Wrapping up its first year in the Country Music Capital of Canada, the Rockin’ River Music Festival saw nearly 25,000 people attend the four-day event.

Country music stars such as Lady Antebellum (left), Dallas Smith (bottom left), Tebey (bottom right), Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (top), Twin Kennedy, Big & Rich (bottom middle), The Boom Chucka Boys (right) and Ridley Bent graced the stages to usher in a new era of country music in Merritt, four years after the Merritt Mountain Music Festival packed up.

Although ticket sales weren’t as strong as organizer Kenny Hess was hoping for, he said it was a good start to something that he’s confident will continue to grow.

Musical acts are already in the process of being booked for next year, as American country music singer Sam Hunt has already been confirmed.