Tens of thousands of country fans braved heavy rain showers and cast aside worries about the LP Field show scheduled for day three of CMA Music Festival being cancelled, to enjoy Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line and more on Saturday night.
The show started 90 minutes late as fans were kept out of the stadium — and off the walking bridge that leads to the stadium — until close to the scheduled 8PM CT start time. The rain continued, heavy at times, as tens of thousands slowly filed in. Sara Evans took the stage first, playing five of her biggest hits before Little Big Town dialed up the energy.
The country quartet performed a dramatic five songs, including the moody ‘Tornado’ and ‘Little White Church,’ and the more playful ‘Pontoon’ and ‘Day Drinking.’ They closed with ‘Boondocks’ before Darius Rucker played five songs, highlighted by a massive sing-a-long during ‘Wagon Wheel.’
Florida Georgia Line’s mini-set was no doubt the highlight for many fans. Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard’s energy on stage is almost unmatched. The duo’s sound is powered by a thundering rhythym section, and garnished by clever showmanship. There’s little doubt their request for lighters or cell phone lights during ‘Get Your Shine On’ will make ABC’s ‘CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock’ special on August 5.
Fans didn’t get to hear any new songs from FGL — many were hoping — but the duo did return for the night’s final performance, a collaboration of ‘You Gonna Fly’ with headliner Keith Urban. Urban also invited LBT’s Karen Fairchild on stage to help him sing ‘We Were Us’ and revealed ‘Somewhere In My Car’ would be his new single from ‘Fuse,’ performing the song twice to be sure ABC cameras got it right.
The concert ended well after midnight, and the thousands of country fans who hid out in their cars, the stadium, or under a bridge before the show (Taste of Country was part of a motley group seeking shelter from the storm beneath the walking bridge) strolled home under clear skies and a euphoric sensation that they just enjoyed something historic.