Author name: Jaclyn Duske

Brett Eldredge | Dylan Scott | Gabby Barrett | And more Taste of Joliet | Joliet, IL | Saturday June 21, 2025 at 3pm Dylan Scott at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 As the gates opened on a sweltering summer afternoon at Joliet Memorial Field, fans entered ready for a great night of country music. The lineup for the day featured Brett Eldredge, Dylan Scott, Gabby Barrett, Sparks Fly, and Will Carter. Gabby Barrett and Cade Foehner at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 Both Will Carter and Sparks Fly brought in quite a crowd. Will Carter, who is a young musician from Joliet, entertained fans and elevated their excitement for a day of live country music. Next up was Sparks Fly, a Taylor Swift cover band, who had everyone singing and dancing to each song. Carter and Sparks fly brought a level of energy that got the crowd warmed up for the upcoming night of acts. Dylan Scott at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 As the audience made their way back towards the stage, it was time for Gabby Barrett to perform. Barrett started her career out on the sixteenth season of American Idol, where she finished in third place. Her debut single “I Hope” reached number one on the US Country Airplay Charts. Barrett’s debut album Goldmine was later released in 2020 and peaked at number four on the US Country Charts. From the start of her career in 2018, Barrett has won 9 various Country Music Awards and has opened for artists such as Toby Keith, Thomas Rhett, and Jason Aldean. Barrett maneuvered the stage well and made sure to connect with as much of the audience as she could. A few of the songs that were performed were “The Good Ones,” “Glory Days,” and “Pick Me Up.” Barrett also sang many covers from other artists, including “Somebody Like You” by Keith Urban, “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi, and “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. The crowd was dancing and singing along with Barrett during her whole set. For her final song of the evening, Barrett sang her number one hit “I Hope,” which had the crowd screaming along. Gabby Barrett at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 Next up for the night was Dylan Scott, who started his music career back in 2013. His first number one single came three years later in 2016 with his song titled “My Girl,” which was written about his high school sweetheart and now wife, Blaire Robinson. Scott released his debut self-titled album in the fall of 2016, where it reached number five on the Top Country Albums chart. His most recent single to hit number one on the US Country Airplay chart is “This Town’s Been Too Good to Us,” which was released in 2024. As the band started emerging from the sides of the stage, fans began to cheer, awaiting Scott’s appearance. Scott’s electric energy on stage could be felt through the crowd the moment he stepped onto the stage. He spent time maneuvering all aspects of the stage, having fun with the crowd and his band. “Hooked,” “New Truck,” and “Can’t Have Mine” are just a few of his singles that he performed, as well as his new duet with Dylan Marlow “Boys Back Home.” During his performance of “Boys Back Home,” Scott had his baseball cap taken away by his smoke machine, which he played off with ease. After the song, he made jokes about the smoke machines attacking him and continued to make lighthearted comments about it throughout the show. Dylan Scott with Robbie Gatlin, Logan Robinson, and Joey Didonnas at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 About halfway through Scott’s set, he sat down with the crowd and talked more about himself and his life growing up. He met his wife when he was 15 years old and explained they were high school sweethearts. While he loves performing onstage and entertaining crowds with his music, Scott stated that he wants to be remembered not just for his music, but for the type of person that he is. It is very important to him that the fans get to see the type of person he is when he isn’t performing for a crowd. Later, Scott threw back to some older country classics, such as “I Like It, I Love It” by Tim McGraw, “Fishin’ in the Dark” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and “Check Yes or No” by George Strait. He closed out his country throwbacks with a cover from his biggest idol, Keith Whitley, by singing “When You Say Nothing at All.” Scott closed out his set with his first number one hit “My Girl” and had the crowd even more excited for the headliner of the night. Brett Eldredge at the Taste of Joliet, 2025 Screams erupted when the lights dimmed and the music started playing, signaling that it was time for Brett Eldredge to take the stage. Eldredge was born and raised in Paris, IL with his older brother Brice. His career started in 2010, where he signed with Atlantic Records and released his debut album Bring You Back in 2013. Three songs from his debut album reached number one, including “Don’t Ya,” “Beat of the Music,” and “Mean to Me.” Eldredge has released 8 studio albums and has become known for his Christmas music. He has been deemed the nickname “Mr. Christmas,” which also happens to be the name of his first Christmas album. This is the first show Eldredge has performed in 2025 and happens to be one of three shows he will be performing. Eldredge opened the show playing his guitar and having fun with the crowd. While Eldredge has a relaxed demeanor, he made sure to interact with the audience and cover all aspects of the stage. “Good Day,” “Songs About You,” “Love Someone,” and “Gorgeous” were just a few of the newer songs that Eldredge performed along with his hit songs “Don’t Ya” and “Lose My Mind.”

