2006 CMA Music Festival’s Fourth Day Brings More Music, More Fun and More Country Fans, Celebrating its Biggest Year Yet
June 11, 2006
Day Four of the 2006 CMA Music Festival was a celebration of Country Music, friends, food, fun and memories that will last a lifetime. The Wrangler Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) at the Nashville Convention Center was jumping, the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages were hotter and Countrier than ever and the fans were out in force. The Fun Zone, Family Zone and Chevy Sports Zone were abuzz with family activities and celebrity-filled competitions. And the Festival hit a hillbilly crescendo at the Nightly Concerts at LP Field as Keith Anderson, Clint Black, Los Lonely Boys and Ronnie Milsap, Joe Nichols, LeAnn Rimes, SHeDAISY, Sugarland and the fans came out in force, helping to make 2006 the CMA Music Festival’s most successful year ever!
It Was Non-Stop Country at the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages
Sunny skies and hot temperatures greeted fans for the big fourth day of great Country music on the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages. The “Totally Country Show” kicked things off at 10 AM and was hosted by the ubiquitous Two Foot Fred, who handled his onstage duties in true “Freak Parade” style. The MuzikMafia member spent lots of time in the Wrangler Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) at the Nashville Convention Center this week, greeting legions of fans, including some wheelchair-bound admirers who have been inspired by his success.
“I’m out here to have fun and whatever I can do to help anyone else, that’s a bonus,” Two Foot Fred said. “I’ve had such a great time. I came for years and years as a fan, and it’s so awesome to be on the other side and to give back to the fans.”
Country Cookin’, Con Hunley Style
Two Foot Fred introduced a Sunday morning roster that got the early-morning Riverbank revelers up and running. The Fox Brothers started things off with an appropriate gospel touch. Then it was time for another Southern tradition. After church, the family gathers for the Sunday afternoon meal, right? Well, this particular Sunday at CMA Music Festival, the family consisted of hundreds of Country Music fans, gathered at Riverfront Park. The traditional Sunday meal consists of sausage and gravy, biscuits, fried chicken, and a whole lot of fixings; but on this final day of CMA Music Festival, the fans enjoyed a heapin’ helping of Con Hunley’s soulful Country.
Hunley’s Country Music recipe is unmistakable. He starts with keyboard, then adds a dash of backup singers, and tops it all off with a sprinkle of saxophone. He then bakes that mixture at 94 degrees for 30 minutes on the Riverfront, and creates a sound that kept the audience on their feet and begging for seconds.
“It’s great to be back doin’ what I do,” said the silver-haired Hunley.
Jimmy Fortune, Earl Thomas Conley and big-voiced John Berry rounded out a great morning bill.
The “Wide World of Country” Show kicked off with host Lane Brody introducing Australian Country sensation Catherine Britt, who performed “Where We Both Say Goodbye,” her hit duet with Sir Elton John, who was, sadly, not able to attend. CMA Global Artist of the Year Jason McCoy showed what won him that award, pulling out all the stops and delivering a rocking set with his band the Road Hammers. Their Canadian chart-topping version of Jerry Reed’s “East Bound and Down,” along with an inspired cover of the Del Reeves classic, “Girl On the Billboard,” brought the house down, and “I’m a Road Hammer” was pure Country autobiography.
After the show, a sweaty-but-happy McCoy expressed his good feelings about a great week at the 2006 CMA Music Festival.
“It’s great to be here,” McCoy said. “We come down here a lot. The fans have been great. We feel like we’re in our hometown every corner we turn around.”
Aileen Flanagan, this year’s winner of Ireland’s “Search for a New Country Star,” delivered a pleasant set of Country standards, and then the Aussies hit the stage. Telstra Road to Tamworth winner Nick Kingswell offered teen idol good looks and an easy Country vocal style, while guitar slinger Jake Nickolai sounded like a possible successor to Keith Urban on the Aussie Guitar Slinger throne. Canadian Michelle Wright delivered a great set of hits and hostess Lane Brody closed the show.
