2019 Country Thunder Arizona
Florence, AZ, USA, April 11-14, 2019
Mary Andrews
Country Thunder is the most successful festival in Arizona hands down. This year’s line up was a testament for its success. There are two stages with live entertainment, the Copperhead stage and the main stage.
Fans flocked into the grounds starting on Wednesday to camp out until Sunday or Monday. Many of those fans party all night and sleep until late in the day when the biggest acts perform. There were plenty of one-day attendees, so you don’t have to camp. The beer and the barbeque flow freely.
There were 22 acts performing during the weekend on the main stage. The count for the number of fans attending reached 140,000 for the weekend with an average of 35,000 per day.
The headliners included Tim McGraw, Chris Stapleton, Brett Eldredge, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Marty Stuart, Trace Adkins, and Clay Walker.
Canada was well represented with artists, High Valley, The Hunter Brothers and Laura Mayell. All were extremely talented artists worthy of checking out.
Day one highlights
Brett Eldredge set the tone for the festival on Thursday night with his headlining set. He told the crowd, “It’s the first night; I want you to bring everything that you’ve got.” He then followed through by bringing everything he had. The animated, engaging performer kept the momentum high.
Trace Adkins was one of the elder, traditional country performers on the first night. Adkins set was much more low key than Eldridge’s set, but just as powerful. The set began with his first chart-topping country hit, “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” in that distinctive, deep voice of his. His voice is probably the deepest baritone in country music. Shrewdly, he uses that baritone sparingly during the set not to wear out its welcome.
Day two highlights
Tim McGraw drew the second largest crowd of the festival on the second night of CT. The intro to the set was Queen’s song “We Will Rock You” and rocking the fans was just what McGraw did. McGraw appeared on stage with his typical swagger wearing a brown leather ¾ coat that didn’t take him long to shed. The first song of the set was “Truck Yeah.” That set the mood for the whole set.
The highlight of the set was when he brought out Clay Walker for a duet with “I Like It, I Love It.” McGraw remarked “Boy what a singer” about Walker who preceded him that night.
Clay Walker scored his first chart-topping singles a year before “Indian Outlaw,” with “What’s It to You” and “Live Until I Die.” Many of his biggest hits were covered.
He ended the set with “What’s It to You” and introducing “Live Until I Die” as “a song I wrote when I was about 17,” adding “I grew up in the country; I wouldn’t change that for the world,” the sort of sentiment that gets a lot of love at Country Thunder.
And McGraw was right about Walker’s singing voice.
Craig Campbell gave a raucous performance of his hits. Campbell seems to be the bridge between traditional country and new country. Campbell literally comes to life as soon as he steps on stage. His set included his hit singles “Family Man,” “Outta My Head” and “Outskirts of Heaven.” And he was a big hit with a boozy singalong that felt it was made especially for Country Thunder, “Mas Tequila.”
Third Day Highlights
Dierks Bentley, a Phoenix native, has made several Country Thunder appearances over the years. He addressed the crowd with “I don’t want to talk too much,” he said. “I know you’ve been drinkin’ a little bit, and if I start talking I might not stop because we’re here in my home state and I’m so thrilled to be here. I’m trying to run this just like a regular show but it’s not a regular show. We’re in Arizona down here.”
He recently finished a headlining tour in support of “The Mountain,” which became his fourth consecutive album release to top the Billboard country charts. Brothers Osbourne were his opening act for the tour.
Another memorable moment that happened during Bentley’s set was when he invited singer Austin Burke to sit in. Burke proceeded to propose to his girlfriend on stage. Luckily she accepted his proposal.
Bothers John and TJ Osborne each has a unique talent that they bring to the table. John Osborne is a guitar master who easily plays amazing blues slide, rock, and jazz improvisation guitar. Throw in some mandolin for good measure and you’ve got guitar shredding for the gods.
TJ Osborne on the other hand provides a baritone voice that thrills fans. He is the clean and crisp looking spokesman for the band. The band’s set offered everything from traditional country to rock.
The most memorable moment of the night happened when Brothers Osborne joined Dierks Bentley during the first song of Bentley’s set to perform their collaboration song, “Burning Man.” Vocals were shared between Bentley and TJ, while John provided a great guitar solo. Both artists just made an appearance at the American Country Music Awards to perform and to collect awards for their single “Burning Man.”
Day Four Highlights
Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives represented traditional country music. Stuart may be the last of the country pioneers performing these days. Stuart and the band were dressed in flashy country garb and accessorized to the hilt. Stuart did not hide that wonderful head of hair with a hat that was very different from the other headliners except Eldridge.
What was most enjoyable about the set was that Stuart and the band, particularly Cousin Kenny, were having a blast entertaining the crowd. And that fun was infectious.
Chris Stapleton was the final performer of the festival. Stapleton drew the biggest crowd. Stapleton was hidden in the rear of the stage with only backlighting. Add the cowboy hat and his face was often a mystery. The set was all about his music.
He brought his repertoire of drinking tunes including his ever-popular “Tennessee Whiskey.” Stapleton doesn’t wander from his position in front of the microphone. Fans don’t seem to care as they provided the chorus to his best-known tunes. Whether the song is “Nobody to Blame,” “Midnight Train to Memphis,” or “Outlaw State of Mind,” Stapleton’s delivery is brilliant.
There was much more incredible talent and many artists get their careers a jump-start at Country Thunder. Tickets are already being sold for the 2020 Country Thunder. Other Country Thunder Festivals are held yearly in Florida, Wisconsin, Saskatchewan and Alberta Canada.
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