Legendary Music, Comedy and More Set to grace Chevy Court as part of JAMS Funk Fest during The 2024 Great New York State Fair

Whether you’re looking for chart-topping hits or legendary comedic performances, JAMS Funk Fest 2024 has something for everyone with R&B chart toppers TMF and Raydio joining renowned performer C.P. Lacey this summer as headliners at The Great New York State Fair’s Chevy Court Stage on Saturday, August 31. 

Performances will kick off at 12 p.m. and last until 10 p.m., with a number of artists taking the stage throughout the day. Raydio will go on at 6:30 p.m. and TMF will close out JAMS Funk Fest at 8 p.m. C.P. Lacey will perform between each act with his first performance scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

With over 200 years of combined experience creating music, TMF, which stands for The Music Forever, previously performed as Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. The group is comprised of seven veteran performers, singers, songwriters, and producers who have collaborated with some of very biggest artists in the music industry including Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Earth, Wind and Fire, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Al Jarreau, Frankie Beverly, George Duke, Anita Baker, George Benson, Steve Perry, Donnie McClurkin, and Alanis Morrisette.

Recipients of the 2023 Joseph R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement and Volunteer Service Awards, TMF continues to crank out hits with its recently released self-titled album charting in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and France. The album is a complete funk groove that follows and encompasses a musical story line from “Let Me Love You,” “New Again,” “Making Love to the Music,” “I’ll Never Let You Go,” “Choices,” “So Deep in Love,” “When the Groove Feels Right,” and “Tribute to the Great Ones.”

Raydio has been electrifying audiences for more than five decades and scored its first big hit in 1978 with "Jack and Jill.” The single peaked at #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart and reached #11 in the U.K. Singles Chart earning the group a gold record in the process. "Is This a Love Thing" peaked at #27 in the United Kingdom in 1978 with the group’s follow-up hit "You Can't Change That" reaching #9 on the Billboard Chart just one year later.

In the 1980s, the group produced two more albums, resulting in two top 40 singles including their biggest hit, “A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do),” which reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Following Raydio’s achievements, several members went on to have successful solo careers, including Ray Parker, Jr. who scored six top 40 hits, most notably “Ghostbusters,” which was the title track of the film Ghostbusters and remained at #1 for three weeks on the Billboard Top 100 in 1984.

For more than three decades, C.P. Lacey has been performing both domestically and internationally, receiving countless ovations from gratified audiences everywhere. With an extraordinary ability to sing, do comedy, dance, and act, Lacey flawlessly impersonates top celebrities and public figures with bedazzling accuracy, including Kanye West, Eddie Murphy, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, the legendary James Brown, and more. Lacey has also created his own cast of characters like “Grandma Yea," “Shark Bait,” “Lil L,” and so many more.

His signature flair has afforded him appearances with Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York City, appearances on B.E.T’s “Comic View,” “The Chappelle Show,” and a featured role in John Kesselman’s comedy movie The Hebrew Hammer alongside actors Adam Goldberg and Mario Van Peebles. A multi-dimensional talent, Lacey and his alter-ego cast of characters have shared the stage with a variety of Hollywood’s most notable artists including Sting, Tracy Morgan, Steve Harvey, Jimmy Fallon, and Tina Fey.

“Our lineup keeps getting better and better with the addition of TMF, Raydio, and C.P. Lacey as part of JAMS Funk Fest live at Chevy Court Stage,” said Interim Director Julie LaFave. “We’re so grateful to have this one-of-a-kind event back at The Fair for another memorable show. With a blend of comedy and timeless hits from the 70s and 80s, this year’s performance is sure to have fairgoers on their feet. Here at The Fair, fairgoers can see living legends, up-and-coming artists, and the stars of today – all for $8 admission!”

The JAMS acronym stands for Joined Artists, Musicians, and Singers. JAMS is a collaborative of creatives from Syracuse, N.Y. working to enhance the local arts scene through the offerings of diverse artists.

“New York State's appreciation for diverse cultures and its mission to be inclusive is once again reflected in the entertainment line-up for The Great New York State Fair,” said Reggie Seigler, President of JAMS.

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. Tickets are $8 for adults while admission is free for children under 12 and senior citizens aged 65 and older.

In total, The Fair’s Chevrolet Music Series will feature 39 national recording acts. There will be a daily 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. concert at Chevy Court (located near Gate 1), and a daily 8 p.m. concert at Suburban Park (located on the western end of the Fairgrounds, beyond the Midway).

All concerts announced thus 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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