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Billy Strings, Charles Wesley Godwin, Eric Church & More – Here’s The Top Country Concerts I Saw In 2024
There is no better way to consume music than by seeing and hearing it played live alongside other people sharing in the same experience.
It’s hard to beat live music in any capacity, but especially when one of your favorite artists is playing at a great venue or event, there’s really nothing like it. Attending concerts is the best way to support your favorite artists, too.
I am lucky to have attended some pretty amazing concerts this year, seeing many of my favorite artists once again, and catching many others live for the first time. I continued to frequent some of my favorite local venues, checked out some new cities, and saw many of my favorite artists take the next step to playing their largest venues yet. As bittersweet as it is to say, the days of seeing Charles Wesley Godwin, Wyatt Flores, and 49 Winchester in the sub-1,000 cap venues are behind us it seems.
With all of this in mind, for the fourth year in a row, I’ve compiled a list below of my favorite shows I saw this past year, and while I know nobody particularly cares what shows I’ve been going to, I hope it at least inspires anyone reading to get out there and check out some live music themselves. If you are looking for some suggestions as to who should be at the top of your priority list for concerts in 2025, you’re in the right place with plenty of great acts listed below.
Now, before we get into it, I recognize that the majority of the shows I attended this year were in North Carolina, at a handful of repeated venues, and are not shows that the vast majority of readers would have been able to attend even had they wanted to. But that’s besides the point here. While you may not have seen the exact same show, there’s a solid chance the same artists came through your city this year, on the same tour, and maybe this will remind you how awesome that show was, or remind you that you missed out and need to make it happen next time around.
One more disclaimer – Most of the shows I choose to see are at smaller venues for several reasons. First of all, that’s just where most of my favorite artists play when they come through town, but seeing shows at smaller venues also makes for such a better experience all around. Less hassle, shorter lines, a more intimate show – seeing concerts is much more simple than driving out to the big amphitheater outside of town with the biggest names, or waiting in line to get into a stadium show.
I highly recommend supporting your local, independent music venues every chance you get. The big shows are great too, and to see acts like Tyler Childers and the Turnpike Troubadours these days, that’s just what you gotta do. But smaller shows are just much more enjoyable. So while there are quite a few big names on my list, there are even more up and coming names with whom you may or may not be familiar yet, and hopefully you’ll find some new artists to add to your concert bucket list this year.
So, without further ado, check out my 30 favorite shows I saw in 2024.
30. Joshua Quimby, MP Gannon (Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC)
29. Secret Formula Band, Nathan Harris & the Flood (The Evening Muse - Charlotte, NC)
28. Flatland Cavalry, Colby Acuff (Coyote Joe's - Charlotte, NC)
27. Josh Abbott Band, Braedon Barnhill (The Underground - Charlotte, NC)
26. Greensky Bluegrass, Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel (The Fillmore - Charlotte, NC)
25. Nolan Taylor, Zandi Holup (Amos' Southend - Charlotte, NC)
24. American Aquarium (Duke's Mayo FanFest @ Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, NC)
23. Robert Earl Keen, Chuck Cannon (Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC)
22. Lost Dog Street Band, The Resonant Rogues (Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC)
21. Kolton Moore & the Clever Few, Jordan Nix (Visulite Theatre - Charlotte, NC)
20. Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, The Heavy Heavy (Tuck Fest @ U.S. National Whitewater Center - Charlotte, NC)
19. Clay Street Unit, The Wildmans (Visulite Theatre - Charlotte, NC)
18. Marcus King Band, Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country, Funk You (The Major Rager @ Augusta Common - Augusta, GA)
17. Pony Bradshaw, Rachel Baiman (Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC)
16. Rob Leines, Ellis Bullard (Thirsty Beaver Saloon - Charlotte, NC)
15. The Wilson Springs Hotel, Holler Choir (Neighborhood Theatre - Charlotte, NC)
14. Nicholas Jamerson & the Morning Jays, Justin Clyde Williams (The Evening Muse - Charlotte, NC)
13. Buckeye Country Superfest (Ohio Stadium - Columbus, OH)
Lineup: Zach Bryan, Billy Strings, Turnpike Troubadours, Charley Crockett, Charles Wesley Godwin, Levi Turner
12. Treaty Oak Revival, Mitchell Ferguson (Amos' Southend - Charlotte, NC)
11. Drive-By Truckers (The Fillmore - Charlotte, NC)
The legendary southern rock/alt-country group toured this year to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Southern Rock Opera release. A masterful songwriting and storytelling endeavor, the 20-track record provides commentary on the socio-political state of the South largely through the lens of Lynyrd Skynyrd's story, and it's one of the coolest albums I've ever heard. These songs don't often crack the band's setlists, so it was awesome getting to hear these live.
10. Mountain Grass Unit (Visulite Theatre - Charlotte, NC)
One of the best up and coming bluegrass bands in the business, Mountain Grass Unit puts on a live show for the ages. And with the addition of the fiddle to the lineup this year, they've taken it up another notch. If they're coming to a city near you, don't pass up the opportunity to see them live.
