Vince Gill [ tickets ], Alan Jackson, Lonestar, Patty Loveless, Martina McBride, Travis Tritt [ tickets ] and Trisha Yearwood [ tickets ] are among the first batch of artists confirmed to appear at next year's Fan Fair country music festival in Nashville. The event had been held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds since 1982, but it moves downtown in 2001.

As organizers announced earlier this year, the event's main stage shows will be held at Adelphia Coliseum--home to the NFL's Tennessee Titans--on June 14-17. In 2000, the event took place over five weekdays; next year, events will take place Thursday through Sunday.

Fan Fair's exhibit halls and autograph sessions will be housed by the Nashville Convention Center. Afternoon concerts will also take place at the city's Riverfront Park and at stages along the banks of the Cumberland River.

Other artists already confirmed for Fan Fair 2001 are Tracy Byrd [ tickets ], Kenny Chesney [ tickets ], Billy Ray Cyrus, Joe Diffie, Bill Engvall, Sara Evans, Billy Gilman, Andy Griggs, the Kinleys, Lonestar, Jo Dee Messina, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley and Collin Raye. More than 200 artists appeared in Fan Fair 2000, and organizers will announce more names as they are confirmed.

Tickets will initially be promoted via direct mail in early December to fans who pre-registered during Fan Fair 2000 or who have requested information online at the official Fan Fair website. A national ticket sales campaign is planned for early 2001.

According to event publicists, the first Fan Fair was held in 1972--fans had begun to show up at an annual disk jockey convention, and Fan Fair was created as an alternative for the public. 5,000 people attended the first Fan Fair, which was held at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium. The event moved to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in 1982.

As attendance stagnated in recent years, event organizers complained that the fairground facilities were inadequate for the event. Downtown Nashville snagged the event after organizers conducted a lengthy search for a new site.