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Tag Archives | CMA Music Festival

“CMA Fest” Hosted By Thomas Rhett And Kelsea Ballerini Premieres Aug. 8 At 8/7c On ABC

By on July 27, 2018 in In The Press

Courtesy of CMA

“CMA Fest,” the Music Event of Summer, premieres Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network. The three-hour primetime special broadcasts for its 15th straight year, with Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini returning as hosts, bringing Country Music’s Ultimate Fan Experience to a national television audience.

Filmed during Nashville’s 47th annual CMA Fest in June, the television special showcases 29 of music’s hottest acts as they hit the stage during the four-day festival. Don’t miss performances by Jason Aldean, Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Dustin Lynch, Midland, Old Dominion, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Cole Swindell, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Brett Young. Special guest collaborations include Lauren Alaina joining Brown, Julia Michaels joining Urban, Morgan Wallen joining Florida Georgia Line, and Dwight Yoakam joining Bentley. Brown, Combs, Midland, Michaels, Pardi, Pearce and Wallen make their debut performances on the “CMA Fest” television special. 2018 marks the 15th consecutive year of the broadcast, a feat no other U.S. music festival has achieved.
Thomas Rhett returns to host “CMA Fest” for a third year, and Ballerini returns for a second year. Both artists hosted “CMA Fest” in 2017. “CMA Fest” is executive produced by Robert Deaton.

About CMA Fest
The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Having just wrapped its 47th year, the legendary festival has become the city’s signature Country Music event that hosts fans from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and 36 foreign countries. In 2018, CMA Fest featured 11 stages with over 300 acts – all to benefit music education. Since 2006, CMA and the CMA Foundation have invested more than $21 million to sustainable music education initiatives across the U.S. thanks to the fans who attend CMA Fest and the artists who donate their time.

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CMA Music Festival: Your Survival Guide From A Nearly Native Nashvillian

By on May 30, 2018 in Music, Special Events

Photo credit: Courtney Davidson for FOCUS on the 615

Well, the biggest country music festival in the world, CMA Music Festival, is nearly upon us. We couldn’t be any more excited!

Truth be told, living in Nashville nearly my entire life, which is why I call myself a “nearly native Nashvillian”, I wasn’t always a big fan of Fan Fair as it used to be called many moons ago. For Nashvillians, it always brought a ton of people to town, lots of traffic, and interuption of our daily lives just trying to get to work or wherever.

Back then, I really was not a fan of country music at all, either. I just did not get the appeal then. Boy, I was I missing out!

Photo credit: Courtney Davidson for FOCUS on the 615

I guess you could say I had a “come to Jesus” moment with country music. I realized that, gasp, I liked it after all. I started attending CMA Music Festival almost 20 years ago. So, I think maybe I can give you some advice on just how survive it AND enjoy it to the fullest.

Photo credit: Courtney Davidson for FOCUS on the 615

First of all, prepare for some major heat and humidity. Traditionally, it always seems to be the hottest week of the year for us. Oh, I know it gets hotter in August, but it just FEELS a lot hotter when you are in the middle of those large crowds and walking all over. Bring lots of sunscreen and don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Ducking into the Goo Goo Cluster Store downtown off of 3rd Ave. South isn’t such a bad idea, either. You briefly escape the crowds while enjoying a tasty ice cream sundae inside with the air conditioning. Surprisingly, it’s not usually too crowded in there.

There’s always tons of great local food available from the many food trucks lined up between the Country Music Hall of Fame, that also has events going on, and Music City Center. You won’t ever be hungry. Bring some cash, though, since all don’t take credit cards.

Second, here in Nashville, we don’t typically wear sundresses, cowboy hats, and cowboy boots. We know you’re from out of town when we see that. Not that there is anything wrong with any of those things. It’s festive and seems fitting. My first thought is how hot, tired, and blistered their feet must be in cowboy boots walking everywhere in the heat. Ouch! Sandals, flip flops or tennis shoes are the best for the festival.

You might find yourself with a headache due to too much sun, maybe too much to drink, and listening to all of the loud music. So pack some Tylenol or something to bring with you because once you get downtown at the festival, it is darn near impossible to find anything to relieve a headache. If you do, it will probably cost a fortune. Trust me, I forgot some once and suffered for hours.