9. The Steel Woods, Fox N' Vead (Amos' Southend - Charlotte, NC)
It's a shame The Steel Woods are done touring, but they had a hell of a run, and I am grateful to have seen a few shows along the way. A full blown southern rock band with guitar tones heavier than most, The Steel Woods were a melt-your-face-off rock and roll act, and Wes Bayliss' vocals and hard-hitting lyricism rattled your bones and shook your soul in the best way possible. There last show in Charlotte was a special one, and local country rock & rollers Fox N' Vead got the crowd fired up, too.
8. Silverada, Ben Chapman (Amos' Southend - Charlotte, NC)
Ain't nothing changed but the name, and Silverada's first visit to Charlotte under the new moniker was further proof. The five-piece honky tonk outfit brought the party, and with the new self-titled record still fresh off the presses, the new and improved setlist was a force to be reckoned with. While I was already a fan of Ben Chapman as well, my first time seeing he and his band live exceeded expectations, and I can't wait to see both of these groups again.
7. Turnpike Troubadours, Lucero (The AMP Ballantyne - Charlotte- NC)
The greatest band in the world playing in my city, it doesn't get too much better than that, and Lucero rocks, too. A brand new amphitheater in town, The AMP has some kinks to work out with the sound and logistics, but hearing all of my favorite songs live is special every time, and the Turnpike Troubadours are one heck of a live band.
6. 49 Winchester, Colby Acuff (The Ramkat - Winston-Salem, NC)
Colby Acuff is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode, and when he does, he'll be headlining bigger venues all across this land. But in the meantime, getting to see him open for bands like 49 Winchester is a treat. The Appalachian soul outfit led by Isaac Gibson, who has one of the smoothest voices in all of music, is as tight of a honky tonk act as ever. And hearing some of the Leavin' This Holler tracks for the first time at this show was a plus, too. There's no other band I've seen as many times as 49 Winchester, and the shows still keep getting better and better.
5. Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country (Stage Door Theater - Charlotte, NC)
The word "Cosmic" is defined as "inconceivably vast," and there could not be a more accurate way to describe the heavily improvised jam-country repertoire of Daniel Donato and company. The four piece western jam outfit led by Donato, an incredibly talented guitarist and captivating frontman, has a deep catalog of originals bolstered by their unique take on the country classics by artists like Waylon Jennings, Marty Robbins, and John Prine. To really experience the cosmic country magic, though, you have to witness it live.
4. Merlefest (Wilkes Community College - Wilkesboro, NC)
Acts I Saw: Turnpike Troubadours, Larkin Poe, Shinyribs, Willi Carlisle, Nick Shoulders, Chatham County Line, Arkansauce, Scythian, The Last Revel, Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road, Colby T. Helms & the Virginia Creepers, Wyatt Ellis
Merlefest is a legendary festival, and my first experience did not disappoint. Organized by bluegrass great Doc Watson in 1988 and drawing the biggest names in bluegrass and country music ever since, Merlefest brought the Turnpike Troubadours in to headline the second day this year, and it was one of my favorite sets I've seen from my favorite band. The Last Revel and Liam Purcell were highlights of the day as well.
3. Charles Wesley Godwin, The Wilder Blue (The Fillmore - Charlotte, NC)
I've seen a lot of Charles Wesley Godwin shows over the years, and I think this one had to be my favorite. One of country music's most electric frontmen, backed by his longtime band The Allegheny High, Charles Wesley Godwin's catalog is full of modern classics, and the energy is palpable any time he plays them live. The venues will keep getting bigger for Godwin, so make it a priority to see him in these medium-sized venues while you still can. And if you're not familiar with The Wilder Blue yet, you need to change that. They've bene one of my favorite bands lately and they absolutely killed it at The Fillmore, too.
2. Billy Strings (UNO Lakefront Arena - New Orleans, LA)
In my humble opinion, Billy Strings puts on the best show in music, and it's not even particularly close. The crowds, the lights, and especially the music are an experience you can't really get from anyone else. I was there on Night 2 of his 3 night New Years Eve run in New Orleans, and the setlist he played was a strong one. For anyone who goes to a decent amount of Billy Strings shows, you could tell that the energy on this run was special, and it's a shame that the run ended in devastation with the terrorist attack that transpired on Bourbon Street just a couple hours after the show ended the next night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfZZa_5AtV0
1. Concert for Carolina (Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, NC)
Lineup: Luke Combs, Eric Church, James Taylor, Billy Strings, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Bailey Zimmerman, Chase Rice, Scotty McCreery, Parmalee, Wesko
The magnitude of this event was undeniable, and that's why it was my top concert of the year. Organized remarkably quickly in the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation by NC natives Luke Combs and Eric Church, Concert for Carolina raised $24.5 million for Western NC hurricane relief, and brought over 82,000 country music fans together for the cause. Personally, I don't particularly care for the music of some of these artists, but it was an awesome event and the headliners were all great. It brought Billy Strings to Charlotte, too, which has proven a difficult task over the years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ93YM7zxHU
Now get out there and do your part in supporting live music. You won’t regret it.
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