Country Thunder Wisconsin
Twin Lakes, Wisconsin
2305 Richmond Road
Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, 53181
July 17 through 20, 2025
Boots, Beats, and Blue Skies: Country Thunder Welcomes Icons and Rising Stars…
Country music has made its way back to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin in 2025, bringing fans in from all over the country. This has become an annual gathering for many fans, while bringing together some of the biggest names in the genre along with up-and-coming artists. This year was extra special, where they recognized the 1 millionth ticket buyer. The winner was brought on stage and presented with a $35,000 prize package, lifetime camping, and front row reserved seats for upcoming Country Thunder festivals.
Thursday July 17th
The festival kicked off with Nolan Sotillo, who is an actor and singer. He is best known for his role in the Fox drama series Red Band Society. Sotillo delivered a strong set, getting the fans excited for the day of music ahead.
Owen Riegling, a Canadian singer-songwriter was next to hit the stage. A new artist to the scene with his career beginning in 2019, Riegling brought his traditional country and rock country sound to the stage. He released his debut album Bruce County (From the Beginning), which he shared with the audience.
A larger crowd began to gather as Sara Evans took the stage. Evans has released 11 studio albums, with her most recent being Unbroke back in 2024. She received her peak success in the early 2000’s with her songs “I Keep Looking” and “Suds in the Bucket.” Her career later took a pause to handle some personal matters, but she came back to entertain her fans in 2011 with her album Stronger. She sang many of her hits, including “Back Seat of a Greyhound Bus” and “A Little Bit Stronger.” Evans’ fans have stayed loyal to her and sang along to her whole set which charged everyone up for the rest of the night.
Gavin Adcock emerged onto the stage with an infectious energy kicking a case of beer. Adcock grew up in Georgia playing football, but after an injury, turned to his songwriting. He released his first single and his career took off. Since then, he has gained over 1 billion global streams from his music. Some of the songs he performed were “Never Call Again,” “Four Leaf Clover,” and “Past Actions.” While his career may still be taking off, Adcock had the crowd on their feet singing and dancing along, wanting the night to never end.
As the sun set, Cole Swindell took the stage to close out the first day of Country Thunder. Swindell is a singer-songwriter, who has written singles for Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Craig Campbell, and Scotty McCreery. He has released thirteen singles, and eight have reached number one on the Hot Country Songs charts. He started his career touring with Luke Bryan selling fan merchandise and wrote songs while on the road. Swindell kicked off his set with his hit song “Flatliner” which was recorded with Dierks Bentley. He also sang many of his other hit songs such as “Single Saturday Night” and “Forever to Me”. Swindell later closed his set with “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” which has received Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) 3x Platinum in the United States.
Friday July 18th
Aaron Goodvin kicked off Day 2 as fans entered the grounds to secure their spots for the day. Goodvin is a singer and songwriter, mostly known for writing songs for Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, and Jon Pardi.
Texas native singer-songwriter Braxton Keith was the next artist to take the stage. He impressed the crowd with his 80’s country aesthetic and sharp vocals. With new music on the way, fans were excited to see what is in store from him.
Drew Baldridge started out his set singing acoustic with just himself and one other band member, while waiting for the rest to arrive. He informed the crowd that his bus broke down 500 miles from Country Thunder and he arrived 15 minutes before his set. He covered many hit songs, such as “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker, “Brand New Man” by Brooks and Dunn, and “Check Yes or No” by George Straight. Once the remainder of his band arrived, he performed many of his songs, including “Tough People” and “She’s Somebody’s Daughter.” Baldridge was released from his first label following their closing, where he later started his own label, Lyric Ridge, allowing him to release his own music.
Singer-songwriter Larry Fleet was next up in the lineup. He has released three studio albums, with his most recent being Earned It back in 2024. Fleet sang many of his hit songs including “Where I Find God” and “Things I Take for Granted,” as well as the hit song he wrote for Morgan Wallen and Eric Church “Man Made a Bar.”
Ashley McBryde, who is a familiar face at Country Thunder, took the stage opening with her new song “Rattlesnake Preacher.” McBryde is a singer-songwriter from Arkansas. She has grown her fan base over the years through her unique sound, which is a mix of country, bluegrass, and rock. She has released four studio albums, with her most recent being The Devil I Know back in 2023. “Martha Divine,” “Brenda Put Your Bra On,” and “One Night Standards” were a few songs she performed off her 22 song setlist. During her performance of “Light On in the Kitchen,” McBryde signed the last verse with American Sign Language (ASL), which touched everyone with her focus of inclusion in her shows.
