Artist Red Carpet Arrivals, Fashion Show, Music, And Much More Added To Fan Fair Hall During CMA Music Festival

Individual Tickets to the Fan Fair Hall at the Nashville Convention Center Available for $25; $20 if Purchased With a CMA Music Festival Nightly Concert Ticket for LP Field

NASHVILLE – Live performances, exciting new events, lifestyle exhibits, and autograph signings are the centerpiece of the Fan Fair® Hall during the 2012 CMA Music Festival, which will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 7-10 in Nashville, Tenn.

“The unique bond between our artists and their fans has been the foundation of this event since it began as Fan Fair in 1972,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “And the epicenter of that relationship exists today in the Fan Fair Hall.”

“We are constantly looking for ways to enhance the experience for our fans and the artists and we have made several exciting changes and additions to the Fan Fair Hall this year that are sure to be popular with our attendees,”said Sheri Warnke, CMA Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing.

Hours for the Fan Fair Hall are Thursday through Saturday June 7-9 from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM/CT; Sunday, June 10 from 10:00 AM-3:00 PM.

Each day new names are being added to the list of celebrities signing in the Fan Fair Hall including Lauren Alaina, Bill Anderson, Lynn Anderson, Laura Bell Bundy, Bucky Covington, Cowboy Troy, Billy Dean, Donna Fargo, Colt Ford, William Lee Golden, Jack Greene, Casey James, Joey + Rory, The Lacs, LoCash Cowboys, Manuel, The McClymonts, Scotty McCreery, Robin Meade, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, LuLu Roman, Matt Stillwell, Doug Stone, Two Foot Fred, Bryan White, Winfield’s Locket, Chris Young, and many more to be announced soon.

Fans gather around the CMA booth in the Fan Fair hall during the 2011 CMA Music Festival. Photo Credit: Jim Hagans

Durango Acoustic Corner Broadcast by 650 AM WSM

CMA Music Festival is about music and the fans and you will find both in the Durango Acoustic Corner Broadcast by 650 AM WSM. For the first time in 2012, the Durango Acoustic Corner is moving to the floor of the convention center with seating for fans and continuous music.

Performances take place Thursday through Saturday, June 7-9 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM; on Sunday, June 10 from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM. Schedule in order of appearance (subject to change):

Thursday, June 7 – Gene Watson, Georgette Jones, Lulu Roman, Riders in the Sky, Bryan White. Jesse Keith Whitley, James Wesley, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Black Lillies, Billy Dean

Friday, June 8 – The Roys, Bucky Covington, Janie Fricke, Gwen Sebastian, Buddy Jewell, T. Graham Brown, Carter’s Chord, Jimmy Fortune, Marty Raybon, Con Hunley

Saturday, June 9 – Dana Romanello, Jason Michael Carroll, Lonesome River Band, Heidi Newfield, Doug Stone, Mark Wills, Lynn Anderson, Teea Goans, Chase Rice, Joanna Smith

Sunday, June 10 – Donna Ulisse & The Poor Mountain Boys, Chuck Wagon Gang, Sarah Darling, The Grascals, Due West, The McClymonts, Lesley McDaniel, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

Fan Fair Hall Red Carpet

Fans get to be the paparazzi! An exciting new feature of the Fan Fair Hall in 2012 is the Red Carpet where fans can take photos of their favorite stars as they arrive to sign autographs throughout the day.

“Crowding around booths sometimes made it difficult to get a good photo of an artist, but with this new area with a raised Red Carpet, fans will have a much better opportunity to get that coveted photo of a favorite artist as they enter or leave the Hall,” Warnke said.

Wrangler Fashion Show

The Wrangler Fashion Show is the place for Country Music fashionistas to see artists modeling the hottest styles. Hosted by GAC personality Suzanne Alexander, the Wrangler Fashion Show will be held Saturday, June 9 (1:00-2:00 PM) at the Fan Fair Hall Red Carpet.

