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Australian Country sensation Morgan Evans announces UK performances at C2C Festival 9th – 10th March

Following the release of his single ‘Kiss Somebody’ and new track ‘I Do’, Australian-born country star Morgan Evans will be returning to the UK next month to perform at this year’s Country 2 Country Festival in London and Glasgow. “I visited the UK for the first time last year and just fell in love with the country and its music fans,” says Evans. “There’s a depth of passion for music there unlike anywhere else. C2C 2018 will be my third visit and I couldn’t be more stoked to return to London and Glasgow.” Already a bona-fide music sensation in his native Australia, and highly acclaimed by the likes of Rolling Stone and Billboard in the US – both of whom have tipped him for success in 2018 – his new music is shaped by a love of artists like Ed Sheeran and Keith Urban, alongside many other Nashville greats where he now resides, having signed a global record deal with Warner Music Nashville / Warner Bros. Records. Last year Evans released his debut US single ‘Kiss Somebody’, which he wrote with Chris DeStefano and Josh Osborne. The track has become a major radio hit in multiple countries and debuted on Spotify’s Viral Charts at #15 in the US and #26 globally, with over 19 million streams to date. The visually impressive, one-of-a-kind accompanying video was released in December 2017 and features a nearly single-shot film in extreme slow-motion. His newest track ‘I Do’, pays homage to loved ones and was inspired by his now wife and fellow country artist Kelsea Ballerini. As a result of these two tracks, Evans has made a huge splash in the US and in addition to Rolling Stone’s praise for his “velvety voice rasping in all the right places” he has been crowned as one of CMT’s #18for2018 artists. The upcoming performances at C2C mark his third time back on UK soil after playing a run of headline dates last June, before returning for his acclaimed visit here in October. He’s also set to join James Blunt for three landmark shows in Australia, before heading back to the US for shows in April with Chris Young and Kane Brown. UPCOMING TOUR DATES Mar 1st – Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles w/ Old Dominion Mar 9th – C2C, London Mar 10th – C2C, Glasgow Mar 13th – Star Event Centre, Sydney, Australia w/ James Blunt Mar 14th – Star Event Centre, Sydney, Australia w/ James Blunt Mar 16th – Palais Theatre, Saint Kilda, Australia w/ James Blunt CONNECT WITH MORGAN EVANS AT http://www.morganevansmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/morganevansmusic/ https://www.twitter.com/morgan_evans

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The Swon Brothers release new self-penned single, "What Ever Happened"

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When Zach and Colton, The Swon Brothers, sat down one night in their home studio last fall, they never planned to write a song. They were just having a conversation but what happened became much more. The brothers wrote their new single, “What Ever Happened,” in about an hour. It was a culmination of their discussion about the world and how much things have changed since they were kids. Longing for a simpler time, they thought others might feel the same and outpoured the lyrics and the melody in a song that defines the times we are living in. Although the message is serious, the feel is upbeat, nostalgic and hopeful. The Swon Brothers co-produced the new single with Brad Hill (Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne). https://youtu.be/KdCv8a4LeMo The Swon Brothers gained notoriety as finalists on NBC’s “The Voice,” in 2013 and released their major-label debut, THE SWON BROTHERS, on October 14, 2014, putting their stamp on the 11-song collection by co-producing with award-winning producer Mark Bright. The album’s first single “Later On” was the duo’s first Top 15 HIT. In 2014 Zach and Colton received a CMA Award nomination for “Vocal Duo of the Year.” They received an ACM Award nomination for “Vocal Duo of the Year” followed by a CMT Music Award nomination for “Duo Video of the Year” in 2015 and also opened for Brad Paisley on his Country Nation World Tour earlier that year. In January of 2016 the brothers surprised their fans with a brand new EP called TIMELESS, which hit the #2 spot on the Country iTunes chart just hours after its release, and debuted at #19 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart. On January 30, 2016 they kicked off their first show in Jacksonville, Florida on Carrie Underwood’s “Storyteller Tour,” which toured arenas across the U.S. and Canada and wrapped on November 28, 2016. That summer the brothers played a slate of their own “Swoncerts” nationwide. The debut single “Don’t Call Me” was released on Feb. 24, 2017. On March 17, 2017, Zach and Colton released their EP, PRETTY COOL SCARS, which was produced by Brad Hill (Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne). Honored with the Rising Star award by the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2013 and just recently inducted into the Rhythm and Routes Oklahoma Music Trail in July of 2017, the Muskogee, OK natives have been charming fans with their incredible sibling harmonies and fun-loving personalities since childhood. www.swonbrothers.com Download ART

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Transatlantic co-headline tour from East Coast of Canada artists

