Topline
Funk and soul group The Commodores will not perform at the “Great American State Fair” later this month, becoming the third act to drop out of the event, which is being held as part of the Trump administration’s “Freedom 250” celebrations.
Key Facts
The Commodores made the announcement across their social media profiles, saying in a statement they will not “publicly affiliate with any single political party.”
The band’s exit is the third dropout from the music acts scheduled to perform at the Great American State Fair, which now only has six of its original nine performers listed for the event.
Young MC and Morris Day and The Time have also dropped from the concert series’ lineup.
What Performers Are Still Participating In The Great American State Fair?
The lineup for the event, announced by Freedom 250 on Wednesday, still includes Martina McBride, C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, Flo Rida and Bret Michaels. C+C Music Factory said in an Instagram post Wednesday he initially planned to drop out of the Great American State Fair, but decided against it after receiving backlash for being part of the event’s billing.
Key Background
The Great American State Fair is free, though organizers have encouraged those interested in attending to register for tickets ahead of time. The fair is one of several events being spearheaded by a task force created by Trump for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. In addition to the music performances, the celebration in Washington, D.C., will include speeches, flyovers and a “breathtaking fireworks finale,” according to the Freedom 250 website. While not a direct competitor to the fair’s own concert series, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello announced Thursday a “Power To The People Festival” scheduled for October in Maryland, near the nation’s capital. Performers for the event include Bruce Springsteen, the Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Joan Baez, System of a Down lead singer Serj Tankian, Cypress Hill and Killer Mike. Tickets for the event start at $125.
Further Reading
‘Power To The People’ Protest Fest Names High-Powered Lineup—As Trump’s ‘Great American State Fair’ Faces Dropouts (Forbes)