Country Thunder Arizona live: Chasing away the Sunday scaries on closing night
Country Thunder 2025 has come to Arizona for four days of music and fun at Canyon Moon Ranch in Florence.
Riley Green took the main stage to close out Night 1 on Thursday, April 10. And after headlining sets by Keith Urban on Friday and Hardy on Saturday, here we are on Sunday looking forward to Bailey Zimmerman.
If you're heading to Florence this weekend, don't miss our traffic tips and everything you need to know about Country Thunder before you go. If you've ever wondered how these lineups come together, we got the answers in a refreshingly candid conversation with Country Thunder's CEO.
And if you're wondering how some of the men of Country Thunder Arizona are coping with the heat, we have two words for you: banana hammocks.
Follow azcentral.com all weekend. We’ll be at Canyon Moon Ranch all four days reporting live on the highs and lows, concerts, fans and fun at Country Thunder Arizona.
Bailey Zimmerman sends Country Thunder fans home with a bang
To close out Country Thunder 2025, singer and TikTok star Bailey Zimmerman took the main stage on Sunday night at Canyon Moon Ranch in Florence to a large and rowdy crowd.
Zimmerman began with plenty of flashing lights, pyrotechnics and jumping all around the stage excitedly before kicking things off with his third single from his 2023 debut album of the same name, "Religiously."
The country and rock fusion that is Zimmerman's signature style is reflected in the way the crowd goes almost crazy enough to create a mosh pit. He's no Hardy, but maybe someday.
— Meredith G. White
Jake Owen delivers a joyous antidote to the Sunday scaries
While Country Thunder felt like a ghost town on the afternoon of the final day, Sunday night was an entirely different story.
The campers who stuck around until the very end made their way to the main stage to join other festivalgoers to be serenaded by Jake Owen.
He opened with 2021's "Best Thing Since Backroads," decked out in a black and red Western-style shirt with white floral embroidery and a dark pair of shades as he strummed his guitar with the song's music video on the screen behind him.
Owen then threw it way back to 2006, singing his debut single "Yee Haw" with a cotton candy Arizona sky as the backdrop and a large, excited crowd singing along.
Amid the undeniable smell of Arizona's finest green wafting through the crowd, Owen sang 2019's "Grass Is Always Greener," swapping one of the lyrics to say "'Cause the grass is always greener in somebody's Arizona joint."
Owen threw in a couple of covers, including Hank Williams Jr.'s "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound" and "Trashy Women" by Confederate Railroad.
He slowed things down with a piano rendition of his song "Made for You" before closing out his set with "Barefoot Blue Jean Night," which the crowd went crazy for.
All in all, Jake Owen's set was the place to be for a good time on the final night of Country Thunder Arizona 2025. No Sunday scaries were detected at Canyon Moon Ranch.
— Meredith G. White
Ashley Cooke was up before dawn to sing at Country Thunder
With clouds covering the sun and a lovely breeze blowing through Canyon Moon Ranch, Ashley Cooke opened her 5:30 p.m. Sunday set on the main stage with her 2022 single "Getting Into."
It was her first time on the Country Thunder Arizona stage and she told the audience she flew out of Nashville, Tennessee, at 5 a.m. today to perform here.
"It's truly the biggest honor to be here all the way across the country to play music," said Cooke before picking up her acoustic guitar to perform the lead single off her first EP of the same name, "Already Drank That Beer."
Cooke put out the single "Never Til Now" as a duet with country artist Brett Young. On Sunday, she was joined on stage by Josh Ross, who performed just before her on that stage.
Playing a mix of songs from her EP and debut album, and even a yet-to-be-released song, Cooke attracted a small crowd to the grassy area of the main stage where fans began to claim the spots they'll likely be occupying the rest of the night.
Cooke took a break from her own songs to do a lively mix of covers including one of her favorite country songs, "Redneck Woman" by Gretchen Wilson, along with Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine." And the audience went all in when they loudly sang along to the final chorus of "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood. Cooke closed out her set with, "That one goes out to my ex-boyfriend!"
