CMIL’s Guide to the 2013 CMA Music Festival
Planning a trip to CMA Music Festival can be downright overwhelming. There’s SO MUCH to do and see and so little time! In addition to the official CMA Music Festival events such as the Fan Fair Hall, Riverstage concerts, and the nightly shows at LP Field, there are hundreds of other things going on including artist autograph sessions, fan club parties, and other special events like the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge.
To help make your planning easier, we’ve once again compiled the CountryMusicIsLove Guide to the CMA Music Festival. This list will continue to grow and as we get closer to the big event, so be sure to check back often.
Monday, June 3rd
Lee Brice and Jerrod Niemann – Joint Fan Club Party – 11:00 AM – Rocketown – Cost: $45 – Includes tickets an acoustic show with Lee & Jerrod, lunch, surprise souvenir, door prizes, meet and greet and more – Purchase tickets HERE
CMA Global Artist Party – 6:00 PM – The Stage – Hosted by David Bradley (UK) – Performances by Kaylee Bell (Toyota Star Maker Winner – New Zealand), Jill Johnson (Sweden), Rodrigo Haddad (Brazil), Small Town Pistols (Canada),Natalie Howard (Australia), Jason Blaine (Canada), Jody Direen (Horizon Award Winner – New Zealand), Baylou (CRA/NA2N Winner – Australia), Michelle Wright (Canada) and The Wolfe Brothers (Australia)
Darius Rucker – 4th Annual ‘Darius and Friends’ Benefit Concert – 8:00 PM – Wildhorse Saloon – Cost: $35, VIP Tables: $100 – All proceeds go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Tickets on sale HERE
Rodney Atkins – Fan Club Party – Cost: Free for fan club members – Tickets will be given to fan club members through a lottery drawing – Ticket includes a meal, an acoustic concert & a Meet & Greet with Rodney – For more information, click HERE
Tuesday, June 4th
Darryl Worley – Fan club party – 10:45 AM – 3rd & Lindsley – Cost: $45 for fan club members, $55 for guests – Includes performance, meet & greet, autograph, food and drinks – Purchase tickets HERE
Craig Campbell – The Craig Campbell Cornhole Challenge – 2:00-7:00 PM – Public Square in Downtown Nashville – Cost: $10 – Includes live music, local food and drinks, appearances by Craig, Chase Rice, THE FARM,Gloriana, Greg Bates, Jerrod Niemann, LoCash Cowboys, Love and Theft, Rachel Bradshaw, Whitney Duncan, Australian duo Baylou, GAC’s Suzanne Alexander, Titans Kicker Rob Bironas, and more – Tickets available HERE
Tug McGraw Foundation – 2nd Annual “Celebrity Sporting Clay Pro-Am” – Nashville Gun Club – Led by Kix Brooks – All-star lineup to be announced soon – Event benefits the Tug McGraw Foundation – all-star lineup of country celebrities including Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry, Brad & Brett Warren of The Warren Brothers, Keith Anderson, Craig Campbell, Austin Webb, Chris Janson, Lance Miller, Chad Warrix, Kristy Lee Cook, and Mike Fisher of the NHL Nashville Predators – Registration and more information available HERE
Chris Young – Fan Club Experience Party – Cost: $75 + fees – includes meet & greet picture with Chris, ticket to show at studio where Chris recorded his albums, snacks & non-alcoholic beverages, fan experience t-shirt, and more! – More information available HERE
Carrie Underwood – Fan Club Party – Country Music Hall of Fame – Fan club members can enter ticket drawing to win a ticket to the party – Can enter until May 4th, winners announced May 7th – If you do not win, fan club members can watch the party online – For more information about where to enter, click HERE
Country Music Hall of Fame autograph signing with Thompson Square – 12:00 PM – Thompson Square will sign their book, Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not, in the Museum Store – Product must be purchased from the Museum Store – For more info, click HERE
Lee Brice Live On The Lot – 12:00 PM – Carl Black Chevrolet of Nashville – Lunch provided from Cafe Fontanella, as well as Hooters Wings – Show with Lee Brice – To RSVP and learn more, click HERE
Celebrity Go-Go Challenge – 2:00 PM – Grand Old Golf & Games – Benefiting Hear The Music Live – Participating artists include Ashton Shepherd, Beth Cayhall, Bo Bice, Bryan White, Bucky Covington, Craig Wayne Boyd, Frank Ortega, George Ducas, Gracia Harrison, Hannah Bethel, IMAJ, Jared Blake, Logan Mize, Lucas Hoge, Ray Scott, Samantha Landrum, Susan Ashton, Tyler Barham and Wynne Varble –For more information, click HERE
Gary Allan – Fan Club Party – General Jackson Showboat – Boarding at 5:00 PM, Leaving at 7:00 PM – SOLD OUT!
