Artists Use Music Fest To Spread Message

Many artists and songwriters are using upcoming CMA Music Festival appearances to benefit their charitable initiatives. Here’s some of the latest:

••••••Musicians On Call, which brings music to the bedsides of hospital patients, will be the beneficiary of two big events this week. Today’s (6/8) 4th Annual Country Weekly Fashion Show and Concert begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Wildhorse Saloon. Luke Bryan will perform, and Joe Nichols will be interviewed. Among the fashion models and/or performers are Bucky Covington, Love and Theft, Bo Bice, Pam Tillis, Trailer Choir, Whitney Duncan, Julie Reeves and others. Clay Walker is hosting the event alongside emcee Suzanne Alexander (GAC).

••••••The Songwriters Series at the Hard Rock Cafe Nashville’s Reverb Room also benefits Musicians On Call. The three night event starts off with a tribute to Kenny Chesney on June 10 with Mac McAnally, Craig Wiseman, and Brett James, airing live on Chesney’s No Shoes Radio. The June 11 evening will feature Chris Tomkins, Dave Berg, and Marc Beeson. Then Dallas Davidson, Tom Douglas, and Wynn Varble will close the series on Sat., June 12. Expect surprise guests. Shows take place at 8:00 PM, with tickets starting at $10 at www.TicketAlternative.com.  Visit www.hardrock.com for additional information.

•••••Chely Wright’s Reading, Writing & Rhythm Benefit Concert has lined up Trisha Yearwood, Rodney Crowell, SHeDAISY, Jamey Johnson, Bucky Covington, Justin Moore, and others to support music education in public schools. Show is today, Tuesday, June 8 at 8:00 PM at TPAC.

••••• Sarah Buxton, Jedd Hughes, Buddy Jewell, Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers, Jim Femino, Tailgate South, Devin Belle, Mike Willis, and Danny Mitchell, will play a benefit for songwriter Tony Lopacinski tonight (6/8) at Dan McGuiness pub from 6 to 10pm.

••••••In its third year as an official CMA Music Festival event, Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam takes place Wednesday (10:00 PM) at the Ryman Auditorium. Benefiting the MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief Fund, this event will feature Keith Urban, Cowboy Jack Clement, Dallas Frazier, Ronnie Milsap, Ralph Mooney, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives, The Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, and more. www.ticketmaster.com

•••••Online social network and country music lifestyle destination Digital Rodeo is sponsoring the second annual Andy Griggs Celebrity Poker Tournament, to be held Thursday, June 10, at Cadillac Ranch. Winnings will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Middle Tennessee flood victims.

••••Blake Shelton will host the National Rifle Association’s inaugural sporting clay shoot, with proceeds benefiting flood relief efforts through The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. June 10, 2010 at the Tennessee Clay Target Complex from 8:00 am – 1:30 pm.

••••The Teddy Gentry & Friends Benefit for Flood Relief is Thursday, June 10, 7-10pm at 2nd Avenue Live. No cover, all ages.

•••••On Wed., June 9 the Ty Herndon & Friends benefit concert will raise money for the Middle Tennessee chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Michael Peterson, Julie Roberts, Anita Cochran, Diana DeGarmo, Amber Hayes, Herndon and more will perform. Nashville Palace, 7 p.m.

••••• Bo Bice will take the stage of the Tin Roof on Wednesday, June 9 to help raise funds and awareness for Not Alone, a non-profit organization which assists military families. Joining Bice will be Thom Shepherd, Wynn Varble, Rob Crosby, and more. The show starts at 8 PM. Tickets are $10.

••••••••Patty Loveless will be spreading awareness of COPD, the lung disease that took the life of her older sister Dottie, during CMA Music Fest. Throughout the Festival, there will be free screenings offered at the DRIVE4COPD booths at the Sports Zone and Fan Fair Hall.