The traveling festival Rock the Country is expanding. Co-founder Kid Rock will headline the second iteration of the event with Nickelback in 11 cities across America between April and July 2025, up from seven cities during this year's inaugural run. But it isn't just the lineup of country music acts or tour stops that are expanding — so it is Rock's definition of the event.
“It's this simple, Rock The Country isn't just a music festival, it's a movement,” he said in a statement. “It's a place for hard working, god-fearing patriots to gather as one and celebrate freedom, music and the party of the year.”
Rock the Country will make stops in Livingston, Louisiana; Knoxville, Tennessee; York, Pennsylvania; Hastings, Michigan; Little Rock, Arkansas; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Poplar Bluff, Missouri; Ocala, Florida; Anderson, South Carolina; and Ashland, Kentucky. The Cullman, Alabama, stop on the run is branded as Rock the South.
The lineup for each two-day event will vary by city. Participating artists include Hank Williams Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Three Doors Down, Travis Tritt, Gavin Adcock, Tracy Lawrence, Treaty Oak Revival, Aaron Lewis and the Stateliners, Ella Langley, Upchurch, Diamond Rio, Ole 60, Little Texas, and Hudson Westbrook.
Logan Crosby, Them Dirty Roses, Vincent Mason, Clay Walker, Ty Myers, and Bayker Blakenship will also perform. A Nineties-themed happy hour will feature appearances from Shenandoah, Mark Chestnutt, Jo Dee Messina, Sammy Kershaw, Deana Carter, Afroman, Ying Yang Twins, Tone Loc, and Dee Jay Silver.
“We're really looking forward to hitting the road and visiting some amazing towns, especially in places we've never played before,” Nickelback's Michael Kroeger said in a statement. “There's something special about connecting with fans in these communities, and we're ready to bring our best and truly rock the country.”
The scene at Rock the Country 2024 was noticeably political: Plenty of American flags, ample Trump 2024 merch, plus an introductory appearance from Tucker Carlson and a headlining performance from Jason Aldean. Donald Trump himself provided a video message that appeared during Rock's set. In it, he praised Rock's “hardworking, God-fearing rock & roll patriots” with an encouraging push to “Make America Rock Again.”
Rock has come to embrace his pro-Trump stance more and more over the years, something he has no hesitation toward now that the 2024 presidential election results have been called in his candidate's favor. “You think I like Trump because he's a nice guy?” Rock told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “I'm not electing the deacon of a church. That motherfucker likes to win. He likes to cheat in his fucking golf game. I want that guy on my team. I want the guy who goes, 'I'm going to fight with you.'”
He added: “When I doubled down on it, I knew that it could be a career ender. But I was betting that there were a lot of like-minded people out there.”
