Music Reviews

Emily Ann Roberts SJ McDonald Hobart Art Theater Hobart, IN Sunday October 5th, 2025 at 7:00pm Emily Ann Roberts at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2024 Fans travelled from near and far to see Emily Ann Roberts headline her first show in Indiana. Before the lights flickered, signaling the start of the performance, guests grabbed their drinks and merchandise awaiting the night ahead. As the lights dimmed, it was time for the opener of the evening, SJ McDonald to take the stage and introduce herself to waiting fans. Jordan Larson at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 SJ McDonald is an emerging singer-songwriter who grew up in Virginia near the Appalachian Mountains. She is known for her authentic, gritty country sound that has a blend of modern storytelling with 90’s country. McDonald has been recognized as CMT’s Next Up Now Artist and has been touring the country independently, showcasing her grit, charisma, and raw talent. Her fully acoustic set kicked off with her newest release “Honkey Tonk Pie” and moved into an unreleased song “You Say Vegas.” She also played covers of Mily Cyrus’s “The Climb” as well as Trisha Yearwood’s “She’s in Love with the Boy.” McDonald ended her set with “Rosemary,” “Beans,” and “Wild Women.” While the crowd may have not known who McDonald was at the start of her performance, they certainly became fans by the end.  She had the crowd engaged and cheering for her throughout her entire set. She is not only a talented artist, but an amazing entertainer. Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 As the band took the stage, the crowd erupted in cheers, anticipating the arrival of Emily Ann Roberts. She got her start on NBC’s The Voice where she came in second place. After The Voice, she went back to finish school before pursuing music. She later married her high school sweetheart, Chris Sasser, in 2020. Roberts released her first EP Someday Dream in 2019, followed by her first album Can’t Hide Country in 2023. She has opened for countless artists in 2025 including Megan Moroney, Clink Black and Cody Johnson. In September of this year, Roberts announced the release of her new EP Memory Lane coming October 3rd after signing her first record deal with Sony Music Nashville. Emily Ann Roberts at Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 Torey Harding at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 Roberts hit the stage and kicked off her set with “Whole Lotta Little” followed by “Chickens.” She also sang a melody of country hits sung by female artists, including “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)” by Loretta Lynn, “Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That” by Dolly Parton, “Fancy” by Reba McEntire, “This One’s For The Girls” by Martina McBride, “Goodbye Earl” by the Chicks, and “Any Man Of Mine” by Shania Twain. The crowd was singing along with smiles on their face. “Easy Does It,” “The Fence,” “Memory Lane,” and “Pretty in Pink” were a few of the other songs off her new EP that Roberts sang throughout the night. She later performed covers of some of her favorite songs, “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford and “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton. The band then left the stage, leaving just Roberts and her guitar. She sang her song “Keep on Going” acoustic after delivering a speech about chasing your dreams no matter how hard and long the journey. She then performed an acoustic version of “There’s a Record Book” by Rhonda Vincent. Roberts closed out her set with performances of “He Set Her Off,” “Jack and Jill Daniels,” and “On Down the Road,” which is a new song she wrote to close out her shows. Instead of performing encores, Roberts decided to write her own song to end her shows. Emily Ann Roberts at Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 2025 After the performance, both Roberts and McDonald stayed at the venue to meet the many fans that waited. Both artists took their time talking with every one of the fans as well as posing for pictures. Fans left the theatre riding the high from Roberts show, ready to take on the week ahead. Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 For additional information on these artists and events coming to the Hobart Art Theatre, please visit: Emily Ann Roberts- https://www.emilyannroberts.com SJ McDonald- https://sjmcdonald.com Hobart Art Theater- https://brickartlive.com Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Parker McCollum Ashley Cooke Hudson Westbrook Parker McCollum Tour Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Tinley Park, IL October 4th, 2025 at 7:30pm Parker McCollum and at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Crowds gathered as the sun set, awaiting the night of country music ahead. Fans streamed into the venue and purchased their fan merchandise and drinks before heading to their seats to be entertained by Hudson Westbrook, Ashley Cooke, and Parker McCollum. Hudson Westbrook at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Hudson Westbrook was the first to hit the stage for the