July 2016

Chris Stapleton joins all-star line up at Bridgestone arena on November 30th as part of Charlie Daniels 80th Birthday Volunteer jam

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Stapleton will be joining forces with Rock and Roll superstar Kid Rock and comedy standout Larry The Cable Guy to help Charlie Daniels celebrate his 80th birthday on November 30 at Bridgestone Arena with a performance at the Charlie Daniels 80th Birthday Volunteer Jam. “This is going to be one of them magic evenings,” says Charlie Daniels. “I’m really looking forward to jamming with Chris Stapleton. I’m looking forward to just getting on stage with him and some other pickers and just let the music take us wherever it wants to go.” After a star-studded 40th Anniversary Volunteer Jam last year, this year’s celebration event will feature The Charlie Daniels Band and a select bunch of their favorite musicians and entertainers on stage for an exhilarating event for the ages. Since 1974, Daniels has commissioned his musical friends and peers to come together on a “volunteer” basis to hang out, “jam” together, and entertain crowds in an unconventional, laid-back fashion unknown to any other concert event — all while dedicating concert proceeds to worthy causes. This year’s event will feature extra special “jam” sessions with some of Charlie’s most prolific friends who want to celebrate the soon-to-be Country Music Hall of Famer, his birthday, and his many accomplishments. A portion of the proceeds from the night will go to the The Journey Home Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit co-founded by Daniels and manager, David Corlew, to help Veterans of the United States Armed Forces. For more info on The Journey Home Project, please visit: thejourneyhomeproject.org. Charlie Daniels’ 80th Birthday Volunteer Jam is produced by Mike Smardak of Outback Concerts in association with David Corlew & Associates and Webster & Associates.

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Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez Hit the Road Again for 10th Anniversary RED DOG TRACKS Reunion Tour

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Newly-elected Songwriters Hall of Fame member Chip Taylor and acclaimed Americana performer Carrie Rodriguez have announced a special series of tour dates reuniting the dynamic pair, who wowed fans and critics alike in the past with a string of celebrated albums and live shows. Dubbed the “10th Anniversary Red Dog Tracks Reunion Tour” because it salutes the recent deluxe reissue of the duo’sRED DOGS TRACK CD, the tour will focus on USA shows in Texas, New York City and Northampton, Massachusetts, as well as Canada.   “When we toured in the past, every time we hit the stage it was total chill time … physical chills… from the sound of our voices caressing each other … to the manner in which the voices drifted in and out of specific emotion that was being newly created. It was never the same … but it was always magical,” says Chip Taylor.“Rehearsing these C&C songs now is reminding me how magical it was and will be. Can’t wait to see my amazing and oh-so-talented and vibe-y friend and for this tour to start!”

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Sons of Texas Announce UK Tour Dates In November 2016

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Following the critically acclaimed release of their debut album BAPTISED IN THE RIO GRANDE in late 2015, Sons Of Texas have been added to the UK and European Soil tour across November 2016. The European dates take in Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Austria, France before a full UK tour. A stunning collection of hard rock songs with driving rhythms and the unique and powerful vocals of Mark Morales, the album was produced by Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, All That Remains, Gojira). The band are set to release a single from the album, “September”, around the tour. Sons Of Texas was spawned in McAllen, Texas, a valley town without the music legacy of Austin or Arlington. The scene vibes “music for music’s sake” with metalcore bands, blues-rock bands, and straight up rock n’ roll bands swapping members and sharing bills. Sons Of Texas solidified in 2013 around a lineup of local all-stars. The group is Mark Morales, vocals, Mike Villarreal, drums, Nick Villarreal, bass, Jon Olivarez, rhythm guitar, and Jes De Hoyos, lead guitar.

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Jared & The Mill announce release of the ORME DUGAS EP on September 9

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The Tuscon-based Americana outfit Jared & The Mill will release theORME DUGAS EP on September 9.  The themes of the EP touch on life on the road as a touring band and the impact the setting has on relationships. The  five-song alt-country EP is full of telecaster twang, sizzling banjo, savory pedal steel and soaring harmonies.

