The Seven Song Itch - CMA Music Festival

I love Country Music—all types from Twangy to Contemporary, hardworking and rasin’ hell, it is truly the music of America.  And yes, I’ve heard the joke about what happens when you play a country music song backwards…you get your girl back, your dog back, and your beer back, but that’s not the case in all of the songs.  CMA Music Festival (This year’s festival is June 7-10^th) is one of the most unique festivals that I’ve had the pleasure of attending.  It brings together country music fans from around the world and gathers them in Nashville, TN for a week of concerts and events.  The actual CMA part, is Thursday-Sunday, but there are lot’s of pre/post-events that bring out the fans for the whole week.  There are early and late shows up and down Broadway, as well as in East Nashville (Five Corners) and venues adjacent to Music Row.  This festival brings together new country as well as classic country artists that have come before.  There is an exposition aspect to this event where fans get to meet the artists up close and personal.  There are fans that come back year after year and have ‘family reunions’ at this event and people buy tickets for the next year even before any of the artists are announced.  Artists like Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, Oak Ridge Boys appear on the same stages as Carrie Underwood, The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, and Martina McBride.  There are more headliners than you can shake a stick at, so I’ve decided to pick some of my favorites.

Playlist for CMA MusicFestival

1. Glen Campbell – “Country Boy (You’ve Got Your Feet In LA)”(1975)

There are dozens of Campbell classics, but this song rings true to me, regardless of musical genre.  Currently on his farewell tour, this classic tune addresses the pressures a small town country boy when he finally hits it big, and he finds that all of the fame and fortune isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.

2. Ronnie Milsap "Smokey Mountain Rain"(1980)

Not many people know this, but Ronnie played keyboards on Elvis’s “Kentucky Rain” song back in the day. At the beginning of this video, it’s great to hear about his influences.

3. Martina McBride – “This One's For The Girls”(2003)

Yes, I know she has a new album out, “Eleven”(2011), but this song showcases the spunky nature of her music at its full force.  This song carry’s the theme of not letting the circumstances around you dictate how you should react.

CD Review of "Eleven" by Martina McBride

4. Dierks Bently – “Am I The Only One”(2011)

When you live on a 24-hour schedule, it’s hard to coordinate meeting up with someone—Lord I know this.  It’s even harder when all of your friends have decided to get right in their lives and are not up for a little hell rasin’.  Am I getting too old?

5. Zac Brown Band – “No Hurry”(2012)

This contemporary band has classic country roots.  This band epitomizes the country creed of sayin’ what cha’ mean and not apologizin’ for what you do.  Sure, makin’ amends is a good thing, but only when you have gone though the hard livin’ and discover that there’s no rush in this world.  Just take it nice and easy.

6. Carrie Underwood – “Good Girl”(2012)

Now this song rocks.  Is it just me or are most contemporary country artists out there have a rock and roll sound?  In any case, this song has Carrie firing on all cylinders and shows her edgy side while still staying true to her good girl ways.

7. Rascal Flatts – “Banjo”(2012)

I think that the Banjo is making a come back.  Just a few years ago Comedian Steve Martin took a band out on the road and played this instrument for sold out audiences around the nation.  This band, however, doesn’t need another hit, but I’m glad that they keep on making great records.

List of artists:

Jason Aldean, Glen Campbell, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band, Nashville School Of Arts Chamber Choir, The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Ronnie Milsap, Jake Owen, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, OAK RIDGE BOYS, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Hunter Hayes, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Kenny Rogers, Julie Roberts, Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson, The Mavericks, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Rascal Flatts, Lee Brice, Colt Ford, Tracy Lawrence, Dustin Lynch, Neal McCoy, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Jerrod Niemann, Randy Rogers Band, Josh Thompson, Uncle Kracker, Jeff Bates, Greg Bates, Julie Roberts, Tyler Farr, Classic Country Show (Moe Bandy, T. Graham Brown, Janie Fricke, Gene Watson), Trent Tomlinson, Miss Willie Brown, Cledus T. Judd, Eric Paslay, Rose Falcon, Katie Armiger, Exile, The McClymonts, Frankie Ballard, Big Smo, Drake White, Blackberry Smoke, Josh Gracin, Trailer Choir, Sonia Leigh, Randy Montana, The Cleverlys, Canaan Smith, Jaida Dreyer, Bucky Covington, Mark Wills, Jon Pardi, Jason Michael Carroll, Mandy Barnett, Joanna Smith, Charlie Worsham, Kentucky Headhunters, Robin Meade, Andy Gibson, Mockingbird Sun, HER & Kings County, Lindsay Lawler, Tim Dugger, Blackjack Billy, Jason Cassidy, Bush Hawg, Sunny Sweeney, Kristy Lee Cook, Matt Gary, Lighter Ray, Rachel Holder, Aaron Parker, Michael Ray, Morgan Frazier, Parmalee, Rachel Farley, Drew Smith, Lacey Brown, Russell Dickerson, Lyndsey Highlander, Maggie Rose, Levi Lowrey, Donny Fallgatter, The Henningsens, Chris Janson, Dean Alexander, Connor Christian & Southern Gothic.