All the music and mayhem of Country Thunder Arizona 2024 from Diamond Rio to Jelly Roll
Country Thunder Arizona returned for a rowdy and raucus 2024 run.
The festival kicked off at Canyon Moon Ranch in Florence on Thursday, April 11, with electric line dancing, RV bottlenecks and a fiery headlining performance by Lainey Wilson. On Friday night, Eric Church treated fans to a hit-filled set that ended with a "Springsteen" singalong.
Jelly Roll took the crowd to church on Saturday night with an inspiring set and Koe Wetzel closed out the massive festival on Sunday evening.
Here's a look back at all the fun the festival brought to town. For more from the scene, check our Instagram and TikTok. Don't miss our roundup of Country Thunder highs and lows, too.
Koe Wetzel turned up to close out Country Thunder 2024
Koe Wetzel opened his performance by rushing out onto the stage with his acoustic guitar, donning a Canadian tuxedo and a Bass Pro Shops hat.
The large audience looked on in awe as the drums and bass vibrated through the whole festival as Wetzel performed his song “Creeps” from the 2022 album “Hell Paso."
“Let’s turn this (expletive) up just a little bit huh,” Wetzel said.
Wetzel and his four other guitarists smiled as they genuinely rocked out and enjoyed themselves — walking across the stage, jumping onto speakers and head-banging.
“Happy April everybody,” the country rock singer said before performing “April Showers” from the same album.
Smoke filled the air as colorful strobe lights of blue, purple and red filled the sky.
“Sundy or Mundy” from Wetzel’s 2020 album “Sellout” brought a little bit of Texas to Arizona as the fun continued on into the final moments of Country Thunder Arizona 2024.
— Dina Kaur
Randy Houser rocks 'How Country Feels'
Randy Houser brought out a solid rock jam session to Country Thunder as the sun went down.
Houser and his band know their way around a guitar or two, as evidenced by the solos in “No Good Place To Cry.”
He introduced the crowd to a new song titled “Taking Our Country Back,” which is coming out soon. He said the classic-sounding country song was inspired by missing more traditional-sounding country music.
Before going into “Like a Cowboy,” he mentioned how he shot the music video for the 2014 song off his album “How Country Feels” in Tucson. He added the crowd-pleasing song “How Country Feels” off that same album and fans were screaming the lyrics at the top of their lungs while Houser was interacting with the crowd and had a smile on his face.
He threw his guitar pick out into the audience which he dropped and laughed at himself for.
— Dina Kaur
Diamond Rio brought the hits (and romance)
Diamond Rio started their set with “Unbelievable” off the 1998 album of the same name. The Grammy Award-winning country band that's been around for more than three decades got the crowd much more excited than any of the previous acts, as a lot more people gathered to witness the group sing or snap a picture of them.
Lead singer Marty Roe had no problem hitting those low notes, making it seem effortless and the songs light and airy. A violin was brought out for performances of “Norma Jean Riley” and “Nowhere Bound.” As cigarette smoke filled the air, fans yelled “yee-haw.”
The band brought the romance to performances of “Imagine That” and “One More Day,” which had couples slow dancing, kissing and holding each other as they listened on.
“We know we got great country fans in this part of the world … we are blessed to have so many great hits, what a great problem, so we are going to try to get through all of them,” Roe said.
— Dina Kaur
Jake Worthington brought a down-and-dirty Texas vibe
Jake Worthington came out looking like a real, authentic country star with a black cowboy hat and shades, acoustic guitar, flowing hair and blue jeans.
He kicked things off with “How Do You Honky Tonk” off his 2017 album “Hell of a Highway,” his hoarse voice a stark contrast to Alexandra Kay’s sweet country twang, shifting the tone to a more down-and-dirty vibe. He went on to perform “State You Left Me In” off his self-titled 2023 album.
Worthington asked the crowd if they were excited for Diamond Rio, Randy Houser and Koe Wetzel. That was met with cheers.
“A lot of them come from Texas and so do we,” Worthington said. “You mind if I play a little something that sounds like where I came from? All right.”
He went into “Ain’t Got You To Hold." His set suited the crowd's line dancing and drinking as anticipation built.
— Dina Kaur
Alexandra Kay revs up the Sunday crowd: 'Let's go'
Alexandra Kay’s delightful country twang was the perfect way to start off the last day of Country Thunder. Donning rose-colored glasses, long blonde hair and white cowboy boots, her smile brightened up the crowd.