— Meredith G. White
This DIY horse scooter is our ride or die laughing
You’ll see a lot of wild things at Country Thunder Arizona 2025 — bikinis worn with boots, cowboy hats on cute babies — but nothing tops the man cruising the grounds on what can only be described as a DIY mechanical horse made out of a tin barrel and an electric wheelchair.
Oh, and the horse? It’s “drinking” a beer, complete with an American flag taped to it like it’s leading a Fourth of July parade.
The whole contraption looks like it was built in a garage with equal parts genius and chaos, and honestly? The guy riding it looked so relaxed, just vibing while the rest of us were out here hoofing it in the dust.
I’ve never been more jealous of a fake horse in my life.
— Tiffany Acosta
Want a permanent Country Thunder souvenir? Get inked
Who would’ve thought you could walk into the desert for some country music and walk out with a fresh tattoo?
At Country Thunder Arizona 2025, getting inked is just one more thing to do between sets, courtesy of Enchanted Dragon Tattoo in Tucson.
Tattoos start at $80, which honestly feels like a steal. Piercings? A cool $25 gets you a shiny new addition and a solid conversation starter. Services are provided inside large storage containers.
“We are going on our fifth year,” tattoo artist Sara Compton said. “Our first year we only had one container. It did really well and now we have three containers and a total of 18 artists with us.”
Don’t worry about dust or rogue winds messing with your fresh ink. Hygiene and sanitation protocols are followed, and there’s blessed AC to keep both you and your new tattoo cool.
— Tiffany Acosta
Sips and snips: Mimosas and hair care at Rockin’ Locks
Yes, you can absolutely get your hair cut, dyed, curled or braided — or even walk out with fresh extensions — all without leaving Canyon Moon Ranch. Welcome to the Rockin’ Locks Beauty Salon, Country Thunder’s on-site glam hub where your desert-drenched hair can be transformed back into something selfie-worthy.
“I started this about three years ago and it’s four of us stylists,” owner Lindsey Jensen said. “It’s our second year at Country Thunder and we start at 60 bucks. Our code is snips-snips, sips-sips because we offer mimosas too.”
Rockin’ Locks is a fully functional beauty set up offering everything from facial waxing to styling worthy of a honky-tonk runway. Whether you’re fixing a frizz emergency or just want to add a little flair before the next big set, this place has you covered — literally, with hairspray.
— Tiffany Acosta
Hardy's fiery set: Country-rock mayhem with zero apologies
Hardy made his long-awaited return to the stage at Country Thunder Arizona 2025 after a six-month hiatus — his first show since October 2024, he said — and he did not come to ease back in.
He kicked off his headlining set with "That’s My Favorite Country Song," luring the crowd in before shifting into full chaos mode with ominous, action-movie-style music that built suspense and exploded into a fiery, impassioned performance of "Quit!!". From there, it was pure country-rock mayhem. The vibe felt less like a traditional country set and more like a full-blown heavy metal concert with cowboy boots.
Fans sprinted toward the stage the moment he appeared, desperate to get as close as humanly possible. Glow sticks and beach balls flew through the air, people were climbing onto shoulders and headbanging, fists in the air — especially during "Kill Sh!t Till I Die," which turned the pit into a country mosh.
Hardy’s signature mix of country grit and rock wildness was on full display as he powered through "Rockstar" and "Jack", dropping F-bombs with zero hesitation and zero apologies. His performance of "Boots" was raw and rowdy — even if he stumbled through a few lyrics, either lost in the moment or handing it off to the crowd, who were more than happy to scream every word.
“This is my first show in six months, man. I had a baby — and this song goes to her,” he said before launching into "One Beer," shifting the mood from rage to rhythm as fans danced and swayed. Hardy kept the crowd hyped and completely engaged the whole time, jumping among themes of family, fun, drinking and country life.
At one point, he called out the industry with a smirk: “Sometimes when you have a song you love and it doesn’t go number one because it’s sacrilegious… I’ve written 15 number ones, (expletive), I know what a radio song is,” before launching into "Radio Song," one of his grittiest, most rebellious tracks.
