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Lynden Tribune
2013 Fair Magazine
Future Stars: Paisley, Little Big Town both struck it big in years following Lynden shows Continued from page 33 Securing Paisley would have been a lot harder, or impossible just a year or two later, as he churned out mega-hit after megahit, becoming one of the most popular artists of the decade. But before his day in the sun, Brad Paisley spent an evening under the spotlight at the Lynden fairgrounds. It’s generally understood by regional fairgoers that big-name artists only end up on a local stage after their star has dimmed just a little bit. After all, there is still a market for artists like Kenny Rogers and Charlie Daniels. But what about those artists who aren’t yet big? After all, “rising star” is sometimes code for “might not make it.” Not so with Paisley, who sang at the fair in the shadow of fellow country singers Collin Raye and Clay Walker. The Northwest Washington Fair can be an exciting place to take in a concert.
Not just for the decades-old classic tunes from older stars. Not even for the possibility that a present-day Garth Brooks will again grace us with a surprise appearance. No the real excitement is looking at a new act and wondering if in a few years the price to attend an event with this artist might double. Paisley isn’t the only act to go big after coming to Lynden. In 2008, Lynden hosted the likes of Little Big Town, a band that is now one of the hottest acts out of Nashville. LBT was a unique act when it burst onto the scene — four singers sharing lead vocals long before Lady Antebellum came around. In an interview with the Lynden Tribune that year, Little Big Town band member Phillip Sweet noted that the group was getting ready to begin a tour with established superstar Carrie Underwood. Just think, it wouldn’t have been crazy to have seen someone like Taylor Swift in
Whatcom County just a few short years ago. Now, not so much. At what point could we also look with expectation at the current lineup and start making predictions about their future success? The name that comes most quickly to mind is Hunter Hayes. It’s worth observing that Hayes already has several number 1 singles and he’s only 21, two years younger than Swift. Yes, there really is something for everyone at the Northwest Washington Fair, whether it is watching old acts resurrect a durable classic or someone with their feet barely wet in the music industry — the act that only has one or two songs that anyone knows. But those unknown up-and-comers are the ones to watch closely. They still have far to go. — Mark Reimers
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