Randy Owen and Friends – Pickin’ for Prevention – Wildhorse Saloon – Doors open at 6:00 PM, Show starts approx. 7:30 – Cost: $15-50 – For more information, click HERE, To purchase tickets, click HERE
CMA Presents The Aristo Global Show – The Second Fiddle – 6:15 PM – hosted by one of Australia’s top Disc Jockey’s Ben Sorensen (Australia) – Performances by Madison Kozak (Canada), Hicks (Sweden), Jason Hastie (Canada), Richie Scholl (Australia), Ward-Thomas (UK), Two Rocks Band (Switzerland), Morgan Evans (Australia), Greg Hanna (Canada) and David Bradley (UK)
Grand Ole Opry – Shows at 7:00 & 9:30 PM – Kellie Pickler, Keith Urban, Kree Harrison, Rascal Flatts and more will take the Opry stage – For tickets to the 7:00 show, click HERE – For tickets to the 9:30 show, click HERE
Country Weekly Kick-Off Party – 8:00 PM (Doors open 7:00) – Hard Rock Cafe – Cost: $30 General Admission, $500 VIP Admission – Benefits Musicians on Call – Includes performances by Easton Corbin, Dustin Lynch, Greg Bates, and Chris Janson – For more information and tickets, click HERE
Craig Wiseman’s Stars for Second Harvest – 7:30 PM – Ryman Auditorium – Cost: $40-60 – Performances by Florida Georgia Line, Craig Wiseman and Ralphie May – Benefits Second Harvest – For more information, click HERE – Purchase tickets HERE
Hot Nights At The Hall – Ashley Monroe – 8:00 PM – Country Music Hall of Fame Museum – Cost: Free to Museum members (memberships start at $40) – Concert starts at 8:30PM – Autograph signings in Museum Store after show – For more information, click HERE
Wednesday, June 5th
6th Annual GAC Kick-Off Breakfast – 7:00 AM – Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum – Cost: $45 – include music performances, autograph sessions where fans will have their photos taken by professional photographers and loaded onto an easy access website, admission to the museum and a hearty country breakfast – Easton Corbin, Eric Paslay and more will attend – For more information and tickets, click HERE
Casey James – 8:00 AM – The Fontanel – Cost: $25: Includes frisbee golf, commemorative Tshirt, Frisbee, and nylon drawstring bag, $50: Breakfast, private performance, meet & greet, commemorative Tshirt, Frisbee, and nylon drawstring bag, Frisbee Golf Tournament participation (not required, but head count needed) – To purchase tickets, click HERE
Craig Morgan – Fan Club Party – 10:00 AM – 3rd & Lindsley – Cost: $35 for fan club members, $40 for guests – Includes breakfast, a mini acoustic concert, meet and greet, surprise souvenir and more! – Buy tickets HERE
9th Annual CMA Fest Kick-Off Parade – 11:00 AM – Downtown Nashville – Cost: Free – Featuring Chevrolet cars, Country artists, celebrities, balloons and the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales – Artist announcements coming soon
Vince Gill – Fan Club Party – 2:00 PM – Country Music Hall Of Fame Ford Theater – $40 fan club members only – includes souvenir – To purchase tickets, login to the fan club HERE
Lonestar – Fan Club Party – 2:00 PM –3rd & Lindsley – Cost: $35 for fan club members, $40 for guests – Includes lunch, mini acoustic concert, door prizes, surprise souvenir, meet and greet & more! – Get your tickets HERE
Country Music Hall of Fame performance & autograph signing with Kristen Kelly – 3:30 PM – Kristen will perform outside of the Hall of Fame at 3:30 PM – She will sign her product at 4:00 PM in the Museum Store – Product must be purchased from the Museum Store – For more info, click HERE