night. Westbrook is a Texas native who found his passion for music at the age of 15. He blends sentimental and modern melodies to create his own unique sound. He released his debut track “Take It Slow” which gained over 1.2 million streams in the first week. Westbrook sang songs including “Painted You Pretty,” “5 to 9,” and his current song on the radio, “House Again.” While this was Westbrook’s last show on Parker McCollum’s tour, he left on a high note gearing up the crowd for Ashley Cooke and Parker McCollum. Ashley Cooke at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Cheers erupted as the lights dimmed, signaling the start of Ashley Cooke’s set. Cooke is a singer-songwriter from Florida who independently released her first album Already Drank That Beer in 2021. She later won Belmont’s prestigious Country showcase and released her debut album Shot in the Dark under Big Loud/Back Blocks Music. Cooke won her first CMT Award for Breakthrough Female Video of the Year in 2024 and was also nominated twice for ACM’s New Female Artist of the Year, as well as Best New Country at the iHeart Radio Music Awards in 2025. Ashley Cooke and Chauncey Arner at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Ashley Cooke at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Cooke kicked off her set with “Getting Into,” and followed with “The Hell You Are” and “Moving on With Grace.” She also performed some of her newest songs “Swear Words” and “The F Word,” which had the crowd on their feet. Cooke’s energy was infectious, and she made it clear that she loved being on stage. Earlier this summer, Rascal Flatts announced their new album Life Is A Highway: Refueled Duets where Ashley Cooke was featured. In honor of that, Cooke sang her duet with Rascal Flatts from that album “Summer Nights.” Later in her set, Cooke sang two songs that will be released later this year, which are “Baby Blues” and “Tin Foil Hat.” With her set coming to a close, Cooke wrapped up with “Back in the Saddle” and ended her last tour stop with McCollum with “Your Place.” Parker McCollum at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 As the lights dimmed, the stage screen exploded to life, featuring an old movie entrance with a lion below McCollum’s name. Fans cheered loudly, eager for him to come on stage. McCollum is a singer-songwriter based in Texas. In his early life, he was exposed to classic country, such as Willie Nelson, Porter Wagoner, and Buck Owens, as well as red dirt musicians such as Pat Green, Chris Knight, and Cross Canadian Ragweed. McCollum spent a vast majority of his early life working on cattle ranches and was further exposed to more classic country artists. He released his debut album The Limestone Kid in 2015 and later signed with MCA Nashville in 2019. The first single he released under the label was Pretty Heart reached number one on the US Billboard Country Airplay Charts and has become 3x Platinum. His first studio album Gold Chain Cowboy was released in 2021, with his most recent release being his self-titled album from 2025. He has been nominated for many awards, with his most recent win being Visual Media of the Year for his song “Burn it Down” at the 2024 ACM Awards. Parker McCollum at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Hudson Westbrook and band at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 McCollum started off his set with “My Blue” which had the crowd singing along. “To Be Loved by You,” “What Kinda Man,” and “Why Indiana” are just a few of the other songs McCollum sang throughout his hour and a half set. While McCollum played his guitar for the entire show it didn’t hinder him from moving freely around the stage and connecting with audience members. He also performed one of his new songs from his new self-titled album “Hope That I’m Enough.” Later in the show, Hudson Westbrook was brought back to the stage and performed “Rest of My Life” with McCollum, and he followed with “Handle on You” and “Burn it Down.” Ashley Cooke was then brought to the stage to join McCollum in singing “Pretty Heart.” Since this was Cooke’s last show with McCollum, she pranked him by coming out dressed like him, which had the fans cheering and screaming with laughter. McCollum closed out his show with “My Worst Enemy” with crowd singing along at the top of their lungs. Chauncey Arner at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 As the show ended, the crowd slowly started to gather their belongings and exit the amphitheater. While fans didn’t want the night to end, they enjoyed a nice night of country music outdoors to end off the summer and celebrate the start of fall. Parker McCollum at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 For more information on these artists and events coming to Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, please visit: Parker McCollum- https://www.parkermccollum.com/#/ Ashley Cooke- https://ashleycooke.com Hudson Westbrook- https://www.hudsonwestbrook.com Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre- https://www.creditunion1amp.com Additional Images: Hudson Westbrook