Country star Josh Turner and special guest Luke Bryan set to perform at 2008 Clay County Fair

SPENCER, IOWA- The versatile sound of hot country artist Josh Turner will entertain fans at this year’s Clay County Fair. Special guest Luke Bryan will open for Turner on Friday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Grandstand.

Multi-platinum recording artist, Josh Turner, is best known for his unique sounding vocals that bring a fresh feel to today’s country scene. As a young boy growing up in rural South Carolina, Turner was first turned on to music when he sang lead and bass for his church choir. Today, that passion continues as he writes and performs songs of life’s ups and downs.

Country music’s first taste of Turner was in 2001 when he debuted at the Grand Ole Opry performing “Long Black Train”. The song was such a hit that it became the title track of his first album which achieved double-platinum certification, selling more than one million copies. His second album, Your Man, was released in 2006 and was one of only four country albums reaching double-platinum certification in that year.

Turner’s third and most recent album, Everything is Fine, shows the many sides of the artist’s personality. His blazing hit, “Firecracker”, provides a fun and light-hearted feel while his more soulful duet with Trisha Yearwood entitled, “Another Try”, speaks of loss and lessons learned.

True success graced the 30-year-old artist in October 2007 when he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, the place where he was first discovered. Turner currently serves as one of the youngest members in the famed Nashville landmark.

Rising country star, Luke Bryan, is set to open the Friday night Grandstand show. Bryan, who performed last year at the fair, is a Georgia native who has deep southern roots. The down-home country boy sings of life, love and loss in his current album, I’ll Stay Me. In 2007, Bryan’s hit single “All My Friends Say”, reached number five on the Billboard U.S. Hot Country Songs chart. His second single, “We Rode In Trucks”, has recently made it in the Top 40 charts and is continuing to climb.

Tickets for the Friday, September 12 show at 7:30 p.m. will be $35 stage front standing, $30 Grandstand reserved seating and $25 annex reserved seating.

The 2008 Clay County Fair will run Saturday, September 6 through Sunday, September 14. Jason Aldean and Eric Church have been announced to perform on Sunday, September 7, Corbin Bleu and Drew Seeley on Saturday, September 13 and The Beach Boys on Sunday, September 14. Other performers will be announced in the weeks to come. The first day for postmarks on mail-orders for Grandstand event tickets will be June 23. Orders will be taken by phone beginning July 14. July 21 is the first day the box office will be open on the fairgrounds.