Kelly Pickler performs at 7 p.m. Thursday.

TWIN LAKES — The Country Thunder music festival kicks off Wednesday and runs through Saturday at Shadow Hill Ranch, 2305 Lance Drive, Twin Lakes.

This year, the festival will be featured on the Great American Country television network.

Great American Country festival hostess Suzanne Alexander will be filming from the festival grounds and visiting with country music stars and their fans.

Superstar Neal McCoy will play for a full 90 minutes Friday night in the all-ages Howlin’ Coyote Dance Hall following Alan Jackson’s main stage performance.

Newcomers Gloriana and Great American Country’s web series stars KingBilly also will entertain.

KingBilly is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Gloriana at 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

“We’re so excited to be partnered with such a great country television network. We couldn’t be happier –- having Great American Country on-hand to celebrate the weekend with us… and with the great lineup,” said festival Executive Producer Brian Andrews. “Adding Neal McCoy will make Friday night a huge party – and he puts on an incredible show. We’ve made a lot of changes this year – from traffic routing, to a less-cluttered festival ‘bowl’ area, more vendors, cheaper concessions and keeping the price low.”

General Admission ticketholders will get closer access to the stage – as VIP and reserved seating areas have been reduced to allow for those who cannot afford those seats to get up, close and personal to their favorite performers with their four-day general admission pass.

Tickets and other information are available by calling (877) 999-8008 or by going online to www.countrythunder.com.

Here’s the lineup:
WEDNESDAY - JULY 15
Main Stage
6:30 p.m. - Colt Ford
8:15 p.m. - The Lost Trailers
10 p.m. - Tracy Lawrence
Howlin’ Coyote Dance Hall
(all ages)
10:30 p.m. to close - Kingbilly

THURSDAY - JULY 16
Main Stage
1 p.m. - Burns Poe
2 p.m. - The Bellamy Brothers
3:30 p.m. - Jack Ingram
5 p.m. - Mark Chesnutt
6:15 p.m.- Williams & Ree
7 p.m. - Kellie Pickler
9 p.m. - Taylor Swift
Howlin’ Coyote Dance Hall
10:30 p.m. - Gloriana
11:30 p.m. - Chasin’ Mason

FRIDAY - JULY 17
Main Stage
1 p.m. - Shawn Hammonds
2 p.m. - Restless Heart
3:30 p.m. - Heidi Newfield
5 p.m. - Jake Owen
6:15 p.m. - Williams & Ree
7 p.m. - Phil Vassar
9 p.m. - Alan Jackson
Howlin’ Coyote Dance Hall
10:30 p.m. to midnight - Neal McCoy

SATURDAY - JULY 18
Main Stage
1 p.m. - The Grascals
2 p.m. - Joey & Rory
3:30 p.m. - Terri Clark
5 p.m. - Diamond Rio
6:15 p.m. - Williams & Ree
7 p.m. - Rodney Atkins
9 p.m. - Tim McGraw
Howlin’ Coyote Dance Hall
10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. - Jason Jones
11:45 p.m. to close - Chasin’ Mason

Tags: Entertainment