Marshall Tucker Band
The
2013 CMA Music Festival will take over downtown Nashville Thursday through Sunday, June 6-9, with six free performance stages and countless free activities. Everything gets started with the
Ninth Annual CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade on Wednesday, June 5 at 11:00 AM. The parade will make its way down Broadway from Tenth to First Avenue with
Kix Brooks serving as Grand Marshal. Following the procession, the fun will kick into high gear with the
Eighth Annual CMA Music Festival Block Party. Fans can gather at the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage for
The Henningsens followed by
Brazilbilly, The Lacs, The Cadillac Three, and headliner
Joe Diffie.
Lyndsey Highlander will perform the national anthem.
There will be a total of 11 stages. Line ups for the
Nightly Concerts at LP Field, Chevrolet Riverfront Stage and
Bud Light Stage at the Bridgestone Arena Plaza were previously announced. Tickets for the Nightly Concerts sold out a record-setting six weeks in advance of the 2013 festival.
Here’s a run-down of the outdoor spaces that are free and open to the public:
(alphabetical order; artists and schedule subject to change)
Details including hours and location here.
BMI Tailgate Party
Returning to the CMA Music Festival for a second year is the BMI Tailgate Party. Located right off the Cumberland River outside LP Field, the stage will feature a strong selection of BMI’s songwriters, artists, and DJ Du warming up the audience before they enter LP Field for the Nightly Concerts beginning at 4:30 PM.
Thursday, June 6: Joel Crouse, Joey Hyde, and Thomas Rhett
Friday, June 7: Lindsay Ell, David Fanning, and Josh Thompson
Saturday, June 8: Native Run, Jon Pardi, and Westbound Rangers
Sunday, June 9: Brazilbilly, Curious Band, and The Railers
Transitions Performance Park
Transitions® adaptive lenses will host fans at a two-story viewing platform, where they can star in a professional photo shoot. The legendary
Marshall Tucker Band will make their first-ever CMA Music Festival appearance and kick things off at the Transitions Performance Park Stage on Thursday, June 6 at 11:00 AM.
Thursday, June 6: Ash Bowers, Tim Dugger, Flynnville Train, Marshall Tucker Band, Old Dominion, Chad Warrix, Holly Williams, and Jon Wolfe
Friday, June 7: The Cleverlys, Due West, Clare Dunn, Hudson Moore, Danielle Peck, Julie Roberts, Gwen Sebastian, and Phoenix Stone
Saturday, June 8: Jeff Bates, The Cadillac Three, Cowboy Troy, Jaida Dreyer, Morgan Frazier, Old Southern Moonshine Revival, Frank Ortega, and The Stickers
Sunday, June 9: Blackjack Billy, The Brothers Road, Kristy Lee Cook, High Valley, Carly Pearce, Stephanie Quayle, Sweetwater Rain, and A Thousand Horses
The Buckle
The Buckle Stage will host a variety of free performances and activities beginning with concerts presented by ASCAP on Thursday, June 6 and Sunday, June 9.
Thursday, June 6: Brent Anderson, Brian Burke, Karli Chayne, Steven Clawson, Clare Dunn, Josh Grider, Curtis Grimes, Austin Jenckes, Cody Johnson, Michaelis, Dylan Scott, Madeleine Slate, Two Story Road, Allison Veltz, Zane Williams, and Trent Willmon
Sunday, June 9: Chris Cavanaugh, Corey Crowder, Kalisa Ewing, Victoria Ghost, Adam Hambrick, JT Harding, Kris Hitchcock, Camaron Ochs, Brent Rupard, SaraBeth Taite, and Hailey Whitters
On Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, the ABC Television Summer Block Party will host appearances by Jason Thompson and Nancy Lee Grahn (
General Hospital) and Chef Carla Hall (
The Chew), along with free food from the Grilled Cheeserie Truck.
Fan Alley
The Chevrolet Roadhouse Stage in Fan Alley will feature daily concerts.
