December 2023

Review: Gareth Dunlop – Tonight Is The Night LP

Dunlop’s latest release genre-bends and defies expectation. With elements of gospel music smattered with organ playing and a chorus of backing vocals, Dunlop never loses sight of his folk, rock and blues roots with his deep and rich singing tone. The brass section plays a starring role throughout the album, weaving together a full-band feel with the soulful and heartfelt tracks that stay fresh thanks to the instrumentation and remain steadfast in their ability to evoke nostalgia and vulnerability. The more Latin feel to ‘Devil Mocks Me’ is a highlight that incorporates the right amount of religious zeal for the message whilst the Northern Irish singers more growling vocal performance only adds to.    To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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‘Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 Live’ track listing is announced

On 15th December, ‘Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 Live At The Hollywood Bowl’ will be released in a special digital edition of his live birthday performance. The digital edition of ‘Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 Live At The Hollywood Bowl’ features 52 performances including 13 digital-only bonus tracks exclusive to this release. So far, four preview tracks have been released including Dave Matthews doing ‘Funny How Time Slips Away’, The Avett Brothers performing ‘Pick Up The Tempo’, Willie’s son Lukas delivering a gorgeous version of ‘Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground’ and a just-released, all-star chorus of dozens of guests joining Willie for a rendition of ‘On The Road Again’ coupled with ‘Happy Birthday’. 2023 has proved a banner year for Willie, who recorded two new studio albums for ‘Legacy: I Don’t Know a Thing About Love’ (Willie’s musical tribute to legendary American songwriter Harlan Howard, released in March) and ‘Bluegrass’ (Willie performing 12 of his favorite self-penned classics with a bluegrass ensemble). Released 15th September, Willie’s ‘Bluegrass’ entered the Billboard Bluegrass Albums chart at number one, marking his first appearance on the chart in its 21-year history. Willie’s roots-inspired album has been nominated for the Grammy Award in the Best Bluegrass Album category. ‘Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 Live At The Hollywood Bowl’ is the definitive music release of the star-studded concerts celebrating Willie’s 90th Birthday. The concerts were recorded live on April 29 & 30 at the legendary Hollywood Bowl and feature once-in-a-lifetime performances by Willie Nelson, Allison Russell, Beck, Billy Strings, Bobby Weir, Booker T. Jones, Buddy Cannon, Charley Crockett, Charlie Sexton, Chris Stapleton, Daniel Lanois, Dave Matthews, Dwight Yoakam, Edie Brickell, Emmylou Harris, Gary Clark Jr., George Strait, Jack Johnson, Jamey Johnson, Keith Richards, Kris Kristofferson, Leon Bridges, Lily Meola, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Micah Nelson (Particle Kid), Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Orville Peck, Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, Stephen Stills, The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, Tom Jones, Tyler Childers, Warren Haynes, Waylon Payne, and Ziggy Marley. The star-studded special, recorded live earlier this year across two nights before a sold-out crowd at the Hollywood Bowl, celebrates Nelson’s milestone 90th birthday and the country icon’s contributions to popular culture and music. ‘Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 Live At The Hollywood Bowl’ track listing: 1. Billy Strings – Whiskey River 2. Billy Strings – I Gotta Get Drunk 3. Charley Crockett – Yesterday’s Wine 4. Orville Peck – Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other 5. Edie Brickell w/ Charlie Sexton – Remember Me (When The Candle Lights Are Gleaming) 6. Lyle Lovett – Hello Walls 7. Lyle Lovett – My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys 8. Allison Russell & Norah Jones – Seven Spanish Angels 9. Particle Kid & Daniel Lanois – The Ghost 10. Particle Kid & Daniel Lanois – Die When I’m High (Halfway To Heaven) 11. Dwight Yoakam – Me And Paul 12. Margo Price & Nathanial Rateliff – I Can Get Off On You 13. Margo Price & Waylon Payne – Georgia On A Fast Train 14. Beck – Hands On The Wheel 15. Beck – Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain 16. Norah Jones – Down Yonder 17. Norah Jones & Kris Kristofferson – Help Me Make It Through The Night 18. Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Payne – It Ain’t Over Yet 19. Warren Haynes – Midnight Rider 20. Lukas Nelson – Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground 21. Leon Bridges & Gary Clark Jr. – Night Life 22. Gary Clark Jr. – Texas Flood 23. Rosanne Cash w/ Kris Kristofferson – Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again) 24. Jack Johnson – Willie Got Me Stoned 25. Tyler Childers and The Food Stamps – Time Of The Preacher 26. Lukas Nelson & Shooter Jennings – Good Hearted Woman 27. Ziggy Marley – Still Is Still Moving To Me 28. Tom Jones – Opportunity To Cry 29. The Avett Brothers – Pick Up The Tempo 30. The Avett Brothers – Heaven And Hell 31. Bobby Weir – Blue Eyes Crying In the Rain 32. The Chicks – Bloody Mary Morning 33. The Lumineers – Pretty Paper 34. Nathaniel Rateliff – City Of New Orleans 35. Nathanial Rateliff – A Song For You 36. Sheryl Crow – Crazy 37. Dave Matthews – Funny How Time Slips Away 38. Miranda Lambert – Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys 39. Chris Stapleton – Always On My Mind 40. Jamey Johnson, Warren Haynes & Booker T Jones – Georgia On My Mind 41. Willie Nelson & Booker T Jones – Stardust 42. Willie Nelson & Lily Meola – Will You Remember Mine 43. Willie Nelson & Buddy Cannon – Something You Get Through 44. Willie Nelson & Billy Strings – California Sober 45. Willie Nelson & Sheryl Crow – Far Away Places 46. Willie Nelson & George Strait – Sing One With Willie 47. Willie Nelson & George Strait – Pancho & Lefty 48. Willie Nelson & Snoop Dogg – Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die 49. Willie Nelson, Stephen Stills & Neil Young – Are There Any More Cowboys? 50. Willie Nelson & Keith Richards – We Had It All 51. Willie Nelson & Keith Richards – Live Forever 52. All Sing – On The Road Again & Happy Birthday   To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Review: Alex McEwan – In A World We Don’t Know LP

One of the most notable aspects of McEwan’s new album is the production. His album is self-produced, created sitting around the kitchen table, a remarkable feat considering the sonic depth of every song. The Glaswegian pulls focus in to his lyricism, acoustic guitar but adds in the right dosage of harmonised backing vocals that make ‘In A World We Don’t Know’ audibly pleasing and makes an album that centres on lost loves, longing and everlasting truths musically travel through the genres of Americana and folk. Slightly ballad-heavy at times – particularly the heartfelt ‘Take It Back To Zero’ is a gentle, swaying anthem to not miss – McEwan’s ‘What Is Love’ provides relief, with just an acoustic guitar and piano for the first verse, it’s a surprise amongst the ballads as a positive, but certainly still reflective track.       To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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Keith Urban

CMA announces the nominees for 2023 CMA Touring Awards

The Country Music Association has announced the nominees for the 2023 CMA Touring Awards, which highlight vital behind-the-scenes members of the Country Music touring industry. Final Round voting for the 2023 CMA Touring Awards opens Wednesday, Dec. 13 and closes Thursday, Dec. 28. This year’s CMA Touring Awards will again be hosted by Country superstar Keith Urban and will take place Monday, Feb. 12 in Nashville, TN. Additionally, Ron Baird, industry veteran and former head of Creative Arts Agency’s (CAA) Nashville office, will be posthumously honored with the CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given to an individual who has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of touring throughout the years.   Find a list of nominees below: CATEGORY 1 – CREW OF THE YEAR • “All American Road Show Tour” Crew – Chris Stapleton • “The Outsiders Revival Tour” Crew – Eric Church • “I Go Back Tour” Crew – Kenny Chesney • “Country On Tour” Crew – Luke Bryan • “2023 World Tour” Crew – Luke Combs • “One Night At A Time World Tour” Crew – Morgan Wallen • “No Bad Vibes Tour” Crew – Old Dominion • “Home Team Tour 23” Crew – Thomas Rhett CATEGORY 2 – BACKLINE TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR • Jason Baskin – Zac Brown Band • Melvin “Melvis” Fults – Kenny Chesney • Carlos Gutierrez – Dierks Bentley • Jason Herndon – Blake Shelton • Joel “Tico” Jimenez – Thomas Rhett • Jeremiah Langdon – Jelly Roll • Chris Miller – Keith Urban • Zach Rickard – Brothers Osborne CATEGORY 3 – BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE YEAR • Renee Allen – Arnie Barn, Inc. • David Boyer – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc. • Duane Clark – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc. • Catherine Morris – Farris, Self & Moore, LLC • Caleb See – Curo Financial, LLC • Michael Vaden – Vaden Group/Elliott Davis • Kris Wiatr – Wiatr & Associates, LLC CATEGORY 4 – COACH/TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR • Ronnie Brown – Zac Brown Band • Josh Easter – Morgan Wallen • Rhett Evens – Thomas Rhett • Caleb Garrett – Luke Bryan • Justin Pullin – Old Dominion • Erin Siegfried – Lainey Wilson • Chris Simms – Jelly Roll • Wayne “Wayno” Sullivan – Blake Shelton/Keith Urban CATEGORY 