Performances
by Lady Antebellum, Wynonna, and Many More; Panels with Legends of the ‘70s,
‘80s, and ‘90s; George Jones Tribute; Ronnie Dunn Talks About His Art (Photography
not Making Music); Bassmaster Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle Shares Fishing
Tips; Wrangler Fashion Show; Four Stages; Country Music Memorabilia; a Silent
Auction; and the Keep the Kids Playing Pavilion with Activities and Performances
for Children and Families
NASHVILLE – X marks the coolest daytime spot for Nashville’s
“signature” event in the new AT&T® U-verse® Fan Fair X (FFX) with autograph
signings, concerts, lifestyle exhibits, a marketplace, interviews with the stars,
demonstrations, and much more in the brand new Music City Center during 2013 CMA
Music Festival, June 6-9 in Nashville.
Kicking
things off is Lady Antebellum with “Lady A Day
at FFX.” The CMA-Award-winning group will
cut the ribbon when the doors officially open to FFX on Thursday,
June 6 (9:45 AM). From the CMA Close Up Stage, Lady A will perform an
acoustic set and answer questions before signing autographs in their custom “backstage”
booth, nicknamed @ClubLabellum. The trio is also launching their PING PONG &
SONGS event to include the thousands of fans in town for the Festival. Fans can
also register at FFX for a private meet and greet with the group at LP Field on
Friday, June 7.
The CMA Close
Up Stage is one of FOUR stages in Fan Fair X, where fans can discover new music,
learn more about the stars they admire, catch up on the latest fashions, and hear
the hits from the writers who created them. FFX is open Thursday
through Saturday, June 6-8
from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM and from 10:00 AM-3:00 PM on Sunday, June
9. Venue doors open at 9:00 AM all days.
CMA Close Up Stage
Making her
first appearance in FFX since 2010 is Wynonna with “The
Wy Xperience,” Friday, June 7 hosted by Lorianne
Crook, producer and host of Crook & Chase television and
radio. Wynonna will be performing acoustically and answering questions from fans
(4:00-5:00 PM) in addition to signing autographs in CMA Central, CMA’s autograph
hub (3:00-4:00 PM).
Another artist making a return appearance in 2013 is
Ronnie Dunn, who will be participating
in a Q&A session with Country Weekly Managing
Editor Joe Hudak about Dunn’s art
– not songwriting or performing, but photography – on Thursday,
June 6 (2:30 PM). Dunn is also donating several signed pieces
of his collection to be part of the Keep the Music Playing Silent Auction in FFX,
which benefits school music education programs.
The Heritage
Panels from the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s are sure to be popular with attendees
who have followed the format for many years, or those fans who want to learn more
about the artists who contributed to the popularity of Country Music today. All
of the participants are former CMA Award nominees or winners.
The
‘70’s Heritage panel Thursday, June 6 (3:00-4:00 PM) features
Lynn Anderson, Crystal Gayle, Charley Pride, Jeanne Pruett, and Mel Tillis. The ‘80s
Heritage panel Friday, June 7 (3:00-4:00 PM) features
Larry Gatlin, Lee Greenwood, Ricky Skaggs,
and The Oak Ridge Boys’ Duane Allen,
Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and Richard Sterban.
The ‘90s Heritage panel Saturday,
June 8 (3:30-4:30 PM) features Ty Herndon,
Collin Raye, Mark Wills, and Bryan White. All of
the panels will be hosted by Kevin Richards of WGNA/Albany,
a CMA Broadcast Personality of the Year.
No look at the history
and legacy of Country Music would be complete without including a panel paying
tribute to the outstanding career of Country Music icon George Jones,
who passed away on April 26. This panel, which will be moderated by Hudak, will
include Jones’ longtime spouse Nancy Jones, Randy Travis, as well
as members of Jones’ inner circle. The panel takes place Friday, June
7 at Noon.
Nashville’s hit tunesmiths will
be featured on the CMA Close Up Stage throughout the event including the Music
City Hitmakers; and Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member and host of the CMA
Songwriters Series Bob DiPiero and Kristian
Bush of Sugarland on Saturday, June 8 (2:30 PM).
Fashionistas
can catch up on what’s hot in Country couture during the Wrangler Fashion Show
Saturday, June 8 (1:00 PM) featuring Manuel designs.
And if your wardrobe runs more towards camouflage, the outdoors-types will enjoy
the Field and Stream presentations on
Thursday and Friday, June 6-7 (2:00 PM).
AT&T Showcase Stage
This marks
the second year that AT&T has been title sponsor of the exhibit hall experience;
first at the Nashville Convention Center and now FFX inside the Music City Center.
Showcasing
some of the best up-and-coming BMI songwriters in Nashville, the AT&T Showcase
Stage will be the place to discover new talent and some soon-to-be hits. Performing
(in alphabetical order; all artists are subject to change) are Drew Baldridge,
Ryan Beaver, Ann Marie Boskovich, Adam Craig, Erik Dylan, Melissa Fuller, Kimberly
Kelly, Mallorie Haley, Cheryl LuQuire, Doug McCormick, Chancie Neal, and Jacob Powell.
Durango Music Spot
A perennial
favorite with attendees, the Durango Music Spot will bustle all four days with
music from Festival favorites including: Lynn Anderson, David
Ball, Mandy Barnett, T. Graham Brown, Carter’s Chord, Mark Chesnutt, Billy Dean,
Jimmy Fortune, Wade Hayes, Con Hunley, Buddy Jewell, Georgette Jones, Marty Raybon,
Collin Raye, TG Sheppard, Ray Stevens, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Mark Wills, Bryan
White, Billy Yates, and many
more.
