So I would say that I listen to a decent amount of country music, especially since it seems to be bigger in the United States than here. With this said, I was very surprised when I came across a country music event that takes place in the US called Country Thunder that I have never heard about. It has been taking place for 16 straight years in Arizona and Wisconsin, and recently added in Texas, and is described as four days of top-tier country music entertainment where about 25,000 people turn up each day. I was exploring the website and I came across a lineup of who would be performing and I did not know most of the artists. This shows how under expressed country music is. Since it is such a big event, they are going to have big acts there and not all artists that are just starting out. The festival owner said, “unlike other music festivals that come to town each year boasting C-level talent, Country Thunder has always managed to bring in A-list acts.” Since I thought I listened to a lot of country music, I was surprised to see all the artists I had never heard of!
In an article about this event, Fans Keep Country Thunder on a Roll by Chris Hansen, a country music radio DJ states, “Country Thunder is more than just the music. Sure, the entertainment is the main focus, but Country Thunder is also about bonding and having fun with other country fans. Country music is a lifestyle — many fans camp for all four days and live the experience. Country music is about family, good friends, patriotism, caring for others, great music and damn good times.” I find it interesting that everything about country music always seems to come back to the fact that it is about family, friends, life, and patriotism.
**I had a picture to post, but I couldn’t get it to work any way that I tried it. It was a picture of the ‘banner’ for this event, so if you want to see it click here .
As well, I found a you tube video that talks about the family, friends, and life aspect of the country music and it gives a lot of examples of songs and explains the content. Watch it now!
-Natalie Boyce
its interesting looking at the festival side of things and the publicity they get. I am a fan of music festivals and regardles of what I consider to be my type of music, I have heard of many festivals that are only over seas. Its interesting that Nat said how she lives in the USA and havnt heard of country thunder. Not saying I had heard of this festival, but my point is promotion of these events even though they are said to be quite big with A country stars attending dont even see to be getting publicity with in their own country! here we see a def gap in the country industry media side. But in saying so maybe thats how they want it. Not bombarding it or tainting the community family atmosphere country music can provide.
It looks like a really interesting event. I just can’t believe that an event of this magnitude doesn’t have more general public attention and publicity. It just proves our point, that country music is really internal and the wider public miss out on a lot of the really interesting events.
I loved the quote you found that talks about how country music is a lifestyle and a bonding thing. I totally agree. To me that is the biggest draw of country music. You wouldn’t find that same comradery and atmosphere at a Hillary Duff or Brittany Spears concert.
Music festivals are always fun, to keep things in perspective there are a lot more people in the USA that love country music, for one there population is far greater than ours and thus their crowds of attendance at events would thus are higher. Thats not to take away how outstanding the event looks, as after looking over the web page it looks insane.
However in Australia we think its outstanding when more than 30,000 people attend a rugby league match, or in Newcastle’s case 25,000 seeing how thats out stadium capacity. 25,000 people a day to go to a festival for us sounds huge, probably a near impossible feat considering we struggle to to fill major sporting venues.
I seriously doubt if more than 25,000 people don’t show up to see Greenday at the Sydney cricket ground, what hope does a country music artist have of pulling such a crowd on a regular basis in Australia.
Country Thunder! I was wondering where are all the country music A lists were hiding, there are so many I have come across that just don’t get a mention outside the country music scene, If your not a country music junkie, there is a lot of potential to become one, as once you start searching for the stars they all start coming up, the only problem is you can’t listen to them all at once!