Once again CSO has stepped into the musical montage that is the CMA Music Festival, still, far better known as “Fan Fair.” It is what it is, a chance each year for country music fans to gather in one place and celebrate the music they love performed by the artists they love even more.

Even though the “official” festival didn't start until the Kickoff Parade on Wednesday, events w2ere already taking place Monday night in Music City USA! Jim Weaver attended the Aristo Media CMA Global Artist Party at the Stage on Broadway. Unfortunately Jim missed a large portion of the show because while the others were performing inside, he was on one of the two buses outside interviewing the other artists before or after their performance. Of what Weaver did see, he was impressed, the show was hosted by Jace Everett who has a new CD coming out at the end of this month. The performing list included Australians Kirsty Lee Akers, 2009 Telstra Road To Tamworth winner Peter McWhirter, and Aussie Super Sister group the McClymonts. Weaver says, “Kirsty and Peter did a fantastic job tonight but the McClymonts proved why they have won so many awards in the country music field down under, they're fantastic”. Other great performances were turned in from Canadian Victoria Banks, New Zealander Ashley Cooper, Colm Kirwan from Ireland and the United Kingdom's Lucie Silvas. Canadian George Canyon wrapped up the show and had a great turnout of fans to cheer him on. “All in all it was a great night in Nashville,” says Weaver, “a super way to kickoff Fan Fair for CSO.”

The audio interviews below were all recorded on one of the two tour buses parked outside The Stage, due to the busses running there is more background noise than we would normally like. We apologize for that, but there was nothing we could do about it.

Tuesday night was dedicated to the memory of a great woman by the name of Loretta Johnson who passed away earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. Loretta was one of the famed Johnson sisters, the creators of IFCO, the International Fan Club Organization. For decades these sisters did more to help promote country music around the world than just about anyone, and the stars turned out to help with those medical bills that accrue from a long illness. There's no way you could fit all these stars on a billboard but I have enough room here: