8 Acts We’re Looking Forward to Seeing at the 2016 Country LakeShake

The second annual Country LakeShake is returning to the shores of Lake Michigan this summer for a festival unlike any other. Sounds Like Nashville will be attending the festival, stacked with acts including Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, Sam Hunt and Thomas Rhett, among others.

While we’re incredibly excited to see the superstars do what they do best, we’re thrilled to see some of country music’s brightest up-and-coming acts take the stage. Here’s a list of 8 acts we can’t wait to see at the Country LakeShake (in no particular order)…

Clare Dunn

Okay, we have a serious #girlcrush on Clare Dunn. No, not the kind Little Big Town kind, but a girl crush nonetheless. This country newcomer has everything one would need to be successful in this business: talent, looks, charisma and some crazy good skills when it comes to songwriting and playing guitar. This is one act everyone needs to have their eyes (and ears!) on.

Chris Janson

This guy has busted his butt for the last 10 years and hit the stratosphere in the last year or so. His star began to climb in part to the success from “Buy Me A Boat” and will only going to continue to rise with his new single, and the song any girl would love to have written about them, “Holdin’ Her.” We’ve seen Janson hit the stage several times over the years and always saw good things coming for him. This girl has no doubt that we’ll be seeing his name up for Entertainer of the Year in just a few short years, he’s that good!

Tara Thompson

This badass lady reminds us of Miranda Lambert in her “Gunpowder & Lead” and “Kerosene” days. There can never be too many women in country music (we hope you agree!) and Miss Thompson is one to help carry this new wave of country women into the forefront. Plus, “Someone To Take Your Place” is definitely a song that every woman scorned will have on their playlist while on the search for a new boo.

Brett Young

SWOON! This heartthrob has been on our Spotify account for weeks, #sorrynotsorry! If you haven’t had a chance to listen to his self-titled EP, WHAT’S TAKING YOU SO LONG? We just want to help mend his broken heart by being front-and-center during his set at Lakeshake…and every set after. Between songs “You Ain’t Here To Kiss Me,” “In Case You Didn’t Know,” and his single “Sleep Without You,” this EP has something everyone can relate to.

Ryan Hurd

Ryan Hurd is a name country music fans will be hearing quite a bit about in the coming months. He not only co-wrote many songs on Maren Morris’ new album, HERO, but has cuts from Florida Georgia Line and Dierks Bentley. His own song, “Drunk People,” will surely become an anthem for the wasted and tipsy, alike. And it’s pretty hilarious for those that are sober, too. The talent this man possesses is insane and makes us jealous… (please share, Ryan? Kthx). We can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve in the Windy City!

Aubrie Sellers

What do you get when you cross Lee Ann Womack and Jason Sellers? Aubrie Sellers. Though she comes from super talented parents, this girl has “IT” all on her own.  Though she may have trouble taking over mainstream radio, there’s still a chance her music can be brought to the forefront (see: Chris Stapleton). We can’t wait to see her lyrical mysticism take over the fans at Northerly Island in June.

LANco

This five-man band made our Ones to Watch in 2016 list and there’s obviously a reason why. Their energy and charm onstage will draw any country music fan in and convert them to a Lanco-ian? Lanco-iac? Something like that. We digress… we’re excited to hear more from this group, who released their four-song debut EP, appropriately titled Extended Play, last month and can’t wait to see how the audience takes to them as well.

Charlie Worsham

Hey, Charlie! It’s us! It’s been three years since your album Rubberband dropped! Time for new music, please and thanks! Obviously, we can’t wait for new tunes from his musical genius and fingers are crossed we’ll hear some new music at Lakeshake. We can’t wait to see one of our favorite Mississippian before he hits the road as part of Kenny Rogers’ farewell tour this summer.

The second annual Country LakeShake takes place in Chicago June 17-19. Tickets are now on sale at lakeshakefestival.com.

Hope to see you there!