News Bulletin: Fair unveils Friday night grandstand headliner

From an established artist who knows “How Country Feels” to a local talent with a burgeoning career, the Steele County Free Fair’s Friday night concert is set.

Randy Houser, who has been cranking out hits since 2005, will headline the Aug. 21 performances; special guest Cori Kennedy – a graduate of Kasson-Mantorville High School and recent fan favorite on “The Voice” – will open the show.

Houser first found success as a songwriter; Trace Adkins recorded “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” which cracked the top 5.

He won Breakout Song of the Year in 2019 with “What Whiskey Does,” and has racked up multiple nominations from the CMA, CMT and the Academy of Country Music. Houser has been nominated for New Artist of the Year, Top New Solo Vocalist, Song of the Year; and multiple times for Video of the Year.

Some of his other top songs include “Like a Cowboy,” “How Country Feels,” and “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight.”

His latest release, “Back in the Bottle,” is available now.

“Randy’s going to bring a lot to it – and (Kennedy) was excited when I told her who she was opening for,” said Scott Kozelka, SCFF manager.

There were some hurdles to the deal with Houser, who will already be in Minnesota during the first week of August, playing at WE Fest in Detroit Lakes.

But then it’s off to the United Kingdom, where Houser will perform in Scotland and England on Aug. 14 and 15.

“He had to make sure that all of his stuff was coming back before he could say yes to us,” Kozelka said, “that he would have all his gear and everything could happen.”

Kennedy, who grew up in West Concord and graduated from KMHS in 2015, now lives in Nashville, where she is pursuing her career as a singer-songwriter.

Her appearances during Season 28 of “The Voice” introduced the world to Kennedy, who charmed audiences with her folksy, storytelling-style of country music – much of it original – on Team Reba McEntire.

She has said she got into music thanks to her grandparents, West Concord residents Linda and David Kennedy, who used to give her the keys to Zwingli United Church of Christ, the little church in Berne they attended.

Kennedy would take advantage of the church piano and great acoustics to “sing her heart out,” late at night, she said.

After her elimination in the Knockout Round of “The Voice,” which Kennedy described as “only the beginning” of her career, she was asked to perform the national anthem for the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium, in front of 66,000 people.

The SCFF will run from Aug. 18-23.

The grandstand will also hold the FFA Alumni Antique Tractor Pull on Tuesday evening; the show is free.

Wednesday night will feature a Christian music concert; the entertainers will be announced March 16.

Hairball, an 80s cover band, will play Thursday night, its 24th appearance after a hiatus last year, with special guest Rival 5.

Saturday night will once again showcase Bulls and Barrels; the demolition derby will close out the fair on Sunday night.