Jimmie Allen, Lanco to headline this year’s Cedar County Fair

HARTINGTON — Two up and coming new country music acts will headline this year’s Cedar County Fair.

Lanco will perform at the Cedar County Fairgrounds Friday, July 17.

Jimmie Allen has been signed to perform here Saturday, July 18.

Allen released his first official single, “Best Shot,” in early 2018.

The week of its release, it was the second most-added song to country music radio playlists. The song has made the Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, and Billboard Hot 100 charts and was made it into a music video.

His debut album, Mercury Lane, was issued in October 2018.

Allen’s music has had over 130 million plays on Spotify through 2019.

“Best Shot” reached the number one position on Country Airplay in November 2018. The album’s second single, “Make Me Want To” was released to country radio in February 2019. It reached number 10 on the Country Airplay charts.

Allen also recorded a cover of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s “Shallow” with Abby Anderson in May 2019.

Lanco has been touring for much of 2019 and 2020 as the opening act for Miranda Lambert.

Cedar County Ag Society President Greg Heine said he is very pleased the Fair was once again able to bring in some young artists that are already making a name for themselves.

“It was a challenge this year (finding the right acts.) We wanted to go with an older band, but we couldn’t find anyone that was touring in the area. so we went with two young groups,” he said.

This year’s Cedar County Fair will once again feature a Hometown Talent Show on Wednesday night. The PRCA rodeo is returning Thursday night and the Nebraska Bushpullers will take center stage Sunday.

The Fair Board is also setting up a sand volleyball tournament and a corn hole tournament for the Fair, Heine said.

Heine said he is still working to sign a carnival for the Midway this year.

He has made calls to over 70 carnivals, but so far no contracts have yet been signed. Arrangements could not be made last year so the Midway consisted of inflatables.

Ticket sales for this year’s Cedar County Fair are expected to begin in the spring.