20 January 2020

Current CMA New Artist of the Year Ashley McBryde has announced that she will release her much awaited second album ‘Never Will’ on April 3. You can pre-order the album here. McBryde took the country music genre by storm when she released her debut album ‘Girl Going Nowhere’ in 2018 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Last year, she was a Main Stage act at C2C 2019, embarked on her biggest headline date outside of the US (including a date at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire) and was part of the second female medley at the CMA Awards, where Karen Fairchild declared all of those on stage as the “future of country music.” Since her release of ‘Girl Going Nowhere’, McBryde has released one single in the form of One Night Standards, so the vast majority of ‘Never Will’ will have been unheard of to the public. Speaking about the album – which will once again be produced by Jay Joyce – McBryde explained the meaning behind the album title and that it came from her issuing a rallying cry to her bandmates – either give this your all, or don’t bother. “The significance behind the album title comes from the lyrics in the title track: I Didn’t, I Don’t and I Never Will,’” McBryde said. “Before we recorded it with Jay [Joyce] in the studio, I said to my bandmates, ‘If we’re going to cut this and put it on the record, you’re promising anyone who ever listens to our music, we don’t listen to the noise in the background. “We didn’t, we don’t and we never will. Don’t cut it unless you’re willing to promise it.’ And we cut it right then.” Ashley McBryde is currently on tour in the US and has dates pencilled in until the mid July.

David Olney has tragically passed away aged 71 after appearing to suffer a heart attack on stage at the 30A Songwriters Festival in Florida. He died on January 18. The singer/songwriter, who has had his songs recorded by the likes of Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstandt and Steve Young amongst many others, was mid-performance when the incident occurred and while doctors tried to resuscitate him, they were sadly unsuccessful. Amy Rigby was performing alongside Olney on January 18 and posted her version of events in the aftermath, explaining that she was incredibly honoured to be performing alongside him and that everyone lost someone special that evening. “David Olney, a beautiful man, a legend, a songwriting poet died last night,” Rigby said. “I was sitting next to him in the round, had been so honoured and looking forward to getting to trade songs with him and Scott Miller. Olney was in the middle of his third song when he stopped, apologised and shut his eyes. “He was very still, sitting upright with his guitar on, wearing the coolest hat and a beautiful rust suede jacket we laughed about because it was raining like hell outside the boathouse where we were playing – I just want the picture to be as graceful and dignified as it was, because it at first looked like he was just taking a moment. “Scott Miller had the presence of mind to say we needed to revive him. Doctors in the audience and 30A folks were all working so hard to get him to come to. It’s hard to post about this because I can’t really believe he’s gone. I am so sorry for his wife and family and friends and all the people who loved him and his music. Even those who never heard of him. We all lost someone important last night.” David Olney moved to Music City in 1973 and became an integral part of the music community in Nashville. There are no memorial details as of yet.

Lauren Jenkins has opted to release two covers from Bruce Springsteen’s fabled ‘The River’ album in Hungry Heart and Stolen Car. You can listen to the tracks here. The two covers represent the first pieces of new music the Texas born artist since her critically acclaimed album ‘No Saint’ was released in March 2019 and fans will be hoping that new material isn’t too far away. Speaking about the covers, Jenkins said that while she very rarely delves into covering other artists’ work, she will make exceptions for songs she believes to be of the highest quality, while also explaining that storytelling is what draws her to a song. “I’m a sucker for a storyteller,” Jenkins said. “Tell me a story about your joy, pain, love or loss and I’m in. That’s part of the reason why I have such a deep appreciation for Bruce Springsteen. He has a way of telling a story that feels like it’s your story, too. Honesty and vulnerability seem to be at the core and that’s something I try to mirror in my own music. “I don’t do covers often, but when I do, it better be a damn good song. Stolen Car and Hungry Heart have been part of the soundtrack to my life and I’m so excited to share my take on them. If you haven’t heard their creator singing these songs, do yourself a favour and go listen to Springsteen now.” Meanwhile, Jenkins will be returning to the UK for the first time since The Long Road Festival in early February as she will be supporting Brett Eldredge on his UK tour. Lauren Jenkins will be playing: January 31 – Cambridge Junction, Cambridge, England* February 1 – Institute, Birmingham, England* February 3 – Ritz, Manchester, England* February 4 – Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow, Scotland* February 7 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, England* *supporting Brett Eldredge