11 July 2016

British Country Music Awards Nominations Announced!

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The nominees for the prestigious British Country Music Awards have been announced. This event has attracted and become the benchmark for many artists who were previously unknown to the Country music fans who just attend the many events around the club scene and as Country music in the UK grows more and more young acts have been enticed to the genre and so these awards recognise those up and coming artists both here and abroad as well as the more celebrated performers. They are open to all. Members of the British Country Music Association will have the final say on the winners when voting takes place. Of the nominees Ben Earle gets three nominations including two with Crissie Rhodes as part of The Shires. Nathan Carter gets another nod for Entertainer of the Year, he was nominated too in 2014 and 2015 as was Raintown who must be doing something right, they have four nominations this year, one for Entertainer and the other three in Video, Album and Group categories. Gary Perkins, who recently won CCN Band of the Year also gets a nomination in the Entertainer category. Newcomers to the awards nominations are The Southern Companion, Ashton Lane, Thorne Hill and Red Sky July. A spokesman said: ‘The quality of the British acts who have come to the fore since British Country music has stepped up to the mark means we shall be soon listening to more of our own acts rather than importing them from across the world. We can match the US with quality, we just need to get them publicised more. The likes of The Southern Companion, Holloway Road, The Shires and Ward Thomas are creating waves and it is no wonder the large recording companies have opened offices in London.’ For more details of the Awards Show and the Best of British event to be held the day before at the same venue in London or go to bcmawards.co.uk. The nominees are: Entertainer of the Year The Shires Nathan Carter Jess & The Bandits Raintown Gary Perkins Group of the Year Dexeter Raintown Jess & The Bandits Gary Quinn Band Red Sky July Female Vocalist of the Year Laura Oakes Claire McArthur-Bain (Raintown) Katy Hurt Jessica Clemmons (Jess & The Bandits) Crissie Rhodes (The Shires) Musician of the Year Lee Guyler Justin Johnson Scott Poley Sarah Jory John Pettifer Duo of the Year Ward Thomas The Shires Luke & Mel Holloway Road Ashton Lane UK Album of the Year Belle Cannon – Evolution The Southern Companion – 1000 Days Of Rain Raintown – Writing On The Wall Thorne Hill – No More Holding Back Red Sky July – The Truth And The Lie Male Vocalist of the Year Thorne Hill Ben Earle (The Shires) Nathan Carter Pete Kennedy Gary Quinn Horizon Act of the Year The Southern Companion Narn Acoustic Journey Samantha Lloyd Fitzwallace UK Song of the Year The Southern Companion – Crash Katy Hurt – Love You More Luke & Mel – Bad Habit Ashton Lane – Seventeen Raintown – Nineteen Again International Song of the Year Chris Stapleton – Tennessee Whiskey Thomas Rhett – Die A Happy Man Tim McGraw – Humble And Kind Maren Morris – My Church Carrie Underwood – Smoke Break International Album of the Year Chris Stapleton – Traveller Thomas Rhett – Tangled Up Carrie Underwood – Storyteller Eric Church – Mr Misunderstood Chris Young – I’m Coming Over International Act of the Year Little Big Town Dixie Chicks Phil Vassar Thomas Rhett Kip Moore Video of the Year Thorne Hill – Open Road Raintown – Writing On The Wall Luke & Mel – Bad Habit Gary Quinn – Dodge Your Bullet The Southern Companion – Drive

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Bobby Rush signs to rounder records with new album PORCUPINE MEAT set for September 16 release

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Naming one’s album after a song titled “Porcupine Meat” may seem a little unusual — unless, of course, you’re Bobby Rush, who earned his first gold record in 1971 with a hit entitled “Chicken Heads.” He elaborates on his recent composition:  “If a lady won’t treat me right, but she doesn’t want anyone else to have me, that is hard to digest.” Hence the lyric, “too fat to eat, too lean to throw away.”  is Rush’s debut release for  Rounder Records, and one of the best recordings of his astonishing 60-plus year career. The album is due out September 16, 2016. Rush estimates that he has cut over 300 songs since he first began making music. He has been honored with three Grammy nominations, as well as ten Blues Music Awards and 41 nominations. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2006. Make no mistake: Rush is not your typical octogenarian. At age 82, he exudes the energy of a 20-year-old, on the road for more than 200 dates a year. His hectic tour schedule has earned him the affectionate title King of the Chitlin’ Circuit. Rush has traveled the globe including Japan and Beirut. In 2007, he earned the distinction of being the first blues artist to play at the Great Wall of China. His renowned stage act features his famed shake dancers, who personify his funky blues and the ribald humor that he has cultivated during the course of his storied career.   PORCUPINE MEAT will not only please Rush’s older fans, but is likely to win over many new ones. Billington reflects, “We wanted to come up with something fresh, while staying 100% true to Bobby.” The album was recorded in New Orleans, and Rush was pleased and proud to be given the opportunity to make an album in his home state for the very first time. His impassioned vocals and in-the-pocket harmonica playing are among the best performances of his career. Unlike most of his recent releases, these sessions only feature real instruments and no synthesizers. All of the rhythm tracks were cut live in the studio, often edited down from jams that on several occasions ran close to ten minutes. For the project, Billington assembled some of the best Louisiana musicians, including Shane Theriot, David Torkanowsky, Jeffrey “Jellybean” Alexander, Kirk Joseph, Cornell Williams, and others. Rush brought along his old friend and longtime collaborator, guitarist Vasti Jackson, who worked with Bobby and Scott on getting the songs ready for the studio. Guitar greats Dave Alvin, Keb’ Mo’, and Joe Bonamassa all make guest appearances on the album.

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