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Mary Lambert, Rebecca Black, Doechii and GAYLE to Perform in Chevrolet Music Series
As New Yorkers come together to celebrate Pride this June, The Great New York State Fair is announcing its musical line-up for Pride Day. Keeping with tradition, Pride Day will take place Friday, August 25, the first Friday of The Fair. And, for the first time ever, The Fair is connecting all of its musical entertainment featured in the Chevrolet Music Series that day to Pride. The musical line-up and details on other Pride Day events this year were announced at a special ceremony and flag raising at The Fairgrounds today.
As part of the ceremony, Jimmy Monto, who represents the City of Syracuse’s fifth district as Common Councilor – and is the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in an elected position in the City of Syracuse – was announced as Grand Marshall in the Pride Day Parade, which will step off from the Exposition Center a 6:00 p.m. on August 25. Pride Day programming, including a comedy show and a drag show set to take place in the Empire Theater of the Art and Home Center, was also announced.
“New York State is known for leading the way when it comes to pursuing equality, accessibility, and inclusivity for all New Yorkers, and at The Great New York State Fair, we try to complement these accomplishments,” said Sean Hennessey, Interim Fair Director. “As much as The Fair is a celebration of New York agriculture, food, and entertainment, it’s really a celebration of all people. We want everyone to feel welcome – and at home – when they come onto our grounds. As part of that, we work hard to make sure our programming reflects the diversity of New Yorkers.”
In 2015, The Great New York State became the first state fair in the United States to hold an official Pride Celebration. The day was created in collaboration with leading Central New York groups active in advocating for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community. Every year since its inception, Pride Day has continued to generate momentum and enhanced programming. Eight years later, it remains the only official day celebrating members of the LGBTQ+ community at any state fair in the country.
The musical line-up for Pride Day this year includes:
1:00 P.M. CHEVY COURT: MARY LAMBERT
First up, Mary Lambert, a pop singer, songwriter, spoken word artist, will kick off the Chevrolet Music Series on Friday, August 25 with a 1:00 p.m. performance at Chevy Court.
Mary’s star rose in 2012 when she got a call from a friend who was working with fellow artists Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. The duo had written a song, but they needed a chorus—and that’s where Mary stepped in. She famously wrote the hook to (and served as the featured vocalist on) “Same Love” from her perspective, identifying as a Christian and a lesbian. The song earned two Grammy nominations in 2014 and culminated with an epic performance, featuring a mass wedding officiated by Queen Latifah and an unforgettable duet by Mary Lambert and Madonna. Mary also experienced viral success with “She Keeps Me Warm” followed by “Secrets,” which climbed to Number 1 on the Billboard Dance charts.
The multi-platinum artist has earned recognition for her work to destigmatize mental illness and promote positive body image. In 2018, she wrote a poetry collection called Shame is an Ocean I Swim Across and released a complementary music album, Grief Creature, shortly after. Now, she’s working on a new book and album about body image. You can also find her in the animated Netflix Musical series, I Heart Arlo and Arlo the Alligator Boy, and stream her podcast, The Manic Episodes, which she hosts with her spouse. She is a recipient of the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
2:00 P.M. SUBURBAN PARK: REBECCA BLACK
Rebecca Black’s first foray into pop music came in 2011, and she’s recently entered a new era. The adaptable singer, songwriter, and pop artist – who is known for leveraging pop culture savviness to creatively produce new content – will perform at 2:00 p.m. at the Suburban Park Stage.
At 13-years-old, Rebecca’s song “Friday” became the fastest-growing song and video of the year. A few months later, she famously appeared in Katy Perry’s music video for “Last Friday Night.” The 10th Anniversary of “Friday” in 2011 – commemorated with a viral remix featuring fun collaborations – reintroduced Rebecca Black as a modern music icon.
