WAR, Journey Revisited and Shane Dwight top Monterey County Fair.

Exhibitors, crafters, live animals, community groups, sinfully yummy fried foods and of course, the carnies and carnival rides: The sights and smells of a county fair are abundant and seductive.

Equally intriguing are the sounds, and the 80th annual Monterey County Fair abounds with four successive nights of music covering Western swing, ’80s rock, funk and roots.

Every county fair deserves a stellar country band as its anchor, and the Monterey County Fair’s 80th annual celebration definitely qualifies.

It kicked off Wednesday night with Asleep at the Wheel performing pure Texas country, checking the box for an essential county fair sound of classic western swing.

The energy level picks up Thursday night, Sept. 1 with Journey Revisted on stage.

Fronted by ace vocalist Jeff Salado, this group is a tribute band dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Steve Perry period (1978-1996) of one of the all-time greatest pop rock bands ever. Reeling off hit after hit, similarities in both sound and diction are uncanny, inducing musical time travel, and an involuntary urge to sing along.

Next comes the urban American funk of WAR. Although sans Eric Burdon, the group continues its political American sojourn under the able tutelage of original bandmember and keyboardist/vocalist Leroy “Lonnie” Jordan. (Jordan is the only founding member who still plays with the band.)

The band’s recent releases are every bit as edgy and provocative as in the old days when they proclaimed, “The World is a Ghetto.”

Saturday night brings Morgan Hill native Shane Dwight, a searing blues guitarist who riffs like Stevie Ray but sings Americana-style. Dwight moved to Nashville in 2009 in search of his musical roots, and still divides his time between here and there. As Dwight makes a name for himself, he’s shared the stage with the likes of B.B. King, Los Lobos, The Doobie Brothers and Jimmie Vaughan.

Youth bands from Samz School of Rock, which is based in Salinas, conclude the festivities with a 2pm matinee appearance on Sunday.

The closers come with 1980s pop rock and urban funk sandwiched between pure Texas swing and Americana roots/blues. Sounds like a delicious musical repast.

JOURNEY REVISITED Thursday, Sept. 1

WAR Friday, Sept. 2;

SHANE DWIGHT Saturday, Sept. 3. Monterey Fairgrounds & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. All shows are at 7:30pm. Free with admission. 372-5863, www.montereycountyfair.com.