SEMO District Fair 2024: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Reckless Kelly, and Elton Dan to Headline grandstand

The 2024 SEMO District Fair — held from Saturday, Sept. 7, through Saturday, Sept. 14, at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau —has posted this year’s grandstand entertainment.

Fair headliners include the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Tuesday, September 10, Reckless Kelly on Wednesday, September 11, and Elton Dan and the Rocket Band on Thursday, September 12. River Radio's HEARTLAND IDOL will be happening Monday, Sept. 9, on the main stage. All tickets for grandstand entertainment go on sale at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 25.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band — The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (NGDB), an American country rock band from Long Beach, California, originally formed in 1966. The group has had many various forms over the years, with the current line up featuring  Jeff Hanna – guitars/vocals, Jimmie Fadden – drums/harmonica/vocals, Bob Carpenter – keyboards/accordion/vocals, Jaime Hanna – guitars/vocals, Ross Holmes – fiddle/mandolin/vocals and Jim Photoglo – bass/vocals. The band has won three Grammys, placed an album and a single in the Grammy Hall of Fame and scored country hits including “Voila (An American Dream),” “Modern Day Romance,” “Stand a Little Rain” and many more. For more information on the band, go to www.nittygritty.com/about.

Reckless Kelly — Reckless Kelly, the powerhouse Americana/Red-Dirt band, has been igniting stages with its electrifying fusion of rock and country music since its inception in 1996. Led by central Idaho natives Willy and Cody Braun, the brothers carry a musical legacy spanning three generations. Reckless Kelly has not only become an integral part of the Americana music scene, but also has earned prestigious accolades, including a coveted Grammy Award and the title of Outlaw Group of the Year at the 2024 Ameripolitan Awards. To learn more about the band, go to www.recklesskelly.com/pages/about.

Elton Dan and the Rocket Band — An Elton Dan show pays tribute to one of the all-time greatest artists ever: Elton John. Elton Dan’s rapport and stage presence are second to none, and his magical piano playing engages the audience in the full Elton John experience. The band, including backup singers, thrills with over-the-top costumes and high-energy performances just like Elton John in days past. Elton Dan has performed for gatherings of 8,000-plus and gives all listeners the feeling they are sharing the intimate emotions of the much-loved music with just them. For more information, check out Elton Dan on Facebook. For more information on the band, go to www.eltondan.com/bio.