2024 Grandstand Entertainment

The Red Wilk Construction Tuff Hedeman Bull Bash kicks off the 2024 South Dakota State Fair grandstand lineup with two nights of high energy fun on Wednesday, August 28, and Thursday, August 29!

Hedeman, known for lining up elite riders to face off with world-class bucking bulls brings his annual professional, fast-paced, bull riding competition back to the South Dakota State Fair, featuring pro bull riders and bullfighters matched to animals of superior strength and fiery spirit.

The bull riding action begins with Tuff Hedeman “Bounty Bull” night on Wednesday with $10,000 up for grabs, and continues Thursday night in a tournament style event and “Shoot Out” round where the bulk of the prize money, championship title, and custom prizes are earned.

The Red Wilk Construction American Hero Award will be held during both nights of bull riding. Typically, eight Veterans are honored each night, and since 2013, more than 100 Veterans from all over South Dakota have been honored.

Formed by Rzeznik and Takac in Buffalo, NY during 1986, Goo Goo Dolls have quietly broken records, contributed a string of staples to the American songbook, connected to millions of fans, and indelibly impacted popular music for three-plus decades. Beyond selling 15 million records worldwide, the group has garnered four GRAMMY® Award nominations and nearly a dozen platinum and gold singles combined, and seized a page in the history books by achieving 16 number one and Top 10 hits. As a result, they hold the all-time radio record for “Most Top 10 Singles.”

Thus far, A Boy Named Goo [1995] has gone double-platinum, Dizzy Up The Girl five-times-platinum, and Gutterflower [2002] and Let Love In [2006] both went gold as Something for the Rest of Us [2010] and Magnetic [2013] bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200. Their music continues to reach new audiences around the world and rack up platinum & gold statuses – including the recently platinum-certified “Slide”, “Black Balloon” and “Better Days” – and has been covered by everyone from Taylor Swift to Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers.

Among a string of hits, “Iris” clutched #1 on the Hot 100 for 18 straight weeks and would be named “#1 Top 40 Song of the Last 20 Years.” The track recently achieved seven-times-platinum status and re-entered the Billboard charts, yet again proving the timelessness of Goo Goo Dolls’ illustrious catalog.

Kory and the Fireflies are celebrating 30 years this summer. The band has shared the stage with over 80 national artists and consistently delivers energetic shows with a gift for connecting with their audience. The band has released 4 CDs, 2 DVDs and had airplay in all 50 states with, "Sometimes", "Virginia", "Pop Fly" and "Everyone", with the latter two charting "Top 20" in New Music Weekly. Their single "She's Comin' Back Again" has aired on over 30 TV networks and "Let it Shine" was used statewide supporting healthcare workers. KORY & the FIREFLIES' founder, Kory Van Sickle, has also developed creative ways to use the band and his guitar company, Firefly Guitars US, to raise over $5 Million for foundations helping others dealing with difficult life challenges. KORY & the FIREFLIES have always made an effort to create positive music and moments for their fans and they continue to promote peace and love in hopes of making the world just a little brighter...like a firefly.

Riley Green has been compelling Country music fans to raise a drink, shed a tear, and, above all, celebrate where they are from, since first releasing his self-titled EP in 2018. His songs like the No. 1 PLATINUM hit “There Was This Girl,” the 2X-PLATINUM-certified heart-tugger “I Wish Grandpas Never Died” and his charttopping collab with Thomas Rhett, “Half of Me,” have made Riley synonymous with what Country music does best: making listeners feel something with his no-gimmick, relatable writing and classic feel.

An avid sports fan, former athlete (Jacksonville State University quarterback) and outdoorsman, Riley is riding a wave of success after being named the Academy of Country Music’s 2020 New Male Artist of the Year, a former MusicRow Breakout Artist of the Year, a CMT “Listen Up Artist,” and one of CRS’s 2020 New Faces. Green recently headlined the Rock the South Festival and is selling out his own headlining shows.

Luke Combs, joins Riley on his current Top 30-and-climbing single “Different ‘Round Here (Ft. Luke Combs),” the title track to Riley’s 2019 debut album that he re-recorded with Combs after seeing how fans connected to it. His new album Ain’t My Last Rodeo, produced by Dann Huff, is more of the signature Riley Green fans have come to know and love from the good ol’ boy who still lives in his hometown of Jacksonville, AL.

With a style that’s defined by melodic grit and a craftsman’s approach to songwriting, John Morgan brings a blue-collar toughness to Country that’s pulled straight from the only life he knows. Hailing from a tiny town called Sylva, deep in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, John Morgan grew up immersed in Bluegrass tradition and even toured the festival circuit each summer in a family band, before diving into songwriting, inspired by six-string legends from Tony Rice to John Mayer.

