Las Vegas Weekly

April 1, 2010 · 2:05 PM

Free downtown concerts are planned during ACM Awards weekend

By Robin Leach

Lady Antebellum at the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

The Academy of Country Music plans to host two days of free all-star concerts at Fremont Street Experience downtown during The Week Vegas Goes Country! ACM Weekend on Fremont Street Experience will feature top newcomer category nominees Luke Bryan, Joey + Rory and Gloriana, special guests and headliners Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert performing on two stages along Fremont Street Experience.

The weekend-long party leading up to the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards is sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and features Emily West, The Band Perry, Danny Gokey, David Nail and Lady Antebellum, who have a leading seven ACM nominations this year, on April 16 and Joey + Rory, Gloriana, Randy Rogers Band, Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert, who has six nominations, on April 17.

Here’s the schedule so you can plan now: On April 16, it’s Emily West on the 1st Street Stage from 7 to 7:30 p.m., The Band Perry on the 1st Street Stage from 7:45 to 8:25 p.m., Danny Gokey on the 3rd Street Stage from 8:40 to 9:30 p.m., David Nail on the 1st Street Stage from 9:45 to 10:30 p.m. and Lady Antebellum on the 3rd Street Stage from 10:45 p.m. to midnight.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert.

On April 17, it’s Joey + Rory on the 1st Street Stage from 7 to 7:30 p.m., Gloriana on the 1st Street Stage from 7:45 to 8:25 p.m., Randy Rogers Band on the 3rd Street Stage from 8:40 to 9:25 p.m., Luke Bryan on the 1st Street Stage from 9:40 to 10:30 p.m. and Miranda Lambert on the 3rd Street Stage from 10:45 p.m. to midnight.

Joey + Rory, Gloriana and Luke Bryan compete for Top New Artist on the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 18. The next night, Brooks & Dunn will be honored with a two-hour special to be recorded for broadcast this summer on CBS.

Vegas DeLuxe will be covering the entire The Week Vegas Goes Country, and next up we’ll have details of the motorbike run to be led by Montgomery Gentry and other stars riding their hogs.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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