A Great Big World, Billy Bob Thornton will headline State Fair free stages

Chad King, left, and Ian Axel are A Great Big World. (photo courtesy Minnesota State Fair)

The musical smorgasbord that is the Minnesota State Fair is offering one "Great Big" pop act alongside the usual good ol' favorites on its free stages come August.

Young duo A Great Big World, which won a Grammy last year for its breakthrough collaboration with Christina Aguilera, "Say Something," will perform Aug. 29-30 at the Leinie Lodge Bandshell.

Otherwise, this year's free-stage lineup is the customary belly-up-to-the bar smorgasbord of warmed-over oldies, respected veterans like country star Marty Stuart and Byrd-turned-bluegrasser Chris Hillman, bubbling-under wannabes, beloved locals -- including former Jayhawks frontman Mark Olson -- and outright curiosities, like BIlly Bob Thornton's Boxmasters (pictured), who'll take the Leinie's stage Aug. 31-Sept. 1.

Here are the top acts -- or check out the fair's more detailed schedule here.

Leinie Lodge Bandshell Tonight!

Aug. 25-26: G. Love and Special Sauce

Aug. 27-28: Marty Stuart

Aug. 29-30: A Great Big World

Aug. 31-Sept. 1: Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters

Sept. 2-3: The Spinners

Sept. 4-5: War

Leinie Lodge daytime

Aug. 25-26: Martin Family Circus, Tonic Sol-fa, High Valley

Aug. 27-28: Dave Barnes, Ashley Campbell, The Bros. Landreth

Aug. 29-30: The 34th Infantry Division "Red Bull" Band, Chris Hillman-Herb Pedersen, We Banjo 3

Aug. 31-Sept. 1: The Sound Exchange, The Quebe Sisters, Pokey LaFarge

Sept. 2-3: The Railers, Max Baca-Los TexManiacs, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Sept. 4-5: Peterson Brothers, The California Honeydrops, The Last Bandoleros, Tim Cavanagh

West End

Aug. 25-26: Reina del Cid

Aug. 27-28: Mark Olson (co-founder of the Jayhawks)

Aug. 29-30: Davina and the Vagabonds

Aug. 31-Sept. 1: The Twilight Hours

Sept. 2-3: Pert' Near Sandstone

Sept. 4-5: Sonny Knight & the Lakers

Bazaar After Dark

Aug. 25-26: Maiden Dixie

Aug. 27-28: The Not Guilty Band

Aug. 29-30: Viva Knievel

Aug. 31-Sept. 1: Salsa del Soul

Sept. 2-3: Gypsy

Sept. 4-5: GB Leighton