Country star Phil Vassar says there will be no dillydallying at his show on Saturday.
MARION – Country singer Phil Vassar, who will play at the Pima County Fair on Saturday, says his concerts are fun.
“I can guarantee that,” he says. “We don’t dillydally around.”
Vassar is headed to the Old Pueblo to perform songs off of his latest album, “Prayer of a Common Man,” as well as his hits, including “Just Another Day in Paradise” and “Six-Pack Summer.”
Fair-goers should expect a little bit of everything.
“It’s a ruckusy show,” he says.
Singer, songwriter and piano player, Vassar said he was always interested in music, but didn’t pursue it career-wise until later in college.
“I was always into it,” he says. “But I was into sports and majored in business. I was just kind of putting off the inevitable, I suppose.”
The inspiration from his songs, like many country singers, come as a direct reflection of what is going on in his life at the time.
“Whatever it may be, it’s always really light. Whether it’s something I’m going through or a relationship, it just varies,” he says. “Whatever I’m living, that’s what I write about.”
The songs on his newest album are about his roots in Lynchburg, Va., a Southern factory town.
“My dad was a factory guy. He didn’t have it easy,” Vassar says.
The song lyrics of “Prayer of a Common Man” directly reflect that, addressing the demands of every day life and the kind of prayer and needs that so follow.
Vassar says his daughters, Haley, 9, and Presely, 4, often are inspiration for his writing.
“As long as you have kids, you got things to write about,” he says.
While he has been touring steadily all summer, he says he never goes away for more than four days.
“I just took them to school this morning. I jump right back into the real life things,” he says.
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CONCERTS AT THE FAIR
April 18: Country star Phil Vassar, 7:30 p.m.
April 19: norteño musician Ramon Ayala, 7:30 p.m.
April 20: youth performance troupe Breakdown Tucson, 8 p.m.
April 24: Nat and Alex Wolff of The Naked Brothers Band, 7:30 p.m.
April 25: ’80s rocker and reality TV star Bret Michaels, 8 p.m.
April 26: alt-country band Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, 5:30 p.m.
Concerts are free with fair admission
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IF YOU GO
What: Pima County Fair
When: April 16-26. Main Gate opens at noon on weekdays and 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Closing time is from 11:30-12:30 p.m.
Where: Pima County Fairgrounds, 11300 S. Houghton Road
Price: $7 general, $2 for 6-10 years old, $5 for parking
Info: 762-FAIR, www.PimaCountyFair.com