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COVERS marks a sea change for Kimmie Rhodes. For the first time, the songwriters’ songwriter, puts down her pen to devote an entire album to the songs of other writers, whose music has provided key milestones during Kimmie’s acclaimed performing and recording career, and her personal life. Rhodes’ first studio adventure since the passing of long-time partner and collaborator Joe Gracey in 2011, Kimmie draws deep from a wide range of catalogues – Thiele and Weiss, Lennon-McCartney, Jagger/Richards, Jimmy Reed, Mark Knopfler, Dylan, Bono, Tom Petty, Leon Russell, Neil Young and Tom Waits, and channels close friends Townes Van Zandt and Rodney Crowell; telling each story in that clear, soaring songbird voice that takes ownership of every composition. Embellishing the voice is a dream team of pickers including son/collaborator Gabriel Rhodes, multiple Handy Award winner Marcia Ball, singer-songwriter-author Rodney Crowell, songwriter and performer Bill Carter, Delbert McClinton, daughter Jolie Goodnight, guitar hotshot David Holt (Joe Ely), singer-songwriter/producer Gary Nicholson, pedal steel ninja Tommy Spurlock, fiddler Richard Bowden (Joe Ely), Glenn Fukunaga (Joe Ely), Mike Thompson (The Eagles) and Brian Standefer (Alejandro Escovedo). The chemistry is explosive, and the music, perfect for all tastes. What’s your pleasure? Vintage pop from the Great American Songbook? ‘What a Wonderful World’. Beatles? ‘Yesterday’, ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’. Stones? ‘Moonlight Mile’, like you’ve never heard it before. Album rock? Neil Young’s ‘Birds’ or Kimmie’s duet with Marcia Ball on Mark Knopfler’s ‘Cannibals’. Low down blues? ‘Shame, Shame, Shame’, sung with the Delbert McClinton. Texas high lonesome singer-songwriter? ‘White Freight Liner’. Americana classic? Rodney Crowell’s poignant, ‘Adam’s Song’, with Rodney helping out on the vocals.

With the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards quickly approaching, more and more performers are being added to the all-star lineup. Eric Church, Toby Keith and Lady Antebellum with Stevie Nicks are the latest acts to be named as performers on the show, which takes place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line and The Band Perry. The ACM is expected to announce additional acts and presenters within the next few weeks leading up to the awards. The 2014 ACM Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, will air live at 8 p.m. ET/delayed PT on CBS on Sunday, April 6. In addition to country music invading Las Vegas for the ACMs, numerous superstars will partake in the 2nd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival, taking place in Las Vegas before the awards on Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5. Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban will headline the two-day event at The LINQ. Others scheduled to perform during the event will include Brett Eldredge, Lee Brice, Justin Moore, Kip Moore, Tyler Farr, Danielle Bradbery, Cassadee Pope, Love and Theft, Florida Georgia Line, Parmalee, The Cadillac Three, Thomas Rhett, Chase Rice, Charlie Worsham, Will Hoge, Joe Nichols, Jerrod Niemann, Chris Young, Joel Crouse, Jon Pardi, Dan + Shay, Leah Turner and Austin Webb.

The final recording sessions of the late Ray Price are being made available for the first time on April 15. BEAUTY IS … will be released on AmeriMonte Records and feature duets with country superstars Vince Gill and Martina McBride. It will be available at Wal-Mart, Cracker Barrel stores and online retailers. At the helm of the project was legendary record producer Fred Foster. “[Ray] called me in 2012 and said, ‘I think I have one album left in me; I’m not well, you know,’” Foster recalls. “He said, ‘I want to do one last one, and I want you to do it with me.’ The whole time we were working together, his state of mind was always really good. You would never know how sick he was to talk to him. What a classy guy.” In advance of the full-length album, which will be available for pre-order March 18, a three-song EP will be available digitally on March 16, featuring ‘Beauty Lies in the Eyes of the Beholder’ (with Vince Gill), “This Thing of Ours” and ‘I Wish I Was 18 Again.’ Foster brought the album’s new songs to the iconic singer and suggested the inspirational ‘I Believe’ while Price selected songs from two fellow Texans and Country Music Hall of Fame members Cindy Walker (‘Until Then’) and Willie Nelson (‘It Will Always Be’). His wife, Janie, chose the 1957 Vic Damone pop hit and movie theme tune ‘An Affair to Remember’. “Offstage, he was just the guy I love,” says Janie Price. “When that red light went on in the studio, or when he stepped onto the stage and they handed him that microphone, something happened. It was a higher power. This transformation took place in him. He turned into RAY PRICE.” The country legend died of complications from pancreatic cancer at his Mount Pleasant, Texas, home on December 16, 2013. He was 87. BEAUTY IS … track listing: Beauty Lies in the Eyes of the Beholder (with Vince Gill) This Thing of Ours I Can See You It Will Always Be No More Songs to Sing An Affair to Remember (with Martina McBride) Senses Until Then (with Vince Gill) Beautiful Dreamer I Wish I Was 18 Again Among My Souvenirs I Believe