Rebecca released her first project “Rebecca Black Was Here” (2022) as an underground artist, well versed in following the music, fashion, and queer art scenes. This earned her a nomination for “Self-Released Best Record of the Year” at the American Association of Independent Music’s (Ai2M) Liberia Awards and provided the forum for a performance at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Awards.
Then, in February of this year, Rebecca introduced her debut album, Let Her Burn, unpeeling new layers of her life experiences and musical versatility. While the first single, “Crumbs,” explores feelings of vulnerability and stays true to the electro-pop sound Rebecca has made her own, the second single “Look at You,” offers an emotional ballad highlighting complex feelings within friendships.
Beyond the music, Rebecca partners with organizations such as Best Buddies, the AdCouncil, and GLAAD to advocate for mental health initiatives, anti-bullying, and the LGBTQ+ community. She received the honor of joining Variety’s Power of Pride list in 2021, one year after coming out.
6:00 P.M. CHEVY COURT: DOECHII
Doechii – a rising hip hop artist who was recognized by NPR and Spotify as an artist to watch in 2022– will take Chevy Court at 6:00 p.m. Her song “Persuasive” received high praise from Rolling Stone and The LA Times, while “Crazy” was listed in Complex as one of the best songs of the year.
Some fairgoers may recognize Doechii from TikTok – which helped her establish a large internet fan base. Just a few months ago, Doechii released “What It Is (Block Boy),” which has been featured in more than 4.3 million TikTok videos to date. “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” went viral in 2021 and led to performances at the BET Hip Hop Awards and a major-record deal.
“A lot of the LGBTQ community, especially the trans community, really embraced my sound for ‘Yucky Blucky,’ and, you know, people found a lot of empowerment behind it, which was cool,” Doechii explained in a GQ article (October 2022).
Many of Doechii’s songs feature themes focused on embracing women empowerment and queer identity. She also reminisces on what it was like to grow up as a Black girl in Tampa, Florida. Growing up, Doechii attended a performing arts school and won an award for her poetry, which continues to influence her lyrics today. Her background as a gymnast and dancer – studying ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dance – contributes to her stage presence.
Doechii holds the distinction of being the first female rapper to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment, joining the likes of Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Soon after joining TDE, she partnered with Capitol Records.
8:00 P.M.SUBURBAN PARK: GAYLE
Finally, GAYLE – who has already opened for Taylor Swift this year and will join P!nk this summer – will play Suburban Park at 8:00 p.m. to round out a star-studded day of entertainment.
The Grammy nominated singer-songwriter skyrocketed to fame following the release of “abcdefu,” the break-up song that had the world dancing through 2022. GAYLE received nominations for “New Artist of the Year” at the MTV VMA’s, American Music Awards and People Choice Awards as her double-platinum anthem held the Number 1 spot on Top 40 Radio for three consecutive weeks and topped the Billboard Global 200 charts for nine weeks in a row. “abcdefu” was also nominated in the coveted GRAMMY “Song of the Year” category.
GAYLE started singing when she was seven years old, inspired by Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin. At 10 years old, she was playing bars in Nashville, and by 14 years old, she was working with pop songwriter Kara DiGuardi, who became her mentor. This June, she’ll celebrate her 19th Birthday.
Variety featured GAYLE in its “Power of Young Hollywood Report” in 2022, and Billboard has honored her on its “21 Under 21” List two years in a row. Before hitting the road with Taylor Swift and P!nk, GAYLE toured with Tate McRae, My Chemical Romance and AJR. She likes to incorporate what she calls “messy imperfection” into all her live shows, as she believes music is a unifying force that can provide a space for all people to completely be themselves.
This is the first appearance at The Great New York State Fair for all Pride Day artists, except for Mary Lambert, who performed at Chevy Court in 2017.
Like all acts that appear as part of the Chevrolet Music Series, all concerts featured in today’s announcement are included with Fair admission. Admission – expected to go online in the next few weeks – is $6 for adults and free for those who are 65 years and older, and 12 years and younger.
