Concert Reports
Luke Bryan
Conner Smith
07/23/2023, California Mid State Fair, Paso Robles
Country Girls were shaking it all night long as Country Superstar Luke Bryan performed to a Sold Out Crowd at the California Mid State Fair! The concert took place in the Chumash Grandstand Arena at the Paso Robles Event Center and was part of the Michelob Ultra Concert Series. This was Luke's second appearance at the California Mid-State Fair, having completely sold out the Main Grandstand in 2018.
All Photos: Ray Soto / Central Coast Rocks
“We like to document every sellout,” Mid State Fair Spokesperson Tom Keffury said as he took the stage with Fair Photographer Brittaney App to get the sell out crowd pumped and direct their attention to the circling drone over head to film the over 14,000 rabid country fans who came to cheer for Country Superstar Luke Bryan. The party got started earlier as opening act Conner Smith, who at just 22 years of age connected with the already packed Grandstand like a seasoned veteran. Already one of Nashville’s elite songwriting community, Conner has become one of Country’s most hotly-anticipated new artists – an uncommon talent mixing prime-of-life passion with old-soul perspective.
When Luke Bryan takes the stage the Party goes to another level. Opening with “Kick The Dust Up,” Bryan's thirteenth number one single from his 2015 album Kill The Lights.”” Knocking Boots” and “Kiss Tomorrow” followed which brought Bryan’s fans to peak dance mode.
Luke’s latest song “But I Got A Beer In My Hand” ( racing up the charts currently sitting in the Top 25 ) is proving to be this year’s Summer country Anthem ( from Luke’s highly anticipated forth-coming album ) and fit right in with Party Bangers “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset.” and “One Margarita.”
During his illustrious and decorated career, Luke has worked diligently to build a highly active and loyal fan base one fan at a time. Much credit can be given to him and his team for creating unique concert opportunities for him to engage with and garner fans. No other country artist can boast multiple, highly successful events and tours like Luke including his Spring Break and Farm Tour tours, Crash My Playa events in Mexico (the eighth event sold-out just last week!), his on- going headline engagements at the Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas and his yearly headline tours which have often included sold-out stadium shows. In fact, Luke has played for more than 13+ million fans since he began headlining in 2011.
Luke’s performances in previous tours have received applause from fans and media alike raving he is “electrifying,” “still the reigning king of modern country genre,” “cements his Entertainer of the Year status,” “his enduring everyman charm and more energy than the Energizer Bunny,” “the country music artist backs up his title as the ‘King of Country Music’ when he put on a performance of a lifetime,” “some of his best moments are connecting with the crowd between songs,” and “Bryan remains an imminently affable presence on stage prowess as a performer.”
Luke Bryan has released 30 No. 1 hits, garnered nearly 20 billion worldwide streams and has more RIAA certified digital single certifications than any other Country artist of all time with 81.5 Million.
This tour is aptly named after Luke’s 30th #1 single, “Country On,” which hit the top spot on the country singles charts just before Christmas 2022 and helped him amass a career tally of 56 total weeks at #1.
Conner Smith
After penning his first song at 6 and scoring a publishing deal at 16, the Country prodigy wrote five of the six songs on his Zach Crowell-produced 2022 debut collection DIDN’T GO TOO FAR (The Valory Music Co.). Featuring his first Top 40 hit “Learn From It,” viral smash “I Hate Alabama,” and GOLD-certified fan-favorite “Take It Slow,” the charismatic effort laid an artistic foundation that earned Smith 2022 Artist to Watch status from Spotify, Amazon Music and Opry NextStage, while also making him the only Country artist on Pandora’s Ten List 2022 and securing 2023 recognition from MusicRow Next Big Thing, CMT Listen Up, and more. As Smith continues to grow up in full view of his fans – both on the page and the stage – CMT calls him “an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.”
That momentum will keep building throughout 2023 as Smith continues to deliver “next level” music as reflected with his new bluegrass-inflected twang rocking single “Creek Will Rise,” currently rising at Country radio. Recently touring alongside Thomas Rhett, Parker McCollum, Ryan Hurd and Chase Rice, he just headlined his first-ever IF I WENT TO COLLEGE TOUR featuring multiple sold-out stops. Next, Smith took on CMA Fest in Music City with a set at the Chevy Riverfront Stage on June 11 and now hitting the road as support on Luke Bryan’s COUNTRY ON TOUR which began in July, followed by Cole Swindell’s TWELVE TOUR for select dates in the fall. ConnerSmithMusic.com
The California Mid-State Fair has chosen a new theme for 2023, featuring the tagline “Shake, Rattle & Roll!!”. The annual theme is featured throughout the 2023 California Mid-State Fair, appearing in exhibits, demonstrations, printed materials, billboards, as well as being used on the fair’s website.
California Mid-State Fair CEO Colleen Bojorquez said, “We are so excited to incorporate the glitz and glamor of vintage Las Vegas into the 2023 Fair! We can’t wait to host the 77th annual Fair... full of games, rides, concerts, animals, and food!"
The 2023 California Mid-State Fair takes place in Paso Robles, CA and runs July 19 through July 30. Visit www.MidStateFair.com and stay connected on social media for more! Facebook Instagram Twitter