Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Joan Jett and The Blackhearts to Perform on Women’s Day at The Fair

Rock legend Joan Jett and The Blackhearts will rock Suburban Park at the Great New York State Fair on Wednesday, August 28 at 8 p.m.  This is the Fair’s second heart-related concert announcement this week highlighting Valentine’s Day.

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts formed in 1979. When mainstream radio didn’t play their signature anthem, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” fans rallied to request it. The iconic hit spent seven weeks at #1. Over the next 40+ years, the band went on to amass nine Top 40 singles, including “Bad Reputation,” “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” and “Crimson and Clover.” They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

This will be Joan Jett and The Blackhearts’ fifth time playing to fans at The Fair since 2006. They most recently performed on Labor Day in 2021, and also appeared at the Fair in 2006, 2008, and 2014. This summer’s performance will close out Women’s Day at The Fair – fitting for a frontwoman who broke down barriers in the mid-1970s to prove women could make it in the world of rock music. Joan Jett was rejected by 23 labels before forming her own independent record label, Blackheart Records. Still going strong today, the entertainment company continues to champion emerging bands and produces music, film, and television.

“Joan Jett and The Blackhearts are a force! With a career that’s encompassed music, TV, film, and even Broadway, Joan is an inspiration to generations of women, as well as anyone who has struggled to carve their own path,” said Fair Director Sean Hennessey. “We’ve been fortunate enough to have this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band play at The Fair a few times over the years. It’s incredible when artists of this magnitude want to come back to The Fair and continue to connect with fans.”

The Fair starts Wednesday, August 21, and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 2. All concerts are included in the price of admission, which will go on sale later this summer. The Great New York State Fair is the most affordable state fair in the country.

The concerts announced so far are provided in the charts below. Fair staff will continue to update schedules on the Fair’s website at pages dedicated to Chevy Court and Suburban Park.

Chevy Court:

Suburban Park:

Founded in 1841, the Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment, and is a key piece of the state’s CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. It is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently recognized as being among the top five state fairs in the nation.

The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Audiences are encouraged to learn more about the Great New York State Fair online, browse photos on Flickr, and follow the fun on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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