Country Rising Festival Milwaukee Makes a Strong First Impression at Franklin Field
The inaugural Country Rising Festival arrived in Milwaukee with a clear vision: showcase the artists who are reshaping country music and creating a festival experience that feels fresh, modern, and built for today's fans. Held at Franklin Field inside the Rock Sports Complex in Franklin, Wisconsin, the one-day event successfully blended country, hip-hop, rock, and Southern influences into an energetic celebration that felt unlike any traditional country festival in the region.
All Photos By: Aaron R. Shriver PhotographyPresented by Social House Entertainment, the Kansas City-based company known for producing large-scale events and Milwaukee's popular Tacos & Tequila Festival, Country Rising embraced the evolution of country music from the moment fans walked through the gates. This wasn't a festival centered around cowboy hats and heartbreak ballads. Instead, it showcased the growing movement where 808 beats meet steel guitars, where hip-hop influences blend with country storytelling, and where fans in sneakers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those wearing boots.
Click The Image Above For The Full Country Rising Photo GalleryThe festival grounds offered more than just music. Fans enjoyed local food and beverage options, interactive experiences, photo-worthy activations, and one of the most unique features of the day: a VIP bottle service area that added an upscale nightlife feel rarely seen at country music festivals. Under clear skies and warm temperatures, the atmosphere felt more like a massive all-day party than a traditional concert event.
Keeping the energy high between sets was DJ Ashton Martin, a Kansas City favorite whose quick mixing style and ability to seamlessly jump between genres made him the perfect host for the day. His transitions kept fans engaged and prevented any lull in the momentum. Throughout the festival, Ashton expertly bridged the gap between artists while keeping the crowd dancing and ready for the next performance.
Click The Image Above For The Full Atlus Photo GalleryThe live music officially kicked off with Atlus, who immediately made an impression on the Wisconsin crowd. The rising artist continues to gain momentum following the release of his latest project, Art Of Letting Go, and his performance demonstrated exactly why fans are gravitating toward his music. Atlus brought an authentic energy to the stage, sharing songs such as "Devil Ain't Done," "Hold My Liquor," and "Spare Key."
His backstory only adds to the appeal. Before making his mark in country music, Atlus spent years driving semi-trucks across the country, writing songs during long stretches of highway while working to support his family and fund his musical ambitions. That hard-working authenticity shines through in both his songwriting and live performances. One of the standout moments of his set came when he climbed off the stage and entered the crowd, creating an intimate connection with fans that set the tone for the rest of the day.
Click The Image Above For The Full Austin Snell Photo Gallery
Next up was Austin Snell, who wasted no time turning up the intensity. Known as the "Muddy Water Rockstar," Snell continues to push the boundaries of modern country music by blending country themes with rock influences and raw emotional honesty. His performance immediately drew more fans toward the stage, filling the pit area with energy and anticipation.
Fresh off the release of his new project, Colors, Snell showcased several tracks from the EP, including "Circles." However, it was fan favorites like "Excuse The Mess" and "Muddy Water Rockstar" that truly ignited the audience. His cover of "Wasting All These Tears" became one of the largest singalongs of the day, while "Pray All The Way Home" resonated deeply with the crowd. Like Atlus before him, Snell stepped off the stage and into the audience, further reinforcing the artist-to-fan connection that became a recurring theme throughout the festival.
Click The Image Above For The Full Dylan Marlowe Photo GalleryBy the time Dylan Marlowe took the stage, the crowd was fully engaged, and the Georgia native delivered one of the day's most memorable performances. Opening with "Record High," Marlowe immediately established himself as one of country music's fastest-rising stars. Armed with his signature blend of traditional country storytelling and modern rock influences, Marlowe showcased material from his recently released project 80 Acres, including "Mess We Made."
His set was packed with personality and spontaneous moments. At one point, Marlowe spotted a fan holding a phone with a song request. Misreading the request as "Free Bird," he and his band launched into a brief rendition of the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic, creating one of the funniest and most talked-about moments of the day. Like the artists before him, Marlowe made his way into the crowd with guitar in hand, further blurring the line between performer and audience. He closed his set with "Boys Back Home," leaving the crowd energized and setting an incredibly high standard for the remaining acts.
Click The Image Above For The Full REDFERRIN Photo GalleryAs the sun began to set over Franklin Field, Redferrin took control of the stage and delivered arguably one of the most dynamic performances of the festival. Combining country roots with hip-hop swagger, Redferrin represents everything Country Rising was built to celebrate. Opening with "Stuck," he immediately established a high-energy pace that never slowed. The crowd favorite "Jack and Diet Coke" generated one of the loudest sing-alongs of the evening, while his natural charisma kept fans engaged from start to finish.
Redferrin's path to country music is unique. Before finding success in Nashville, he competed on the national Arenacross circuit. That competitive drive remains evident in his performances. In addition to his own growing catalog, Redferrin has built an impressive songwriting résumé, including co-writing Florida Georgia Line's hit "Lil Bit" featuring Nelly. Every aspect of his set showcased why he has quickly become one of the genre's most exciting emerging voices. He wrapped things up with "Just Like Johnny," leaving the crowd wanting more.
Click The Image Above For The Full BigXthaPlug Photo GalleryClosing out the evening was headliner BigXthaPlug, who brought a completely different energy to the festival while perfectly fitting Country Rising's genre-blending vision. The Texas rapper has become one of music's fastest-rising stars thanks to hits like "Texas" and "Mmhmm," and his growing connections within the country music world made him a fitting choice to headline the event.
BigX's set featured appearances and collaborations that highlighted his expanding influence across multiple genres. Fellow artist Ro$ama joined him during the performance, further energizing an already enthusiastic crowd. Throughout the set, BigX showcased songs connected to his country collaborations and musical friendships, including "Hell At Night," "All The Way," and "Home."
One of the night's standout moments came during an acapella performance of "Choosing Texas," which demonstrated his ability to command an audience without any production or backing track. The crowd remained fully engaged throughout the set, and when BigX dropped "The Largest," fans erupted in celebration, bringing the inaugural Country Rising Festival to a fitting conclusion.
For a first-year event, Country Rising Festival exceeded expectations. The lineup was carefully curated, the production was professional, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the concept felt genuinely unique. Social House Entertainment successfully introduced Milwaukee to a new vision of country music, one that embraces evolution while still honoring the genre's storytelling roots. If the inaugural edition was any indication, Country Rising has all the ingredients necessary to become a staple of Wisconsin's summer festival calendar for years to come. The future of country music was on full display in Franklin, and judging by the crowd's reaction, Milwaukee is more than ready for another round.