Thursday, June 6: Kenny Foster, Friends of Lola, Johnson, Pete Kennedy, Lisa Matassa, and Sundy Best
Friday, June 7: Tyler Barham, Eric Lee Beddingfield, Weston Burt, Courtney Cole, Striking Matches, and Carrie Zaruba
Saturday, June 8: Dakota Bradley, Brianna De Alba, Lyndsey Highlander, Rachel Holder, Kingston, and Austin Webb
Sunday, June 9: Cerrito, Zach Lockwood, Joanna Mosca, Josh Mullins, and Pierce Avenue
CMA Social Media Ticket Giveaways
Despite tickets to the LP Field Nightly Concert series being sold out, fans can win their way into the best seats in the house. Between Monday, May 27 and Friday, May 31, CMA will give away a pair of tickets each day across the organization’s social media channels Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. Details at
Blog.CMAfest.com beginning Monday, May 27.
Safety First
CMA will be utilizing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “If You See Something, Say Something” program to raises public awareness of indicators of terrorism-related crime and the importance of reporting suspicious activity. Attendees are asked 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.
'MusicRow' Awards Announce Breakthrough Artist of the Year Nominees
/by Jessica NicholsonMusicRow subscribers can vote for nominees in the Breakthrough Artist of the Year category, along with nominees in other MusicRow awards categories, until 5 p.m. today (May 24). Subscribers were sent ballots on Monday (May 20). This year’s MusicRow awards will take place on June 25 at ASCAP’s Nashville office.
Breakthrough Artist of the Year nominees include:
Florida Georgia Line (Republic Nashville/BMLG)
Kacey Musgraves (Mercury/UMG Nashville)
Love and Theft (RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville)
Ashley Monroe (Warner Bros. Nashville/Warner Music Nashville)
Kip Moore (MCA/UMG Nashville)
To subscribe to MusicRow and receive your ballot due Friday (May 24) at 5 p.m., click here.
Carrie Underwood Donates $1 Million to Red Cross
/by Jessica NicholsonCarrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood has donated $1 million to the Red Cross for disaster relief, after Underwood’s home state of Oklahoma recently experienced substantial damage from tornados. The charitable contribution is derived from the singer’s Blown Away Tour concert proceeds and was established when the tour launched in spring 2012. Underwood was raised in Checotah, Okla.
“The impact of the tornados in Oklahoma and the Midwest was devastating and the road to recovery will be long for many families. Through the generosity of Carrie, the American Red Cross can quickly respond with shelter, food and comfort now, and with lasting help as they move toward recovery,” said Neal Litvack, chief development officer for the Red Cross.
Earlier in the Blown Away Tour, after a performance in Atlantic City, N.J., Underwood designated funds to support the response and relief efforts in New Jersey in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
'MusicRow' Awards Announce Song of the Year Nominees
/by Jessica NicholsonMusicRow subscriber members can vote for nominees in the Song of the Year category, along with nominees in other MusicRow awards categories, until 5 p.m. on Friday (May 24). Subscribers were sent ballots on Monday (May 20). This year’s MusicRow awards will take place on June 25 at ASCAP’s Nashville office.
This year’s Song of the Year nominees include:
“Begin Again”
Songwriter: Taylor Swift
Recorded by: Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records/BMLG)
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree, BMI/ Taylor Swift Music, BMI
“Blown Away”
Songwriters: Josh Kear, Chris Tompkins
Recorded by: Carrie Underwood (19 Recordings Limited/Arista Nashville) Publishers: Global Dog Music, ASCAP/ Lunalight Music, ASCAP/ Big Loud Songs, ASCAP/ Angel River Songs, ASCAP
“I Drive Your Truck”
Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary
Recorded by: Lee Brice (Curb Records)
Publishers: Vistaville Music, ASCAP/ Happy Tears Music, ASCAP/ EMI Blackwood, BMI/ Watch This Girl Publishing, BMI/ Great Day At This Time Music, BMI/ Beattyville Music, BMI
“Merry Go ‘Round”
Songwriters: Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally
Recorded by: Kacey Musgraves (Mercury/UMG Nashville)
Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane, BMI/ 351 Music, BMI/ Want A Fresh One Music, ASCAP/ Black River Entertainment, ASCAP/ Universal Music Corporation, ASCAP/ Smack Ink, ASCAP
“Southern Comfort Zone”
Songwriters: Brad Paisley, Chris DuBois, Kelley Lovelace
Recorded by: Brad Paisley (Arista Nashville/Sony Music Nashville)
Publishers: House of Sea Gayle Music, ASCAP/ EMI April Music, ASCAP/ Didn’t Have To Be Music, ASCAP
To subscribe to MusicRow and receive your ballot due Friday (May 24) at 5pm, click here.
