Inside The First-Ever Luke Combs Bootleggers Bonfire: A Magical Weekend of Music On Florida’s Emerald Coast
This magical musical experience drew fans from 40 states and 14 countries
Luke Combs; Photo by David Bergman
Luke Combs fans from 40 states and 14 countries recently made their way to the scenic Miramar Beach, Florida for the inaugural Luke Combs Bootleggers Bonfire. This one-of-a-kind event served as an immersive music vacation, offering fans a getaway on Florida’s stunning Emerald Coastline as well as three days of country music concerts and themed activities.
The event officially began on Thursday, October 10, but those who arrived early were treated to a special welcome beach bonfire and songwriter session. As the sun dipped below the horizon, creating a fiery glow behind the stage, festivalgoers gathered around beach bonfires while songwriters James McNair, Dan Isbell, and Reid Isbell took turns performing acoustic renditions of songs they co-wrote for Luke Combs and other artists. It was the ideal way to kick off the Bootleggers Bonfire experience and set the tone for the entire event.
On Thursday, more fans started arriving and settling in, while others soaked up the sun at the beach. The weather was absolutely perfect, with clear skies and warm, crystal-clear waters. As the afternoon rolled on, fans headed back to prepare for the first night of the festival, which featured a special deep cuts set by Luke Combs.
The festival grounds buzzed with activities for fans to enjoy between sets, including cornhole, giant Jenga, local food vendors, and more. This was also the first opportunity for fans to check out their coves. In a fan-first approach, Topeka, the company behind the Bootleggers Bonfire, opted to sell coves instead of traditional seats. These roped-off sections allowed fans to order merch, food, and drinks directly to their cove, ensuring they didn’t miss any part of the show. Many took it a step further, personalizing their spaces with decorations, lights, and signs, adding a unique and personal touch to the festival experience.
Brent Cobb opened Thursday’s show, warming up the crowd for Luke Combs. When we spoke with the singer/songwriter before the event, he told us that agreeing to this performance was a “definite yes, immediately,” for many reasons.
“We hadn’t been able to go to the beach this whole year. We’ve been on the road a lot and we used to have access to a little beach house down in Panama City that my in-laws had. They just sold that a couple of years ago, so it was really easy to come down to the beach back then,” he explained. “Thank goodness for my old buddy Luke inviting me and the band to come play this show. The kids are out of school for Monday or Columbus Day, and it just made sense. It’s amazing….and the weather, I can’t believe that we caught decent weather.”
Cobb said that he and Luke have known each other for over a decade and he’s so thankful to have people like him in his corner.
“I probably wouldn’t be out here if it wasn’t for people like Luke inviting me to come out and play,” he pointed out.
Before welcoming Luke Combs to the stage, his manager, known as Kappy, greeted the crowd of 5,000 and graciously thanked them for their unwavering support.
“Luke absolutely loves you,” he told the audience. “That’s why 5,000 of you are down here tonight celebrating not as just fans, but you’re fans that are becoming friends and you as friends are a family. You can take the Swifties and the Beliebers, and all those other people…There is not as much heart as the people in this room right now.”
@countrynow.com when #lukecombs ♬ Moon Over Mexico – Luke Combs
Sporting his signature black Columbia PFG shirt, shorts and flip-flops, Combs took the stage and was welcomed with roaring applause. He delivered an 18-song set list featuring only deep cuts – songs that were never singles and performed them chronologically, taking fans back to the days before he was selling out stadiums with songs like “I Know She Ain’t Ready” and to current times with performances of songs from his latest release, Fathers & Sons. Some of these songs had never been performed live before, so this was a special treat for his biggest fans who were in the audience that night. He even took time to share stories behind the songs, letting fans in on the songwriting process and stories behind these tunes.
Friday was another beautiful day. Festival goers could enjoy beach yoga or take part in the pickleball tournament before heading to the beach for games, a drum circle with Jake from Luke Combs’ band, and more music. Newcomer Preston Cooper delivered a set on the beach followed by a performance from Meghan Patrick, who told us she couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate her album release than by performing at the Bootleggers Bonfire.
That evening, fans flocked into the venue for a celebration of ‘90s country. Combs’ band, The Wild Cards, kicked off the show with a set full of ‘90s country covers and provided music for Luke-i-oke in which hand-picked fans had the opportunity to sing Luke Combs songs on the stage.
Craig Morgan was next to take the stage. Before his set, which included performances of his biggest hits like “Redneck Yacht Club,” “Almost Home,” “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” and more, Morgan reflected on his friendship with Combs and admitted, “I love the guy to death.”
As for the Bootlegers Bonfire, the multi-faceted star shared that he was quick to agree to take part in the festival because he and his wife own a home about “two miles” from the venue.
“It’s been great,” he said with a smile. “I’ve been home today, I came in tonight. After the show, I get to go back to the house and tomorrow I’ll be running on the beach!”
Tracy Lawrence closed out the second night, performing fan favorites such as “Paint Me A Birmingham,” “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” and “I See It Now.”
Prior to the show, Lawrence reflected on the resurgence of ‘90s country.
“It’s amazing to me,” Lawrence confessed. “I think it’s just such a comfortable place where great lyrics, great melodies, there were so many good songs and the artists had so much great personality back in the nineties. I think it was just such a golden era for all of us before smartphones and streaming platforms.”
Closing out on a strong note, the final day of the Bootleggers Bonfire included daytime Whiskey Jam performances from Old Hickory and Charlie Worsham.
“Bootleggers Bonfire…we’re going to look back years from now after everyone will know about it. Because right now, this is the first year, it’s still just getting started,” Worsham shared after his beach set.
He jumped at the opportunity to take part in the event, not only because he feels a special connection to Florida’s Emerald Coastline as he vacationed there as a kid, but also because of the chance to make a connection with Luke Combs’ fans.
‘These are Luke’s fans. They’re here to discover music, to become fans of new artists or artists that are new to them,” he pointed out. “And so the real gift for me is getting to be introduced this way to Luke’s fans and start those relationships of my own with fans for down the road. So I’m super grateful to Luke and loved getting to play on this white sand out here.”
Ashley McBryde got the crowd warmed up for Luke Combs with a selection of her radio hits and album cuts. During her set, she recalled her early days of touring with Combs and the time he gave her and her band an Xbox so they had some kind of entertainment while on the road in their van. After performances of songs like “One Night Standards,” “Brenda Put Your Bra On,” and “Light On In The Kitchen,” McBryde bid farewell to the crowd to make way for Combs and his band.
@countrynow.com Night two of @Luke Combs ♬ Where the Wild Things Are – Luke Combs
The man of the weekend returned to the stage on Sunday night with a set packed full of his stadium hits – the chart-topping singles and multi-platinum hits that the fans love. For nearly two hours, he delivered a stadium-sized show that prompted massive sing-alongs to each and every track.
Before closing out the memorable weekend, Combs promised that he and his team were already talking about “next year,” leaving fans to believe this won’t be the last Bootleggers Bonfire.
This magical musical experience came to an end with the final bonfire of the event. It was truly an unforgettable experience and one of the coolest and most special music events I’ve ever been a part of.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
You may also like
Country Next
Playlist
On Repeat
Get the latest country music news delivered straight to your inbox.
