There are going to be a few changes, though.
Organizers announced in March that they were bringing back the event’s popular concert series featuring high-profile recording artists for this year’s fair, which runs through Oct. 29.
They’ve tapped some major talents to perform, including R&B hitmaker Ne-Yo, country music stars Walker Hayes and punk legends Violent Femmes. Concerts will take place inside the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the state fairgrounds.
It will be the first time for big concerts at the fair since 2019. They’ve been a hallmark of the event dating back to the 1960s, and were always free for fairgoers, but were suspended after the fair went on a pandemic-induced hiatus in 2020.
When the event returned in 2021 and 2022, fair organizers held off on bringing the concerts back due to the cost of booking big-name performers.
So why are they back for 2023? Wanell Costello, the fair’s executive director, said in a press release last spring that the concerts will now require patrons to purchase reserved seating instead of attending for free.
The good news is that entry into the fair will be included.
"The post-pandemic music industry forced us to evolve our business model, and in order to bring back headliner talent, every seat is reserved and includes your fair admission,” Wanell said.
Here’s a complete rundown of who’s been announced to perform at this year’s Arizona State Fair:
Walker Hayes
Friday, Oct. 13The Alabama-born country pop singer, songwriter, and guitarist behind such hits as 2017's "You Broke Up With Me" and 2021's "Fancy Like" will have the honor of staging the first concert at the fair in four years.Becky G
Saturday, Oct. 14The star of film and television is also a celebrated musician; she released a new album, "Esquinas," just a few weeks ago and wowed both music fans and critics alike at this year’s Coachella with her captivating vocal talents.
Ne-Yo
Friday, Oct. 20 This Grammy Award-winning R&B singer/songwriter/producer, who earned his stage name after a colleague once compared his musical wizardry to that of Neo from The Matrix, is best known for his Billboard Hot 100 hit “So Sick.”Brothers Osborne
Saturday, Oct. 21The country music duo of T.J. and John Osborne have been breaking hearts and penning hits since their 2012 major label debut. Their sound is a mix of outlaw country, Southern rock and Americana.
Violent Femmes
Friday, Oct. 27Violent Femmes, who formed in Milwaukee in the early 1980s, are touring to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their self-titled debut album. They'll be playing the album in its entirety at the concert.Carly Pearce
Saturday, Oct. 28Kentucky-born vocalist Carly Pearce was dubbed by People magainze as “the new voice of country” by People for her heartfelt emotive ballads and sultry singing style. She’s won both a Grammy and multiple CMA awards and toured alongside the likes of Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, and Luke Bryan.Tickets for each show start at $25 through the Arizona State Fair website.