at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Ashley Cooke at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Parker McCollum’s Belt Buckle at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Lee Brice Jackson Dean Lewis Brice What You Know About That Tour Rosemont Theatre Rosemont, IL September 29, 2025 at 7:00pm Lee Brice at the Rosemont Theatre, 2025 Cars full of fans lined up in the parking lot ready for a night of country music with Lewis Brice, Jackson Dean, and Lee Brice. As the doors of the theatre opened, crowds made their way to get refreshments and tour merchandise before heading to their seats. Travis Bettis at the Rosemont Theatre, 2025 Lewis Brice was the first artist to take the stage for the night. Brice is a seasoned singer/songwriter with a country, southern rock, and R&B sound. He released his self-titled EP in 2017, and his most recent release is with his album Product Of, which was released in 2023. “Summer Time Vibes,” “She Loves My Country,” and “Blessed” were a few of the songs he performed for the crowd during his set. He got the night off to a great start, building the excitement for more country music. Next up in the lineup was Jackson Dean, bringing his country rock style to the stage. Dean is a singer/songwriter from Maryland. He signed with Big Machine Records and released his first EP in 2021. Since then, he has released two other albums, Greenbroke and On the Back of My Dreams. He has charted with three singles, which have also become some of his most known songs. Dean kicked off his set with “Still Raging,” and followed with songs including “Fearless,” “Make a Liar Outta Me,” and “Heavens to Betsy.” Dean has created and hand burned multiple guitars and fans were in awe when they saw four of these guitars throughout the concert. He later covered “49 Tons,” which was originally performed by Fred Eaglesmith. Dean then closed out his set with his first hit song, “Don’t Come Lookin.” Lee Brice at the Rosemont Theatre, 2025 The lights dimmed as cheers erupted from the theatre, awaiting Lee Brice’s appearance. Brice is a singer/songwriter who has released five studio albums. His most recent release was his album Hey Worldback in 2020. He has co-written singles for artists such as Eli Young Band, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, and Adam Gregory. Brice started his career as a songwriter and later signed with Curb Records and released his debut single “She Ain’t Right.” He has been nominated for many awards over his career, with his most recent win being at the 2020 Country Music Association Awards for Musical Event of the Year. Lee Brice at the Rosemont Theatre, 2025 Brice kicked off his set performing one of his hit songs titled “Hard to Love” which sparked the audience to get up and dance. “Parking Lot Party,” “Memory I Don’t Mess With,” and “Love Like Crazy” are a few other hit songs Brice performed during his set. He also performed one of his older songs “Upper Middle Class White Trash,” which was on the baseball hat he wore throughout the show. Brice later brought out his brother Lewis to sing “Said No Country Boy Ever” with him. Brice then sang his hit duet song titled “I Hope Your Happy Now., which he recorded with Carly Pearce, “I Hope Your Happy Now.” The band then left the stage while Brice performed “When the Kingdom Comes” acoustic in honor of the late Charlie Kirk. Proposal during Lee Brice’s set at the Rosemont Theatre, 2025 A piano was brought out to center stage for Brice to perform “I Don’t Dance,” which brought an extra special meaning to the night. During Brice’s performance, a young couple made their way to the aisleway to dance along with Brice, when midway through the song the young man got down on one knee to propose. His girlfriend tearfully said yes and had the crowd celebrating along with them. After the song, Brice noticed the proposal and congratulated the couple and professed he was very happy to be able to be a part of their special moment. Lee Brice at the Rosemont Theatre, 2025 After the proposal, Brice continued his performance singing “Drinking Class” and “I Drive Your Truck,” which had the whole theatre lit up with cell phone flashlights. He closed out his set with his song “Rumor,” leaving the crowd in anticipation for the encore. As the band reemerged to the stage, Brice performed his hit “One of Them Girls,” with the energy of the crowd increasing even more. The joyful energy from the night carried with everyone as they left the theatre recounting the amazing events of the night. Lee Brice at the Rosemont Theatre, 2025 For additional information on these artists and events coming to the Rosemont Theatre, please visit: Lee Brice- https://www.leebrice.com Jackson Dean- https://www.jacksondeanmusic.com Lewis Brice- https://www.lewisbrice.com Rosemont Theatre- https://rosemont.com/theatre/ Additional Images: Lee Brice at the Rosemont Theatre, 2025 Paul Rippee at the Rosemont Theatre, 2025 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Big Time Rush Katelyn Tarver Stephen Kramer Glickman In Real Life Worldwide Tour Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Tinley Park, IL August 10th, 2025 