NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State athletic department is bringing one of country music's biggest hitmakers of the past decade and an emerging force in the Texas country/Americana scene to headline the two-day Top of the Boot Music Festival from Oct. 16-17.
 
Lee Brice, who had a string of eight No. 1 country singles as a performer from 2012-21, will co-headline Day 1 of the festival with Bastrop native Dylan Scott. Flatland Calvary, an ACM Group of the Year nominee, will headline the Day 2 lineup.
 
"I am ecstatic to announce the lineup and the formation of the first Top of the Boot Music Festival," Northwestern State Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian said. "This event will benefit Northwestern State student-athletes by bringing an outstanding lineup of talented performers that will speak to a variety of music fans. It will showcase our campus and Natchitoches as a whole to those who come. I want to thank Kyle Rogers for lending his decades of expertise in delivering high-level festival experiences to the creation of this event. I also want to express our appreciation for the assistance of Paige Alost with the Natchitoches Visitors Bureau, Laura Lyles with the Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce, and Rebecca Blankenbaker with the Cane River National Heritage Area in helping us secure funding for this endeavor, which will enhance our student-athletes' competitive experience."
 
Brice established himself as one of country music's top balladeers with his No. 1 smashes "I Drive Your Truck" and "I Don't Dance." He scored his first No. 1 hit with 2012's "A Woman Like You" and followed that with another No. 1 in "Hard to Love."
 
Brice's other No. 1 hits include "Drinking Class," "Rumor," "If You're Happy Now" with Carly Pearce, "One of Them Girls" and "Memory I Don't Mess With."
 
His fourth career single, "Love Like Crazy," was Billboard Magazine's No. 1 country song of 2010.
 
Scott has scored four No. 1 country hits – "My Girl," "New Truck," "Can't Have Mine (Find You A Girl)," and "This Town's Been Too Good to Us" – on the U.S. Country Airplay charts. Additionally, four more of Scott's singles have peaked at No. 2 on the charts.
 
Flatland Calvary has blended Texas Country and Americana influences to land three ACM Group of the Year nominations from 2024-26. The group, which formed in Lubbock, Texas, has built a reputation as a fan favorite on the Texas/Red Dirt music scene, beginning with the release of its 2016 album "Humble Folks."
 
In addition to the headliners, the two-day festival features Rodney Atkins, who has six No. 1 country singles on his discography; rising traditional country star Ian Munsick, whose mainstream breakthrough single "Long Live Cowgirls" featured 2026 ACM Entertainer of the Year Cody Johnson, and Bottomland, a rising Texas Country group from southeast Texas.  
 
The festival will take place behind the NSU Soccer Complex, located along Tarleton Drive on the Northwestern State campus, and will feature two nights of music, local food trucks and merchandise vendors.
 
Two-day festival passes are available for $179 for VIP access and $89 for general admission. VIP access includes admission to areas closest to the stage as well as VIP bars and restrooms. Tickets are on sale now at www.topofthebootmusicfest.com. Fans also can purchase VIP suites through the web site.
 
Fans can also visit the site for more updates about the festival, including schedule updates and additional performers, which will be announced within a week.