2024 guitar pull
Artist Spotlights
Learn everything you need to know about guitar pull, its history and the venue
The 25th anniversary
Night One
Presented by: 
This year, it’s too big for just one Guitar Pull… so we’re having two!
That’s right… TWO GUITAR PULLS with 5 artists on stage each night!
Since, it’s a celebration for you, KICKS listeners, ALL tickets are FREE and you’ll have many chances to win them at the KICKS 99 ticket stops and you’ll have chances to win by listening to KICKS 99 too!
- ARTIST #1: Chris Janson
- ARTIST #2: Zach Top
- ARTISTS #3: The Frontmen
- ARTISTS #4: The War & Treaty
- ARTIST #5: Lee Brice
Night one
Lee
Brice
When Curb Records recording artist, Lee Brice, isn’t selling out arenas, writing and recording songs, or building new brands like American Born whiskey, you’ll find the family man with his wife Sara, two young boys, and daughter.
Meanwhile, with 6.7 billion career streams, Brice continues to enjoy massive success at country radio, digital streaming services, and on the road. He reached #1 at Country Radio with “Memory I Don’t Mess With,” which consecutively followed three prior #1s: SESAC’s, ASCAP’s, and BMI’s 2021 Country Song of the Year, “One of Them Girls;” ACM and CMA Award-winning, “I Hope You’re Happy Now” with Carly Pearce; and “Rumor,” which was nominated in the category, Single of The Year, at the 55th Annual ACM Awards. One of the most-played country artists of all time on Pandora, he was the second country artist behind Keith Urban to receive the Pandora Billionaire plaque.
Lee is a GRAMMY nominee, a CMA and ACM Award winner, and he’s taken nine radio singles to Number One: “A Woman Like You,” “Hard to Love,” “I Drive Your Truck,” “I Don’t Dance,” “Drinking Class,” “Rumor,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” “One of Them Girls,” and “Memory I Don’t Mess With.
Lee has 40 Million RIAA Certified Units Over 19 Titles, including his recently RIAA Certified Gold single, “Soul.” Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and others have recorded his songs, and he’s performed on numerous TV shows, including NBC’s Today, ABC’s The Bachelor, NBC’s The Voice, and FOX’s Miss USA 2018. Lee performed as part of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoring Garth Brooks, aired on PBS March of 2020.
At the 54th Annual CMA Awards, Lee took home the prize for Musical Event of the Year for his song with Carly Pearce, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” At the 56th ACM Awards, “I Hope You’re Happy Now” won Single of the Year and Music Event of the Year, and Lee and Carly Pearce performed the song live. Lee’s new single, “Drinkin’ Buddies (feat. Hailey Whitters & Nate Smith),” is available now.
Night one
Chris
Janson
Chris Janson is a multi-Platinum recording artist, celebrated entertainer, multi-instrumentalist, and award winning singer/songwriter. It all got started with his four-time Platinum hit “Buy Me A Boat.” That song, along with “Drunk Girl” were named among NSAI’s “Ten Songs I Wish I’d Written” lists. His other hits, “Good Vibes” and “Done” also topped country charts.
Janson’s fifth studio album, The Outlaw Side Of Me, was released in 2023 and gives listeners a bit of outlaw, a bit of rowdy rocker, along with some romance. The lead single from that record, “All I Need Is You” became a #1 hit on Country radio, making it his fifth #1 single.
Janson’s latest single “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” was written by Janson, Tyler Hubbard, RaeLynn, Blake Hubbard, and Jarrod Ingram. It’s a song that embodies Janson’s fun, high-energy performances. Janson also released “All American Guy” on June 14th, and the song was immediately embraced by fans on social media.
Learn more about Chris Janson and his music on his website. You can also follow Chris Janson on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.
Night one
Zach
Top
With a deep-rooted love for traditional music, Zach Top is poised to invigorate the country genre with his homage to classic sounds and authentic storytelling. Zach embodies the spirit of 90’s country legends, shaped by his upbringing in Sunnyside, WA listening to classic country music while driving around his family’s ranch tending to livestock.