Taylor Guitars has unveiled its 2014 Spring Limited Editions, offering players a fresh acoustic voice and premium appointments. This year’s collection features a sumptuous baritone Dreadnought, the 320e-Baritone SLTD, and a suite of upgraded, full-gloss 400 Series models. On the baritone Dreadnought, the rich pairing of sapele back and sides with a mahogany top makes a striking impression. The combination of the baritone’s 27-inch scale length, tonewood selection, and Dreadnought body yields low-end richness with touches of warmth in a booming voice. It’s a tone profile that Taylor Master Builder Andy Powers describes as filled with “loads of growl and midrange gnarliness.” The hardwood mahogany top adds a bit of natural compression, creating a leveling effect across the tonal spectrum. “That husky, woody warmth on the low end gets spread out more evenly as a result,” Powers explains. The guitar promises to provide a great low-end complement in a variety of playing styles and in duo or group configurations. Aesthetically, the 320e-Baritone SLTD features mother-of-pearl dot fretboard inlays, a three-ring rosette, all-satin finish and a black pickguard. The guitar is also equipped with the Expression System 2, Taylor’s new pickup, which captures the baritone’s natural tonal depth and delivers plug-and-play simplicity. In the 400 Series, players are treated to ovangkol, a wood praised by gigging musicians and hobbyists alike for its full midrange and tonal versatility, making it a match for variety of playing styles. Paired with a Sitka spruce top, these guitars are offered in five models: the 410ce-SLTD, 412ce-SLTD, 414ce-SLTD, 416ce-SLTD, and 12-string 456ce-SLTD. Premium appointments include an all-gloss body, abalone dot fretboard inlays, abalone bridge pins, Taylor Gold tuners, and the Expression System 2 pickup. The 320e-Baritone and 400 Series Spring Limiteds both ship with a deluxe hardshell case and are available at authorised Taylor dealers.

A car crashed into a crowd of people early on Thursday near the South by Southwest festival, resulting in multiple fatalities, according to the Austin Police Department. Details are scarce at this time, but Twitter reports from the scene indicated that a car drove into a crowd of people outside the Mohawk bar at East 10th Street and Red River Street around 12:30 a.m. local time, killing two and injuring as many as 23. Five the injured were in critical condition, Austin Police reported on Twitter. Images and video captured of the scene after the crash and posted to social media show victims of the crash strewn along on the street with bystanders leaning over them administering first aid. The driver of the vehicle, who was taken into custody not long after the crash, is suspected of driving under the influence, authorities said at a press conference early Thursday. More details are expected later today. Police also said the identities of the deceased would be withheld pending notification of next of kin.

As the first signs of spring make a welcome showing, the weather expects are making strong predictions for a perfect summer of sunshine and blue skies in time for the extra special Diamond Anniversary celebrations of Sidmouth FolkWeek August 1st – 8th. Organisers aim to celebrate the big event with a wealth of special events across all areas of the festival – from major concert events with headliners Ralph McTell, Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, Oysterband, Cara Dillon, Steve Knightley, Martin Carthy & Eliza Carthy, Kathryn Tickell & The Side, Chris Wood & Andy Cutting, Yves Lambert Trio, Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting and Nancy and more, to a series of extra special commemorative activities. The festival at Sidmouth began in 1955 as an event for social dancers, and 60 years on the Connaught Gardens will once again be filled with dancers, recalling those early days, as well as a special The Way We Were dance with first festival survivor Les Barclay. A breakdown of other 60th Anniversary Celebrations across the festival includes: – An Anniversary Concert in the Ham Marquee with The Copper Family and special guests. – Ralph McTell headliner at the 50th festival returns with a Pre Festival Concert. – A special Bulverton Ceilidh with festival favourites Oysterband with former members, an appropriate dress theme and some very special guest spots. – A Grand Anniversary Ceilidh with The Old Swan Band in Blackmore Gardens on Tuesday 5th, with plenty of surprises in store. – Festival Patron and local hero Steve Knightley and Friends in Concert. – Festival Patron (and Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement Award Winner) Martin Carthy hosts a night of Traditional Music and song. – The Children’s Festival hosts its own Family Ceilidh Party as well as special events in Blackmore Gardens. – EFDSS Presents Folk Rising Plus: The founders of the festival celebrate the future with some great young acts. – An eye on the future… looking forward to the next generation of festival guests, organisers welcome Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin (BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Duo winners), The Young Coppers, Salt House, The Furrow Collective Barrule, Josienne Clark and Ben Walker, The Carrivick Sisters, Will Pound, Lisa Knapp, The Willows, Gren Bartley, The Long Hill Ramblers…