The
Durango Music Spot operates Thursday through Saturday, June
6-8 (11:00 AM-4:00 PM) and Sunday, June 9 (11:00 AM-3:00
PM). The stage is hosted by and broadcast live on 650 AM WSM, WSMOnline.com, and
the 650 AM WSM Official Mobile App.
Nashville’s Signature Event
Getting a
coveted autograph from an admired artist or celebrity is the heart of what CMA
Music Festival is all about – the interaction and relationship between Country
Music artists and their devoted fans.
Launched
in 2012 and back again in 2013 is an improved online autograph drawing so that
fans don’t spend time waiting in long lines only to leave empty handed and disappointed.
The new procedures for autograph seekers enhance the overall Festival experience,
improve safety, and make the process for securing a treasured autograph with the
most popular artists equitable for all Festival goers.
Of
the hundreds of artists appearing in FFX over the four-day event, only a projected
10 percent of signings will require a ticket. All others will be open, non-ticketed
signings. A complete list of artists appearing in FFX (including a listing of
autograph sessions that require tickets) is posted at CMAfest.com.
Some
of the artists who will be making appearances at FFX include: Lauren Alaina, Bill Anderson,
Kix Brooks, Laura Bell Bundy, Kristian Bush, Eli Young Band, Florida Georgia Line,
Brantley Gilbert, Lee Greenwood, Randy Houser, Lady Antebellum, Tracy Lawrence,
Brenda Lee, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Justin Moore, Kip Moore, Craig Morgan,
Joe Nichols, The Oak Ridge Boys, Cassadee Pope, Lisa Marie Presley, Thomas Rhett,
Josh Turner, Wynonna, and Chris Young.
Country
artists aren’t the only celebrities making appearances in FFX. For the first
time in 2013, the cast of A&E’s “Duck Dynasty” will be in the Music
City Center to meet fans and sign autographs including Phil Robertson,
Si Robertson, Kay Robertson, Willie Robertson, Korie Robertson, Jase Robertson,
Missy Robertson, Jep Robertson, Jessica Robertson, Al Robertson, Lisa Robertson,
John Godwin, Justin Martin, Sadie Robertson, and John Luke
Robertson.
CMA’s longtime partner Chevrolet,
the Official Ride of Country Music, will also have artists signing in their FFX
booth including Bush Hawg, Craig Campbell, Kristy Lee Cook, Bucky Covington,
Sarah Darling, Clinton Gregory, and more.
FFX Vault
Fan Fair
X will be filled with memorabilia from Country’s legends and top stars in the
new FFX Vault. Among the featured items: a love note from Garth Brooks to Trisha Yearwood; jewelry
worn by Taylor Swift during a Teen Vogue photo shoot;
Brad Paisley’s first business
card; Carrie Underwood’s yearbooks;
and stage and personal clothing items from Jason Aldean,
Kenny Chesney, Dolly Parton, Little Jimmy Dickens, Miranda Lambert, Loretta Lynn,
Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Tammy Wynette, and more.
Fans can also check out the vehicles of some of their favorite stars.
Keep the Kids Playing Pavilion
New in 2013
is a special area in FFX just for children and families called the Keep the Kids
Playing Pavilion.
Activities in this kid-friendly section of FFX include
meet and greets with Veggie Tales characters; the Adventure Science Center
with an interactive exhibit on the science behind music; fingerprinting with the
Davidson County Sheriff’s Office; face painting; Music & Arts instrument
petting zoo with mini lessons; a green screen for photos sponsored by Kidde; Notes
for Notes with a music studio experience; arts and crafts with the Tennessee Art
League; seed packet giveaways from the Tennessee Environmental Council; and a
global humanitarian awareness exhibit from World Vision. The Pavilion will also
be the home to the Ultimate Air Dogs, the premiere dog jumping organization in
the country, and their daily demonstrations of canine flight and splash.
Named
for CMA’s music education initiative, which provides instruments and supplies
to deserving schools, the Keep the Music Playing Stage will feature several performances
from groups and artists including Julie Roberts reading
stories Sunday, June 9 (1:00 PM).
Country
singer/painter Steve Wariner will participate
in a special session Saturday, June 8 (11:15 AM) on the
Keep the Music Playing Stage. Hosted by WSM AM and GAC host and Grand Ole Opry
announcer Bill Cody, Wariner will talk
about the intersection of being a performer and a visual artist. Members of the
Tennessee Art League will also be on hand to help kids express themselves through
music and art. Seventeen of Wariner’s paintings in pen and ink, watercolor,
encaustic, and acrylic will be on display in the FFX Vault all four days.
Entertainment Value
FFX is free
to all CMA Music Festival four-day ticket holders. If you do not have a four-day
Festival ticket, CMA is making available tickets to FFX for $10 a day; or $25
for a four-day pass. CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER ARE FREE. Tickets are available at
the Music City Center inside the Registration area during the event and 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.
Up-to-the-Minute Information
Fans can
stay in the loop by visiting CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA
Music Festival, where they can sign up for the CMA Exclusive e-news. Fans can
also connect with CMA at Facebook.com/CMA, Twitter.com/CountryMusic, Pinterest.com/CMAworld, and Instagram.com/CMA_Country_Music_Association.
“If You See Something, Say Something” at CMA Music Festival
At CMA Music Festival, the safety is of utmost importance.
Therefore, CMA will be utilizing the “If You See Something, Say Something”
program from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Everyone
attending CMA Music Festival is asked to be vigilant in reporting suspicious behavior
and situations (e.g., an unattended backpack in a public place or someone trying
to break into a restricted area). Attendees are encouraged to text ALERT (space)
and the LOCATION of the suspicious
activity to 66937. There will also be a special Festival
law enforcement phone number posted throughout the event area for attendees to
call to report suspicious activity. Visit CMAfest.com for more information. |
