TORTUGA MUSIC FESTIVAL CELEBRATES COUNTRY MUSIC AND MORE
IN SUNNY FORT LAUDERDALE

11TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL HOSTS PERFORMANCES FROM LAINEY WILSON, HARDY, JASON ALDEAN, BRET MICHAELS, MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD, TEDDY SWIMS AND ASHLEY MCBRYDE, AMONGST OTHERS

To Date, Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival Has Raised
Nearly 5 Million For Ocean Conservation Efforts

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, in partnership with Live Nation, hosted fans for a weekend of unmatched entertainment featuring headliners Lainey Wilson, HARDY and Jason Aldean. Praised for having an “eclectic” lineup that is “deep in talent” (Sun Sentinel), the 11th annual festival brought over 40 artists ranging from country’s hottest new stars like Bailey Zimmerman and CMA Award winning Group of the Year Old Dominion to icons like Bret Michaels, Boyz II Men and TLC.

On Friday, the Sunset Stage kicked off Tortuga right with performances from Shwayze, Boys II Men, Teddy Swims and Ashley McBryde. On the Main Stage, Warren Zeiders invited Teddy Swims to perform a special rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey.” Shortly after, Turnpike Troubadours’ driving country-rock welcomed in the first scenic sunset of the festival. A crowd favorite, Lainey Wilson closed opening night with her signature “Bell Bottom Country” sound, belting her GRAMMY-winning hits as fans danced along under the warm night sky.

The uplifting energy continued on Saturday with nearly 20 performances set against a sunny backdrop and a sea of fans. Appropriately, Michael Franti & Spearhead filled the main stage with their vibrant ‘sounds of sunshine,’ setting the tone for Old Dominion, whose performance elicited enthusiastic sing-alongs from the crowd. Meanwhile, multi-platinum entertainer Russell Dickerson brought his “unstoppable energy” (E! News) to the Sunset Stage and was followed by rock icon Bret Michaels. Singing Poison classics like “Your Mama Don’t Dance” and “Nothing But a Good Time,” Michaels surprised fans by inviting Cooper Alan up for a “Sweet Home Alabama” duet. HARDY closed the night and pushed genre boundaries with his one-of-a-kind blend of nu-metal and country on the Main Stage.

Rounding out the sunny, star-studded weekend, fans at the Sunset Stage were able to experience the carefree songs of the Wheeland Brothers, much-anticipated 90s legends TLC and country-folk singer Charles Wesley Godwin. The Main Stage opened with DIAMOND-selling superstar Brian Kelley, followed by Bailey Zimmerman delivering an energetic set proving why he’s “Country’s Biggest New Star” (Grammy.com). ACM Artist of the Decade Jason Aldean followed, closing out the 2024 festival with hits like “My Kinda Party” and “Lights Come On” featuring Bailey Zimmerman.

The weekend also showcased the next generation of country music featured on the festival’s first year of the Next From Nashville stage, giving attendees a chance to discover the genre’s hottest acts including Sadie Bass, Annie Bosko, The Castellows, Kolby Cooper, Logan Crosby, Hannah Ellis, Dylan Gossett, HunterGirl, Greylan James, Meg McRee, Peytan Porter, Josh Ross, Austin Snell, Anne Wilson and Stephen Wilson Jr.

Since its inception in 2013, Tortuga has raised nearly $5 million supporting 100+ nonprofits dedicated to saving our oceans and marine life as well as groundbreaking research in the United States, Bahamas, South Africa and Asia. Last year, the festival received the prestigious 2023 Bronze Stevie Award for Sustainability Leadership in the US and Canada at the 20th Annual International Business Awards. Sustainability at the 2024 Tortuga Music Festival focused on three major goals involving all departments – “Reduce, Rethink and Restore” – to reduce CO2 emissions and waste going to landfills, to explore green products and technologies, and to implement policies to protect Marine ecosystems and support ocean conservation efforts. Rock The Ocean’s on-site Conservation Village gives festival guests the opportunity to learn more about where a portion of the proceeds from their passes go and how they can help make a difference. For more information, visit TortugaMusicFestival.com/conservation/.