Chris Young | Pryor Baird | Dani Rose New Lenox Commons | New Lenox, IL | Saturday, June, 14th, 2025 at 6pm Chris Young and Band at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Crowds of fans gathered for the first show in the 2025 New Lenox Summer Concert series at the New Lenox Commons. The lineup featured country star Chris Young as well as Pryor Baird and Dani Rose. Chris Young and Guitarist at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 The night kicked off with Dani Rose entertaining the crowd with her infectious energy and her Nashville twang. She has opened for Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Cole Swindell, and many others. “Country Strong,” “Got It from My Mama,” and “Girl Math” are a few of the songs she sang during her set. Pryor Baird was next in the lineup to warm up the crowd with his soulful country-rock style. He started his career on season 14 of The Voice, who was later eliminated in the Live Shows. Baird has made his Grand Ole Opry Debut earlier this year and is known for his singer-songwriter abilities. He had the crowd engaged while performing countless songs, including “The One Left Behind,” “Beauty In The Broken,” and “Mighta Met A Girl.” Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 As the clock ticked past 9:00pm, anticipation filled the air for Chris Young’s set. The stage burst to life as Chris Young and his band appeared, sparking an eruption of excitement from the audience. Chris Young rose to fame after his win of season four of the reality singing competition Nashville Star. After his win, Young signed with RCA Records Nashville and released his self-titled debut album that same year. In 2017, Young gained one of the most prestigious achievements in the country music community by becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Chris Young and Band at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Young opened his show with his song “Double Down” and had the crowd dancing along. He performed many of his hit songs, including “Lonely Eyes,” “Raised on Country,” and “Voices.” While performing some of his hits, Young also performed some new releases off if his newest album Young Love & Saturday Nights, including the title track as well as “Til the Last One Dies.” After his third song of the night, Young’s band and crew surprised him with a happy birthday message on the screen, where the crowd collectively sang Happy Birthday to him. Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Before starting the second verse of his song “Getting You Home,” Young shares a story about how a social media trend has been started using the second verse. This has become a new favorite line for the crowd to sing at his shows, which has brought a new meaning to the song. Young also shared with the crowd that his dream was always to receive a gold record for one of his songs. This became a reality and far exceeded his dream when his hit song “I’m Comin’ Over” became 4x Platinum. Ty Graham, who is a friend and songwriter, joined Chris on stage and sang a cover of “3AM” by Matchbox Twenty. Young later sang his own cover of Brooks and Dunn’s hit song “Neon Moon.” He later closed out his set with his number 1 song “Famous Friends,” which is a duet with Kane Brown. While Brown was not in attendance, Young had a recording and video of Brown playing on the screen so the song could be sung by both artists. Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 After the stage cleared out, Young and his band reappeared for their encore, which consisted of a cover of “When You Say Nothing At All” by Keith Whitley as well as Young’s hit song “Awe Naw.” As the music played out, fans showed their appreciation for Chris Young and the start of the New Lenox summer concert series with their thunderous cheers. Chris Young and Guitarist at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 For additional information on these artists and the New Lenox Commons Summer Concert Series, please visit: Summer Concert Series- https://www.newlenox.net/353/Summer-Concert-Series Chris Young- https://www.chrisyoungcountry.com Pryor Baird- https://pryorbaird.com Dani Rose- https://www.danirose.com Village of New Lenox- https://www.newlenox.net Additional Images: Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Detail shot of Chris Young’s Guitar at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Chris Young at the New Lenox Commons, 2025 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske

Clint Black | Emily Ann Roberts Clint Black’s 35th Anniversary of Killin’ Time Tour | Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts | Bloomington, IL | Saturday February 15th, 2025 at 7:30pm Clint Black at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 While the temperatures may have been frigid, fans from near and far traveled to Bloomington, IL to enjoy a show put on by country superstar Clint Black. As the crowd settled down, Emily Ann Roberts got ready to start the night off with some country music. Just before the show was about to start, a member of the venue came out to introduce Emily Ann Roberts to the crowd. With just her guitar in hand, Roberts took the stage ready to play an acoustic set. Emily Ann Roberts at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Emily Ann Roberts is a singer-songwriter who got her debut on season 9 of The Voice on Team Blake. Many of the songs she performed on the show charted on the Billboard magazine charts. While Roberts placed second on The Voice, this was only the start for her. After the show, she went back to finish her schooling before pursuing music. She released her first single “Stuck on Me and You” in 2018 and later signed to Starstruck Records in 2019. Her first studio album Can’t Hide Country was released in September of 2023 with a deluxe version releasing in April of 2024. Roberts got the opportunity to tour with her former coach Blake Shelton in 2024 and is set to open for Clint Black, Cody Johnson, and Megan Moroney on some of their tour dates in 2025. Emily Ann Roberts at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Emily opened her set with her hit “He Set Her Off,” which is featured on her first album Can’t Hide Country. She sang many other songs off her album such as “Chickens,” “Working on Love,” and “The Building.” Roberts released a new single in January of this year called “Easy Does It,” which was also included in the setlist. Stories were shared before each song about her growth as an artist and how she came about writing her songs. Covers of Dolly Pardon’s “9 to 5” and Sixteen Tons’ “Tennessee Ernie Ford” were performed and had the audience singing along. Roberts closed her set with her song “Whole Lotta Little” and announced she would be meeting fans by her merch table all night long. She left the crowd buzzing with energy for Clint Black’s awaited performance. Clint Black at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Fans settled in as the lights dimmed and the music started playing, awaiting the arrival of Clint Black. As the band took the stage, Clint black emerged from the wings and kicked off his show with “The Shoe’s You’re Wearing.” Black performed “Summers Coming,” “When My Ship Comes In,” and “State of Mind” before playing his entire album Killin’ Time in order of the track list. He shared stories about his background, both personal and professional, as well the process of how his songs were written. The crowd was laughing along as Black joked about being old and picking on the Midwest accents. He later shared that his title track “Killin’ Time” almost didn’t make the original cut for the album. Clint Black at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Clint Black is a singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He released his debut album Killin’ Time in 1989, which produced four straight number one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks charts. Black has had more than 30 singles on the US Billboard country charts, where 22 of which have reached number one. In 2003, he founded his own record label, Equity Music Group, which later closed in 2008 due to financial difficulties. Black has released 14 albums, with his most recent being “Out of Sane” in 2020. He has been nominated at the Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, TNN Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and Country Music Association Awards. Black has won 14 awards across these various award shows. Black earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1996, becoming the fourth country music star to earn a star. He was also inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and has been a member since 1991.  Emily Ann Roberts at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 After performing the Killin Time album, Black played “Better and Worse,” along with a Waylon Jennings cover “Are You Sure Waylon Done It This Way.” He informed the crowd that his CDs were available for purchase at his merch booth. Black joked that the fans should buy two CDs since they wear down quick and that is how you get double platinum. Cheers erupted as the opening notes of “Nothin’ but the Taillights” played and everyone in attendance sang along for the last song of the set. As Black left the stage, fans waited for the encore to begin. Everyone was on their feet as Black took the stage again to perform his last song of the night. The crowd sang along and danced to “We Tell Ourselves” before the night came to a close. As the song wrapped up, Black and his band came forward and bowed to the crowd ending the night on a high note. Clint Black’s Guitar at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 For additional information on these artists and the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, please visit: Clint Black- https://www.clintblack.com Emily Ann Roberts- https://www.emilyannroberts.com Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts- https://www.artsblooming.org Additional Images: Emily Ann Roberts at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Jason Mowery at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Emily Ann Roberts at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Scotty McCreery | Spencer Crandall