Fun Zone Keeps On Keepin’ On
As Jack Ingram shouts “keep on keepin’ on” to Riverfront fans in the background, the Fun Zone is doing just that. Busier than it has been all week with families sampling, tasting and just taking advantage of a friendly sponsor’s shady awning, the mood was festive and relaxed on day four of the CMA Music Festival. Even the Tennessee Education Lottery is in on the action, with a spinning wheel-of-fortune and lottery tickets on sale. The only slow spot was the gleaming, stainless steel Mr. Coffee booth … but hey, it’s hot! One of the real hot spots of the Fun Zone has been the Big River Grille, which is always full due to its central location and shady outdoor patio.
Metro police officer Kent McCallister, a veteran of many Nashville festivals and events, was standing on duty right outside the Big River Grille. He said the CMA Music Festival crowd is among the easiest groups of people he’s ever encountered.
“As far as events that I’ve been involved in Downtown, the people that come to the CMA Music Festival are among the nicest and most polite that we deal with,” McCallister said. “I’ve been working it since it was Fan Fair, and I’ve always enjoyed it because the people are so easy to get along with.”
The Geico “Take-A-Picture-With-A-Gecko” booth is also packed with fans eager to go home with that special photo of themselves with a … big green TV lizard with an Aussie accent!
Honey, Can You Hand Me My Barbecue Mop?
A crowd gathered at the Family Zone to check out Barbecue Grill Guru Steve Raichlen’s demonstration on how to prepare killer barbecue ribs. Trade secrets like an on-the-grill marinade that combines coffee and apple cider, applied with a contraption known as a “barbecue mop” were imparted to the lucky fans in attendance. Raichlen is host of the popular TV cooking show, “Barbecue University” on PBS.
New Country band Hot Apple Pie joined Crisco Sunday afternoon in the Crisco Country Favorites Corner in the Family Zone for a pie-making contest. Before the competition got under way, the band had an interview session with subjects ranging from musical influences to cooking experience. For the pie-making challenge, five lucky CMA Music Festival fans were invited on stage to help prepare the perfect piecrust with the group. Suffice it to say that neither the contestants nor the band members had spent much time in the kitchen. Once the contest was in full swing, everyone had flour and other fixings mashed on their hands.
“That’s the first time we’ve made pie,” said Brady Seals, lead singer for Hot Apple Pie. The lucky contest winner received a gift basket full of baking goodies.
After an intense competition, Hot Apple Pie fielded questions from the crowd. The group also took time for some photos with fans. One of those fans, Romaine Starr from Southern California, was excited to see her favorite Country act close up. “I’ve only seen them from far away in concert,” Starr said. She is a first-timer to CMA Music Festival, and she plans to come back next year. After the pie-making contest, the group headed over to the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages to perform songs from their self-titled debut album.
A Newcomer Makes Her Mark(s)
Sunday afternoon, the Nashville Convention Center provided the crowd at CMA Music Festival with not only a cool place to sit, but also with some great Country Music in the Acoustic Corner. Californian Miko Marks holds the honor of being the final performer in Acoustic Corner for the 2006 Festival.
Marks played a compelling selection of songs during her half hour set, including the upbeat, “Kickin’ Back,” the heartfelt “Mama” and the sassy “Don’t Come Cryin’ to Me.” “Mama” is a special song to Marks, because she wrote it in remembrance of her own mom.
“My music is family based, family oriented,” said Marks. “I want to be able to get my kids involved in what I’m doing for a living.”
Music Festival attendees Jim and Caroline Hutchins from Treasure Island, Fla., were very impressed with Marks’ energetic and entertaining acoustic performance. Jim Hutchins simply said, “She’s got a set of pipes!” His wife Caroline was wishing she could hear Marks with a full band.
This year was the first visit to CMA Music Festival for Marks, a former legal secretary. She earned a standing ovation and even a “We love you, Miko!” from the audience.
The Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race – Tanya Tucker’s Tractor is Sexy!!
Browsing through the Chevy Sports Zone, folks were stopping by the Navy booth for free sunglasses, Frisbees and foam-filled baseballs. The booth was strategically located between the Navy NASCAR racer and pro angler Luke Clausen’s tricked-out Chevy truck. But the revving sound of a very cool blue New Holland tractor drew the crowd over to the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race just across the way. Peterson stood proudly at the soundboard cueing up the songs of the long list of celebrities he lined up for this fun and successful event.
“This week has been fantastic,” Peterson said. “I’ve been out of the spotlight for a couple of years; I took some time off to work on my family. And New Holland is not just about selling tractors, they’re about helping people. That’s why I said ‘yes.’”
A large crowd of fans also answered in the affirmative every time one of their favorite artists climbed aboard the New Holland tractor, stepped on the gas and ran the twisting obstacle course of hay bales and traffic cones as Peterson cued up their respective hit songs. Competing Country artists included Deborah Allen, John Berry, Bekka Bramlett, Diamond Rio’s Jimmy Olander and Gene Johnson Wade Hayes, Bobby Pinson, Daryle Singletary, Bryan White, Billy Yates and crowd favorite Tanya Tucker (whose tractor is, indeed, sexy). Also competing was Army Captain Bruce Bailey, a veteran of the Iraq war.
“It’s always great to come and help somebody out, and there are a lot of great causes here,” said Yates just prior to jumping on the New Holland tractor. “There are great crowds and great charities; it’s all good.”
Alas, at the end of the race, only the few are good enough. And the winner of the Michael Peterson/New Holland Celebrity Tractor Race is … Wade Hayes! With a time of 54 seconds, the long-legged Oklahoman beat out second place winner Captain Bruce Bailey (55 seconds) and third place winner John Berry (56 seconds).
All competitors and fans left hot, sweaty and smiling. The aforementioned cool blue tractor was signed by all participants and will be auctioned off for charity at a later date.
Hey, Hillbilly!
The giant Greased Lightning spray bottle still loomed over the crowd (if only it were full of cool water) as “Sunday in the South” hosted by Karen Keeley of WSM-FM the Wolf, got under way. Fan favorite Buddy Jewell got a great response from the growing Riverfront crowd. Hot Apple Pie’s harmony-driven Country got the fans moving, with a bluegrass version of the band’s “Shape I’m In” and hit single, “Hillbillies” stealing the show. To a Bo Diddley beat, Hot Apple Pie had the crowd chanting “Hey, Hillbilly” in the hot summer sun. Rockie Lynne followed with a screaming guitar-driven set of country love songs. The newcomer was followed by Country veterans BlackHawk, Whitney Duncan and Restless Heart.
The “Riverfront Grand Finale” hosted by Slam Duncan of Nashville’s WSIX radio, brought four days of music on the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages to a raucous close. And what a way to go! Sammy Kershaw, Little Texas, Gary Nichols, Shane Owens and Aaron Tippin turned in go-for-broke sets.
Country mainstay Tippin sported a backwards baseball cap and filled his set with dancing, jumping and a great selection of his blue-collar Country tunes. When he asked if everyone was having fun at CMA Music Festival, the crowd replied with enthusiastic “woos” and applause, and Tippin shouted, “I’ve just had a great time!” The guitar licks in “Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong with the Radio” slapped the backs of Second Avenue’s bars and honky-tonks, while the cymbals in “Where the Stars and Stripes and Eagles Fly” crashed with American pride. Even the fans waiting in the beer line sang along. Tippin then played a new song, “Ready to Rock in a Country Kind of Way” as his wife Thea and two sons, Teddy and Thomas, jumped onstage. The boys played little acoustic guitars while wearing “Ready to Rock” T-shirts, and Thea sang backup on “Kiss This.” As always, the CMA Music Festival is a family affair.
