Shaboozey to headline the Illinois State Fair Grandstand

Jul. 2—SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois State Fair has announced that crossover artist Shaboozey will headline the grandstand on Sunday, Aug. 18.

"The multi-faceted artist Shaboozey is carving his lane in the alternative country and hip-hop space. Born to parents of Nigerian descent and raised in the small town of Woodbridge, Virginia, Shaboozey grew up on an eclectic mix of music encompassing everything from classic hip-hop and R&B, to country and blues icons like Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks, and Lead Belly, to master lyricists, such as Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen," a news release states.

Shaboozey began his 2024 run in March with two standout features on Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" — the only artist with multiple appearances on the album. His latest body of work, "Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going," debuted in the top five of the Billboard 200 and was praised in The New York Times for "bring[ing] hip-hop grit to country."

The album's single "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," which is two-time RIAA-certified platinum and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, launched him to mainstream stardom. With the meteoric rise of "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," Shaboozey and Beyoncé became the first Black artists to score back-to-back leaders in the Billboard Hot Country Songs' 66-year history.

Tickets for the concert featuring Shaboozey, will be on sale Saturday, July 6, at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster. A Pre-Show Party ticket is offered as an additional upgrade for all paid concerts.

Other grandstand performers for the fair include Keith Urban with MacKenzie Porter, Aug. 9; Motley Crue with Phil X and The Drills, Aug. 10; Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit with Ashley McBryde, Aug. 11; Jordan Davis with Ashley Cooke, Aug. 13; Lil Wayne, Aug. 14; Jonas Brothers, Aug. 15; The Smashing Pumpkins with PVRIS, Aug. 16; and Miranda Lambert with Gavin Adcock, Aug. 17.

The State Fair runs Aug.8-18 in Springfield.