ole Names Gilles Godard VP, Corporate Affairs and Development
/by Jessica NicholsonGilles Godard (Photo: Casey Curry)
ole has named Gilles Godard to the newly created corporate role of Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Development. In the role, Godard will focus on ole stakeholder and industry relations worldwide to drive brand awareness, create market opportunities and drive increased revenue. He will also continue to provide advice and counsel to the creative teams and liaise with writers as required.
Godard has been with ole for seven years, most recently as its Chief Creative Officer in Nashville. During his tenure with the company Godard has been instrumental in facilitating major ole acquisitions such as Jody Williams Music and Blacktop.
“Gilles began with ole as a songwriter and his feel for how ole and its brand interacts with our community originally prompted me to suggest he join the business team,” says ole CEO Robert Ott. “I’m very pleased to now welcome Gilles to the corporate executive team and look forward to his continued contribution to the elevation of our brand and relationships and in initiating strategic acquisitions at ole.”
“I am thrilled to be taking on this new corporate role at ole and look forward to being an integral part of our significant planned growth,” says Godard.
Little Big Town Raises $115,000 for Africa
/by Michael_Smith(L-R): Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman, Governor Bill Haslam, Crissy Haslam, Phillip Sweet, Karen Fairchild
Little Big Town recently played a benefit show for the organization Blood: Water Mission in Nashville. The organization works against HIV/AIDS and water problems in Africa.
The concert raised over $115,000 for Blood: Water Mission. Attendees included Governor Bill Haslam and wife Crissy Haslam, Titans player Jake Locker, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit and Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney.
Little Big Town has earned several accolades in 2013, including the ACM Music Video of the Year for “Tornado,” an ACM trophy for Top Vocal Group and a Grammy award for their song “Pontoon.”
Visit www.bloodwatermission.com for more information on Blood: Water Mission.
Artist Updates (5-23-13)
/by Jessica NicholsonThe singer-songwriter will join host Ashley Eicher for the segment, where he will discuss his musical beginnings.
• • •
Joining the group will be Diamond Rio, Craig Morgan, Randy Travis, Meghan Linsey (Steel Magnolia), DJ JU, Joe Bachman, Scott Munns, Striking Matches, Hudson Moore, Natalie Stovall Band, Rockit City (with Teddy Gentry) and Jeff Cook and the AGB. For more information, visit alabamafestivalatsea.com.
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• • •
On May 17, Craig Morgan staffed a Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee Mobile Pantry. The project celebrated UnitedHealthcare’s recent $100,000 donation to Second Harvest, which helped bring food to 10,000 hungry people by funding 40 Mobile Pantry deliveries throughout Middle Tennessee.
Pictured (L-R): State Rep. David Shepard, Rep. Mary Littleton, Greg Reidy (CEO, UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual), Scott A. Bowers (CEO, Tennessee, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), Les Bosarge (Regional sales director, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement), Kim Molnar (VP, Program Services, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee), Dickson County Mayor Bob Rial, Craig Morgan, Karen Greer, Dr. Health E. Hound
Rascal Flatts Gives Fans More Tour Fun in FarmersFans Zone
/by Jessica NicholsonThe FarmersFan Zone includes a fully customized Rascal Flatts off-road vehicle complete with games that include archery and golf. Fans can also have a photo opportunity in the backseat of the vehicle. Dance Y’all will also participate in the tailgate experience by teaching fans dance moves and by offering them the opportunity to enter a dance off for a chance to dance onstage with the Farmers Insurance Dance Y’all Experience featuring Laura Bell Bundy.