 Produced, mixed & engineered by Grammy winner Ryan Hewitt (Tom Petty, Dixie Chicks, The Avett Brothers) at House of Blues Studios in Nashville, ORME DUGAS is named after an exit near the band’s hometown and encompasses the beauty and peaceful setting a band yearns for with life away from home. According to singer Jared Kolesar “This EP is the truest form of us.  We’re a group of rascals that grew up in a borderland that mixes several prominent cultures that all equate to the Wild West. We love deeply and fully and are old enough to have regrets. This record reflects that.”

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Confederate railroad releases latest album LUCKY TO BE ALIVE in stores now

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Multi-platinum recording artist Confederate Railroad is back with their latest album, Lucky to be Alive, which is now available on iTunes, Amazon and music retailers nationwide. The project marks the first release by the chart-topping band in nine years, and showcases their unique style, bringing their southern–rock-meets-country-conscience front and center. A key highlight on the album includes a special 20th Anniversary edition of the signature hit, Trashy Women. The new, revamped version features vocal appearances by Willie Nelson, John Anderson, Colt Ford and Jerry Glanville, who all teamed up to benefit a special charity near-and-dear to Confederate Railroad’s hearts, The Hunter Worley Foundation. Founded by lead singer Danny Shirley, The Hunter Worley Foundation will receive 100% of Shirley and Confederate Railroad’s proceeds from Trashy Women. The charity was established in response to a tragedy suffered by a family in Shirley’s hometown, where a child named Hunter Worley was accidentally killed in a farming accident. The foundation provides financial and therapeutic support to families who have lost a child. The ACM award winners are hitting the road for the remainder of 2016 in support of their latest Danny Shirley / Blue Miller co-produced album, along with making several media appearances in-between. Shirley recently served as the co-host of four episodes of Heartland TV’s smash, Country Classics, which showcases classic country from the 70s, 80s and 90s, highlighting some of the genre’s biggest hits.

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Dead Horses Release Third Album CARTOON MOON

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On their forthcoming full-length release, CARTOON MOON, the Milwaukee-based trio Dead Horses offer listeners their fresh, insightful take on folk music along with lyrical parallels to American writers like Whitman and Steinbeck. Out September 30, 2016, their third collection of songs features ruminations on loneliness, existence, love and meaning. Produced by Ken Coomer (Uncle Tupelo, Wilco), Cartoon Moon sounds comfortable yet remains modern. Vocalist and songwriter Sarah Vos’ trademark take on timeless American prose mixes with the sweet sounds of Peter Raboin’s mandolin and guitar, Daniel Wolff’s double bass and Coomer’s drums (as well as organ, banjo, and harmonium), to create a cozy, enveloping experience – the album feels like a good night spent on a favorite front porch. While the first single draws lyrical comparisons to Whitman, Vos’ vocals on tracks like Brothers and Ain’t Got Time, recall Delta soul that might sound fitting sung on one of Twain’s river voyages. Raboin’s mandolin shines on In the Morning, leading into Peace My Soul, which could be straight from the mouths of one of Steinbeck’s migrants during the Dust Bowl. The band has traversed much of America after the release of their sophomore album Space and Timein 2014. They’ve made their way through ballrooms and festivals across the country, performing with Trampled by Turtles and Elephant Revival, as well as on main stages at Bristol Rhythm and Roots, Americana Music Festival and Red Ants Pants. At one such fateful festival, Dead Horses piqued the interest of Coomer, who later invited the band to his studio to record their latest album. The trio, who now tours with drummer Lemmy Hayes, originally hails from a small Wisconsin town made famous by a pair of overalls (OshKosh B’Gosh). Since their formation in 2010, Dead Horses have cultivated a roots sensibility well beyond their years, in part because of powerful musical and literary force that is their frontwoman and songwriter. Raised on Bible hymns by her preacher father, Vos’ gospel influences are clearly conveyed in her music – a delivery so effortless it’s unable to be taught. Complimented by the deft touches of Raboin and Wolff, Vos’ songwriting beckons to the listener, creating an indelible experience.  

