Country Music's biggest festival, CMA Fest, is generally kicked off with the CMT Awards on Wednesday night before the 4-day festival, but this year, CMT is extending the party by having their own festival from Sunday until Wednesday, when the awards take place.
"We saw a great opportunity to turn what's traditionally been one night of television for us into a multi-day festival leading up to the awards," Jamie Moran, director of CMT integrated marketing, said. "It's a great way to kind of expand to our fans who love music, but their other passion points."
That means 8 straight days of free music for Country Music fans in Nashville, with the first event taking place on Sunday, called the 'Paws & Play' Music Festival.
"It's the first ever dog-friendly music festival," Liz Adkins, a Pedigree brand spokesperson, said.
The event is put on by CMT and Pedigree and will feature Cassadee Pope, a dog lover, performing, as well as dog yoga, canine massages, games, photo opps, food trucks, a beer and wine garden and much more.
"Our purpose is 'feed the good,' because we believe that dogs bring out the best in us, and I think Country Music probably does the same thing, so it's just a great way for families to celebrate all the things that make us happy," Adkins said.
Kalie Shorr, one of CMT's Next Women of Country, will be performing multiple times throughout CMT and CMA's festivals, and she's excited to both perform and attend numerous events, including the 'Paws & Play' Music Festival where here good friend, Pope, will be performing.
"Our dogs are best friends," Shorr said.
Shorr will be playing during CMT Sweat with Barry's Bootcamp in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center Plaza Wednesday morning, and she said she's excited that CMT decided to extend this great week of Country Music.
"Fans don't want to come down for three days, they want to take their two weeks vacation and hang out in Nashville and eat barbeque," Shorr explained. "I think it's really cool that the festival is adapting to that, because the fans want more, and we (artists) want more too."
The schedule can be found through bandsintownand below:
SUNDAY, JUNE 3
1-5 p.m. CMT AND THE PEDIGREE BRAND’S FIRST-EVER “PAWS & PLAY” MUSIC FESTIVAL
Location: Cumberland Park (592 S. 1st Street, Nashville, TN 37213)
CMT and the PEDIGREE brand are teaming up for the first “Paws & Play” Music Festival in Nashville on Sunday, June 3. The free event is the official kickoff to “CMT Music Awards” week and celebrates the role four-legged family members play in making lives better. Dogs (and their humans) can participate in a number of family-friendly events, including performances by country singer/songwriter, The Voice champion and CMT Music Award winner Cassadee Pope, doggie yoga, canine massage, games, photo opps, food trucks, a beer and wine garden and much more. The event is hosted in association with adoption partner, Nashville Humane Association, who will feature adoptable dogs onsite looking for fur-ever homes. No RSVP necessary.
*Performances by Cassadee Pope are at 2:00 and 3:30 p.m.
MONDAY, JUNE 4
7-10 p.m. RAM TRUCKS PRESENTS “DRIVE: ARTISTS TO WATCH” AT THE CMT MUSIC AWARDS
Location: TopGolf Nashville (500 Cowan Street, Nashville, TN 37207)
RSVP: http://eepurl.com/dvGZsD
Get up close and personal with Nashville’s hottest rising country stars at this exclusive CMT concert at the city’s newest hangout, TopGolf. Scheduled to perform are Devin Dawson, Walker Hayes and LANCO. Must RSVP to attend. Event is 18 and up.
TUESDAY, JUNE 5
12-4 p.m. CMT MUSIC AWARDS AND BAR-S BLOCK PARTY
Location: Schermerhorn Symphony Center Plaza (1 Symphony Pl, Nashville, TN 37201)
Bar-S and CMT invite you to kick off the summer with the ultimate downtown block party, featuring live music and free food for the whole family. Festivities include performances and meet-and-greets with artists Bailey Bryan, Kelleigh Bannen and The Sisterhood Band, along with carnival games, prizes and a chance to win tickets to the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday night.
Performances are as follows:
• 12:15 p.m. Bailey Bryan
• 1:45 p.m. Kelleigh Bannen
• 3:15 p.m. The Sisterhood Band
8:30 p.m. CMT CROSSROADS taping with Leon Bridges and Luke Combs
Location: 5th & Broadway (outdoor stage) – fans are encouraged to arrive early. Gates will open at 7:00 p.m., first-come, first-served, standing room only.
CMT’s iconic music franchise takes over the streets of downtown Nashville with a one-of-a-kind pairing featuring Leon Bridges and Luke Combs.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6
7-9:30 a.m. CMT SWEAT WITH BARRY’S BOOTCAMP
Location: Schermerhorn Symphony Center Plaza (1 Symphony Pl, Nashville, TN 37201)
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cmt-sweat-featuring-barrys-bootcamp-tickets-46157271642
Get down before the world gets up! A one-of-a-kind morning workout event, CMT Sweat is the can’t-miss kickoff to the CMT Music Awards, powered by Barry’s Bootcamp. Join some of Barry’s top national trainers for an early-morning workout, and enjoy a performance by singer/songwriter Kalie Shorr, music curated by DJ Ivy, appearance by Danielle Bradbery and other surprise guests as they turn your early morning into the ultimate calorie-shredding exercise session. Must RSVP to attend.
12-4 p.m. CMT MUSIC AWARDS AND BAR-S BLOCK PARTY
Location: Schermerhorn Symphony Center Plaza (1 Symphony Pl, Nashville, TN 37201)
Bar-S and CMT invite you to kick off the summer with the ultimate downtown block party, featuring live music and free food for the whole family. Festivities include performances and meet-and-greets with artists Carly Pearce, Morgan Evans, Tyler Rich and Delta Rae, along with carnival games, prizes and a chance to win tickets to the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday night.
Performances are as follows:
• 12:00 p.m. Carly Pearce
• 1:00 p.m. Morgan Evans
• 2:15 p.m. Tyler Rich
• 3:30 p.m. Delta Rae
1-7 p.m. HERSHEY’S “CERTIFIED COUNTRY GOLD” AT THE CMT MUSIC AWARDS
Location: Bridgestone Plaza (501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203)
CMT and Hershey’s are throwing a free karaoke party all day long from the heart of downtown Nashville. Fans are invited to hop on the karaoke RV, grab a mic and belt out Country Gold hits. Enjoy free Hershey’s Gold, a digital photo booth and certified gold prizes, including a chance to attend the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday night.
Events are free and open to the public. Some events require advance registration.