More than a year after selling everything he had to follow his dream, an only-in-Nashville story involving Uber drivers and impressive demos led to a writing session with Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy—two incredible songwriters and longtime bandmates of Jason Aldean. That session led to the superstar cutting eight songs written by John, including his GRAMMY® nominated No. 1 smash hit with Carrie Underwood, “If I Didn’t Love You” and a second No. 1, “Trouble With a Heartbreak.”

Aldean ended up signing John to Night Train Records, his imprint with BBR Music Group, and tapped him to open his Rock n’ Roll Cowboy Tour in 2022. John has followed up his songwriting success with releases of his own including “Coldest Beer in Town” and “Good With Goodbye.”

In his 25-year career in Country music, Trace Adkins has sold over 11 million albums, charted over 20 singles, earned numerous awards and Grammy nominations, and garnered over two billions streams. A Grand Ole Opry member for nearly two decades, the Louisiana native is known for dynamic baritone and fiery, always-memorable live performances, and has expanded his Country career to include film and TV acting. He broke out in 1996 with the debut album, DREAMIN’ OUT LOUD, cracking the Top 5 of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with “Every Light In the House Is On” and following with the #1smash, “This Ain’t(No Thinkin’ Thing.” Since then, Adkins has pioneered a mix of classic country minded traditionalism and adventurous, good-natured showmanship, breaking open new avenues in modern country through fun-filled hits like “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and “Hillbilly Bone” (with BlakeShelton). He celebrated the silver anniversary of his album debut in 2021 with THE WAY I WANNA GO, doing exactly what he always has–mixing pure-Country reverence with standout collaborations featuring Blake Shelton, Melissa Etheridge, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder on harmonica and more. Adkins’ newest video “Love Walks Through the Rain” (featuring Melissa Etheridge) is available everywhere now.

Born and raised in the tiny town of Canton, SD (pop. 3054), Tyler Halverson isn’t just any cowboy. He’s got the hat and the boots, but he also plays a mean guitar and writes an even meaner tune. He has no problem bouncing around the country chasing adventure, and is telling his different kind of cowboy tale with his self-described “Amerijuana Music,” bridging honest storytelling with songcraft inspired by country powerhouses Garth Brooks, George Strait, and Hayes Carll as much as Boyz II Men, Taking Back Sunday, and The Used

Halverson fell in thrall to music at an early age, receiving his first guitar while in middle school. A local bluegrass festival convinced him to focus on music, throwing down at 4H and FFA festivals before heading to Nashville to attend the prestigious Belmont University. Upon graduation, he decided to hit the road and spent an extended run traveling around South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, all the while writing and playing his songs on social media. Halverson’s original approach caught fire with a string of independent releases including “Beer Garden Baby,” “Mac Miller,” and “Your Bar Now” (with Kylie Frey), amassing tens of millions of streams.

Now, with his Atlantic Records debut single “Her” and more to come, Tyler Halverson is eager to take the next step on what has already proven an amazing journey. “I’m finding myself,” says Halverson. “I feel like I’m an artist and I’m finally about to do something.”

“Red – A Taylor Swift Tribute” is a jaw dropping, faithful recreation of a live Taylor Swift concert. RED is fronted by Lauren Corzine, an amazingly talented and stunningly beautiful young vocalist and performer. Throughout her career as a singer/songwriter, Lauren was told that she looks and sounds just like Taylor Swift. Lauren decided to embrace her striking resemblance to the pop icon and founded RED. The result has been explosive. Taylor Swift fans flock to RED shows to see an authentic recreation of a live Taylor Swift show. Lauren’s on stage appearance and show leaves “Swifties” feeling like they are watching Taylor Swift herself live in concert! In fact, the LA Times recently took notice of Lauren Corzine’s incredible likeness. In 2021, LA Times writer Randall Roberts interviewed Lauren Corzine for a story that centered on Lauren’s love and commitment to the “Swiftie” community. Lauren may be a small town girl from McAllen, Texas, but she and RED are catching the eyes and ears of the world.

RED is a four piece national touring act complete with backup dancers. At a RED show, fans are treated to an epic journey through Taylor Swift’s entire discography. The crowd sings along as RED performs songs ranging from Taylor’s self-titled debut album Taylor Swift all the way through her most recent release Evermore. Lauren Corzine has brilliantly internalized Taylor Swift’s onstage mannerisms and style, and is a ringer for the superstar. Lauren has this to say about paying tribute to Taylor Swift on stage:

The RED experience is magical and can only be described as pure joy for the audience. At a RED show, you will see fans dancing, singing, screaming, laughing, and even crying tears of joy. Most special to the members of RED is witnessing people from all ages, races, and backgrounds come together as one to celebrate Taylor Swift and enjoy an afternoon of world class entertainment. We invite you to come experience RED… and dare you not to dance!