Frankie Ballard, Parmalee rock the Monroe County Fair

Who wears a leather jacket and jeans while singing on a hot summer night at the Monroe County Fair?

How about Michigan- born Frankie Ballard, who rocked the fair grandstand with his booming, up-tempo country music on opening night of the fair Sunday. And the crowd loved it.

The energized crowd of mostly young people clapped in unison on the grandstand track, especially on his second song — “Young and Crazy” and his latest hit, “Cigarettes,” which opened his set. Many young women climbed on the shoulders of other spectators and waved their arms and took photos with cell phones as the 33- year- old lead singer and guitarist led them in song.

“Hello Monroe, Michigan,” Mr. Ballard said to a throng of about 1,500 people, about a third of whom packed together on the track to get a closer look.

It was the third time Jamie Harris, 33, of Melvindale and Rachel Schell, 34, of Wyandotte had seen the five-member band.

“We come to the fair every year” for the concerts, Ms. Harris said. “We saw him last at the Fillmore in Detroit in April, but this is much better.”

She was among many in the crowd who were so disappointed with the cancellation of the Little Big Town show last year. Mr. Ballard made up for that and brought back the thrills and excitement of an outdoor fair concert again.

Playing some of his favorite Top 30 hits like “Tell Me You Get Lonely” and “It All Started With a Beer,” he also performed some of his newer hits like the hard rock “El Rio,” the single on his latest album by the same name.

He was really rocking on the hit “Sunshine and Whiskey,” and the crowd sang in unison with him on the lyrics “Every time you kiss me it’s like sunshine and whiskey.”

He said the band travels all over the country and meets a lot of fans.

“We’ve got a sweet spot for my Michigan girls,” he said, drawing a roar of approval from the audience.

About halfway through his more than an hour concert, the Battle Creek native played a little Elvis, starting out slow on “ You Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog” and ending the song with a theatric guitar jam with the bass player.

It was also the third time for Stephanie Salsberry of Dearborn, who won tickets to the concert from a radio station. She saw Mr. Ballard play once at Toby Keith’s former bar in Auburn Hills. “He’s Michigan made and local,” Ms. Salsberry, 31, said. “You have to support the Michigan artists.”

Robby Kuehnlein, a 4-H livestock superintendent, stood with about a dozen former 4- H friends further back on the track and waved his arms when “Young and Crazy” played.

“I like good rockin’ songs you” can dance to, the 23-year-old said. “I like Frankie Ballard, but this is good for Parmalee to play for an opener like Frankie.”

Parmalee, a four-member band from North Carolina, warmed up the crowd and played hard rock for more than an hour.

Mr. Kuehnlein’s cousins, Justin Carrabino and Nick Levicki, stood in the third row on the track with their friends. Mr. Carrabino, 18, wore a tank top and alligator- like cowboy hat he had purchased Sunday on the grounds. The three of them were all looking forward to hearing their favorite Ballard songs.

Chris Heck, a 4-H superintendent, brought his bride, Rachelle, to the show. The couple, who were married June 25, love country music.

“These are both good bands,” Mr. Heck, 27, said.

Matt Thomas, lead singer for Parmalee, explained the philosophy of their song “Roots,” saying it defines a person’s origins and represents “all the things that make you who you are, no matter where you go.”

The band ended its warm- up with “ Dance,” “Close Your Eyes” and the hit “Carolina,” its signature song that includes lyrics like: “Here is where my heart is beating… even 1,000 miles away, she makes it feel like Carolina.” The band consisted of “ just a bunch of smalltown boys from North Carolina,” Mr. Thomas noted.

Monroe deejay and musician Jeff Tuttle introduced Mr. Ballard along with “Jess,” the female deejay on Nash 93.1 FM, one of four radio stations that promoted the concert.

“This was a first for me,” Mr. Tuttle, 55, said before the introduction. “I’ve played with a lot of bands before — Randy Travis, Martina McBride, George Jones, Waylon Jennings and Garth Brooks.”

Tara Dessauer watched the concert with Rob Salenbien in the quieter comfort in the covered grandstand. She was looking forward to hearing “Sunshine and Whiskey” while her partner was waiting for “It All Started With a Beer.”

Mr. Salenbien, 49, and his parents — Harry and Nancy Salenbien — and three brothers — Tim, Mike and Dan — were all unwinding after a busy day riding five tractors in the fair kickoff parade earlier. Harry said he and his wife of 50 years were “kicking back” and enjoying the show after both rode in the parade.

“This is a great ending to a great day,” Rob said. “Last year’s (concert) cancellation was a bummer.”