We started the month last weekend with Country Thunder in Florence.
This weekend, we move on to the popular student-run University of Arizona Spring Fling carnival on the UA campus.
On Saturday, April 14, Maynard James Keenan and his prog-rock outfit A Perfect Circle headline KMFA Day at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium with Stone Temple Pilots and indie newcomers Vista Kicks.
Next Thursday, April 19, the month takes a wide swing into all-out crazy fun when the Pima County Fair opens with rapper Ludacris kicking off the fair concert series. Other acts on the lineup over the fair’s 10-day run through April 29 include 1970s pop rockers REO Speedwagon, Christian pop band Mercy Me, hard-rockers Anthrax and Everclear, and a couple country acts including Easton Corbin.
Admission to those concerts is free with paid fair admission. If you want a reserved seat it will cost you $15.
We’ve prepared a little user’s guide to help you plan your month. Note that all three events follow the clear-bag mandate; no purses, backpacks or other bags unless they are made of clear plastic. Also, no weapons, alcohol, fireworks, sharp objects or outside food allowed — in other words, follow basic concert/public events protocols.
2018 UA Spring Fling
When: 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, April 13; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 14; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 15.
Where: UA East Mall, off North Campbell Avenue, on the University of Arizona campus.
Cost: $5 admission, tickets are 50 cents, sold in books of 10, 20 and 40; $30 unlimited ride wristbands available.
Lineup: Local bands and performing arts groups perform throughout the weekend beginning at 5 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Details: springfling.arizona.edu
KFMA Day 2018
When: Gates open at noon, first act goes on stage at 1 p.m. and concerts continue until 10 on Saturday, April 14.
Where: Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium 2500 E. Ajo Way.
Cost: $45 at area Pizza Hut locations, online at ticketfly.com or at the gate.
Lineup:
- Prog-rockers A Perfect Circle with Keenan, frontman for the band Tool and a prominent Verde Valley winemaker (Caduceus Cellars).
- Alt-metal band 10 Years, which apparently is in good company with Keenan on the lineup. One of their biggest influences is Keenan’s band Tool.
- Stone Temple Pilots is the oldest band on the lineup — they originally formed in 1989, although they did take a six-year hiatus from 2002-08 — also has endured the most turmoil, from firing its founding lead singer to losing his replacement to suicide last summer.
- Korn frontman Jonathan Davis is flying solo, but surely he’ll dust off some Korn favorites.
- We can’t print the name of Two Feet’s — aka Bill Dess — viral video single, but we are pretty certain the Harlem electronica-rocker will play it.
- Perhaps the youngest band on the marquee, Vista Kicks out of Northern California, likes to add some groove to its music. (See related story.)
Details: kfma.com/kfmaday-2018
2018 Pima County Fair
When: April 19-29; gates open at 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Where: Pima County Fairgrounds, 11300 S. Houghton Road, off Interstate 10.
Cost: Admission is $9 adults, $5 for kids 6 to 10 and military; free for kids 5 and younger. Parking is $5. Ride tickets are extra.
Lineup (all concerts on the Main Stage unless noted; admission is free with fair admission):
- 8 p.m. April 19, rapper Ludacris.
- 8 p.m. April 20, rockers Everclear on the 4 Peaks Stage; 9 p.m. metal rockers Anthrax on the Main Stage.
- 8 p.m. April 21, neo-trad country singer Randy Houser.
- 7:30 p.m. April 21, I Luv the ’90s Tour with Rob Base, All-4-One and Kid N Play.
- 4 and 7:30 p.m. April 23, 1970s pop band Jefferson Starship.
- 7:30 p.m. April 25, Christian pop band MercyMe.
- 8 p.m. April 26, rapper Ja Rule with Ashanti.
- 8 p.m. April 27, 1970s rockers REO Speedwagon.
- 8 p.m. April 28, country singer Easton Corbin.
- 7:30 p.m. April 29, Mexico’s Banda el Recodo.
- New rides: For the young kids, flying elephants rule on the Flying Jumbo — it’s like a merry-go-round with elephants instead of horses; for the big kids, the European bench ride Konga and the two-story mirror maze Rockin’ Rodeo.
- New eats: The fair’s marketing guru Launa L. Rabago will be the first to tell you that the rides are secondary when it comes to people attending the fair; they come for the food, according to Pima County Fair research. It’s deep-fried paradise, especially this year when the fair will feature among other things: Peanut Butter and Jelly Siracha Funnel Cake, Flaming Hot Cheeto Corn Dogs, Fruity Pebbles Shrimp on a Stick and New Zealand Traditional Fry Bread. They also are serving up the new fad in frozen treats, nitro balls — giant ice cream balls dipped in liquid nitrogen.
Details: pimacountyfair.com
