He has the biggest country bar in the state, and now Toby Keith is headed to Minnesota's biggest get-together.
The country music star -- last seen in town promoting his St. Louis Park mega-bar I Love This Bar and Grill in September -- is the latest act announced as a headliner for the 2011 State Fair. He takes over the grandstand on Aug. 31 with opener Eric Church. Tickets ($59-$39) go on sale March 26.
Keith's show was revealed Wednesday alongside another fair concert with Nickelodeon-reared teen-pop act Big Time Rush, who will perform there Aug. 27 (also on sale March 26 for $35). They were added to a grandstand lineup that already includes Def Leppard and Heart on Aug. 26 (on sale March 12) and the Happy Together Tour with the Turtles, the Association and the Grass Roots on Aug. 29 (on sale March 12).
In other concert news, hair-band favorites Mötley Crüe and Poison will play Target Center on June 24, along with one of the pioneering punk bands who influenced their makeup- and hairspray-strewn looks, the New York Dolls. Tickets go on sale through fan clubs March 11 and everywhere else March 18 at prices to be announced.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
