10 Country Music Festivals You Can’t Miss in 2016
Contents
Check out this list of the top 10 country music festivals you can’t miss in 2016! From Stagecoach to CMA Fest, these festivals are sure to be a good time!
Introduction
Summertime is music festival season, and that means it’s time to start planning your trip to one (or more!) of the many excellent festivals that will be taking place around the country.
From big names like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza to more niche events like the Country Fest and the Stagecoach Festival, there’s truly something for everyone. And with ticket prices usually ranging from $100-$400, festivals can be a great value for your money—especially when you compare them to the cost of seeing multiple shows by your favorite artists.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 10 can’t-miss country music festivals happening in 2016. So whether you’re a diehard fan or just looking for an excuse to enjoy some good tunes in the great outdoors, be sure to check out one of these fantastic events.
Country Music Festivals in the United States
There’s nothing like a country music festival to get you in touch with your roots. From the biggest names in the business to up-and-comers, these festivals have it all. And with so many to choose from, there’s bound to be one that’s just perfect for you. Here are 10 of the best country music festivals in the United States.
CMA Music Festival
The CMA Music Festival is held every June in Nashville, Tennessee and features four days of live music from some of the biggest names in country music. The festival started out as a fan appreciation event with only a few hundred attendees back in 1972, but has since grown into one of the genre’s most popular events with over 80,000 fans making the pilgrimage to Nashville each year.
In addition to live music, the CMA Music Festival also features an exhibit hall with over 400 vendors selling everything from cowboy hats to autographed memorabilia. There are also plenty of food and drink options available, including a few local favorites like hot chicken and biscuits.
Stagecoach Festival
The Stagecoach Festival is an outdoor country music festival presented by Goldenvoice, The Messina Group, and Moore Entertainment and produced by Wolfgang Puck. The festival is located at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.
ACM Awards
The Academy of Country Music Awards is an annual country music awards show, founded in 1964. The show is produced by Dick Clark Productions and broadcast live on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The awards ceremony features performances from some of the genre’s most popular artists, as well as hand-picked covers from award-winning country music duo Florida Georgia Line and pop group OneRepublic. ACM Awards is one of the most prestigious country music events of the year, and 2016 is shaping up to be another great year for the annual event.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Held annually on the last weekend of April (with an extra day on the first Monday), the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or Jazz Fest, as it’s commonly called, is a local favorite. The event takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course, a horse-racing track that has been around since 1852.
Over the course of two weekends, more than 400,000 people come from all over the world to listen to live music on 12 different stages. In addition to Jazz, you can also find blues, R&B, funk, Latin, rock and roll, rap, gospel and more. There are also plenty of food and craft booths to check out. Notable past performers include Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Joni Mitchell and Billie Holiday.
Country Music Festivals in Canada
There are a ton of great country music festivals happening in Canada this year! Here are 10 that you definitely won’t want to miss. From the Cavendish Beach Music Festival to Boots and Hearts, there’s a festival for everyone.
Boots and Hearts Music Festival
Boots and Hearts Music Festival is Canada’s biggest country music festival, and it takes place annually in Oro-Medonte, just outside of Barrie. The festival features a massive lineup of country music’s biggest stars, as well as up-and-comers, and is spread out over four days. This year’s lineup includes headliners like Dallas Smith, Toby Keith, and Dierks Bentley.
Cavendish Beach Music Festival
The Cavendish Beach Music Festival is one of the largest country music festivals in Canada. It takes place in the small town of Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, and attracts some of the biggest names in country music. The festival runs for four days, from Thursday to Sunday, and features a different lineup each day. There are also plenty of activities for kids, so it’s a great family-friendly event.
Dauphin’s Countryfest
Dauphin’s Countryfest is a three-day country music festival held in Dauphin, Manitoba, Canada. The festival features both Canadian and international country music artists. The 2016 lineup includes headliners Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, and Keith Urban.
Dauphin’s Countryfest was first held in 1987 and has been held annually since then. The festival is held at the Manitoba Exhibition Grounds and typically takes place in early July.
Tickets for Dauphin’s Countryfest can be purchased through the festival’s website or by calling the ticket hotline.
Country Music Festivals in Europe
Summertime is festival time and there’s no shortage of country music festivals to choose from. So whether you’re a diehard country fan or just looking for a fun weekend away, here are 10 country music festivals in Europe that you can’t miss in 2016.
Country to Country
Country to Country, also known as C2C, is a country music festival that takes place every year in various cities across Europe. It is the biggest country music festival in Europe and usually takes place in March. This year, it will be held in London, Glasgow, and Dublin.
Nashville Meets London
Nashville Meets London is a country music festival that takes place in the UK capital every year. The festival brings together some of the biggest stars in country music for three days of live performances, meet and greets, and more. If you’re a fan of country music, this is one festival you won’t want to miss.
Cornbury Music Festival
Cornbury Music Festival is a three-day music festival held in Oxfordshire, England. The festival is family-friendly and features a mix of country, rock, pop, and folk performers. past performers have included Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, and Emmylou Harris. The 2016 lineup includes Willie Nelson, Carlene Carter, and Judy Collins.
Conclusion
So there you have it, our top 10 country music festivals you can’t miss in 2016. Do you have a favorite that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments!