Don’t carry too much stuff, though, you don’t want to be stuck lugging a heavy bag around all day and you will need a clear bag to carry it to get into the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium to get past security.

Most importantly, have fun! It’s a great time with plenty of great music to enjoy and country artists to meet. It’s all happening in downtown Nashville June 7th-10th. Maybe this year it won’t be SO hot, but it probably will.

Remember, there are the free shows during the day time, plus free nightly concerts at Ascend Amphitheatre if you want to enjoy a smaller venue besides the stadium. That’s where I am planning to spend a lot of my time and my favorite venue for concerts with a great view of the city.

NASHVILLE, TN – JUNE 10: An outside view of the HGTV Lodge during CMA Music Fest on June 10, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for HGTV)

Another favorite is the HGTV Lodge. Always intimate shows inside with some fans circulating some air to escape the heat for a bit and enjoy the music closer up.

Fan Fair X inside Music City Center offers great opportunities to meet some of your favorite country artists and avoid the summer heat for a while, too. It also has some fun shows inside on the CMA Close-Up stage and Radio Disney stage. It’s not free. You’ll need to buy a pass for it.

So much fun stuff to do all around Nashville and great music to enjoy. Additionally, did you know that all of the artists graciously donate their time and performances for free at the festival? They don’t make a dime. Instead, all the money goes to producing the festival year after year and to the CMA Foundation, which raises money to support music education.

Don’t forget to download the CMA Fest app to get all of the latest updates, plan the performances you want to see, and it’s just a great way to keep track of everything happening at the festival right on your phone, which you know you will have with you anyway!

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Cassadee Pope Invites Fans ‘Home’ To Nashville For The CMA Music Festival

By on May 22, 2018 in In The Press

Cassadee Pope’s recent single release, “Take You Home,” has resonated with her fans to the tune of more than 3 million streams. It’s marked the GRAMMY® award-nominated, platinum-certified country hit maker’s return, not only with a renewed and refreshed outlook on her music, but with an unwavering commitment and gratitude for her fans.

“I really felt like I wanted to be able to give someone the chance to experience the CMA Festival,” said Pope. “It’s an amazing experience, really unlike anything else, which I hope will give someone a feel for what makes my home tick.”

The “Take You Home…To Nashville”, appropriately named for her recent single release “Take You Home,” begins today at www.cassadeepope.com. Fans can enter to win two round-trip airfare tickets, hotel accommodations, tickets to the nightly CMA Music Festival concerts at Nissan Stadium and exclusive access to Pope’s first fan celebration with private meet & greet. The winner will be randomly drawn on Friday, May 25th.

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CMA Fest: Free Nightly Concerts Return To Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage At Ascend Amphitheatre June 7-9

By on April 28, 2018 in In The Press

RaeLynn performs at the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater on Saturday, June 10 during the 2017 CMA Music Festival in downtown Nashville.

The Country Music Association has announced the return of the popular free nightly concerts during CMA Fest at the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage located in downtown Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater Thursday, June 7 through Saturday, June 9, starting at 7:00 PM/CT each evening. 

Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater Presented by BBR Music Group kicks off festivities Thursday night with a lineup of non-stop music featuring Chase Bryant, Craig Campbell, Lindsay Ell, Everette, Chase Rice, Runaway June, and Granger Smith.  
Lee Brice will headline Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater Presented by Red Light Management on Friday night. The lineup also includes Clare Dunn, Tyler Farr, Maddie & Tae, and Drake White and The Big Fire.  
Saturday fans will enjoy Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater Presented by Warner Music Nashville for the second year featuring Cole Swindell joined by Cale Dodds, Morgan Evans, Michael Ray, and Tegan Marie.  
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® returns to CMA Fest with Rock With Us, a rocking chair experience Thursday through Saturday. The brand will turn Ascend Park and the nearby John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge into a true Cracker Barrel front porch experience by displaying 100 rocking chairs as well as three giant rockers making their festival debut. Fans are encouraged to post photos in the rockers on their social media channels using the hashtag #CBMusic. During CMA Fest in 2017, Cracker Barrel raised $15,000 for the CMA Foundation through a rocking chair experience. Additional details for this year’s Rock With Us will be announced soon.      
“Cracker Barrel shares our same passion for music and social responsibility, which is why we are thrilled to continue our partnership into a second year with a great lineup of acts performing nightly on the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater and helping to raise funds for music education and the CMA Foundation,” said Emily Evans, CMA Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships. 
“Music and entertainment are an important part of the Cracker Barrel brand because it provides us an authentic and emotional connection with our guests,” said Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Senior Marketing Manager Julie Ulmer. “We were thrilled to bring free nightly concerts to festival goers at the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage last year and look forward to our second year at CMA Fest.” 
Fans can purchase the CMA Fest Nash Pass for $60, allowing a limited amount of VIP early access to nightly shows at the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater. The Nash Pass will also include Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum tour, Ryman Auditorium tour and four-day admission to Fan Fair X in Music City Center. Fan Fair X activities and stage lineups will be announced in the coming weeks.  
A limited number of tickets for the Nightly Concerts at Nissan Stadium are still available through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST. Nightly concert tickets also include four-day access to Fan Fair X. Outdoor daytime stages including the Breakout Stage, Budweiser Forever Country Park Stage, Riverfront Stage and others to be announced soon are free and open to the public. All artist lineups are subject to change.
Don’t miss a beat—get connected with CMA on CMAfest.com, the Official CMA Fest App, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and sign up for CMA Country Connection emails to receive the latest news as soon as it’s announced.
**Suggested Tweet**: Nightly #CMAfest concerts return to @CrackerBarrel Country Roads Stage at @Ascend_Amp June 7-9 w/ @LeeBrice, @ChaseRiceMusic, @ColeSwindell & many more! See full lineup & buy CMA Fest Nash Pass for VIP early access: CMAfest.com. <<link>> 
About CMA Fest  
The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Now in its 47th year, the legendary festival has become the city’s signature Country Music event that hosts in excess of 90,000 fans from all 50 states and two dozen foreign countries. In 2017, CMA Fest featured 11 stages with over 350 artists, 1,100 musicians, and 167 hours of music – all to benefit music education. Since 2006, CMA and the CMA Foundation have donated more than $21 million to sustainable music education initiatives across the U.S. thanks to the fans who attend CMA Fest and the artists who perform for free. CMA Fest is filmed for a three-hour ABC Television Network special. 2018 marks the 15th consecutive year of the broadcast.  
About the CMA Foundation 
Established in 2011 as the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association (CMA), the CMA Foundation is committed to improving and sustaining music education programs all across the United States, working to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music education. Through strategic partnerships, professional development and grant distribution, the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), has invested more than $21 million in over 85 programs across the national public school system, after school programs, summer camps and community outreach organizations. Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, proceeds from CMA Fest, the four-day long music festival held annually in Nashville, are used to power the CMA Foundation’s social impact and unique model of giving. 
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CMA Fest Reveals Additional Free Daytime Performances On Multiple Stages

By on April 27, 2018 in In The Press

The Country Music Association has announced additional artist performances during this year’s CMA Fest. The festival—now in its 47th year—boasts an exceptional bill of hundreds of artists performing on 11 stages throughout downtown Nashville Thursday through Sunday, June 7-10.
The Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Hard Rock Cafe entertains fans daily from 10:45 AM-4:30 PM, with BMI programming performances Thursday, June 7 from 2:45-6:30 PM including Adam Craig, Ray Fulcher, Trea Landon, Drew Parker, Faren Rachels, and Payton Smith. Additional acts taking the Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Hard Rock Cafe include 17 Memphis, Ryan Beaver, Logan Brill, Brennley Brown, Austin Burke, Davisson Brothers Band, Travis Denning, Jeffrey East, Hannah Ellis, FILMORE, Noah Guthrie, Levi Hummon, Brett Kissel, Tegan Marie, Josh Mirenda, Hudson Moore, Hayley Orrantia, Meghan Patrick, Stephanie Quayle, Jordan Rager, Brandon Ray, Restless Road, Tyler Rich, Adam Sanders, Scooter Brown Band, Kalie Shorr, Natalie Stovall, Sweet Tea Trio, Temecula Road, Mitchell Tenpenny, The Last Bandoleros, Tyminski, and Carter Winter.

