FREE 2014 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL KICK-OFF CONCERT TO TAKE PLACE JUNE 4 ON THE CHEVROLET RIVERFRONT STAGE

The 2014 CMA Music Festival will kick off in rockin’ style with the CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Concert on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage. The free event takes place Wednesday, June 4(11:00 AM-4:30 PM/CT), the day before the official start of CMA Music Festival, a four-day event taking over downtown Nashville, Thursday through Sunday, June 5-8.

The Chevrolet Riverfront Stage will be the epicenter of Country and rock on the bank of the Cumberland River with a must-see lineup that includes international talent, Southern rock icons, and a Country artist with a royal pedigree.

The 2014 CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Concert features eight diverse acts including four international artists: Lindsay Ell, Tim Hicks, andSmall Town Pistols from Canada, and Morgan Evans from Australia. Rounding out the lineup are honky-tonk traditionalists Brazilbilly, Shooter Jennings performing with Waymore’s Outlaws, his father Waylon Jennings’ touring and studio backing band, three time Grammy-nominated bluegrass ensemble The Grascals, and Southern rock legends The Marshall Tucker Band.

“The Wednesday concert offers an energetic set of performances to kick-off the exciting four days of concerts that follow,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “It also gives everyone an excuse to come downtown a day early and enjoy free music in a great venue with enthusiastic fans from around the world.”

Kick-Off Concert performer Jennings will be making his CMA Music Festival debut, but will carry on a family legacy. His father Waylon performed at the first Fan Fair in 1972, and continued performing at the annual event throughout the 1990s.

The Marshall Tucker Band made their Festival debut in 2013 to a huge crowd at the Walk of Fame Park. Moving to the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage was a natural choice for the popular group.

“The Marshall Tucker Band’s performance at CMA Music Festival last year generated so much enthusiasm with Festival fans and became such a highlight of last year’s event that we are proud to announce that their legendary sound will be part of our 2014 CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Concert lineup,” said Trahern.

“During a year of real winners in Country Music we have been given another sweet invitation to kick off CMA week,” said The Marshall Tucker Band lead singer and founding member Doug Gray. “We are very proud to again be a part of the biggest festival in Country Music. We’ve recently been mentioned in some new hit songs from several young stars and we’re so grateful for all the love pouring in from Nashville. Our 2014 Take the Highway Tour is headed to CMA Music Festival this June!”

Gates at Riverfront Park will open at 10:00 AM/CT for fans to find the perfect spot to enjoy the day-long concert.

While tickets to the Nightly Concerts at LP Field are sold out, there are numerous other entertainment and music stages, special events, and activities throughout downtown Nashville to enjoy during CMA Music Festival.

CMA Music Festival’s newest attraction, AT&T U-verse^® Fan Fair X at the Music City Center, features artist performances, celebrity Q&A sessions, and more. Fans can play paparazzi and snap photos of the stars, shop the Fan Fair X Marketplace, and more. Fan Fair X tickets are $10 a day or $25 for four days. Children eight and under are admitted free. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or the CMA Music Festival Box Office by calling 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378) (price includes handling fees). Visit CMAfest.com for details.

The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, bringing 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. More than 40 years later, the now legendary Festival has become the city’s signature music event. In 2014, CMA Music Festival will host visitors from every state and 21 foreign countries.

For all the latest info on CMA Music Festival visitCMAfest.com. To stay connected with CMA visitFacebook.com/CMA, Twitter.com/CountryMusic, and Instagram.com/CMA or text FESTIVAL to 66937.

CMA Music Festival will once again be filmed for a national television special to air on the ABC Television Network. This is the 11^th consecutive year that the event has been filmed for a network television special, a feat no other music festival has achieved. “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” will be executive-produced by Robert Deaton. 

About Chevrolet: Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.9 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found atchevrolet.com.

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. Bud Light is the Official Beer of the CMA Music Festival. Pepsi is the Official Soft Drink of the CMA Music Festival.  Bad Boy Buggies are the Official UTV of the CMA Music Festival.