LP Field Comes Alive (and Gets a Little Wet) For the Grand Finale of 2006 CMA Music Festival
It was a balmy summer night in Nashville at CMA Music Festival’s Nightly Concert at LP Field. Things got off to a Double XL start as newcomer Keith Anderson hit the stage. With a black cowboy hat, Anderson threw down his own brand of rowdy Country, revving up the LP Field crowd in the process.
Under a starry sky, SHeDAISY came on like a sunny day, with new temporary member/sister Karli standing in for a pregnant sister Kelsi. No problem, the trio sang their hit “Don’t Worry ‘Bout a Thing” showcasing sibling-tight harmonies, and rocked the crowd with incendiary “Burn Down the House.”
Joe Nichols made a charismatic, slow-walking entrance and took the fans directly to “Brokenheartsville,” which he managed to turn into a crowd sing-along. His latest hit, “Size Matters” came next, followed by a pure Country weeper, “I’ll Wait For You.” The Cajun-laced musical question “What’s a Guy Gotta Do” got the crowd to its feet and set-closer “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” made the crowd even rowdier.
Ronnie Milsap, with special guests Los Lonely Boys, got a hero’s welcome from the CMA Music Festival crowd. Ambling onstage in signature shades and smiling from ear to ear, the piano man went right into “Stranger in this House.” Los Lonely boys then stepped up with a new south-of-the-border ballad before Milsap delivered a weeping “Smoky Mountain Rain” with vocal and guitar assistance from Los Lonely Boy Henry Garza – a musical marriage made in heaven.
“Why don’t you start this one off Henry,” shouted Milsap. “A few notes of this and everybody’s gonna go ‘Whoooo!’”
With that, Milsap took over vocal chores for the first verse of Los Lonely Boys’ big hit, “Heaven” and the song’s seductive groove took over. “All is Fair is Love and War” rocked an inspired set to a close.
LeAnn Rimes brought her big voice and petite frame to the stage and proceeded to just take over. “Commitment” laid down the vocal gauntlet before the playful “So What” lightened things up. “Blue” turned fans in LP Field into yodelers. Rimes’ vocal prowess was matched by her grown-up stage persona as she launched into her latest No. 1 single, “Something’s Gotta Give.” Next came the only song that was performed twice on the LP Field stages this week, “How Do I Live.” Trisha Yearwood sang the song at Friday night’s Festival concert at LP Field.
Bring on the Texas! Dressed in a blue serge shirt (his guitarist was decked out in a cow-skin shirt) Clint Black kicked off his set with “Killing Time” and reeled off the hits in a confident but abbreviated set that confirmed his stature as one of Country’s enduring stars.
And then, it happened. The CMA Music Festival is built on tradition, and there’s one time-honored tradition you can always count on – rain. This year, it held out until the last minute, but when it came, it came in buckets. The thousands-strong crowd evacuated LP Field to escape approaching lightning, and the wait was on. As always, ever-faithful Country fans stuck it out and made the best of a wet situation, stocking up on water, beer, popcorn, cotton candy and other treats and singing Country songs at the top of their lungs to pass the time. After an hour-long wait, the rain stopped and Sugarland took the stage to bring the 2006 CMA Music Festival home.
“Country Music fans are the best fans in the world!” Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles shouted as the band launched into “Something More” to the delight of the rain-soaked crowd. Their latest hit, “Down to Mississippi (Up to No Good)” revved up the crowd and “Settle,” a new Country rocker maintained the pace. “Baby Girl” was the perfect rags-to-riches tale to end an incredible week of unforgettable Country Music.
Slightly wet, totally satiated, the best Country Music fans in the world headed back home, armed with the once-in-a-lifetime memories that can only be made at the CMA Music Festival. We’ll see y’all next year at the 2007 CMA Music Festival. Tickets are on sale now in Nashville and on sale Nashville on Monday, June 12 at 10 AM/CDT.
CMA Music Festival daily coverage by Peter Cronin, Jesse Darnell and Drew Maynard.
Order Tickets: 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378)