COUNTRY THUNDER WELCOMES ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD WINNERS AND COUNTRY FANS TO ARIZONA'S BIGGEST COUNTRY MUSIC & LIFESTYLE FESTIVAL

FLORENCE, Ariz. (April 9, 2014) – Country Thunder, Arizona’s premiere music and lifestyle festival, is set to kick off this week with Academy of Country Music award winners…The Band Perry, Miranda Lambert, and Jason Aldean!!! If you were excited to see these award winners perform on the ACM awards, wait until you see them perform a full show at Country Thunder, which kicks off this Thursday night with ACM nominees Thompson Square. In addition, entertainers performing include Craig Morgan, Colt Ford, Joe Diffie, Will Hoge, Mark Chesnutt, Charlie Worsham, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sawyer Brown, Thompson Square, Cassadee Pope, Tyler Farr, Easton Corbin and LoCash Cowboys.

Additionally, ticket holders will be given the once-in-a-lifetime experience to learn more about America’s favorite whiskey in the Jack Daniel’s Experience. The Jack Daniel's Experience, a mobile museum, is bringing a taste of the much-loved distillery from Lynchburg, Tenn., to Florence, Ariz. You'll learn who Mr. Jack Daniel was and how he ended up with the best-selling whiskey in the world. You'll see (and smell) whiskey dripping slowly through charcoal and the new oak barrels used in maturing Tennessee’s finest whiskey. The Experience is open to all folks, 21 years old and up, for tours free of charge throughout the festival. Games and giveaways will also be part of the entertainment at various times throughout the festival.

For festival goers looking to kick off their cowboy boots and put on their dancin’ shoes, the Electric Thunder tent, featuring Drew Cooper and DJ Du spinning country, red dirt and rock with an EDM/club twist, will kick off nightly immediately following the main stage headliner. Also, Denim & Diamonds will be hosting an on-site bar. It’s the most fun you can have with your boots on! On Sunday, April 13, Denim & Diamonds offers Cowboy Church from 12:00pm – 1:00pm.

Recycling stations and solar-powered trash compactors will be placed throughout the festival grounds in high traffic areas. Right Away Disposal will also be handing out biodegradable recycling bags to campers upon entry. As an added bonus, each time a camper checks in a bag of recyclables, their name will be entered in a drawing to win a free campsite for 2015, courtesy of Right Away Disposal.

Discount Cab has partnered with Country Thunder, KMLE and select Phoenix and Mesa locations to offer transportation to and from the festival. Patrons who aren’t camping, but want to drink AND be responsible, visit www.countrythunder.com to book your Discount Cab ride! These packages include door-to-door service, so leave your keys at home, but don't forget your ID.

Four-day passes are available for $220 and only available at the gate. Additionally, single-day tickets are on sale with Friday, Saturday and Sunday tickets available for $90 and Thursday tickets available for $75. (A four-day admission wristband is required to enter the campgrounds) For more info on tickets or for any of your Country Thunder needs, please visit www.countrythunder.com.

Stay up-to-date on all things Country Thunder by liking us on Facebook at facebook.com/countrythunder, following us on Twitter at twitter.com/countrythunder, following us on Instagram at instagram.com/countrythunder or by texting ARIZONA to 74455 for text updates.

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE:
Main Stage

Thursday, April 10:
2:30-3:30pm Chad Brownlee
4:00-5:00pm Ryan Bexley
5:30-6:30pm Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
7:00-8:30pm Will Hoge
9:00-10:30pm Thompson Square

Friday, April 11:
2:30-3:30pm Mary Hoffman
4:00-5:00pm Cassadee Pope
5:30-6:30pm Sawyer Brown
7:00-8:30pm Easton Corbin
9:00-10:30pm The Band Perry

Saturday, April 12:
2:30-3:30pm LoCash Cowboys
4:00-5:00pm Charlie Worsham
5:30-6:30pm Mark Chesnutt
7:00-8:30pm Craig Morgan
9:00-10:30pm Miranda Lambert

Sunday, April 13:
2:30-3:30pm Matt Farris
4:00-5:00pm Joe Diffie
5:30-6:30pm Tyler Farr
7:00-8:00pm Colt Ford
8:30-10:00pm Jason Aldean

Jack Daniel’s Courtyard: "Presented by Jack Daniel’s Whiskey"
Thursday, April 10:
3:30-4:30pm              Lauren Riley
5:00-6:00pm              Heartlyn Rae
6:30-7:30pm              Murrieta
10:30-11:45pm         Zona Road
12:15-1:30am           Shari Rowe

Friday, April 11:
1:30-2:30pm              American Longspurs
3:00-4:00pm              Davis Highway
4:30-5:30pm              Saddles
6:00-7:00pm              Michael Harter
7:30-8:30pm              Tramps & Thieves
10:30-11:45pm Laura Walsh
12:15-1:30am            Ace N Eights

Saturday, April 12:
1:30-2:30pm              Westwind
3:00-4:00pm              Tequila Highway
4:30-5:30pm              Laura Walsh
6:00-7:00pm              Michael Harter
7:30-8:30pm              Brandon Wild
10:30-11:45pm         Benson Band & Heartlyn Rae
12:15-1:30am           74th Street Band

Sunday, April 13:
1:30-2:30pm              American Longspurs
3:00-4:00pm              Murrieta
4:30-5:30pm              Lauren Riley
6:00-7:00pm              Brandon Wild
7:30-8:30pm              74th Street Band
10:30-11:30pm         Zona Road
12:00-1:30am           Sheri Rowe