At the age of seven, he formed a band with his siblings which set the stage for his musical ambitions. Throughout his teenage years and early twenties, Zach honed his craft by playing in various bluegrass bands before moving to Nashville in 2021 where he has been steadily making his mark as an artist to watch.
Zach released his first radio single “Sounds Like the Radio” at the top of 2024 via Leo33 and will be joining CMA Entertainer of the Year, Lainey Wilson on her “Country’s Cool Again” Tour throughout the year following the release of his debut record, Cold Beer & Country Music.
To learn more, visit: https://www.zach-top.com/
Follow Zach Top on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.
Night one
The
Frontmen
They have 30 No. 1 hits, have sold 30 million albums and are the soundtrack to every Friday night honkytonk, first kiss and broken heart for the last 30 years. Fans sing the words to every song in every set – and while many people have yet to know their name, just about everybody can sing their songs.
THE FRONTMEN – comprised of three former lead singers, Larry Stewart (Restless Heart), Richie McDonald (Lonestar) and Tim Rushlow (Little Texas) – is country music’s hottest new supergroup. The men have already mastered the stage, succeeded on radio and nightly take sold-out audiences on a rollercoaster of 90’s nostalgic smash hits then transcend their past hit parade with fresh new and original songs that are unmistakably THE FRONTMEN today!
The group recently put their massive catalog of hits to work, including “The Bluest Eyes in Texas,” “Amazed” and “God Blessed Texas,” on tour with ALABAMA and kick-started the Harley-Davidson crowd in Deadwood, South Dakota, at the 81st Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
“The thing about the three of us is we are better together than each of us was by ourselves,” McDonald says. “The beauty of the show is that people can come and just sit there for two hours and go, ‘I sang along with every single song. I loved every one of them.’”
“There is a common thread that runs through the songs we have all recorded over the years that just fits together like a glove,” Rushlow adds. “It is quite powerful and certainly is the soundtrack to all of our lives”.
THE FRONTMEN’s magic formula harkens back to some of the biggest Rock groups of the 60’s and 70’s like The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles where multiple lead singers like Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey and Don Henley have separate careers but join together to create a sum bigger than its parts. They are a new act with a fresh sound but also an arsenal of hits.
Night one
The War
& Treaty
They have 30 No. 1 hits, have sold 30 million albums and are the soundtrack to every Friday night honkytonk, first kiss and broken heart for the last 30 years. Fans sing the words to every song in every set – and while many people have yet to know their name, just about everybody can sing their songs.
THE FRONTMEN – comprised of three former lead singers, Larry Stewart (Restless Heart), Richie McDonald (Lonestar) and Tim Rushlow (Little Texas) – is country music’s hottest new supergroup. The men have already mastered the stage, succeeded on radio and nightly take sold-out audiences on a rollercoaster of 90’s nostalgic smash hits then transcend their past hit parade with fresh new and original songs that are unmistakably THE FRONTMEN today!
The group recently put their massive catalog of hits to work, including “The Bluest Eyes in Texas,” “Amazed” and “God Blessed Texas,” on tour with ALABAMA and kick-started the Harley-Davidson crowd in Deadwood, South Dakota, at the 81st Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
“The thing about the three of us is we are better together than each of us was by ourselves,” McDonald says. “The beauty of the show is that people can come and just sit there for two hours and go, ‘I sang along with every single song. I loved every one of them.’”
“There is a common thread that runs through the songs we have all recorded over the years that just fits together like a glove,” Rushlow adds. “It is quite powerful and certainly is the soundtrack to all of our lives”.
THE FRONTMEN’s magic formula harkens back to some of the biggest Rock groups of the 60’s and 70’s like The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles where multiple lead singers like Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey and Don Henley have separate careers but join together to create a sum bigger than its parts. They are a new act with a fresh sound but also an arsenal of hits.
The 25th anniversary
Night Two
Presented by:
This year, it’s too big for just one Guitar Pull… so we’re having two!