Rialto Square Theatre | Joliet, IL | Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 at 7:30pm Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 McCreery’s first show of the year was off to an exhilarating start as anxious fans poured into the Rialto, eager for the night ahead. Spencer Crandall kicked off the night, energizing the crowd in anticipation for McCreery’s performance. Cheers erupted as Spencer Crandall took the stage. Crandall is a new artist described as one of Country’s most progressive talents. Growing up in Denver, Crandall has a tight knit family where he learned dedication and how to follow his passions. In college, Crandall played football before injuries strayed him away from the field. He later picked up a guitar and was hooked. Now, the singer-songwriter lives in Nashville living out his dreams and getting to perform amongst some of country’s favorite artists. He has released three albums and made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2022. Crandall has become a successful rising country artist. Spencer Crandall at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Amongst his set, Crandall shared his upbringing and life story between his songs and created a relationship with the crowd. “The Right One,” “My Person,” and “Girls Like You.” Were just a few of his songs in his set. Crandall had an infectious energy on stage and had the audience laughing along with him and his jokes. He spent part of his set covering some of his favorite songs, such as “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker, “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band, and “Somebody Like You” by Keith Urban. Fans were sad to see Crandall’s set close, but he left a lasting impression on the crowd.  He built the excitement and anticipation in the crowd in preparation for McCreery to take the stage. Spencer Crandall at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 The dramatic opening of McCreery’s show began when the theatre lights dimmed, and the spotlights came on, showcasing McCreery’s band members. As the audience cheered, McCreery entered the stage and opened with his song “Can’t Pass the Bar.” His setlist included many of his hit songs: “In Between,” “You Time,” and “Five More Minutes.” Fans cheered as they heard the opening notes of McCreery’s song “Cab in A Solo,” which is his most recent single that has peaked at number two on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart. McCreery brought a laid-back presence to the stage, which highlighted how comfortable and connectable of an artist he is. He spent time telling stories to the audience about his life growing up with his wife, who he has known since they were both five years old. Scotty McCreery Band at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 McCreery was born in North Carolina and got his start on American Idol, winning season 10 back in 2011. His debut album was released in 2011 and was certified platinum in the United States. He has been nominated for 14 awards throughout his career and has won six, his most recent at the 2019 BMI Country Awards in 2019 with his song “This Is It.” One of his greatest dreams became a reality in 2024. McCreery received one of the biggest achievements in country music, which was being inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on April 20th by his childhood hero, Josh Turner. Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Scotty McCreery and Band at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Reminiscing on the day his son was born; he shared stories of the song he wrote in the hospital room while he was awaiting to meet his new baby boy. McCreery had the audience falling in love with his story, followed by the performance of “Love Like This,” which was the song that was created that day. “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and “The Chair” by George Strait were two of the covers that McCreery chose to sing, having the fans feeling nostalgic and singing along. McCreery debuted new song “Slow Dance” from his most recent album release titled Rise and Fall, which had couples standing and slow dancing the entire song. Spencer Crandall at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 With his amazing light display and visual effects, McCreery had the crowd electrified and as they sang along with him all night long. McCreery is known as a performer that makes his audience feel at ease and excited for the upbeat music to come. He closed out his set by performing one of his hit songs “See You Tonight,” leaving the crowd anticipating an encore with a fan favorite song in mind. Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 The lights came back up as McCreery and his band came back to the stage and played the anticipated song “Damn Strait,” which peaked at number one on the Billboard Country Airplay Charts, holding the position for three weeks. Based upon one of his heroes, George Strait, McCreery knew in his heart he wanted to record this song. As McCreery closed out the night, fans slowly left the theatre with a sense of euphoria and exhilaration that is brought upon in McCreery’s shows. Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 For additional information on these artists and events coming to the Rialto, please visit: Scotty McCreery- https://www.scottymccreery.com Spencer Crandall- http://spencercrandallmusic.com Rialto Square Theatre- https://rialtosquare.com Additional Images: Spencer Crandall at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Scotty McCreery at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Spencer Crandall at the Rialto Square Theatre, 2025 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Dasha | Adrien Nunez Dashville, USA Tour | Joe’s Live | Rosemont, IL | Thursday, November 7th, 2024 at 7pm Dasha at Joe’s live Rosemont, 2024 Country music fans enjoyed a Thursday night out at Joe’s Live Rosemont with good company, line dancing, and live country music. Dasha headlined the night with newcomer Adrien Nunez kicking off the night. Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 Fans gathered as the lights dimmed and Adrien Nunez took the stage. Nunez was a member of the Michigan men’s basketball team. Since graduating in 2022, he has gained a lot of attention on his social media for his music. Nunez sang a few of the songs he has written in the past few months, including “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which he wrote for Shaboozey. This is his first song that has reached number one on country radio. After his set, Nunez went to meet and interact with fans at his merchandise table.   Adrien Nunez at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 In between the artist’s performances, the staff at Joe’s Live had a line dance session with the fans out on the dance floor. Dances were taught for songs including “Country Girl (Shake it For Me)” by Luke Bryan and “Austin” by Dasha. The lights dimmed as the band took the stage and Dasha emerged from the shadows. Dasha is a country and pop artist whose career started in 2020. Her first album Dirty Blonde was released in 2023 and her most recent album What Happens Now? released earlier this year. In November of that same year, she released her song “Austin”, which rapidly rose to fame and brought her debut on the Billboard Charts. Since then, her career has evolved rapidly. Dasha performed her hit song “Austin” on the 2024 CMT Awards which took place in Austin, Texas. She was later nominated and won her first award at the People’s Choice Country Awards for The Female Song of 2024. Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 Dasha opened her show by performing “What Happens Now?” with the crowd dancing and singing along with her. She greeted fans from all areas of the stage and was acknowledging as many as she could throughout her set. She sang many songs from her new album such as “Bye Bye Bye,” “Ain’t No Friend of Mine,” and “Way Too Drunk.” About five songs into her lineup, Dasha debuted a new unreleased song “Give Me A Second” that had the crowd dancing along with excitement. Halfway through her performance, Dasha shared a story with the crowd from when she was younger and saw Taylor Swift live. Swift performed part of her set with just herself and her guitar, and Dasha said that was something she always wanted to incorporate into her own shows. She performed a few songs acoustic, and later her band joined back in to continue on with the rest of the performance. Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 As the show came to a close, Dasha had a few more songs to keep the crowd dancing and singing along, including her hit song “Austin.” She had the whole crowd dancing along with her to the line dance that was created for the song, which was first debuted as a social media video. Since then, fans from all over the world have created their own videos dancing to the song “Austin.” Adrien Nunez at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 As the lights came up after Dasha left the stage, the energy from the dissipating crowd could be felt in the air. Dasha has the genuine ability to create catchy songs that everyone can relate to, while also having a high energy, bubbly personality on stage. For those in attendance, this night was a testament to what is to come with Dasha and her rising music career. Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 For additional information on these artist and Joe’s Live, please visit: Dasha- https://www.itsdashabitch.com Adrien Nunez- https://www.tiktok.com/@adrien_nunez Joe’s Live- https://www.joesliverosemont.com Rosemont, IL- https://rosemont.com Additional Images: Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 Dasha at Joe’s Live Rosemont, 2024 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Dierks Bentley | Chase Rice | Ella Langley Gravel and Gold Tour | Vibrant Arena | Moline, IL | Friday, September 20th, 2024 at 7pm Dierks Bentley at the Vibrant Arena, 2024 Despite Dierks Bentley’s tour coming to an end, fans entered the arena buzzing, lining up for merchandise and drinks, awaiting the start to an incredible night of country music. The lineup for the night was something not worth missing as fans went to their seats.  