2013 CMT Music Awards – 8:00/7:00c – Co-hosted by Kristen Bell and Jason Aldean – Performances by Carrie Underwood, Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Pistol Annies, Taylor Swift and more – Nominees include Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Florida Georgia Line and more – To see the full list of nominees, click HERE
The Warner Sound Presents: 2013 CMT Music Awards Official Fan After Party – 9:30 PM – aVenue – Cost: $25 – Performances by Brett Eldredge, Jana Kramer, The Farm, and Charlie Worsham – Tickets are general admission – Purchase tickets HERE
Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam – 10:00 PM – Ryman Auditorium – Cost: $35-50 – includes performance by Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, Connie Smith & The Sundowners, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Bobby Bare with Brandy Clark, Charlie Worsham, Sleepy Man Banjo Boy, and surprise guests! – Benefiting MusiCares and the CMA”s Keep The Music Playing Fund – For more information, click HERE – Purchase tickets HERE
Thursday, June 6th
Jake Owen – Fan Club party – 9:00 AM – Must be a fan club member to purchase tickets – For tickets & fan club membership, click HERE
Chevrolet Riverfront Stage – 10:00 AM – Gates open 45 minutes early for 4-day ticket holders – Cost: FREE – Sara Evans, Blackberry Smoke, Mark Chesnutt, Gloriana, Love and Theft, Dustin Lynch, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, and Phil Vassar (not in order of performance)
Fan Fair Hall – 10:00AM-5:00PM – Nashville Convention Center – Includes live performances, exciting new events, lifestyle exhibits, and autograph signings
AT&T U-verse Fan Fair X – Doors open 9:00 AM, FFX begins 10:00 AM – Music City Center – Cost: $10 + fees for single day ticket – Lady A Day at FFX – Lady Antebellum will perform, sign autographs in their custom “backstage” booth ClubLabellum, answer questions from fans in an interview segment called CMA Close Up, and more! – Fans can also register for a M&G with the group at LP Field for Friday night – Ticket options available HERE
HGTV Lodge – 10:00 AM – Fan Alley – will offer musical performances, autograph signings, a mobile device recharging station and a $10,000 cash giveaway – Performance by Thomas Rhett (10-10:30 AM), Performance by Big Machine songwriters (11 AM-12 PM), Q&A with Brantley Gilbert (1:30-1:50 PM), Performance by Justin Moore (3-3:30 PM), Appearance by Florida Georgia Line (4-4:30 PM) – For more information, click HERE
Hard Rock Cafe – Outdoor Live Music – 10:15 AM – Cost: Free – Country music newcomers take the stage outside of the Hard Rock Cafe Nashville – Includes Steel Magnolia (1:15 PM), Johnny Gates & The Invite (2:45 PM), Whitney Duncan (2:00 PM) and many more – Click HERE for more details and the full lineup
Country Music Hall of Fame autograph signing with Lee Greenwood – 11:30 AM – Lee will sign his his book, Does God Still Bless the USA? or his CD I Want To Be In Your World at 11:30 AM in the Museum Store – Product must be purchased from the Museum Store – For more info, click HERE
Whitney Duncan – Fan Appreciation Party – 12:00 PM – Buffalo Billiards – More information HERE
The Band Perry – Fan Club Party – More details coming soon!
