Country Thunder Day 1 in pictures
The crowd
The audience swelled from several thousands to 25,000-plus by the time Terri Clark took the stage.
Rocking the thunder
The guitar's not a prop, the hat's not window dressing and Canadian country singer Terri Clark proved that chicks with guitars bring fans to their feet.
Opening act
Brandon Ray had the honor and the curse of being the first act on the 2017 Country Thunder lineup. That meant there weren't a whole lot of people in the reserved seats, but those who were there gave him a warm welcome.
Girls rock
Terri Clark and her violinist were on Country Thunder's opening lineup Thursday. She was one of three female acts on the 2017 festival lineup.
Souvenirs
Throughout the festival, there will be a line at the Country Thunder merch tent with fans anxious to get the 2017 festival T-shirt.
Stomping good time
Jackson Michelson made good use of the catwalk during his show, his debut at Country Thunder.
Finally a nighttime slot
Locash (Chris Lucas, singing, Preston Brust at the piano) finally made it to the nighttime lineup at Country Thunder. The pair last year played in the middle of the day, but after a pair of No. 1 singles, they earned the promotion to primetime.
Chicks with guitars
1990s country superstar Terri Clark was the only female artist on the opening night lineup at Country Thunder.
Comfort first
Californians Paola Ramos and Kaycee Fontes grabbed a pair of inflatable canoes to relax on the lawn at County Thunder Thursday.
Dancing fools
Nicki Chasteen of Tucson took a twirl with Graham Klisares, a veteran Country Thunder fan who has sat in the same reserved seat for the past 10 years.
American pride
A fan handed LoCash's Preston Brust a giant flag that he waved to the crowd packed into Country Thunder Thursday night while he and his duo partner sang their American anthem "The Fighters."
A workout
Preston Brust made good use of the Country Thunder stage Thursday night.
From a couple thousands to 25K
Country Thunder's audience started out as a few thousand early on, but by the time Terri Clark hit the stage at 6:30, the crowd number 25,000 and counting.
Opening act LoCash are also new to playing Country Thunder's nighttime lineup.
Terri Clark represents the ladies, and lack thereof on the festival lineup.
Day one of four-day festival is underway.
Oregon country music newcomer making his Arizona debut.
Four-day event kicks off in Florence Thursday.
Recruiting comes as the agency is having a difficult time finding enough agents.
But has he gotten so big that this might be his last?