Country Music Festivals Hit High Season

Big country music names like Brooks & Dunn, Dwight Yoakam and Martina McBride--as well as a healthy helping of artists who hope to gain exposure to a diverse audience and attract new fans--will take the stage at various major country music festivals in North America this summer.

"Due to the nature of a festival, where there are a lot of diverse people and a lot of acts, the fans might not be aware of our client," said manager Brenna Davenport-Leigh of Nashville-based Titley-Spalding and Associates, a company with a client list that includes Brooks & Dunn and Kathy Mattea. "They're not just coming to see one of our clients, and it's a great way to expose baby acts to new fans."

Besides offering music, many of the events feature on-site camping facilities and activities. Among the many festivals that allow camping are Country Thunder USA, the Route 66 Country Music Festival, and the Merritt Mountain Music Festival.

Country Thunder USA stages events in Queen Creek, Ariz. and Twin Lakes, Wis., which are entering their seventh and eighth years, respectively. The festivals offer music talent and camping grounds, as well as a child-friendly area called "Country Kidsville." The Country Thunder events feature 150-plus arts and crafts boots, and a food court that features 17 restaurants.

At the third annual Route 66 Country Music Festival in Springfield, Mo., camping facilities are located a short walk from the main festival bowl. The facilities feature concessions and showers along with military obstacle courses and other amusements.

In Canada, the musical offerings at the 8th annual Merritt Mountain Music Festival are supplemented with helicopter sightseeing, logger sports exhibitions, the "Wild and Wacky Pentathlon," a variety of food and craft concessions, songwriter workshops and showcases, fireworks, children's activities, contests and more.

Cheyenne Frontier Days features top county music names, a rodeo, a Western art show and sale, air shows by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, Native American art and culture, and free pancake breakfasts.