Support Us Button Widget
Events  Music

What artists should play Tampa’s new country music festival?

We asked our readers who should take the stage for the incoming May 2025 show.

September 19, 2024 • 
Bailey LeFever
Country artist Chris Stapleton dons a hat and black suit while singing into a microphone and playing a guitar at a show.

Chris Stapleton could serenade us from the Ray Jay stage.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

The news about Tampa scoring “one of North America’s most beloved music festival brands” kind of broke the internet last week. That can only mean one thing: Our readers really love their country bops.

We’re still waiting on more news about the incoming festival — which is slated for May 2025. But in the meantime, we’re sharing some of the superstars our readers want to take the stage.

The most popular suggestions on the list were:

  • Chris Stapleton
  • Kacey Musgraves
  • Morgan Wallen
  • Zach Bryan
  • Lainey Wilson
  • Post Malone
  • Luke Combs

And, in case you’d prefer to listen along, we created a playlist of what the rockin’ Ray Jay show could sound like if our readers crafted the lineup.

    Events
    A gif featuring speakers, vendors and more from a previous Hack Your Health conference
    Sponsored
    4 can’t-miss speakers at Hack Your Health 2025
    Attendees can learn about nutrition, weight loss, fitness, cutting-edge biohacking, mental health, longevity, peptides, genetics, and more at Tampa’s premier wellness event.
    Sponsored by
    000130870034.JPEG
    Play
    Wedding venues in Tampa Bay
    Check out this list of local spots to host your special event.
    February 17, 2025
     · 
    Bailey LeFever
    A person wearing a collard green costume dances along to a live drumming performance on a brightly-colored street.
    Events
    Top TBAY events: Messi, Collard Green Festival, and Rays Fan Fest
    Spend the weekend in the sun catching legendary soccer players, fishing with Rays players, and chowing down on tons of collard greens.
    February 13, 2025
     · 
    Bailey LeFever
    Two men dressed in bloomers and embroidered tops toss beads into the crowd from a trolley car.
    Events
    Top TBAY weekend events: Parades, sea creatures, and art
    Make the most of the cooler temps with outdoor festivals, shopping, and community celebrations across Tampa Bay.
    February 6, 2025
     · 
    Bailey LeFever
    BBQ ribs and sausage on a wooden cutting board.
    Sponsored
    Taste Central Florida’s best BBQ
    Sponsored by
    People ride on the Krewe of Ybor float that's decked out with flags and fake bricks in the Knight Parade.
    Events
    Get ready for the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago Knight Parade
    Floats, marching bands, and community groups galore take to Seventh Avenue for the celebration.
    February 3, 2025
     · 
    Bailey LeFever
    314623358_188305027092079_2883565607071343695_n.jpg
    Events
    Top Tampa Bay weekend events: Bungalows, birds, and a market
    Here’s what’s on tap for the first weekend of February across Tampa Bay.
    January 30, 2025
     · 
    Bailey LeFever
    IMG_1744.jpg
    Play
    Give these Tampa Bay area live music venues a listen
    We’ve made a concerted effort to orchestrate this roadmap, so you can focus on finding the artists you adore.
    January 28, 2025
     · 
    Ben McBee
    Children aboard a Gasparilla pirate ship float. They are throwing beads into the crowd, dressed like pirates.
    Events
    Top Tampa Bay weekend events: Gasparilla, Tweed Ride, Sunshine Market
    Whether you want to dress up or shop it out, there’s plenty of outdoor fun to be had this weekend.
    January 23, 2025
     · 
    Bailey LeFever
    TBAY-Sept-2024-Pias-Trattoria
    Play
    Let’s make date night unique in Tampa Bay
    Got a hot new fling? Hoping to spice things up with your longtime partner? We’re here to help plan your next date in the Tampa Bay area.
    January 21, 2025
     · 
    Staff
    Load More