Rochelle Mills, Author at STAGING Maverick

Jenna Paulette Lives on Love with “Anywhere The Wind Blows”

Rising country songstress and cowgirl Jenna Paulette is shedding past woes and heartbreaks, replacing them instead with an excited sense of anticipation for a future yet to come. The carefree, wistful love detailed in her latest song, “Anywhere the Wind Blows,” serves as a testament to how far she’s come – and how far she plans to go. Listen to “Anywhere the Wind Blows” HERE. “Anywhere the Wind Blows,” written by Paulette alongside ACM Songwriter of the Decade Rhett Akins and producer/songwriters Will Bundy and Jeb Gipson, is the latest off her upcoming debut album The Girl I Was. The project was inspired by one of Paulette’s favorite childhood memories of selling cattle with her grandfather as a young girl. It’s where she first recognized her love of being a cowgirl and felt most true to herself. Realizing how disconnected she had become from who she once was throughout the course of a ten year relationship, The Girl I Was follows her soul-searching journey – and finds Paulette re-emerging stronger and more confident than ever before as she rediscovers that child-like joy she had long since lost. Pre-save The Girl I Was, available March 31 HERE. “This song is about letting go of the things that weighed me down and into what God has for me,” Paulette shared. “I have so much hope for my future right now– everything I thought I could never have is working out just fine and I feel so light and ready for the adventure ahead.” Recently named Apple Music’s March Country Riser of the Month, Paulette’s first episode on “The Ward Guenther Show” will be available to stream on Apple Music today at 3pm CT HERE.

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Randy Rogers Band headline Ryman Auditorium

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Randy Rogers Band was a part of history on Thursday night (3/2), taking the stage at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium for a sold-out headline show on Texas Independence Day. Band members Randy Rogers, Geoffrey Hill (guitar), Jon Richardson (bass guitar), Brady Black (fiddle), Les Lawless (drums), and Todd Stewart (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, keyboards) were locked in throughout their hour-plus set, delivering a performance that reminded the crowd why Randy Rogers Band is one of the biggest names in Texas Country. Thursday’s show marked the third time Randy Rogers Band has headlined the Ryman, and the iconic Texas group took audiences through their decades-long career, playing hits like “Buy Myself A Chance” and “San Antone” and newer offerings that had audience members dancing in the aisles of the storied venue. Opening acts William Beckmann and Pat Green joined Randy Rogers Band on stage during the evening, Beckmann for “In Your Arms Instead” and Green for “Down & Out,” sharing the microphone with Rogers for even more memorable moments. The band closed their performance with latest single “Fast Car,” from their widely-praised 2022 album HOMECOMING. “Fast Car” is currently in the Top 5 at Texas Country radio and recently debuted on the nationwide Country Aircheck/Mediabase Country radio chart. Following their Nashville stop, the band isn’t slowing down on the road, with upcoming appearances including Rodeo Austin and Frio River Music Fest. See the band’s full list of tour dates here.

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Ashley McBryde Joins “The Jennifer Hudson Show”

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Grand Ole Opry member Ashley McBryde joined “The Jennifer Hudson Show” yesterday, March 1 to discuss her latest release, recent GRAMMY win for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for her chart-topping “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” with Carly Pearce and performed an impromptu song based on an audience member’s story. Last week, McBryde debuted her latest single “Light On In The Kitchen” to critical acclaim, with The New York Times praising, “Ashley McBryde maintains her position as country’s most down-to-earth songwriter,” while Rolling Stone observes, “With its gentle, brushed drums and light shadings of mandolin, it’s a delicate ballad that feels ready for radio and the Grand Ole Opry stage but comes with mountains of good advice.” With “Light On In The Kitchen” impacting Country radio on March 27, Billboard boasts, “Is Ashley McBryde capable of writing a less-than-stellar song? It seems not,” calling it “another ace from this singer-songwriter,” as Stereogum notes “McBryde excels at tough-minded character sketches with Southern-rock edges, but she’s also great at this kind of sentimental fare.” The Arkansas native performed in her home state over the weekend and heads back out on the road next week before embarking on a run of additional headlining shows, festivals, two dates at the Grand Ole Opry, three dates with Eric Church on The Outsiders Revival Tour and seven shows with Jelly Roll this spring and summer. Tickets are available at AshleyMcBryde.com.