“Koe (Wetzel)’s not coming out till later so I’m here to warm y’all up,” Kay said. “Part of my job is to get you drinking nice and early and dancing nice and early. So let’s go.”
Kay released her debut album “All I’ve Ever Known” in October 2023 and performed songs including the title track and “She Stayed.” Her angelic voice got the crowd swaying, as light drum playing and soft guitar added to her set.
“What a long catwalk, wow, Jelly must’ve been outta breath as hell walking this last night,” Kay said before heading into covers of “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” by Shania Twain and Tim McGraw's “Something Like That," which got the whole crowd singing.
— Dina Kaur
Sunday afternoon traffic in Florence was a breeze
Heading into the final day of Country Thunder Arizona, if you arrived early enough before headliner Koe Wetzel, you didn't hit much traffic at all. Things seemed to be running a lot smoother, as staff kept the lines moving and seemed to have the swing of things.
The sun was still scorching like every day this weekend, but a cool breeze provided some relief. The festival grounds remained calm as fans rolled in decked out in cowboy boots and hats, with some opting for pants in preparation for the cooler evening.
Many had their lawn chairs out and were hanging around, grabbing drinks and chatting, as they waited for Alexandra Kay to kick the day off.
— Dina Kaur
Country Thunder Arizona 2024 Sunday lineup and schedule
Country Thunder Arizona will wrap up its 2024 festival with five main-stage headliners. The concert bowl opens at 1 p.m. Here’s the schedule:
2:30 p.m. - Alexandra Kay
4 p.m. - Jake Worthington
5:30 p.m. - Diamond Rio
7 p.m. - Randy Houser
9 p.m. - Koe Wetzel
— Ed Masley
What’s the forecast for Country Thunder Arizona's last day?
It’s set to be gorgeous on Sunday for the final day of Country Thunder Arizona 2024. The forecast is for a high of 86, with lots of sun and breezes of 10 to 20 mph. (Of course, you’ve got your hat; just don’t forget your sunscreen.) Skies are expected to be clear at night, with an expected temp of 68 degrees and just a slight breeze when Koe Wetzel is scheduled to headline at 9 p.m.
— Jill Cassidy
Jelly Roll: 'I've been dreaming of playing Country Thunder, y'all'
Jelly Roll drew a huge crowd for the weekend's most anticipated set, taking the stage with arms outstretched to thunderous applause, and launched into "Halfway to Hell," the anthem that opens his first full-blown country album, 2023's "Whitsitt Chapel."
"I've been dreaming of playing Country Thunder, y'all," he shouted, grinning ear to ear, before following through with "The Lost."
— Ed Masley
'I believe!' Jelly Roll took Country Thunder Arizona to church in inspiring set
Live from Florence: Every song Jelly Roll played at Country Thunder AZ 2024
Riding the lightning with TikTok star Warren Zeiders
Warren Zeiders got internet famous fast on TikTok, posting cover songs at first and then going viral with his own song, “Ride the Lightning.”
Chances are, the first thing people noticed was that voice of his. It’s like a force of nature, a point made abundantly clear by the end of "Up to No Good," his opening song at Country Thunder, where it felt like he was going for a new world record as he powered through the held note on the final chorus, letting it ring out for what felt like a longer eternity than most.
He did the same thing later, at the end of “Painkiller,” and it was even more impressive that time.
But Zeider’s voice is also an uncommonly expressive instrument, the perfect vehicle for ballads as emotional as “Weeping Willow” (sent out to “the ladies” with a smile after losing his shades) or “Pretty Little Poison,” a heartbreaking hit he called “the hardest song I ever had to write.”
A lot of artists would have held their first chart-topping country single back and played it last, and maybe Zeiders will eventually.
But he followed “Pretty Little Poison” with three more songs, ending the night with his viral TikTok hit after getting in touch with his cover-song roots with a mash-up of Alice in Chains and Metallica.
— Ed Masley
Big personality serves Priscilla Block well
Like Avery Anna, a singer from Flagstaff who turned in one of Thursday’s strongest daytime sets, Priscilla Block owes her success to TikTok, where her breakthrough single, “Just About Over You,” went viral during the pandemic shutdown.
She’s a natural entertainer, an effervescent personality who welcomed the crowd to her performance with “I know it’s early but y’all ready to go off the deep end?”
