NASHVILLE – 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, and Small 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. |