Country Thunder Florida Delivers a Standout Waterfront Debut Weekend in Clearwater

Each year, fans are faced with endless festival options and often end up traveling far and wide for a chance to catch some of the most epic lineups in country music. This weekend, that search led thousands of music lovers straight to Clearwater, FL, where Country Thunder Florida made its debut at a brand-new waterfront location, delivering the perfect summer weekend filled with live music, sunshine, and nonstop energy.

From May 8-10, Coachman Park transformed into a hub for country music fans ready for a full weekend in the Sunshine State with a stacked lineup of acts including headliners Gavin Adcock, Zach Top and Kane Brown.

Throughout the 19-acre park, festivalgoers found plenty to do beyond the stage, with a wide variety of food trucks, interactive brand activations, and pop-up experiences offering everything from games and giveaways to exclusive merch, various retail vendors and more.

Attendees could also head to the songwriter showcase at the Shoreline Stage to hear the creatives behind the hits share the stories behind their music, adding even more excitement to the weekend.

Some ticketholders arrived early to check out everything the festival had to offer and secure spots as close to the barricade as possible, while others opted to come later in the day to avoid the sun and sit back to enjoy the music. Luckily, with the stunning Gulf Coast views and a sound system that reached every corner of the venue, there wasn’t a bad seat in the house.

Day one set the bar high for the weekend. Deltona was first to take the stage and officially introduced themselves to the crowd, followed by another Country Thunder first-timer, Elizabeth Nichols who showcased her growing catalog of music and bubbly personality. Then it was Randy Houser’s turn to take the stage with a set packed full of fan favorites as well as his newest release, “Back In The Bottle.”

Gavin Adcock closed the night with a rowdy, high-energy performance that perfectly capped off an already electric opening day. He showcased his dance moves during a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes,” let his “wild, crazy” persona run free and had fans screaming along to his set list until the very last note. The night closed out with his radio hit “Never Call Again.” 

“Thank y’all for showing up. I can’t say thank y’all enough,” he told the crowd before giving a shoutout to each of the other acts who took the stage before him.

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The massive crowd made their way out of the park eager to see what day two had in store. Saturday found Solon Holt and Cole Goodwin warming up the early attendees before Gretchen Wilson amped up the energy with classics like “Here for The Party” as well as her newest drop “Redneck Sh*t”. She also gave up a few moments in her set to spotlight rising artist, Jessie G.

Max McNown then poured his heart out as he previewed his next album, catered to the fans who like the more hard-hitting tracks and even snuck in a few classic country covers in honor of the night’s headliner, Zach Top.

Just as the sun had set, it was time to welcome Top to the stage. The Washington native brought his signature traditional country sound to Florida, keeping the crowd singing along all night long while sweating it out in starched blue jeans and a long-sleeve shirt despite the heat. After spending some time away from the road, Top made it clear he was more than ready to be back on stage and it’s safe to say he exceeded fans expectations of the evening.  

“It’s good to see you all thank you for coming out and making us feel welcome…it’s hot you Florida folks are gonna get me talked into changing my wardrobe or something,” he joked. “We’re so glad to be here thank you so much…we’re gonna have a ball tonight.”

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The final day of the three-day festival started off with Jay Webb followed by Dasha who connected with the crowd in a way unlike any other artist did throughout the weekend. The rising star worked every inch of the runway, getting face-to-face with fans and even jumped into the crowd during her breakout hit “Austin,” turning the event into one massive singalong/dance party.

Shaboozey was up next, bringing a completely different kind of energy to the stage while also delivering one of the weekend’s most emotional sets. He opened up about his life journey, shared a heartfelt prayer for moms in honor of Mother’s Day, and let his vulnerability shine through his powerful catalog. He kept the crowd dancing with “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and staying true to his word, stuck around after his set to meet fans and sign all the autographs he could.

“The coolest part about playing 75-mintue sets is you get to play some of your favorite songs and some people’s favorite songs out there and some people hear songs they’ve never heard before,” Shaboozey noted.

Even though it was clear no one wanted the weekend to end, it eventually had to come to a close. Luckily, Country Thunder Florida went out on the highest note possible, thanks to Kane Brown’s show-stopping finale. His 90-minute set featured pyrotechnics, an epic light show, and a special appearance from his wife, Katelyn Brown, for their duet “Thank God.” Brown also treated fans to an unreleased song, “I Need A Beer,” in between hit hit-filled set list of songs like “What Ifs,” “Famous Friends,” “Miles On It,” and more.

It was the perfect ending to a packed weekend and the kind of finale that made heading back to reality on Monday feel nearly impossible.

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With unforgettable performances, waterfront views, and fans who showed up ready for every moment, Country Thunder Florida’s debut weekend in Clearwater delivered on every level and set the tone for what’s sure to become a new tradition for music lovers.

In 2019, Country Thunder, the largest Country music festival brand in North America introduced Country Thunder Florida. Since then it has grown into a fan-favorite event with a reputation as the perfect way to usher in the summer months.

Country Thunder festivals will continue throughout the season, with the next stop set for Alberta from June 26–28, followed by Saskatchewan from July 9–12. The final event of the year will return to the U.S. with Country Thunder Wisconsin, taking place July 16–19.