Anderson, South Carolina, buzzed with excitement this past weekend as the Rock the Country music festival concluded its national tour with a spectacular finale. Held at the Civic Center, the event lived up to its promise of drawing a massive crowd, with preliminary estimates by Clemson University’s Regional Economic Analysis Laboratory suggesting the festival could create at least 156 jobs and attract around 50,000 attendees.
The festival featured a stellar lineup, including major acts like Kid Rock, Miranda Lambert, and Jason Aldean, drawing fans from across South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. The festival kicked off on Friday with an atmosphere charged with anticipation. Attendees flocked to merchandise stands, food vendors, and photo ops, including a giant pair of red, white, and blue cowboy boots that became a focal point of the venue.
Rising stars Elvie Shane and Gavin Adcock opened the festival, energizing the crowd with vibrant performances. Shane’s set was highlighted by a band member’s climb up a stage pole with an American flag, sparking chants of “USA!” Adcock captivated the audience with an unreleased track from his upcoming album, undeterred by the rain.
Following them, Travis Tritt and Brantley Gilbert took the stage, delivering dynamic performances that included pyrotechnics, with Gilbert’s set particularly noteworthy for its explosive visuals. Kid Rock’s performance continued the high energy, despite another round of rain, with fireworks and enthusiastic fan reactions punctuating his set.
Saturday’s lineup included Trippp, Sadie Bass, Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson, Lambert, and Aldean, all of whom had the crowd singing along to their greatest hits. Lambert’s performance of a new song from her upcoming album and Aldean’s show-stealing set were highlights of the night, with Aldean’s performance generating considerable buzz.
The Rock the Country festival plans to return to Anderson next year, promising another round of high-energy performances for fans who missed this year’s festivities.
