I've attended the ACM New Artist show for the past few years, and it's always a great show, plus the money raised from the ticket sales, and the special artist packages that are auctioned off during the show goes to the ACM Charitable Fund.
Artists performing this year included Carolina Rain, Sarah Buxton, Jake Owen, Lady Antebellum, Jack Ingram, Kellie Pickler, Luke Bryan, and Taylor Swift. The show is held in the MGM Grand Ballroom, which is humongous!
This year, things were a little different. The room was moved from the previous years, and it seemed this one was even bigger than the other conference center room, which was already quite large. Since I was covering the event as media, we were ushered in through the back, and came around to find the room full, and a flock of fans standing by the stage. I thought this was odd, since that's where we were supposed to stand to photograph the acts that performed. When they finally moved us in, I saw that the fans were lined up against a metal railing, and it was about four feet back from the stage. We were to stand in front of the railing, next to the stage. It looked like the fans that were standing were contest winners, so they got this VIP seating. I wouldn't have wanted to be back behind them, because you couldn't see the stage very well, I don't think over this mob of people standing up. Last year, everyone sat, except for the media that stood by the stage, and the video camera person that shot the artists for the large screens, so everyone could see.
The first act to perform was Carolina Rain. These guys are great, and I have loved their music since I first got their CD. Their singles haven't done a whole lot on country radio, which I don't really get, because they have some killer harmonies, and the music is very much radio-friendly. I guess being on a smaller label makes it harder to get your songs played enough to move up the charts very high. The guys started the show with "Isn't She," which was their first single, and ended with "American Radio," which is their upcoming single. I thought they did a great job, and I hope that they won some new fans from the large crowd.
In between each act, they would auction off artist packages, but the first break had Rodney Atkins presenting the ACM awards to the DJs, Radio Stations, Venues and Promoters.
Next to perform was Sarah Buxton, with a big surprise. When the band lined up, several of the fans recognized Sarah's backup band as members of Keith Urban's band. When Keith strode out himself, and grabbed his guitar, the crowd exploded. Keith didn't encourage the fans, but stayed back behind Sarah, as this was her show, and he was her lead guitarist. Sarah opened her set with a cover of "Let Your Love Flow," and Keith sang harmony with her on this.
Sarah explained how honored she was when Keith wanted to record her song, and that she wanted to perform it for the crowd tonight. That song, in case you don't know, is "Stupid Boy." Keith actually joined her on the choruses, and it was great to hear them both sing this.
The auctions during the evening were basically artist packages. They were all pretty much the same, except the artist was different. Artists that agreed to be part of this charity auction were Keith Urban, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, and Taylor Swift. The packages included 2 tickets to the artist's show anywhere in the U.S., and backstage meet & greets with the artist, a guitar that the artist would sign backstage for you, plus upgraded ACM tickets for the following night's show, and a chance to go backstage and meet that artist. The packages went from $15,000 - $60,000. There was even a Nascar package, donated by Coors, that included special VIP access to the Daytona 500 for two people, where you could meet the drivers, etc., and two tickets to the Superbowl in the Coors box, and lastly two tickets to an upcoming big college football game. I believe it was Tennessee and Auburn.
Jake Owen was the next to perform, and he strolled out on the stage looking gorgeous, and singing his first big hit, "Yee Haw." He had the crowd on their feet and singing along. He chose to sing an upcoming single as his second song, "Don't Think I Can't Love You."