The lights dimmed as the beat dropped, signaling it was time for Hardy to close out Day 2 of Country Thunder. Hardy is a singer-songwriter who has written for countless artists, including Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, and Morgan Wallen. He has released three studio albums and is known for his “Hixtapes,” which features many other artists. Hardy opened his set with his song “Jim Bob” and sang many of his hits, which featured “Rednecker,” “One Beer,” and “Give Heaven Some Hell.” During his performance of his song “Wait in the Truck” with Lainey Wilson, Hardy brought out Ashley McBryde to step into Wilson’s roll for the night. Hardy had both country and rock fans in the audience singing along with him all night long.
Saturday July 19th
Day 3 started off with a delay due to weather, which caused some set changes. Bayker Blankenship was the first artist to take the stage. While his music career is just starting, he is far from a one-hit wonder. He has gathered over 4 million streams with his debut EP Younger Years which was released in July of 2024.
Shenandoah followed and brought out all the 80’s country fans. They have released nine studio albums before the group disbanded in 1997. Later in 2000, the group reunited with some new members and began making new music. Since 2000, six more albums have been released. They performed “Next to You Next to Me,” “The Church on the Cumberland Road,” and “Two Dozen Roses.”
Singer-songwriter Ashley Cooke was next to step out onto the stage. Cooke is a new up-and-coming artist who independently released her first album in 2021. She later signed with Big Loud and released her second album in 2023. The album’s lead single, “Your Place” hit number one on country radio and Cooke was nominated twice for ACM’s New Female Artist of the Year. Cooke sang one of her newest releases “The Hell You Are” and a new song that will be released later this year titled “Baby Blues.” Later in her set, she brought out Angie K, who’s set was cut due to the weather, to sing “Redneck Woman” by Gretchen Wilson, “Any Man of Mine” by Shania Twain, and “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood. “Your Place,” “Back in the Saddle,” and “Never Til Now” are a few other songs Cooke sang throughout her hour-long set.
Tyler Hubbard kicked off his set with his current new single “Park” and had the audience on their feet singing along. Hubbard is a singer, songwriter, and musician best known for his role in the group duo Florida Georgia Line. After the duo split in 2021, he began working as a solo artist. He released his first single “5 Foot 9” in 2022 and later released his debut self-titled album in 2023. Hubbard sang “Back Then Right Now,” “Dancin’ in the Country,” and “5 Foot 9,” along with “Me For Me,” which he wrote with Thomas Rhett and Russell Dickerson. “Meant to Be” and “Cruise,” which are both Florida Georgia Line songs, were performed as well as a cover of “You Make It Easy” by Jason Aldean, which Hubbard wrote.
The stage burst to life as Jelly Roll emerged singing his newest single “Heart of Stone.” Jelly Roll is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter who rose to fame in 2022 with his singles “Need a Favor” and “Son of a Sinner.” He spent his teenage years into his early twenties in prison for various charges and received his GED at age 23. Now, Jelly Roll spends time visiting correctional facilities trying to inspire the imamates to turn their lives around for the good. Jelly Roll performed “Need a Favor,” “Son of a Sinner,” “Save Me,” and “Liar” along with many other songs including his duet “Losers” with Post Malone. He stated during his show “I believe in two things; the power of God and the power of music.” Jelly Roll also spent time honoring the military and first responders, while also stating that his shows are not just a concert, but a family reunion. The laughter and smiles of fans leaving the concert venue solidified an entertaining and memorable day of country music.
Sunday July 20th
As the fourth and final day of Country Thunder arrived, fans gathered to see Abby Anderson start off the day of country music. With her blend of country and pop melodies, she captured the crowd’s attention and brought in quite a crowd.
With smoke encasing the stage, Chayse Beckham emerged and sang “Waylin in 75.” Beckham is a singer-songwriter who got his start after winning the nineteenth season of American Idol. He released his debut album Bad for Me in April of 2024. “Everything I Need,” “I’ll Take the Bar,” and “23” are a few songs that Beckham performed during his set.
