THIRD ANNUAL ROUTE 91 HARVEST DECLARED ‘A WINNER,’
SELLING OUT LAS VEGAS VILLAGE FOR THE SECOND TIME
Luke Bryan, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and More Led Special Weekend As Fans Relished Phenomenal Performances and Surprise Collaborations Set Against An Unrivaled Backdrop
The third annual Route 91 Harvest firmly plotted its pin on the global map as a destination festival this past weekend as the infamous Las Vegas Strip played host to a sold-out audience for the second year in a row. Heralded by Rolling Stone as “a winner, living up to the expectations that it set in its previous years,” the festival boasted a superstar lineup including Luke Bryan, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Dan + Shay, Chris Young and more as the high-energy weekend illustrated the festival’s staying power as it thrived in its third year.
The first day of the three-day neon sleepover saw Toby Keith take the stage, bringing “a patriotic party to the center of The Strip with his songs ‘American Ride,’ ‘Made In America’ and many others, which brought on a chant of “USA” from the passionate audience.” (Sounds Like Nashville)
Showcasing the collaborative nature of the genre, artists across the weekend invited guests to join them on stage during their set, including Saturday’s headliner Brad Paisley who brought fellow guitarist and main stage performer Lindsay Ell back up for a guitar-off to rival all others. Dan + Shay continued the cheer-inducing trend on Sunday as they harmonized with R & B vocal group Boyz II Men on their smash-hit “I’ll Make Love To You.”
Sunday’s superstar headliner Luke Bryan took things up another gear as Karen Fairchild from Little Big Town took the stage with him for an electrifying rendition of their chart-topping duet “Home Alone Tonight.” As the unforgettable final night continued, the pair were then joined by Fairchild’s bandmates for a heartfelt version of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” mashed up with Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” followed by a collaboration with Bryan and Dustin Lynch. The pair teamed up for a rowdy version of Brooks & Dunn’s infamous and appropriate “Play Somethin’ Country.”
“Selling out for a second year in a row already is crazy,” said Brian O’Connell, President Of Country Touring at Live Nation. “There were some really special moments throughout the weekend and I don’’t think the fans took a breath. We have an amazing partner in MGM Resorts, who really understand our vision for Route 91 Harvest and we are excited to be able to let fans know when we’ll be back in 2017!”
Engaging closely with fans across social media platforms since its establishment just two short years ago, Route 91 Harvest continues to tailor the festival experience to those new and returning. Standout fan opportunities this year included House Of Blues Experience where NFL fans could enjoy the festival, but also not miss those all-important games. Additionally, spirited attendees were able to partake in “Silent Disco Line Dancing” that saw many flock to join in.
The festival’s second stage, known as “Next From Nashville,” furthered its status as it shone throughout the weekend with a laundry list of the genre’s most buzzed about artists captivated new audiences. Fans can also plan to return in 2017 as it was announced last night that Route 91 Harvest will return for a fourth year on Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. For further information and details as they are announced, visit www.rt91harvest.com.
