With the South Country Fair happening this weekend in Fort Macleod, two of the biggest live music venues will be closed — the Owl Acoustic Lounge and the Slice. Which makes sense as most of their patrons and indeed, most of the local musicians who play there will be at the fair.

 But there is a big country show, on July 16 at the South Pavilion in Exhibition Park. The Redneck Woman herself Gretchen Wilson will be playing with Two Foot Fred and Big and Rich.

Gretchen Wilson has a number of hits including the aforementioned “Redneck Woman,” as well as “Here For The Party” and “All Jacked Up.”

Recently she parted ways from her record label and started her own, releasing “ I Got Your Country Right Here” featuring the hit single “Work Hard, Play Harder.”

Big and Rich are best known for blending hip hop and country and their quirky hit single “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” as well as “Comin’ To Your City.” Both artists collaborated on their single “Fake I.D.”

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the South Pavilion. Tickets are $70 for the floor and $60 in the upper stands.

 Before the Owl closes for the Fair, they feature Vancouver indie-rock/ jazz/ folk band Behind Saphhire, Wednesday, July 13.
For classic rockers, Nazareth returns to Average Joes for a July 19 show. They are best known for hits like “Holiday,”  “Hair Of The Dog,”, Love Hurts” and “This Flight Tonight.”

Local band Gravity Crash, who won Average Joes Open For the Bands contest recently, will be opening the show. Tickets cost $40.