Some artists just make sense in certain settings. Aaron Lewis — Vermont-born, raised on classic country, formerly the voice of Staind, now a decade-plus into a solo career in the tradition of Waylon and Willie — makes particular sense at the Vermont State Fair. He’s bringing the 2026 American Tour to the Vermont State Fair Diamonds and More Grandstand in Rutland on Saturday, August 22, co-presented by the Paramount Theatre. Showtime is 7 PM.
Aaron Lewis: From Rock to Roots
Lewis spent the late nineties and most of the 2000s as the frontman of Staind, the post-grunge act whose breakout hit “It’s Been Awhile” became one of the era’s defining rock radio songs. The transition to country surprised some people. It shouldn’t have. Lewis has talked extensively about his early exposure to classic country — Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard — and the influence was always there underneath the distortion. When he stepped away from rock and into Americana, the voice traveled with him: raw, weathered, direct, and without pretense.
His solo discography includes Town Line (2011), The Road (2012), and several albums that have earned him a devoted following among fans of traditional and outlaw-leaning country. The Stateliners are his full touring band — a proper road outfit that gives the music the backbone it needs. This isn’t a solo acoustic set. It’s a full show for an outdoor summer crowd.
The Setting: Vermont State Fair
The Vermont State Fair runs August 18–22 in Rutland, and the Lewis show closes out the week on Saturday evening. The fair grandstand is an outdoor setting: open sky, summer air, a Vermont crowd for a Vermont artist. Early ticket purchases — before August 18 — include Fair admission, so there’s an argument for planning the full fairground experience around the show. Tickets start at $55 for general admission; reserved box seats are available at higher tiers.
Tickets are available at ParamountVT.org (OvationTix). The Paramount Theatre and OvationTix are the only official purchase channels — avoid secondary market prices on this one if you can help it.