By 
Country musician Ashley Wineland returns to the Brown County Fair this year with a combined four shows on Friday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 15. The concerts at the Trusty’s Climate Control Tent are free. Courtesy Photo.
When country singer Ashley Wineland revisits the Brown County Fair, she’ll also revisit themes almost anybody can relate to.
Wineland is in the midst of her Love + Heartbreak Tour and will play four free shows when she hits town. They’re at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. on both Friday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 15 under the Trusty’s Climate Control Tent.
She said the name of the tour was also the concept title of her February release, which was ultimately dubbed “Wineland.” Unsurprisingly, the songs are about the shared experiences of — well, love and heartbreak, of course. Those were themes in her life when she wrote the eight songs over three years, she said.
MORE: No shortage of memories for Central band even after July 4 D.C. parade canceled
People who heard Wineland at last year’s fair were treated to a couple of the songs as they were previewed while on the road, she said.
Sonically, the songs are wide-ranging, she said. But stylistically, they’re country with dashes of rock and pop to add a little mustard.
An independent woman
The 28-year-old Arizonan has been touring nearly nonstop for a decade now as an independent artist. While she would love to have a big record deal with the right partners, she also sees the benefits of going it alone.
Nobody pressures Wineland to force a song to sound a certain way for radio play or a mass market, she said.
The result is that she has more freedom to tell the stories she wants. Most of Wineland’s songs are a reflection of where she was at the time she wrote them. That’s meaningful, she said, because it allows her to keep her own message.
Wineland said her interest in music started with a passion for the performing arts. As she gained experience, created more music and learned how to entertain an audience, she said she realized she wanted to make a career of it.
While she doesn’t work with a big record label, she has partnerships that serve as inroads. Carrie Underwood is the co-author of two songs on “Wineland” — “Crank it Up” and “Heartbreak Boots.” So is “Wineland” producer Marti Frederiksen. During Frederiksen’s successful career, he’s worked with, among others, Underwood, Faith Hill, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue.
It’s great to be able to work with other talented, creative people, Wineland said.
She has also opened for the likes of Lainey Wilson, Sawyer Brown and Aaron Lewis. It helps to know people in the industry, Wineland said. But even without widespread fame, she said she still loves the mission — sharing stories and music about things she cares about that are relatable to the people listening. That, she said, is what keeps her going.
As for the Brown County Fair, she said folks should expect a high-energy show that gives them a little zip for the rest of the day.
Wineland books her own shows, and the Love + Heartbreak Tour has more than 60 stops.
She said she enjoyed Aberdeen and South Dakota in general last year, so when she was called and asked if she wanted to return to the fair, the answer was easy.
“A hard yes,” Wineland said.
Many musical choices
As is the case every summer, there are plenty of other entertainment options at the 2026 Brown County Fair, including a bevy of free shows.
MORE: Aberdeen runners with different stories finish 100-mile ultramarathon journeys
From hard rock to magic to oldies, just about anybody should be able to find an enjoyable act or two when the fair begins Monday, Aug. 10.
The biggest shows, of course, are at the Larry Gerlach Grandstand, and that schedule follows.
- Monday, Aug. 10: Dacotah Bank Stampede, 7 p.m.; kids $10, adults $20 or $25 the week of the fair.
- Tuesday, Aug. 11: Dacotah Bank Stampede, 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 12: Cooper Alan and Jackson Dean, 8 p.m.; general admission $50 or $60 the week of the fair.
- Thursday, Aug. 13: Ty Hubbard and BlackHawk, 8 p.m.; general admission $50 or $60 the week of the fair.
- Friday, Aug. 14: Theory of a Deadman and Sevendust, 8 p.m.; general admission $50 or $60 the week of the fair.
- Saturday, Aug. 15: Lee Brice and George Birge, 8 p.m.; general admission $50 or $60 the week of the fair.
- Sunday, Aug. 16: 10 a.m., Ranch Games, free; 2 p.m., antique tractor pull north of the grandstand, free.
Tickets, including multiple-day passes at a discounted per-show rate, are available at Ken’s SuperFair Foods, 2105 Sixth Ave. S.E.; C-Express, 711 N. Second St.; Hitch’n Post, 2601 Sixth Ave S.E; or online at browncountysdfair.com/tickets/. The cost of multi-day passes also goes up during fair week. Tickets will be available at the box office outside of the grandstand before each performance.
Two other venues on the fairgrounds that are popular, especially as the sun sets, include Centennial Village and The Clubhouse beer garden.
Centennial Village
- Monday: 7 p.m., karaoke with Mark Remily.
- Tuesday: 7 p.m., karaoke with Mark Remily.