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A guide to the C2C pop-up stages

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One of the most exciting things about C2C is the smaller stages dotted around the O2 during the day. Over the years, they have played host to hidden gems within the genre that have captivated the crowd and become stars within their own right just a year or so down the line. This year there are some stellar acts performing across the weekend on all stages and below we have picked out our must-see artists who are not appearing on the main stage. Amanda Shires Amanda Shires is appearing in the main arena but on the Spotlight stage on Sunday. Shires has released seven studio albums and founded the country supergroup The Highwomen. Not only is she an outstanding singer-songwriter but a brilliant fiddle player too. Her last album, ‘Take It Like A Man’ was recorded at the famous RCA Studio B. She penned all the songs herself alongside hit Nashville writers such as Natalie Hemby, Liz Rose, Ruston Kelly and Lawrence Rothmans to name a few, whilst fellow artists Maren Morris and Brittney Spencer contributed backing vocals. Shires is also married to Jason Isbell. Recommended song: Don’t Be Alarmed Pillbox Patti Pillbox Patti is the artist name of songwriter Nicolette Hayford. Under her real name she pens songs for other country stars such as Ashley McBryde but under her stage name, she writes from the heart which she wears on her sleeve. Her album ‘Florida’ has some hard-hitting subject matters which she tackles head on. Pillbox Patti promised us a show that would be fun and possibly slightly offensive so I’m excited to see what she has in store but I can guarantee that she is going to be one of the most talked about acts of the weekend. Recommended song: Valentine’s Day Willie Jones I saw Willie Jones in Nashville back in 2019 and was blown away by his unique artistry. I’m excited to see him this year after he unfortunately pulled out last minute last year. He seamlessly blends hip-hop and country music, paving the way for a genre-expanding sound that’s truly signature of Jones himself. Armed with more than 1 million followers across social platforms, he recently debuted his own Apple Music show called “The Cross Roads Radio.” Recommended song: American Dream Remember Monday Homegrown talent Remember Monday has what it takes to be the next big act on the UK scene. Well… they certainly have the talent to be, but do they have the time? One of the members of this trio, Holly-Anne Hull is currently playing Christine Daae in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera – my favourite musical (I’m obsessed with it!) I know she’s a professional but that is a big part to play as well as conquering UK country music with her friends Charlotte and Lauren who make up the group but these girls are so talented; they have the voices, they have the songs and they have the charisma to really make it! Their new record which came out last month is well worth a listen in its entirety but I have recommended a specific song below. Recommended song: Where To Start Caroline Jones Last year, Caroline Jones became an official member of the Zac Brown Band but she has had a successful solo career herself. She’s been releasing music since 2011 but her most successful album came in 2018 as ‘Bare Feet’ made a dent in the charts and sold nearly 40,000 copies. She has performed at C2C before so she knows what to expect from her loyal UK following but I’m sure this year will be busier than ever. Her latest record ‘Antipodes’ was released at the end of 2021 and it includes the sassy single ‘Come In (But Don’t Make Yourself Comfortable)’ as well as the bluesy ‘Don’t Talk to Me Like I’m Tiffany’. Recommended song: No Daylight

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Brantley Gilbert Announces SO HELP ME GOD (DELUXE EDITION) Set for 4/21

