The Stanislaus County Fair will have a familiar face headlining on the Modelo Variety Free Stage this summer.
Performing on the second day of this year’s Stanislaus County Fair concert series is country singer and Turlock native Ash Ruder, who appeared on Season 19 of American Idol in 2021 and is coming off the release of new music.
Ruder, who released her first single “The Valley” this past August, will take the stage for her first ever headlining performance on July 12. It will also be her first public performance in her hometown.
“I haven't been back home since last May. It’s crazy to think that it’s been a year since I was in Turlock, so this will be my first time back in Turlock since releasing the music. It'll be my first experience seeing the response in real time. I'm really excited to see it all and be with everyone, seeing some familiar faces,” Ruder told the Turlock Journal. “Obviously there's some angst, like some excited nerves about it, but I've gotten a lot of love over social media and texts and calls and all that. I know it'll be so fun and rewarding to go back and share that love for our hometown together.”
The Valley was released on Aug. 2, 2024, and is described by Ruder as an appreciation for the Central Valley despite her leaving to pursue a career in the music industry. It has garnered almost 20,000 listens across streaming platforms, and led to her being featured on outlets like Country Music Television and Billboard.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ash Ruder to our stage this year, " said fair spokesman Jose Piña in a press release. “As a local artist, Ash’s performance brings an extra sense of pride and connection to our community. We’re excited to showcase her talent and offer fairgoers an incredible night of live music.”
Ruder will be accompanied by a full band for her 1.5-hour set, which will feature unreleased music to be performed on a decorated stage with curated lighting. She will also have exclusive merchandise for sale.
“We’re still brainstorming a lot of stuff, but we’re doing our best to make it an experience that you don't normally experience when you go to a concert. That's kind of my big next dream, to revolutionize the way a concert is experienced. This will be the first taste of that, and Turlock will be my guinea pig for everything that's going to come because I feel like my town will have a little bit of grace on me,” Ruder joked.
The opportunity to perform at her childhood fair came shortly after The Valley was released.
“It was a no-brainer,” she said. “Like, of course, I would do this in a heartbeat. It’ll be so special and very, very nostalgic.”
Ruder recounted memories of going to the Stanislaus County Fair as a child and teen, going on rides and attending a number of concerts, including Big Time Rush in 2011, Fifth Harmony in 2014, and Easton Corbin in 2018.
“The (Stanislaus County) Fair is one of the only places in town where you can go every year to listen to live music and see some bigger names headlining,” Ruder said. “It's just wild to me that I'm now going to be one of the people on that stage. It feels very surreal and full-circle.”
Ruder said the Fifth Harmony show was especially memorable.
“That Fifth Harmony show, it was probably one of my first real concert experiences, because honestly, I didn't really get to go to concerts growing up just because my family didn't have the means to take us into the city and pay for a show. Most of my childhood was like, either watching recordings of concerts on YouTube or going to the fairgrounds.
“The fairgrounds were my first concerts and where I saw a lot of my first acts, and it’s like that for a lot of people. Just thinking that I could be someone’s first concert is so wild.”
The 107th Stanislaus County Fair takes place July 11-20.
The free nightly concerts in the Modelo Variety Free Stage begin at 8:30 p.m. The shows are open seating and on a space-available basis. There is no searing or seat-saving before 5 p.m.
Tickets to this year’s fair are available at www.stancofair.com/tickets.
