June 2014

80 of 160 artists announced, include: Amy Ray, Angaleena Presley, Carlene Carter, Ethan Johns, Gregory Alan Isakov, Hayes Carll, Jamestown Revival, Joe Henry, Joe Purdy, Josh Ritter, Lake Street Dive, Lee Ann Womack, Marty Stuart, Parker Millsap, Quebe Sisters Band, Rhett Miller, Rodney Crowell, Ruthie Foster, Sarah Jarosz, Shakey Graves, Todd Snider & Friends, Trigger Hippy and Willie Watson. The Americana Music Association expands its festival and conference in its 15th year by announcing its most ambitious and eclectic line-up to date. Anchored by its 13th annual Honours & Awards show on Wednesday, September 17 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, the Association also adds three-time Americana Group of the Year winners, The Avett Brothers, to a headlining slot at Riverfront Park on Saturday, September 20. Admission to the Riverfront show will be included in Americana Festival & Conference registrations for the September 17-21 event. Individual tickets for The Avett Brothers Riverfront show will go on sale to the general public for $52.50 on Friday, June 27. The Avett Brothers Fan Club members will have a special pre-sale opportunity starting on Tuesday, June 24. All new fan club members must sign up at www.theavettbrothers.com before Monday, June 23 in order to be eligible. Throughout the festival and conference – highlighted by Travel + Leisure as a fine-tuned music destination in its June print issue – a total of 160 artists will perform in 11 venues including 3rd & Lindsley, The Basement, City Winery, High Watt, Cannery, Mercy Lounge, The Rutledge, Station Inn, Music City Roots, Downtown Presbyterian Church and Musicians Corner. The growth of Americana as a genre – curated and cultivated by the Americana Music Association – is evidenced by recent partnerships with cultural epicentre Lincoln Center for ‘Americana NYC’ on August 6-10 and a new GRAMMY category created for the American Roots Field announced in early June: “Best American Roots Performance.” This category is the genre’s third and the only new category created by the Academy this year.

Award-winning country artist Travis Tritt has released a new song, titled ‘That’s What Dreamers Do.’ The heart-touching ballad resonates with dreamers of all kinds and embraces the struggles and joys of being a dreamer. Tritt wrote the song for the independent biopic film, ‘As Dreamers Do’, which he narrates. The film is based on the life of Walt Disney. ‘As Dreamers Do’ is Tritt’s second single release since forming Post Oak Recordings. Tritt formed the label in 2012 and shortly after released his full length album THE CALM AFTER… 2014 has proven to be a busy year for the Georgia native. Tritt has been touring extensively, including show dates stretching as far north as Canada. Earlier this year, he filmed a live DVD from the Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tennessee which will be released later this year. 2014 also marks the 25th anniversary of Tritt’s music career. His chart-topping success includes millions in album sales, two Grammy award wins and multiple number one singles on the Country radio charts, including ‘Help Me Hold On’, ‘Anymore’ and ‘Best of Intentions’. He was dubbed one of “The Class of ‘89,” which included Country music superstars Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Alan Jackson; who dominated the charts in the early 90s.

American roots field gains “Best American Roots Performance” category, raising Americana related categories to three The Americana Music Association applauds the Recording Academy® for adding a new category – Best American Roots Music Performance, an artist’s award – to the American Roots Music Field for the 2015 GRAMMY® Awards. The new category will give Americana, and other roots music artists, a home for the recognition of their work. The new category compliments previously created categories including Best American Roots Music Song, Best Americana Album, Best Bluegrass Album, Best Blues Album, Best Folk Album and Best Regional Roots Album. According to a press release from the Recording Academy the new category “recognises singles/tracks only as well as solo artists/duos/groups/collaborations. This puts the (American roots music) field in line with the pop, rock, rap, R&B, country, and gospel/contemporary Christian music fields, all of which have performance categories.”

The Oak Ridge Boys have just been added to the superstar line-up of artists performing aboard the 2015 Country Music Cruise, which will also feature performances by Martina McBride, Charley Pride, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Lorrie Morgan, John Anderson, Aaron Tippin, Darryl Worley, Asleep at The Wheel, Restless Heart, Johnny Lee, Wade Hayes, Bryan White, The Roys, Brett Kissel, comedian John Reep and Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys. Beloved television personality Lorianne Crook, of the long-running talk show Crook & Chase, will return as the official host of the annual seven day voyage aboard the luxurious Holland America ms Eurodam, which travels throughout the Caribbean from January 18-25 with stops in the picturesque ports of Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Croix and the private island Half Moon Cay. The 2015 Country Music Cruise will offer live performances, bring back some of the most popular onboard activities featured on last year’s inaugural sailing and add a wide array of new artist-based events. Select artists will make special appearances at the Gospel Hour, during songwriter workshops, guitar playing seminars, panel discussions, Q&A events, cooking exhibitions, CD listening parties, autograph sessions and many others. StarVista / Time Life will continue to partner with The Grand Ole Opry to create a series of exclusive events for cruise guests. Every person aboard the Country Music Cruise receives tickets to a nightly main stage concert, a schedule of daily activities and gourmet meals, all included in the cabin price. The cruise sails aboard the luxurious Holland American ms Eurodam, with prices starting at just $1975 (£1165) per person. The Country Music Cruise is produced by StarVista Entertainment/Time Life in association with Entertainment Cruise Productions, LLC (ECP). Other cruises produced by StarVista/Time Life in association with ECP include The Malt Shop Memories Cruise and The Soul Train Cruise.

