18 August 2014

Gord Bamford has received the 2013 CMA Global Country Artist Award. The Canadian singer was presented with the honor during the CCMA Gala Dinner held on September 6 in Edmonton. The award was presented by CMA Board members Ted Ellis, VP of Programming and Scheduling, Corus Entertainment, and Jeff Walker, President, Aristomedia. “As a Canadian Country Music artist, it’s an incredible honour to receive the CMA’s Global Country Artist Award,” said Bamford. “To receive this recognition from CMA, the Nashville music community, and the CMA international membership is something every artist dreams of and I’d have to tell you honestly, I’m feeling an overwhelming sense of humble accomplishment not just for myself, but for all those who play my music, come to my shows, and work behind the scenes.” Bamford earned two CCMA Awards this year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year for “When Your Lips Are So Close,” bringing his total to 18 Canadian Country Music Association awards since 2008, when he won CCMA Top New Male Talent of the Year. His current release, COUNTRY JUNKIE, debuted in the number one spot on the Nielsen Soundscan Top Country Albums Chart and also garnered Bamford his first ever number one single, “When Your Lips Are So Close.” In March of this year, Bamford garnered his third Juno Award nomination for Canadian Country Album of the Year for COUNTRY JUNKIE.

Kenny Chesney knew he wanted to take his music to another level when he opted to spend 2014 working on a new album. When he found “American Kids,” the lead single from Sept. 23’s eagerly anticipated THE BIG REVIVAL, he knew he had something unlike anything he’d ever cut before. Three weeks before his album hits stores, the propulsive song about the inherent spirit of people coming of age in the flyover has topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart – and it shows no signs of slowing down. With three rhythms, two hooks and a whole lot of imagery, “American Kids” paints a portrait of people who make their own fun, understand life is how you live it and that the small details are what it’s all about. “When Shane (McAnally) played me the song,” Chesney says, “I knew I was going to cut it. In fact, I gave him a hard time for not playing it for me sooner. Not only is it musically so engaging, but the pictures it paints are undeniable! No matter where you’re from, there are pieces of that song that’re just who you are… and they show you at your very best. We’re all, like the song says, ‘a little messed, but we’re all alright’.” More than a little alright. Having just played a free show for over 40,000 in FloraBama and a surprise “pop-up” show in Athens’ Georgia Theatre, Chesney marveled as both crowds gave the tongue twisting lyrics back to them like they were born singing it. “Some songs, you just know they capture how people feel, what they think, how they are. I’ve had a few like that: ‘Young’ being the first. The moments in this song are all very real, and while they’re universal, they’re anything but generic, so I think people grabbed a hold of it for that – and because of the way it moves.” Written by Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird and Shane McAnally, “American Kids” evokes the little pink houses and born in the USA of several generations, while embodying the swept-up-in-the-moment urgency and complete abandon of today’s teens and 20-somethings. Co-producing with longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon, THE BIG REVIVAL marks Chesney’s 15th studio album. With the emphasis on great songs, pushing the boundaries without betraying who he is, THE BIG REVIVAL takes Chesney’s music and lays it wide open. With its first number one in “American Kids,” it looks like the songwriter/entertainer’s next wave is going to break ground and make his fans really happy.

Nominees for the 2014 International Bluegrass Music Awards were announced last night at a press conference at The Factory in Franklin, TN, where Compass Records artists and their respective band members received an impressive 18 nominations across 12 Award Categories. Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen lead the Compass Records nominees with four nominations, while Claire Lynch, Noam Pikelny and Special Consensuseach garnered three. A full list of nominations can be read here. “This is an awesome day for Special C,” says Founding Member, Greg Cahill, “After 39 years of touring and recording, it is a true honor to be recognized by our peers and friends in the world of bluegrass music. Thanks to the IBMA voters for this honor, to all the fantastic musicians who played with us on this John Denver tribute recording, to all the DJs who play our music and press who write about it, and to all our friends and fans for their support.” Special Consensus, their collaborators, and their liner notes writer, Dave Royko, received nominations for Recorded Event of the Year for “Wild Montana Skies” (with Claire Lynch & Rob Ickes), Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year for “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” (with Michael Cleveland,Buddy Spicher and Alison Brown) and for Best Liner Notes for their project COUNTRY BOY: A Bluegrass Tribute to John Denver. Fast rising Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen were nominated for the second year in a row for Instrumental Group of the Year Category and reigning 2013 IBMA Banjo player of the Year, Mike Munford, received a nomination for Banjo Player of the Year. Frank Solivan also received nods for Male Vocalist of the Year and Mandolin Player of the Year. Last Year’s IBMA Keynote Speaker, Noam Pikelny, received three nominations including Banjo Player of the Year. Pikelny claimed his spot on the list of Album of the Year nominees with his Compass release, NOAM PIKELNY PLAYS KENNY BAKER PLAYS BILL MONROE. The album also received a nomation for Best Liner Notes by Neil V. Rosenberg. Peter Rowan received a nomination for Recorded Event of the Year for the track “Keepin’ It Between the Lines (Old School)” from his Compass release, THE OLD SCHOOL. Collaborators with Peter on this track include Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds, Ronnie McCoury and Del McCoury. “Dear Sister” received a nomination for Song of the Year, recognizing Claire Lynch (artist) and Claire Lynch and Louisa Branscom (writers). Additional nominees in the Vocalist and Instrumental categories include Claire Lynch and Dale Ann Bradley for Female Vocalist of the Year, Mark Schatz and Missy Raines for Bass Player of the Year, and Michael Cleveland for Fiddle Player of the Year. Nominations are voted on by the professional membership of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), the trade association for the bluegrass music industry. Results of the balloting will be revealed at the International Bluegrass Music Awards on Thursday, October 4 as the centerpiece of the World of Bluegrass Week, held September 30 – October 4 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The IBMA Awards Show will also be broadcast live on SiriusXM Satellite Radio (Bluegrass Junction).

