‘They love coming here:' CMAC officials talk recruitment for busy 2025 lineup
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (WROC) – Concert season has arrived, and if you're looking to add some shows to the calendar, there's many options across Western New York.
There's been plenty of buzz specifically around CMAC in Canandaigua, which is bringing in some big names this year.
News 8's Natalie Kucko spoke with officials at the venue to learn more on what they have in store as well as the draw coming in locally this season.
'We always have our wish list, if you will, and then look to our promoter, too, to say, 'Hey, who's up and coming?' So, it's really exciting,' said Jordynn Gould, marketing and public relations director for CMAC.
CMAC was recently nominated Outdoor Venue of the Year by the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Already, the venue has four sold-out shows for 2025, which includes Benson Boone, Megan Moroney, The Killers, and Hozier.
Gould says CMAC's new promoter, New York City's 'The Bowery Presents,' has helped to bring in bigger acts. The firm signed on with the venue ahead of the 2024 season.
'I think we have a well-oiled machine. We have a small team that puts everything together and we're really proud of what we offer to all of our fans. We have quite a few who have never performed at CMAC, so it's really exciting to bring new faces to the area,' said Gould.
The 2025 season kicks off in mid May with two back-to-back shows from country artist Kane Brown. Other notable acts include James Taylor, The Beach Boys, Brad Paisley, Bonnie Raitt, John Mulaney, Train, and more.
Gould adds when artists perform in the Finger Lakes, they enjoy staying in the region. She says that helps the recruiting process, along with revenue brought in by ticketholders.
'When artists perform at CMAC, they really love coming here. They remember. They love the Canandaigua area. We always offer them time out on the lake. It's just very different. So, the hospitality they receive when they come here, they remember it. It's helpful. Once they come here, we hope they'll come back,' she said.
If you're looking to splurge on tickets this season, CMAC promises more entertainment.
'We hope when [fans] think about concert season, as the weather warms up, they think about CMAC and wanting to come back and have a good experience from the time they park to the time they leave,' said Gould.
CMAC's box office is now open on the venue grounds Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from noon until 4 p.m.
The venue plans to announce more acts for this season's lineup in the coming weeks.
For the latest information and ticket details, visit CMAC's website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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