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Multi-Platinum country star Brantley Gilbert began his career 15 years ago as a songwriter. Now, even with five No. 1 singles as an artist (and two additional as a writer) and three chart-topping albums, the Georgia native still considers himself a songwriter first and foremost, and it’s that approach that brought So Help Me God (Deluxe Edition) to life. Set for release April 21 via The Valory Music Co., the project showcases Gilbert’s vast medley of influences alongside a wide cast of collaborators. Pre-order and pre-save available HERE. “We’ve always been a little outside of the box when it comes to writing and recording,” shares Gilbert. “It’s not necessarily something we’ve done on purpose, but it tends to happen because we always try to serve the song as it takes shape rather than shaping the song to serve us. “If a song is asking for a harder edge, let’s do that. If it feels a little more introspective, let’s lean into that. This album intersects across a lot of different genres, and we’re proud to say that it’s something that happened naturally,” he explains. So Help Me God (Deluxe Edition) acts as the next chapter in Gilbert’s life as he cowrote all 15 tracks on the project, including current chart-climbing single “Heaven By Then” with Blake Shelton featuring Vince Gill, giving the song perspective “from three different generations of country music,” Billboard observes, while noting the track is “capturing the reluctance often applied to change.” Building upon the 10 songs released last year, So Help Me God (Delxue Edition) features five new tracks, including “Behind The Times,” cowritten with Jake Mitchell, Randy Montana and Taylor Phillips, that expands on his current single, detailing some of the parts of rural life that can often feel as though they’re quickly disappearing in this fast-paced world, while “Wrote The Book Around Here” broadens the view of Gilbert’s hometown in previously released “Miles Of Memories,” recounting some of his own antics as a young man and how there are some things in this world, and a small town, that never change. Earlier this week, Gilbert revealed four new RIAA certifications: “Bottoms Up” is now 6X Platinum while “One Hell Of An Amen,” “The Weekend” and “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” are now 2X Platinum, joining additional 2X Platinum songs “Kick It In The Sticks” and “Country Must Be Country Wide,” along with Platinum-certified “What Happens In A Small Town” featuring Lindsay Ell. Kicking off this summer, Gilbert will join Nickelback for the Get Rollin’ Tour, performing across Canada and the U.S. with 35+ stops including dates in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Nashville before wrapping August 30. Tickets are on sale now and available at BrantleyGilbert.com.

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Ashley McBryde Unveils New Single “Light On In The Kitchen”

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GRAMMY Award winner Ashley McBryde has spent most of her life on the road and often writes about her experiences being away from her loved ones, evidenced by songs like “Sparrow” and live set favorite “Made For This.” With “Light On In The Kitchen,” written by McBryde with Connie Harrington and Jessi Alexander, the Arkansas native celebrates the warm glow shared across homes around the world, a symbol of affection signaling that someone may be missing tonight, but thoughts of them are present. “When I tell someone there’s a ‘Light On In The Kitchen’ for them, to me it means you’re thinking of them, even if they’re not coming home that night,” shares McBryde. “While writing this, we were all able to look back and remember the women in our lives who comforted us, gave us advice and made sure we knew we had a place to go. Writing this song showed me how necessary that simple comfort had been. “I sent it to the important women in my life, and they reminded me that they still leave the kitchen light on for me, just like when I was growing up. Knowing someone, somewhere is thinking of you in that way can get you through a lot. And it’s a bonus that now we get to say, ‘I love you’ or ‘I’m thinking of you’ by saying ‘The light’s on for ya.’” Released today via Warner Music Nashville, “Light On In The Kitchen” conjures up images of those late nights spent at the kitchen table with a trusted confidant, the one person in the world with which you can unapologetically be yourself, all while they give you a little motherly advice: Always check the door before you lay down, Keep a glass of water by the bed A dose of local honey Will keep your nose from running Little things like that she’s always said Never back up farther than you have to And pray for those that don’t have a prayer Honey trust yourself You better love yourself Cause ‘till you do You ain’t no good for anybody else And honey boys are dumb But you’re gonna find you one You’ll love him hard And bless your heart You’ll need someone to listen That’s why I leave a light on in the kitchen Today’s release follows the Grand Ole Opry member’s triumphant two-night sold-out run of Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville Live at Ryman Auditorium, with American Songwriter praising, “Between the humorously crafted songs and brilliant creativity of some of Nashville’s brightest stars, with a little bit of heart mixed in, Live From Lindeville is easily one of the most unique shows Nashville has seen,” while POLLSTAR observes, “McBryde takes the caricatures and injects so much humanity into every stereotype… These songs serve as vignettes and scenarios, but also deliver pathos without getting saccharine.” McBryde will appear on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” on March 1 to discuss “Light On In The Kitchen” and recent GRAMMY Award win for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for her No. 1 duet “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” with Carly Pearce. Check your local listings for timing. Set to perform two shows in her home state tonight, Feb. 24 and tomorrow, Feb. 25, McBryde will embark on a run of additional headlining shows, festivals, two dates at the Grand Ole Opry, three dates with Eric Church on The Outsiders Revival Tour and seven shows with Jelly Roll this spring and summer. Tickets are available at AshleyMcBryde.com.

