This year's Maryland State Fair has become the go-to event of the summer with just two words: Justin Bieber.
The teen pop music sensation will perform at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium on Sept. 5, as part of the new tour dates recently added to his "Justin Bieber My World 2.0" tour.
Also scheduled to perform at this year's fair are country music star Gretchen Wilson on Aug. 27 and former Poison frontman Bret Michaels on Sept. 1. All concerts start at 7 p.m., and tickets go on sale June 12. The fair runs Aug. 27 to Sept. 6.
Landing Bieber is quite a coup for the fair. Among its previous biggest acts: Boyz II Men last year, Raven Symone and Sawyer Brown in 2006, and Switchfoot in 2004.
"I've been coming to the state fair since I was a kid, so having the opportunity to book the entertainment this year is a big thrill," said Paul Manna of Baltimore-based 24-7 Entertainment, who lured the acts to Timonium.
He said that he discovered Bieber was performing Sept. 4 at the Great Allentown (Pa.) Fair and worked to get him to come to Timonium.
"When the fair committee and I first met, we all agreed a change in booking strategy from past years was the goal. I think we've certainly accomplished that," said Manna. "The response to these shows so far has been overwhelming, and tickets haven't even gone on sale yet."
Bieber will perform before the 16-acre racetrack infield, with a capacity of 10,000, Manna said.
The promoter added that the concert will be general admission. Therefore, he said, security will be increased "tenfold" to handle anticipated large crowds.
Country music star Wilson is continuing to enjoy success on the heels of her popular tune, "Redneck Woman." Michaels, who has sold 25 million albums and starred in VH1's "Rock of Love," was the winner of the most recent season of NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice," shortly after recovering from a brain aneurysm.
Yet clearly the biggest news is that of Bieber, the 16-year-old singer from Ontario, Canada, whose debut album, "My World 2.0," is currently No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums and Music Albums chart, after peaking at No 1.
"I never dreamed of it," state fair general manager Max Mosner said about booking the pop sensation. "When Paul called me, I was speechless."
Already Bieber-mania is sweeping through the area with word that he's coming to the state fair.
"I love Justin Bieber; I enjoy his music and I think he's cute," said Emma Villamater, 10, of Lutherville. When asked if she'd like to attend the concert, she said, "Yes, I'd die. All my friends are obsessed with Justin Bieber. We're always talking about him."
Emma's mother, Ally Villamater, who said she had heard from another parent that Bieber was coming to the state fair, said she often wishes she didn't hear about him as much. Asked if she would take her daughter to the concert, she added, "I guess if Emma does her reading and speaks nicely to her parents and her brother, maybe she can go, yes."
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