International artists perform leading up to the 2016 CMA Music Festival

Each June, Country Music enthusiasts from around the world travel to Nashville for CMA Music Festival. But fans aren’t the only ones crossing borders to attend the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience; international Country artists also make the pilgrimage to Music City to perform at CMA World GlobaLive!, a free, international Country Music showcase on Monday, June 6 on the outdoor stage at Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Nashville.
“This event continues to grow along with CMA’s strategic focus on developing markets outside of the United States for Country Music,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to provide an annual platform for these international performers to reach and cultivate domestic fans, as well as garnering attention from the music industry.”
CMA World GlobaLive!, which began in 2004 as the Global Artist Party, serves as a showcase for overseas talent leading up to the Festival reaching an audience of fans and press from around the world.
This year, GlobaLive! will be held on the outdoor stage at Hard Rock Cafe for the first time. The concert is free and open to the public and will feature performances by Country artists from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.K.
“By presenting shows like GlobaLive!; participating in events like C2C, Country to Country, in the U.K., Dublin, and Scandinavia; and our ongoing outreach to other international Country Music organizations, we are creating an environment to expand the Country Music brand around the world,” Trahern said.
Artists performing during CMA World GlobaLive! (alphabetically by country and performer; lineup subject to change) include:
Australia
Troy Cassar-Daley – Four-time CMAA Entertainer of the Year with multiple Gold and Platinum albums.
Karin Page – The 2016 Toyota Star Maker winner, one of Australia’s most prestigious Country Music talent searches.
Caitlyn Shadbolt – A top 5 contestant on “The X Factor,” a highly-rated national music program.
Canada
Raquel Cole – She grew up in a musical family and is the reigning CCMA Discovery Artist.
Chad Brownlee – An NHL draft pick and songwriter with multiple Top 10 hits and the winner of several BCCMA Awards.
Brett Kissell – Headlining CMA World GlobaLive!, Kissell has won two Canadian Country Music Awards, and the Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2014.
New Zealand
Kayla Mahon – Featured on the Overs category on “The X Factor” (New Zealand) TV series, she is also the 2015 CMANZ Horizon Award winner.
United Kingdom
Frankie Davies – A popular songwriter making a name for herself and her all-female band in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Nashville, and the U.K.
Pauper Kings – Friends from York, they started out as session musicians before forming a band. They are currently working with Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts on their next album (pictured).
The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, bringing 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Forty-five years later, the legendary event has become the city’s signature music event with a daily attendance of more than 87,000 in 2015 representing every state and two dozen foreign countries. The 2016 CMA Music Festival will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12.