- Wednesday: 5 p.m., Travis Larson Band; 7 p.m., Dirty Boot Band; 9 p.m., Barstool Prophets.
- Thursday: 2 p.m., Retro Rockets; 5 p.m., Richard Banker; 7 p.m., Soul Drive; 9 p.m., Barstool Prophets.
- Friday: Noon, Retro Rockets; 4 p.m., Soul Drive; 8 p.m. Bad Dawg.
- Saturday: Noon, Union Cattle Band; 4 p.m., Retro Rockets; 8 p.m., Bad Dawg.
The Lizzy Hofer Band will play Friday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 15 at The Clubhouse beer garden at The Brown County Fair. Aberdeen Insider file photo.
Clubhouse
- Monday: 8 p.m., DJ Rob VanMeter.
- Tuesday: 8 p.m., DJ Rob VanMeter.
- Wednesday: 6 p.m., Boots R Made for Dancing, line-dancing with Carol Aberle; 8 p.m., DJ Rob VanMeter.
- Thursday: 6 p.m., Boots R Made for Dancing, line-dancing with Carol Aberle; 10 p.m., My Monday Regrets.
- Friday: 10 p.m., Lizzy Hofer Band.
- Saturday: Lizzy Hofer Band.
One change this year is that there’s a stage within the fenced-off outdoor area of The Clubhouse, so plans call for concerts to be outside.
All of the music at Centennial Village and The Clubhouse is free to enjoy, as are many other events throughout the week. There are three tents on the grounds, plus the Avera Kids Zone. Here are some of the highlights:
NVC Tent
Wednesday: 2:30 p.m., Minor Mischief, a cappella; 4 p.m., Jodie Smalley, fire performer; 5:30 p.m., Minor Mischief; 7 p.m., Smalley.
Thursday: 2:30 p.m., Minor Mischief; 4 p.m., Smalley; 5:30 p.m., Minor Mischief; 7 p.m., Smalley.
Friday: 2:30 p.m., Minor Mischief; 4 p.m., Smalley; 5:30 p.m., Minor Mischief; 7 p.m., ZZ-3, a ZZ Top tribute band; 9 p.m., Smalley.
Saturday: 2 p.m., Minor Mischief; 3:30 p.m., ZZ-3; 5 p.m., Minor Mischief; 6:30 p.m., ZZ-3; 9 p.m., Smalley.
Sunday: 11:30 a.m., 4-H Performing Arts; 1 p.m., Pop’s New Rhythm; 2:30 p.m., 4-H Performing Arts; 4 p.m., Pop’s New Rhythm.
Mogen’s Heroes will play Wednesday, Aug. 12 and Thursday, Aug. 13 during the 2026 Brown County Fair. Courtesy photo.
Trusty’s Climate Control Tent
Wednesday: 12:30 p.m., Keith Raymond, magician; 2 p.m., Raymond; 3:30 p.m., Vanessa Carpenter, western country; 5 p.m., Raymond; 6:30 p.m., Carpenter.
Thursday: 12:30 p.m., Mogen’s Heroes, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s music; 1:30 p.m., Storybook Land Theatre; 3:30 p.m., Mogen’s Heroes; 5 p.m. Storybook Land Theatre; 6:30 p.m., Mogen’s Heroes.
Friday: 2 p.m., Raymond; 3:30 p.m., Ashley Wineland, dynamic country; 5 p.m., Raymond; 6:30 p.m., Wineland.
Saturday: 2 p.m., Raymond; 3:30 p.m., Wineland; 5 p.m., Raymond; 6:30 p.m., Wineland.
MORE: James Panerio reaches coda of 37-year career as a band teacher
Ken’s SuperFair Foods Tent
Wednesday: 11 a.m., Mogen’s Heroes; 3: p.m.; ice cream social with music by Carpenter; 5 p.m., Rising Star talent show; 7:30 p.m., Mogen’s Heroes.
Thursday: 11 a.m., Phil Baker, children’s entertainer; 3:30 p.m., 1270s, ’50s, ’60s. ’70s music; 6 p.m., 4-H fashion review and royalty coronation; 7:30 p.m., 1270s.
Friday: Noon, 1270s; 1 p.m., My Monday Regrets, original music and cover songs; 3 p.m., 1270s; 4:30 p.m., root beer float feed; 5:30 p.m., My Monday Regrets; 7 p.m., 1270s.
Saturday: 1:30 p.m., Danica Michaels, county music; 3:30 p.m., watermelon feed; 4 p.m., Michaels; 6 p.m., Michaels.
Sunday: 12:30 p.m., Starling and the Call Boys, Midwest indie rock; 4 p.m., Starling Call.
For a complete list of events throughout the Brown County Fair, visit shorturl.at/0U5sH.
