HGTV Lodge Returns to Downtown Nashville
CMA Fest has announced more than 100 additional performances throughout Downtown Nashville Thursday through Sunday, June 7-10th. Xfinity Fan Fair X is back and more exciting than ever featuring three stages packed with artist performances, panels and meet and greets, in addition to music and lifestyle exhibits, prize giveaways and the Marketplace taking place daily from 9:30 am-5 pm inside Music City Center. The HGTV Lodge returns for a seventh year, hosting performances with country music favorites and appearances from HGTV stars. Newly added to the Nissan Stadium stage, Jake Owen will perform on Friday night and Cole Swindell will perform on Sunday night.
“What makes CMA Fest unique from other music festivals are our one-of-a-kind fan experiences at Xfinity Fan Fair X,” says Damon Whiteside, CMA Chief Marketing Officer. “For decades, country music fans have flocked to Nashville to attend the festival to get up close and personal with their favorite artists. We’re proud to continue that tradition year after year.”
“With Xfinity Fan Fair X, we’re looking to extend a live version of the home experience we give millions of people across the country everyday – instant access to their favorite artists on the TV, mobile devices and online, all in a simple, easy and fun way,” said Matt Lederer, Comcast’s Executive Director of Partnership Marketing. “Country music fans are passionate, and we look forward to creating an immersive destination for them within CMA Fest.”
The fan-favorite Radio Disney Country Stage returns to Xfinity Fan Fair X, where attendees can catch some of today’s hottest stars and up-and-coming artists. Scheduled performances and appearances include Jimmie Allen, Abby Anderson, Cam, Jillian Cardarelli, CB30, Jordan Davis, Devin Dawson, Russell Dickerson, Cale Dodds, Lindsay Ell, Emily Hackett, Adam Hambrick, Trent Harmon, Walker Hayes, Jillian Jacqueline, Caroline Jones, Madison Kozak, LANCO, Maddie & Tae, Tegan Marie, Jaden Michaels, Cassadee Pope, Stephanie Quayle, RaeLynn, Noah Schnacky, Kalie Shorr, Christina Taylor and Rachel Wammack. Marie, Hayley Orrantia and Shorr join Radio Disney Country personality Betsy Spina to share hosting duties throughout the weekend.
“This year at CMA Fest, Radio Disney Country will have its biggest presence ever with an exciting stage lineup featuring some of today’s biggest artists as well as rising chart-bound stars,” states Phil Guerini, Vice President, Music Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide and General Manager, Radio Disney Network. Guerini adds, “The launch of Radio Disney Country was first announced three years ago at CMA Fest and each year since then we have increased our presence at the festival to bring fans up close and personal to some of their favorite artists.”
Discover your new favorite country artist this year at the Spotlight Stage, an addition to Xfinity Fan Fair X. The Spotlight Stage showcases a wide variety of more than 50 emerging acts performing acoustic sets and hosting meet and greets. Scheduled artists include 2Steel Girls, 8 Ball Aitken, American Young, Paul Bogart, Haley Mae Campbell, Cort Carpenter, Caryn Lee Carter, CERRITO, Jessie Chris, Chas Collins, Dustin Collins, Nora Collins, Crystal Day, Joe Denim, Dixie Jade, James Dupré, Tim Elliott, EmiSunshine, Farewell Angelina, Folk Soul Revival, Kenny Foster, Gal Friday, Josh Gallagher, Lee Gantt, Harper Grae, Kristi Hoopes, Jason Morton & The Chesapeake Sons, Meghan Kabir, Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road, Kelsey Lamb, Olivia Lane, Cherish Lee, Jenny Leigh, Lucy Angel, Elizabeth Lyons, Red Marlow, Bobby Marquez, Jackson Michelson, Kylie Morgan, Marta Olejarz, Shane Owens, Presley & Taylor, Jesse Rice, Matt Rogers, Southern Halo, Summer Brooke & The Mountain Faith Band, Glen Templeton, The Lovers, The Springs, The Wandering Hearts, The Young Fables and Karen Waldrup.
