The Legendary Wailers – Leinie Lodge Stage – Minnesota State Fair – September 1st 2021

Lens on Music at the Fair Day 7   The Legendary Wailers

Review and Photos by Patrick Dunn

The good weather streak continued through day 7 at the Minnesota State Fair making it another prime day to get outside and allow live music to set you free from all your troubles, at least for a little while.  Fans of Modern Country music were back in force for another big-time show at the Grandstand featuring Tim McGraw with supporting act Midland.  The less obvious option for those Country fans, but a real hidden gem happened in the afternoon on the Leinie Lodge stage.  Nashville based (Minnesota native) Jeff Dayton with his band of mostly Minnesotans put to use what he has learned from years of extensive touring with big name Country artists (Kenny Chesney, Lee Greenwood) including a 15-year stint as the bandleader for Glenn Campbell.  His tunes covered a range of styles (Rock, Boogie, Zydeco) and at times his vocal has some resemblance to Chesney. “Get A Job” was an upbeat standout and “Sip It Slow” a heartfelt tribute to the special people in our lives we’ve lost.  He also performed “Gentle On My Mind” in tribute to Glenn Campbell and “Dead Flowers” to honor the recent loss of Rolling Stones drummer Charley Watts.  He will be back on the same stage for a second day and promised to include some different material.

Speaking of well established acts, the legacy of Bob Marley lives on through his touring band The Legendary Wailers.  Since joining Marley’s band in 1977, Jules Junior Marvin eventually moved into the role of fronting the group enabling them to continue to present the music as it was meant to be heard.  They did not waste anytime jumping into their many hits with “Buffalo Soldier” and “Get Up, Stand Up” starting out the set.

For some non-music bonus coverage, I spent the last part of the evening capturing the lights of the Mighty Midway and the Great Big Wheel while the nightly fireworks display was going off.