Ella Langley at the Vibrant Arena, 2024 Ella Langley kicked off the night of country music with a slight hiccup. As she walked up to the mic to start of her set, there seemed to be some technical problems, as the arena was unable to hear her. Langley handled the microphone problem very professionally and moved over to her guitarist’s mic until hers was able to be fixed. Born in Hope Hull, Alabama, Langley started her career performing locally until moving to Nashville in 2019. She has released her first studio album, entitled Hungover, on August 2nd of this year, which features her first single “You Look Like You Love Me” featuring Riley Green. In addition to performing her new single on stage with Chase Rice, Langley sang a few other songs from her new album, including “Paint the Town Blue.” Chase Rice at the Vibrant Arena, 2024 Chase Rice with a Fan at the Vibrant Arena, 2024 Fans cheered as the lights dimmed indicating Chase Rice was about to take the stage. This was his last night joining Bentley on his tour, so fans were excited for his final tour performance. Rice is a country singer, songwriter, and reality television personality. He has released seven studio albums, including his new album Go Down Singin, which was released that same night, September 20th. Two of Rice’s songs have hit number one on the charts, which are “Eyes on You” and “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen,” as well as “Cruise” recorded by Florida Georgia Line, which he was a co-writer on. Rice performed many other songs in addition to his number ones, including “Ready Set Roll,” “Lonely If You Are,” and a song off his new album, “Haw River.” During his second song set, Rice brought a fan on stage who was celebrating his 12th birthday. They sang a song together and Rice signed young man’s baseball hat. Towards the end of his set, Rice told a story on how his best friend was struggling and wanted to end his life, but his own dog saved him. This sparked Rice to get his own dog, Jack, who joined him on stage. Rice left his heart out on the stage and had fans captivated the whole set. Dierks Bentley at the Vibrant Arena, 2024 As the lights dimmed, fans stood cheering for Dierks Bentley to take the stage. Bentley entered the stage and jumped right into his first song of the night while working across all aspects of the stage. Singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley has been releasing music since 2003, with 10 studio albums. He has been nominated for over 70 awards, with his most recent being for Video of the Year in 2021 at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Bentley was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2005, where he stands as the third-youngest member after Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner. Ella Langley at the Vibrant Arena, 2024 Bentley had the fans captivated the minute he stepped foot on stage and held their attention for the rest of the night. During the 7th song in his set, he brought out Ella Langley to sing his duet “Different for Girls” with him, which was originally sung with Elle King. “I Hold On,” “5-1-5-0,” and “Burning Man were just a few of the songs that Bentley performed throughout the night. He covered “American Girl” in his set as well, which was originally sung by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Later in the set, Bentley brought out Chase Rice to help him sing his song “Gone.” Upon the completion of the song, the whole crowd, along with Bentley, sang “Happy Birthday” to celebrate Chase Rice’s belated birthday, which was September 19th. Dierks Bentley and guitarist Ben Helson at the Vibrant Arena, 2024 Chase Rice with guitarists John Souki and Jonas Ladekjaer at the Vibrant Arena, 2024 The performance was full of laughs as Bentley and his band had fun bantering and having fun with each other throughout the evening. Bentley and his guitarist, Ben Helson, had fun fighting for the crowd’s attention in certain parts of the stage. When Helson won over the crowd while at one spot on stage, Bentley went to Helson’s mic stand and threw out all his guitar picks to the crowd. Later in the night, guitarist Charlie Worsham took over the mic from Bentley and sang a cover of “Callin’ Baton Rouge.” As Worsham was basking in the cheers from the crowd from all over the stage, Bentley chased him around and tried to cover him from the crowd’s view with his guitar. This fun, light-hearted banter and comedic behavior kept the fans laughing and engaged. Bentley closed out his set with his widely popular song “What Was I Thinkin,” and had the crowd cheering for an encore. After Bentley and his band exited the stage, they reappeared to perform “Drunk on a Plane,” where Bentley was dressed in a pilot’s jacket and hat with a pair of sunglasses. Fans appreciated he way he immersed himself fully in the theme of his song. Dierks Bentley at the Vibrant Arena, 2024 The band then left and reappeared for a second encore dressed in the costumes of their characters in the Hot Country Knights, which is their country music parody music band. The Hot Country Knights were created in 2020 and intended to be a satirical tribute to the country music in the 1990’s. The band consists of Dierks Bentley, which he portrays as lead singer Douglas “Doug” Douglason,

