Country Thunder Returns To Twin Lakes!
The Country Thunder Wisconsin Music Festival brought in fans from all over Wisconsin and Illinois to Twin Lakes, with each day packed with top-notch country artists. This year's event featured a diverse lineup that showcased some of the biggest names in country music. From rising stars like Lainey Wilson and Priscilla Block to seasoned veterans like Keith Urban and Jason Aldean, every act brought something unique to the stage.
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As someone who has been attending the Country Thunder Wisconsin Music Festival since 2001, I have to say that this year’s installment was one of the best yet. Held at the beautiful Shadow Hill Ranch in Twin Lakes, WI. The atmosphere was electric with a sense of excitement and anticipation from the moment I arrived. Country Thunder first embarked on the Wisconsin location in 1996, the same year as the Arizona festival launched the brand.
Day One
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The first day of the festival kicked off with The Reklaws, a Canadian brother-sister duo. Their lively set featured upbeat songs like "Good Ol’ Days" and "11 Beers" which got the crowd moving. Next up was Washboard Union, another Canadian band that brought their unique blend of bluegrass and country to the stage for the first time in the state of Wisconsin. The trio's harmonies were especially impressive on songs like "I Run On Country" and "Country Thunder", which was no coincidence with the name of the festival.
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Chase Matthew, a Nashville, TN native, was up next. Matthew's soulful voice shone on tracks like "Born For This" and "Come Get Your Memory", which is his latest single. The highlight of his set was when he stripped it down and talked with the crowd. Telling the crowd at one point that,
“There is a lot of us that came through these gates to leave some bullsh*t at home, and every single person out here is dealing with something that no one else knows about, I want you guys to know something if you came this weekend to get your mind off of something, you’re in the right place.”
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Parker McCollum brought his signature brand of rock-infused country to the stage next. The Texan artist's hits like "Pretty Heart" and "Handle On You" got the crowd singing along and dancing.
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Closing out the first day was Cody Johnson, who brought his authentic Texas country sound to the stage. Fans went wild for songs like "Me and My Kind", “Human” and "’Till You Can’t” which caused the Thunderous crowd to erupt into a 30,000-person sing-along. Cody even tipped his hat to fellow Country Singer Jason Aldean and the controversy over his latest song “Try That In A Small Town” saying he sticks behind Jason.
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Day Two
The second day of the festival began with Halle Kearns, who electrified the crowd with her hit song "God Only Knows” & “Shoes To Fill”.
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The young artist impressed with her powerful voice and stage presence.
John Morgan brought a more traditional sound to the stage, with a set that featured songs like "Sorry, Not Sorry" and "Coldest Beer In Town." Next up was Parmalee, who kept the energy high with hits like "Carolina" and "Just the Way."
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Lainey Wilson, who has become a fan favorite in Wisconsin, delivered an unforgettable performance. One highlight was "Things a Man Oughta Know," which quickly became a sing-along, Lainey continued to wow the crowd with tracks like "Smell Like Smoke" and "Heart Like A Truck", which she infused part of her hit with Hardy's “Wait In The Truck”. A funny moment in her set came when she brought out an inflatable deer that she had received from a fan and signed it before returning it.
LAINEY WILSON PHOTO FROM COUNTRY THUNDER IOWA 2022
Jon Pardi took the stage as the night's headliner, bringing his infectious energy and hit songs like "Dirt on My Boots" and "Head Over Boots." The country star interacted with the crowd, and his set went well into the night. Even stopping at one time to apologize to the crowd due to a rough start to his set.
Day Three
Day 3 of the festival featured an array of talented musicians, starting with Frank Ray, who got the crowd going with his high-energy performance. He performed his hits "Country’d Look Good On You" and "Streetlights." Frank is a former New Mexico police officer, who is now one of the fastest-rising singer/songwriters in Nashville. Frank just recently released his debut album with a premier party at Whiskey Jam in Nashville hosted by Storme Warren.
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Next up was Shane Profitt, who gave a heartfelt performance and engaged with the audience. He sang "Still Picks Up," "Country Boys," and "How It Oughta Be." Shane gave a huge shout-out to fellow artist Chris Janson, telling the story about running into him in a sushi restaurant and the rest was history for this young inspiring artist. Shane was one of the few artists that stood out the most to us during this festival!
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Lonestar took to the stage next, and the crowd was ecstatic to hear their hits "Amazed," "No News," and "Mr. Mom." They also treated the audience to a cover they have made their own, "Walking In Memphis," which got a great response from the fans.
