Visiting the Acoustic Corner at the CMAfest

When the Acoustic Corner was introduced to the CMA Festival in 2004, no one knew quite what to expect.
Two banquet rooms were merged with a stage placed at one end and about two hundred chairs for patrons to sit to watch performances.
For those wanting to be able to visit artists' booths and obtain autographs through the day, it gives a nice break between to sit and enjoy a little music.
Some artists' arrive with just their guitar and others with full acoustic bands. Music is played in the area each day of the festival to the delight of many fans.

Curtis Alan kicked off the festivities on Thursday with Sage Keffer, Daniel Lee Martin, Carly Goodwin, The Lime Hollow Boys, Lee McCormack, and Ryan Holladay to follow.

A man who had walked past and heard Ryan Holladay performing came and told us that we had to make a stop by the Acoustic Corner before we left the building. Seems that he hadn't heard of the child prodigy until this moment.

Bluegrass fans have been seeing the young Holladay perform since his debut on the Grand Ole Opry at age five. Most of the twenty-eight performers on the schedule for the Acoustic Corner hope that the same thing will happen for them. Maybe someone will walk by and be taken enough by what they hear to purchase an album or take the time to at least find out who they are.

On Friday, the line-up consisted of Sisters Wade, Thom Ellis, Chris Gray, Memarie, Lance Miller, Kyle Jennings and Josh Brister.

Lance Miller, gained national attention last year after appearing on USA Network's Nashville Star 2004 season and secured a position in the Friday line-up.
Fans were delighted when he performed his original song "George Jones and Jesus" - which garnered him great attention on the television show.

A lot of fans were introduced to Kyle Jennings thanks to the Acoustic Corner. Jennings has gained quite the following since his 2004 appearance in the Corner and had that same effect this year with fans pouring out into the halls of the Convention Center.
One fan even found her way up to the area under false pretenses, when she was supposed to be in line in the Convention Center, just so she could catch a few minutes of Jennings show. The greatest laugher and applause could be heard following what we can best describe as [for lack of title] "The Bathroom Song".

As Jennings performance was over and he was leaving to make way for Josh Brister, a line of female fans followed him back to his booth.

Brister was in the midst of his set-up when he suddenly glanced up and saw the place emptying out. In a panic, he begged everyone to stay for his performance. He need not have worried, for the place was soon packed beyond capacity once again with the first note played. By the end of his performance it was hard to find a place from which to even see him.

Saturday ushered in Amanda Perko, Will Clements, The Well Hungarians, Damon Smith, Bernadette, Kyle Wyley and soap star, Kassie DePaiva.

DePaiva had perhaps the busiest week of the performers in the Corner. She was a participant in the Thursday morning Kick-Off Parade, the City of Hope Softball Challenge, and her own Fan Club Breakfast.
DePaiva is no stranger to Nashville as she performed at the Opryland Theme Park [as a singer] when she was in high school. Fans of ABC's "One Life To Live" filled the area to catch a glimpse.

As Sunday brought a close to the CMA Festival for 2005, so did the rain showers forcing a lot of fans indoors for the morning, especially with the postponing of the Riverfront Park stages shows.

The line-up for the day consisted of Suzanne Edwards Alford, Eddie Bush, Don Campbell, Candice Crain & the Rebels, Jay Teter, Chris Young and Tresa Street.

Artists such as Candice Crain were able to benefit greatly by the turn-out of the day, selling out of all merchandise at her booth.

Chris Young has been a fan favorite for a few years now and he delighted his fans closing out his performance with the Keith Whitley hit "When You Say Nothing At All".



The Acoustic Corner is a definate 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.