Chris Janson Rocks The Riverfront

Chris Janson performed a full-throttle set for fans at CMA Music Fest at the Riverfront Stage Thursday afternoon, performing songs including his No. 1 smash “Buy Me A Boat” and his new single “Fix A Drink.” The song is the title track from his Fix A Drink EP, which is out today.

 

Kane Brown Performs For Music Fest Fans

Kane Brown performed before a huge crowd of eager fans at CMA Music Fest’s Riverfront Stage. Among the crowd watching his anticipated Music Fest performance were label staffers including Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Randy Goodman.

 

Levon Plays The Gildan Broadway Stage

New country group Levon performed a rousing set at CMA Music Fest’s Gildan Broadway Stage at the Hard Rock Café Thursday, making their debut at the festival.

 

CMA Songwriters Series Kicks Off CMA Music Fest

Barry Dean, Brett James, Jon Nite, and 2017 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Don Schlitz shared the stories behind their hit songs to get festivities in full swing during a special performance at the CMA Theater leading into CMA Music Festival. The show was part of the CMA Songwriters Series, which since 2005 has presented more than 100 shows in 17 cities.

The guys in The Cadillac Three know how to celebrate an album release. The trio will honor the Aug. 25 release of their upcoming BMLG album, Legacy, with a headlining show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Aug. 31.

Though trio of Jaren Johnston, Kelby Ray and Neil Mason bring plenty of their own songwriting muscle to the project, they worked with several top writers for the new album, with Lori McKenna contributing both vocals and writing credits to “Love Me Like Liquor.”

Legacy marks the follow up to the trio’s 2016 debut Bury Me In My Boots.

Legacy Track Listing

1. “Cadillacin'” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason)
2. “Tennessee” (Jaren Johnston)
3. “Hank & Jesus” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Angelo Petraglia)
4. “Dang If We Didn’t” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Jonathan Singleton)
5. “Ain’t That Country” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, James Slater)
6. “American Slang” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Lori McKenna)
7. “Take Me to the Bottom” (Jaren Johnston)
8. “Long Hair Don’t Care” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Angelo Petraglia)
9. “Love Me Like Liquor” (featuring Lori McKenna) (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Lori McKenna)
10. “Demolition Man” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Angelo Petraglia)
11. “Legacy” (Jaren Johnston, Ben Burgess, Laura Veltz)

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM

Chapter 564

The big surprise at Nissan Stadium during the Thursday CMA Fest debut evening concert (June 8) was the appearance of Garth Brooks.

Even the music-biz attendees in the CMA Hospitality Suite stopped schmoozing in amazement. Garth dashed off a celebratory medley of hits, including “The Thunder Rolls,” “Calling Baton Rouge,” “The Dance” and “Friends in Low Places.” Everyone sang along on the last-named, and Garth left the stage with his arms raised in triumph.

The evening began with Phil Vassar performing The National Anthem, then “American Soul” with the USO Choir and the USCBP. Those initials stand for the U.S. Customs & Border Patrol. Wait. They have their own chorus?!

Emcee Bobby Bones brought on Kenny Rogers, to whom the audience gave lots of love. In truth, Kenny looked frail and infirm. He suffers from hepatitis C and skin cancer and has been recovering from throat surgery, a knee replacement and a rotator-cuff operation. He was seated during most of his performance.

I didn’t hear him tell the fans this, but his tour earlier this year was billed as his farewell. I don’t believe we’ll see him at the Fest again.

The audience sang all of his familiar hits along with him. Kenny brought out Linda Davis to sing with him on “We’ve Got Tonight” and “Blaze of Glory.” He hobbled off on her arm to a big, affectionate ovation.

Hosts Lorianne Crook & Charlie Chase introduced Brett Eldredge, who stalked the stage with loads of energy and personality. His oversized, joyous presentation was that of a superstar in the making. Ya gotta love the guy.

Cole Swindell had the unfortunate scheduling of following Garth. He came out with guns blazing. Still, the crowd was waiting for the evening’s headliners, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan.

The CMA Suite overlooking the stadium was populated by such fabulons as Dale Bobo, Debbie Linn, Joe Galante, Laura Heatherly, Dennis Banka, Michael Knox, Brandi Simms, Sherod Robertson, Nathan Pyle, JoAnn Berry, Marie Ratzman and Melissa Maynard.

Singer Michael Tyler was talking about his debut single “They Can’t See.” It turns out that he is related to Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music. Hardcore traditionalist Joe Hott was bearing copies of his debut CD, The Last Thing on My Mind. It features stellar guests such as Jamey Johnson and The Whites.

Gazing out over it all was Jo Walker-Meador, the woman who founded Fan Fair back in 1972, when she was head of the CMA. Now 93 years old, she is as sharp as a tack. She recalled that only 1,000 people signed up for the Fest in its inaugural year, so she “papered the house” with free passes given out to soldiers from nearby Ft. Campbell, KY. “We had to do whatever it took,” she quipped.

Five decades later, a look at a 50,000+ cheering throng must be quite an overwhelming feeling for her. It certainly is for me.

For a recap of 2017 CMA Music Festival’s daytime activities on Thursday (June 8), click here.

BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM

Chapter 563

I am almost ashamed to say this, but I have lived in Nashville for more than 30 years and have never been on a Metro bus.

