I don't care what you call it, it's Fan Fair to me.
Today starts the 2007 CMA version of Fan Fair. And this Fan Fair is the 15th for this humble writer. Having moved from New Orleans, my first Fan Fair was a bit of culture shock (it was 1992) then Fan Fair was held at the Tennessee State Fair Grounds (sort of appropriate) and Country Music was in one of it's largest growth spurts. The big new "Star" in Country Music, Billy Ray Cyrus, and established acts like Clint Black, Alabama, Johnny Cash, Reba with a host of others with 25,000 of their closest friends hung out in the brutal Sun of Nashville. And it was a genuine "Love Fest" between Country artists and their fans. And if you wanted to stand in line long enough you could get a chance to meet your favorite Country Singer. It was an unique concept then and is still today. With the meet and greet at the Fan Fair Exhibit Hall providing Fan Fair with legendary stories of almost mythic proportions. And maybe the greatest of these stories being of Garth Brook, who sat a table and met people, gave autographs and did photo ops for over 18 hours without a single bathroom break. And when you think about it, who showed more love, the fan who waited 18 hours for the opportunity to meet Garth, or Garth who had the need to meet them all?
Fan Fair 2007 is being celebrated in downtown Nashville, with Fan Fair Exhibit Hall inside the convention center, with Country Artists will be making a host of appearances some at LP Field (at night), Daytime Stages on the river, Nashville Arena (at night) with a Family Fun Zone. The "Fun Zone" is situated on closed on section of lower Broad street between 1st and 3rd avenue and is free to all. So even if have no tickets (there are walk up ticket sales) come to downtown Nashville 7th through 10th of June and experience a very interesting musical happening. If Country Music isn't your cup of tea still come and people watch. You'll be glad you did.
Until we meet again, live well, Jarboe