Thomas Rhett – Thomas Rhett’s Second Annual CMA Fest Fan Volunteer Day – Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee – Ages 12 (with adult) and up – Help sort and pack food to help hungry Middle Tennesseans – Volunteers will be treated to lunch and a special performance before the food sort – Sign up HERE
Sara Evans – Fan Club Party – 1:00 PM – Cost: $45 – Tickets will be available for pickup at will call – Includes a meet and greet with Sara – For more information, click HERE
Joe Nichols – Fan Club Party – 1:00 PM – 3rd and Lindsley – Cost: $35 + fees – Intimate acoustic show with Joe and his band, appetizers, a commemorative poster, meet & greet with Joe, games & more – Fan club members only – Purchase tickets HERE
Country Music Hall of Fame performance & autograph signing with Love and Theft – 2:00 PM – Love and Theft will perform outside of the Hall of Fame at 2:00PM – They will sign their cd, Love and Theft, at 2:30 PM in the Museum Store – Product must be purchased from the Museum Store – For more info, click HERE
Hunter Hayes – Listening party – 2:00 PM – aVenue – Hunter will debut all new music from Encore, speak about the inspiration behind the new songs, and perform some of the songs acoustic including one performance with a surprise special guest – Tickets available HERE
Montgomery Gentry – Fan Club Party – 2:00 PM – The Listening Room – Cost: $35 + fees for fan club members, $40 + fees for guests – includes lunch, a mini-acoustic concert, door prizes, surprise souvenir, meet and greet and lots of great memories – Tickets will be mailed mid-May – Tickets available HERE
Chris Janson & American Young – Fan club party – 3:00 PM – Whiskey Bent – Featuring Chris, American Young and surprise guests
Show Dog-Universal Music-CountryMusicIsLove Fan Appreciation Party – 3:00PM – Cost: Free (enter ticket lottery on artist’s individual Facebook pages) – Joel Crouse, Krystal Keith, JT Hodges, Rose Falcon, Josh Thompson and a special surprise guest will all attend and perform – Click HERE for more details
Gloriana – Fan party – 4:30 PM – aVenue – Cost: Free – Must sign up to reserve your spot for the party – Click HERE to sign up
BMI Tailgate Party – 4:30 PM – LP Field Parking Lot, near the South entrance – Cost: Free (parking available at LP for $15) – stage will feature a strong selection of BMI’s songwriters and artists – Performers include Joey Hyde (4:30), Joel Crouse (5:15), and Thomas Rhett (6:00)
Lady Antebellum – Fan Club Party – 5:00 PM (Doors open 4:00PM) – W.O. Smith Music School – Cost: $45 Admission, $75 VIP Admission – Includes M&G and photo, buffet style dinner, silent auction, photo booth, 45-minute performance (VIP includes parking spot at venue, 8×10 photo of Lady A, front of the line for M&G and photo) – Fan club members can purchase up to 4 tickets – Proceeds from event go to LadyAID – Tickets on sale Friday, March 22nd at 10AM CT.
Fifth Annual Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction – 5:00PM – CMA Music Fest Buckle Stage at 4th Ave. and Broadway – Fans have the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind guitars inspired and autographed by country stars – Guitars signed by Alabama, Lauren Alaina, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, as well as members of the cast of Nashville – Steve Wariner and Jonathan Jackson from ABC’s Nashville are set to perform, with radio and TV personality Bill Cody hosting – Proceeds go to The Opry Trust Fund
Nightly Show at LP Field – 6:30PM – Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Tracy Lawrence, Taylor Swift, and Zac Brown Band. National Anthem performed by The Oak Ridge Boys.