Located inside the NCVC Visitor Center at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville Acoustic Corner Stage will take place daily from 11:00 AM-4:40 PM. Thursday’s performances are presented by ASCAP and feature Max Camp, Hannah Dasher, Austin Jenckes, Parker McKay, Steven Lee Olsen, Riley Roth, Steel Union, Matt Stell, TRAVLRS, and Sarah Allison Turner, while Friday’s performances are presented by SESAC and feature Spencer Crandall, Ben Danaher, Erin Enderlin, Livy Jeanne, Jordyn Mallory, Tom O’Connor, Jake Rose, Seaforth, SZLACHETKA, and Jenny Tolman. Saturday and Sunday’s performances include Baylou, Craig Wayne Boyd, Lewis Brice, Emily Brooke, Kenton Bryant, Dallas Caroline, Ruthie Collins, Dalton & the Sheriffs, Sarah Darling, Haley & Michaels, Halfway to Hazard, Lucas Hoge, House Whiskey, Madison Kozak, Kendell Marvel, Ian Munsick, Ray Scott, George Shingleton, Sons of Daughters, and Tara Thompson.

All outdoor daytime stages, including both the Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Hard Rock Cafe and Nashville Acoustic Corner Stage, are free and open to the public.
A limited number of tickets for the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium are still available through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST. Nightly concert tickets also include four-day access to Fan Fair X; Fan Fair X activities and stage lineups will be announced soon.
Don’t miss a beat—download the CMA Fest app, or get connected with CMA on CMAfest.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and sign up for CMA Country Connection emails to receive the latest news as soon as it’s announced.

About CMA Fest

The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Now in its 47th year, the legendary festival has become the city’s signature Country Music event that hosts in excess of 90,000 fans from all 50 states and two dozen foreign countries. In 2017, CMA Fest featured 11 stages with over 350 artists, 1,100 musicians, and 167 hours of music – all to benefit music education. Since 2006, CMA and the CMA Foundation have donated more than $21 million to sustainable music education initiatives across the U.S. thanks to the fans who attend CMA Fest and the artists who perform for free. CMA Fest is filmed for a three-hour ABC Television Network special. 2018 marks the 15th consecutive year of the broadcast.

About the CMA Foundation

Established in 2011 as the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association (CMA), the CMA Foundation is committed to improving and sustaining music education programs across the United States, working to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music education. Through strategic partnerships, professional development and grant distribution, the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), has invested over $21 million in 85 programs across the national public school system, after school programs, summer camps and community outreach organizations. Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, proceeds from CMA Fest are used to drive the CMA Foundation’s social impact and unique model of giving.

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CMA Fest Announces 2018 Performance Line-up

By on March 21, 2018 in In The Press

The Country Music Association proudly reveals the initial artist lineup for this year’s CMA Fest. Now in its 47th year, CMA Fest boasts an exceptional bill of hundreds of artists performing on 11 stages throughout downtown Nashville Thursday through Sunday, June 7-10.

Billboard named CMA Fest its No. 1 Country Music festival in the U.S. in 2017, raving, “When it comes to great Country Music festivals, this one has been – and is – the gold standard.” Last year’s CMA Fest drew sold-out crowds and the largest fan engagement by Country Music fans in the event’s history from visitors from all 50 states and nearly 20 international countries. CMA Fest is the longest-running Country Music festival in the world with proceeds going directly to helping enrich and sustain music education programs across the country through CMA’s nonprofit arm, the CMA Foundation, thanks to every artist at the festival donating their time.

Taking the nightly NISSAN STADIUM stage this year are Country Music superstars Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Brett Eldredge, Dan + Shay, Charles Esten and Friends, Florida Georgia Line, Dustin Lynch, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Ricky Skaggs, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lee Ann Womack, and Brett Young. Several acts join this year’s Nissan Stadium lineup for the first time with full sets and special performances including Brown, Combs, Dan + Shay, Old Dominion, Pardi, Pearce and Young. In addition, Lauren Alaina and Bebe Rexha will make guest appearances. Stadium gates open daily at 6:00 PM with performances starting at 8:00 PM. A limited number of four-day tickets for the nightly performances at Nissan Stadium are still available at CMAfest.com/tickets or through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST.

