Festival Frenzy 2024: 10 Events on CMA Fest’s Smaller Stages

The colossal nightly shows at Nissan Stadium are one of the main draws to CMA Fest, but there are dozens of rising artists to discover on smaller stages around the Lower Broadway area and at Fan Fair X inside the Music City Center. Here are notes on 10 happenings — some individual shows, some showcases and some panels — that caught our attention, along with scheduling details. Be sure to check the CMA Fest website and the CMA Connect app for the most up-to-date information.

Sammy Arriaga

10:15 a.m. Thursday, June 6, at Hard Rock Stage; meet-and-greet 2:30 p.m. June 6 inside Fan Fair X; 12:45 p.m. June 7 at CMA Close Up Stage

Sammy Arriaga has been pushing forward his potent mix of country and Latin beats for years, and he hasn’t settled for the tried-and-true route: He’s a Cuban-American singer who grew up in Miami and moved to L.A. to pursue his music career. Back in 2011, he turned heads on Season 10 of American Idol, when he leaned into country music — the perfect showcase for his intimate rasp and earnest belting. Songs like Arriaga’s recent single “Dominoes”  illustrate his comfort with spinning his own twist on pop country, while his faithful Spanish-language cover of “Neon Moon”  asserts that country music is for everybody. RACHEL CHOLST

Scoot Teasley

1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Spotlight Stage inside Fan Fair X

Sift through the nearly never-ending dayside CMA Fest lineup long enough and eventually you’ll strike gold. One of this year’s prime examples? Scoot Teasley, a small-town Georgia native with a big voice and knack for ear-wormy melodies. A genre-fluid performer self-described as inspired by Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers — now there’s a solid playlist, no doubt — Teasley comes to town in support of Country Back, his four-song debut EP released in February. It’s anchored by a subtly neotraditional title track in which the singer longs for simpler times. MATTHEW LEIMKUEHLER

Dan Spencer

Meet-and-greet 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, inside Fan Fair X; playing 8:55 p.m. June 6 at Hard Rock Stage

In the last little tidbit of ink we gave Dan Spencer, he was the country outlier in a pile of metal bands at a benefit for Metro Animal Care and Control. This time, he’s bringing something a little more evil and complex than even the fine folks at CMA Fest might be used to. Spencer will be just shy of a week out from releasing Return to Your Dark Master on May 31; he calls his latest set of tunes “country vampire metal.” Here’s hopin’ the heathens downtown can handle a song called “I Like to Worship the Devil.”  Spencer also plays Bonnaroo, and it’ll be interesting to see which crowd responds with more enthusiasm. AMANDA HAGGARD

Reyna Roberts

7:45 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Nissan Stadium Mainstage; 2:55 p.m. June 7 at Hard Rock Stage; meet-and-greet 4 p.m. June 7 inside Fan Fair X

Of the many surprise special guests on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, the one that had me most hyped was a feature from rising star Reyna Roberts. Before I knew Queen Bey had called upon her to contribute, Roberts converted me into a fan via a 15-second reel on Instagram featuring her absolute barn-burner of a single “Louisiana,”  from her debut album Bad Girl Bible, Vol. 1. The song tells the story of one such bad girl named Louisiana, who rambles her way across the South, leaving a trail of broken hearts, and who was last seen “stripping on a pole down in New Orleans.” Unapologetic, fierce and fully realized, this song — along with every other track on Bible — is a testament to Roberts’ raw talent and potential as the self-proclaimed Princess of Outlaw Country. JACQUELINE ZEISLOFT

Chris Housman

10:15 a.m. Friday, June 7, at Good Molecules Reverb Stage

Chris Housman is one of Nashville’s best-kept secrets, but that’s not for lack of effort on his part. Housman’s been deftly spinning radio-friendly country music that homes in on the queer experience, and his album Blueneck, released May 31, represents the culmination of his efforts. The title track is a catchy subversion of mainstream country music and its presumed audiences, a casual anti-racist summer bop. (Having been in Housman’s repertoire for a long time, it put the phrase “y’all means all” into a song years before a certain singer used it in her lukewarm acceptance of gay rights.) “Bible Belt”  is the more somber side of the coin, but not a song to be ignored. More importantly, Housman is charismatic as hell and is sure to put on an exciting, life-affirming set. RACHEL CHOLST

