma Lee Cooper
- 1985 Bill Anderson, The Whites, Ferlin Husky
- 1986 Grandpa Jones, Bill Anderson, Connie Smith
- 1987 John Conlee, Moe Bandy, Little Jimmy Dickens
- 1988 Bill Monroe, Lynn Anderson, Porter Wagoner
- 1989 Dirk Benedict, Dottie West, Bowzer, Jimmy C. Newman, Tom Wopat
- 1990 Mel McDaniel, Baillie and the Boys, Williams and Ree
- 1991 Earl Thomas Conley, Marty Stuart, Dan Seals
- 1992 Riders in the Sky, Michael Johnson, Bellamy Brothers, John Conlee
- 1993 Patty Loveless, Bailley and the Boys, BJ Thomas
- 1994 Hal Ketchum, Jerry Reed, Ronna Reeves
- 1995 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Hartford, Holly Dunn, Jan and Dean
- 1996 Steve Wariner, Marshall Tucker Band, Mike Snider
- 1997 Ricky Van Shelton, Bowzer, Ricky Scaggs, Bill Engvall
- 1998 Loretta Lynn, 38 Special, Toby Keith
- 1999 Sammy Kershaw, Billy Ray Cyrus, Three Dog Night
- 2000 Kenny Chesney, Pam Tillis, Drifters-Platters-Marvelettes
- 2001 Diamond Rio, Roy Clark, Bo Diddley
- 2002 Diamond Rio, Lonestar, Marshall Tucker Band
- 2003 Joan Jett, Charlie Daniels Band, Sara Evans
- 2004 Sawyer Brown, Trace Adkins, Eddie Money
- 2005 Randy Travis, Neal Mccoy, Gin Blossoms
- 2006 George Jones, She'Daisy, Phil Vassar
- 2007 Oak Ridge Boys, 38 Special, Joe Nichols
- 2008 Blake Shelton, The Guess Who, Phil Vassar
- 2009 Blake Shelton, The Guess Who
- 2010 Aaron Tippin, REO Speedwagon
- 2011 KC & Sunshine Band, Blues Traveler, Steel Magnolia
- 2012 Kenny Rogers, Kellie Pickler
- 2013 Justin Moore, Josh Turner
- 2014 Tower of Power, Montgomery Gentry, JoDee Messina
- 2015 Martina McBride, Craig Morgan, Confederate Railroad
- 2016 Old Dominion, Foreigner, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
- 2017 Brothers Osborne, Pat Benatar, USO
- 2018 Melissa Etheridge, Scotty McCreery, USO
- 2019 Little River Band, Big & Rich, Braiden Sunshine, Presley and Taylor
- 2023 Lauren Alaina, Rick Springfield, Lee Greenwood