Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, in partnership with Live Nation, hosted fans for a weekend of unmatched entertainment featuring headliners Lainey Wilson, HARDY and Jason Aldean. Praised for having an “eclectic” lineup that is “deep in talent” (Sun Sentinel), the 11th annual festival brought over 40 artists ranging from country’s hottest new stars like Bailey Zimmerman and CMA Award winning Group of the Year Old Dominion to icons like Bret Michaels, Boyz II Men and TLC.
On Friday, the Sunset Stage kicked off Tortuga right with performances from Shwayze, Boys II Men, Teddy Swims and Ashley McBryde. On the Main Stage, Warren Zeiders invited Teddy Swims to perform a special rendition of “Tennessee Whiskey.” Shortly after, Turnpike Troubadours’ driving country-rock welcomed in the first scenic sunset of the festival. A crowd favorite, Lainey Wilson closed opening night with her signature “Bell Bottom Country” sound, belting her GRAMMY-winning hits as fans danced along under the warm night sky.
The uplifting energy continued on Saturday with nearly 20 performances set against a sunny backdrop and a sea of fans. Appropriately, Michael Franti & Spearhead filled the main stage with their vibrant ‘sounds of sunshine,’ setting the tone for Old Dominion, whose performance elicited enthusiastic sing-alongs from the crowd. Meanwhile, multi-platinum entertainer Russell Dickerson brought his “unstoppable energy” (E! News) to the Sunset Stage and was followed by rock icon Bret Michaels. Singing Poison classics like “Your Mama Don’t Dance” and “Nothing But a Good Time,” Michaels surprised fans by inviting Cooper Alan up for a “Sweet Home Alabama” duet. HARDY closed the night and pushed genre boundaries with his one-of-a-kind blend of nu-metal and country on the Main Stage.
Rounding out the sunny, star-studded weekend, fans at the Sunset Stage were able to experience the carefree songs of the Wheeland Brothers, much-anticipated 90s legends TLC and country-folk singer Charles Wesley Godwin. The Main Stage opened with DIAMOND-selling superstar Brian Kelley, followed by Bailey Zimmerman delivering an energetic set proving why he’s “Country’s Biggest New Star” (Grammy.com). ACM Artist of the Decade Jason Aldean followed, closing out the 2024 festival with hits like “My Kinda Party” and “Lights Come On” featuring Bailey Zimmerman.
