Miami has a history with country music, with acts like Jimmy Buffet, The Mavericks, Fred Neil, and more hailing from or spending time in the glistening seaside city.
There are a massive amount of Country Music fans, but there has yet to be a large-scale festival for them to hear the top acts of today. Now there is, as Country Bay Music Festival makes its boot-scooting debut Nov 11 & 12 at Miami Marine Stadium in Key Biscayne.
One of the key factors behind country music’s diversification has been the changing demographics of its audience. Once dominated by rural fans, listeners now come from all walks of life, including Hispanics and African Americans. A new generation of artists incorporate hip-hop, R&B, and other genres into their music that appeal to a wide fan base.
Loud And Live, the Miami-based leading global entertainment, marketing, and live events company, in conjunction with its South Florida-focused live events division, EngageLive! We are presenting the Country Bay Music Festival with artists Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt, Chris Young, and Lee Brice – who collectively have amassed 56 No.1 country singles, as well as numerous GRAMMY® nominations and country music awards.
Also headlining is CMA Award winner for “Best New Artist” and “Female Vocalist of The Year,” Lainey Wilson, a spitfire, singer/songwriter from Louisiana who scored her own No. 1 in 2020 with Things A Man Oughta Know. A recent double winner at the CMT Music Awards, Wilson drew 53,000 fans on August 23 at the New York State Fair, a record attendance figure for the event.
Nate Smith, who hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Airplay chart last year with Whiskey On You, has a current single, World On Fire, racing up the chart. Travis Denning also crested the Hot Country Airplay chart 2019 with After A Few.
Filling out the roster are country-trap pioneer BRELAND, who already has charted six singles, including My Truck and Beers On Me, along with Mackenzie Carpenter, a 2021 inductee of CMT’s “Next Women Of Country” program, and Jordan Oaks, a former police officer from Connecticut whose debut hit single is titled Bleeding Blue.
Also performing will be Dee Jay Silver, a DJ/producer/recording artist who often opens for superstar Jason Aldean as a DJ best known for mixes of country with a wide variety of other genres.
Rounding out the roster of frontline country artists are fan favorites Randy Houser, Chris Lane, LOCASH, and veteran country-rocker Elle King. Joined by a mix of blazing new talent, including Restless Road, Blanco Brown, Josh Ross, Hailey Whitters, and David J. Also appearing at the festival are upstart artists with Miami roots, country-Latin duo Kat & Alex, and Neon Union.
Promoter Nelson Albareda, who has also helped produce the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Bayfront New Year’s Eve, House of Horror Haunted Carnival, and the SoFlo Boat Show, explains why he decided to produce the festival.
“The idea of mixing Miami and Country Music might seem foreign to some, but country music is quite popular in Miami,” Albareda says. “In fact, the Country Music Association (CMA) conducted a study and found that the fastest-growing segment of fans is Hispanic fans. We knew there was a desire for country music here. We wanted to plant the flag in a big way, and that’s why we went extra-large with our A-list lineup.”
What other unique attractions will he bring to the festival to make this stand out?
“In addition to Sam Hunt, Thomas Rhett, Lainey Wilson, and other A-listers, we have plenty of great festival features that make Country Bay stand out. We have the Country Carnival, including our Eye in the Sky Ferris wheel, Full-Tilt, and carnival-themed games and food. We have our Beach Club VIP experience with an open bar all day. Guests can also opt for our Platinum VIP experience with open bars, meals, snacks… and even a platinum-exclusive pool.”
“Finally, the most unique feature is our venue. Miami Marine Stadium is an iconic waterfront venue that has played host to Queen and Jimmy Buffet, among many others. With our boat viewing area, “The Anchorage.” Whether our guests are on land or the water, there is nowhere else you can enjoy an experience like this.”
The Country Bay Music Festival will not only showcase one of the most significant country music events ever to hit Miami, but it will also offer a variety of activities, including “The Saloon Experience,” a 360-degree country-themed bar with a Texas-sized assortment of craft beer, whiskey, bourbon, and tequila.
Fans will also enjoy other festival experiences, including sponsor activations, games, culinary indulgences, photo booth opportunities, line dancing, a mechanical bull, and a ride on a giant Ferris wheel.
Other attractions include:
Boots and Beer Garden
Dive into the ultimate tailgating’ fun at the Boots and Beer Garden. Catch all the thrilling football action throughout the festival, enjoy an ice-cold beer, and partake in a range of games like cornhole.
Lenny’s Line Dancing
Put on your boots and groove through the night at Lenny’s Line Dancing. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned pro, a skilled staff will be there to guide you through the art of line dancing. Complete with a stage, DJ, and host.
The Saloon
A row of bars will fortify guests with the spirit to conquer the mechanical bull ride. This space harkens back to the nostalgic era of classic Western cowboys, evoking those golden days gone by.
But this IS Miami, so there is the option to attend the concert from the waters of Biscayne Bay with BYOB; bring your own Boat.
Tickets for the Country Bay Music Festival start at $249 for a two-day pass. For more information about the Country Bay Music Festival, including the full lineup of performers and ticket information, please visit countrybaymusicfestival.com
—