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Kenny & Amanda Smith announce new album UNBOUND

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Kenny and Amanda Smith have released the first single, ‘You Know That I Would’ from their forthcoming album,UNBOUND . The CD, the 7th release from the Smith’s and their band, is set for release on September 23, 2016. Winners of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s prestigious Emerging Artist of the Year award in 2003, the Kenny and Amanda Smith Band continues to combine gutsy, heartfelt vocals, brilliant instrumental talents and a powerful, contemporary sense of song choice and arrangement into one of the most compelling new sounds in bluegrass today. A creation of the intensely personal musical and romantic connection between Kenny and Amanda, the band shares a rare sense of intimacy and cohesion with each musician feeling an almost telepathic connection. Musicians call it being in the groove, and with Kenny leading the way on guitar, this band never has trouble finding the groove. UNBOUND features 13 remarkable cuts from some of today’s most prolific writers, including Ed Williams, Ronnie Bowman, Dennis K. Duff, Roger Helton, Barry Bales, Lisa Shaffer, Elli Rowe, Jason Burleson, Tim Stafford, Thomm Jutz, Kylie Sackley, Lacy Green, and Craig Market. The collection is a warm and winning musical journey. Originally from Nine Mile, Indiana, Kenny is a two-time IBMA Guitarist of the Year award winner, and his professional credits include six years with the popular Lonesome River Band and an exceptional solo CD, Studebaker, released on Sugar Hill Records in 1997. He is a member of the Band of Ruhks, the musical collaboration with Ronnie Bowman and Don Rigsby. Kenny is widely considered one of the most important and influential flatpicking-style guitarists of his generation. Winner of the 2014 IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award, Amanda grew up singing in church choirs and participating in talent contests at local fairs in her home town of Davisville, West Virginia. She started playing guitar in high school to accompany herself, and soon discovered bluegrass music through artists such as Rhonda Vincent and Alison Krauss. Amanda met Kenny at a Lonesome River Band concert, and the couple began dating and playing music together almost immediately. And now, UNBOUND continues the legacy with a collection that is at once intimate and personal, but also skilfully filled with instrumental and vocal mastery. The first single, ‘You Know That I Would’ is currently available to radio through Airplay Direct, or by request.

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Kenny Rogers announces his 35th annual and final Christmas & Hits tour

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Since the release of Kenny Rogers’ first-ever Christmas album back in 1981 titled CHRISTMAS ,Rogers has embarked on an annual Christmas & Hits Tour where he performs holiday favorites and a large selection of hits at concerts across North America. Rogers announced late last year on NBC’s Today show that the world tour he is currently on would be his final time performing around the globe. So this year’s 35th edition of his annual Christmas & Hits tour, with special guest Linda Davis, will indeed be his last. After more than five decades of touring and entertaining the world, Rogers’ farewell tour, ‘The Gambler’s Last Deal’ is underway and expected to run into 2017 due to popular demand. “Christmas has always been a special time of year to me,” Rogers said. “The feeling I get performing on the Christmas tour is one of the things I’ll really miss about not being on the road. We will be sure to take extra time to cherish some moments on this last go around, and I hope as many people as possible will be able to join us in creating a new set of holiday memories.” For his upcoming Christmas & Hits tour dates, Rogers will perform holiday favorites, selections from his 2015 Christmas album ONCE AGAIN IT’S CHRISTMAS and of course his well-known hits at concerts across the U.S. The tour currently includes 16 dates. Making this final Christmas tour experience even more special, a very limited number of VIP ticket packages will be offered, allowing fans the opportunity to meet Rogers and receive one-of-a-kind memorabilia. Two types of VIP packages will be available for each show of the tour. ‘The Gambler’s Last Deal’ concerts feature an all-new show, including a reflective look back through Rogers’ storied 50-plus-year career. Enhanced with personal stories, vintage photos and video clips—including never-before-seen footage—the music-filled retrospective will touch on every part of Rogers’ career. Along with his long list of hits, Rogers is singing songs in concert that he hasn’t performed in years. The show is produced by veteran producer Kelly Junkermann. Rogers has sold more than 120 million albums worldwide. He has charted a record within each of the last seven decades. The first country artist to consistently sell out arenas, Rogers achieved pop superstardom as well — his 28 Billboard Adult Contemporary Top 10’s rank him fourth-best of all time among men, trailing only Elton John, Neil Diamond, and Elvis Presley. Rogers has recorded 24 No. 1 hits, 12 No. 1 albums, 25 Top 10 country albums and is the RIAA’s eighth best-selling male solo artist of all time. The Country Music Hall of Fame member has received three GRAMMY® Awards, 11 People’s Choice Awards, 19 American Music Awards, eight Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards and six Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, among many other accolades.

