27 February 2017

Easy, the highly anticipated new album from rising Nashville-via-Mississippi band The Weeks, is set for release on Lightning Rod Records. The new video for “Talk Like That,” the album’s first track, debuts today featuring live footage shot entirely by the band’s own drummer, Cain Barnes. The Weeks recorded Easy over the course of two weeks at Memphis, TN’s Ardent Studios with producer Paul Ebersold. The band left Nashville to record in order to disassociate themselves from their everyday routines in the city, and to find a halfway point between their two homes old and new, Mississippi and Nashville. “Memphis has always been the capitol of North Mississippi to us, says guitarist Sam Williams. “We went there to be at Ardent. We knew Paul had learned everything from John Frye and John Hammond so we figured that was the spot. It’s important to keep those historic studios alive and not let them become museums.” Of the record, frontman Cyle Barnes says, “We called it Easy because every time I make music with these guys, it’s easy. It feels good. But the other side of it is there’s nothing easy about being in a band. There’s nothing easy about staying together for ten years and still wanting to make music. We have the hardest and easiest job on the planet. But it works for us.” Thematically, Easy explores new ground for the band. Bassist Damien Bone explains, “We just wanted to make a rock record. We weren’t as concerned making it a southern rock record. The southern thing is always going to part of what we do. ” To celebrate the release, the band will tour North America extensively this spring. Further announcements are forthcoming. The Weeks is twin brothers Cyle (vocals) and Cain (drums), Sam Williams (guitar/vocals) and Damien Bone (bass). Formed when its members were in high school in Jackson, Mississippi, the band self-released its debut EP Dog Days in 2006. More than ten years and a handful of critically acclaimed albums later, the band has relocated to Nashville and toured extensively worldwide with Kings of Leon, The Meat Puppets, North Mississippi Allstars, Local H and many more.

Florida Georgia Line and superstar collaborators Backstreet Boys have premiered the tender new video for their current chart-rising single “God, Your Mama, And Me” on Big Machine TV and across all digital platforms. Filmed on the stunning white sand of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, the video features unique behind-the-scenes looks into the real-life romance of each artist. Director TK McKamy (“H.O.L.Y.,” “May We All”) captures adoring clips that pair perfectly with the tune’s faithful, passionate message, co-written by Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson. “We’ve become friends with them [Backstreet Boys] at this point,” said FGL’s Tyler Hubbard to Entertainment Weekly. “And it’s become more and more exciting with everything that we do together.” BSB’s Kevin Richardson says it’s a two-way street. “We’re buds now,” he says. “It’s just a real positive vibe. It’s been a pleasure and an honor to do this song with them.” “God, Your Mama, And Me” is the third single from FGL’s third #1 album, DIG YOUR ROOTS, which has already taken singles “H.O.L.Y.” and “May We All” (featuring Tim McGraw) to chart-topping status. Meanwhile, it was revealed last week that FGL has earned five nominations – Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (DIG YOUR ROOTS), Single of the Year (“H.O.L.Y.”), Vocal Duo of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year (“May We All”) – at the upcoming 52nd ACM Awards. Taking place for the first time in Las Vegas’ new T-Mobile Arena, the star-studded event will air live April 2 on CBS at 8 p.m. ET. The duo has previously won six ACM Awards. FGL’s electrifying 2017 DIG YOUR ROOTS TOUR is on the road now, featuring Dustin Lynch and Chris Lane, plus Seth Ennis, Ryan Follese and Morgan Wallen on select dates. More than 25 shows have already been revealed through May 6. The tour will crisscross North America with stops from Houston, Texas, to Quebec, Canada, and everywhere in between.

Columbia Records Nashville is pleased to announce the signing of the critically acclaimed, GRAMMY-Award winning, Country Music Roots ensemble Old Crow Medicine Show to the Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records Nashville imprint. On 28th April, Columbia Nashville will release the Old Crow Medicine Show special recording of 50 Years of Blonde on Blonde to celebrate 50 years since the release of Bob Dylan’s iconic album Blonde on Blonde, which was recorded partly in Nashville, TN. Fans of both Bob Dylan, Old Crow Medicine Show and great music can pre-order 50 Years of Blonde on Blonde from Friday 24th April. The 14-track album, 50 Years of Blonde on Blonde, was recorded LIVE at the CMA Theater located inside the historic Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum located in Nashville, TN in May 2016. Mixed by Grammy Award-winning Ted Hutt and Ryan Mall. “Fifty years is a long time for a place like Nashville, Tennessee. Time rolls on slowly around here like flotsam and jetsam in the muddy Cumberland River.  But certain things have accelerated the pace of our city. And certain people have sent the hands of the clock spinning.  Bob Dylan is the greatest of these time-bending, paradigm-shifting Nashville cats,” says Ketch Secor, the primary vocalist of the Old Crow Medicine Show. “By deciding to record his newly found rock n’ roll voice in 1966 Nashville, Bob swung the gates of Country music wide open; so wide, in fact, that 50 years later there was still enough of a crack left for Old Crow Medicine Show to sneak its banjos and fiddles through the gates with string band swagger.” As a band that got their start busking on city streets, Old Crow Medicine Show is no stranger to the road. Today the Grand Ole Opry Members announce a special tour, Old Crow Medicine Show Performing Blonde on Blonde. Kicking off in Santa Barbara, CA at the Granada Theatre on 4th May, the band will perform the album in its entirety at each show, taking in the below UK dates: 24th June        Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz 25th June        Glasgow, UK @ O2ABC 28th June        London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire Fans of both Bob Dylan, Old Crow Medicine Show and great music can pre-order 50 Years of Blonde on Blonde from Friday 24th April on Amazon and iTunes.