Always a fan favorite, RIVERFRONT STAGE returns once again with a lineup that will keep crowds rocking from 10:00 AM-5:15 PM each day. Reigning CMA New Artist of the Year Jon Pardi kicks things off Thursday, June 7 (10:00 AM). Additional artists scheduled include A Thousand Horses, Lauren Alaina, Frankie Ballard, Lee Brice, Chase Bryant, Cam, Craig Campbell, Easton Corbin, Jordan Davis, Devin Dawson, Gavin DeGraw, Russell Dickerson, Drake White and The Big Fire, Lindsay Ell, Tyler Farr, Hunter Hayes, Walker Hayes, High Valley, Home Free, LANCO, Chris Lane, LOCASH, Maddie & Tae, Scotty McCreery, William Michael Morgan, Parmalee, Eric Paslay, Carly Pearce, Cassadee Pope, RaeLynn, Michael Ray, Dylan Scott, Canaan Smith, Corey Smith, Granger Smith, The Cadillac Three, Morgan Wallen, and Aaron Watson.

Located in Walk of Fame Park, the BREAKOUT STAGE will entertain crowds daily from 10:30 AM-4:55 PM with performances by Jimmie Allen, Abby Anderson, Kassi Ashton, Drew Baldridge, Chris Bandi, Big Smo, Ashley Campbell, Crowder, Jacob Davis, Delta Rae, Cale Dodds, Adam Doleac, Clare Dunn, Brooke Eden, Riley Green, Trent Harmon, Sundance Head, James Barker Band, Jillian Jacqueline, Krystal Keith and Lance Carpenter, Jon Langston, Love and Theft, Ashley McBryde, Logan Mize, Steve Moakler, Muscadine Bloodline, Jerrod Niemann, Luke Pell, Josh Phillips, Radio Romance, Maggie Rose, Runaway June, Dylan Schneider, Sister Hazel, SmithField, The Wild Feathers, Michael Tyler, Walker McGuire, Waterloo Revival, and Charlie Worsham.

Returning for a second year, the BUDWEISER FOREVER COUNTRY STAGE will take place from 11:00 AM-4:45 PM daily. Featuring some of the biggest names in Country Music from recent decades, this year’s lineup includes Keith Anderson, David Ball, John Berry, BlackHawk, Terri Clark, Mark Collie, Billy Dean, Joe Diffie, Exile, “Forever Country, Never Forgotten: A Tribute to Those Lost from Country Music,” Andy Griggs, Wade Hayes, Ty Herndon, Honky Tonkin’ with Tracy Lawrence (and special guests), Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Little Texas, Lonestar, Mila Mason, Terry McBride, Lorrie Morgan, Heidi Newfield, Jamie O’Neal, Lee Roy Parnell, Restless Heart, Shenandoah, Doug Supernaw, The Bellamy Brothers, Mark Wills, Darryl Worley, and Michelle Wright.

Outdoor daytime performances at Budweiser Forever Country, Riverfront and Breakout stages are free and open to the public. All artist lineups are subject to change.

Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, proceeds from CMA Fest are used to drive the CMA Foundation’s mission of enriching and sustaining music education programs. Through strategic partnerships, professional development and grant distribution, the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), has invested over $20 million in 85 programs across the national public school system, after school programs, summer camps and with community outreach organizations.

Additional stage lineups, Fan Fair X activities, and more will be announced in the coming weeks. Don’t miss a beat—get connected with CMA on CMAfest.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and sign up for CMA Country Connection emails to receive the latest news as soon as it’s announced.

CMA Fest will once again be filmed for a three-hour national television special to air on the ABC Television Network. This is the 15th consecutive year the festival has been filmed for a broadcast event. “CMA Fest” is executive produced and written by Robert Deaton and directed by Gary Halvorson.

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Our Favorite Moments From CMA Music Festival 2017

By on July 1, 2017 in Music, Special Events, The Latest

Garth Brooks performs on night one of CMA Music Festival as a surprise guest. Photo credit: Courtney Davidson

CMA Music Festival is always one of our favorite times of the year when downtown Nashville is filled with country music and fans from around the world converge on our great city.

We thought we would relive some of our favorite moments from the festival in anticipation of it airing on ABC on August 16th beginning at 7pm/central, and because we just want to go back.

1) It put a smile on our faces to walk across the pedistrian bridge first thing on Thursday and spot all those people decked out in pink walking with all those cute dogs in Miranda Lambert’s Muttnation to help get numerous dogs needing a forever home adopted.  Loved the start and could not have asked for a more perfect day to start the festival.

2) Who didn’t love it when Garth Brooks surprised us on night one of the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium? Always the consummate entertainer, and we loved every minute of it.

3) We loved Warner Music night at Ascend Amphitheatre and hearing new artist Cale Dodds.  Such personality and great songs.  One to watch.

4) Interviewing Luke Pell and getting to see him perform live for the first time on the Chevy Park stage.  Nice, talented guy who most will remember from Jojo’s season of “The Bachelorette”.

5) Attending High Valley’s fan club party at Warner Music on Music Row.  Sometimes it was just nice to get away from all the hustle & bustle downtown.  High Valley especially impressed.  Loved their harmonies and hearing them live for the first time.   They have this great blend of traditional country blended with today’s radio-friendly sound as they incorporate lots of the bluegrass instruments missing from most country artists’ music today.

6) Attending anything over at Warner Music for the Warner Sound during the festival with the cool Bic Lounge offering men free shaves and everyone 21 & up free drinks.  It was very relaxing just being over there.

7) Attending Sofar Nashville, a surprise pop-up show that happened at Warner Music on Music Row.  We especially loved Australian artist Morgan Evans signed to Warner Music and engaged to Kelsea Ballerini.  Great personality, voice, and good music.  It was a relaxing time.

8) City of Hope celebrity softball game is always a fun time, but it sure was hot out there that day.  Still fun and they broke their record for attendance this year.

9) Pandora’s “Sounds Like Country” concert was a fun time.  Boy, that line seemed neverending to get in, but worth it to see RaeLynn, Old Dominion, and Jake Owen at Marathon Music Works.

10) The Pepsi Firehouse was a cool experience with great food, specialty drinks, a chance to hear some new music from a few up and coming artists, and getting to see Devin Dawson perform an intimate set in a very cool setting.

Bonus: Kicking off the festival with Sony’s LANco at Flipside in 12South area enjoying drinks and checking out their new mural inspired by their new single, “American Love Story”, painted by artist Neon Lumberjack.

LANco with mural artist Neon Lumberjack

Don’t miss CMA Music Festival airing on ABC on August 16th at 7pm/central to see many of the nightly performances hosted by Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini.

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Big Machine Re-Launches Flagship Store During CMA Fest, Tasting Event, And Signings

By on June 8, 2017 in In The Press

Big Machine Label Group proudly announces the re-launch of its newly designed brand store located in downtown Nashville just in time for CMA Music Festival. The flagship space, which originally opened in June 2015 at 122 Third Avenue South, has become a destination for fans seeking exclusive BMLG artist merchandise, one-of-a-kind acoustic performances and opportunities to support music education through the Music Has Value program.

The Big Machine Store officially welcomed fans on 6/7. Open from 10:00A to 11:00P throughout CMA Music Festival, fans can visit the store for a chance to meet BMLG star artists like Florida Georgia Line, Brett Young, Drake White and catch a few special performances. A full schedule can be found at SoundtrackToSummer.com.

As announced last week, Big Machine Label Group is debuting a premium, platinum-filtered spirit. While the aptly named Big Machine Vodka will soon become available in the Middle Tennessee region. Fans ages 21 and older who visit the Big Machine store during CMA Fest will be among the first to have a taste during the POUR IT ON World Premiere tasting event, featuring Big Machine Platinum Filtered Premium Vodka, Clayton James Tennessee Whiskey and All Mighty 140 Shine bottled and distilled by Tenn South Distillery in Lynnville, TN.

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Warner Music Nashville Announces The Warner Sound Presented By BIC® Flex5 Hybrid™

By on June 1, 2017 in In The Press

Warner Music Nashville (WMN) is proud to announce the sixth year of The Warner Sound, an exciting week of events in support of CMA Music Fest, June 8-11. Held at WMN’s headquarters in the heart of Nashville’s historic Music Row (20 Music Square East), The Warner Sound presented by BIC® Flex5 Hybrid™ will feature fan parties and performances from WMN artists including Cole Swindell, Brett Eldredge, Brandy Clark, Hunter Hayes, Devin Dawson, Cale Dodds, Bailey Bryan, Ryan Kinder, William Michael Morgan, Morgan Evans, RaeLynn, Charlie Worsham, High Valley and Michael Ray. Additionally, guests will enjoy a custom barber shop experience courtesy of BIC® Flex5 Hybrid™ at the “Sip & Shave” lounge, including shaves and hot towel service by Rudy’s Barbershop, a full bar, product samples and a place to kick back and relax. The BIC® Flex5 Hybrid™ “Sip & Shave” lounge is open daily from 10AM to 6PM.