By the end, Hardy had made one thing clear: This wasn’t just a comeback, it was a statement. Loud, wild, unapologetic and pure Hardy.
— Tiffany Acosta
Ashley McBryde's mood is equal parts red bra and 'I'm the boss'
Ashley McBryde took the stage after Chayce Beckham on Saturday night and she came out swinging — literally — with a powerhouse opening song, "Rattlesnake Preacher," instantly setting the tone for a set that was equal parts grit, heart and pure country attitude.
The crowd was fully locked in from the first note, and McBryde knew exactly how to keep that energy high. She rolled into "American Scandal" and "One Night Standards" with her signature raw, soulful delivery, then slowed things down beautifully with "Sparrow."
And when she broke into "Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs," the volume from the crowd hit another level — especially during the final harmonized “ooo’s” that had the whole place singing like it was the choir of a Southern gospel revival.
Then came the moment everyone will be talking about: "Brenda Put Your Bra On." Not only did she sing it with sass and fire, but she whipped out a red bra and had an absolute blast with it, adding just the right dose of chaos.
McBryde then gave fans a sneak peek of an unreleased song, saying, “I don’t know what songs do and do not belong on a record until I play it for people,” proving once again she’s not just a performer — she’s a storyteller in real time.
"Girl Going Nowhere" followed, a fan favorite she admitted rarely makes the setlist. “I looked at the setlist and asked my crew if I can change some things — and I can, because I’m the boss,” she said, earning a roar of approval.
She also sang "A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega," reflecting on her journey: “I wasn’t tall, skinny or blond. I was covered in tattoos. They told me it wouldn’t work. KMLE (in Phoenix) was the first radio station to play my song, so I wanted to say thank you.”
You could hear fans belting out "Coldest Beer in Town" from the back of the crowd. It was one of those rare sets that felt both intimate and electric.
— Tiffany Acosta
Chayce Beckham builds the vibe 1 note at a time and fans are in heaven
Chayce Beckham kicked off his Saturday night set at Country Thunder Arizona 2025 with “Waylon in ’75,” immediately setting a mellow, nostalgic tone that gave the crowd a taste of his rootsy, storyteller style.
The vibe? Chill — maybe a little too chill at first. The early crowd was sparse and low energy, but Beckham didn’t let that faze him. He eased into “Keeping Me Up All Night” and “I’ll Take the Bar,” both rich with his signature raspy vocals and grounded, heartfelt lyrics that cemented his brand of modern outlaw country.
Before launching into “This Ol' Rodeo,” he turned to the audience and asked, “We got any cowboys here today? What about my cowgirls — where are y’all tonight?” It was a sweet moment that opened up the rest of the set, bringing the audience closer to him.
More fans started trickling in, likely drawn by his smooth delivery and charm, and by the time he broke into his lively cover of George Strait’s “Here for a Good Time,” the crowd had come alive.
Beckham kept that momentum going with back-to-back '90s throwbacks — “Amarillo by Morning” and “Drive” by Alan Jackson — sparking a wave of nostalgic sing-alongs that echoed across the festival grounds. His crowd interaction was on point, asking, “Y’all having a good time here? Are y’all ready to have a good time?” like a friend hyping you up.
He even gave fans a sneak peek of his unreleased song “Old Fashioned,” singing, “I’m just old fashioned, I guess,” as fireworks exploded behind him — one of those rare festival moments that feel perfectly timed and totally unplanned.
Wrapping up his set, he thanked the fans sincerely, saying that without them, he wouldn’t be on that stage. Then he closed with “23,” his breakout hit and first gold, platinum and No. 1 record, ending on a high that felt like a real career milestone.
Beckham didn’t just play a show — he took his time building a vibe, and by the end, the crowd was fully with him.
— Tiffany Acosta
Eau de Country Thunder: No amount of Axe can mask this smell
What is that smell? It’s not the overflowing trash can by the porta potties — it’s good old-fashioned BO, wafting through the crowd like it’s part of the lineup.
