CMA Fest Week

Well, that's a wrap. CMA Festival 2014 is over, and the thousands of tourists are on their way out of my town. This year was the first year I was really involved in CMA Fest, and it was absolutely magical. When you love country music as much as I do, CMA Fest is the best week of the year. Living in Nashville my whole life and being in the country music scene, I'm spoiled, but CMA Fest reminded me how much I love my city and it's music. I didn't go to the night concerts at LP Field (I had no one to go with), but I was around town most of the week.

I kicked off my Thursday with going to an artist party for Black River Entertainment's newly signed singer songwriter, Kelsea Ballerini. This girl can sing. Goodness. I was blown away. I had listened to her Soundcloud and instagram videos and I knew she was talented, but she is so good live. She sang the song that got her signed with Black River in the first place, "Boys Like You" along with other such as "Dibbs",  "Yours", "Lookin At Stars", and  "The First Time" before announcing her first radio single "Love Me Like You Mean It". Not only is she a good performer and talented artist, but she's a phenomenal person as well. I got to talk to her after the show and I loved every minute of it. She is sweet and down to earth and funny and real. I can not wait to watch her grow as an artist and dominate the charts, soon. Love Me Like You Mean It is going to hit country radio soon and I am impatiently waiting for the day I hear her sweet voice on the radio.

Then...on Friday, Hunter Hayes partnered with Samsung Mobile and  did a pop up surprise show by the Schemerhorn, Nashville's Symphony Hall. I've seen Hunter numerous times before, and he definitely didn't disappoint.

Since this was a short set, Hunter sang his singles and a track or two from his recent album, Storyline. He kicked off the acoustic show with "Storyline" and then sang "Wanted", "I Want Crazy", "Invisible", "Wild Card", and then his new single to hit radio June 16, "Tattoo". 

 Hunter definitely had the crowd rocking, and everyone was singing along. I've watched Hunter grow as an artist since his debut album in 2011 and I can't wait to see where else on down this road he goes.

I didn't go downtown as much as I wished to, but if it were up to me, I'd be downtown all day everyday, cuz that's just what happens when you grow up in Nashville.

-Lauren