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Drew Womack, former Sons Of The Desert singer/songwriter joined Lonestar in 2021, the band just recently went back into the studio to revive some old classics. Their set at Country Thunder was very impressive!
The talented Carly Pearce followed, and the country music superstar did not disappoint. Pearce has a stunning voice that filled the entire festival, and she had the crowd singing along to every song, including "Every Little Thing," "Hide the Wine," and "I Hope You’re Happy Now. As Carly began her set a light rain started to roll into the festival grounds.
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While all the performers delivered great performances, it was Jason Aldean who stole the show. He was seven songs into his set when lightning and rain appeared on the horizon. Aldean knew he only had time for one more song, so he made it count. Earlier in the week, his song "Try That In A Small Town" had been pulled from Country Music Television, and he took the opportunity to make a powerful statement about it.
“I want to say this week you guys showed up as I’ve never seen Country Music fans before. I’ve been in this business a long time and I have never seen anything like it, and from the bottom of my heart, I’ve always been real with you guys. You guys know what I’m about, I’ve never shied away from my beliefs.
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When Aldean finished the song, Storme Warren made his way to the stage to announce evacuation due to the weather. After about a 2-hour delay Aldean took to the stage again to finish off his set. Finally, Jason Aldean closed out day three with an energetic performance that had the crowd going wild. He performed "Dirt Road Anthem," "My Kinda Party," "She’s Country," and "You Make It Easy." The fans sang along to every song, and Aldean’s infectious energy kept them engaged from start to finish.
Day Four
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Day 4 was another exciting day for Country Thunder Wisconsin, starting with Mackenzie Carpenter, who wowed the audience with her strong and beautiful voice. She sang her hits "Huntin’ Season" and "Can’t Nobody" and received a well-deserved ovation from the fans. Mackenzie stuck a nerve during her set when she told the Country Thunder crowd “You never know who you might meet this weekend”, 19 years ago on the very same grounds where I met my wife camping during the 2004 festival that featured Brooks & Dunn, Lonestar, Jimmy Wayne, & More
Next up was Priscilla Block, a rising country star who made a lasting impression with her powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence. Block played "Thick Thighs," "My Bar," and "Off The Deep End" and was an instant hit with the crowd. During her set, she stopped by one fan on the catwalk for a quick shot of Fireball and later in her set made sure to show off her shotgun talents slamming down a beer in just seconds.
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Bailey Zimmerman hit the stage with electric energy and had the crowd on their feet from the very first song. His distinctive country sound combined with catchy melodies had fans swaying and singing along to every word. It was evident that he was meant to be on that stage, performing for an audience that adored him. Bailey showcased his incredible vocals throughout his set, his unique and soulful tone drew in every single person present. Each song told a story, evoking raw emotions and leaving a lasting impact on those who listened. Bailey’s interactions with the crowd were another highlight, engaging with the audience and creating a sense of unity between the performer and fans. It was truly magical to watch everyone come together and connect through Bailey's music. He even jumped off the catwalk at one point to join the massive crowd on the lawn. Just a year prior, Bailey played the same festival early in the day and drew close to 40,000 people onto the ranch. Morgan Wallen watched the show side stage and due to what he saw, it was clear to see why he was invited to join Morgan’s tour. With his talent, passion, and love for his fans, Bailey Zimmerman is set to become a star in the world of country music.
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But it was Ashley McBryde who truly captivated the audience with her powerful performance. A true country OG, she showed her gratitude to her fans who traveled to Twin Lakes to see her perform by taking a bow early on in her set. McBryde's talent as a singer-songwriter was on full display as she belted out one heartfelt song after another, each one seeming to resonate with the crowd.
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Finally, it was Keith Urban's turn to close out the festival, and he did so with his usual flair and finesse. The man is no stranger to Country Thunder, having delivered memorable performances there in the past, and he did not disappoint this year either. Urban had the entire crowd on their feet, singing along to hits like "Days Go By" and "The Fighter." His guitar playing was impeccable, and his charisma and stage presence were unmatched. Urban also made his way to the lawn part of the ranch to sing a stripped-down part of his set and even gave away his acoustic guitar after the song.
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But it wasn’t just the incredible lineup of artists that made this year’s Country Thunder so special. The venue itself was top-notch, with plenty of food and drink options, comfortable seating, and ample space to move and dance.
The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming, with everyone from families with young children to rowdy groups of friends all coming together to enjoy the music and the experience. It was clear that the organizers had put a lot of thought and care into every aspect of the festival, and it paid off in spades. Overall, I have to say that this year’s Country Thunder Wisconsin Music Festival was one of the best I have ever attended.