This is Country Thunder, Priscilla. These people are ready to go off the deep end at 8 in the morning.
“Off the Deep End,” a song about “shuttin’ down Broadway, going too hard,” was the first in a seemingly endless supply of drinking songs, from “My Bar” to “Hey Jack,” “You, Me & Whiskey” and “Fake Names,” a song about adopting alter egos to blame when you’re getting especially wasted.
She slipped some heartache in there too, from “Like a Boy” to a heartfelt cover of the Riley Green song, “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.”
But there’s a reason she goes hard on the party songs.
As Block herself summed up her sense of showmanship, “I have a really big, loud, obnoxious personality.”
— Ed Masley
Dallas Smith still comfortable rocking country
There’s a heavy alternative-rock side to country as Dallas Smith plays it.
He comes by it honestly, though, having risen to fame as a member of post-grunge alternative-rockers Default, a Chad Kroeger discovery, before hitching his wagon to country with the aptly titled "Jumped Right In” in 2012.
Five albums deep into his country years, Smith came out rocking an Alice In Chains shirt from the ‘90s to lead his bandmates in a loud and heavy “Wastin’ Gas,” his first of 11 songs to top the Canadian country airplay charts.
Smith definitely has the voice for country, as evidenced by what he brought to “If It Gets You Where You Wanna Go,” “Fixer Upper” and the Hardy collaboration “Some Things Never Change” in particular.
But he sounded just as comfortable covering the Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” without a hint of country in his voice.
— Ed Masley
Lauren Watkins deserves chance to shine on her own
Nashville native Lauren Watkins never should’ve had to follow Emily Ann Roberts on the main stage of a major country music festival on her first trip to Arizona.
She’s clearly got the talent and the songs to carve out a respectable career in her hometown.
“He’s sleeping in her bed and I’m sleeping in my makeup” is a brilliant line. And there’s an emotional weight to her best work that’s undeniable, from “Shirley Temple” to “Jealous of Jane.”
But Watkins doesn’t have the polish or the made-for-TV presence to follow a singer who’s already made it through the star-making machinery of “The Voice” and toured arenas with Blake Shelton.
She’s got her own gifts, to be sure. But those gifts would’ve had a chance to shine a whole lot brighter if the order of those sets had been reversed.
— Ed Masley
Line up for free line dancing lessons
If you're looking to learn to line dance like they do in Nashville, Mesa-based Nomads Studio is hosting partner line dancing classes for free in the Electric Thunder tent at various times throughout the weekend.
Whether you have a partner or not, head over to the Electric Thunder tent to get partnered up with another solo attendee and learn to dance while making some new friends and good memories.
— Meredith G. White
Guest entertainer provides hypnotic fun
If you’re looking for a truly unique experience during the festival, guest entertainer Joshua Seth will be hypnotizing people all weekend long.
During the demonstration, Seth had 11 volunteers come up to the small stage and perform a series of hypnosis tricks — everything from convincing the volunteers in a state of deep sleep that they were freezing to death in subzero temperatures to world-class musicians to giggling uncontrollably. Or, I guess, completely controlled by Seth.
— Meredith G. White
'Country as cornbread,' Emily Ann Roberts gets Saturday off to a sassy start
Saturday at Country Thunder Arizona got off to a very entertaining start with the irrepressibly charming Emily Ann Roberts, a hard-twanging singer from east Tennessee who shot to stardom in 2015 as a member of Team Blake on NBC’s “The Voice.”
She’s fresh off an arena tour with Shelton that played Desert Diamond Arena in March and is about to drop a new deluxe edition of her latest album, “Can’t Hide Country,” on Friday.
Roberts explained with a smile that she titled the album in reference to her heavy Knoxville twang and more than once said her music was “country as cornbread,” which it was.
She even had a fiddle in the band, setting the tone for her performance with the upbeat old-school country of “He Set Her Off” and covering Miranda Lambert, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn before bringing her set to a spirited close with an ode to the simple life with “a bow and a fiddle” called "Whole Lotta Little.”
— Ed Masley
Here are the priciest and cheapest foods we spotted at Country Thunder
It’s no secret that your wallet is going to hurt a little when you go to a festival. One of the major contributors is food costs. Here are three of the most expensive food items for sale at Country Thunder Arizona 2024:
Half a rack of smoked ribs from Texas BBQ for $28.
