Urban Stars In Country Thunder Festival Series

Keith Urban to headline a series of Country Thunder Music Festival dates (Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

The Country Thunder Music Festival is about to launch its Canadian season July 13-July 16^th in Craven, Saskatchewan with Headliner Keith Urban about to make his long-anticipated festival debut in a series of Country Thunder dates which were previously scheduled prior to the pandemic breakout.

The popular Aussie Country star was scheduled to perform in 2021 but the COVID pandemic put those plans on hold, and he was unable to fit the dates into his 2022 itinerary.

“That was a big disappointment as fans in Craven and Calgary were looking forward to seeing him,” noted festival digital manager Megan Benoit. “But now we have him for a series of events, and we are all excited about him performing.” Urban is also on the schedule for Calgary August 18-20 and is also set for appearances in Twin Lakes Wisconsin July 20-23 and Kissimmee Florida October 20-22.

Ever since launching the franchise in 1993 in Florence Arizona, former Saskatoon Blades junior hockey star Troy Vollhoffer has slowly cultivated a major award-winning Country Music concert franchise which expanded to include Twin Lakes Wisconsin in 1996, Craven Saskatchewan in 2003, Calgary in 2016 and Kissimmee Florida in 2019 before adding Bristol, Tennessee to his franchise chain in 2022. The company CEO and Executive Producer had previously established his Premier Global Productions concert sound and lights company before entering the festival concert business.

Calgary-based Benoit also confirmed that they are also working with Big Valley Camrose (August 3-6) although this venue is not yet an official member of the franchise. “We’re a small team so we take our time developing new franchises,” she noted.

Like previous festivals, Country Thunder has developed a reputation of featuring top names each year along with spotlighting emerging domestic talent and also being on the ball to scoop up the latest breakthrough names in Country Music.

Canadian country duo The Reklaws to perform at the Country Thunder Music Festival

“Our talent bookers take pride in being able to spot and present the biggest new names in Country Music, “the former Country 105 radio personality noted. “We are particularly excited about spotlighting Hailey Witters and Halle Kearns and Bailey Zimmerman has really exploded overnight.”

With an all-star cast which, aside from Urban, will also feature the likes of John Pardi, Kip Moore, Carly Pearce and Morgan Wallen, the festival lineup also continues to promote top Canadian talent like High Valley, The Reklaws, Washboard Union, Tim McGraw, Dallas Smith, and Jess Moskaluke.