CMA Music Festival - 2005 Review

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.

Throughout the week in Nashville, we would make several trips in and out of the Exhibit Hall but it would also be my first stop of CMAfest week. I enjoyed walking through aisles seeing who was there and also seeing the hard work that was put into the booths. On occasion we would stop and talk to some of the artists we knew.

I would suggest to everyone that, even if you don't know the artist, at least take the time to stop by their booths and find out a little bit more about them, if only, to give them a quick hello. Who knows you might find that maybe you like them, but a least you'll let them know that they and their music matter.

My next stop of the day was the Sports Zone to attend the Annual Andy Griggs Archery Tournament and also to wander thru some of the other exhibits, including the Bassmaster Pro Tour Expo, this exhibit included daily performances from various Country music artists.

The Annual Andy Griggs Archery Tournament has been a huge success with country music fans and sportsmen alike, since it's inception 3 years ago. The tournament uses faux animals like bear and deer instead of plain ole paper bulls-eye targets, which adds to its popularity. Every year the bleachers have been filled with cheering fans and this year was no exception.

Vying for this years title included: Kix Brooks; Tracy Byrd; Greg Cook(Ricochet) Jolie Edwards; Ty England; Troy Gentry; Andy Griggs (2002 winner) Katie Haas; Donni Harris (Rushlow) Kris Marcy; Daniel Lee Martin; Paul Overstreet; Rusty Tabor (2003 winner) Neil Thrasher and Dave Watson.
Winner of this year's Tournament was archery novice Neil Thrasher. What about Last Place? Well it was a tie between Troy Gentry and Tracy Byrd.

My visits to the Sports Zone uncovered, to our amazement, female football players from Nashville's Dream team, wrestlers from the Nashville based TNA, hockey players from the Nashville Predators, and even a few Nascar Racing Drivers

After what I was told about the Kicktone's Kickin Country Tailgate Party, I decided I had to change my plans and stop by to see what all the fuss was about. I walked into one of the best shows in town, well that is if you were a fan of the Reality Show Nashville Star.

The line-up for Friday read like a who's who of Nashville Star 1. It included Jamey Garner, Prentiss Varnon, John Arthur Martinez, and Anne Louise Blythe, not to mention appearances from Amy Chappell and her talented boyfriend Jason Jones. After watching most all perform, we decided that after viewing the line-up for Saturday, which included famous Nashville songwriter's Benita Hill, Becky Hobbs and Kacey Jones, showcased as "A Cowgirl, A Diva, and a Shameless Hussy", that we would be back to the Kickin Country Tailgate party the following day.

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