Curly fries topped with pulled pork or brisket from Texas BBQ for $25.
Carne asada fries from Flaco's or a lobster baked potato, fries or roll from Lobster Shack for $24.
If you want to spend more on merch and less on munchies, here are three of the least expensive menu items we saw:
Roasted corn on a stick from Stizzy's for $8.50.
Jalape?o cheese curds from Carne Cafe or a plain ice cream cone from Ice Cream and More for $9.
Baked potato from The American Cafe or three tacos of your choice from Carne Cafe for $12.
— Meredith G. White
Buddies since the '90s, they reunited at Country Thunder
Walking around the campgrounds, you'll see a lot of out of state license plates. While most are right outside of Arizona's borders, there was one that particularly caught my eye: Washington.
Four men in their late 50s and early 60s are camped around a laptop screen watching the Dallas Stars hockey game against the St. Louis Blues.
Michael Donneo, Chris Deane, Tom Jones and Michael Derksen traveled from Dallas, San Diego, Seattle and Calgary for a little reunion at Country Thunder Arizona.
To prove their commitment, the four amigos even got matching Dallas Stars tattoos to commemorate how they met in Dallas working on a big construction project in the '90s.
While a couple of them are more rock 'n roll fans than country, they all reunited here for a special weekend of sitting around the campground, catching up, reminiscing and listening to some live music.
— Meredith G. White
If drinking isn’t your thing, maybe the Hippie Chicks booth is
For their first year at Country Thunder, the Hippie Chicks are selling THC and CBD gummies, ice cream and liquid kratom shots ranging from $10-$15.
The inspiration for the Scottsdale company came to owner Mike Halsam four years ago. As a chiropractor, he saw a lot of older female patients who were scared to try marijuana. They were nervous to go to a dispensary; they didn’t know what to get or how much to take.
“So our goal was to try and make that process easier,” Halsam said. “We found women who are in the cannabis industry or use cannabis on a regular basis and we tell their story on the back of this box. All the women on our packaging are real people.”
The women featured on the boxes explain why they like each strain and the effect it had on them.
— Dina Kaur
Country Thunder is an ideal place to day drink
If you’re planning to drink the day away, Country Thunder Arizona has you covered. There are tons of options, including booths giving out free samples of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, BeatBox and 3 Amigos Tequila.
The Beer Hall has $9 cocktails, 24-ounce cans for $18 and 12- and 16-ounce beers from $9. Cocktail options include the Cowboy Quencher made with 3 Amigos Tequila, Fresca and lime, and the Rhinestone Cowgirl with Cutwater Vodka and cranberry.
One of the bars even has a mobile pickup option.
— Dina Kaur
Country Thunder Arizona 2024 Saturday lineup
The concert bowl opens at 1 p.m. Saturday. Here's the main stage schedule:
2 p.m. — Emily Ann Roberts
3:30 p.m. — Lauren Watkins
5 p.m. — Dallas Smith
6:30 p.m. — Priscilla Block
8 p.m. — Warren Zeiders
10 p.m. — Jelly Roll
— Ed Masley
Eric Church takes the main stage
The party people came in from the campgrounds as the time approached for Friday’s main event — a headlining set by Eric Church, a Country Thunder Arizona regular who hadn’t played the festival since 2021.
And Church’s entrance did not disappoint — a haunting verse of “The Outsiders” with Church accompanying himself on electric guitar as the members of his backing band strolled out to join him, kicking in at full intensity for maximum effect.
We’ll have a full review of Church’s set on Saturday morning.
— Ed Masley
A picture-perfect sunset on Day 2 of Country Thunder
As the sun is setting, Country Thunder provides the picture-perfect background for golden hour.
Three cousins ― Mara Manera, Kayden Hughes and Brooklyn Buck ― traveled from Colorado to attend Country Thunder Arizona. They aren't there just for fun — it's business, too. They are running a clothing booth at the festival for Pinque Boutique, a family business in Grand Junction, Colorado, that's owned by Hughes’ aunt.
“She was inspired because she won Miss Colorado 2008, so she just fell in love with fashion and creating clothes, so that’s her inspiration behind Pinque,” Hughes said.
Adorned in bedazzled pink, white and purple outfits with fringe and white cowboy boots, the women took photos in front of the rides as the sun set. It was picture perfect.