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Andy Watts & The Blue Mountain Rockers announce new album TURN THE LIGHTS OUT

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Multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter Andy Watts trades brass for ballads on his stunning Americana inspired album, TURN THE LIGHTS OUT. TURN THE LIGHTS OUT is the exceptional new album from multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter Andy Watts. Teaming up with a gang of like-minded musicians dubbed the Blue Mountain Rockers, Watts brings his fresh and captivating perspective to the time honoured tropes ofAmerican country and folk. A highly proficient vocalist, trumpet player and guitarist, Andy Watts is widely recognised on the London music scene as a man of many and remarkable talents. Originally from New Zealand, Wattsmoved to the UK in 2007 and has since established himself as a consummate performer across an astonishing spectrum of musical genres: alongside regular session work as a jazz trumpeter and his firm fixture in the horn section of the acclaimed London Afrobeat Collective, Watts has also written and performed with a number of other projects, from the indie stylings of his band Running Club to the alt-folk tones of festival favourites 6 Day Riot. For his latest outing, however, Watts has devoted himself to the one of the most distinct and evocative of genres: Americana. Showing a deep affection for the singular music and poetry of the American spirit, Watts draws on country music’s unique timbres and traditions to deliver a string of idiosyncratic, charming, and often deeply moving musical meditations. Perhaps the greatest revelation of TURN THE LIGHTS OUT is the way in which this seemingly unlikely musical touchstone provides such fertile ground for Watts’s own unique compositional and lyrical talent: somewhere between song and story, Watts locates a wellspring of expression that finds its fullest voice in the timeless American themes of love, loss, and whiskey. TURN THE LIGHTS OUT will enchant and enthrall a broad range of music fans, from the dyed-in-the-wool country enthusiast to fans of any genre with an ear for honest and heartfelt song writing. The album will be released on East Green Records, a London based indie founded in 2016 by musicians Ben Greenslade-Stanton & Sam Eastmond, dedicated to releasing music that they love, while retaining the full integrity of the artist’s creative vision. With his international band of fellow country devotees, Watts has captured the essence of Americana in all its jangling glory and has demonstrated the character, charm, and effortless versatility of an artist operating above and beyond the boundaries of genre.

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The Shires Announce UK Tour 2016

The Shires announce UK tour 2016

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Fresh from a triumphant headline set on Glastonbury’s Acoustic Stage, UK country duo The Shires have just announced they will be touring the UK later this year.  The tour will see the critically acclaimed pair play tracks from their forthcoming album, alongside fan favourites from their gold selling debut ‘Brave’ to gig goers up and down the country finishing at London’s prestigious O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. The Shires showcased how recording in Music City: Nashville has further honed their songwriting craft for making clever and catchy Country-Pop that continues to push the genre into the UK mainstream.  Last year, they were one of only a handful of British acts to see their debut release certified Gold alongside Jess Glynne, James Bay and Years & Years.  The first UK country act ever to have a top 10 album in their home country, The Shires have been at the forefront of the British Country music movement which has seen a sea change in the opinion of the British public, who have embraced the genre and UK bands making music inspired by US country artists. Eager fans can secure their tickets for the tour when they pre-order a special edition of the new album at HMV before midnight on Monday 18th July.  The HMV exclusive edition of ‘My Universe’ includes exclusive artwork and two bonus tracks.  Those who order the album before midnight Monday 18th July will receive a unique code to give them access to the tour ticket pre-sale from 9am Thursday 21st July before general on-sale at 9am Friday 22nd July. On recording the new album in Nashville, The Shires said ,“It was great to go back to Nashville.  This time we had a different approach as we knew it better and we practically lived there. We have friends there now and for some reason when you write and record there you just feel more inspired. It definitely comes through in the new music.” The live dates will follow an intense period of song writing for the Shires, who have been working on their new album in Music City: Nashville, with top country music producers and recording their album at Sound Stage Studios, one of the most prestigious recording studios in Nashville, which has cut records for other country superstars such as Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum.  They also graced the stage at the famous Grand Ole Opry and can add their name to Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, Garth Brooks and a veritable who’s who of Country music who have played at the famous Nashville landmark venue.

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