Friday, June 7th
Chevrolet Riverfront Stage – 10:00 AM – Gates open 45 minutes early for 4-day ticket holders – Cost: FREE – Keith Anderson, Greg Bates, Craig Campbell, Brett Eldredge, Casey James, Aaron Lewis, Jo Dee Messina, Tate Stevens, and Darryl Worley (not in order of performance)
Fan Fair Hall – 10:00AM-5:00PM – Nashville Convention Center – Includes live performances, exciting new events, lifestyle exhibits, and autograph signings
HGTV Lodge – 10:00 AM – Fan Alley – will offer musical performances, autograph signings, a mobile device recharging station and a $10,000 cash giveaway – Performance by Kip Moore (10-10:30 AM), Performance by Brett Eldredge (12 AM-12:30 PM), Performance by Lauren Alaina (1-1:30 PM), Performance by David Nail (2-2:30 PM), Performance by Phil Vassar (3-3:30 PM), Performance by Casey James (4-4:30 PM) – For more information, click HERE
Hard Rock Cafe – Outdoor Live Music – 10:15 AM – Cost: Free – Country music newcomers take the stage outside of the Hard Rock Cafe Nashville – Includes Brent Cobb (11:00AM), Danielle Peck (5:00 PM), Bridgette Tatum (7:15PM) and many more – Click HERE for more details and the full lineup
Country Music Hall of Fame performance & autograph signing with Craig Campbell – 10:30 AM – Craig will perform outside of the Hall of Fame at 10:30 AM – He will sign his cd, Never Regret, at 11:00 AM in the Museum Store – Product must be purchased from the Museum Store – For more info, click HERE
Country Music Hall of Fame performance & autograph signing with Tate Stevens – 3:00 PM – Tate will perform outside of the Hall of Fame at 3:00 PM – He will sign his cd, Tate Stevens, at 3:30 PM in the Museum Store – Product must be purchased from the Museum Store – For more info, click HERE
Josh Turner – Fan Club Party – 4:30 PM – Studio A at the Opryhouse – Cost: $40 Fan club ticket only, $65 for fan club party and Friday night Opry ticket – Must be fan club member to buy tickets – Up to 4 tickets available for purchase – Purchase tickets HERE
BMI Tailgate Party – 4:30 PM – LP Field Parking Lot, near the South entrance – Cost: Free (parking available at LP for $15) – stage will feature a strong selection of BMI’s songwriters and artists – Performers include Lindsay Ell (4:30), David Fanning (5:15), and Josh Thompson (6:00)
Nightly Show at LP Field – 6:30 PM – Hunter Hayes, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Kip Moore, Randy Travis, and Blake Shelton. National Anthem performed by Gloriana.
Saturday, June 8th
2013 City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge – 9:00AM – Greer Stadium – Celebrities include Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Florida Georgia Line, Craig Campbell, Greg Bates, Chuck Wicks, Brett Eldredge, Maggie Rose, David Nail, Chase Rice, LoCash Cowboys, Phil Vassar, Krystal Keith, Two Foot Fred, and Olympic figure skater Scott Hamilton – Tickets available HERE
Chevrolet Riverfront Stage – 10:00 AM – Gates open 45 minutes early for 4-day ticket holders – Cost: FREE – The Grascals, Steve Holy, Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan, David Nail, Jerrod Niemann, Eric Paslay, Maggie Rose, Corey Smith, Sunny Sweeney, and Chuck Wicks (not in order of performance)
Fan Fair Hall – 10:00AM-5:00PM – Nashville Convention Center – Includes live performances, exciting new events, lifestyle exhibits, and autograph signings
Hard Rock Cafe – Outdoor Live Music – 10:00 AM – Cost: Free – Country music newcomers take the stage outside of the Hard Rock Cafe Nashville – Includes David Adam Brynes (3:00 PM), Brinley Addington (3:15 PM), Cole Swindell (4:45 PM), Parmalee (5:30 PM) and many more – Click HERE for more details and the full lineup
HGTV Lodge – 10:00 AM – Fan Alley – will offer musical performances, autograph signings, a mobile device recharging station and a $10,000 cash giveaway – Performance by Jerrod Niemann (10-10:50 AM), Performance by Chris Stapleton (11 AM-11:50 PM), Performance by Tate Stevens (12:15-1 PM), Signing with Little Big Town (1:15-2 PM), Signing with Lisa Marie Presley (2:30-3:15 PM), Performance by Dee Jay Silver (3:15-4 PM), Performance by Goo Goo Dolls (5-6 PM) – For more information, click HERE
Julie Roberts – Fan Appreciation Party – 11:00 AM – The Rutledge – Cost: $30 – Ticket includes a performance, lunch, meet and greet, and a huge announcement from Julie – Purchase tickets HERE
Frankie Ballard – Fan club party – 4:00 PM – The Benchmark – Cost: Free – Just show up and have fun!
