Boyz II Men, Koe Wetzel will Play Canfield Fair
CANFIELD, Ohio – The grandstand concerts at this year’s Canfield Fair will feature rising modern country artist Koe Wetzel and legendary R&B vocal group Boyz II Men.
Wetzel will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3. Boyz II Men – now the trio of Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman – will bring the fair to a close with their 7 p.m. show Monday, Sept. 4.
Tickets for both shows will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 24, at ticketmaster.com. Wetzel tickets range from $92 to $26.50 (plus applicable fees); Boyz II Men tickets are $96.50 to $32. An online presale for both shows will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday; use the password “ROOSTER.”
In-person ticket sales at the fairgrounds will begin in the summer. A date has not yet been determined. The Canfield Fair, now in its 177th year, will run from Aug. 30 to Sept. 4.
Two other grandstand mainstays will also return. The demolition derby will take place Friday, Sept. 1, and the truck and tractor pull will be Saturday, Sept. 2, said George Roman, fair board member and director of entertainment.
The four-time Grammy Award-winning Boyz II Men redefined R&B with their smooth harmonies. The act penned several classic songs – including “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “One Sweet Day” and “Motownphilly” – over a career that spans 40 years.
The act has also brought home nine American Music Awards, nine Soul Train Awards and three Billboard Awards, and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The trio holds the distinction of being the best-selling R&B group of all time, with 64 million albums sold.
Ken Bigley, vice president of JAC Live, which handles booking for the fair, said landing Boyz II Men was a last-second prize.
“We’ve been seeing a trend of nostalgia acts, especially in the R&B segment,” Bigley said. “Boyz II Men are at the top of their game.”
Live music “is about feeling good,” Bigley noted, and Boyz II Men certainly checks that box. “It will take people back in time to that special place, high school or college,” he said. “And what people don’t realize about them is that they are also phenomenal musicians, and they play instruments for a portion of the concert.”
In 2011, Boyz II Men marked their 20th anniversary by releasing a landmark album titled “Twenty.” The group released a new album, “Collide,” featuring original material in 2014.
The concert by Wetzel on Sept. 3 won’t be about nostalgia but will showcase an up-and-comer who has been racking up huge ticket sales.
“We try to mix it up as far as genres go,” Bigley said. “Koe has been on fire for a little less than a year. He is selling like crazy.”
An opening in Wetzel’s tour schedule came up at the last minute, and JAC Live was able to grab the show for the Canfield Fair. “It worked out perfectly for us,” Bigley said.
Wetzel has been touring on the strength of his 2022 album “Hell Paso,” which includes the hits “Creeps” and “April Showers.”
The rock-edged musical rebel from Texas is also known for his ballad “Drunk Driving,” as well as the singles “February 28, 2016” and “Something to Talk About.”
Wetzel will release his next album in mid-September.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
