On what appeared to be a beautiful sunny day at the opening of the fourth annual Rock The Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, tens of thousands of attendees packed the sand.  For the first Friday show in Tortuga history – a third day was added this year to accommodate the demand – fans were treated to amazing performances by Cam, Kristian Bush, Randy Houser, and more. 

As the day rolled on and clouds started darkening, threatening lightning storms and severe winds became imminent, causing festival producers HUKA Entertainment to make the decision for a full evacuation – another first in the history of the fest.  

Fans loyally waited out the storm in the hopes of a return, to see headliner Dierks Bentley.  Quite a storm ensued, but because of minimal damage on site, gates were reopened to an enthusiastic crowd.  Despite the storms, fans got to experience “the sweet release of a Friday night,” as Dierks sang to a jam-packed audience during his closing set. 

After a tremendous opening day of 2016’s Tortuga Music Festival, fans will keep the party going with two more days of great music from Sam Hunt, Kelsea Ballerini, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Thomas Rhett, Elle King, headliners Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton, and many more.