Additional games including a basketball shootout, ladder golf and a bean bag battle can be found as well. Fans can test their Rascal Flatts knowledge with “LIVE & LOUD” tour trivia and can sign up to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the CMA Awards in Nashville this fall.
2013 Farmers Insurance Presents Rascal Flatts “Live & Loud” dates:
May 31 Jones Beach, NY, Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
June 1 Harrington, DE, Harrington Raceway & Casino
June 2 Holmdel, NJ, PNC Bank Arts Center
June 6 Atlanta, Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
June 7 Tampa, FL, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 8 West Palm Beach, FL, Cruzan Amphitheatre
June 14 Boston, Mass., Comcast Center
June 15 Hartford, Conn., Comcast Theatre
June 16 Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Saratoga Performing Arts Center
June 23 Grand Junction, Colo., Country Jam USA
June 27 Detroit, Mich., DTE Energy Music Theatre
June 28 Cleveland, Ohio, Blossom Music Center
June 29 Indianapolis, Klipsch Music Center
July 18 Eau Claire, Wis., Country Jam USA
July 19 Stateline, Nev., Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena
July 23 Paso Robles, Calif., California Mid State Fair
July 25 Cheyenne, Wy., Cheyenne Frontier Days
Aug. 2 Gilford, N.H., Meadowbrook **
Aug. 3 Bomanville, ON, Mosport ParkRaceway/Boots & Hearts Festival
Aug. 9 Wichita, Kan., INTRUST Bank Arena
Aug. 10 Tulsa, Okla., BOK Center
Aug. 16 St. Louis, Mo., Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Aug. 17 Chicago, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Aug. 18 Sioux City, Iowa, Tyson Events Center
Sept. 5 Cincinnati, Ohio, Riverbend Music Center
Sept. 6 Pittsburgh, First Niagara Pavilion
Sept. 7 Darien Center, N.Y., Darien Lakes Performing Arts Center
Sept. 12 Phoenix, Az., Desert Sky Pavilion
Sept. 13 San Diego, Calif., Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Sept. 14 Irvine, Calif., Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Sept. 26 Virginia Beach, Va., Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
Sept. 27 Raleigh, N.C., Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
Sept. 28 Washington, D.C., Jiffy Lube Live
Oct. 3 Las Cruces, N.M., Pan American Center/ New Mexico State University
Oct. 4 Lubbock, Texas, United Spirit Arena
*dates are subject to change
** The Band Perry will not appear on this date
CMA Music Festival Packed With Free Activities
/by Sarah SkatesMarshall Tucker Band
The 2013 CMA Music Festival will take over downtown Nashville Thursday through Sunday, June 6-9, with six free performance stages and countless free activities. Everything gets started with the Ninth Annual CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade on Wednesday, June 5 at 11:00 AM. The parade will make its way down Broadway from Tenth to First Avenue with Kix Brooks serving as Grand Marshal. Following the procession, the fun will kick into high gear with the Eighth Annual CMA Music Festival Block Party. Fans can gather at the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage for The Henningsens followed by Brazilbilly, The Lacs, The Cadillac Three, and headliner Joe Diffie. Lyndsey Highlander will perform the national anthem.
There will be a total of 11 stages. Line ups for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field, Chevrolet Riverfront Stage and Bud Light Stage at the Bridgestone Arena Plaza were previously announced. Tickets for the Nightly Concerts sold out a record-setting six weeks in advance of the 2013 festival.
Here’s a run-down of the outdoor spaces that are free and open to the public:
(alphabetical order; artists and schedule subject to change) Details including hours and location here.