Reba McEntire, Bobby Bare and Loretta Lynn will perform at this year’s Johnny Cash Music Festival, according to an announcement made by concert producer and festival founder Bill Carter. Additionally, legendary singer and comedian Mark Lowry will host the fourth annual event. The concert is set for August 15th and will once again take place at Arkansas State University’s Convocation Centre in Jonesboro, Arizona. Showtime is 7:00 pm and tickets go on sale Feb 28th (see box office info below). “If we had any one of these four individuals on the bill, we would have an extremely successful event, but having all four at once is a real coup for the Johnny Cash Music Festival,” Carter said. “The reputation of the event and generosity of the people at Arkansas State and in Jonesboro continue to grow each year. This is going to be a great show.” “I am extremely honoured to be part of such a great event and worthwhile cause,” Lowry said. “Johnny Cash is a legend and this concert pays homage to that and all of the great things he stood for. I am especially pleased to be hosting an event that stars not one, not two but three Country Music Hall of Fame members. Reba, Bobby Bare and Loretta Lynn on the same bill– that’s a lot of star power in one room.” “When I was asked to perform at the Johnny Cash Music Festival, there was absolutely no hesitation,” McEntire said. “I have always had a great deal of respect for Johnny Cash, and not just because he was one of the finest entertainers, performers and recording artists this industry has ever known. It is also because of his compassion and generosity. The fact that some of the money raised from these concerts goes into a scholarship fund to help deserving kids further their education is something I know would make him very proud. I’m also really happy that I will be playing on the campus of Arkansas State again– we had a great time when I performed there years ago. Jonesboro is a very hospitable town, and I look forward to being there again.” As in years past, proceeds from this year’s event will fund the restoration of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in Dyess, Arkansas, as well as support a scholarship fund established in the international superstar’s name. Tickets for the Johnny Cash Music Festival will go on sale February 28th and are available at Arkansas State’s Central Box Office and online at www.tickets.astate.edu. Tickets can also be purchased by logging onto the official website of the Johnny Cash Music Festival, www.johnnycashmusicfest.com.

Dolly Parton has topped the New Zealand all-genre album chart with the release of her latest album BLUE SMOKE. In addition it has topped the Australian Country album chart for four consecutive weeks and reached number 7 on the overall all genre album chart. After returning from a busy schedule in New Zealand and Australia, Dolly also announced that she will make an appearance at the legendary Glastonbury Festival while touring Europe this summer. Achieving 25 RIAA certified gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards, Dolly has had 25 songs reach number 1 on the Billboard Country charts, a record for a female artist. She has 41 career top 10 country albums, a record for any artist, and she has 110 career charted singles over the past 40 years. All-inclusive sales of singles, albums, hits collections, paid digital downloads and compilation usage during her Hall of Fame career have reportedly topped a staggering 100 million records worldwide. She has garnered 7 Grammy Awards, 10 Country Music Association Awards, 5 Academy of Country Music Awards, 3 American Music Awards and is one of only five female artists to win the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award. Dolly was inducted as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. And the litany goes on.

Distributor 30 Tigers will, on 1st April, digitally release, on Millsap’s Oklahoma imprint, the three-song OLD TIME RELIGION EP featuring two songs from his forthcoming album PARKER MILLSAP plus a live rendition by this Oklahoma bred musician of You Gotta Move. 20-year old Parker’s ten-song album will be released in the U.K. this summer. Parker was raised in the Pentecostal Church. Though no longer a member he draws on his experiences in Old Time Religion, the portrait of a “full-grown man” who “buries his cash in a coffee can,” and “makes his decisions down on his knees” and more. Much more! While the latter character’s approach is “submit to your husband,” The Villain confides “I don’t want to be the one that lets you down anymore.” The best known rendition of the traditional and spiritual You Gotta Move appeared on the Rolling Stones’ STICKY FINGERS (1971) attributed to Mississippi Fred McDowell. Millsap’s slow-burning Fire and Brimstone rendition was recorded during a late October 2013 appearance on NPR’s syndicated show eTown broadcast from Boulder, Colorado. Don’t take my word for it, simply taste and see that Parker Millsap’s music is good

Maverick is sad to announce that songwriter Lorna Flowers passed away on March 5th. Lorna was featured within the magazine on several occasions. Originally from England, Lorna moved to the United States a few years ago but kept in contact with everyone at Maverick. Lorna was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, but had been in remission. Lorna constantly gave her time and experience to songwriters of every description trying to navigate their respective paths in the crazy music industry, and strongly supported Maverick Magazine. Her advice and counsel helped countless others move toward achieving their musical goals. We are all deeply saddened today and will remember Lorna as part of our family.