These 3 country music events are coming to Central Texas in April — including Eric Church

Saddle up, Central Texas. April 2024 is fixin' to be a rootin', tootin', boot scootin' bonanza for (deep-pocketed) country music lovers.

On Tuesday, Cattle Country Music Festival announced plans to celebrate its first rodeo in Gonzales (an hour and some change southeast of Austin) with Eric Church, Whiskey Myers and Koe Wetzel on April 12-14.

It's the latest in a string of April events where fans of hardscrabble drinking songs, backwoods love stories and steel guitar can tip a Stetson and empty a wallet. Here's what you need to know about the coming stampede of country music happenings.

More: CMT Awards are coming back to Austin next April for another round of awards and good times

April 7: CMT Awards at the Moody Center

For the second year, the Country Music Television Award ceremony will hang its hat in Austin's Moody Center.

The CMTs brought country music stars like Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and dozens more to Austin last spring, and we had a blast. A week of events led up to the big show and gave plenty of opportunities for Austinites to get their country fix.

We won't know who's coming to town for CMT week or how to buy tickets for a hot minute, but for the inaugural Austin event tickets for the general public were available for $200-$300 in the weeks before the show. Event organizers also put out a call for "seat fillers" who were able to attend for free.

More: CMT Music Awards take over Austin. Winners, red carpet fashion and more

April 12-14: Cattle Country Music Festival in Gonzales

Set on a 400-acre Gonzales ranch dubbed "The Boot," the music and camping festival promises to celebrate "music, wine, spirits and culinary experiences in one place," according to a news release.

Chart-topping Nashville singer-songwriter Eric Church leads a lineup that also includes Texas country rockers Whiskey Myers from Palestine and Koe Wetzel from Pittsburgh. Other artists on the bill include Randy Rogers Band, Tanya Tucker, Sublime with Rome (Eric Wilson from Sublime with Rome Ramirez) and Icelandic blues rockers Kaleo.

"My Truck" singer Breland, who just did a steamy cameo during Shania Twain's Austin City Limits Music Festival headline set after hosting Venus Williams during his own set last month, also will be on hand, alongside Shane Smith and the Saints, Colbie Caillat and more.

Tickets start at $125 for single-day and $199 for two-day. Various VIP and "glamping" experiences are available. More information at CattleCountryFest.com.

More: Shania Twain's neon hootenanny at ACL Fest is a boot scootin' blast

April 20-21: Two Step Inn in Georgetown

The country music festival from ACL Fest producers C3 Presents will take a second swing around Georgetown's San Gabriel Park with another lineup that celebrates both modern hit-makers and legends of the genre.

More: At Two Step Inn, Zach Bryan and Travis Tritt talk it out while T-Pain walks it out

Texas singer-songwriter Cody Johnson leads the bill on day one while Central Texas' favorite Okies, the Turnpike Troubadours, take top billing on day two. Other artists set to perform include Hank Williams Jr., Clint Black, Ryan Bingham with the Texas Gentleman, Colter Wall, Charley Crockett, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack, Megan Moroney and (checks notes) rapper Ludacris.

Two-day general admission tickets to Two Step Inn are on sale now for $349 at twostepinn.com/tickets. Multiple VIP levels are available.

Staff writer Kelsey Bradshaw contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Love country music? Check out these 3 events in April near Austin