Josh Turner The Greatest Hits Tour | Rivers Casino | Des Plaines, IL, 60018 | Saturday July 27th, 2024 at 8pm Josh Turner with Austin Crum and Evan Winsor at Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, IL, 2024 A large crowd anxiously awaited a night of country music with Josh Turner. Fans eagerly entered the room and found their seats, awaiting the start to the show knowing Turner would be sharing hits from throughout his career. Turner was born in South Carolina and later moved to Nashville where he enrolled in Belmont University to pursue a degree in music. After college, his career began to take off and he made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2001 singing his song “Long Black Train,” which was inspired by Hank Williams. Fans gave Turner a standing ovation in the middle of the song, and he later came back out on the Opry stage to perform it as an encore. Shawn Bailey at Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, IL, 2024 Since then, Turner has been inducted to the Grand Ole Opry, invited by Vince Gill, in 2007 and has created 10 studio albums. He has been nominated for countless awards, the most recent being his Induction into the South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame this year. Josh Turner at Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, IL, 2024 The lights dimmed and the crowd cheered as Turner and his band entered the stage. He opened his set with his hit “Firecracker” and the crowd was hooked for the rest of the night. Turner interacted with his band and actively included them all throughout the night. He encouraged fans throughout the night to view his merchandise booth, where a portion of the proceeds were going to be given to a charity that provides Bibles to veterans and active service men and women. Turner then gifted out some merchandise to the crowd, including a signed hat, a t-shirt, vinyl, and a copy of his signed book. Shawn Bailey and Evan Winsor at Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, IL, 2024 About halfway through Turner’s set, he decided to sing a new song titled “Heatin” Things Up,” which is on his new album This Country Music Thing, releasing August 16th. Fans were on their feet enjoying a sneak peek into Turner’s new upcoming music. He also stated that he is the first artist to return to River’s Casino to perform a show, his first being in 2022. In addition to performing a new song, Turner covered “I Saw the Light” by Hank Williams and “Why Me” by Kris Kristofferson, which are two songs and artists that have inspired him musically. Josh Turner with Austin Crum at Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, IL, 2024 As Turner’s set came to a close, fans stayed on their feet and sang along to “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” “Would You Go With Me,” and “Long Black Train” wishing the night of music would continue on. Turner then reappeared for an encore with one of his biggest hits “Your Man,” which became his 1st number one hit on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2006 and is certified 4x Platinum in the United States. Tyler Hall at Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, IL, 2024 Turner left the stage with fans on their feet, applauding him for a night filled with great music and jokes. Fans exited the casino with an uplifted mood and anxiously awaiting the release of his new album. Josh Turner at Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, IL, 2024 For additional information on Josh Turner and events at Rivers Casino, please visit: Josh Turner- https://www.joshturner.com Rivers Casino- https://www.riverscasino.com/desplaines Additional Images:  Josh Turner with Austin Crum, Paul Harrigill, Tyler Hall, Shawn Bailey, TJ Wilder, and Evan Winsor at Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, IL, 2024 Josh Turner with Paul Harrigill at Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, IL, 2024 Josh Turner at Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, IL, 2024 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Country Thunder Wisconsin Twin Lakes, Wisconsin | 2305 Richmond Road | Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, 53181 | Friday July 18-21, 2024 Bailey Zimmerman with Chris Chiarcos and Brendan Orchard, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 The sun was shining all weekend long as fans filled up the fairgrounds anxiously awaiting 4 days of country music. Randy Houser and Lainey Wilson headlined the first two days. Fans entered the grounds excited for day three of live music, with artists including Emily Ann Roberts, Josh Ross, The Bellamy Brothers, Jake Worthington, Bailey Zimmerman, and Nickelback. Emily Ann Roberts, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 The first artist to kick off day 3 of Country Thunder was Emily Ann Roberts. Emily Ann Roberts started her career on Season 9 of The Voice as a member of Team Blake, where she