at 7:00pm Big Time Rush at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Crowds began to gather at the gates, anxiously waiting for the doors to open for Big Time Rush’s show. The band brought nostalgic fans to the amphitheater to see the group perform many of their hits from the past, while seeing the supporting acts, Stephen Kramer Glickman and Katelyn Tarver. Stephen Kramer Glickman at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Guitarist Soren Crisell at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 The first artist of the night was Stephen Kramer Glickman. He is an actor, singer, and comedian best known for his role as Gustavo Rocque on the Nickelodeon sitcom Big Time Rush, which aired from 2009-2013. After joining community theatre, Glickman found his passion for the dramatic arts. He has played a role in many other films and television shows since the ending of Big Time Rush, as well as recently releasing his first album of cover songs on August 8th. Glickman performed a few covers off his album, including “Driver’s License” by Oliva Rodrigo and “Toxic” by Britney Spears, and later closed his set with “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan. Katelyn Tarver at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Katelyn Taver and Ryland Holland at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Next up in the lineup was Katelyn Tarver, who is an actress, singer, and songwriter. She has released four EP’s since 2011 and is best known for her role as Jo Taylor on Big Time Rush. Tarver is also known for her roles in No Ordinary Family, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and Ballers. Her latest album Quitter was released back in 2024. Tarver released her new single “#1” earlier this summer. Tarver sang some of her songs, including “Hurt Like That” and “Japanese Café,” while maneuvering the stage to cover all areas and engage with fans. She later closed out her set with “#1” and had the crowd on their feed dancing and singing along. Tarver also gave fans the opportunity to win the shirt she was performing in, as she has a new t-shirt with a custom phrase for each city she performs in. Big Time Rush at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 The lights dimmed and fans erupted, waiting for Big Time Rush’s appearance. Big Time Rush is a pop boy band that was formed in 2009. The group is composed of Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos PenaVega, and Logan Henderson. They originally started as a fictional version of themselves on a Nickelodeon series with the same name. The show ran from 2009-2013, and the group was originally signed with Nick Records. The group released three studio albums while creating the show for Nickelodeon and later went on a hiatus in 2014. In 2021, the group resumed and later released their 4th studio album Another Life in 2023. Their sound as a group is described as “pop-inspired dance-rock.” They have kept their fan base over the years with their unique sound, boyish charm, good looks, and their blend of harmonies. Big Time Rush at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Screams erupted as Big Time Rush emerged onto the stage via elevated ramps. They kicked off their set with the song that started it all, “Big Time Rush.” The group maneuvered all aspects of the stage and made sure the whole crowd could see them perform. “Windows Down,” “Picture This,” and “Like Nobody’s Around” are just a few of the songs they sang during the first part of the show. Carlos PenaVega at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Kendall Schmidt at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Big Time Rush then slowed it down and brought out Stephen Kramer Glickman to play the piano for them. Each member of the band then sang a song solo with Glickman on the piano. Schmidt was the first up and he sang “Cover Girl” followed by PenaVega who sang “You’re Not Alone.” Henderson was next to perform with Glickman with “All Over Again” and Maslow sang “We Are,” which was the last song that the band played for their television series. Big Time Rush at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 A brief intermission followed, and fans were treated to a video of the group on the Jumbotron screens while Big Time Rush members did a quick costume change. Big Time Rush reemerged singing “Famous” and “Oh Yeah.” In their second part of the show, the group also sang “Paralyzed” and “City is Ours.” While performing their next song “Halfway There,” the band walked through the crowd, making their way to the B Stage, which was located by the lawn section of the amphitheater. A short acoustic set was performed singing “Untouchable,” “No Idea,” and “Crazy for U.” Tarver then made an appearance to perform “Count on You,” which was originally recorded with Jordan Sparks. James Maslow at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Logan Henderson at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 After the band completed their acoustic set, they began searching the crowd for their “Worldwide Girl” of the night. Each band member will choose a girl from the audience to be on stage with them for their performance of “Worldwide.” The next part of the show included “Elevate,” “Nothing Even Matters,” and “If I Ruled the World,” along with many other of their hits. The show concluded with their song “Confetti Falling,” where canons of confetti were shot out into the audience. Katelyn Tarver at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, 2025 Big Time Rush reemerged to the stage for their encore, which included “Til I Forget About You” and “Boyfriend.” As the group left the stage for the last time, fans cheered extremely loud and carried the energy from the show with them as they made their way out of the amphitheater. Big Time Rush was definitely a big hit in Tinley Park. Carlos PenaVega at Credit

