Here’s what we love about Country Thunder, the annual four-day country music festival in Florence:
It’s a chance to see where country music is, where it’s been and where it’s heading.
For four days beginning Thursday, April 7, and running through Sunday, April 10, we get to see a host of big-name stars who are burning up the charts alongside some new faces that are just getting their start.
And in between, there are some favorites that we haven’t heard from in awhile like Bryan White, who scored several No. 1 hits in the 1990s (“That’s Another Song,” “I’m Not Supposed to Love You Anymore,” “Someone Else’s Star,” “Rebecca Lynn”), who is on at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 9.
The lineup includes several major label artists who have yet to release their debut albums — Brooke Eden, Chase Bryant — and several whose debut albums are racking up No. 1 hits — Old Dominion, Cole Swindell, A Thousand Horses, Cam.
The superstars — Florida Georgia Line, Eric Church — share headlining duties with a couple of emerging superstars — Kip Moore and Jake Owen.
And then there is the songwriter Ryan Hurd, who is best known for hits he wrote but never sang like Blake Shelton’s Grammy- and Country Music Association Award-nominated duet “Lonely Tonight” with Ashley Monroe, and Rascal Flatts’ “Payback.” Hurd, who Rolling Stone recently named as one of its 10 country artists you need to know, released a four-song EP last November that he will sail through when he takes the stage at 5 p.m. Thursday. You can bet he’ll also sing covers of the songs he’s written, which is always exciting. Sometimes the writer’s interpretation of their song is wholly different from the version we hear on the radio by the artist who recorded the song.
Country Thunder also is a chance to see some homegrown talent get a shot at playing before tens of thousands of fans. Gilbert singer Kianna Martinez gets her second shot at the Thunder — she was on the lineup last year — playing on the Jack Daniels Courtyard stage at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, an hour before the main stage gets rolling. Other Arizona artists playing the smaller stage includes Tucson’s own Drew Cooper; Ryan Bexley, a former Arizona State University football player; Laura Walsh from Maricopa; Jared & the Mill, Christopher Shayne and Zona Road, all from Phoenix; and Matt Farris from Nashville via Lake Havasu.
Sittin' in traffic soundcheck
Face it no matter what day you come to Country Thunder you are more likely than not to sit in line leading into the sprawling Country Thunder West festival grounds. May we suggest the following playlist to keep your mind off the turtle crawl of the cars in front of you.
• Kip Moore "Beer Money."
• Brooke Eden "Daddy's Money."
• Old Dominion "Snapback."
• Cole Swindell "Chillin' It."
• Florida Georgia Line "This is How We Roll."
• Eric Church "Mr. Misunderstood."
• Chris Janson "Buy Me A Boat."
• Jake Owen "Real Life."
• A Thousand Horses "Smoke."
• Cam "My Mistake."
• Randy Houser "We Went."
• LoCash "I Love This Life."
If you go
What: 2016 Country Thunder music festival.
When: Thursday, April 7 through Sunday, April 10.
Where: Country Thunder West, 20585 E. Price Station Road, Florence.
Tickets: $190 for four-day pass, $50 for opening night, $75 each night afterward through countrythunder.com Kids 12 and under free with paid adult.
Lineup:
Thursday, April 7:
3:30 p.m., Brooke Eden.
5, Ryan Hurd.
6:30, Chase Bryant.
8, Old Dominion.
10, Kip Moore.
Friday, April 8.
2:30 p.m., Tucker Breathard.
3:30, Haley Georgia.
5, Bryan White.
6:30 The Cadillac Three.
8, Cole Swindell.
10, Florida Georgia Line.
Saturday, April 9.
2:30 p.m., Casee Allen.
3:30, David Ray.
5, Locash.
6:30, Cam.
8, Chris Janson.
10, Jake Owen.
Sunday, April 10.
2:30, Courtney Cole.
4, Casey Donahew Band.
5:30, A Thousand Horses.
7, Randy Houser.
9, Eric Church.