— Dina Kaur
Paul Cauthen did his own thing
As statements of purpose go, you’d be hard pressed to top Paul Cauthen opening his set at Country Thunder Arizona with “Country as (Expletive),” especially considering how rarely Cauthen’s music ventures into territory one might commonly associate with country.
That opening song, for example, was closer in spirit to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ brand of funk-rap (if the Peppers had been more experimental). Much of what he did was as rooted in hip-hop, alternative rock and funk as anything remotely country.
Not that anybody seemed to mind.
The Country Thunder crowd was in his corner from the time he sauntered out to join his bandmates on “Country as (Expletive)” through the funky alternative rap of “Caught Me At a Good Time” to a deeply emotional solo acoustic rendition of “Country Coming’ Down,” which Cauthen followed with a heartfelt cover of the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody.”
He may not be the only country outlier at this year’s festival, but he was easily the most consistently unusual act we’ve seen so far. That’s what made it such an entertaining highlight of the weekend. He’s got his own thing going on.
— Ed Masley
New Songwriters Showcase gets up close and personal with performers
Alana Springsteen was joined by three other songwriters ― Will Weatherly, Benjy Davis and Ryan Beaver ― at the Songwriters Showcase, an intimate session with each artist playing their acoustic guitars and taking turns signing a song of their choice.
“This is a songwriter round so we like to tell stories while we sing these songs,” Springsteen said.She opted to perform “You Don’t Deserve a Country Song” and “Feel Good,” a song coming out later this year on her sophomore album.
— Dina Kaur
Nate Smith leans into his country side
A bearded longhair in a “Desperado” ball cap, Nate Smith led his bandmates in a set that owed as much to modern rock as country. And the gritty twang in his voice felt right at home on the songs that played more to his rock side, from the raspier moments of “Sleeve,” which Smith said was his favorite song he’s ever written, to the throat-shredding cover of “My Hero,” a Foo Fighters song that had plenty of people in cowboy hats shouting along.
But there’s a reason Smith has sent two singles — “Whiskey on You” and the set-closing “World on Fire,” which may have outrocked the Foo Fighters song — to No. 1 on Billboard’s country airplay charts.
It’s not that those song are especially country. It’s that he feels more country than he sounds. And when he plays more to his country side, it’s undeniable. That country came through loud and clear on “Here’s to Hometowns,” an old-school country ballad where he sets the tone with “Here’s to Sundays where folks still go to church” and name-checks Brooks and Dunn.
— Ed Masley
The iHeart Radio stage gets no love
A talented Jacob Morris played the iHeart Radio stage located near Electric Thunder, but the handful of people lingering around acted as if he wasn’t performing at all. The music was great, but the vibe was heartbreaking and made me wish the organizers did a better job promoting this stage and smaller artists.
— Dina Kaur
Randall King took fans to church
Randall King is the real deal, a true believer in the church of country music whose heroes have always been cowboys. He spoke with conviction about country music coming from the heart, which certainly appeared to be the case for King, especially on highlights as heartfelt as “You in a Honky Tonk” or “I Could Be The Rain,” a set-closing triumph that ended in his bandmates jamming out on “Purple Rain” as King was signing autographs.
— Ed Masley
An Oasis in hot and dusty Florence — for VIPs only
For lucky festivalgoers with platinum tickets who are looking to cool down after line dancing and singalongs, the Oasis is a hidden gem. Featuring picnic benches, couches, chandeliers and fake grass to make it seem like you’re in an actual oasis in the middle of the desert, the space hosts the Culinary Sk?l food truck, a bar, massage therapy, photo opportunities against a Country Thunder sign and actual bathrooms. Not port-a-potties; real toilets. But the best part has to be the pups. The Coconino Humane Association brought along some dogs you can pet and interact with.
— Dina Kaur
Forget a T-shirt ― real fans get Country Thunder tattoos
Some fans would rather rock bling or body art to commemorate their time at Country Thunder and The Enchanted Dragon is there to serve. Based out of Tucson, piercer Lia Dylan said the shop is offering piercings for about $40 and tattoos starting at $80. They normally get super busy as soon as the sun goes down, though they're open from the time the gates open and until they close. She said it's their fifth year at Country Thunder Arizona. While tattoo options include cowboy hats and mermaids, the most popular choice is a bull skull tattoo in honor of Country Thunder’s logo.
