Country Thunder Makes A Pit Stop At The Bristol Motor Speedway
Country Thunder Bristol was an event to remember as it took over the Bristol Motor Speedway with an impressive lineup of country stars. The festival started off with the announcement that it will be moved to late June 2024, much to the excitement of the crowd.
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The two-day lineup was jam-packed with a mix of traditional and modern country artists that catered to every taste. The festival showcased an incredible line-up of 10 talented artists spread out over two days, featuring Lauren Watkins, Chase Matthews, Jackson Dean, Randy Houser, Brooks and Dunn, Megan Moroney, Cooper Alan, Parmalee, Jelly Roll, and Eric Church. Each of the artists brought something unique to the stage and kept the energy high throughout the festival.
Photos By: Nashville Is His Bride
On day one, the festival kicked off with the performance of Lauren Watkins, a Nashville native who has a way with writing beautiful songs that captivated the crowd. She closed out her set with her latest single "Sleeping In My Make Up". Lauren left the Bristol audience wanting more.
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The next artist to take the stage was Chase Matthews, another Nashville native who declared Bristol Country Thunder to be his favorite one to date. During his set, he even brought out on stage a WXPQ Radio DJ, who was one of the first to ever play his music locally. Chase worked that stage and entertained the crowd with an impressive set. His energy on stage was contagious, and the crowd was dancing along with him as he performed some of his biggest hits.
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The birthday boy, Jackson Dean, was up next and had the packed crowd in the palm of his hand from the get-go. His hit song "Fearless" brought the audience to their feet, and as he continued to perform, the rain started to pour. But nothing could stop Jackson Dean as he continued to shine on stage, his voice echoing throughout the speedway.
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Randy Houser was up next, and he made a grand entrance to thunderous applause from the crowd. He proved that he was a force to be reckoned with as he belted out some of his best hits, including "Whistling Dixie" and "Running Out Of Moon Light". Randy's genuine love for the audience was clear, and he left the stage feeling accomplished, stating,
"I love y'all, & this was badass."
You could tell Randy Houser really enjoyed his Country Thunder set.
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The headline act for day one was Brooks & Dunn who graced the stage and kicked it off with "Brand New Man". Even with the rain starting to soak the speedway during the first few songs, the duo performed brilliantly.
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After "Honky Tonk Truth," they spoke about their past experience at Bristol Motor Speedway, where they were in a pace car before a NASCAR race, and they saw Dale Earnhardt's banner hanging. Kix Brooks dedicated their next song, "You're Gonna Miss Me," to Dale. The duo closed out the first night with their smash hit "Only In America" and delivered a great performance. It’s truly an honor to see a few of the greats still on stage doing what they love.
Brooks & Dunn Set List Bristol Motor Speedway
Brand New Man
Put a Girl in It
My Next Broken Heart
Mama Don't Get Dressed Up for Nothing
We'll Burn That Bridge
Honky Tonk Truth
You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone
Ain't Nothing 'Bout You
Red Dirt Road
Lost and Found
Hard Workin' Man
Play Something Country
Cowgirls Don't Cry
Neon Moon
Rock My World (Little Country Girl)
My Maria
Boot Scootin' Boogie
Only in America
The second day was equally impressive, the festival goers arrived early, and over 30,000 fans were present. The day started with Megan Moroney, an impressive artist who got the crowd singing along early in her set. Megan's performance of Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" had the audience singing at the top of their lungs, but it was her originals that made her stand out as one of Country Music’s one’s to watch. Megan ended her set with her song "Girl In The Mirror," which she stated is the most important song she has ever released.
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Next up on stage was Cooper Alan, whose sound differed from the traditional country music sound, veering more toward hip-hop. Cooper, who is rapidly rising through the ranks, owes a lot to the viral TikTok videos that launched him onto the Country charts. While he may not have been the most traditional country artist on the lineup, he still provided an entertaining set and kept the energy high. At one point during his set Copper did say
"It's going to be a good day when Eric F*cking Church is in the building, sorry kids it's on a t-shirt."
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Parmalee followed Cooper’s act with an exceptional performance, the guys from Carolina celebrated the release of their new album “For You 2”. Not only did they have new music to share, but they also revealed their recent single “Girl In Mine” had reached #1 on the country radio charts. Parmalee had high praise for both acts that would follow them, telling the audience that they’d first met Jelly Roll years ago and
"We get to open for Eric Church, that's pretty badass to me"
Parmalee kept the energy high as the sun began to set, bringing a breath of fresh air to the stage.
