Inside Country Thunder, Arizona's music-fueled party
Country fest is as much party as it is show
Arizona’s biggest country-music party is rolling into Florence on Thursday for four days of music with headlining sets by Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Big & Rich and Brett Eldredge. But it doesn’t matter, really, which artists are topping the bill at Country Thunder. It’s more about the festival itself and the party atmosphere it brings to Arizona.
Ally Kimes is counting down the days to Country Thunder.
It’s her fifth time attending the festival, which this year brings such high-wattage headlining acts as Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Big & Rich and Brett Eldredge to Florence, the seat of Pinal County, about 60 miles southeast of central Phoenix.
Is there a particular artist the 20-year-old fan from Gilbert is most looking forward to seeing?
“Honestly, I haven’t even looked at the lineup,” Kimes replies. “I’m pretty sure Dustin Lynch is going and I’m pretty excited about that one.”
Joe Nichols is among the artists Kimes will have an opportunity to see at this year’s festival. It’s not his first time playing Country Thunder so he knows what to expect. And he’s been looking forward to it.
“It’s a fun event,” Nichols says. “I know everyone seems a little drunker and seems to do more partying than most festivals. And that’s saying something. They sure get rowdy there in Arizona. I like it. That’s my kind of crowd.”
Mindy Gionet will be making her seventh trip to Florence for the festival. For many fans, Country Thunder is more about the overall experience than the prospect of catching a particular performer.
The 28-year-old from Peoria sees Country Thunder as “a good fun time.
Making friends
“It’s very safe,” she says. “And everyone there is just there to have fun. So I like going because Number 1, I like the music, and Number 2, I just love meeting new people. Everywhere you turn, you’re meeting all kinds of awesome When: April 9-12. 3:30 p.m. Thursday; 2:30 p.m. Friday; 1:30 p.m. Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Where: 20585 E. Price Road, Florence. Admission: Four-day pass, $160. See the website for complete pricing for parking and camping fees. Details: 866-802-6418, countrythunder.com. new people. Because there are shows all day long, you can pick and choose what shows you want to go to. And if you camp out there, you have a chance to meet other people and hang out with people who like the same things you like.”
Country music, for instance?
“You know, most people at Country Thunder like country music,” Gionet says. “But some people go just to have fun. There’s all kinds of things to look at and things to do while you’re sitting there. Instead of just one show, you have four nights’ worth of shows that you can go to. And I have met some really good friends at Country Thunder that I have to this day from being neighbors at campsites.”
‘Just a big party’
Dylan Clarke, a 23-year-old from Chandler about to make his third appearance at the festival, talks about the people and the vibe, then says, “I mean, it’s just a big party. It’s like nothing else.”
He’s also noticed a sense of community in his previous trips to Florence.
“At last year’s Country Thunder,” Clarke says, “this girl’s car got stuck in one of the canals and a bunch of us helped her push it out. So it was really cool. A bunch of people helped her. I don’t know how her car got stuck in there.”
He also mentions pillow fights when the discussion turns to memorable moments.
“Every year, there’s these people who walk around in these referee-type shirts,” he says. “They hand out pillows and you have to pillow fight. That’s always fun to see.”
The shows are fun to see, as well. Clarke points to recent sets by Aaron Lewis, Toby Keith and Diamond Rio as favorites.
Asked what he’s most looking forward to, though, Clarke answers, “Just seeing everyone out there,” adding, “It’s just an awesome environment. Everyone who’s out there is friendly. Everyone is there to help everyone.”
Liz Kellogg, a 33-year-old who lives in Tempe, teaches kindergarten at a private school and writes a blog called CountryinAZ; she suspects she’ll do some drinking in the course of four days at the biggest country-music party in Arizona.
But for her, it’s more about the music.
Music, too
In fact, a recent post on Kellogg’s blog begins: “Most people think about the party aspect of Country Thunder. I will be there to listen to as much country music as I can in 4 days.”
“What attracts me is that you can go for four days and just see a lot of different acts,” she says. “I like that they have some acts that are really new and then they have the really big acts. They have two different stages so it’s an all-day event, which is great for people like me, who really love country music. Of course, I’ll have some beer or a couple drinks, but I’m going for the music. I’ve never seen Brett Eldredge and he’s the headliner Thursday, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him. ... I’ve seen Blake Shelton, Big & Rich and Luke Bryan. I actually have meet-and-greet passes for Luke Bryan through his fan club so I’ll get to meet him for a second time. I really like Phil Vassar.”
‘Have a good time’
Still, there is an extent to which even the best-selling artists are merely providing the multiplatinum soundtrack for a massive four-day party. And considering Shelton and Bryan owe at least a portion of their fame and fortune to songs about drinking, it’s doubtful either star would have a problem with his role in the equation.
“You’re gonna be drinking the whole time,” Gionet says. “That’s just what it is, just hanging out and drinking. It’s a party. But sometimes when you get around people who are drinking, they get belligerent. I’ve never seen a belligerent person at Country Thunder. I’ve never seen any really bad things happen. You know you’re gonna go there and be safe and you’re gonna have a good time.”
Then, with a laugh, she adds, “And you’re gonna hope that your liver forgives you when it’s over.” Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495.