The Wrangler Fashion Show will be a showcase of Wrangler fashion with additional designs from Manuel, designer to the stars who is known world-wide for his embellished and embroidered motifs. Manuel will also be embellishing a two Wrangler items that will be auctioned after CMA Music Festival to raise funds for CMA’s music education campaign, Keep the Music Playing. Durango Boots will be providing footwear for all models.

Budweiser Supports Folds of Honor Foundation

As part of their Fan Fair Hall exhibit, Budweiser is continuing their 100+ year commitment to the brave men and women of the U.S. armed forces by partnering with the Folds of Honor Foundation to honor the sacrifices of the fallen and support their families through scholarships and other opportunities.

Budweiser is dedicating the 2012 baseball season to recognizing their sacrifices through the Walk-Off A Hero program; for every walk-off win, Budweiser will donate $5,000 to Folds of Honor. Budweiser is also pleased to feature special patriotic cans and bottles available in stores this summer.

Additionally, Budweiser will be donating a portion of sales (April 20-July 7) to Folds of Honor Foundation. These programs are all part of an effort to raise as much as $2.5 million. The partnership between the Folds of Honor Foundation and Budweiser will significantly expand the mission to help these deserving military families.

The Fan Fair Hall Marketplace

Special mementos and unique fashions can be found in the Fan Fair Hall Marketplace featuring a variety of vendors including Apparel, The Charleston Soap Company, Dillards for the Reba Brand, Hillbilly Brand, Manuel, Mignon’s, Twisted Sisters, and more.

New Autograph Drawing

CMA recently announced new procedures for autograph seekers to enhance the overall Festival experience, improve safety, and make the process for securing a treasured autograph equitable for all Festival goers. The new system will be a drawing with online sign ups and advance notification, which will enable Festival goers to better schedule their time so they can attend concerts and take part in free events and activities rather than waiting in line in hopes of securing a signature. The advance sign-up system creates a level playing field for all fans to enter for their chance to win an autograph signing ticket.

Here is how it works: Individual booths will no longer distribute tickets for autograph signings each morning inside the Hall. Instead, fans will enter a random drawing for the opportunity to meet various artists appearing in the Fan Fair Exhibit Hall. Patrons will enter this drawing in advance of CMA Music Festival via an online entry form at CMAfest.com. Entering the drawing is easy:

Go to www.CMAfest.com anytime until May 28 (ending at 5:00 PM/CT).
Patrons enter their contact information and then select from the list of participating artists signing autographs in the Hall.
Patrons may select as few or as many of the artists listed to be entered to win a ticket for each respective signing.
Once the entry has been submitted, it can’t be changed. Duplicate entries will not be considered.
All winners will be notified on Friday, June 1 via email.

The confirmation emails will contain detailed information on which artist(s) the fan gets to meet as well as the date, time, and location of the signings inside the Fan Fair Hall, plus instructions on where, when, and how to retrieve autograph wrist bands inside the Nashville Convention Center.

Tickets for the Fan Fair Hall

CMA Music Festival four-day ticket holders aren’t the only lucky ones with access to the Fan Fair Hall. Tickets to visit the Fan Fair Hall cost $25 per ticket, per day; $20 if purchased with a ticket to one of the Nightly Concerts at LP Field. Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster.com (http://www.ticketmaster.com/Country-Music-Festival-tickets/artist/1711387). Tickets will also be available at the Nashville Convention Center at the Commerce Street entrance beginning Wednesday, June 6 from 9:00 AM-6:00 PM.

CMA Music Festival is the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience – a celebration of America’s music that takes over downtown Nashville with non-stop concerts on multiple stages with a vast and varied roster of artists. CMA Music Festival is a four-time winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010).

CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. Fan Fair® is a registered trademark of CMA. Chevrolet™ is the Official Ride of Country Music. BIC is an Official Partner of the 2012 CMA Music Festival. Connect with CMA online at CMAfest.com, Facebook.com/CMA and Twitter.com/CountryMusic.