ended the competition as the runner-up. She signed a record deal with Starstruck Records in 2019 and released her first studio album titled Can’t Hide Country in 2023. Roberts sang many of her songs from her album including “He Set Her Off,” “Chickens,” “Working on Love,” and “The Building.” She spent time on stage interacting with fans from all around the large stage and entertaining the early afternoon crowd. After her set, she had a signing and meet and greet by her merchandise tent. Emily Ann spent time interacting with each fan that attended this personal event. Josh Ross, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 Josh Ross was the second artist to take the stage for the day. Ross is a Canadian country singer from Ontario. He had dreams of playing in the Canadian Football League, until an injury derailed his plan, which is when he chose to pursue music as a career. Ross has won the Rising Star Award at the Country Music Association of Ontario and the Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Association in 2023. A crowd started to form in the pit during Ross’s set while he performed songs including “Trouble” and “Single Again.” His stage presence was strong and had the audience engaged through the entire set. The Bellamy Brothers, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 Fans then welcomed The Bellamy Brothers to the stage as their set was next in the lineup. The Bellamy Brothers, consisting of David Milton Bellamy and Homer Howard Bellamy, are a country pop duo that had musical success in the 1970’s and 1980’s. They brought together a group of fans, old and new, together by singing “Let Your Love Flow” and “Old Hippie,” along with many other hits. Jake Worthington, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 Jake Worthington brought a more traditional country music sound to the stage. Many songs were performed off of his debut self-titled album, including “Single At The Same Time” and “State You Left Me In.” Whether the audience knew the music or not, they were dancing along to Worthington all night. Bailey Zimmerman, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 The crowd filled in fast as the lights dimmed for Bailey Zimmerman. With an electric energy, Zimmerman ran onto the stage getting the crowd charged for his first song of the night, “Religiously.” His vocals were the star of the show the whole set, as was his attention to detail with each fan he encountered. Zimmerman’s lyrics tell a story that captures the attention of the audience with each word. From moving up one timeslot in the set, Zimmerman drew in a very large crowd of fans. With his performances, a family is created between Zimmerman and his band along with the crowd, creating a once in a lifetime experience. “Change,” “Where it Ends,” “Fall in Love,” and “Rock in a Hard Place” along with many other songs off his EP and debut album. Zimmerman first appeared at Country Thunder two years prior at an earlier set time and has worked his way to being one of the five main headliners of the event. While 2020 was a hard year for the world, it was the start of Zimmerman’s career. He began posting his music to social media as a means to impress girls, but quickly gained attention from music labels with his unique and soulful voice. Nickelback, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 Finally, it was time for Nickelback to close out the night of live music. With the lights flashing and the crowd cheering, Nickelback finally entered the stage. The energy shifted in the crowd as Nickelback began playing their 15-song set. The band played a variety of hits, spanning from their greatest hits to their deepest cuts, including “Photograph,” “Worthy to Say,” and “Far Away.” The energy was electric through each song as the fans enjoyed the band and their stage effects. Nickelback blurred the lines between genres by not only performing at a country music festival, but by also bringing Bailey Zimmerman back to the stage for a rendition of “Rockstar.” Nickelback is a Canadian rock band that formed in 1995 with 10 studio albums and has won 70 awards with 143 nominations over their career. Nickelback kept the fans engaged and dancing alongside them all night long. The final day of Country Thunder arrived with fans are showing up for one last day of country music. While many were exhausted after a long weekend of music, there was a buzz as fans entered in for the last day. The lineup was made up of Meghan Patrick, Randall King, Jackson Dean, Elle King and Eric Church, leaving fans excited for the day ahead. Meghan Patrick, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 The first artist to kick off the last day was Meghan Patrick. She is a Canadian American country singer-songwriter who released her debut album in 2016. Since then, she has released 2 more albums, the most recent being Heart on My Glass in 2021. “Wild as Me” and “Girls Like Me” were just two of her singles that she performed throughout her set. Randall King, Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 Randall King was the next artist to take the stage. With an “old soul”