CMAfest - CMA Music Festival Reviews & Highlights

CMA Music Festival celebrated it's 40th anniversary with four days of sweltering heat that sent hundreds seeking relief from the sun and heat. It was hot but then again so was the never-ending array of music!

The Billy Yates' Countriest of the Country Show brings together some of Country Music's best and brightest singers and songwriters for a night of outstanding country music.

Come take a look at who's scheduled for the CMAfest daily Riverfront concerts for the 2011 CMA Music Festival

Come take a look at who's scheduled for the CMAfest nightly concerts for the 2011 CMA Music Festival

Hard Rock Cafe's Annual Songwriter's Night Series, hosted by the Nashville Hard Rock Cafe offers an intimate look at art of songwriting with some of Nashville's Best Songwriters. Held annually in Nashville in the Nashville Hard Rock Cafe's Reverb Room.

Among the many stages featuring live music at the at Nashville's CMA Music Festival was the Hard Rock Outdoor Stage, just a block from the main Riverfront Stages on the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville.

The CMAfest Exhibit Hall is located in the Nashville Convention Center at the corner of Broadway & 4th to 5th Avenue. The Exhibit Hall is open daily during the CMA Music Festival from Thursday to Sunday. This is where you want to go to interact with all of your favorite artists and you can expect to see row & rows of artists booths.

The official kick-off for the CMA Festival was the "Kick-Off Parade" Wednesday afternoon on Broadway in downtown Nashville and included performances at the Chevy Stages.

Sunday Mornin' Country began in June of 1980 at the War Memorial Auditorium, later the Acuff Theatre, the Grand Ole Opry House and most recently the Ryman Auditorium.

The Steve Azar St. Cecilia Foundation Benefit Concert is held during CMAfest and benefits children in need in the Nashville Area as well as the Delta Region in Mississippi.

Marty Stuart's Late Night Jam is normally held at the Ryman Auditorium and benefits MusiCares, an organization who's services provide critical assistance for music people in times of need.

The Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race is one on the CMAfest annual charity events but notably absent from this years event were the huge bales of hay that proved to be too much of an obstacle at last years race.

Each year, Chely Wright announces the line-up of the annual Reading, Writing & Rhythm Benefit Concert well in advance of the event but always holds back a little surprise guest or two for the audience.

The official kick-off for the CMA Music Festival is, of course, the annual "Kick-Off Parade" held on Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville that also includes several performances afterward at the stage located in front of the Bridgestone Arena.

The CMAfest Family Zone is just one of the areas that CMA Festival has set up so anyone can take their children and have a fun day out. Tables are set up in the area for children to play with Play-Doh, crayons, markers and coloring books, decorating cookies or cupcakes, story time with Hungry Jack, and sliding down large inflatable slides

From Flight simulators to sports challenges, the Sports Zone is a haven for outdoor adventures. This Zone is free and open to all festival and non-festival goers to enjoy.

The Fun Zone at the CMA Festival is a little more open and some new faces could be found this year. You could sit down and have a cup of coffee, compliments of Mr. Coffee. Have a makeover, courtesy of Venus Vibrance or have your photo made with a talking lizard at the Geico booth!

Visit the CMAfest the Riverfront Stages performances for four days of fun at the CMA Music Festival.

Rival teams Grand Ole Opry Live and After MidNite with Blair Garner offer all-star team lineups for the Lynnco Custom Cycles Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge.

Lonestar & Friends Strike Out For The Kids is an annual event normally held at Hermitage Lanes during CMAfest Week.

Music City has done it again with the annual IFCO show took over the Ryman for an evening filled of great music and incredible talent.

The Grand Ole Opry Trust Fund Benefit was is normally held annually during the CMA County Music Festival late Thursday nights at the historic Ryman Auditorium located in downtown Nashville. Each year this event offers a great line-up for a worthy cause.[

Andy Griggs' Celebrity Archery Tournament never fails to pack the stands long before the first bow is ever removed from it's case.

Chely Wright and friends Wynonna, Bryan White, Jason Aldean, Julie Roberts, Ty Herndon, Keith Anderson and Little Big Town set the pace for the 2006 CMA Music Festival performing in front of a standing-room only crowd at The 6th Annual Reading, Writing & Rhythm Benefit Concert held at the Wildhorse Saloon.