Between the desert heat, questionable deodorant decisions and hours of dancing in cowboy boots, the scent situation is ... ripe.
Toss in some spilled beer, a hint of sunscreen and whatever mysterious substance someone dropped near the food trucks and you’ve got a full olfactory experience that no candle company could ever replicate.
It’s Eau de Country Thunder: sweaty, dusty and unmistakably Arizona.
— Tiffany Acosta
A yeehaw fever dream awaits in the Electric Thunder tent
Over in the Electric Thunder tent — which, if you haven’t stumbled in yet, is basically a neon-lit circus tent where line dancing meets Top 40 hits in a Yeehaw fever dream — there was a guy absolutely owning the dance floor.
Boots stomping, hips swinging and a rattlesnake belt buckle that was either a fashion statement or a genuine safety hazard. Real or not, the thing had presence.
He looked like he two-stepped straight out of a country music video and into a rave, and frankly? He might’ve been the best dancer there. The man had range.
— Tiffany Acosta
The Saturday fashion memo said 'barely there'
Country Thunder isn’t Coachella, folks — though the heat might have you fooled. The real giveaway? The unofficial dress code here seems to be “beachwear meets rodeo.”
I’ve seen more bikinis, bare skin and sunburns than at a pool party, all accessorized with cowboy boots and the occasional Rogue hat. It's like someone threw a beach bash in a Western saloon and sent out a memo saying, “Clothes optional, boots mandatory.”
— Tiffany Acosta
Parking on Saturday afternoon was an absolute breeze. Really!
If you've been to Country Thunder, you know the real headliner isn’t the music — it’s the battle to find a parking spot without losing your mind (or your truck in a ditch).
Based on last year’s chaotic adventure, I was mentally prepared to do a few laps, maybe even a full NASCAR circuit around the lot before finding a space. But this year? Oh. My. God. I was floored — in the best way.
I barely had my window down before the friendliest staff waved me down with the precision of air traffic control and guided me into a perfectly placed spot. No circling, no stress and honestly ... so many spaces it felt like they built a parking lot just for me.
Round of applause to whoever fixed that circus — Country Thunder, you’ve outdone yourself.
— Tiffany Acosta
Beer and music, what else do you need?
If you're thirsty and need a break from the sun, swing on by the Beer Hall. It’s a huge tent where you can watch those early main-stage acts while avoiding the brunt of the afternoon sun. And, you know, it’s a beer hall. What more could you want out of life?
— Ed Masley
Country Thunder Arizona 2025 lineup: Saturday
Here’s who’s performing on Saturday, April 12, at Canyon Moon Ranch in Florence, AZ:
Main stage:
- 3:30 p.m.: Bayker Blankenship
- 5 p.m.: The Kentucky Headhunters
- 6:30 p.m.: Chayce Beckham
- 8 p.m.: Ashley McBryde
- 10 p.m.: Hardy
Copperhead stage:
- 3 p.m.: Kimes Ranch Songwriters Showcase
- 4:30 p.m.: In Color Band
- 6 p.m.: Kimes Ranch Songwriters Showcase
- 7 p.m.: Ryan Ralston
- 9 p.m.: Last Train to Juarez
- 11:30 p.m.: Chauncey Jones
— Ed Masley
Getting a late start to Country Thunder? Be prepared to wait
If you’re heading to Florence to see Hardy, Ashley McBryde and the rest of the Country Thunder lineup on Saturday, be prepared for traffic. Most people start streaming in the mid-to-late afternoon.
Once you’re on the highway, remember to drive defensively. My Google Maps warned me about objects on the road, which ended up being true. From car parts and random pieces of cardboard flying around, be cautious.
Once you get to Canyon Moon Ranch, there will be a line of people waiting to get in, so be patient, have your ticket ready and good luck. These traffic tips will help reduce the hassle.
— Dina Kaur
Keith Urban played his guitar and then gave it to a fan
Keith Urban is the epitome of a cool dad.
