Acclaimed blues rock musician John Mayer will perform at the 2013 Illinois State Fair.  The seven-time Grammy Award winner will take the Grandstand stage Sunday, Aug. 11 as the headline act for a concert that also will feature Phillip Phillips, the reigning American Idol champion.

"The state fair strives to bring nationally-known entertainers to Springfield and artists of this caliber can only further its reputation as a venue for the biggest names in the music industry," State Fair Manager Amy Bliefnick said.  "This is an exceptional booking and I can't wait to welcome John and Phillip to the fairgrounds."

Mayer is best-known for his hit singles "Your Body Is a Wonderland," "Daughters," "Waiting on the World to Change" and "Say," all of which earned him Grammys for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.  He has recorded three number one albums, including his most recent release, "Born and Raised."

Students in primary and secondary schools (public and private, K-12) are invited to design a poster for the 24th annual River Sweep 2013.  The poster contest is open to students living in or attending schools in counties bordering the Ohio River, or counties participating in the River Sweep.

Fifteen prizes will be awarded.  The grand prize is a $500 and the school representing the grand prize winner will also receive an award.  A $500 prize will be presented to the student with the winning design for the official River Sweep t-shirt.  Thirteen $50 prizes will be awarded to one winner at each grade level.

The Steve Miller Band has been booked to perform at the 2012 Illinois State Fair.  The classic rock group will take the Grandstand stage Sunday, Aug. 19, filling the lone open date in the 2012 concert line-up.  

The band, known for its blues-rock sound, has sold more than 30 million records during an illustrious career spanning more than 40 years.  Its first smash hit, “The Joker,” shot to  #1 on the charts in 1973 and was followed by such rock standards as “Fly Like an Eagle,” “Take the Money and Run,” “Jungle Love,” “Swingtown” and “Abracadabra.”