14 October 2016

Kelsea Ballerini toasts to Peter Pan with jet-setting #1 party

News /

Celebrating her high flying, third consecutive #1 single surrounded by planes and parachutes, Kelsea Ballerini and her music industry supporters toasted to the success of Peter Pan at a massive party held yesterday (10/12) in a Nashville airplane hangar. Standing alongside the song’s co-writers Forest Glen Whitehead and Jesse Lee, Ballerini told the assembled crowd it takes the hard work of many different people to climb so high. “This is bigger than me,” she said, before concluding with a promise to keep aiming for the stars and to make her believers proud. The chart-topping success of Peter Pan is a historic feat, making Ballerini the first female artist – including duos or groups – to hit #1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with her first three singles. Simultaneously, the fantasy-themed tune rose to the top spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, also making Ballerini the first female artist to score a double #1. It is the first chart-topper for Lee and the second for songwriter/producer Whitehead, who also co-wrote Ballerini’s Love Me Like You Mean It. Decorating the cavernous space to mimic the feel of the “Peter Pan,” music video (directed by Kristin Barlowe), directed by Kristin Barlowe Ballerini, her co-writers and co-producer Jason Massey were presented with #1 plaques and gifts from ASCAP, BMI, and publishers ole and Black River Publishing, before Ballerini’s record label – Black River Entertainment – surprised the star with news that her debut album had just reached GOLD certification for sales of over 500,000 copies. Performing alongside her co-writers, the 23-year-old then delivered laid back acoustic renditions of Peter Pan and Yeah Boy, the fun-and-flirty fourth single from THE FIRST TIME, before joining in the celebration. Capping off an outstanding year, the Black River recording artist will receive CMT’s second-annual Breakout Artist of the Year award during the network’s 2016 Artists of the Year special, premiering October 20 at 9 p.m. ET, and November 2 will find her at the 50th annual CMA Awards where she is nominated in two categories: New Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. She is also vying for Favorite Female Artist – Country at the fan-voted American Music Awards on November 20, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Lillie Mae Rische joins third man records line-up

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Singer-songwriter-musician sets to work on next solo album with Jack White producing Set to appear with White on a prairie home companion this Saturday Teamed with Langhorne Slim for Third Man & Luck renunion ‘Luck Mansion Sessions’ Third Man Records has announced Lillie Mae Rische as the latest member of its growing roster. The Nashville-based singer-songwriter-musician is currently at work recording her much anticipated solo album with Third Man founder Jack White producing. “Lillie Mae has been performing on stage since she was 3 years old,” White said. “She is an incredible writer who can play an array of instruments and has paid her dues from the honky-tonks on Broadway to stages around the world. She is a beloved artist in Nashville, and I think it is safe to say that she is one in a billion. You wont find anyone else quite like this woman no matter how long you live.” “I’m proud to have become a part of the Third Man family, where there is no shortage of hard work and dedication to creating and making available the music we love so,” Rische said. “I’m forever thankful to Jack for believing in me and giving me a chance and all the freedom I’ve needed to make this album.” The album follows Rische’s debut single, Nobody’s b/w The Same Eyes, released in 2014 as part of Third Man’s ongoing Blue Series. Discovered by the legendary Cowboy Jack Clement when playing with her family band The Rische’s (formerly Jypsi), comprised of sisters Amber-Dawn, Scarlett, and Grace, and brother Frank, the country outfit can often still be heard at the historic Layla’s Bluegrass Inn in Nashville. Rische has also spent considerable time as a member of White’s crack touring and recording combo, playing fiddle and mandolin while also lending vocals to such tracks as Temporary Ground, from 2014’s LAZARETTO. She will once again join White on fiddle and backing vocals for a special acoustic performance on A Prairie Home Companion with Chris Thile this Saturday, October 15th, along with Dominic Davis and Fats Kaplin. Rische also recently partnered with Langhorne Slim to record two songs as part of Third Man & Luck Reunion’s ‘Luck Mansion Sessions’ during AmericanaFest in Nashville this past September. The songs will be released on 7-inch vinyl with an accompanying video in early 2017.