Emily Ann Roberts The Back Road Music Festival Galva, IL Saturday August 9th, 2025 at 4:30pm Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 With the hot sun shining down in Galva, fans entered the Back Road Festival grounds excited for a day of music. Even though a small burst of rain came out of nowhere, fans stayed near and held out, excited to see the first opener of the day, Emily Ann Roberts. Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 Roberts is a country music singer-songwriter from Knoxville, Tennessee. In 2015, she was a contestant on Season 9 of The Voice, where she took second place. After competing on The Voice, she finished school before focusing on her music career. She was later signed with Starstruck Entertainment and released her first single “Stuck on Me and You” in 2018 which charted in the top 40 on iTunes. In 2019, Roberts released her EP Someday Dream. Her debut album Can’t Hide Country was later released in 2023, and the deluxe album was released in 2024. Roberts was given the honor in 2024 to become the new voice of Trixie for reimagined Country Bear Musical Jamboree attraction at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. She has received the honor of performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage 20 times, where some of the greatest country music artists have performed. Her dedication to her music has translated to over 45 million streams, which has solidified her status as a rising star in country music. Detail Shot of Emily Ann Robert’s Guitar Picks at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 Roberts set had some minor changes due to the weather conditions, including a shortened set from 1 hour and 15 minutes to 45 minutes, as well as performing acoustic. The weather didn’t knock them down, as she emerged onto the stage and kicked off the show with her song “He Set Her Off.” She followed with “Chickens” and then covered Dolly Parton’s song “9 to 5.” “Working on Love” and “Can’t Hide Country” were a few other songs Roberts sang off of her debut album. Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 She has always been influenced by many female country artists, including Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Martina McBride. Roberts wanted to honor many of these inspiring female country artists by covering their songs. She covered songs from many generations, including some of the more current artists. Moving farther down the stage, Roberts kicked off her medley with “You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)” by Loretta Lynn, “Fancy” by Reba McEntire, “Goodbye Earl” by The Chicks, “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood, and “Gunpowder and Lead” by Miranda Lambert were just a few of the songs she performed in her medley. Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 Roberts then moved into performing one of her newest songs “Easy Does It”, which she wrote about her husband, Chris Sasser. She then shared with the crowd how her father has been one of her biggest supporters and introduced her to a variety of different country artists. She covered one of her father’s favorite songs, which is “Sixteen Tons” by Tennessee Ernie Ford. Before performing her next song, Roberts shared how this is one of her favorites and most meaningful song she has written. “The Building” was written about the church she grew up in and where Jesus saved her life. She closed out her set with her song “Whole Lotta Little” and had the crowd singing and dancing along with her. Detail shot of Emily Ann Robert’s Guitar at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 As Roberts set came to a close, fans were eager to head over to her merchandise table to meet her. She spent time greeting every fan that came up, signing autographs, and taking pictures with everyone. She stayed out until she met with every fan that was in line, grateful for all of the love and support her fans have always shown her. Torey Harding, Emily Ann Roberts, and Jordan Larsen at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 For more information on Emily Ann Roberts and The Back Road Music Festival, please visit: Emily Ann Roberts- https://www.emilyannroberts.com The Back Road Music Festival- https://www.thebackroadmusicfestival.com Galva Township-  https://www.galvail.gov Additional Images: Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 Emily Ann Roberts at The Back Road Music Festival, 2025 Photography and writing by Jaclyn Duske 