 

The Warner Sound Presented By BIC® Flex5 Hybrid™  June 8-11

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

10:00 AM        Cole Swindell                          Down Home Crew Party

11:00 AM        Brett Eldredge                          Fan Party * 21 Music Square East

1:00 PM           Warner Chappell Writers         Lyrical Lunch Hour

4:00 PM           Brandy Clark                           Fan Party

 

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

10:00 AM        Hunter Hayes                           Songs in the Round Party

1:00 PM           Blake Shelton                                      Blake Bingo *Blake not in attendance

4:00 PM           WMN Artists                            Family BBQ feat. Ryan Kinder, Bailey Bryan,

Devin Dawson and Cale Dodds

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

10:00 AM        William Michael Morgan         Fan Party

1:00 PM           Morgan Evans                          Sofar Sounds Event

4:00 PM           RaeLynn                                  RaVe Party

 

SUNDAY, JUNE 11

10:00 AM        Charlie Worsham                     Donuts & Jam Fan Party

1:00 PM           High Valley                             Fan Party

4:00 PM           Michael Ray                            Sunday Funday Fan Party

 

WMN also has other events being held around town, including:

  • SiriusXM The Highway presents Saturday, June 10 at Ascend Amphitheatre’s Cracker Barrel Country Roads stage with Dan + Shay, Hunter Hayes,High Valley and RaeLynn. Additional performances by newcomers Cale Dodds, Ryan Kinder and Bailey Bryan
  • Waffle House Presents “Scattered, Smothered, Covered and Country” late night at Aerial (411 Broadway) featuring Ryan Kinder and friends (June 8-10 11:00 PM – 1:00 AM)
  • Chris Janson at the Wildhorse Saloon on June 8 at 10:00 AM
  • Fans can enjoy a free ride to WMN courtesy of JoyRide golf carts – just look for the one decked out in WMN’s artists and hop on
  • Fan party ticket purchasers will enjoy a transportation discount or free rides courtesy of Lyft

 

 

For more info about The Warner Sound and other WMN events please visit WarnerMusicNashville.com/MusicFest  / Follow @wmnashville

 

ABOUT WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE

Warner Music Nashville was created in 2009 with the goal of expanding the presence of WMG and its family of labels has had in the Nashville music community for more than 60 years. Under the leadership of Chairman & CEO, John Esposito, the division is home to Warner Bros. Nashville, Atlantic Nashville, Elektra Nashville and the LoudMouth comedy label. www.warnermusicnashville.com

 

ABOUT BIC®:

BIC is a leading manufacturer of stationery products, lighters and shavers. BIC men’s and women’s razor portfolios offer innovative solutions that provide an ultra–smooth shaving experience and honor BIC’s commitment to providing high–quality, affordable products to consumers everywhere for more than 50 years. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands in the world today, delivering “More for your Money…Always!”  Visit https://us.bicworld.com

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Thomas Rhett And Kelsea Ballerini To Host CMA Music Festival Airing On ABC Later This Summer

By on April 20, 2017 in In The Press

Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini to host “CMA Fest,” airing this summer on the ABC Television Network.

CMA Music Festival is not only the ultimate Country Music festival experience for fans from all over the world to attend, it’s also the only music festival with its own annual network television special. This year that special will be hosted by two of Country Music’s hottest stars: Kelsea Ballerini and Thomas Rhett. The pair will team up to host “CMA Fest 2017,” the three-hour special that brings Country Music’s most storied Festival to a national television audience this summer on the ABC Television Network, executive-produced by Robert Deaton.

 

The announcement that Ballerini and Thomas Rhett would serve as hosts this year was made Thursday morning on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

 

“I’ve grown up going to CMA Fest as a fan and last year getting to perform on the big stage is one of the most epic memories I’ll ever have. And now, being able to host with my current tour mate, Thomas Rhett, is going to be another crazy thing off the bucket list,” said Ballerini. “I can’t wait to test out my hosting skills and perform again this year!”