Before heading to Europe for his upcoming tour with Orianthi, Richie Sambora was excited to head to Nashville, TN, surprising crowds with an incredible appearance during Zac Brown Band’s set at the CMA Music Festival. The collaborative performance, which saw Richie and the acclaimed country/folk band riffing on the iconic hit “Wanted Dead or Alive” had the crowd amped up over at LP Field. Said Richie Sambora: “What a blast playing with my brother Zac Brown. Nashville has always welcomed me with open arms and it was incredible to jump on stage and feel the energy of that amazing crowd!” Richie’s European tour kicks off June 13th with a sold out show in London. He’ll be back in the states for 3 special performances in NYC, being announced shortly.

Kicker Country Stampede, to be held June 26-29 in Manhattan, Kansas, is delighted to announce that all camping & reserved seating is officially sold out for the first time in the 19-year history of the festival. Festival organisers recently surveyed the grounds and added an additional 200+ camping sites, which sold out immediately upon releasing them to the public. “What a milestone! We want to thank the fans for their continued support throughout the years!” said Wayne Rouse, general manager of Kicker Country Stampede. “For the first time, the demand for camping has exceeded the supply! However, we want as many fans to have the opportunity to experience Stampede as possible, so we are looking into ways to accommodate even more folks in future years!” Country’s fastest rising female star Jana Kramer has been added to the star-studded line-up, which includes Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Chris Young, Easton Corbin, Lee Brice, Joe Nichols, Randy Houser, Dustin Lynch, Thomas Rhett, Charlie Worsham, Tyler Farr, Joe Diffie, Will Hoge, Jon Pardi, 6 Degrees West, The Railers and Logan Mize. Kicker Country Stampede is giving tickets holders the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see their favorite country stars, including Luke Bryan, Eric Church,Chris Young, Easton Corbin, Randy Houser and more, up close and personal with the newly-added Party Pit. The Party Pit is located directly in front of the main stage, putting fans steps away from their favourite artists during their performances! There are a very limited number of passes in this standing-room-only area. Fans who wish to have Pit access for more than one artist must purchase individual artist pit passes.

Kenny Chesney knew – when he took a year off – when he came back, he wanted his music to hit a whole new level; but he also wanted to make sure he was speaking to the people who have always invested their lives in his music. The result? ‘American Kids’ a multi-tempo celebration of the spirit of young America that packs not one, but two hooks and an innovative lyrical scan. “When I heard it, I knew I was gonna cut it,” says the man whose won 4 consecutive Academy of Country Music and 4 Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year Awards. “It was unlike anything I’d ever heard – and I listen to a lot of songs. The rhythms, the images, the way the melody moved… It just grabs you and holds on, but even more importantly, it feels really good.” Written by Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird and Shane McAnally, Chesney heard the song on a writing trip with McAnally, whose also written Chesney’s number ones ‘Come Over’ and ‘Somewhere With You.’ While evoking iconics of a certain generation, the song also embraces the in-the-moment lifestyle of today’s teens and 20-somethings with complete abandon. And with a chorus that contains the line – “a little messed up, but we’re all alright” — Chesney once again brings the indomitability of the human spirit to the forefront. “Hey, life is hard,” Chesney says. “People work long hours, have all kinds of stuff going on in their personal lives. But if there’s one thing I’ve seen over the last ten years, looking out at the faces in the crowd: you can’t keep my fans down. These are people who no matter what are in love with life, and they’re gonna find the good times no matter what. “It’s not a perfect world. We are all a little screwed up, but we’re all okay. I love the idea of the screw up as part of it, because honestly it makes the parts that’re great, that much better. You appreciate those things that much more.” ‘American Kids’ which ships to radio on June 20, will be available for purchase at digital retail on Monday, June 23. Again co-producing with Buddy Cannon, Chesney is putting the finishing touches on his 16th studio release. With an emphasis on great songs, pushing the boundaries without betraying who he is, the man deemed ‘The King of the Road’ by The Wall Street Journal is looking forward to playing a lot of the new songs on the road in 2015.