The CMA Music Festival changed that on Thursday (June 8). Fed up with jacked-up Uber prices and obscene downtown parking fees (for spaces that hardly exist), I decided to take public transportation. I hopped on the No. 7 Hillsboro/Green Hills bus at the corner of 21^st & Blair, across from the Kroger. Fifteen air-conditioned minutes later, I was at 8^th & Broad, two blocks from the Fest action. For less than two bucks.

Anti car-congestion advocate Mayor Megan Barry would be so proud of me. Speaking of Mayor Barry, she began the day by joining Miranda Lambert in her doggie parade Mutt Strut, cheerfully donning one of the charity’s signature pink T-shirts. Miranda’s Mutt Nation Foundation was set up in the Fan Fair exhibit hall with steal-your-heart pups to adopt.

That afternoon on the Chevy Park stage, Luke Pell was rocking the crowd when I arrived. On the lawn were six-foot letters spelling C-H-E-V, blank space, P-A-R-K. On the ground in the blank space was a square with instructions to raise your hands in the shape of the missing “Y” and take a snapshot. Of course the fans did.

On the Bridgestone plaza, tourists were also taking photos of the crushed Smashville car. Predators hockey merch was selling just as well as the CMA stuff, throughout downtown.

Food trucks lined 5^th Avenue between the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Music City Center. The weather could not have been more perfect, so hundreds were lunching on the many tables arranged outside the MCC.

Meanwhile, my discovery music of the day turned out to be a punchy, tuneful and spirited set by Adam Sanders on the Chevy Park stage. I don’t know who he is, but he’s gooood.

I headed into Fan Alley, where folks were riding the mechanical shark in the Shark Tank, competing in a corn-hole toss and meeting and greeting ABC-TV stars, in this case The Goldbergs. The Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge stage there presented various acts singing cover tunes.

Over on the Gilden Broadway stage outside the Hard Rock, Smithfield was harmonizing with pep. Tracy Lawrence was doing his “Honky Tonkin’” radio show in the Budweiser Forever Country Park. The fabulously countrified Teea Goans was booked for the Music City Stage. Maren Morris was holding forth in the HGTV Lounge, for which you have to have a special ticket.

Michael Ray was on stage at Riverfront. “The great thing about the CMA Music Festival is you never know what’s going to happen or who might show up,” he told the crowd. Michael brought out Randy Travis, and a huge ovation erupted.

Michael led the crowd in singing “Forever and Ever Amen” in honor of the Country Music Hall of Famer. Then he took the last chorus and stopped to allow Randy to sing the final, “Amen.” The place went ape. I choked back a tear.

Other Riverfront stage highlights included Kane Brown, Joe Nichols, Old Dominion, LoCash and Chris Janson.

Heading back up Lower Broadway, I spotted Trump and Hillary impersonators posing for selfies with fans. “Hillary” was wearing a prison jumpsuit. “Trump” was not.

Inside the Fan Fair hall in the MCC, Jacob Davis was delivering a jaunty set on the Radio Disney stage. Wade Hayes was booked at the opposite end of the massive hall on the Durango Stage. The Professional Bull Riders were having a panel discussion on the CMA Close-Up Stage.

But the real stars in the hall are the ones who “press the flesh” with the fans. Autographing and posing for souvenir photos were Trace Adkins, Ryan Kinder, Hunter Hayes, Matt Rogers, Cowboy Troy, The Tennessee Werewolves, The Springs, Jerrod Niemann, The Swon Brothers, Luke Powell, Tucker Beathard, Thompkins Square and Kristian Bush.

Be sure and stop by the exhibit hallway wall that says, “What Makes You Smile?” Post-It notes and pens nearby let the fans put up their answers: “The beach,” “My dog,” “My family” and, of course, “Country Music.”

I often like to include a fan-club event in my fest activities. In past years, this has ranged from Chris Young in the Opry House, Pam Tillis at The Bluebird Café, Barbara Mandrell in an Opryland Hotel ballroom and Tim McGraw or Ricky Skaggs in city parks.

This year, I ended my afternoon with Brandy Clark at the Warner Bros. Records office. This is cool, in that the fans get to go inside a label headquarters.

A tent was erected on the patio. The adjacent conference room was set up as a photo-and-autograph line with a snake of velvet ropes. Upon entering, the fan clubbers got water, soda and assorted snacks, plus fans with Brandy’s photo on one side and the slogan, “Warner Music Nashville Is a Fan of Our Fans” on the other side. Free booze was available on the opposite end of the mezzanine in Bic’s “Sip and Shave” room.

“Thank you so much for coming out to see me,” said Brandy to her fans. “I know there’s a lot of things to do, so I appreciate you coming to spend your time with me…..I can’t even say how much your support means to me, to all of us artists. You make our dreams come true.”

She performed a mini set that included “Stripes,” “Love Can Go to Hell,” “I Hope You Have a Daughter” and the sublime “Three Kids No Husband.” One song she sang, “You’re Drunk,” appears on neither of her albums. Dozens held aloft their cell phones to shoot photos and videos.

Brandy introduced lead guitarist and harmony singer Miles Aubrey (apparently already a fan favorite in that they know to bring him donuts) and newer bassist and harmony singer Vanessa McGowan, who hails from New Zealand and evidently recorded a solo CD several years ago. Aubrey, by the way, was once in the Broadway production of Jersey Boys.

For a recap of Thursday evening (June 8)’s nighttime CMA Music Festival shows at Nissan Stadium, click here.