Behold, the country music throngs. This week, tens of thousands of fans make the annual pilgrimage to Nashville for CMA Fest, an endurance festival of literally hundreds of concerts. Some of them require paid tickets, namely the nightly shows at Nissan Stadium, where stars like Lainey Wilson , Luke Bryan, Old Dominion, and Jelly Roll all perform this year.
But the bulk of live music at CMA Fest — and often the best — is entirely free. We sorted through the stacked lineup to select 14 artists or events that fans need to see. Annie Bosko just wants to be your “Neon Baby”! Over the years, the California cowgirl has written for Willie Nelson and provided background vocals for Darius Rucker and Adele, but she’s about to command the spotlight on her own.
She just earned co-signs from Vince Gill on “Higher Ground” and Dwight Yoakam on their new collab “Heart Burn” (produced by Butch Walker). If you’re into Kacey Musgraves and Nineties country, you won’t want to miss Bosko’s set. Thursday, 12:55 p.
m., Hard Rock Stage Tyler Halverson comes by his cowboy hat honestly: The songwriter used to work and show cattle in his native South Dakota. Since then, he’s relocated to Nashville to make what he refers to as “Country & Western Amerijuana” music, a batch of irresistible rodeo songs infused with a waft of pot smoke.
Show up ready to have a good time, and holler until he plays “Takes 8.” Thursday, 2:55 p.m.
, Hard Rock Stage Housman, an openly gay country si.