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Whisperin' Bill Anderson released audio book plus bonus acoustic CD with never before heard tracks

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Songwriting icon and legendary performer Whisperin’ Bill Anderson released his new autobiography Whisperin’ Bill Anderson: An Unprecedented Life In Country Music September 1 and within two weeks, the entire first printing was sold out! . In addition, listeners can sit back and enjoy a NEW audio book narrated by Bill Anderson. The audio book bundle also includes a Bonus CD featuring 10 never-before released self-penned acoustic recordings by Anderson, including smash hits like Whiskey Lullaby (Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss), Give It Away (George Strait), City Lights (Ray Price) and seven more (track listing below). Whisperin’ Bill Anderson: An Unprecedented Life In Country Music is a representation of Anderson’s journey, and published by University of Georgia Press. Read by Bill Anderson himself it features eye-opening personal stories from his nearly eighty years of living – from early days of radio broadcasting in Georgia, to standing alongside the greatest country music stars in the world onstage at the Grand Ole Opry, to meeting Elvis Presley, to being named BMI’s first ICON Award winner in the country music genre. The book is a 360-page representation of Anderson’s journey published by University of Georgia Press featuring respected music journalist and Grammy-nominated music producer Peter Cooper as a contributing writer. It includes rare, never-before-seen photos and eye-opening personal stories from Anderson’s nearly eighty years of living – from early days of radio broadcasting in Georgia, to standing alongside the greatest country music stars in the world onstage at the Grand Ole Opry, to being named BMI’s first ICON Award winner in the country music genre. With the 2015 success of Mo Pitney’s Country, Anderson has become the only country songwriter to tally a Top 40 hit in seven consecutive decades, and he stands today a legendary performer, who recently celebrated his 55th Anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The youngest writer to ever be named ‘Songwriter Of The Year’ (BMI) at age 23, prior to 21-year-old Taylor Swift, Anderson has certainly lived an unprecedented life in country music. Fans, artists, songwriters and music executives young and old revere him for his soft speaking style that can silence a room with just a few poignant words. But there was a time in the early 90s that Bill felt as if his words no longer mattered. “I didn’t write much anymore because I didn’t feel as if what I wanted to write related to what young listeners wanted to hear,” he revealed. However, it was in 1992 that singer/songwriter Steve Wariner helped to re-ignite Anderson’s writing career with a cover of Tips Of My Fingers. The exposure the song received made Anderson test the waters as a co-writer, and in 1994, he teamed up with Vince Gill to write Which Bridge To Cross (Which Bridge To Burn).

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Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends – Circlin' Back: Celebrating 50 Years Tops Bluegrass Chart at #1, Reaches #11 on Country Albums

