5 New Artists You’ve Got to See While You’re at Country Jam 2017
Country Jam 2017 starts on Thursday (June 15), and in addition to a world-class roster of all-star talent, the annual festival offers a wide range of fresh young talent for all different tastes.
Country Jam takes place June 15-18 at the Jam Ranch outside of Grand Junction, Colo. The event is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S., drawing more than 90,000 fans in 2016. Now in its 26th year, the festival is presenting one of its biggest lineups ever in 2017.
2017 ACM Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean and Male Vocalist of the Year Thomas Rhett are set to headline two of the nights at the four-day country music and camping festival, joined by fellow headliner Kenny Chesney and co-headliners Justin Moore and Randy Houser.
This year's Country Jam lineup is a very diverse mix of contemporary country stars and classic acts that include Chris Young, Old Dominion, Frankie Ballard and Sammy Kershaw, as well as Gretchen Wilson, Parmalee, Smithfield, Mo Pitney, Cody Johnson, Sasha McVeigh and Devon Worley Band, among others.
There are five new artists that are sure to be among the standouts at Country Jam 2017. Scroll through below to make sure you know when and where these hot young acts will take the stage.
- 5
Caroline Gray
Caroline Gray began performing at age 4 and writing her own songs by the time she was 13. Her passion for music led her to Nashville, where the singer-songwriter attended Belmont University. Gigs at prominent Nashville venues led to her releasing a self-titled EP in 2016, and Gray has also opened for a number of national acts. More recently she's branched out into full-band shows, and she'll bring her music to Country Jam 2017 on Saturday, June 17 on the Jack's Place stage at 9:15PM.
- 4
Sammy Arriaga
24-year-old Sammy Arriaga brings a very different flair to country music, drawing on his Latin roots for a fresh approach that is as infectious as it is original. He released his debut EP, Banjos N’ Bongos (Acoustic Mixtape), in 2016, and he's hit the stage to open for major-name acts including Trace Adkins, LoCash, Love and Theft, Chase Rice, Cassadee Pope and more. He'll bring his unique blend of Latin and pop-country music to Country Jam 2017 on Friday, June 16, when he plays the Ram Trucks Stage at 3PM.
- 3
Morgan Myles
Since moving to Nashville from her native Pennsylvania nearly a decade ago, Morgan Myles has honed her own sound by studying at Belmont University, as well as collaborating with some of the top songwriters in town. She released her debut EP, Miss Morgan Myles, in 2016, and has received widespread recognition from major media outlets including Taste of Country, who named her one of our Artists to Watch in 2016. Myles will bring her brand of "soul country" to Country Jam 2017 when she hits the Jack's Place stage on Saturday, June 17 at 5:30PM.
- 2
Kane Brown
Kane Brown has lived one of the most unusual stories in country music on his road to success. The bi-racial singer overcame racism, poverty, periods of homelessness and abuse before launching his career online with a series of viral country covers he posted to Facebook. Brown released his self-titled debut album in December of 2016, and he'll bring songs like "Thunder in the Rain," "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" and "What Ifs" to the stage when he performs on the Ram Trucks stage at 4:30PM on Sunday, June 18 at Country Jam 2017.
- 1
Farewell Angelina
Farewell Angelina are one of the most exciting young acts in country music today. The 2017 Taste of Country RISERS — consisting of Nicole Witt, Andrea Young, Lisa Torres, and Lauren Lucas — have a one-of-a-kind vocal blend, and they are also exceptional instrumentalists. That's all in the service of great songs including "If It Ain't With You," which they performed at the RISERS shoot in February. They'll bring their standout songs and performance skills to the Jack's Place stage at Country Jam 2017 on Saturday, June 17 at 1AM, and follow it up with a show on the Ram Trucks stage later that day at 5:30PM.