NEEDTOBREATHE to headline York State Fair, plus new acoustic tour

The York State Fair isn’t exactly known for subtlety. Neither is NEEDTOBREATHE.

Similar sounds: Kings of Leon, Switchfoot, The Lumineers

GRAMMY-nominated rock band NEEDTOBREATHE is bringing their high-octane live show to the York State Fair Grandstand, adding a surge of soul-stirring anthems to one of Pennsylvania’s oldest traditions. Only two hours from D.C., this stop is one of the closest chances for DMV fans to catch the band live this summer, and a perfect excuse to spend a day at “America’s First Fair.”

Held annually since 1765 (yes, before the Declaration of Independence), the York State Fair has evolved from a colonial livestock market into a full-blown spectacle, complete with rides, exhibits, and a nightly concert series. This year’s lineup includes Alabama, Foreigner, Good Charlotte, and on July 24, the genre-blurring, arena-tested power of NEEDTOBREATHE.

Formed in South Carolina in the late ’90s, NEEDTOBREATHE has carved out a rare space between gospel roots, Southern rock, and stadium-sized pop hooks. Across nine studio albums and over a billion streams, they’ve remained hard to pin down—by design. “Any label is limiting,” frontman Bear Rinehart once told Rolling Stone, after the band deliberately avoided signing with Christian record labels. Even so, they’ve topped the Christian Albums chart six times and picked up 15 Dove Awards along the way.

Their latest project? The Barely Elegant Acoustic Tour, announced earlier this spring, which kicks off this fall with 18 shows that promise a more stripped-back, story-driven approach to their catalog. It’s a contrast to the full-volume experience they’ll deliver in York—but a reminder of their range and staying power.

You may also recognize Rinehart from his solo work as Wilder Woods. We caught his set at the 9:30 Club back in March—you can read the full review here—and fans can expect some of that same raw energy when the full band hits the Grandstand stage.

Whether you’re a longtime listener or just in it for the fried Oreos and fireworks, NEEDTOBREATHE’s set is shaping up to be one of the fair’s biggest nights.

See below for a full list of York State Fair headliners:

• July 18 – Rascal Flatts

• July 19 – Summer of Loud

• July 20 – Riley Green

• July 21 – The Coasters

• July 22 – Foreigner

• July 23 – Good Charlotte

• July 24 – NEEDTOBREATHE

• July 25 – Alabama

• July 26 – T-Pain

• July 27 – I Love the 90’s