The GoldenSky Country Music Festival continues to bring an energy all its own as it returned for a third year at Discovery Park in Sacramento, California (October 18-20, 2024). Proving that good things come in threes, the 3-day festival attracted thousands of attendees once again, with this year’s festivities lighting up the golden state. 75,000+ festival goers filled the grounds over the course of three days, dancing and joyously celebrating some of the biggest and upcoming names in country music. Presented by Danny Wimmer Presents, and in partnership with Visit Sacramento, the festival has become an annual goldmine in California.
Featuring several of the same premier experiences as in previous years, the festival offered attendees the chance to enjoy the exclusive and increasingly popular activities such as, but not limited to; the GoldenSky Beer Festival, fresh variety of craft beer, Golden State Cider, popular CELSIUS hard seltzer, local farm-to-fork food offerings, the entertaining River City Dance Hall & Saloon, a festive braiding hair bar, custom made cowboy hats, local artisans, and much more. Festival goers were able to immerse themselves while enjoying luxury level seating and/or spaciously shaded comfort, both accompanied by prime artist viewing from both general admission and VIP areas. More than 35 astounding performances took place on two neighboring stages, the Visit Sacramento stage and the Jack Daniel’s stage. With warm days and crisp fall evenings in the forecast all weekend, each performance added a gilded glow to the sky throughout the golden weekend.
As each artist entered their spotlight on opening day, they were warmly greeted with roaring applause and cheering from the crowd. Highlights from Friday included performances by Elle King, Turnpike Troubadours, and Keith Urban. Elle King’s cool energy blanked the audience like a chilled mist from the day’s heat, while she sang hits “Ex’s & Oh’s” from her 2015 album Love Stuff and “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” from her 2023 album Come Get Your Wife. Projecting her raspy vibrato, she sang each rhythmic lyric as the audience joined in. Sunset toned, she radiated fresh energy while she guided the crowd through the onset of the evening, like a songbird sherpa. Kickin’ off the boot scootin’ boogie, Turnpike Troubadours had fans dancing in the crowd and having one hell of a time. Performing “Good Lord Lorrie” from their 2012 album Goodbye Normal Street and “Pay No Rent” from their 2017 album A Long Way from Your Heart, this band truly brought the cowboy charm and were as bright as their neon hued staging. From banjos, strings, and steel guitars, there wasn’t a boot left untapped in the audience.
Above the audience glimmered shades of purple, orange, green, and pink coloring as the string lights flickered on. There was no doubt that Keith Urban was about to show us all what country is all about. Eager fans awaited the entry of the multi-award winning headliner as the mood shifted to an all time excitement. Bursting with joy on stage, Keith Urban was all smiles as he performed “Long Hot Summer” from his 2009 album Get Closer and “Messed Up As Me” from his 2024 album HIGH. Blue definitely was the crowds color, not a color just for the sky and buzzin’ neon signs that evening. Taking to a smaller stage setup within the VIP audience, he happily walked through the audience greeting fans and walked that Golden Road to his well lit placement. This joyous energy continued through the night as Keith performed a remarkable set, with festival goers leaving that evening on a country HIGH after One Too Many.
Gabby Barrett, Riley Green, and Thomas Rhett truly were the highlights of Saturday’s festivities. Performing for a headliner level audience, Gabby Barrett was welcomed on stage by a cheering crowd. The beloved singer wowed behind a neon mic stand as she effortlessly performed “Never Get It Back” from her 2021 album Goldmine and “You’re My Texas” from her 2024 album Chapter & Verse. Becoming a crowd favorite, Gabby won the hearts of the audience as she and her lead guitarist husband shared loving moments on stage. All while singing under the weather, Gabby’s performance was spectacular and left the audience beaming.
Thrilled excitement vibrated through the festival grounds as Thomas Rhett and Riley Green performed their hit “Half Of Me” together on the Jack Daniel’s stage, sending festival goers into an overjoyed frenzy. Both headliners attracted immense crowds of adoring fans for their individual sets, and together, these gentlemen delivered an evening the audience would not soon forget. From Riley Green performing “Different ‘Round Here” from his 2023 album Ain’t My Last Disco and inviting an ecstatic fan on stage to accompany his cover of Ella Langley’s “you look like you love me” (feat. Riley Green) from her 2024 album hungover to Thomas Rhett driving the audience wild as the attention grabbing headliner performed hits “After All the Bars are Closed” from his 2024 album About A Woman and “What’s Your Favorite Country Song” from his 2021 album Country Again, the festival grounds were spinning with a damn good time. Covering popular hits, including “It’s Gonna be Me” from NSYNC’s 2000 album No Strings Attached, the CMA award winner exuded amazing stage presence as the audience loved every minute of his captivating set.
The good times continued into Sunday as Shaboozey, Colbie Caillat, and Luke Bryan left festival goers seeing stars. Moving through the rays of sunlight, Shaboozey brought the heat as fans poured in from all angles of the festival grounds. Performing popular hits, including “A Bar Song” (Tipsy) from his 2024 album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going, the audience swayed in unison from barricade to the farthest view point, drinks and hands in the air. Adorned in floral, Colbie Caillat gracefully made her way on stage and delightfully performed fan favorites “Realize” and “Bubbly” from her 2007 album Coco. Her mellow and welcoming disposition added to the relaxing energy that surrounded her set. Adding to her natural stage presence, she was “Brighter Than The Sun” while she sang each note beautifully. As the sun set over the festival grounds, the multicolored twinkling lights overhead flickered on for one last time.
Stage lighting and lasers danced from red, white, and blue as red pyrotechnics sparkled behind Luke Bryan’s guitarists and drummer. The climactic riffs of the intro for “That’s My Kind of Night” from his 2003 album Crash My Party pounded beneath the boots of all in attendance. Patriotic hues fading over white stetson hats as phones lit up to capture the multi-award winning headliner taking center stage. After having some fun with audience at barricade, the humorous country singer segued into “One Margarita” from his 2020 album Born Here Live Here Die Here. The entire festival grounds sang along as the lyrics went from “one margarita, two margarita, three margarita, shot,” to Luke singing in unison with the audience “Rain Is A Good Thing” from his 2009 album Doin’ My Thing. The set’s entirety was filled with an array of Luke’s popular hits and had cowboys and cowgirls alike kickin’ up their boots, raising their whiskies, and no doubt “feelin’ a little bit frisky.” From fans up on shoulders to the energetic sway of the crowd, this Georgia native put on one hell of a show, leaving festival goers saying “That’s My Kind of Night.”
The GoldenSky Country Music Fest knows how to bring the party each and every year. This once golden nugget experience has become an absolute treasure in California, and one that country lovers from near and far will continue to enjoy for years to come.
Review by Andrea Garman @themusiclens
Have yet to experience all this country music festival has to offer, what are ya’ll doin’? Giddy on up with GoldenSky: Website // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter