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The Ennis Sisters have returned to their roots on latest album Stages, singing contemporary Folk songs with a traditional Irish Newfoundland twist. With multiple accolades – a Juno Award, SOCAN Award, multiple East Coast Awards, and Music Newfoundland and Labrador Awards; The Ennis Sisters, comprised of Maureen, Teresa and Karen Ennis, are world renowned, celebrated songbirds. Dave Gunning’s recording career is now approaching a full two decades in length, along with richly deserved peer respect, his music industry awards tally now stands at eight East Coast Music Awards and two Canadian Folk Music Awards, plus a 2012 Juno Award nomination in the Roots & Traditional Solo Album of the Year category. FULL UK TOUR DATES 22 SHOREHAM BY SEA Ropetackle Arts Centre https://ropetacklecentre.co.uk/events/the-ennis-sisters-dave-gunning/ 23 FAREHAM Ashcroft Arts Centre https://uk.patronbase.com/_AshcroftArtsCentreEvents/Productions/A510/Performances 24 NEW MILTON Forest Arts Centre https://uk.patronbase.com/_ForestArtsCentreEvents/Productions/164/Perform ances 25 SHREWSBURY The Hive https://hiveonline.cloudvenue.co.uk/theennissistersanddavegunning 26 SETTLE Victoria Hall https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/HFDJMF 27 YORK National Centre for Early Music https://tickets.ncem.co.uk/en-GB/shows/the%20ennis%20sisters%20- %20dave%20gunning/events 28 BIRMINGHAM Mac Arts Centre https://macbirmingham.co.uk MARCH 2018 1 BURY The Met https://www.ents24.com/bury-events/the-met/ennis-sisters/5141712 2 LONDON King’s Place http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/music/ennis-sisters-and-dave- gunning#.WgLnAhicZMN

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Kacey Musgraves releases "Space Cowboy" and "Butterflies" from forthcoming album – Golden Hour

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Kacey Musgraves presents her fourth album Golden Hour to be released on March 30th. The multiple Grammy-winning artist co-wrote and co-produced the album with Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian. Kacey reveals, “I had a different mindset this time, which was feeling rather than thinking – leading heart first.” Her most intimate album to date, Golden Hour, is introduced with two key tracks, the captivating and melancholic “Space Cowboy,” and the uplifting, dreamy “Butterflies.” Golden Hour follows the massive success of Kacey’s critically-acclaimed albums Same Trailer Different Park, Pageant Material and A Very Kacey Christmas. Both Same Trailer Different Park and Pageant Material debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, with Kacey becoming the first solo female in 5 years to top the chart with a rookie release and only the seventh to do so in Nielsen SoundScan’s 22-year history. Kacey has won 2 Grammy Awards for Best Country Album and Best Country Song (“Merry Go ‘Round”), 2 CMA Awards for “New Artist of the Year” and “Song of the Year” (“Follow Your Arrow”), and an ACM Award for Album of the Year. Kacey will tour extensively through 2018, kicking the year off with The Breakers Tour with Little Big Town and Midland. She’ll play the highly-coveted second slot at Stagecoach following Keith Urban on April 28th before joining Harry Styles as direct support on his major summer tour, including 2 nights each at New York City’s legendary Madison Square Garden and Los Angeles’ iconic The Forum. In addition to her significant touring presence in the U.S., Kacey continues to break boundaries as one of the most successful country artists in Europe, selling out a headline show at London’s Royal Albert Hall during her last album and headlining this year’s C2C: Country to Country Festival at London’s famed The O2 Arena, 3Arena Dublin and SSE Hydro Glasgow. For full list of dates, visit http://www.kaceymusgraves.com/tour.

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Country music gender inequality called out by Cam

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The multi-talented Cam has called out iHeart Radio for alleged gender bias, a month after the group ‘Women of Country’ flagged up the issue. Posted on Twitter, the advertisement from @iHeartRadio on the Awards reads ‘Country Artist of the Year’, accompanied by the names and images of Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Sam Hunt, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean. The advertisement fails to acknowledge female artists, proving controversial at a time when more attention is being paid to the treatment of women in the entertainment industry. In reaction to the advertisement, Cam wrote on twitter, “The majority of country listeners are female (actually true) but apparently we prefer listening [to]male singers so we can ‘dream about them being [our] boyfriend’ (actually said to me). Sure hope #iHeartAwards picks the hottest one, cause that’s all my lady-brain can understand!” In a separate tweet, Cam continued, “Only a dumb person buys music solely based on their sex drive. That’s not the majority of listeners and isn’t driving sales. I’m saying female consumers are being underestimated/incorrectly blamed for the lack of female artists.” Back in January, Women of Country tweeted: “Can you spot what’s wrong with this picture? That’s right @iHeartRadio there are women in #countrymusic including #MarenMorris #CarlyPearce #BrandyClark and more who deserve to be recognised as the Artist of the Year!” There is currently only one solo female country artist in the first 30 slots of the February 17th Billboard Country Airplay chart, and awards shows like iHeart and the Grammys lean heavily towards male performers and nominees. The iHeart Radio Music Awards take place on March 11 this year and are not isolated in their choice of underrepresenting females: at November’s CMAs, there were zero women nominated for Entertainer of the Year, which hasn’t been awarded to a female since Taylor Swift in 2011.

