CMA Music Fest Brings Free Music To Fans

The CMA Music Festival will offer plenty of free music and entertainment for the thousands of fans who will descend on downtown Nashville June 5-8.

“The fans tell us they want music and we have plenty of options for them this year with multiple free stages, and a full lineup of artists from industry hitmakers to singers on the verge of making it big,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer.

While tickets to the Nightly Concerts at LP Field have sold-out 15 weeks ahead of the 2014 festival, downtown Nashville will hold plenty of enticing offerings. Hundreds of artists will perform in free, open to the public concerts that will dot the downtown Nashville landscape.

Bud Light Stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza has more than 40 artists confirmed, including Lauren Alaina, Keith Anderson, Katie Armiger, Kelleigh Bannen, Jeff Bates, Big Smo, BlackHawk, Brothers Osborne, Mark Collie, Bucky Covington, Joel Crouse, Sarah Darling, Clare Dunn, Morgan Frazier, JT Hodges, Will Hoge, Home Free, Sam Hunt, Chris Janson, Joshua Scott Jones, Krystal Keith, Meghan Linsey, Robin Meade, Granger Smith, Jamie Lynn Spears, Chris Stapleton, Striking Matches, Sundy Best, The Henningsens, Leah Turner, Trick Pony, Aaron Watson, Austin Webb, Drake White, Chuck Wicks, and Holly Williams.

New for 2014, the Walk of Fame Park featuring the Samsung Galaxy Stage will feature daily concert by an array of artists, including Robby Armstrong, Rob Baird, Ty Bates, Dakota Bradley, David Bradley, Laura Bell Bundy, Cam, Brandon Chase, Cowboy Troy and DJ Sinister, Heath Haynes & the High Dollars, Sam Hollyman, Joey Hyde, Jukebox Mafia, John Karl, Ryan Kinder, John King, Jenny Leigh, Cheryl LuQuire, Rachele Lynae, Brian Milson, Danielle Peck, Pierce Avenue, Stephanie Quayle, Raven Cliff, Julie Roberts, Gwen Sebastian, Canaan Smith, Phoenix Stone, The Brothers Road, The Nelsons, The Railers, The Stickers, Chad Warrix, Ryan Weaver, Jesse Keith Whitley, and Zane Williams (artists and schedule are subject to change). The Walk of Fame park is located on Demonbreun between Fourth and Fifth Avenues. The park is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday, June 5 through Saturday, June 7, as well as from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 8.

The Buckle will cover three blocks on Broadway, with ASCAP songwriter/artists performing including Carlton Anderson, Kelsea Ballerini, Bonner Black, Misty Rae Carson, Karli Chayne, Steven Clawson, Courtney Cole, Hannah Dasher, Jacob Davis, GirlBilly, Ryan Griffin, Curtis Grimes, Adam Hambrick, Brett Kissell, Ryan Lafferty, Brandon Lay, Josh London, Daisy Mallory, Michaelis, Oklahoma, Carly Pearce, David Ray, Jameson Rodgers, Smithfield, Walker County, and Hailey Whitters.

Located at the outdoor area in front of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Fan Alley’s Chevrolet Roadhouse Stage will feature rising artists from noon-3 p.m. each day. Performers include: Ballie and the Boys, Brinn Black, Cast of “Crazy Hearts Nashville,” Cerrito, Jaida Dreyer, Jordan Grassi, Marty Haggard, Lyndsey Highlander, Rachel Holder, Levi Hummon, Angie Johnson, Stevens Layne, Matt Mason, Walker McGuire, Randy Montana, Music City Doughboys, Aaron Parker, Jacob Powell, Brent Rupard, Lizzie Sider, The Danberrys, Keni Thomas, and Whiskey Rose.

The BMI Tailgate Party is back for the third year. Located off the Cumberland River outside LP Field, the stage will feature BMI’s songwriters and artists warming up the crowd prior to the LP Field concerts. A Thousand Horses, Blackjack Billy, Chase Bryant, Adam Craig, DJ Du, Brett Eldredge, David Fanning, Sara Haze, Chris Lane, Natalie Stovall and The Drive, Michael Ray, Josh Thompson, and Whiskey Jam are all slated for the show.