NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The country music forecast called for Thunder, and plenty of it, during the festival season of 2017.
“Country Thunder is the music festival with real personality,” offered CBS News in Phoenix. Indeed, whether it was LOCASH surprising fans with a campground concert or Thomas Rhett helping a young man to propose to his girl, Country Thunder was the place to be in 2017.
“It’s always been our goal to create an overall festival experience as opposed to multi-day concerts,” says Country Thunder Executive Producer, Troy Vollhoffer. “Each show has its own personality and its own vibe, but what remains consistent is the electricity of the fans. They’re loud, they’re wild and they love this music!”
After starting the festival season with record-breaking attendance in Arizona in April, the Thunder rolled and only gained momentum through Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada; Twin Lakes, Wisconsin; and Calgary, Alberta, Canada in July and August. As Axs.com proclaimed, “Country Thunder is a country festival of epic proportions!”
Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Chris Young, Billy Currington, Toby Keith, Old Dominion and a juggernaut of classic stars and up-and-comers, all lit up Country Thunder stages with memorable sets in 2017.
But it was the raucous fans who stayed every night until the last note was played, and the spontaneous and unexpected antics that embodied the unbridled joy of Country Thunder.
Whether it was Gwen Stefani grooving out to boyfriend Blake Shelton’s performances or Toby Keith knocking out a 15-minute version of “Cocaine” in the wee hours of the night during an impromptu jam session, the prairie paparazzi had their work cut out for them in Canada this summer.
Back in Twin Lakes, and in what has been called “The best Keith Urban performance ever” by fans, the Aussie superstar simply refused to leave the stage, dancing up and down the catwalk for an epic two-hour, double-encore performance that lit up social media for weeks.
But, how else do you follow the ultimate redneck wedding in the campground? Guests included Ryan Hurd and Country Thunder staffers whose wedding gift of Thomas Rhett meet-and-greet passes had the bride in tears.
Post Media called Country Thunder, “The ultimate festival experience and the best value in live music.”
But most fans just say, “You never know what’s going to happen next at Country Thunder . . .”
With some major headliners already announced, the 2018 Country Thunder juggernaut will be coming at you hard and fast before you know it.
COUNTRY THUNDER 2018 EVENTS
April 5-8 – Florence, Arizona
July 12-15 – Craven, Saskatchewan (Canada)
July 19-22 – Twin Lakes, Wisconsin
August 17-19 – Calgary, Alberta (Canada)
Please visit countrythunder.com for further details. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @countrythunder.