About Rock the Ocean: 
The Rock The Ocean Foundation is dedicated to supporting scientific research, education and increasing public awareness about the issues impacting the world’s oceans. Rock The Ocean teams up with high profile musical artists and entertainers, who will perform and participate in events that educate the public on marine conservation. Rock The Ocean founder Chris Stacey is an avid ocean lover, diver and 20-year music industry veteran. Tortuga Music Festival will bring to life his vision, uniting the best and brightest in music, working to raise awareness about the issues currently impacting our oceans and their delicate ecosystems. For more information visit www.rocktheocean.com, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockTheOcean, Tweet @RockTheOcean or Instagram @rocktheocean.

About Tortuga Music Festival:
Tortuga Music Festival is part of Live Nation’s premiere family of country music festivals spread across the country, including Watershed in George, WA and Faster Horses in Brooklyn, MI. For more information, visit www.tortugamusicfestival.com, Tweet: @FestivalTortuga #TortugaFest, Instagram: @TortugaMusicFestival #TortugaFest, Snapchat: @TortugaFest, Facebook: Facebook.com/TortugaMusicFestival.

About Live Nation Entertainment:
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit livenationentertainment.com.

Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival 2024 Celebrated Country Music and Conservation in Fort Lauderdale first appeared on Game On Media.

For coverage of the Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival 2023, see:

https://gameon.media/2023/04/19/rock-the-oceans-tortuga-music-festival-2023-day-1-review/

https://gameon.media/2023/04/20/shania-and-carly-lead-day-2-of-rock-the-oceans-tortuga-music-festival-2023/

https://gameon.media/2023/04/22/kenny-chesney-caps-off-day-3-of-tortuga-music-festival-2023/

Tortuga Music Festival 2024 Features Lainey Wilson, HARDY, Jason Aldean first appeared on Game On Media.

Images by Ashley Murphy. Words by Sandy Beitler.

September 14^th & 15^th kicked off 3 weekends of festivals in Louisville, Kentucky. The first ever Hometown Rising is in the books. This was the first time for this Country festival from DWP (Danny Wimmer Presents) and also a first at the new venue location at the Highlands Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Expo Center. I can say I was a little out of my wheelhouse with this one, as I am more of a rock and roll girl, but who doesn’t like to listen to live music with about 70,000 other music fans? The heat was blistering, but artists were all excited and full of energy regardless. The two-day festival had over 30 Country music acts, including such names as Trace Adkins, Dwight Yoakam, Little Big Town, & Tim McGraw for your Saturday night closers and Bret Michaels, Jake Owen, Brett Young, Keith Urban, and Luke Bryan to fill out your Sunday night.

One of the most heartwarming events of Sunday night was when Bret Michaels brought several people who serve our country, including nurses, EMT, firefighters, police, and military, up on stage as a tribute to his father and to say thank you for all they do. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the crowd as he spoke.

Let’s also give it up for the artists that performed during the hottest part of the day for us. They sweated their asses off and rocked us out. On the two main stages there was Imaj, Noah Guthrie, Clare Dunn, The Steel Woods, Lindsay Ell, Jimmie Allen, The Cadillac Three & Frankie Ballard for your Saturday. Sunday afternoon you had Gabby Barrett, The Wild Feathers, Mason Ramsey and LoCash. The Boots & Bourbon stage had appearances from Alice Wallace, Raelyn Nelson Band, The Sisterhood Band, JD Shelburne, Kendall Shaffer, Hannah Ellis, Larry Fleet, Jeffrey East, Dillon Carmichael and Everette. With so many bands to choose from there was something out there for everyone’s tastes.

The venue was long and narrow with two stages at the front (The Barrel and Oak Stages) and one stage all the way in the back (Boots & Bourbon Stage). It was a bit of a hike to get from the front stages to the back one, especially through the sea of people. We certainly got our steps in for the day. The VIP areas were nice, as they provided shade, seating and TV’s so you could see what was happening on stage while you cooled off. Attendance was amazing considering the heat, fans were up dancing and singing regardless. I loved when a song came on that everyone knew and loved and how they all rushed the stage and sang along. Peace and Harmony amongst the masses. It was beautiful to be part of.

As always, it wouldn’t be a festival (at least not in Kentucky) without your Bourbon distillers, local food fair, and they even had line dance lessons for anyone interested.

DWP does a great job with these festivals, and I appreciate that they think Louisville is a city worth having three in! We are up and coming as your music destination. Be sure to stick around for Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life, which are also DWP events.

Bourbon & Beyond – September 20^th – 22^nd

Louder Than Life – September 27^th – 29th

Hometown Rising 2019

52 photos

First Hometown Rising Brings Big Country to Louisville first appeared on Game On Media.