That’s right… TWO GUITAR PULLS with 5 artists on stage each night!
Since, it’s a celebration for you, KICKS listeners, ALL tickets are FREE and you’ll have many chances to win them at the KICKS 99 ticket stops and you’ll have chances to win by listening to KICKS 99 too!
- ARTIST #1: Ashley Cooke
- ARTISTS #2: LOCASH
- ARTIST #3: Drew Baldridge
- ARTIST #4: Mark Wills
- ARTIST #5: Scotty McCreery
Night Two
Scotty
McCreery
There’s a rhythm to life. A cycle of ups and downs that the Triple Tigers country artist Scotty McCreery knows all too well…And right now, he’s on the upswing.
Coming into his sixth album, Rise and Fall, McCreery is riding high on a streak that includes six consecutive Gold or Platinum-certified singles, five back-to-back No. 1’s, over four million albums sold and a thriving tour platform. But it’s more than that.
A North Carolina native who broke out as a teenaged American Idol champ, McCreery is now 30 years old and a seasoned country music veteran, but also a dedicated husband and new father, welcoming a son named Avery in 2022. Recently, he even celebrated the milestone of all milestones for a guy who grew up on Randy Travis, Johnny Cash and Ronnie Milsap; he was invited by Garth Brooks to become the newest member of the iconic Grand Ole Opry – a fact he still can’t wrap his head around.
But folks like McCreery know it means more when you’ve seen the other side. For him, each highlight has come in contrast to a challenge – things like the loss of his first record deal, and the year of naysaying uncertainty that followed. As a result, Rise and Fall comes from an artist who knows to appreciate the ride…no matter where it leads.
“I feel like we’re on the rise now, but I’ve fallen pretty low as well,” McCreery admits. “I learned from every little part of that, and it helped me to know who I was as a person – let alone an artist. The rises and the falls helped craft these songs. They made this album what it is.”
Night Two
LoCash
Named “country music’s iconic feel-good duo” by PEOPLE, LOCASH–Preston Brust and Chris Lucas–are adding a new dimension to their hitmaking career with the launch of their own record label–Galaxy Label Group. With distribution by BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, LOCASH will continue “hitting homers and serving up first-class songs,” as hailed by American Songwriter.
With fresh music expected to release in spring, this new era follows back-to-back high-profile collaborations “Let It Slide”(Leslie Jordan, Blanco Brown, LOCASH) and “Beach Boys” (feat. The Beach Boys’ Mike Love and Bruce Johnston). Known for PLATINUM breakout “I Love This Life” and GOLD #1’s “One Big Country Song” and “I Know Somebody,” LOCASH have earned eight charting singles, two successful albums, nearly 800 MILLION global streams, and holds a history of nods from the genre’s biggest awards shows since launching in 2015. Announcing their 2024 partnership with 44 Farms, LOCASH recently supported Kane Brown’s DRUNK OR DREAMING TOUR.
Learn more about LOCASH on their website. And follow them on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.
Night Two
Drew
Baldridge
With a voice as rich as the mid-western soil he was raised on, Patoka, IL native, Drew Baldridge’s music reflects small-town life while living large on the simple things. His latest viral hit “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” has amassed over 1 billion social media impressions & streams and started a whole movement on TikTok called “The Daughter Trend”, and Drew has made Country Music History by being the first independent artist to fully self-fund his own record label to achieve his first #1 record!
His music catalog including songs like Rebound, Imma, and She Does has been streamed over 500 million times globally. He has shared the stage with many artists including Eric Church, Jason Aldean, and Luke Bryan to name a few.