5 – FOH (FRONT OF HOUSE) ENGINEER OF THE YEAR • Brendan Hines – Jelly Roll • Aaron Lain – Morgan Wallen • Todd Lewis – Luke Combs • Ben Rigby – Eric Church • Arpad Sayko – Chris Stapleton • Trey Smith – Thomas Rhett • Ian Zorbaugh – Old Dominion CATEGORY 6 – LIGHTING DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR • Zac Coren – Morgan Wallen • Philip Ealy – Kenny Chesney • Kevin Lichty – Old Dominion • Mac Mosier – Chris Stapleton • Kevin Northrup – Luke Combs • Taylor Price – Miranda Lambert • Austin Strain – Jelly Roll • Alec Takahashi – Thomas Rhett CATEGORY 7 – MANAGER OF THE YEAR • Narvel Blackstock – Starstruck Entertainment • Virginia Bunetta – G-Major Management • Martha Earls – Neon Coast • Kerri Edwards – KP Entertainment • Clint Higham – Morris Higham Management • Marion Kraft – ShopKeeper Management • Mandelyn Monchick – Red Light Management • John Peets – Q Prime South CATEGORY 8 – MONITOR ENGINEER OF THE YEAR • Bryan “Opie” Baxley – Kenny Chesney • Mark Davis – Jelly Roll • Logan Hanna – Brothers Osborne • Andy Hill – Zac Brown Band • Nathan Lowe – Eric Church • Jimmy Nicholson – Thomas Rhett • Dean Studebaker – Old Dominion • Scott Tatter – Dierks Bentley CATEGORY 9 – PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR • Chris Alderman – Blake Shelton • John Garriott – Chris Stapleton • Meesha Kosciolek – Eric Church • Erik Leighty – Miranda Lambert • Chris Nathan – Jake Owen • Earl Neal – Jason Aldean • Kevin Twist – Thomas Rhett • Ed Wannebo – Kenny Chesney CATEGORY 10 – PUBLICIST OF THE YEAR • Janet Buck – Essential Broadcast Media • Paul Freundlich – PFA Media • Quinn Kaemmer – Big Machine Label Group • Tyne Parrish – The GreenRoom PR • Carla Sacks – Sacks & Co. • Jessie Schmidt – Schmidt Public Relations • Wes Vause – Press On Publicity • Jennifer Vessio – 1220 Entertainment Publicity CATEGORY 11 – STAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR • Sam “Sambo” Coats – Eric Church • Donnie Floyd – Morgan Wallen • Todd Green – Chris Stapleton • Matt Hornbeck – Luke Combs • Josh “Dude” Marcus – Jason Aldean • Tom Nisun – Kenny Chesney • Richard Rossey – Old Dominion • Justin Sumrall – Thomas Rhett CATEGORY 12 – SUPPORT SERVICES COMPANY OF THE YEAR • 4 Wall Entertainment • Clair Global • Dega Catering • Master Tour by Eventric • Moo TV • Richards & Southern CATEGORY 13 – TALENT AGENT OF THE YEAR • Meredith Jones – CAA • Joey Lee – WME • Jonathan Levine – Wasserman Music • Darin Murphy – CAA • Adi Sharma – The Neal Agency • Aaron Tannenbaum – WME • Elisa Vazzana – UTA • Jay Williams – WME CATEGORY 14 – TALENT BUYER/PROMOTER OF THE YEAR • Bradley Jordan – Peachtree Entertainment • Patrick McDill – Live Nation Nashville • Louis Messina – The Messina Group • Rich Schaefer – AEG Presents • Aaron Spalding – Live Nation Nashville • Ed Warm – Joe’s Concerts • Adam Weiser – AEG Presents CATEGORY 15 – TOUR MANAGER OF THE YEAR • Matt Anderson – Old Dominion • Jason Hecht – Chris Stapleton • Luke Holton – Brothers Osborne • Chuck Hull – Keith Urban • Meg Miller – Lainey Wilson • Ethan Strunk – Luke Combs • Chris Thacker – Dierks Bentley • Jon Townley – Thomas Rhett CATEGORY 16 – TOURING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR • Rob Byus (Bass Guitar) – Blake Shelton • Paul Franklin (Steel

