FESTIVAL REVIEW: Country 2 Country Rotterdam Showcased Country Brilliance

On Saturday, March 8, 2025, the RTM Stage at Rotterdam Ahoy transformed into a vibrant hub of country music as the C2C: Country to Country festival kicked off its fourth Dutch edition. Europe’s largest traveling country festival brought together thousands of fans for a day filled with twangy guitars, heartfelt lyrics, and cowboy boots aplenty. Headlined by the dynamic Lainey Wilson, the event showcased a stellar lineup of both established stars and rising talents from the United States and Europe, proving once again why C2C has become a must-attend celebration for country music lovers across the continent. From the main stage to the intimate spotlight stages, Rotterdam pulsed with the spirit of Nashville, offering a taste of the USA in the heart of the Netherlands.

To kick off proceedings, The Castellows took the stage at the RTM Stage in Rotterdam in the afternoon, delivering a performance that left a lasting impression on the Dutch audience. The trio—sisters Ellie (lead guitar), Powell (banjo), and Lily (vocals)—brought their signature blend of neo-traditional country to the festival’s mainstage, sharing the spotlight with headliner Lainey Wilson and other notable acts like Nate Smith and Wyatt Flores. Hailing from Georgetown, Georgia, and now based in Nashville, The Castellows have quickly risen through the ranks of the country music scene, and their Rotterdam debut showcased why they’re a band to watch. Halfway through the set, The Castellows welcomed fellow performer Wyatt Flores on stage to perform their collaborative track ‘Sober Sundays’, marking a special moment in the set.

Their sound—a seamless fusion of classic country roots and modern polish—resonated through the venue, with Lily’s crystalline vocals cutting through the mix, supported by Ellie’s intricate guitar work and Powell’s nimble banjo picking. The crowd, a mix of dedicated country fans and curious newcomers, was in awe of the performance and the relatively new group was sure to welcome a string of new fans to their base, as evident by the huge queue for the signing session right after their performance.

The Castellows

After attending the signing session of The Castellows, it was time for the next act on the main stage: Wyatt Flores!

Flores strode onto the stage with his acoustic guitar in hand. Knowing Flores only from his collaboration with The Castellows, we were taken aback by his performance. In ‘Sober Sundays‘, Flores’ performance is softer and slower, but his original material has a lot more up tempo songs. He opened with West of Tulsa, a track from his 2023 EP Life Lessons, its haunting melody and introspective lyrics setting the tone for a set that felt both intimate and expansive. His voice—raspy yet tender—carried the ache of small-town struggles and hard-earned wisdom, resonating with an audience far from the dusty plains of his Stillwater roots. Backed by a tight band, Flores also dipped into newer material from his debut album Welcome to the Plains, released in late 2024. Tracks like “Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight” pulsed with a fuller sound. Wyatt Flores is an artist quickly on the rise, and Rotterdam got to witness it firsthand. With a fall tour alongside Zach Bryan on the horizon, Flores’ C2C debut was a powerful preview of a career poised to soar.

Wyatt Flores

In-between of acts on the main stage, the front of the stage was dubbed to be the ‘Spotlight Stage’, on which a growing artist claims the space for 30 minutes while the crew is setting up the gear for the upcoming act, a brilliant way to fill the time and keep the attendees entertained and keep the crowd split between the mainstage and the smaller Saloon Stage where you could enjoy a cold beverage, a USA inspired selection of food and even purchase cowboy boots, CDs, watches and much more.

After a much-needed breather, Winchester 49 took to the stage in the mainstage area. Their set was the first time today that the entire mainstage area was brimming with fans, and even though the festival was a seated event, many attendees were standing, with many people even standing to the sides beside the chairs. Winchester 49 brought their distinctive blend of Southern rock and Appalachian country to the Dutch audience, spotlighting tracks from their 2024 album Leavin’ This Holler, released in August. The album, their fifth, has been noted for refining their raw, rootsy sound with a more polished production, earning praise from outlets like Rolling Stone.

49 Winchester

To keep the attendees entertained after 49 Winchester, Kassi Ashton took the stage on the Spotlight stage. The Missouri-born singer-songwriter took to the Spotlight Stage as part of the festival’s first day, joining a lineup headlined by Lainey Wilson. Known for her debut album Made From The Dirt released in 2024, Ashton delivered a set featuring songs like Drive You Out of My Mind, showcasing her blend of country with rock and soul influences. Her performance was one of several across three stages, entertaining a crowd of country music fans gathered for the fourth Dutch edition of Europe’s largest travelling country festival. Ashton later expressed her excitement about returning to C2C on social media, thanking the audience for the warm reception.

Kassi Ashton

After the Spotlight stage set, the main stage was all set for the final act before headliner Lainey Wilson would take the stage. This particular slot which comes with a set that lasts 70 minutes was filled by the immensely popular Nate Smith.

His performance showcased his talent for songwriting, as well as tells the story of Smith, who came to Nashville with 14 dollars to his name, and turned it all around by signing a record deal and handing Nr. 1 hits left and right with singles like ‘Whiskey On You’ and ‘World On Fire’. Most recently, he even re-released his song Bulletproof with a guest feature of no one other than the iconic Avril Lavigne.
It’s apparent that Smith’s heart is in it, as he pours his heart and soul into his performance, backed by an incredible live band. When he revisited the story of his origins, Smith even teared up a bit during the performance of Wreckage. Even though his popularity right now, and an impressive listener count of 8.9 million on Spotify alone, Nate Smith is just getting started and is definitely a name you are going to want to remember.

Nate Smith

Avery Anna

In the intermission between Nate Smith and Lainey Wilson the Spotlight Stage came out again, showcasing a youngster by the name of Bayker Blankenship with an incredibly powerful voice. He commandeered the stage alone, as it was just him, accompanied by his guitar, playing songs from his starting discography. While his performance was impressive, we were also very interested to see Avery Anna play the Saloon stage.

Under the soft glow of string lights, we witnessed Avery Anna’s last few songs, in which she turned a bustling festival into an intimate gathering. With nothing but her voice and the gentle strum of her guitar, backed by a live band, she captured the crowd, each lyric delivered with raw emotion. Her rich, velvety tone wrapped around the audience, making a sea of strangers feel like old friends.

By the time her set ended, the applause wasn’t just enthusiastic—it was heartfelt. She hadn’t just performed; she had connected. It was clear that Avery Anna had left a lasting mark on everyone, including us.

Finally, it was time for the headliner of the day. Nate Smith already mentioned her as the Queen of Country: Lainey Wilson.

Lainey Wilson’s headlining performance at the C2C: Country to Country festival in Rotterdam Ahoy was nothing short of spectacular. The Louisiana native, known for her signature blend of modern and traditional country, delivered a powerhouse set that captivated the European audience. From the first moment onwards, Wilson enchanted the audience with her rich, soulful vocals and authentic storytelling that resonated deeply.

Lainey Wilson’s performance at C2C Rotterdam was a defining moment—not just for her own career, but for country music’s presence on the global stage. It is no secret that country music has been making major waves across the ocean lately, and the enthusiasm for this festival showcases just that. We are ecstatic that more and more country artists are making their way over to Europe.

For fans in attendance, it was an incredible day to remember—an unforgettable performance from a string of unique and inspiring artists at the top of their game.

Lainey Wilson

Glenn van den Bosch

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