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Chase Matthew paid tribute to his rock influences with a medley of iconic ‘80s and ‘90s hits over the weekend in Nashville, Tennessee.
Matthew, 28, performed at the iHeartCountry House Party at Miranda Lambert's Casa Rosa during CMA Fest on Saturday (June 6). His set list at the free show included renditions of his own hits — including “Darlin’,” “Love You Again” and more — plus renditions of rock hits. Matthew performed “Back in Black” by AC/DC, “Give It Away” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine, and “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC. Watch a clip of the medley below.
The East Tennessee-born country artist also took the free Riverfront stage on Sunday (June 7), the final day of the Country Music Association’s four-day festival. Matthew surprised the audience with rap legend Waka Flocka Flame, and the pair debuted their soon-to-release collaboration, “Hard Liquor.” Matthew caught up with iHeartRadio’s Brooke Taylor about the song at iHeartCountry House Party. He said, “I met Waka Flocka Flame at Stagecoach this year. …Who wouldn’t want to do a song with Waka Flocka Flame?” Matthew said Waka Flocka thought “Hard Liquor” was “great” as soon as he heard it. The two artists recorded the song and filmed a music video, “and we’ve been buddies ever since,” Matthew said. “Hard Liquor” will release on June 26.
CMA Fest kicked off on Thursday (June 4) and ran through Sunday. The longest-running country festival in the world features hundreds of artists on several free stages set up throughout downtown Nashville, plus nightly shows on the mains stage at Nissan Stadium. Artists on the main stage this year included Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Deana Carter, Ella Langley, Gretchen Wilson, HARDY, Jason Aldean, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, The Red Clay Strays, Riley Green, Russell Dickerson, Shaboozey, Tim McGraw, Tucker Wetmore and Zach Top, and more. Riley Green and Lara Spencer will host the televised special, which will air on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Thursday, June 25. The show will be available to stream the following day on Hulu.