August coming to county fair — in August

Van Wert County Fair information

On Saturday, August 30, the Van Wert County Fair welcomes 2011’s GMA Dove Awards “New Artist of the Year” and “Male Vocalist of the Year” Chris August to Van Wert for free!

With paid admission into the fair, area residents can enjoy talent in the Gospel and Entertainment tents all week long. From rockabilly and country to southern gospel and contemporary Christian, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

August’s album, No Far Away, won GMA’s pop/contemporary album of the year in 2011 and his 2012 album, The Upside of Down, continues to fill contemporary Christian radio nationwide.

His No. 1 hit single “Starry Night” will be sure to be in Saturday night’s playlist. Other songs fans may recognize are “7 x 70,” a song about forgiveness; “Battle”; and “Center of It” — all songs in local playlists on the way to and from work.

Also Saturday night, opening for August will be the group Veridia (check it out on YouTube). This past February, Veridia signed with Word Entertainment in Nashville, Tennessee, and released its first EP “Inseparable” shortly thereafter.

A female-fronted group, Veridia (the name means “of truth”) falls into the category of alternative rock. Lead singer Deena Jakoub explained in press releases it’s group members’ creed to strive for raw honesty in all that they do, being true to themselves, the ones they love, and in their music.

Veridia has been acclaimed as a band filled with conviction and passion to bring hope to the hopeless, and applauded as a band that cares for its fans and truly wants to serve those who are hurting in any way.