Scotty McCreery Village Green Elk Grove Village, IL Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025 at 7:30pm Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 With the sun shining on a warm July evening, fans began to enter the venue looking for the perfect place to sit for Scotty McCreery’s free outdoor concert in Elk Grove Village. As the sun began to set and audience anticipation rose, McCreery took the stage. Spence Peppard, Scotty McCreery, and Jeffery Harper in Elk Grove Village, 2025 McCreery got his start on American Idol, where he won the tenth season back in 2011. His debut album, later released in October of 2011, was certified gold in the United States. Since then, McCreery has released five more studio albums, with his most recent being Rise & Fall, released in 2024. McCreery made history with his debut album, becoming the first country act to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 with their first studio album, as well as being the youngest man to open at the top of the chart with his debut release. He later wrote a book titled Go Big or Go Home, which was released in 2016. “Five More Minutes” was the first song released without a record label to ever chart on the Country Aircheck Top 50. It later became McCreery’s first number one single on the country charts. Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 As the band began playing, McCreery emerged from the side of the stage and kicked off the show with his song “Can’t Pass the Bar.” McCreery’s music draws comparisons to 1990’s country music, drawing in fans from a wide range of ages, from young children to senior fans. “Cab in a Solo,” “And Countin’,” “In Between,” and “It Matters to Her” are just a few of the many songs McCreery performed in the beginning of his set. Spence Peppard and Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 McCreery is always known for sharing stories about his life on stage. He met his wife when they were just five years old, and he knew that they would one day be married. Later in 2022, McCreery and his wife had their first child, a baby boy, and are expecting their second child this fall. Having fancy lighting, smoke, and pyrotechnics is something that McCreery believes is not always necessary on stage. He prefers to be out with his band and focusing on storytelling through his songs. Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 Later in his set, McCreery sang a new unreleased song “Swim Up Bar,” which was very fitting for a perfect warm summer night. In the middle of his song set, he spent time covering a variety of older country songs from other artists, including “Forever and Ever Amen” by Randy Travis, “Chattahoochee” by Alan Jackson, and “Sold” by John Michael Montgomery. McCreery then followed with his first number one single “Five More Minutes” and “Damn Strait,” which he wrote about George Strait. Nathan Thomas in Elk Grove Village, 2025 As the night came to a close, McCreery sang his newest song “Bottle Rockets,” which was recorded with Hootie and the Blowfish. Fans were singing along and soaking up the memories of the night. With the sundown, the show came to a close; however, fans lingered and enjoyed the electrifying, warm summer night reminiscing about the memories McCreery gave them. Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 For additional information on concerts at Elk Grove Village and Scotty McCreery, please visit: Elk Grove Village- https://www.elkgrove.org Scotty McCreery- https://www.scottymccreery.com/index.php Concerts in Elk Grove Village-  https://www.elkgrove.org/community/mid-summer-classics-concert-series#ad-image-0 Additional Images: Spence Peppard in Elk Grove Village, 2025 Scotty McCreery and Band in Elk Grove Village, 2025 Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 Fan Sign for Scotty McCreery in Elk Grove Village, 2025 Photographs and writing by Jaclyn Duske

Country Thunder Wisconsin Twin Lakes, Wisconsin 2305 Richmond Road Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, 53181 July 17th-20th, 2025 Dierks Bentley and Ben Helson at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Country music has made its way back to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin in 2025, bringing fans in from all over the country. This has become an annual gathering for many fans, while bringing together some of the biggest names in the genre along with up-and-coming artists. This year was extra special, where they recognized the 1 millionth ticket buyer. The winner was brought on stage and presented with a $35,000 prize package, lifetime camping, and front row reserved seats for upcoming Country Thunder festivals. Cole Swindell with a fan at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Thursday July 17th The festival kicked off with Nolan Sotillo, who is an actor and singer. He is best known for his role in the Fox drama series Red Band Society. Sotillo delivered a strong set, getting the fans excited for the day of music ahead. Owen Riegling, a Canadian