NORWICH – Since he first burst onto the country music scene in 1999 with the title track off his debut album, “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely,” singer Andy Griggs has continued to tour, record and perform for packed houses across America. Last night found the 37-year old Griggs on stage at the Chenango County Fair for Millennia Entertainment’s “Guitars Under the Stars” music showcase, running through a selection of his greatest hits, as well as some newer material.
“The musicianship was unbelievable, as well as the showmanship,” said Millennia Entertainment owner Terry Potter. “It was a great show. The excitement and the energy was made for a perfect night.
Vocalist Kaitlyn Jackson kicked things off at last night’s concert, performing a short set of original material pulled from her debut album, Crush, recorded in and around Nashville last year. The young singer said she had a great time, and even had a chance to meet Griggs prior to the show. Her CD, she added, has been selling steadily since its release earlier this year.
“It was really fun and he’s a really nice guy,” added Jackson. “The CD is doing pretty good and I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback.”
Musical siblings Matt and Bruce Beadle of The Beadle Brothers were next on stage, joined by guitarist Al Kenyon, bassist John Baldwin and drummer Brandon Baldwin. The pair had the crowd rocking from the start, performing several tracks off their own debut album, “To the Moon and Back,” while throwing in the occasional cover song, including cuts by Big and Rich, Brad Paisley and others. The brothers plan to release their next studio effort early next year, according to Bruce Beadle, and will record in Nashville once again.
“We have around half the songs we need for the album,” added Beadle, who said the two brothers plan on performing in support of their debut album while continuing to write for their second CD, untitled as of yet.
Griggs and his bandmates took to the stage shortly after 8 p.m., performing “some old stuff, some new stuff and everything in between,” according to the singer. County fairs such as Chenango’s, said Griggs, are some of his favorite venues to perform.
“These are the best shows there are to play,” he added. “We play all different kinds of shows, but there’s just something about a fair, this time of year, that’s really special. We’ve been looking forward to this show for a long time.”
One of the highlights of the night, according to Potter, was a surprise meteor shower that appeared over the fairgrounds while Griggs was performing his hit “If Heaven.”
“I looked out and saw all these people looking up into the sky and wondered what it could be,” said Potter. “It was just amazing.”
Drummer Doug Frazier said he’s been on the road with Griggs for “a few years now” and commented on the amount of hard work the band puts in backing up the singer. Each musician “really has to know the material,” he added, as Griggs is “way off the cuff.” This being the band’s first visit to Chenango County, Frazier said Norwich was different than he’d expected and called it “quaint.”
“I honestly, most of the time, don’t know where we will play each night until I step off the bus,” laughed the drummer. “I’d absolutely come back and play Norwich again. Besides, I need to try the local pizza places.”
According to Griggs, a new album – “Bipolar”– is currently in the works, due out sometime this fall. His most recent release, the single “Can I Get an Amen,” is available for purchase on iTunes and other online outlets. For more information on the singer, visit www.andygriggs.com.

Evening Sun Staff Writer Julian Kappel contributed to this article.