A slow start
A slow start to Friday after a long Thursday.
Plans for breakfast were soon shelved in favour of a lie-in and coffee from the bagel shop downstairs.
Eventually the day started. After 11am and the CMA app reported both Riverside and Amp stages were now at capacity.
We walked down 4th to Broadway and returned to Lucky Bastard Saloon. Alternating beer and water we watched the live music in a noticeably busier bar.
Didn’t enjoy the band as much as yesterday, so continued walking down 4th and visited the Chevy Vibe stage.
All of these stages are completely free and anyone can visit. All have controlled entrances/exits and limited capacity. Food and bar options available, plus heavy sponsorship presence. Chevrolet are throwing a ton of money at this.
Shade is limited and whilst not too hot, the sun is pretty fierce. So, after a while we crossed over to Music City Center and returned to the Fan FairX.
Jelly Roll was appearing on the close-up stage. He’s a big guy with a bigger voice. A bit like Rag’n Bone in the U.K. very much a rough diamond. Served some prison time, but changed his ways… blah blah… looks like a thug, but gave a great interview, funny, self deprecating.
We had to leave his interview early to get across the road to the country music hall of fame.
My Country music taste is a bit limited and most of the exhibits (especially the earlier stuff) meant nothing to me. Country dies seem to encompass all genres, at one point it seemed to be declaring it inspired and influenced the punk music scene?!
Overall, worthy of an hour or so to browse a huge amount of memorabilia.
Left the museum around 4pm and decided to get a late lunch / early dinner before going back to the hotel to relax and refresh for the stadium this evening
Ended up at Puckett’s – a bbq pit type place a block from the hotel.
Food was decent and relatively cheap. Hot wings and fried pickles for starters.
Which I forgot to photograph!
Followed by a bbq selection and a Nashville Cheesesteak sandwich.
Whole meal including drinks and tip was around $70 . Almost a bargain!
Back to hotel to rehydrate, refresh and relax – via Walgreens for some more bottle water.