Country Proud Showcase

10:15 a.m. Friday, June 7, at Hard Rock Stage

For the third year in a row, the Country Proud showcase organized by the RNBW crew is bringing a wealth of LGBTQ talent to the heart of CMA Fest. Gina Venier kicks it off at 10:15 a.m. — listen out for her new single “God Knew,” a heartfelt track about love being love; The Kentucky Gentlemen (who spoke with us about their phenomenal recent single “Heartache in the Hills” and a big season ahead in our Summer Guide issue) follow at 10:55 a.m. Thoughtful singer-songwriter Denitia, who’ll be sharing more from her forthcoming LP Sunset Drive, plays at 11:35 a.m., while Sonia Leigh (whose recent single “Beautiful Mess” has an unbeatable groove) is up at 12:15 p.m., followed by Julie Williams (whose “Big Blue House” is a sterling example of her knack for working intense narratives into her music) playing at 12:55 p.m. These sets give you time to really get to know these artists, so don’t miss out. STEPHEN TRAGESER

Color Me Country Showcase

1 p.m. Friday, June 7, at Spotlight Stage

Songsmith Rissi Palmer’s Apple Radio program Color Me Country and its related endeavors like the Color Me Country Foundation have been joining other organizations in the much-needed effort to build community for BIPOC country musicians. The mission continues with Friday’s showcase, whose lineup includes O.N.E the Duo. Their 2023 debut LP Blood Harmony is a fantastic introduction to the mother-daughter team’s wide range within country. Alyssia Dominguez’s recent EP Chasin’ the Wild organically weaves Latin dance styles into the mix; meanwhile Michael B. Whit, who’s in the run-up to his debut EP Before September, is building a big name for himself with his update on traditional country sounds. David Unlayao, who rounds out the showcase, showcased his own contemporary-traditional spin, which borrows a lot of techniques from contemporary R&B, on his December EP Front Row Seat. STEPHEN TRAGESER

Latin Roots: The “Equis” Factor in Country Music, hosted by Tomás Mier 

12:45 p.m. Friday, June 7, at CMA Close Up Stage

Latino artists have contributed a ton to the development of country music — something that’s never talked about enough, and hasn’t really translated to Latino country artists breaking into the mainstream. Everyone benefits when the conversations around Black artists in country music that have been getting louder over the past five years grow more intersectional. Friday afternoon, Rolling Stone staff writer Tomás Mier hosts a combination panel-and-performance event with a kaleidoscopic array of Latino country singers, including the aforementioned Sammy Arriaga. Also joining in will be Angie K, who leans more to the rocking side of country; meanwhile, grand-scale balladry is one of Leah Turner’s biggest strengths. Frank Ray was a police officer before he became a musician, while Louie TheSinger was a dancer and his singing focused mostly on R&B before he turned his focus to country; he also doesn’t make light of having been incarcerated for two years on a drug charge as a young adult. STEPHEN TRAGESER

Tanner Adell

9 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at Nissan Platform Stage; 12:55 p.m. June 9 at Good Molecules Reverb Stage; 3 p.m. June 9 meet-and-greet inside Fan Fair X

I can’t say it better than author David Cantwell in our annual Country Music Almanac: Tanner Adell’s 2023 debut album Buckle Bunny comes to the modern country party bringing a joyful abundance of beats, jokes and sexuality, which it feels like mainstream country and Americana have been holding back on. “Buckle Bunny,”  “Strawberry Crush”  and “Throw It Back”  are frank in ways that feel refreshing; Adell clowns on a fool with such finesse in “FU-150”  that I imagine he’s had to find himself a new bar to frequent. And Adell’s voice is incredible: No wonder Beyoncé called on her to join the choir on Cowboy Carter’s “Blackbiird.” STEPHEN TRAGESER

Wyatt Flores

2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 9, at Chevy Riverfront Stage; 9:35 p.m. Sunday at Nissan Stadium Platform Stage

Oklahoma-born songsmith Wyatt Flores has been on a rapid rise since he made his way to Music City in 2022. That can take a toll on anyone, especially someone who’s in their early 20s and still figuring out how the hell to live their life. Right from the beginning, he’s made both the journey and the importance of taking care of yourself while you’re on it — especially your mental health — a central part of his work. Flores draws inspiration from lots of different country-related styles; you can hear a lot of the clean lines of contemporary bluegrass in his delivery and his arrangements, and it’s a perfect fit for the plainspoken style that’s drawing in more and more fans by the day. STEPHEN TRAGESER

+2

Festival Frenzy 2024

The who, what, when, where and why of CMA Fest and Bonnaroo 2024