— Dina Kaur
The Bellamy Brothers kick it old school
The Bellamy Brothers were the weekend’s first nostalgia act. And they made a strong case for throwing it back in the course a well-received set on Friday afternoon.
They made their way through a number of their greatest hits along the way to the singles they managed to run up the pop charts in the ‘70s, like “If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me” and the absolutely timeless “Let Your Love Flow,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976.
After dusting off the ‘80s hit “When I’m Away From You,” David Bellamy said, “Glad you remember some of them old hits,” setting up his brother for the punchline.
“Good thing,” Howard joked. “‘Cause that’s the only kind we got.”
— Ed Masley
Alana Springsteen makes her Country Thunder debut
Alana Springsteen was the first act of the day on a lineup topped by Eric Church, a man whose greatest hits include a song called “Springsteen.”
I was hoping for a joke or two about it. But alas, all we got was a perfectly solid performance from a clearly talented young woman who should have no trouble working her way up the Country Thunder food chain.
She’s got the voice, she’s got the songs and she certainly looks the part, working the stage in a leather miniskirt and matching top while singing from behind a pair of aviator shades that never left her face.
This is Springsteen’s first time playing Country Thunder Arizona and she clearly made the most of it, treating a crowd that numbered in the dozens to a set whose highlights ranged from the Pixies-esque guitars of “Twenty Something” to “Different Kinda Country,” one of two songs she played after sending her bandmates away for an unplugged mini-set.
And she’s enjoying the scenery. As she told us, “We got off the plane and I saw my first cactus."
— Ed Masley
No one seems to know what's going on
If you’re coming to Country Thunder for the first time, do not expect to have an easy time navigating the parking or entry. Of 15 or so employees I encountered, none had festival maps or any idea where newly arriving guests should go. Be prepared for chaos and disorganization upon arrival.
— Dina Kaur
No hat? No problem
Forgot your hat? No worries. Country Thunder Arizona vendors seem to have it all, including artist and Country Thunder branded memorabilia and merchandise, along with a selection of artisan accessories, cowboy and trucker hats.
— Tiffany Acosta
The campground is party central
At Country Thunder, the true heart of the party lies not within the main stage area, but in the sprawling expanse of the campgrounds. Amidst a sea of RVs, the festival spirit ignites a vibrant tableau. Every direction leads to revelry, from impromptu gatherings around lawn chairs to spirited games of beer pong. The air pulses with the beat of loud music, drawing dancers into spontaneous displays of uninhibited celebration. Festival-goers mingle and swap stories throughout the day and night. The campground is a world where the party never ends.
— Tiffany Acosta
Friday's lineup at Country Thunder Arizona 2024
The concert bowl opens at 1 p.m. Here's the Friday schedule:
2 p.m. — Alana Springsteen
3:30 p.m. — The Bellamy Brothers
5 p.m. — Randall King
6:30 p.m. — Nate Smith
8 p.m. — Paul Cauthen
10 p.m. — Eric Church
— Ed Masley
'You'd better hold my beer': Lainey Wilson owned the Country Thunder stage
Lainey Wilson, 1st female headliner since 2014, takes the stage
Lainey Wilson took the stage at Canyon Moon Ranch Thursday as the first headlining artist of the four-day weekend and the first female artist to headline Country Thunder Arizona since Miranda Lambert did the honors in 2014.
And she was every bit the Entertainer of the Year Award the Country Music Association would have you believe in her gold lame vest and matching bell bottoms, setting the tone for performance with a rowdy “Hold My Halo” giving way to an equally raucous rendition of “Hillbilly Hippie.”
We’ll have a full review of Wilson’s headlining performance bright and early Friday morning.
— Ed Masley
Flatland Cavalry rocks with conviction to spare
Flatland Cavalry felt especially mellow coming out of Stephen Wilson Jr., who brought his speaker-melting set to an electrifying climax with the aptly titled “Holler From the Holler” after covering Nirvana. But sometimes going in the opposite direction with conviction is its own reward.
Flatland Cavalry even went unplugged at one point, with guitar-playing vocalist Cleto Cordero and fiddle ace Wesley Hall sending their bandmates away for a cover of George Strait’s “Ocean Front Property.” Then Hall left the stage to Cordero, who turned in a beautiful reading of “Sleeping Alone,” which built to a breathtaking finish with Hall and guitarist Reid Dillon rejoining him.