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Cash & Carter announce their debut EP to be released in January 2024

Formed through a combined love of and skill for songwriting, Birmingham musician Shaun Smith (aka Stealth) and London producer, singer and writer Ross O’ Reilly have come together to release a set of songs under the moniker Cash & Carter. Paying tribute to the legendary country icons both through name and musicality, the duo present their debut EP ‘No Use Praying’, inspired by classic artists such as The Eagles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Crosby Stills & Nash, as well as the likes of Chris Stapleton and Alabama Shakes, offering a refreshing and honest take on country and Americana.   “The writing of the EP has, in truth, taken years. It’s very much a project that has been led by the fact we had a collection of unreleased music that had a concurrent sound running through it and it was a damn shame not to have it out in the world. So in that sense getting the tracks together has taken a long time, but once we put the dots together, the project came together very quickly.   “This is a very proud moment for us both. We have always been hugely proud of these songs and it’s a pleasure to share them with the world. We just hope listeners enjoy the music as much as we had making it.” – Cash & Carter   Describing previous single ‘Americana (Letting Her Go)’ as ‘cathartic to write’, the EP allows Cash & Carter to present a tender side, a muffled guitar line opening an ode to a friend lost to suicide. It’s a difficult yet beautifully moving track that manages to both pay tribute to their memory and act as a cathartic exploration of the grieving process of such a profound loss.   Following the delicately buoyant ‘Ballad of Talulah’, in a bold move, the duo close the EP with an inspired take on a classic by The Cure, ‘Just Like Heaven’. In their hands, it becomes an eerie pensive stomp which slowly builds with lead singer Shaun’s atmospheric vocal delivery, Ross’s skillful guitar and some powerful percussion taking the original into a much darker realm. Just as Cash & Carter show their capability of constructing a powerful ballad, they demonstrate their knack of extracting something hidden within a popular song to make it their own.   Explaining why they decided to record their own version, Shaun simply says it’s because “We loved it. The reason we chose to do that song as a cover is because we felt we could really change its feel. The original is such a fast, major song, there are a lot of things to play around with.”   With their modern mix of UK country and flashes of traditional Americana the duo have been hotly tipped for success since releasing their debut single in 2023, which catapulted straight onto the US New Music Friday Country Playlist on Spotify.     To read more exclusive articles and latest news, see our last issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on: Instagram: @Maverick.mag Twitter: @Maverick_mag Facebook: Maverick Magazine Media Contact Hannah Larvin, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920 Email: editor@maverick-country.com

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