The 2026 Country Drive Music Fest

June 25-27, 2026 – Country Drive Live – Ashland, NE

The Country Drive Music Fest in Ashland, Nebraska was the place to be from Thursday, June 25 through Saturday, June 27, 2026. This three-day country music festival brought fans together for a weekend full of live music, great weather, food trucks, local talent, and some seriously impressive headliners.

This was my first time attending Country Drive Music Fest, and it was an awesome experience from start to finish.

Country Drive Live is a family-owned, 40-acre music venue tucked inside Country Drive Golf Course just outside Ashland. What started as a family dream in 2023 to bring great music and “Country Nights Done Right” to their own backyard has quickly grown into Nebraska’s largest homegrown music festival.

In just a few years, the festival has turned into a true statewide destination. Last year’s event welcomed more than 8,000 fans for three days of music, and this year felt like another big step forward. The best part is that even as the festival grows, it still feels personal. It has the heart of a family-run event, but the production and organization of something much bigger.

The weather could not have been better each day. It was slightly overcast, not too hot, and absolutely perfect for a weekend of outdoor music. Anyone who has been to a summer festival in Nebraska knows how lucky that is.

The festival grounds were easy to navigate, and there was plenty to do between sets. Food trucks were lined up with a lot of different options, the General Store had festival essentials like snacks, drinks, sunscreen, hygiene products, and rehydration items, and there were plenty of places to sit in the shade and relax while the music played.

There were also activities throughout the weekend, including lawn games, campground volleyball, artist merchandise, official festival merch, and DJ after-parties on the barn stage after the headliners. Each night also had its own theme, which made the crowd even more fun to watch. Thursday was Camo Cowboy, Friday was Red, White, & Boots, and Saturday was Wild & Western.

Everyone working at the festival was so nice and accommodating. Brennan and his team were organized, helpful, and great at communicating everything the photographers needed to know. The staff and volunteers helped make the whole experience feel smooth and welcoming.

Thursday kicked off the main festival with a strong lineup and a huge headliner.

The night included Drew Green, Blake Whiten and Bailey Zimmerman.

Drew Green helped get things started and gave the early crowd a great reason to show up on time. Blake Whiten followed with a strong set that fit the vibe of the night perfectly. His sound worked well for the Country Drive crowd, and he did a great job on the main stage building energy before the headliner.

Then it was time for Bailey Zimmerman.

Bailey was the perfect artist to close out the first night. His voice, energy, and stage presence had the crowd locked in, and it was easy to see why he has become one of country music’s biggest stars. Fans were singing along throughout his set, and he gave Thursday night the kind of big-festival ending you want from a headliner.

It was a great way to kick off the weekend.

Friday brought another full day of music, and the lineup had a little bit of everything.

The day featured Brennan Pogue, Jack Dunker, Emily Hollingshed, Kolby Cooper, Aaron Watson, and Hudson Westbrook.

One of the best parts of this festival was discovering artists I had not seen live before, and Friday had several of those moments. Brennan Pogue was one of the biggest standouts of the entire weekend for me. He brought a great sound, a strong stage presence, and the kind of performance that makes you want to look him up as soon as the set is over.

Jack Dunker and Emily Hollingshed both added a lot to the day as well. There is something really cool about a festival that gives rising artists and regional talent a chance to play in front of a crowd that is ready to listen. Country Drive did a great job creating that kind of atmosphere.

Kolby Cooper brought plenty of energy to the stage, and Aaron Watson gave fans a set full of Texas country style and veteran confidence. By the time Hudson Westbrook took the stage, the crowd was more than ready.

Westbrook closed out Friday night with a fantastic headlining set. His songs connected with the audience, and the crowd stayed with him the whole way through. Friday had that perfect festival feeling where people were settled in, the weather was great, and the music just kept getting better as the night went on.

Saturday was the final day of Country Drive Music Fest, and the lineup made sure the weekend ended on a high note.

The day included Briella Steiner, Noah James, Scott Wolverton, Bayker Blankenship, Dasha, and Koe Wetzel.

Briella Steiner was another major standout for me. She sounded fantastic and brought a lot of personality to the stage. Her set was one of those early-day performances that made people stop what they were doing and pay attention.

Noah James was also phenomenal. His performance had a lot of heart, and he was one of the artists I was really glad I got to discover during the weekend. Scott Wolverton also gave the crowd a strong set and helped keep the final day rolling.

Bayker Blankenship and Dasha both brought great energy to the stage. Dasha especially had the crowd fired up, and her set felt like a perfect lead-in to the final headliner of the weekend.

Koe Wetzel closed out Saturday night, and his set was awesome.  This was my third time seeing him live, and he was just as great as I can remember!

Koe was exactly the kind of artist you want closing a festival like this. His crowd was loud, excited, and ready to sing along. He brought the energy, the attitude, and the kind of performance that made the final night feel huge. It was a perfect way to wrap up three days of music in Ashland.

All of the headliners were amazing, but my favorite part of the three days was discovering new artists I had never heard live before. Some were from Omaha and other parts of Nebraska, which made it even better. Brennan Pogue, Briella Steiner, and Noah James were three of the biggest standouts for me. Everyone on the lineup was fantastic, but those three were phenomenal.

Country Drive Music Fest has something special going. It feels big enough to be exciting, but still personal enough to feel welcoming. The setup was great, the staff was kind, the weather was perfect, and the lineup gave fans a full weekend of country music worth talking about.

I’m so glad I had the chance to attend this year’s festival. I met a lot of cool people, had a great time, and left feeling like this is one of those Nebraska events more people need to experience.

I hope to be back next year!