Day 2 of CMA Fest and you're regretting partying so hard on Day 1… am I right?
Well fear not, you're not alone. We'll be feeling it too but there's still three days of incredible music to get through so grab takeout from Hattie B's, a strong coffee and head back to CMA Fest. Day 2 promises to be another packed one and you'll notice the crowds are getting bigger as the weekend draws ever closer.
Don't be overwhelmed by the huge choice of artists to see though – just look through out handy guide of the 5 artists you simply can't miss. Even if you see nothing else all day, you'll be happy you took our advice!
Keep reading to find out who we picked…
10.15am – Chris Housman (Good Molecules Reverb Stage)
One of our favourite new discoveries, Chris Housman is a rarity in Country music – and out-and-proud gay man who isn't toning down his music to be palatable to middle America. His latest song ‘Guilty as Sin' is one of the sexiest songs we've heard in Country music for years and his debut album ‘Blueneck' is sure to help him catapult to the next stage of his career.
12.30pm – Ty Herndon (Dr Pepper Amp Stage)
Country music legends and trailblazers don't get much bigger than Ty Herndon. Breaking through in the 90s with hits such as ‘What Mattered Most' and ‘Living in a Moment', Herndon has one of those voices that you can't resist. After coming out in 2014, he's managed to find a new audience for his music and remains as relevant in Country music today as he ever has. Don't miss the chance to see him wow CMA Fest!
1.35pm – Shaboozey (Good Molecules Reverb Stage)
One of the newer names on the line-up this year, Shaboozey garnered a lot of attention after appearing on Beyoncé's divisive album ‘Cowboy Carter'. Now Shaboozey is riding high in his own right with ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)', which is very close to getting him a number one hit in the UK and the US (and it's topped the US Hot Country Songs chart already). Part of the new generation of Country music, Shaboozey is blazing new paths for diverse and under-represented artists in the genre to follow.
4.00pm – Colbie Caillat (Chevy Riverfront Stage)
Colbie Caillat has been releasing music since 2007 after her song ‘Bubbly' garnered attention on MySpace (remember that?!). She's done a lot in her career, including being part of the short-lived four-piece Gone West, and it felt inevitable that she'd one day fully embrace the Country leaning sound she'd been experimenting with for years. That moment finally came in 2023 with album ‘Along the Way', and she's been embraced by the Country music genre ever since.
8.55pm – Alex Hall (Hard Rock Stage)
An artist that's had somewhat of a slow-burn career, Alex Hall is the real deal. His debut album ‘Side Effects of the Heart' arrived at the tail end of 2023 and it showcased his full abilities as an artist. While he might not have crossed over to mainstream success quite yet, it's only a matter of time. See him before everyone else finds out about him!
For the full CMA Fest line-up and all the timings, head over to cmafest.com.