BMI Tailgate Party – 4:30 PM – LP Field Parking Lot, near the South entrance – Cost: Free (parking available at LP for $15) – stage will feature a strong selection of BMI’s songwriters and artists – Performers include Westbound Rangers (4:30), Native Run (5:15), and Jon Pardi (6:00)
Nightly Show at LP Field – 6:30 PM – Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Keith Urban. National Anthem performed by Brett Eldredge.
Sunday, June 9th
Chevrolet Riverfront Stage – 10:00 AM – Gates open 45 minutes early for 4-day ticket holders – Cost: FREE – Rachel Farley, Tyler Farr, Colt Ford, Kristen Kelly, Lonestar, Ronnie Milsap, and Gretchen Wilson (not in order of performance)
Fan Fair Hall – 10:00AM-3:00PM – Nashville Convention Center – Includes live performances, exciting new events, lifestyle exhibits, and autograph signings
HGTV Lodge – 10:00 AM – Fan Alley – will offer musical performances, autograph signings, a mobile device recharging station and a $10,000 cash giveaway – Performance by Joe Nichols (10-10:30 AM), Performance by Weston Burt (11 AM-11:30 PM), Performance by Kristen Kelly (12-12:30 PM) – For more information, click HERE
Hard Rock Cafe – Outdoor Live Music – 10:15 AM – Cost: Free – Country music newcomers take the stage outside of the Hard Rock Cafe Nashville – Includes JJ Lawhorn (2:30 PM), Clayton Anderson (2:45 PM), Bo Bice (6:30 PM) and many more – Click HERE for more details and the full lineup
Scotty McCreery – Fan Club Party – 2:30 PM – Rocketown – Cost: $40 for fan club members, $45 for guests – Purchase tickets HERE
34th Annual Sunday Mornin’ Country – 2:30 PM – Grand Ole Opry – Cost: $18 + fees – Featuring The Oak Ridge Boys, Collin Raye, Lynn Anderson, Lulu Roman, Charlie McCoy, Aaron & Amanda Crabb, The Country Chorale, Rick Hammer & The Tennessee River Boys, Holly Watson, Casey Rivers, The Nashville Edition, Melanie Walker, Dianne Sherrill, The Fox Brothers, Cowboy Joe & the Babcocks, Debbie Bennett, Sam Samson and The Sunday Mornin’ Country Band – Linda Davis and George Hamilton IV to host – To purchase tickets, click HERE
BMI Tailgate Party – 4:30 PM – LP Field Parking Lot, near the South entrance – Cost: Free (parking available at LP for $15) – stage will feature a strong selection of BMI’s songwriters and artists – Performers include Curious Band (4:30), The Railers (5:15), and Brazilbilly and a special performance by DJ Du (6:00)
Nightly Show at LP Field – 6:30 PM Gary Allan, The Band Perry, Lee Greenwood, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, and Carrie Underwood. National Anthem performed by Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis.
Dierks Bentley – Last Call Ball – 1:00PM – The Belcourt Theatre – Must be fan club member to purchase tickets, limit of 2 – More information available HERE