Announced last week, the CMA Close Up Stage is one of the most anticipated experiences inside Xfinity Fan Fair X, featuring Artist of the Day sessions with country music stars Kelsea Ballerini (June 10th), Dierks Bentley (June 7th), Luke Bryan (June 8th) and Dustin Lynch (June 9th). For chances to win access to front row seats for Artist of the Day sessions, select artist meet and greets inside Xfinity Fan Fair X and more, fans must register for CMA Fest Fan Access presented by Budweiser and then enter the Ultimate Fan Experiences Drawing between Tuesday, May 29th at 10 am CT and Thursday, May 31st at 10 am CT. All participants will be notified by email and text on Friday, June 1st to log in to their Fan Access account to see if they’re a winner. All prizes must be claimed by Tuesday, June 5th at noon CT or they will be awarded to alternate winners. By registering for CMA Fest Fan Access presented by Budweiser, festival-goers are entered for a chance to win a VIP trip for two to CMA Fest in 2019.
In addition, the Xfinity Zone will feature appearances by Chase Bryant, Easton Corbin, Lindsay Ell, Lucas Hoge, Jerrod Niemann, Stephanie Quayle, Dylan Scott, Temecula Road, Aaron Watson and Drake White.
The HGTV Lodge at Fan Alley offers festival-goers the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience, with performances by Lauren Alaina, Carlton Anderson, Lee Brice, Cam, Luke Combs, Jordan Davis, Chris DeStefano, Lindsay Ell, Morgan Evans, Walker Hayes, Ryan Hurd, Jillian Jacqueline, LANCO, Chris Lane, LOCASH, Dustin Lynch, Maddie & Tae, Ashley McBryde, Kip Moore, Jon Pardi, Eric Paslay, Cassadee Pope, Michael Ray, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tenille Townes, The Cadillac Three, Rachel Wammack, Lee Ann Womack and Trisha Yearwood as well as special appearances by HGTV “Property Brothers” stars Jonathan and Drew Scott. Great American Country’s Suzanne Alexander will emcee during the four-day event. For a chance to win access to the HGTV Lodge, fans must enter the Ultimate Fan Experiences Drawing at CMAfest.com/FanAccess.
“As a ‘home for country music fans,’ the HGTV Lodge is a remarkable way for the HGTV brand to connect with network fans and festival visitors,” states Karen Bronzo, Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing and Partnerships for HGTV. “We’re excited to be back for our seventh year with an amazing lineup of Country Music stars performing in a one-of-a-kind setting.”
New this year, CMA will host the Music Streaming Lounge at Xfinity Fan Fair X, a place for fans to have hands-on involvement with music streaming platforms, offering charging stations and a lounge for fans to enjoy each day. On Thursday, the lounge will be transformed into an iHeartRadio recording studio where fans will have the opportunity to become an on-air radio host interviewing some of the biggest names in Country Music for broadcast on a special iHeartRadio Fan Fair X station. Fans will also get a photo with the artist to commemorate their first radio gig inside the iHeartRadio pop-up studio. On Friday, Spotify will debut a new digital experience where fans can find their “Country Music Match” and create collaborative playlists live with country artists, while also offering updated free product and assisting listeners in personalizing their listening experiences. On Saturday, guests will be able to interact with tens of millions of songs on Amazon Music while using Alexa, requesting music in brand new ways based on mood, era, genre, city, lyrics, and much more. Guests will also be able to meet various country artists stopping by the Amazon Music space, some featured on the brand-new global playlist Country Heat.
Of the numerous artists appearing at Xfinity Fan Fair X over the four-day event, most of the meet and greets do not require tickets. In these instances, fans may freely join the line formations for non-ticketed signings.
A limited number of four-day tickets for the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium, which also includes four-day access to Xfinity Fan Fair X, are still available at CMAfest.com/tickets or through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST. All of CMA Fest’s outdoor daytime stages as well as nightly shows at the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater are free and open to the public. Fans can purchase the CMA Fest Nash Pass for $60 plus fees, allowing a limited amount of fans VIP early access at the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage. The Nash Pass also includes a Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum tour, Ryman Auditorium tour and four-day admission to Xfinity Fan Fair X. Tickets for Xfinity Fan Fair X are available for $10 each day or $25 for a four-day pass.