Their entire set played to the strength of their material and musicianship (especially Hall and Dillon, whose slide-guitar work did exactly what a slide guitar should do). They had the audience singing along to “Country Is What Country Means to You,” Cordero’s good-natured flipping of the bird at the people who think he’s not country enough. They turned in a beautifully bittersweet cover of the Fleetwood Mac song “Landslide” after tipping a hat to Toby Keith with a spirited romp through “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.”
And when they finally let it all out on “The Provider,” it rocked with conviction to spare.
— Ed Masley
Flashback: Country Thunder Arizona's '90s origin story and the stars that made it shine
Line dancing is all the ‘rave’ at Electric Thunder
As you wander through the festival grounds, your attention might be captivated by a massive blue and red carnival tent looming in the distance. Upon entering Electric Thunder, you're engulfed in a whirlwind of cowboy fervor.
The atmosphere is electric, with neon lights illuminating the dance floor as country beats fill the air.
However, this isn't your typical rave scene. Get in line — literally — as line dancing commands the dance floor in synchronized harmony. Don’t know how to dance? No worries, just follow the crowd.
— Tiffany Acosta
Stephen Wilson Jr. does not disappoint with his alt-country twang
As Stephen Wilson Jr. was about to take the stage, we were advised that “he calls himself Death Cab for Country,” a reference to indie-rock’s Death Cab for Cutie. There were definitely textures going on that would have felt right at home on an indie-rock record, with Wilson squeezing cinematic, U2-worthy soundscapes from a classical guitar so weathered, Willie Nelson might have thrown it out.
But it still felt like country music at its core, from the lived-in Southern Indiana twang of Wilson’s vocals to the hill country stomp of the drums and the more bluegrass-flavored touches Wilson brought to his guitar work.
It even felt country when Wilson and his bandmates, including two brothers from Yuma (Jonny and Scotty Murray), turned up the distortion on the suitably Nirvana-esque, Kurt Cobain-referencing “Year to Be Young 1994,” which opened and closed on a Nirvana riff. They followed that one with an actual Nirvana cover, “Something in the Way,” which was, as promised, “dancier” than the original.
Wilson is an enigmatic presence who bared his soul about losing his father and told the day’s goofiest joke while tuning his guitar. “My wife calls me Tuny Soprano,” he said “I prefer Antunio Banderas. But who am I to choose my own nickname?”
— Ed Masley
Bohemian, cowboy attire reigns supreme
Country Thunder is not just a music festival; it's a fashion show in its own right, where cowboy attire reigns supreme.
Mixing elements of bohemian chic reminiscent of Coachella with rugged yet adorable cowboy aesthetics makes for its unique style. But men, please wear a shirt. We know it’s hot, but no need to show off your dad bods and muscles.
If you're not donning cowboy boots and hats, you might feel out of place amidst the sea of denim, plaid and fringe. The event's fashion scene embraces the fusion of laid-back boho vibes with the timeless charm of cowboy culture and lots of short shorts.
— Tiffany Acosta
Flagstaff TikTok sensation rocks main stage
Not many artists playing Country Thunder Arizona’s main stage can legitimately point to someone in the audience and tell the crowd “Guys, this is, like, a teacher from my high school.”
But TikTok breakout Avery Anna is from Arizona, as she told us several times during Thursday’s set.
She even mentioned her teacher by name before the set was through, clearly thrilled to be rocking a festival crowd that included a familiar face from high school.
Anna’s mom was also in attendance. They’re from Flagstaff.
After “Just Cause I Love You,” the ballad that made her an overnight TikTok sensation, Anna said she recorded the song in the bathtub at her mother’s house in Flagstaff during COVID, moving to Nashville when the song went viral.
What works on TiKTok may not always translate to the real world, but Anna made the leap without a hitch in a crowd-pleasing set that included the day’s second cover of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.”
— Ed Masley
$25 for loaded fries? Fair favorites break the bank
Country Thunder's food scene is a feast of fair favorites. From Piggly’s Barbecue with its smoked turkey legs, ribs, and BBQ nachos to the classic indulgence of funnel cakes and curly fries, there's something to satisfy every craving.
And with the sweltering 90-degree weather, nothing beats the refreshing relief of ice cream and snow cones. For those craving other savory options, Joe's Chicken offers chicken sandwiches and pitas, while Flaco's serves up mouthwatering tacos and elotes.