BMI Tailgate Party
Returning to the CMA Music Festival for a second year is the BMI Tailgate Party. Located right off the Cumberland River outside LP Field, the stage will feature a strong selection of BMI’s songwriters, artists, and DJ Du warming up the audience before they enter LP Field for the Nightly Concerts beginning at 4:30 PM.
Thursday, June 6: Joel Crouse, Joey Hyde, and Thomas Rhett
Friday, June 7: Lindsay Ell, David Fanning, and Josh Thompson
Saturday, June 8: Native Run, Jon Pardi, and Westbound Rangers
Sunday, June 9: Brazilbilly, Curious Band, and The Railers
Transitions Performance Park
Transitions® adaptive lenses will host fans at a two-story viewing platform, where they can star in a professional photo shoot. The legendary Marshall Tucker Band will make their first-ever CMA Music Festival appearance and kick things off at the Transitions Performance Park Stage on Thursday, June 6 at 11:00 AM.
Thursday, June 6: Ash Bowers, Tim Dugger, Flynnville Train, Marshall Tucker Band, Old Dominion, Chad Warrix, Holly Williams, and Jon Wolfe
Friday, June 7: The Cleverlys, Due West, Clare Dunn, Hudson Moore, Danielle Peck, Julie Roberts, Gwen Sebastian, and Phoenix Stone
Saturday, June 8: Jeff Bates, The Cadillac Three, Cowboy Troy, Jaida Dreyer, Morgan Frazier, Old Southern Moonshine Revival, Frank Ortega, and The Stickers
Sunday, June 9: Blackjack Billy, The Brothers Road, Kristy Lee Cook, High Valley, Carly Pearce, Stephanie Quayle, Sweetwater Rain, and A Thousand Horses
The Buckle
The Buckle Stage will host a variety of free performances and activities beginning with concerts presented by ASCAP on Thursday, June 6 and Sunday, June 9.
Thursday, June 6: Brent Anderson, Brian Burke, Karli Chayne, Steven Clawson, Clare Dunn, Josh Grider, Curtis Grimes, Austin Jenckes, Cody Johnson, Michaelis, Dylan Scott, Madeleine Slate, Two Story Road, Allison Veltz, Zane Williams, and Trent Willmon
Sunday, June 9: Chris Cavanaugh, Corey Crowder, Kalisa Ewing, Victoria Ghost, Adam Hambrick, JT Harding, Kris Hitchcock, Camaron Ochs, Brent Rupard, SaraBeth Taite, and Hailey Whitters
On Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, the ABC Television Summer Block Party will host appearances by Jason Thompson and Nancy Lee Grahn (General Hospital) and Chef Carla Hall (The Chew), along with free food from the Grilled Cheeserie Truck.
Fan Alley
The Chevrolet Roadhouse Stage in Fan Alley will feature daily concerts.
Thursday, June 6: Kenny Foster, Friends of Lola, Johnson, Pete Kennedy, Lisa Matassa, and Sundy Best
Friday, June 7: Tyler Barham, Eric Lee Beddingfield, Weston Burt, Courtney Cole, Striking Matches, and Carrie Zaruba
Saturday, June 8: Dakota Bradley, Brianna De Alba, Lyndsey Highlander, Rachel Holder, Kingston, and Austin Webb
Sunday, June 9: Cerrito, Zach Lockwood, Joanna Mosca, Josh Mullins, and Pierce Avenue
CMA Social Media Ticket Giveaways
Despite tickets to the LP Field Nightly Concert series being sold out, fans can win their way into the best seats in the house. Between Monday, May 27 and Friday, May 31, CMA will give away a pair of tickets each day across the organization’s social media channels Google+, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. Details at Blog.CMAfest.com beginning Monday, May 27.
Safety First
CMA will be utilizing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “If You See Something, Say Something” program to raises public awareness of indicators of terrorism-related crime and the importance of reporting suspicious activity. Attendees are asked 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.