Headlining Country Thunder Arizona 2025 on Friday night with his signature straight highlighted hair, black ripped skinny jeans, beat-up sneakers and black Country Thunder V-neck T-shirt, Urban looked effortlessly hip.
It's easy to stare, drawn by his magnetic charm, especially when he begins to play guitar.
From "Somebody Like You" to "Blue Ain't Your Color" to a cover of "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus, Urban took Country Thunder fans on a joyride through his biggest hits and collabs with other stars.
And after he finished "You'll Think of Me," he signed his acoustic guitar and handed it to a fan.
Read our Keith Urban concert review here.
— Dina Kaur
Justin Moore's set: It's amazing 'when you let Keith Urban close for you'
The Country Thunder Arizona 2025 main stage performances continued with Justin Moore walking out at 8:02 p.m. Friday with a rocking intro and asking, “What’s good?”
Moore's country twang was evident as the 41-year-old from Arkansas — who wore a white cowboy hat, red flannel shirt and jeans — started off with “Bait a Hook.”
Every bit the charmer, Moore walked around the stage, greeting fans with a pearly white smile as he tipped his hat.
He had the youngest fans singing along, holding up signs with “Please let me on stage!”
Moore's “You Look Like I Need A Drink,” released in 2015 for Moore’s 2016 album “Kinda Don’t Care,” had the audience dancing in their cowboy boots and America gear.
“Well hello! It’s great to be back in the great state of Arizona,” Moore said. “And what an awesome time at Country Thunder, golly what a crowd. It’s amazing what happens when you let Keith Urban close for you. Look at this!”
It’s Moore's 18th year on the road, and to thank the fans, the band has been playing a lot of their older stuff, Moore said.
“Somebody Else Will” had a great drum beat, as did “Till My Last Day” — which also included a fun electric guitar solo.
Moore embodied true country music and got the crowd hyped for Keith Urban's headlining set at 10 p.m.
Let’s also give it up for the ASL interpreter who was vibing to Moore's set in her black cowboy hat and brought great energy to her interpretations of his songs.
— Dina Kaur
Country Thunder: Come for the music, stay for the endless parties
Delorianna Sandoval and Bryttany Orton, 33-year-olds from Mesa, came to Country Thunder Arizona 2025 because Orton loves country music and wanted Sandoval to experience the festival before she moved back to Albuquerque.
Orton said Country Thunder is a great place to camp and hang out. Both women are excited to see Justin Moore on Friday and Hardy on Saturday.
They bought tickets for the whole weekend and said camping has been going well but it’s so hot. Temperatures hit 98 degrees in Florence on Friday. They are thankful for their car's AC.
Their favorite part so far?
“Just the experience with all the people. Everyone is so nice here,” Sandoval said. And “the campgrounds with endless parties, like endless.”
— Dina Kaur
Sarah Evans sings during a dreamy golden sunset
Grand Ole Opry inductee Sara Evans opened her 6:30 p.m. Friday set with her 2014 hit "Not Over You" as the sun slowly dipped behind the main stage, illuminating the crowd with a soft yellow glow.
Evans came out onstage to a sizable crowd, but as she sang the first few notes lamenting overseeing her ex-lover's beautiful face only in her dreams, more festivalgoers quickly made their way over to watch the pro in action.
— Meredith G. White
Line dancing: The most fun you can have with your boots on
If you've never done it, line dancing can seem overwhelming.
Like jumping into one of those Zumba dance workout classes from the 2010s, everyone on the line-dancing floor seems to know exactly what they're doing and some even pull out some fancy footwork and tricks.
Be brave. You can do it too. The folks in the Electric Thunder tent will show you the ropes and have you line dancing like a Nashville pro. The best part? It's free, happening all day long and it's in the shade.
— Meredith G. White
Why you really need to get yourself to the Copperhead stage
The Copperhead Stage is smaller and less crowded than the main stage, which allows artists to interact with the crowd. At the Songwriters Showcase, you’ll hear about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into your favorite songs. You really should give it a try.