Learn more about Drew Baldridge on his website. And follow them on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Night Two
Ashley
Cooke
With Big Loud / Back Blocks Music Country artist Ashley Cooke, it’s best to know what you’re getting into – because this emerging star is the definition of more than meets the eye. A graceful exterior matched by a casual-cool nature. Skillfully crafted lyrics and a knack for unforgettable performance. Effortless vocal beauty and a bold sense of internal grit, freely mixing it up with the boys while she rallies the girls. And most important, a passion for capturing the magic between heartbeats, each moment as unique as she is. Still early in her journey, being herself has already served Cooke well. It has led to over 352M global streams with chart-climbing hits like “Never Til Now” with Brett Young, Ryman and Grand Ole Opry debuts, national TV appearances on ABC’s The Bachelorette and NBC’s TODAY, tours with Luke Bryan, Jordan Davis, Cole Swindell, Brett Young and more.
Hailing from Parkland, Fla., and moved by emotional hit makers like Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Ed Sheeran, and more, Cooke embraces the energy of pop and depth of Country, writing her first song by age 11. Cooke moved to Nashville at 18 and attended the prestigious Belmont University – but unlike so many others, she did not study music. After entering the school’s revered Country Showcase on a whim and winning, Cooke decided to pursue music for a year. When the pandemic had other plans, Cooke went to TikTok where she built a thriving fanbase, writing and sharing Country music on her own terms.
And now, the next chapter begins with her 2023 debut album shot in the dark. Unfolding as if they were ripped from pages of her personal journal, Cooke’s sun-kissed blend of two-lane pop Country is on full display in the collection’s 24 tracks, inspired by true tales of love, heartbreak, and all the moments in between. Fully capturing the essence of a daring twenty-something growing up, chasing her dreams, and taking risks, Cooke infuses heartfelt lyrics, captivating melodies, and raw relatability as she invites listeners to come along for the ride. The striking debut has already garnered Cooke praise from Billboard who named her the July 2023 Rookie of the Month, with additional praise pouring in from People, American Songwriter, The Tennessean and more. Cooke went on to win her first CMT Award for Breakthrough Female Video of the Year at the 2024 CMT Awards before being nominated for ACM New Female Artist of the Year, adding to previous recognition as one of MusicRow’s 2023 Discovery Artist of the Year and Next Big Thing as well as iHeartCountry’s On The Verge artist. Meanwhile, her award-winning single “Your Place” continues to take her career to new heights as she notches her first career No.1 song at Country radio.
Learn more about Ashley Cooke on her website. And follow her on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.
Night one
Mark
Wills
It was “19(90) Somethin’” when Grand Ole Opry member Mark Wills went from singing at Atlanta’s infamous Buckboard to releasing his first of 19 Billboard-charting singles across seven albums. While climbing his musical ‘ladder,’ he has recorded Gold and Platinum albums and released some of the most enduring and recognizable Country Music hits of the last 25 Years.
“Wish You Were Here,” “Jacob’s Ladder” and “I Do (Cherish You)” cemented his country status in the late ’90s and at the ‘dawning of a new decade’ in the early ’00s. “Jacob’s Ladder” was released via Mercury Nashville in May 1996 as Wills’ debut single, and it became the singer’s first of eight Top 10 hits. His debut self-titled album followed “full of rambunctious good-time songs teeming with sly wit and bittersweet ballads —all in a baritone that throbs with emotion” per Entertainment Weekly.
Billboard Hot Country Songs chart Top 5 hits:“Places I’ve Never Been,” “I Do (Cherish You),” “Don’t Laugh at Me,” and No. 1 single “Wish You Were Here” hit the airwaves between 1997-1999. Fittingly, Wills’ early chart success earned him an Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Male Vocalist in 1998. One of his biggest hits to date is the RIAA Gold-certified “19 Somethin’” –a six-week No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
In 2022, Mark rerecorded and released his hit “Don’t Laugh at Me” with the acapella recording group, Home Free featuring Mark’s daughter, Macey. In conjunction with this release, a new music video was filmed staring 21 Pineapples’ Nate Smith and JennaLee Wasserman earning the collaborators 3 Gold Telly Awards. He also has taken more than a dozen trips to entertain U.S. troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Korea, and Italy. Wills continues to hit the road with his high-energy show full of hits that were the soundtrack to so many people’s lives.
Learn more about Mark Wills on his website. And follow him on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.