Of course, like any music festival, indulging in these culinary delights may require breaking the bank.
“Does this look like a plate that cost 25 dollars? These loaded fries are not worth 25 dollars,” said Destry Maes. But for many, it's all part of the experience.
— Tiffany Acosta
Miss Arizona USA takes in Halle Kearns' Swift vibes
We caught up with Miss Arizona USA, Candace Kanavel, and Sean McShea, shortly after they took in a crowd-pleasing cover of Taylor Swift’s “Love Song” by Halle Kearns, who introduced it by telling us “This woman raised me.” Kearns was Thursday’s second act to take the stage at Country Thunder Arizona.
Kanavel told us she’d be onstage later dressed as a cop. We’ll keep you posted.
— Ed Masley
Kyle McKearney sets the mood on Day 1
Kyle McKearney got the party started, treating an afternoon crowd that may have numbered in the dozens to a set that put the focus squarely on his talents as a singer and a songwriter.
McKearney’s latest album, “A Traveler's Lament,” won Alternative Country Album of the Year at the 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards. His sound is only so alternative, though. Not that it would have mattered on a Country Thunder lineup topped by country music outliers, from Jelly Roll to a Sunday headliner whose singles get more airplay on rock radio.
Highlights ranged from an original about how he “might as well get stoned” to a Dylanesque talking country-blues and a gritty reinvention of the Eagles song “Heartache Tonight.” McKearney and his bandmates also slipped snippets of songs by Led Zeppelin and Queen into a rocker about how an “ol’ rock ‘n’ roll song will get me through the day.”
— Ed Masley
RVs, pickups make for a parking nightmare
Ready yourself, because navigating parking at Country Thunder is proving to be a nightmare. It’s not for the weak!
Circling the lot five times just to secure a spot can be frustrating, especially when the area lacks designated parking spaces. The presence of RVs and big trucks further compounds the issue by consuming parking space.
— Tiffany Acosta
Country Thunder weather forecast: Load up on sunscreen
The weather forecast is looking hot, hot, hot in Florence, so bring your hat and load up on sunscreen.
Thursday's high is forecast to be 93 degrees, with a low of 59. More of the same on Friday, with a forecast high of 92 degrees and low of 57. Saturday will see daytime temperatures around 88 degrees and nighttime lows of 54.
Temps should drop a bit on Sunday, with a high of 82 and a low of 49, so pack layers for the evening.
There will be sun all weekend long, according to The Weather Channel.
— Dina Kaur
Thursday's lineup at Country Thunder Arizona 2024
The concert bowl opens at 1 p.m. Here's the Thursday schedule:
2 p.m. — Kyle McKearney
3:30 p.m. — Halle Kearns
5 p.m. — Avery Anna
6:30 p.m. — Stephen Wilson Jr.
8 p.m. — Flatland Cavalry
10 p.m. — Lainey Wilson
— Ed Masley
Heavy traffic, detours expected on Day 1
No matter which music festival you attend, traffic is an inevitable companion — and Country Thunder is no exception.
With ongoing construction at the State Route 287/79B intersection in Florence, camper traffic from the west will face detours, causing delays and congestion. Whether traveling from Casa Grande or Coolidge, drivers will be redirected through North Valley Farms Road and East Cactus Forest Road, eventually joining SR 79.
Even at the junction of Cactus Forest Road and SR 79, law enforcement will regulate traffic, slowing down speeds and potentially causing further delays. As a result, all other travelers should anticipate traffic congestion on SR 79 in both directions into Florence.
— Tiffany Acosta
How to get to Country Thunder in Florence, AZ
With over 8,000 campsites at Canyon Moon Ranch, many fans will spend the entire weekend at Country Thunder. The rest of the estimated 20,000 fans will be traveling the two-lane highway between the festival and U.S. 60.
If you're looking to avoid the traffic hassle, arrive early. Live music starts at 2 p.m. the first three days and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Traffic tends to intensify between 6 and 7 p.m., and the heaviest traffic is expected Saturday evening for Jelly Roll. Pay for your parking in advance and have your ticket ready when you pull up.
To stay informed, sign up for Country Thunder emergency text alerts by messaging CT2024 TO 65513.
— Dina Kaur
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Country Thunder Arizona 2024: All the music, fun and mayhem
