Another Western Idaho Fair is in the books, which means it’s time for our annual dissection of Idaho music tastes.
When it comes to the grandstand concerts, it usually boils down to one thing — rock versus country — and the competition is always fierce.
Husband-and-wife rockers Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo definitely had fans jonesing for “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Love is a Battlefield.” Last year, they canceled their show the week before the fair. But this year’s increased anticipation — and the fact they gigged on a Friday — still wasn’t enough to earn the honor of biggest grandstand draw.
In 2016, that title goes to (drum roll, please) country singer Josh Turner, who pulled in a whopping 13,000 people. On a Tuesday, no less.
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Here are attendance numbers for this year’s fair, which wrapped up Sunday. To gauge attendance, organizers use a clicker counter. When fans leave, more are allowed to enter. Just for fun — and because I’m the only nerd who keeps track of this stuff — I’ve also posted the attendance numbers for the past three years. Acts are listed in their order of performance.
• • •
2016
Josh Turner – 13,103
Foreigner – 9,234 (Note: If you’re wondering why founding member Mick Jones was not on stage, I’m told it’s because he has been dealing with cardiovascular issues and wasn’t able to perform.)
Sawyer Brown/LoCash – 6,157
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo – 11,582
• • •
2015
Jerrod Niemann — 2,900
Theory of a Deadman — 4,200
Gary Allan — 8,900
Queensryche — 4,500
• • •
2014
Seether — 6,500
Montgomery Gentry — 8,200
Doobie Brothers — 9,800
Thompson Square — 7,900
• • •
2013
Los Cuates de Sinaloa — 2,500
Kutless — 4,000
Foreigner — 9,000
The Guess Who — 3,500
Brantley Gilbert — 9,000
Clay Walker — 6,500
• • •
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