Alum to perform July 30 at Delaware State Fair

Singer-songwriter Melissa Cox

2:50 p.m., July 19, 2005--UD alum and singer-songwriter Melissa Cox and her band will perform at the Delaware State Fair at noon, Saturday, July 30. The fair, now in its 86th year, runs from Thursday, July 21-Saturday, July 30, in Harrington.

Cox who infuses the sounds of folk, Celtic and rock with her own distinctive style, graduated from UD in May with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in music management but has been performing for more than a decade. When she’s not performing, she is an assistant in the Division of Professional and Continuing Studies.

This will be Cox’s first time playing the fair. “I am very excited,” Cox said. “I’m very grateful that I have been given the chance to play at such a large event. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Cox and her band are one of 16 local groups invited to perform as part of “Home Grown ’n’ Hand Picked,” a free concert series offered each Friday and Saturday at the fair.

Immediately after each set, participating acts are given the opportunity to distribute literature and photos, sign autographs and sell CDs, T-shirts and other promotional merchandise.

This year’s fair will offer genre music: country on Friday, July 22; rock on Saturday, July 23; rhythm and blues on Friday, July 29; and bluegrass/folk on Saturday, July 30.

Home Grown ’n’ Hand Picked began last year when the state fair in conjunction with Key of DE magazine and June Jam, outdoor benefit concert promoters, invited local bands to submit promotional packages for consideration.

For tickets or more information, visit [www.delawarestatefair.com] or call (302) 398-3269.

Article by Barbara Garrison

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