Texas country-rocker joins Country Thunder superstar lineup

In a lineup that includes one of the biggest names in country music, a fan-favorite superstar and a fast-rising relative newcomer, the most exciting performance of the 2024 Country Thunder Music Festival this weekend might come from a relative unknown.

Country rocker Koe Wetzel is a superstar in his native Texas, but until the national release in March of his new single “Damn Near Normal,” not many folks had heard of him outside of the Lonestar State.

Before he takes the stage on Sunday, April 14 — the closing night of the four-day festival, which begins Thursday, April 11 — here are a few things you might want to know.

Wetzel started playing music a dozen years ago after he dropped out of college in his sophomore year. Eighteen months later, the former Tarleton State University linebacker was selling out college clubs in Texas and Oklahoma and gaining a reputation for his post-grunge/hard rock-infused red dirt country.

He’s released five albums since 2015, two on his own and his last two on Columbia Records, which signed him in 2020. “Drunk Driving” from his Columbia debut “Sellout” was his first platinum (a million sales) single.

His most recent album, 2022’s “Hell Paso,” has 315 million streams; all told, he has a career total of 2.4 billion streams.

His live shows are legendary affairs that have included pyro, fog cannons and LED screens. But fans say it’s his energy and hard-driving music, leaning more heavy rock than crooning country, that keep them coming back.

Wetzel’s harder edge contrasts the artists supporting him Sunday — the neo-trad country newcomers Alexandra Kay and Jake Worthington, the pop-leaning 1980s country band Diamond Rio and the twangy veteran songsmith Randy Houser.

Country Thunder kicks off with Lainey Wilson, the Grammy-winning reigning Country Music Association entertainer of the year, on Thursday. Her supporting cast includes newcomer Halle Kearns (“Homemade Margaritas”), who boasts 11 million TikTok views, 21 million global streams and 78,000 Instagram followers; and Flagstaff native Avery Anna, whose latest single, “I Will (When You Do)” with Dylan Marlowe has more than 14 million Spotify streams.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

Fun fact about Wilson: She filmed the video for her latest single, “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” in early February at Marana’s White Stallion Ranch.

Eric Church makes his fourth headlining appearance on Friday, with a lineup that includes newcomer Alana Springsteen — no relationship to Bruce — who’s gotten significant radio play with her recent collaborations — “Ghost in My Guitar” featuring Chris Stapleton and “Goodbye Looks Good on You” with Mitchell Tenpenny.

There’s also relative newcomer Nate Smith, making his second-straight Country Thunder appearance. His current single, “Whiskey on You,” is climbing the charts.

Jelly Roll, who launched his music career in the rap arena in the early 2000s before turning to country with his first No. 1 country single, “Son of A Sinner” in early 2023, headlines Saturday night. His debut country album “Whitsitt Chapel,” released last June, features collaborations with country artists Brantley Gilbert, Struggle Jennings, Yelawolf and Lainey Wilson.

His opening lineup includes three women — Emily Ann Roberts (“Devil Wears Denim,” “Can’t Hide Country”), Lauren Watkins (“Fly On the Wall”) and Priscilla Block (“Good on You”).

Gates of the Country Thunder festival grounds, 20585 E. Water Way in Florence, open at 9 a.m. daily and live music begins each day at 2 p.m. Headliners take the stage at 10 p.m., except on Sunday, when Wetzel goes on at 9.

General admission tickets start at $175 single day or $300 for a four-day pass through countrythunder.com/az-tickets.