Saline Fair Showcases A Variety of Concert Performers

Whatever your musical taste, the Saline Community Fair has concerts to get your toes tapping and hands clapping.

The Saturday night headliner is Nashville recording artist Brenda Loomis and her band, taking the stage at 7:30 p.m.

Loomis, who has over 140,000 fans and friends on 12,000 music and social networks, has worked with Josh Gracin, Tim McGraw, Darryl Worley, Zac Brown Band, Chris Young, Justin Moore, Brett Michaels, Leann Rhimes, Montgomery Gentry, Lee Brice, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Leroy Parnell, Andy Griggs and Confederate Railroad, Allen & Ashcraft and Arron Tippin to name a few.

Her song “Later” recently went to No. 1 on Soundclick.com, her sixth song to reach the top spot in the last two years. Her music is played on over 675 FM stations in Europe and 1,200 clear channels in the USA.

Loomis is backed by the Brenda Loomis Band, comprising her husband Paul Loomis on keyboard, guitar, and harmony vocals; Bob Cottom on bass guitar and harmony vocals; Clayborne Stewert on lead guitar, rhythm, sax, mandolin and vocals; Ronnie Star on lead guitar, steel guitar, harmonica and vocals; and Stacey Hill on drums and vocals.

“We play the crowd a lot,” says Paul Loomis.  “Our goal is to entertain our crowd so we have to be flexible and be willing to change it up as to whatever the fans want. We play all the top 40 country hits that are on the radio today and we play classic rock also. Brenda is an awesome entertainer and she will win their hearts with her first song.”

Fans will enjoys Loomis’ country and classic rock covers of greats like Sheryl Crow, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Joan Jett, Leann Rimes, Alison Krause, Martina McBride, Kathy Matea, Dixie Chicks, Cindy Lauper, and many more, as well as original songs she has written with her husband.

The band, that has been playing all around Michigan this summer, and also has a regular gig at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, has been in the studio recording songs for a new CD and is also working on a concept video for CMT Television.

Saline’s very own Fiddlers ReStrung will take the stage 7:30 p.m. Friday, with a variety American bluegrass, Celtic fiddle, popular folk, progressive acoustic and much more.

The performance follows a busy summer around town – the troupe performed at Saline’s Summerfest, opened for the Summer Music Series, and played at the Celtic Festival. They also played recently in Jackson, Lincoln Township, St. Joseph, and at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.

The troupe’s annual summer tour was the “Colony Coast Tour” in late June/early July, taking the group to U.S. historic roots in Philadelphia, New York City, Madison, Conn., West Mifflin, Penn., and Boston. They stopped in Pittsburgh for a tour of Carnegie Mellon University and a performance on campus. Highlights of the tour included a rehearsal audit with the Boston Pops Orchestra as the symphony prepared for its annual July Fourth concert, “The Cradle of Liberty.” Fiddlers ReStrung members also attended a Boston workshop with renowned Irish fiddler, Sheila Falls.

For youngsters – although adults love this duo as well – Gemini will perform in concert at 1 p.m. Thursday, during Children’s/PreSchool Day. It is the 10th year for Ann Arbor twins San and Laz Slomovits to perform at the fair, and their seventh fair appearance since 2002.

“It’s always our first fall concert, and we love kicking off the new season with our show there, San Slomovits says. “Although not farmers ourselves, we come from farm stock and always enjoy the harvest atmosphere at the fair.”

Gemini has been performing since 1973, at concert halls, festivals, community centers and elementary schools throughout the United States and Canada; and in 1997 began performing with symphony orchestras, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Kansas City Symphony.

The brothers have released numerous award-winning recordings for adults and children and families.  Their newest recording, released in April 2010, is “Once Upon A Time... The Storytelling Album,” featuring folk tales from around the world, with musical elements added to each story.

Local entertainer Luke Schaible will perform from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, on Senior Citizens Day; Manchester singer Webb Seegert will present old-time songs he learned from his parents and grandparents during the Ladies Day program, getting under way at 1 p.m. Friday; and the Cottonwood Cloggers will bring their mix of blues, country, rock ‘n’ roll and jazz, at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Saline may even witness the unveiling of a dazzling new talent when “Saline's Got Talent” takes to the stage at 6 p.m. Friday, with a cash prize of $100 up for grabs. Sponsored by W4 Country and Key Bank, Bubba from W4 will emcee the event.