(SACRAMENTO, CA) - Get ready to groove and sing along to popular hits like “Why Can’t We Be Friends”, “Low Rider”, “Spill the Wine”, and “The Cisco Kid”. WAR performs on the final Saturday of the California State Fair, as part of the Toyota Concert Series on the Sky River Casino Stage on August 1, 2026.
WAR’s signature fusion of funk, soul, jazz, Latin, rock and street music is what first propelled them to prominence over five decades ago, but it was their ability to craft songs of social consciousness that further cemented their place in the modern American songbook. The immediate global impact of “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” was so profound that NASA transmitted the title track into space during the historic Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975. Since then, WAR have continued to sing out against racism, hunger, crime and conflict, while their music has been sampled by Janet Jackson, Tupac, Beastie Boys, Method Man, Sublime, Redman, Cypress Hill, Shaggy, A$AP Mob, Scarface, The Geto Boys, De La Soul, Flo Rida, Liam Payne, Thomas Rhett and more, and covered by everyone from Willie Nelson to The Muppets, George Clinton, Phish, ZZ Top and The Isley Brothers.
With more than 50 million albums sold, 20 gold, platinum and multi-platinum records, three Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations, a GRAMMY® Hall of Fame entry, four #1 LPs, nine Top 10s and twenty Top 40 songs, WAR didn’t just define the sound of the 1970s, they became a lasting voice for creative collaboration and social change, with a mission of love and harmony that resonates now more than ever. From the prophetic message of “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” to the timeless groove of “Low Rider,” this collection captures WAR at their most innovative and socially impactful. More than just a musical milestone, Why Can’t We Be Friends? (50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition) reaffirms the album’s relevance, both as a reflection of the polarizing era that inspired it, and as a beacon of hope for our present and future.
As WAR continues its sixth decade, their influence remains undeniable. Recent honors including their inductions/presentation of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a key to the city of Long Beach, further cement WAR’s status as musical and cultural giants.
“WAR is a group whose music brings people together,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of Cal Expo and the California State Fair. “Their timeless hits and energy are perfect for a night at the Fair.”
Concerts are free with Fair admission. Reserved seats closer to the stage are available. Presale tickets for newsletter subscribers go on sale Monday, March 30 at 7 a.m., with general sales beginning Tuesday, March 31 at 9 a.m., at www.CAStateFair.com.
The California State Fair runs July 17 to August 2 at Cal Expo in Sacramento. For tickets, concert updates, and more information, visit www.CAStateFair.com.