The Kimes Ranch Songwriters Showcase began at 6 p.m. Friday. Josh Dorr from Wyoming and Lauren McLamb from North Carolina hosted this session with their acoustic guitars.
McLamb helped write the song “Good Gets Around” for Dylan Marlow over Zoom along with Joe Fox. Her performance was light and beautiful and met with a lot of cheers.
Before Dorr performed his new song “One More Two for One” he had the crowd do a Nashville Holler and Swaller, a cheerful toast that got the crowd amped and drinking.
“It looks like water but it’s not,” Dorr said. “Phew, that’s a lot of tequila.”
— Dina Kaur
Writer tells how ‘The Bachelor’ inspired a country song
During the Kimes Ranch Songwriters Showcase on Friday, Lauren McLamb also talked about helping Spencer Crandall write the song “The Right One,” which was inspired by something Daisy Kent said on “The Bachelor” in 2024.
McLamb admitted that she had never watched the show but the quote that inspired Crandall was uttered by Kent after she left “Bachelor” lead Joey Graziadei — who ended up engaged to Kelsey Anderson.
“If I can love the wrong person that much, imagine how much I can love the right person,” Kent said on the show.
— Dina Kaur
Dancing to Dillon Carmichael's rocking delivery of 'Hot Beer'
Dillon Carmichael took the main stage at 5 p.m. Friday and a fan asked him to perform his song “Hot Beer,” from his 2021 album “Son of A.”
That song got fans grooving along with its electric guitar, bass and drums — the epitome of a rocking country song perfect for a festival.
Carmichael himself was dancing along and brought such great energy that fans were singing and chugging in honor of the song.
He followed that up with a performance of “Big Truck” and concluded his set a bit early at 5:47 p.m.
— Dina Kaur
Here's why the Songwriters Showcase is doubly cool
I know the heavy-hitter headliners are who most Country Thunder fans come to see. But don't sleep on the Songwriters Showcase on the Copperhead stage.
You'll hear some incredible songs performed acoustically by up-and-coming country music songwriters and you'll get a reprieve from that unrelenting Arizona sun under the stage's large canopy.
— Meredith G. White
Everyone who's performing at Country Thunder Arizona 2025 on Friday
Main stage lineup:
- 2 p.m. — Nolan Sotillo
- 3:30 p.m. — Owen Riegling
- 5 p.m. — Dillon Carmichael
- 6:30 p.m. — Sara Evans
- 8 p.m. — Justin Moore
- 10 p.m. — Keith Urban
Copperhead stage lineup:
- 3 p.m. — Kime's Ranch Songwriter Showcase
- 4:30 p.m. — 10th & Main
- 6 p.m. — Kime's Ranch Songwriters Showcase
- 7:30 p.m. — Grant Brothers
- 9 p.m. — Shari Rowe
- 11:30 p.m. — Nathan Dean & the Damn Band
— Jill Cassidy
Here's your Friday weather report for Florence, AZ
The weather will be heating up with the music on Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service is forecasting a sunshiny high of 99 degrees with 5 mph breezes. It'll be in the mid-70s when Keith Urban takes the main stage at 10 p.m. for his headlining set.
— Jill Cassidy
Riley Green delivered a hit-filled journey. Here's his setlist
Riley Green hit the Country Thunder stage a little after 10 p.m. in his cowboy hat and that signature Duckman guitar strap as the members of his touring band were playing along to a recording of the Dire Straits classic “Money for Nothing” and immediately launched into “Different ‘Round Here,” a rural anthem Green recorded with Luke Combs.
And with that, the stage was set for the weekend’s first headlining set, a hit-filled journey through the highlights of the Alabama singer’s catalog, including “If It Wasn’t for Trucks,” the Thomas Rhett collaboration “Half of Me,” “Damn Good Day to Leave” and “There Was This Girl.”
It doesn’t hurt that Green has a voice that’s every bit as smooth as his magnetic leading-man-next-door charisma.