 

“I always look forward to CMA Music Fest,” added Thomas Rhett. “Ever since I was there as a fan sitting in the nosebleeds to hosting this year with Kelsea, it’s always been one of the biggest weeks in Country Music that is all about the fans. I’m pumped.”

 

Ballerini has launched to stardom after releasing three consecutive No. 1 smashes from her critically acclaimed debut album The First Time, the Platinum-certified “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Peter Pan,” and Gold-certified “Dibs,” making her the only female artist in Country Music history, including female duos and groups, to achieve this accolade. The singer-songwriter wrote or co-wrote all 12 songs on her debut. Top 5 and climbing with “Yeah Boy,” Ballerini is currently in the studio working on her second album — as Entertainment Weekly named her among “The 35 Most Anticipated Albums of 2017.” The Black River Entertainment artist was featured as one of Forbes’ “30 Under 30” class of 2017. She’s been named “The Country Sweetheart” in People Magazine’s elite “Ones to Watch” portfolio, praised by Rolling Stone as the “Nashville It Girl,” touted by Billboard Magazine as “Country’s Next Queen,” and selected as one of CMT’s Next Women of Country. After her 2016 headline THE FIRST TIME TOUR — which visited dozens of cities across the U.S. and included sold-out shows in her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York City; Los Angeles; and more — she joined Thomas Rhett for his HOME TEAM TOUR, to be directly followed by a fall run with Lady Antebellum’s YOU LOOK GOOD WORLD TOUR. For more information visit KelseaBallerini.com, and reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

With “a sky-rocketing Country career” (“TODAY”), Thomas Rhett is preparing for the highly-anticipated 2017 release of his third studio album, kicking things off with the “driving, sexy” (Rolling Stone) lead track “Craving You” featuring Maren Morris. New music follows seven trips to the No. 1 position on the Country radio charts and his Platinum-certified release Tangled Up Deluxe (The Valory Music Co.), which includes the Double Platinum, Grammy-nominated, six-week chart-topping smash “Die A Happy Man.” The record-breaking track is the reigning CMA Single of the Year and garnered major trophies from the “Billboard Music Awards” and “CMT Music Awards.” Thomas Rhett is exciting fans as he performs new music on his headlining 2017 HOME TEAM TOUR, one of Rolling Stone’s most anticipated tours of this year. After drawing capacity crowds overseas last year, he returns as a “force to be reckoned with” (Daily Star) with plans to return to Europe while also making his debut headlining run in Canada in addition to US dates. For more information and for a full list of upcoming tour dates, visit thomasrhett.com.

 

Filmed during CMA Music Festival June 8-11 in Nashville, the special features many of today’s most exciting Country Music stars as they hit the stage during the four-day celebration of America’s music. The annual event is unlike any other, with meet-and-greets in Fan Fair X, live music on 11 stages, hundreds of artists and celebrities, and a guest list of 88,500 avid singing-and-dancing-till-dawn fans.

 

A limited number of tickets for the Nightly Concerts at Nissan Stadium are still available at CMAfest.com or through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST. Outdoor daytime stages including the Chevrolet Riverfront and Park Stages, Budweiser “Forever Country” Park Stage, Gildan Broadway Stage at Hard Rock Cafe, and the Music City Stage inside the Nashville Visitor Center at Bridgestone Arena are free and open to the public.

 

Funds generated through CMA Music Festival ticket sales for the Nightly Concerts and Fan Fair X benefit music education. Since 2006, CMA and the CMA Foundation have donated more than $17.5 million to support quality, sustainable music education initiatives across the country on behalf of the artists who participate in the event for free, impacting the lives of one million children through the power of music.

 

For upcoming talent announcements and all other info, stay connected with CMA on CMAfest.com, Facebook.com/CMA, Twitter.com/CountryMusic, Instagram.com/CMA, “CMAsnaps” on Snapchat, and sign up for CMA Country Connection, CMA’s e-newsletter. This year’s app is now available in the App store for iPhone and Android and includes features that allow fans to create individual concert schedules and be the first to know which of their favorite stars will be appearing on the free stages throughout the Festival.

 

CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. Fan Fair® is a registered trademark of WSM, Incorporated and is used by permission.

 

 

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