Photos by Bev Moser and Pam Stadel for Moments By Moser BMI Tailgate Party to Debut at 2012 CMA Music Festival New stage to offer high-energy sets from exciting up-and-comers and established greats outside LP Field each night of the Festival BMI will help make downtown Nashville’s beloved celebration of all things Country Music even bigger with the introduction of the
BMI Tailgate Party at the 2012
CMA Music Festival, Thursday, June 7 through Sunday, June 10. Located right off the Cumberland River outside LP Field, the new stage will feature BMI’s rising stars, songwriters behind the hits, honky tonk heroes and guitar gods, and serving as rowdy warm-ups before the nightly headliner shows at LP Field.
The BMI Tailgate Party will start each day of the Festival at 4:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Thursday’s lineup kicks off with promising up-and-comer
Brent Cobb, followed by two of Country’s most in-demand songwriters, the
Peach Pickers –
Dallas Davidson and
Rhett Akins.
Friday evening starts with BR549 co-founder
Chuck Mead and his new group,
His Grassy Knoll Boys, followed by the robust rockabilly of
Trent Summar & the New Row Mob, then Arista Nashville recording artist and Texas-bred singer/songwriter
Kristen Kelly.
Saturday jump starts with newcomer
Mo Pitney. Louisiana native
Chancie Neal takes the stage next, followed by new Country-rock duo
Florida Georgia Line.
Sunday kicks off with young old-time string troupe the
Hogslop String Band, followed by guitar master and charismatic front man
Kenny Vaughan, then the
World Famous Headliners, a super-trio made up of hit songwriters and top-drawer musicians
Pat McLaughlin,
Shawn Camp and
Big Al Anderson.
The BMI Tailgate Party at the CMA Music Festival exemplifies both organizations’ continued dedication to supporting songwriters at all levels. BMI's layered approach to songwriter development comprises educational, creative and promotional opportunities, including the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre, Jason Blume Songwriters' and Jazz Composers Workshops; 8 off 8th, Pick of the Month and Acoustic Lounge showcase series; the Road to Bonnaroo; and stages at premier festivals including Lollapalooza, South By Southwest, the Key West Songwriters Festival and the Austin City Limits Music Festival. BMI has also been a strong supporter of the CMA Songwriters Series, now in its eighth year, which has performed shows in Belfast, Boston, Chicago, Dublin, London, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, and Washington D.C.
T H E B M I T A I L G A T E P A R T Y L I N E U P THURSDAY, JUNE 7
Brent Cobb The Peach Pickers FRIDAY, JUNE 8
Chuck Mead Trent Summar & The New Row MobKristen Kelly SATURDAY, JUNE 9
Mo PitneyChancie NealFlorida Georgia Line SUNDAY, JUNE 10
Hogslop String BandKenny Vaughan World Famous Headliners