In addition to his own hits, Green led the band through a handful of well-chosen covers, from Jamey Johnson’s “In Color” to Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” (which he played after inviting the openers, Drew Green and Tucker Wetmore, back onstage to join him on a spirited rendition of another Keith song, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy”).
Other standouts included a solo acoustic rendition of a profoundly emotional “Jesus Saves” and an unplugged “Don’t Mind If I Do” without the benefit of Ella Langley chiming in on vocals as she does on Green’s new album, followed by another song originally done with Langley, “You Look Like You Love Me.”
After bringing the set to a crowd-pleasing close with his latest single “Worst Way,” Green returned for the encore anyone who’s ever seen him had to know was coming, a heartbreaking solo acoustic rendition of “I Wish Grandpas Never Died.”
Then, his band returned to bring the encore to a less heartbreaking finish with Alabama’s “Dixieland Delight.”
— Ed Masley
Tucker Wetmore brought heartbreak and levity to the main stage
Tucker Wetmore has one of the twangier twangs in the business, which only added to the down-home authenticity of Wetmore’s odes to country living and being “the same old me I been all along.”
The second of three acts to play the main stage on Thursday, April 10, he did two songs early in his set about a woman who chooses to follow her dreams to the city instead of staying with that same old Tucker in that same old town.
As he sang on the chorus of “Already Had It,” “You been lookin' for grass that grows a bit greener/But if you ask me, there ain't nothing sweeter than a county line sky, kissin’ dirt, flirtin' with a sunset.”
He let the hurt show more on “Silverado Blue,” singing “Lookin' over there and not seein' you is gonna turn this red Silverado blue.”
He’s got the voice to underscore a breakup song, which may be why so many of his songs concern the breaking of his heart, from “Mister Miss Her” to “Casino.”
Midway through his set, he sat at an upright piano and asked, “Y’all know any Beethoven?” Then he played a snippet of two different Beethoven pieces before inviting the crowd to handle the vocals while he played “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, which gave way to snippets of “Great Balls of Fire” and the Commodores’ “Easy.”
It was a truly unexpected, entertaining detour.
Then, he raised a Solo cup to toast the crowd before sitting back down at that piano to share another sad song, the title track to his forthcoming album, “What Not To.”
— Ed Masley
Drew Green spent his set proving just how country he is
Drew Green, dressed in black from the top of his Stetson to the bottom of his cowboy boots, greeted the crowd as the day’s first MainStage act at 6:30 p.m. with a hick-hop song celebrating the “blue collar down in the holler” lifestyle — a recurring theme, it turns out.
Another song has a singalong chorus of “I ain't the only one who likes it out here on the outskirts/ My wheels big, my beer cold and my road dirt.”
Two songs in, he took a moment to let you know just exactly how country he is.
“Grew up on a tree farm, fell in love with country sitting on a tractor,” said the up-and-coming singer from the county seat of Warren County, Tennessee, who punctuated much of what he said and sang with a high-pitched squeal of “Skee-OOO!”
He has no idea what “Skee-OOO!” means, Green explained. He just likes the sound of it.
He also shared the story of his first big break, writing the Florida Georgia Line hit, “Colorado,” with Saturday’s headliner, Hardy.
“Colorado” was among the highlights of a set that may have peaked with “Good Ol’ Man,” a song about being a new dad with a chorus of “I'm just a good ol' boy tryna be a good ol' man/ Out here learning on the fly, tryna do the best I can.”
Country Thunder Arizona got off to a later-than-usual start this year because the crowds are always light on Thursday afternoon. The crowd was still pretty light for much of Green’s set, but it did fill in a bit before he was through.
— Ed Masley
A shaded stage at Country Thunder?!
The Copperhead Stage has a tent!
That’s great news for the local bands who play that second stage behind the food court, especially when the Arizona sun is making 93 degrees feel more like hell than whatever temperature The Weather Channel wants you to believe it felt like.
It didn’t feel like hell inside that tent.
