Scoring a ticket to CMA Music Festival – running this Thursday through Sunday in Nashville – can be a tough prospect. Fans often buy their same seats from year to year for the nightly concerts at Music City’s NFL stadium, and even if tickets are available, they’re a financial splurge to many. But the beauty of CMA Fest – started in 1972 as Fan Fair – is its wealth of free concerts. Whether along the Cumberland on the Riverfront Stage or in the park opposite Bridgestone Arena, there are multiple stages to catch both rising artists and chart-topping country stars. Here’s the 20 free shows you just can’t miss.