Rascal Flatts Close 2017 LakeShake Festival with New Tunes & Old Hits

Rascal Flatts cruised through their set after kicking things off with "Fast Cars and Freedom."

Written by Lauren Laffer
Rascal Flatts Close 2017 LakeShake Festival with New Tunes & Old Hits
Rascal Flatts; Photo by Katie Kauss/Sounds Like Nashville

Chicago’s country music fans were out in full force Sunday night (6/25) when the 3rd annual LakeShake Festival came to a close. Wrapping the Windy City festival was super-group Rascal Flatts, who peppered their set with a mix of new songs and old.

The stand-out performance kicked off with “Fast Cars and Freedom,” allowing the trio to cruise through a set full of their best known hits, including “I Melt,” “Banjo,” “Mayberry,” among others. In addition to showcasing why they’ve become one of country music’s most iconic groups, the band performed a slew of songs from their latest project Back To Us.

Brothers Osborne; Photo by Katie Kauss/Sounds Like Nashville

Brothers Osborne; Photo by Katie Kauss/Sounds Like Nashville

The Flatts weren’t the only band of the day to take command of the stage. Duo Brothers Osborne, comprise of TJ and John Osborne, proved exactly why they are the reigning CMA and ACM Vocal Duo of the Year. The duo’s debut single “Rum” garnered plenty of cheers from crowd, who bobbed their heads and held drinks in their hands outstretched to the sky. The duo’s set included a cover of the Dixie Chicks’ “Goodbye Earl,” as well as their own songs “21 Summer,” “Ain’t My Fault,” and a new song for fans to enjoy.

The moment, however, that set the BROS apart was when the start of their smash “Stay a Little Longer” began and fans went nuts. The song carried on for quite awhile as John showcased his musicianship with the intense and captivating guitar solo towards the conclusion of the track.

Chase Rice; Photo by Katie Kauss/Sounds Like Nashville

Chase Rice; Photo by Katie Kauss/Sounds Like Nashville

The main stage at LakeShake also saw performances from several of country music’s rising acts, including The Cadillac Three, Chase Rice and William Michael Morgan, each of whom earned a rowdy crowd reaction from excited fans. Rice, who recently announced a new record label signing with Broken Bow Records, showed no signs of slowing down. The singer was clearly pumped to play for the crowd, who ate up every move he made.

For country fans looking for a festival that has a little bit of everything, LakeShake offers a wide variety of activities. In addition to the main and Next From Nashville stages, the grounds included a collaboration between US 99.5 and the Grand Ole Opry, featuring a stage for additional performances. Festival-goers also had the option to silent line-dance, take part in many festival games and enjoy some of Chicago’s local eateries.