Celebrity Column: CMA announces first round of festival lineup

The CMA Music Festival is still four months away, but the Country Music Association is eager to give fans a peek at what they can expect during this year's 40th anniversary festival.

The CMA announced its first round of performers Tuesday, and fans can again expect performances from some of country music's biggest names and rising stars — along with a surprise or two.

This year's biggest surprise so far: Rock mainstay Sheryl Crow is scheduled to play her first CMA set, performing at one of the festival's nightly concerts at LP Field. She's not the first rock representative to make the CMA lineup — friends Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker have performed at the festival in the past.

Other stars headed to LP Field include Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins, Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker and Keith Urban. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2011 CMA Country Music Festival is set for June 9-12 in downtown Nashville. Four-day passes for the event — which include autograph sessions, free and ticketed concerts and other star-studded activities — run $115-$325 (plus fees). To purchase, call the CMA box office at 1–800-CMA-Fest, or visit www.ticketmaster.com or any Ticketmaster location.

— STAFF

Dunn, Evans to headline ACM's Las Vegas concerts

Ronnie Dunn and Sara Evans will headline the Academy of Country Music Concerts at Fremont Street Experience this year in Las Vegas, the ACM announced Tuesday.

The concerts kick off the ACM Awards party April 1–2. They serve as an appetizer for the awards, held April 3 at the MGM Grand.

Dunn is launching a solo career after 20 years as half the iconic duo Brooks & Dunn. His first single since the breakup, "Bleed Red," is on the radio and a self-produced album is expected later this year. Evans will release her sixth album, Stronger, on March 8.

More performers will be announced later.

— ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dashboard brings 'Romance' to Music City

Dashboard Confessional's Swiss Army Romance 10th Anniversary Tour — celebrating the debut disc that launched a million heart-on-sleeve solo projects — will come to Nashville's Cannery Ballroom on March 31.

Frontman Chris Carrabba played a "floor show" in support of the disc in 2001 at long-gone Nashville all-ages haven Indienet, and there was certainly a sense then that he was going to be big — though maybe not "opening for Bon Jovi" big (he did so at Bridgestone Arena last year).

Tickets are $25 in advance, $28 on the day of show and go on sale at 11 a.m. Friday via Ticketweb.com.

— DAVE PAULSON

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