Three cones, two towers of stacked bales of hay and Michael Peterson's penalty wielding daughters were all that stood between the celebrity contestants and a win in Peterson's first ever Celebrity Tractor Race sponsored by New Holland Tractors.

Buddy Jewell and his fans enjoy a very intimate setting at the historic Belcourt Theater early Sunday morning for his annual Fan Club Party.

The fan club party of the newly crowned Nashville Star, Chris Young was held during the CMA Music Festival on Friday morning at the Global Cafe on Broadway.

The CMA Music Festival,sponsored every year by the Country Music Association,formally know as Fanfair.Nashville and the Country Music Association hit it the mark at this year’s CMAfest by hosting the Perfect Country Music Festival. Please join us as we review the week long celebration of CMAfest.

Take a trip into the four days at the CMAfest 2005 Riverfront Stages performances.

Read an in-depth review on the Thursday Night's Coliseum Show live from the CMAfest, complete with artist lineup and list of songs sang.

Take a trip into the four days at the CMAfest at the Riverfront Stages performances on Friday, the second day of the CMA Music Festival.

Read an in-depth review on the Friday Night's Coliseum Show live from the CMAfest, complete with artist lineup and list of songs sang.

Take a trip into the four days at the CMAfest Riverfront Stages performances on Saturday, the third day of the CMA Music Festival.

The Acoustic Corner is a definite must see when attending the CMAfest and a great place to visit, see and hear new up and coming country artists in a relaxing setting.

Superstar Spectacular Benefit was just that… SPECTACULAR! This year's "After Hours" CMA Music Festival event took place at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville with plenty of country music superstars, new artist and traditional artists coming together to help raise money for the Opry Trust Fund.

International Fan Club Organization [IFCO], founded in 1967 by three lovely ladies, Loudilla, Loretta and Kay Johnson, offer this annual event named the IFCO Shindig every June in Nashville and held during festivities of the Country Music Festival.

CMA Festival week is a busy one for Jay Bush and his canine companion, Duke. Tennessee has a special connection to the two because they call Tennessee their home.

Review of Lawry's live cooking show at the CMAFest 2005 which featured appearances by Hilljack, Trent Willmon, Joey Daniels, Lisa O'Kane, Chalee Tennison, Kevin Sharp, Joni Harms, Brad & Shelly, Tresa Street, Brittany Wells, Tori Baxley and Tresa Jordan. Provided by staff writer Michelle Durham.

Marty Slayton gathered Nashville Star alumni together once again to help benefit Lupus and create a memorable "Stars For Hope" annual benefit concert. Each year the show coincides with the CMA Festival and brings out a huge line-up of Nashville Stars.

Nashville Star, Prilosec and the CMAfest set out this year to find a Nashville Star a bit early on in the game by offering a guaranteed slot in next years Regional competition by offering an early competition held during this years CMAfest

Rocketown, the teen club founded by Christian music recording artist Michael W. Smith, was the scene for the 2005 Buddy Jewell Fan Club Party which took place during this year's CMA Music Festival and Yes it did include Black Leather, A Silver Hog and even a Biker Babe!

A gathering of family friends and fans at John Arthur Matinez’s Fan club Party held during the CMAfest.

Read an in-depth review for each of the CMAFest Coliseum Shows, complete with artist lineup and list of songs too.

Take a trip into the 4 days of the CMAfest to the Riverfront Stages performances

A review of one of the best and most affordable CMA Music Festival events of week, The Kicktone Country Tailgate Party, featuring such notables as Jamey Garner, Becky Hobbs, Benita Hill, John Arthur Martinez, Melonie Cannon and many more.

Two days after the Official CMAfest ended, the Nashville Area Junior Chamber of Commerce reunited the Contestants from the second season of USA Network's hit show "Nashville Star" for a reunion-and benefit for Lupus Foundation of America concert.

Attending the CMAfest is a wonderful experience, but attending it and taking the time to gather with friends can make it a lifetime event with great memories for all.