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Big Kenny, Cowboy Troy, and John Rich perform during Patriots Fest in May in Aurora, Ill.
CELINA - Big & Rich, the powerhouse Nashville duo behind party-starting megahits "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" and "Comin' to Your City," will bring their high-octane, humor-laced brand of country music to the 2025 Mercer County Fair.
Joined by their longtime musical associate Cowboy Troy, Big & Rich, who dominated country airwaves in the 2000s, are slated to take the grandstand stage at 8 p.m. Aug. 8. Also on the bill is special guest Saw Crush.
Fair officials this week also announced they will deliver another rock concert following this year's performance of .38 Special and The Kentucky Headhunters.
Journey From The Heart, a Nashville-Based tribute band specializing in the music of melodic rock acts Journey and Heart, will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 7, the opening night of the fair, kicking off the weeklong celebration of the area's strong agricultural heritage.
Fair manager Cara Muhlenkamp said the 2025 fair lineup offers something for everyone.
"We can't wait to welcome fans to the fairgrounds for two amazing nights of music and fun," she said.
Calling themselves "America's Technicolor cowboys," Big & Rich has sold millions of records.
"It's all about the routing and the budget and patience, putting those offers in and hoping that they get accepted," Muhlenkamp said about landing Big & Rich, a veritable household name in these parts. "The stars aligned this year."
The announcement has already generated much excitement with corporate fair sponsors leaping at the opportunity to buy tickets early.
"They've been coming out very strong for the concert purchases," Muhlenkamp said.
Fair officials found out about Journey From The Heart from other county fairs where the tribute band "honoring masterful melodies of two rock legends" reportedly dazzled audiences.
"They put on an incredible show and bring a stellar lineup with different classic songs from those eras," Muhlenkamp said.
Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Friday. They can be purchased online at MercerCountyOhioFair.com/Tickets or by calling the fair box office at 419-586-3239.
The fair has firmly established its reputation for offering popular country shows that have been appreciated by music fans from the area and beyond.
The 2024 country concert showcased rising Nashville star ERNEST, a 2022 CMA Triple Play Award winner, and special guest Matt Stell, a singer-songwriter who has already racked up over a half a billion streams.
Previous performers in recent years have included rising country pop star Russell Dickerson; country stars Collin Raye, Sammy Kershaw and Aaron Tippin, along with special guest Colt Ford; Sawyer Brown and BlackHawk; Montgomery Gentry and Phil Vassar; Neal McCoy, Joe Diffie and Walker Hayes; The Brothers Osborne and Granger Smith; Gary Allan and Ray Scott.