Between the comfort of the shade and the Main Stage acts not starting for another hour and a half, that meant a decent-sized enthusiastic crowd for Warren-Dye and the Real Time Rodeo, who rose to the occasion with a well-played set of well-known cover songs.
— Ed Masley
Someone get these guards a map
Does every security guard at Country Thunder Arizona have a different idea of how to get to certain parking lots? It sure does seem that way.
It was a comedy of errors having every guard I stopped to ask immediately contradict what the previous guard had told me. Having said that, they were friendly as the day is long and after being told to double back to where my wrong turns started, that guard very patiently dealt with my exasperated pleas to not send me back on that hamster whatever and got his supervisor on the line.
And not only did that supervisor know exactly how to get me to my lot, he was super nice about the confusion and had me follow his golf cart to the lot.
That is excellent customer service. But maybe they could also give the other guards a little map with directions to the different lots.
— Ed Masley
A lonesome highway, at least for now
You expect a certain amount of traffic on that final strip of road that leads to Country Thunder.
But that was clearly not the case on Thursday, the opening day of Country Thunder 2025 in Arizona.
It was 4 p.m. as I approached the front gate, and there was no traffic to speak of on Highway 79, the stretch of two-lane blacktop that separates the ranch from U.S. 60.
Hell, I’ve seen more traffic on the way to Chopper John’s. And I was expecting traffic to be worse this year on Thursday with the music on the main stage kicking off 4 1/2 hours later than usual, discouraging early arrivals.
I have never been so happy to be wrong. And I’m not saying traffic won’t get worse as we get closer to the dinnertime rush when the road to Country Thunder tends to read its full potential as a parking lot. But I had no complaints at 4 p.m.
— Ed Masley
As gates open, who will be the millionth fan?
Country Thunder Music Festivals will welcome the millionth fan to Country Thunder Arizona this weekend at Canyon Moon Ranch in Florence. And that fan will be welcomed in style.
Once that millionth ticket is scanned at the gate, that fan will win a prize package consisting of Country Thunder Platinum Experience tickets for life; a campsite for life; exclusive autographed memorabilia and festival merch; a Kimes Ranch Western Wear prize pack valued at $250; a $250 Dixxon Flannel on-site shopping spree; and a $500 Lifted Trucks prize pack and swag bag.
That person also will be immortalized as Country Thunder Arizona’s 1 millionth attendee, joining Country Thunder Saskatchewan’s 1 millionth fan anointed in 2024.
— Ed Masley
Country Thunder Arizona 2025 weather forecast
You're gonna want to pack some sunscreen and a hat. Here's your forecast for the weekend:
- Thursday will be mainly sunny with a near record high of 98 and a nighttime low of 63, according to The Weather Channel.
- Friday will be sunny with a near-record high of 101 and a cloudy nighttime low of 64.
- Saturday will be generally sunny with a few afternoon clouds, a near record high of 101 and a partly cloudy nighttime low of 67.
- Sunday will bring mostly cloudy skies with a high of 95 and a partly cloudy nighttime low of 66.
— Ed Masley
Driving to Country Thunder Arizona? You need these traffic tips
There will be traffic.
As Country Thunder digital media specialist Megan Benoit says, “I always advise people to pack their patience. There’s no place you can go where there are thousands of people coming to the same place and leaving the same place where it’s going to be completely seamless. So just be prepared that there are other people trying to get there.”
Your best bet is to show up early, especially on Thursday, with the music starting later.
Most of the Country Thunder traffic is during what Benoit calls “the dinnertime rush," which is typically between 6 and 7 p.m. because so many ticketholders are just in it for the headliner and the artist playing right before that marquee name.
With nothing to see if you show up at 3 p.m. on Thursday, it seems pretty logical to think that the traffic situation could be worse than usual on opening day.
— Ed Masley
Country Thunder lineup: Thursday concert times
The concert bowl opens at 3 p.m. Thursday. Here's the mainstage lineup:
- 6:30 p.m.: Drew Green.
- 8 p.m.: Tucker Wetmore.
- 10 p.m.: Riley Green.
— Ed Masley