Kenny Chesney started No Shoes Radio in 2009, inspired in part by the different sounds he’d hear floating across the parking lots at his shows. Five years later, the freeform station that mingles reggae, album rock, singer/songwriters, alternative and live tracks from the man called “the people’s superstar” by The Los Angeles Times, is one of internet radio’s most buzzed about locations – and its reach gets exponentially bigger this weekend as NoShoesRadio.com is added to iHeartRadio, Clear Channel’s all-in-one streaming music and digital radio service. “My fans are a lot like me,” Chesney says. “They don’t care what stuff’s called, just whether they like it. And listening to what drifts in from the parking lot, they like rock, they like reggae, they like bluegrass… and obviously, they like being part of the texture of what we do! Whether it’s live tracks with my friends, demos of songs they know or just giving them a listen to a jam on the bus, No Shoes Radio is the nerve center of the No Shoes Nation in terms of music. “When the people at iHeartRadio said they wanted to help us take it out to even more people,” Chesney continues, “I realized it’s not just my hardcore fans, but a lot of folks who like variety in their music. Things aren’t cut-and-dried. People WANT places they will be surprised – and find music they’ll love. iHeartRadio gets that, so it’s a pleasure to team with them to share what we’ve been doing the past five years.” Ross on Radio’s Sean Ross named No Shoes Radio one the 10 Most Intriguing Stations of 2009. He wrote in the Chicago-based broadcast industry trade Radio-Info.com, “the reggae and all things tropical format allowed country superstar Kenny Chesney’s channel to share as much with Triple-A as with country radio.” To celebrate the launch on iHeartRadio, Chesney and his team will give listeners behind-the-scenes updates from the shores of Perdido Key as the 4-time Country Music Association and 4-consecutive Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year takes the beach for a very special show at the Flora-Bama Lounge. Deemed the Flora-Bama-Jama, the free concert on the beach is a way to play for the No Shoes Nation as he wraps work on The Big Revival, due Sept 23. Fans can tune into No Shoes Radio on iHeartRadio (http://www.iheart.com/live/no-shoes-radio-4960/) to hear exclusive live updates from on the beach and backstage during the event. With “American Kids,” the lead single burning up country radio, pairing with iHeartRadio makes it even easier for people to get their Chesney fix on. Whether you’re making the trip to Orange Beach, Florida or not, tuning into No Shoes Radio is even easier than before. “This is about music,” Chesney says. “Turning people on, firing them up, hitting that place in their lives where it makes a difference. That was a big part of why we started doing this… and it’s nice to see other people recognize what it is we’re trying to do.” iHeartRadio is available on more than 35 devices across web, mobile phones, tablets, automotive partners, smart TVs, gaming devices and more. iHeartRadio is always free for listeners to use, with no capped hours or monthly subscription fees. It reached its first 20 million registered users faster than any digital service in Internet history, delivers everything listeners want in an all-in-one platform: Instant access to more than 1,500 radio stations from across the country, user-created Custom Stations inspired by a favorite artist or song, thousands of curated digital stations “Perfect For” any mood or activity, and the new Shows & Personalities feature giving users access to the best on-demand news, talk and entertainment content available today. To see all available platforms and to download the app, visit iHeartRadio.com/ap

The new album from country music icon, Randy Travis, Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am is available for download on iTunes. While getting ready for the official release set for next Tuesday, August 19th on Warner Bros. Records, fans can get the collection of covers online a week early and also take a look at a series of concept videoscreated in anticipation of the release. The album had exclusively streamed in its entirety on Rolling Stone Country as well. Throughout his celebrated career, Travis and his music have been a major influence to other country artists, while on Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am, Travis pays homage to some of the songs and artists that were instrumental in crafting his musical career. “We had such a great time putting together Influence Vol. 1, but there were still so many musical heroes of yesteryear that I learned from and wanted to honor. We had no choice but to release a second volume. The “Influence” that the older, great ones had on me, and the “Influence” that I may, somehow, have on the ones that come along after me, is God’s way of allowing us to pay it forward. It is my prayer answered—and, His will done—it is what makes me, “the man I am.” – Randy Travis RANDY TRAVIS Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am TRACK LISTING: I’m Moving On Set ‘Em Up Joe Are The Good Times Really Over? Nearly Lose Your Mind There I’ve Said It Again That’s The Way Love Goes Sunday Morning Coming Down Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Mind Your Own Business Only Daddy For The Good Times California Blues Tonight I’m Playing Possum (Solo Version) For more information, please visit www.randytravis.com / Follow: @randytravis