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The Long Road releases first wave of artists!

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Returning to Leicestershire’s stunning Stanford Hall for a highly anticipated 4th edition this summer, The Long Road festival has announced the first wave of names for the lineup today. Fast becoming the beloved home of Country and Americana music and culture in the UK, the three-day camping experience takes place 25th – 27th August 2023 and boasts an incredible line-up so far, including headliners Jon Pardi, Blackberry Smoke, alongside Tenille Townes, Eli Young Band, Margo Price, Breland, Nickel Creek, Sierra Ferrell and more. The Long Road promises the most immersive and authentic experience for anyone after a taste of Nashville this side of the pond, with an event that captures the culture and lifestyle surrounding the music. This must-see festival for fans of the genre is a welcoming and inclusive event for all ages. 2022 was a landmark year for the festival, with standout shows from the likes of The Cadillac Three, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Drake White, Brandy Clark and more, and this year looks set to bring a bounty of stars and unmissable sets to the UK once again. Headlining the Rhinestone main stage, and making his long-awaited UK debut whilst doing it, is the multi-platinum selling artist from California, Jon Pardi. Having made a name for himself for his energetic live performances and known for his traditional country sound and honky-tonk style, Pardi has been praised for bringing a fresh and authentic approach to the genre and has won numerous awards off the back of four acclaimed studio albums. With his catchy melodies, relatable lyrics, and undeniable charisma, he has become one of the most popular country music stars of his generation and is set to bring one hell of a show to The Long Road this August. Southern rock masters Blackberry Smoke are also announced as mainstage headliners today, and bring over 20 years of stellar country riffs to the party. Riding high off the back of their latest album, ‘You Hear Georgia’, which gives a nod to their home state and went straight in at number 1 on the Billboard Americana/folk chart, the group was also described as a “sensational live band” by The Independent after one of their last UK shows at The Roundhouse. Expect a sprawling, blues-infused hoedown for the ages.

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Tenille Townes Duets With Bryan Adams On ‘The Thing That Wrecks You’