Dylan Marlowe was next to take the stage. Marlow is a singer-songwriter who released his debut album Mid-Twenties Crisis in September of 2024. His country-rock sound brought a large crowd to his performance. “Hung Over in a Deer Stand,” “Sorryville,” and “Record High” are a few songs that he performed during his set. He also performed a cover of his first number one song as a songwriter, which was “Last Night Lonely” by Jon Pardi. Towards the end of his set, Marlowe did a tribute to Toby Keith with a rendition of “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” which hit number one 23 years prior, as well as hit number one again on July 20th, 2025 after Keith’s passing. Marlowe closed out his set with his current single on country radio with Dylan Scott, “Boys Back Home.”
Country and bluegrass singer-songwriter Zach Top kicked off his set with debut single “Sounds Like the Radio.” Top was born on a ranch in Washington state, where he started performing in a bluegrass band with his siblings. He later moved to performing country music as well as bluegrass and put out his debut album in 2024. His newest album Ain’t in it for My Health is set to be released August 19th, 2025. Top drew in a large crowd, bringing people back to the traditional sound of country music. “I Don’t Mind,” “Ain’t That a Heartbreak,” and “I Never Lie” are just a few songs that Top performed during his 90-minute set. Top debuted a new song to the Country Thunder crowd titled “Good Times & Tan Lines.” He later closed his set with “Cold Beer & Country Music,” leaving the crowd buzzing for the last headliner of the weekend.
The festival closed out a long weekend of country music with Dierks Bentley. Bentley is a singer-songwriter who moved to Nashville in the late 90’s to pursue a career in country music. His debut album Don’t Leave Me in Love released in 2001. Since then, he has released 11 more studio albums. Bentley later created a new side project, a 90’s country parody band called Hot Country Knights. They made their debut in 2020, and the group consists of Bentley and his band members, all who use different stage names. Bentley performed many of his career hits throughout his set, including “Burning Man,” “She Hates Me,” “Somewhere on a Beach,’ and “I Hold On.” After his set ended, Bentley reemerged to perform “Drunk on a Plane” as his encore. Bentley and his band then reemerged again for their second encore as the Hot Country Knights. They sang a variety of 90’s hits, including “Man I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain, “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” by Travis Tritt, and “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus. Zach Top then joined the Hot Country Knights under a stage name, to join the group by singing “Sold” by John Michael Montgomery.
Country Thunder 2025 delivered a memorable weekend with some of the biggest names in the industry, as well as a large group of talented up-and-coming artists. A sense of community was created amongst the fans and the artists, creating an unforgettable experience. Country festivals have become a staple over the years, and fans left eager to see what next year will bring.
For additional information on Country Thunder and these musicians, please visit:
Country Thunder Wisconsin – https://www.countrythunder.com/wi
Nolan Sotillo – https://www.instagram.com/nolansotillo/?hl=en
Owen Riegling – https://www.owenriegling.com
Sara Evans – https://www.saraevans.com
Gavin Adcock – https://www.gavinadcockmusic.com/ownworstenemy
Cole Swindell – https://www.coleswindell.com/?frontpage=true
Aaron Goodvin – https://aarongoodvin.com
Braxton Keith – https://www.braxtonkeith.com
Drew Baldridge – https://drewbaldridgemusic.com
Larry Fleet – https://www.larryfleet.com
Ashley McBryde – https://www.ashleymcbryde.com/rattlesnakepreacher
Hardy – https://hardyofficial.com
Angie K – https://officialangiek.com
Bayker Blankenship – https://baykerblankenship.com/bio
Shenandoah – https://www.shenandoahband.com
Ashley Cooke – https://ashleycooke.com
Tyler Hubbard – https://www.tylerhubbardofficial.com
Jelly Roll – https://jellyroll615.com
Abby Anderson – https://www.abbyandersonmusic.com
Chayse Beckham – https://www.chaycebeckham.com
Dylan Marlowe – https://www.dylanmarloweofficial.com
Zach Top – https://zachtop.com
Dierks Bentley – https://dierks.com
Hot Country Knights – https://www.hotcountryknights.com
Photography and writing by Jaclyn Duske. An alumni of the Art & Design program at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois. Duske is a regular contributor to The COMP Magazine. In addition, she works with animal-assisted therapy at a local ranch in the south suburbs of Chicago.