Faster Horses Festival Adds To Performance Lineup
/by Jessica NicholsonThe second stage artists will join previously announced headliners Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan, along with Kix Brooks, Florida Georgia Line, Colt Ford, David Nail, Jerrod Niemann, Thomas Rhett, Thompson Square, Chris Young, Brett Eldredge, Jon Pardi, Drake White, Greg Bates and Chase Rice.
In addition to the extended performance lineup, the camping and music festival is partnering with Camp Casey to provide horse vaulting and drill team performances. The festival will feature nine campgrounds, a Foamalicious organic foam party, the world’s largest inflatable water slide and a 100-foot tall vertigo swing.
The three-day Faster Horses Festival is set for July 19-21 in Brooklyn, Mich.
For more details, visit fasterhorsesfestival.com.
Primetime 'Nashville': Season Finale
/by Sarah SkatesRayna and Juliette share a moment at Juliette’s mom’s funeral.
I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive
Season 1 | Episode 121 | Aired 05/22/2013
The season finale of Nashville packed a one-two punch of cliffhangers which will leave fans wondering until next season. The episode ended with Rayna and Deacon in a terrible car wreck, Gunnar popping the question to Scarlett, and Teddy finding out that his ex-girlfriend Peggy is preggers.
Just when things were looking good for Rayna and Deacon’s romantic relationship, he found out that Maddie is his biological daughter. The secret Rayna had been keeping for 13 years drove him to a disastrous alcohol binge after more than a decade of sobriety.
At the CMA Awards, Rayna and Brad Paisley performed “Bitter Memory,” written by Lucinda Williams.
Reeling from the news, Deacon tracked down mayor Teddy outside his office and tackled him. Years ago, when Rayna found out she was pregnant with Maddie, she and Teddy decided to get married and raise Maddie as Teddy’s daughter.
Now that Teddy and Rayna are separated, it turns out he might have another child on the way, this time with Peggy (Kimberly Williams Paisley). In another of the show’s ongoing storylines, Teddy and Peggy were contacted by federal investigators over an embezzlement scheme that could land Teddy in prison.
Deacon continued on a path of self-destruction until his AA sponsor, who is also Teddy’s former deputy mayor, Coleman, showed up to help. Deacon tried to physically fight off Coleman during one of the episode’s best played scenes (see video below).
Later that night, Deacon showed up at the Bluebird Café where Juliette was hosting a memorial service for her mother Jolene. In last week’s episode, Jolene killed the man who was blackmailing Juliette and then took her own life.
The CMA Awards served as a backdrop for the season finale, where Juliette and Rayna were nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year. In a maudlin scene, Juliette skipped the ceremony and ended up alone at the funeral home, crying over her mother’s casket. Juliette won Female Vocalist, but wasn’t there to accept.
Jolene had always wanted to see her daughter perform at the Bluebird, so Juliette arranged a small graveside burial followed by a memorial at the famed music venue.
At the Bluebird, Juliette performed “Nothing In This World,” joined by her band member Avery and the song’s real-life writer Kate York. York wrote the song with Sarah Buxton (see them discuss it here). While Juliette poured her heart into the song in her mother’s tribute, a montage showed Gunnar presenting an engagement ring to a surprised Scarlett, as well as Rayna and Deacon leaving the Bluebird together, and arguing in the car leading to a rollover accident in the SUV (see the video above).
Juliette and Avery grew close toward the end of the season, a storyline that could develop next season. Meanwhile, Avery still has feelings for his ex-girlfriend Scarlett. On the finale, he and Scarlett had lunch together and she joined him onstage at his show to perform the episode’s new song, “Moon Is High,” written by Elvis Costello. In one more season-closing storyline that is sure to leave viewers guessing, Rayna’s sister Tandy quit the family business where she worked for their scheming father, Lamar. Wonder what she has up her sleeve?
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Read more: The Nashville Scene explores the possibility that season two of Nashville won’t actually be shot in Music City.