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For five decades, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has remained one of the most iconic names in American roots music. With one foot planted in the traditions of country-folk and the other pointing toward something new and unexpected, the group continues to tour and release music, influencing multiple generations of audiences and artists along the way. Nearly a dozen of those artists join the group on this year’s Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends – Circlin’ Back: Celebrating 50 Yearsconcert album, released Sept. 30 on NGDB’s own label, distributed by Warner Nashville. As of yesterday’s SoundScan report,Circlin’ Back hit #11 both on the Country Albums chart and Americana Folk chart, while topping the Bluegrass chart at #1 in the first week of sales. About the record: Recorded live at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends captures a group of longtime road warriors who’ve yet to lose their grit, joined onstage by John Prine, Sam Bush, Vince Gill, Jerry Jeff Walker, Alison Krauss, Rodney Crowell, Byron House, and Jerry Douglas. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (and early Dirt Band member) Jackson Browne joined in, along with longtime member Jimmy Ibbotson, while a sold-out crowd sings along in the background. From country classics to deep cuts, the tracklist finds bandmates Jeff Hanna (guitars/vocals), Jimmie Fadden (drums/harmonica/vocals), Bob Carpenter (keyboards/accordion/vocals) and John McEuen (banjo/fiddle/guitar/mandolin) swapping harmonies, trading solos, and shining new light on a catalog of vital, vibrant music. Long before Americana music had a name, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band helped lead the charge, mixing elements of country, bluegrass, folk, mountain music, and rock & roll into a sound that celebrated the full range of American music. The guys were traditionalists and trendsetters, performing songs that nodded to the past while still pushing toward the future. Released in 1972 – just six years after the group formed in Southern California – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will the Circle Be Unbroken still stands as one of the most beloved albums in the country catalog, pairing the young band with legends like Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, and Mother Maybelle Carter. Many decades have passed since that milestone album’s release, with the members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band now enjoying their own legendary status. They continue to blur lines between genres, however, and the upcoming Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends accomplishes something very similar to the classic Will the Circle Be Unbroken pairing the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with the hit-makers, rule-breakers, and iconic figures of today’s roots music community. This time, Hanna, Fadden, Carpenter, and McEuen are the elder statesmen, passing down their influence and inspiration to a younger class without giving up the torch just yet. There’s more music to be made, after all. More shows to play. Another half-century to chase down. The circle rolls on.

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Alan Cackett’s 50th Anniversary in Music: a Celebration

Live events /

Exchange Studio, Maidstone September 30, 2016 Alan Cackett is an iconic figure in the music world and his encyclopaedic knowledge of country music is unrivalled. Alan’s passion began with an innocent record collecting hobby. By September 1966, he was editing and producing two magazines and ever since has been involved in promoting tours, organising festivals, magazine publishing/editing, music writing and is well known to ‘Maverick’ readers as former editor, radio presenter and for his enthusiastic promotion of live music. So it was fitting that an invited audience packed the Exchange Studio for a nostalgic evening of country music presented by Bob Harris and Roger ‘Twiggy’ Day. The evening opened with a short set of well known country numbers from the Kevin Duffy Band who were joined by special guest Ray Duffy of the legendary Duffy Brothers. Sarah Lucy Dole, with daughter Chloe and guitarist Anthony Coote gave us just three numbers before family band Rich Pickin’s came up with a set of acoustic country and bluegrass. Then it was the wonderful Haley Sisters. Jo-Ann and Becky with their amazing guitarist Brian Smith, who have been harmonising beautifully for nigh on thirty years and if I had to pick out a highlight, The Last Thing on My Mind was simply sublime; classic country. International super star Gail Davies flew in from Nashville especially for the evening and after cobbling together Dave Luke (mandolin, guitar), Clovis (bass) and the legendary B. J. Cole (steel) at ridiculously short notice, delivered a superb set which included my favourite Gail Davies number Someone is Looking for Someone Like You. The Jonny Young Four featured in Alan’s first venture as a promoter in 1969. Long since retired and now looking rather frail, Jonny was clearly suffering from a sore throat but willingly agreed to do one last show. Alan was overcome with emotion as JY and his band plus B. J. Cole rolled back the years with the likes of Streets of Baltimore. Two of our undiscovered treasures, Alan West and Steve Black with guitarist Adam Sweet drove from the West Country to reminisce over their 25 year association with Alan. Missing My Woman, ‘Blackies’ song about life on the M25 seemed appropriate. It was left to the fully electric Porridge Band to close the evening as they rocked us out with When Will I be Loved before all the performing artists were welcomed back to the stage for a hand clapping finale of Will the Circle be Unbroken. During the evening tributes were read out with video messages from the likes of Gretchen Peters, Suzy Bogguss, Matraca Berg, Kimmie Rhodes et al, all of whom have had their careers influenced by Alan; a wonderful evening and a fitting tribute which also raised around £2,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. John Roffey To donate please see here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Alan-Cackett

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