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Born from a chance encounter in a stairwell, ‘The Thing That Wrecks You,’ available everywhere now, brings reigning CCMA Entertainer of the Year Tenille Townes and GRAMMY Award winner Bryan Adams together on a vocal performance that matches the energy of the song’s lyrics, describing the moment love careens headfirst towards heartbreak. “I was recording a song for a Hallmark Movie in Vancouver last summer and found myself completely enamored by the recording space we were in,” remembers Townes. “Later in the day, I found out that it was Bryan Adams’ Warehouse Studio, and I actually ran into Bryan himself on the staircase on my way out. We talked for just a few minutes, and I was so happy to meet him because his path as a fellow Canadian has been incredibly inspiring to me, with a collection of songs that have impacted the world in such a huge way. “Later that night, I thought about ‘The Thing That Wrecks You,’ a song I’d written a while before with Kate York and Daniel Tashian, and how the spirit of that song made me think about his voice,” she continues. “I decided to go out on a limb and sent him the song along with a letter asking if he might be up for singing on it with me. Fast forward to now, where not only have I gotten to sing with a hero of mine, but I have also found a mentor and friend through this whole adventure. This song is evidence to me that putting a wild thought out in the atmosphere and believing in it is a powerful thing.” Just shy of four minutes, the driving track produced by Townes and her band’s guitarist, Jaxon Hargrove, was recorded with her touring band joining her in-studio as well as with Adams adding his own guitar prowess to the song alongside his vocals. Trading opening lines, the pair come together for a stirring duet on the chorus: We’re running down a darker road Where even angels fear to go And stars fall like a lonely tear When they’re crashing through the atmosphere It looked just like a dream come true But love can lead you straight into The thing that wrecks you The song offers a preview at new music from Townes, whose most recent project, Masquerades, was released in April 2022 via Columbia Nashville/Sony Music Nashville in partnership with RCA Records. Fans can also catch her on the road this summer, including at major festivals such as Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Faster Horses Festival, Watershed Festival and more. For more information, visit TenilleTownes.com and follow on social media @TenilleTownes.

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Kassi Ashton Releases New Song “Drive You Out of My Mind”

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MCA Nashville artist Kassi Ashton releases brand new track, “Drive You Out of My Mind.” Written by Ashton with Travis Wood and Todd Clark, “Drive You Out of My Mind,” serves as the Missouri-native’s next country radio single hitting the airwaves March 13. “When nothing else works, I hit the gas,” says Ashton. “I feel like I can breathe when the windows are down, and my main character soundtrack is turned up. Put this song at the top of your playlist the next time you need to get lost.” Listen to “Drive You Out of My Mind” HERE Ashton is set to make her debut on the Grand Ole Opry March 15. The widely acclaimed singer/songwriter known for her free spirit and her rich, soulful voice, is also currently on the No Bad Vibes Tour with Old Dominion. Upcoming dates include Kennewick, WA; West Palm Beach, FL; Key West, FL; and Bangor, ME. For more information, visit www.KassiAshton.com.

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Kip Moore Announces New Album “DAMN LOVE,” Releases Title Track

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Multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter Kip Moore‘s fifth studio album DAMN LOVE will be available on April 28 and is available to pre-order now HERE. Over 13 new tracks, co-produced by Moore and Jaren Johnston (The Cadillac Three), emotionally raw and thick with epiphany, Moore explores an internal tug of war and puts it simply enough: Damn Love. Moore is giving fans a first look into the forthcoming 13-song project by releasing the title track today, available to listen HERE. Leading the album like a cross between campfire contemplation and redemptive rock anthem. We can’t escape love and the longing it brings, Moore finally admits. “I’ve always had a nomadic spirit, at the core of me that’s what I am, and it’s a beautiful life I lead – I don’t take that for granted,” Moore says. “But I still crave that companionship down deep in my DNA, and that’s where ‘Damn Love’ comes from. There’s a reason love and relationships have been written about so much – and why they continue to get written about. Because at the core of us, that’s what we desire the most.” The genre-blending songsmith has a history of entrancing audiences around the world with sold-out headlining shows in Australia, South Africa, the U.K., Europe and a slot at Bonnaroo all slated for 2023. Moore holds on to passion in the persistent anthem, “Heart on Fire,” while “Another Night In Knoxville” captures the magnetic draw of the stage – a sweeping ‘70s-rock ballad that soundtracks a long-cherished memory. Meanwhile the refreshing “Kinda Bar” conjures magic from a roadside tavern, and a comforting sense of clarity arrives with gentle instant classics, “Some Things” and “One Heartbeat” (featuring Ashley McBryde).

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