CMA Fest is a little bit of an anniversary for me. I moved to Nashville on May 21, 2011, so it is not far off. When I first moved to Nashville, CMA Fest was a time I had friends and family come to town because I was in Nashville and it would be a good time. Just like my aunt/sister/mom/friend trip to Ireland and Scotland, they will never be recreated, because they were that good.
And, now, I get to take someone that has never been before. That makes it even more fun.
CMA Fest is a really great experience where you get to see (if you are into country music) all of your favorite artists and the up and comers. You also get to see Nashville. If you have not been to Nashville or if you have, check these places out while you are here:
- Wednesday: 404 Kitchen — 50% off whiskey pours, and you can still walk downtown from there! Also, order the catfish bites (ask for extra sauce) and get the pork chop.
- Thursday: Want a half-priced margarita at 2pm? Go to Las Palmas near 19th and State Street. You can also get a free cheese dip if you sign up for their newsletter.
- Friday: Do a bourbon tasting at Southern Collective. You can’t get this stuff anywhere else, and the bourbon changes regularly, so that specific bourbon may not be there when you get back to Nashville.
- Saturday: Order something that counts as an entree at Urban Grub and then add on the Seafood and Charcuterie “buffet.” It is a great spread of seafood and the works. If you get an appetizer, get the Peel and Eat Shrimp. The shrimp is great, and the cocktail sauce is even better.
- Sunday: Cure your hangover with hot chicken and waffles at Hattie B’s. Place the order to-go and then find a spot to have an impromptu picnic.
Pro Tips:
- Wear something that you can be comfortable all day, but also wear something that you will feel comfortable ending up at a private club with Hayden Panettiere and the starting team for the Tennessee Titans in.
- When the quarterback for the Titans asks if you want to sing karaoke, do it. Being the funnest people in the room won’t kill you — and it’s fun! Hayden Panettiere will agree.
- Drink water along the way, and make sure everyone else does too. Most people can only recover from one face plant on a high top bar table per night.
- If your tickets get messed up, go directly to the “headquarters” of tickets — run if you have to get there. Cry when you get there when you realize it is really messed up and you have friends flying into town for those tickets. Then, get great seats and get a bottle of water so you can run back to your car.
- If you live in Nashville and think you are going to be able to go to work at 8am the next day — every day — and then hang for four nights of concerts at CMA Fest — think again. Your 50 year-old mother will be out-partying you and you will be sleeping on her lap by night four.
- Walk from the parking garage at Gulch Crossing off of Demonbreun Street. Pricing is the same and you will actually get out of downtown faster by walking all the way there and easily getting out than waiting in line at a garage closer to Nissan Stadium.
- Book a reservation to eat. I know, you all want the Nashville Hot Chicken, but secure at least one lunch or dinner spot and book Blue Sushi for happy hour.
- Check out Craig Campbell on the Dr. Pepper Amp Stage. I used to work with him at a record label and there are few talented and classier acts than that one.
- Wear a hat, not because it’s Nashville, but because you should protect your pretty face from the sun.
- The free outdoor stages are really good. You will end up seeing some of these people on the main stages in a few years.
- Go to the Wild Beaver and sing karaoke (Tina Turner’s Proud Mary) and ride the bull!
- Put a few “shooters” in your purse to have as you walk around downtown. Drinks are expensive!
- Go see my bass-playing friend, Paul Amundson, play with Matt Roy at the Hard Rock Cafe.
- Don’t get Broadway Knee (definition): You come out of Wildhorse Saloon after a concert and in the process of trying to connect with and find your Uber, you trip in your platform sandals and slowly try to recover but still end up falling on your knees and then the left one cracks forever.
Enjoy! 🙂