The Great New York State Fair begins Wednesday, August 23 and continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 4.
The Chevrolet Music Series features daily concerts at Chevy Court and Suburban Park. All acts announced thus far are provided at webpages dedicated to Chevy Court and Suburban Park on the Fair’s website. The line-up thus far is provided at the end of this press release.
PRIDE DAY EVENTS:
In addition to a world-class musical entertainment line-up, fairgoers can look forward to a ceremony shortly after the Gates Open, followed by a Resource Fair in the Pavilion Area behind Chevy Court. Here, visitors will have a chance to socialize with members of various organizations, learning about different groups in the community. Special programs – including a comedy show and a drag show – will be held in the Empire Theater (located in the Art and Homes Center) from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m., culminating with the annual Pride Day Parade, which will step off at 6:00 p.m. from the Exposition Center.
New York State is a national leader in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. The historic Marriage Equality Act of 2011 ended one of society's greatest inequities. In 2015, the state's Human Rights Law expanded to include transgender people and in 2018, Justice Paul G. Feinman became the first openly gay person to be nominated to serve on the state’s highest court. In 2019, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) and a law banning conversion therapy were signed into law. GENDA prevents discrimination of LGBTQ+ people by employers, schools and universities, landlords, creditors, and others based on gender identity or expression.
Founded in 1841, The Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture and provides top-quality entertainment. 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.
2023 CHEVROLET MUSIC SERIES SCHEDULE TO DATE:
Chevy Court Stage:
| Wednesday, August 23 | 1:00 p.m. | Chubby Checker |
| Thursday, August 24 | 6:00 p.m. | Quiet Riot |
| Friday, August 25 | 1:00 p.m. | Mary Lambert |
| Friday, August 25 | 6:00 p.m. | Doechii |
| Saturday, August 26 | 1:00 p.m. | Peppa Pig Live! Peppa Pig’s Adventure |
| Saturday, August 26 | 6:00 p.m. | Julio Iglesias Jr. |
| Sunday, August 27 | 1:00 p.m. | The Prodigals |
| Sunday, August 27 | 6:00 p.m. | Matt Stell |
| Monday, August 28 | 1:00 p.m. | Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone |
| Monday, August 28 | 6:00 p.m. | Anne Wilson |
| Tuesday, August 29 | 1:00 p.m. | Tommy James and the Shondells |
| Tuesday, August 29 | 6:00 p.m. | Bret Michaels’ Parti Gras |
| Wednesday, August 30 | 1:00 p.m. | Danielle Ponder |
| Wednesday, August 30 | 6:00 p.m. | Chapel Hart |
| Thursday, August 31 | 1:00 p.m. | Avalanche - 10th Mountain Division Army Band |
| Thursday, August 31 | 6:00 p.m. | Lee Greenwood |
| Friday, September 1 | 6:00 p.m. | The Fray |
| Sunday, September 3 | 1:00 p.m. | Disney Junior Live on Tour: Costume Palooza |
| Monday, September 4 | 12:00 p.m. | The High Kings |
Suburban Park Stage:
| Wednesday, August 23 | 2:00 p.m. | Steven Page |
| Thursday, August 24 | 8:00 p.m. | Theory of a Deadman |
| Friday, August 25 | 2:00 p.m. | Rebecca Black |
| Friday, August 25 | 8:00 p.m. | GAYLE |
| Saturday, August 26 | 8:00 p.m. | George Thorogood and the Destroyers |
| Monday, August 28 | 8:00 p.m. | REO Speedwagon |
| Tuesday, August 29 | 8:00 p.m. | Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line |
| Wednesday, August 30 | 8:00 p.m. | Ann Wilson |
| Thursday, August 31 | 8:00 p.m. | Ludacris |
| Saturday, September 2 | 8:00 p.m. | Quinn XCII |
| Sunday, September 3 | 8:00 p.m. | Yung Gravy featuring bbno$ |
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