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The highlight of the day was Jelly Roll, a Tennessee native who gave an energetic performance that blended rock, country, and hip hop. When Jelly Roll took the stage, the atmosphere at Country Thunder Bristol changed completely. Jelly’s fans roared as he shared his love for Bristol and the speedway. You could see the memories written all over his face as he relived his childhood days spent at the racetrack.
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With his high-energy set and inspiring words, Jelly Roll turned the concert into a celebration of the year of the underdog, something that resonated with the fans, as he knew how hard it could be to succeed. But Jelly Roll was proof that anyone can overcome their struggles with hard work and determination. He declared the evening a revival in Bristol and set out to make it an unforgettable experience for the audience, never failing to keep the crowd energized and engaged.
To the fans' surprise, Jelly invited Parmalee back to the stage to perform "Family Tradition". He expressed his fondness for them and mentioned how they had known each other for over 12 years. It was a nostalgic moment that brought back memories of when the two were just starting out in the industry. Jelly Roll did not shy away from his own battles, and his song "She" showed just how personal his music could be. The crowd roared as he praised anyone celebrating their sobriety, and he made it clear that all 30K plus were proud of them.
The heartfelt words that accompanied the music were something that truly made Jelly Roll stand out, and his fans appreciated it. Even with a 60-minute set, Jelly Roll played with such enthusiasm and energy that he could've easily played for another hour. It was a surprise to see how many fans left after Jelly's set. It was clear that his faithful were there just to see him and no one else.
During Jelly Roll's set, he spotted a softball team selling pizzas to fund their trip to Florida. Being the kind-hearted person that he is, he stopped the show and bought 300 pizzas from the girls. He even invited them backstage & told them to hand them out to the crowd and collect whatever they could. In an act of pure kindness, Jelly gave the girls a $30,000 tip on top of the total. This act of generosity was not surprising, as Jelly had been doing similar things in each town, he had visited on his summer tour.
But the night wasn't over yet. After a nearly 20-minute delay, Eric Church took to the stage to close out Country Thunder Bristol. With his vast experience, he knew that he had to give it his all to pull back in those fans who had left after Jelly's performance. Eric Church, a veteran of the Country Thunder stage, closed out the event with a powerful & fiery performance that reminded everyone why he's one of the biggest names in country music.
Photo’s Provided By: Country Thunder House Photographer
The moment Church walked out on stage; he immediately captured the attention of the crowd with his commanding presence. His raw vocals and engaging performance were enough to set hearts racing, as he kicked off the night with his hit track, 'Outsiders.' The guitar riffs, coupled with the chorus' powerful lyrics, got the fans riled up and ready for the ride of their lives.
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Church's high energy level never let up throughout the night, and it was clear he was in his element, performing on one of the biggest stages of his career. Church's stage presence was incredibly engaging, and it was evident that he had an excellent rapport with the crowd. His connection with his fans was clear, as he kept up an infectious energy throughout the concert. Even throwing in his first single 'How Bout you" before going into his hit 'Drink In My Hand" which saw the song going back to its normal feel. Eric changed a few of his fan favorite songs tempos for his latest tour "The Outsiders Revival" tour that ended just a few days prior to his Country Thunder set.
Photo’s Provided By: Country Thunder House Photographer
With hit after hit, Eric had everyone singing along, but it was his rare performance of "Talladega" that really had the fans on their feet. How can you play a speedway and not sing "Talladega" Church told the crowd "I was a Carolina Nascar kid, I was a #3 Earnhardt guy, I hated Wallace and despised Gordon". One of the best moments of the concert was when Church paid homage to one of his other musical influences, Bruce Springsteen. He seamlessly transitioned from 'Record Year' to 'Springsteen,' eliciting a massive singalong from the crowd. Church and his band took the audience on a nostalgic trip down memory lane, back to their teenage years, evoking a sense of nostalgia that was unforgettable.
Photo’s Provided By: Country Thunder House Photographer
Country Thunder Bristol 2023 may have been known for its diverse range of country music, but it was Jelly Roll's electrifying performance and kind-heartedness that stood out & Eric Church’s classic set of hits mixed with an impressive crowd of over 30,000 plus. The Country Thunder festival proved that music could unite people from all walks of life.
See you in 2024 Country Thunder!
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Eric Church Setlist Bristol Motor Speedway
Outsiders
Country Music Jesus
Heart On Fire
Bad Mother
How Bout You
Drink In My Hand
Hell Of A View
Mr. Misunderstood
Talladega
Creepin
Round Here Buzz
Desperate Man
Some Of It
Smoke A Little Smoke
Hometown
Cold One
Hag
Record Year
Springsteen