CMA Music Festival sold out a record 15 weeks in advance prompting large, enthusiastic crowds at the Festival’s numerous free stages and event areas including AT&T U-verse® Fan Fair X at the Music City Center matching 2013’s attendance record of 80,000 fans per day. “The advance sell out speaks to the strength of the event with our fans,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “The popularity of our artists and the entertainment value of this Festival is what drove attendance and filled the streets of downtown Nashville.” Attendance figures for 2014 include four-day ticket packages and promotional tickets, as well as attendance in Fan Fair X, and free areas downtown. In all, more than 450 artists participated in more than 150 hours of concerts on 11 different stages. Fans obviously liked what they saw: tickets for 2015 CMA Music Festival, which will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14, are selling quicker than ever. Ticket sales are 28% ahead of last year with 75% of available tickets already sold. Fans can order tickets by calling the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378). Intermittent rain on Thursday and severe thunderstorms Saturday impacted attendance in the free areas and delayed the start of the Nightly Concert Saturday, but fans in rain ponchos were undeterred, waiting out the weather to see their favourite stars perform. Attendance in the numerous free areas including The Buckle, Fan Alley, public events, and concert venues was brisk and attendance at many stages showed significant growth year-to-year. Opening day at Chevrolet Riverfront Stage saw tens of thousands of fans pass through the gates for the free concerts. Crowds for the new Samsung Galaxy Stage in Walk of Fame Park were strong, and attendance at the Bud Light Stage on the Bridgestone Arena Plaza increased over 2013. The BMI Tailgate Party stage at LP Field, which debuted in 2012, was a hit with fans entering the stadium for the nightly concerts. Corporate brand partnerships are a key element to the marketing, fan experience, and support of the Festival. Nearly 60 different brands participated in the CMA Music Festival – a 39% increase from 2013. “This year’s Festival featured sold-out shows at LP Field in record-setting time, so we knew our corporate partners were going to benefit from the excitement and attendance generated by this event,” said Damon Whiteside, CMA Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships. “The strategy for our partnerships is to develop innovative experiential and marketing opportunities that will engage our passionate fans not only during the June Music Festival, but throughout the summer season leading into our ABC Network TV special, ‘CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock.’ Along with the amazing lineup of talent and fan experiences at all of our stages and AT&T U-verse® Fan Fair X, our brand partners are creating some of the best activations the Festival has seen to date, which is essential for CMA to keep the fans excited to come back year after year.”

Dolly Parton’s latest critically acclaimed release, BLUE SMOKE, on Dolly Records/Sony Music Masterworks debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart at number 6, and number 2 on the Billboard Country chart, marking her highest charting solo album ever. As the smoke continues to rise, Parton’s latest music video for her forthcoming single, ‘Home’ has premiered on Vevo. Parton is currently performing to Sold Out shows in the United States ending the North American leg of the Blue Smoke World Tour in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Next Parton will be hitting the stage in Liverpool, England on June 8th she will continue crisscrossing Europe with concert performances in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden before bringing the tour to a close in Locarno, Switzerland, on July 14th.

The Invitation to be a head-lining artist at UK Country Music Festival, YeeHaw UK brought with it both surprise and honour for Australian Singer/Songwriter, Aleyce Simmonds. “I’ve never been to the UK but always wanted to go. To actually be paid to go over there, play my music at one of UK’s biggest Country Music Festivals AND get to see another country for the first time is a dream come true!!” Simmonds is no stranger to Australian country music audiences. A 4 times Golden Guitar nominee, she rose to prominence in 2005 after winning the Telstra Road to Tamworth competition. Since then she has delivered number one singles, hit videos and toured extensively with artists from all ends of the country music spectrum. Hers has been an old-school country music journey – complete with successes and failures, broken hearts and even physical adversity. Aleyce’s latest album, BELIEVE has since its release in September, produced a nomination for Female Artist of the Year at the prestigious Country Music Awards of Australia and two top 5 radio singles. Both BELIEVE and STRONGER current sit together in the Hot Country and KIX FIX National Radio Network chart at number 9 and number 15 with a subsequent single release scheduled for Early July. Aleyce will finish her set on stage at the Iconic ‘Gympie Music Muster’ in QLD, Australia and be off, on her way board a flight to London. This will be followed by a jam-packed 3 weeks of shows around the UK and a flight home to Australia – just in time for the Mildura Country Music Festival in Victoria. “To play at 3 of the biggest Country Music Festivals in the world in a little over a month is actually quite mind-blowing for me. I’ve always believed that we can do anything if we work really hard but for that to actually eventuate is just incredible”. BELIEVE is available for download on iTunes worldwide. www.aleyce.com