singer-songwriter was next to hit the stage. A new artist to the scene with his career beginning in 2019, Riegling brought his traditional country and rock country sound to the stage. He released his debut album Bruce County (From the Beginning), which he shared with the audience. Sara Evans at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 A larger crowd began to gather as Sara Evans took the stage. Evans has released 11 studio albums, with her most recent being Unbroke back in 2024. She received her peak success in the early 2000’s with her songs “I Keep Looking” and “Suds in the Bucket.” Her career later took a pause to handle some personal matters, but she came back to entertain her fans in 2011 with her album Stronger. She sang many of her hits, including “Back Seat of a Greyhound Bus” and “A Little Bit Stronger.” Evans’ fans have stayed loyal to her and sang along to her whole set which charged everyone up for the rest of the night. Gavin Adcock at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Gavin Adcock emerged onto the stage with an infectious energy kicking a case of beer. Adcock grew up in Georgia playing football, but after an injury, turned to his songwriting. He released his first single and his career took off. Since then, he has gained over 1 billion global streams from his music. Some of the songs he performed were “Never Call Again,” “Four Leaf Clover,” and “Past Actions.” While his career may still be taking off, Adcock had the crowd on their feet singing and dancing along, wanting the night to never end. Cole Swindell at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 As the sun set, Cole Swindell took the stage to close out the first day of Country Thunder. Swindell is a singer-songwriter, who has written singles for Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan, Craig Campbell, and Scotty McCreery. He has released thirteen singles, and eight have reached number one on the Hot Country Songs charts. He started his career touring with Luke Bryan selling fan merchandise and wrote songs while on the road. Swindell kicked off his set with his hit song “Flatliner” which was recorded with Dierks Bentley. He also sang many of his other hit songs such as “Single Saturday Night” and “Forever to Me”. Swindell later closed his set with “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” which has received Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) 3x Platinum in the United States. Friday July 18th Aaron Goodvin kicked off Day 2 as fans entered the grounds to secure their spots for the day. Goodvin is a singer and songwriter, mostly known for writing songs for Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, and Jon Pardi. Texas native singer-songwriter Braxton Keith was the next artist to take the stage. He impressed the crowd with his 80’s country aesthetic and sharp vocals. With new music on the way, fans were excited to see what is in store from him. Drew Baldridge at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Drew Baldridge started out his set singing acoustic with just himself and one other band member, while waiting for the rest to arrive. He informed the crowd that his bus broke down 500 miles from Country Thunder and he arrived 15 minutes before his set. He covered many hit songs, such as “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker, “Brand New Man” by Brooks and Dunn, and “Check Yes or No” by George Straight. Once the remainder of his band arrived, he performed many of his songs, including “Tough People” and “She’s Somebody’s Daughter.” Baldridge was released from his first label following their closing, where he later started his own label, Lyric Ridge, allowing him to release his own music. Larry Fleet at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Singer-songwriter Larry Fleet was next up in the lineup. He has released three studio albums, with his most recent being Earned It back in 2024. Fleet sang many of his hit songs including “Where I Find God” and “Things I Take for Granted,” as well as the hit song he wrote for Morgan Wallen and Eric Church “Man Made a Bar.” Ashley McBryde at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 Ashley McBryde, who is a familiar face at Country Thunder, took the stage opening with her new song “Rattlesnake Preacher.” McBryde is a singer-songwriter from Arkansas. She has grown her fan base over the years through her unique sound, which is a mix of country, bluegrass, and rock. She has released four studio albums, with her most recent being The Devil I Know back in 2023. “Martha Divine,” “Brenda Put Your Bra On,” and “One Night Standards” were a few songs she performed off her 22 song setlist. During her performance of “Light On in the Kitchen,” McBryde signed the last verse with American Sign Language (ASL), which touched everyone with her focus of inclusion in her shows. Ashley McBryde at Country Thunder Wisconsin, 2025 The lights dimmed as the beat dropped, signaling it was time for Hardy to close

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.” The crowd roared to life

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