From Beatles To Broncos A Wide Variety Of Entertainment Awaits Fair Visitors
Beatlemaniacs can get their fix 15 times at the 1997 North Idaho Fair when The BackBeat comes to Coeur d’Alene.
The Southern California Beatles imitators join three other touring acts as this year’s main stage entertainment line-up.
There’s no extra charge beyond admission price for the fair. Rock/country musicians Linder & Brock, a four-piece high-tech band, Pippi the Clown and the acrobatic comic duo of Tesseract round out this year’s visiting entertainers.
Local groups performing during fair hours include Men in the Making, the Coeurly Que’s Squaredancers, Lake City Gymnasts, the Northwest Academy of Music and the Hi-Kickers Cloggers.
Forty tough bovine critters also will be on hand for Bull Challenge ‘97, a bulls’ only rodeo. Add to that P.R.C.A. rodeo, the draft horse show and pull, demolition derby and opening night’s Party in the Dirt.
The fair offers an abundance of free entertainment for almost all tastes.
“I think we have some of the most fun free stage acts ever,” said fair manager Barb Renner.
Renner has billed The BackBeat on the U.S. Bank stage for all five days of the fair. They’ll perform three times daily with both afternoon and evening sets.
“The best thing about this band is the incredible amount of fun energy they put into their show,” according to a recent Good Day Sunshine magazine review, which described the Liverpool lookalikes.
“The group features four look/soundalikes (particularly close are the Lennon and Harrison, Peter George and Daniel Lopez, respectively) who play in period costume in various sets representing the different phases the Beatles went through,” the review stated.
Linder and Brock, a Dallas band, has opened for numerous big names in country music, including Pam Tillis and The Oak Ridge Boys. Combining their voices with percussion, guitar and piano, the group does a “fantabulous” job without always sounding the same, Renner said. “They’re great for all ages.”
The group will perform three times daily on the Steinley Stage.
Coming to North Idaho from Canada, Tesseract incorporates the audience into its routine. Peter Boulanger and Ninon Parent met at the National Circus School in Quebec. Since then, they’ve taken to the streets of Vancouver, British Columbia, to hone their comedic skills. Their credits include six months at DisneyWorld’s Epcot Center and numerous appearances at fairs, festivals and corporate events throughout Canada. They’ll perform all five days.
Press reports say Pippi the Clown’s dynamic personality and delightful, colorful costumes captivate an audience in the way few clowns can.
Audiences can expect slapstick comedy, magic, juggling, story telling, balloon sculpting and even face painting. Pippi will take center stage Wednesday through Saturday for four hours of entertainment.
Wednesday evening the second annual “Party in the Dirt” kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with more than three hours of fun, set in a dirt stage surrounded by hay bales.
Opening night’s line-up includes a concert by local disco/rock band Men in the Making.
Lake City Playhouse will be performing Broadway show tunes and big band favorites. Tesseract also will perform.
The North Idaho Classic Car Club will have 40 cars representing the decades from the ‘40s to ‘60s. A fireworks and laser show will top of the evening.
“It was a vision to see families enjoying themselves,” Renner said. “Last year it brought tears to my eyes to see grandfathers dancing with their granddaughters and everyone having a good time. They literally did have a party in the dirt. That’s what a fair is all about.”
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