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ACM Party for a Cause lineup revealed

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No less than 40 acts will be performing at Las Vegas’ sixth annual ACM Party for a Cause music festival. The four-day event, which takes place starting from April 12, is scheduled to take place at a variety of venues along the Vegas strip with Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Thomas Rhett, Chase Rice and Kelsea Ballerini. Proceeds from the event will go towards multiple causes, including disaster relief, music education, music camps for those with disabilities and U.S. military veterans in need through the philanthropic initiative, ACM Lifting Lives. The ACM Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 15. Tickets are available at www.partyforacause.com. Performers at the 2018 ACM Party for a Cause: Jimmie Allen Kelsea Ballerini Lee Brice Kane Brown Craig Wayne Boyd Luke Combs Russell Dickerson Cale Dodds Ashley Gorley Josh Gracin Walker Hayes High Valley Lucas Hoge Home Free Tony Jackson Austin Jenckes Chris Lane Tracy Lawrence Tegan Marie Shane McAnally Lori McKenna Midland Montgomery Gentry Justin Moore Kip Moore Jerrod Niemann Old Dominion Jon Pardi Cassadee Pope Stephanie Quayle Michael Ray Jake Rose Brandon Ray Thomas Rhett Tyler Rich Smithfield The Swon Brothers Tenille Townes Aaron Watson Alex Williams

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British owners of unique record label honoured by top US music heritage organisation

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The Blues Foundation, the guardians of the heritage of American Blues music, has honoured a British couple with its prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive award. The award is for “individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to the Blues world.” Recipients Gary and Gillian Atkinson own the independent roots music label Document Records, which is known for specialising in the issue and reissue of early recordings of American Blues, Gospel, Spirituals, Jazz, and early Country music, covering the complete recorded works of artists, presented in chronological order. Document Records earliest recordings date back to Spirituals recorded in the late 1800s. Document Records reputedly has the largest catalogue of its kind in the world. With roots stars such as Son House, Mamie Smith, ‘Ma’ Rainey, Big Bill Broonzy, Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup, and Muddy Waters to their name, the Atkinsons have also found their services to music honoured by such contemporary stars as Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones) and John Mayall in the UK and Paul Simon, Jack White and Pearl Jam in the US. For Maverick readers, there is additional interest as Document Records is working on publishing more of its significant collection of early Country (‘Old Timey’) music. To find out more about Document Records, please visit their website: https://thedocumentrecordsstore.com/

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Chris Antonik: 'Monarch' tour 2018: The “Future of the Blues” comes to the UK 6th- 15th April 2018

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“The Canadian Gary Clark Jr… this is how modern blues should sound.” (Concert Monkey) Celebrated Toronto-based blues-rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Chris Antonik’s upcoming ‘Monarch’ UK tour follows hot on the heels of his latest album ‘Monarch’. Monarch, which was nominated in Canada’s prestigious 2018 Maple Blues Awards (Recording/Producer of the Year; Songwriter of the Year), confirmed Chris as one of the country’s top performers, alongside artists such as Matt Andersen, Steve Hill, and Colin James. Chris, already named ‘The Future of the Blues’ by Canada’s Blues Underground Network, has been compared to Eric Clapton for his stunning guitar work and innovative, sensitive songwriting. His second album, ‘Better For You’ (2013), was described as “a masterpiece,” “the best Canadian blues-rock album of 2013,” and “the sound of someone taking the blues to a new place.” Chris has already toured the UK, headlining the Upton Blues Festival in 2016, and has performed at major blues festivals across Canada and the US. He has toured the US extensively, including performances at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago (for the 2015 Buddy Guy’s Legends Blues Festival), and Biscuits & Blues in San Francisco. Catch him as he tours the UK in April. Website: www.chrisantonik.com Tour dates: Friday 6th April – The Old Fire Station, Carlisle, Cumbria Saturday 7th April – Ripley Town Hall, Ripley, Derbyshire Sunday 8th April – Ain’t Nothing But Blues Bar, London Tuesday 10th April – The Wrotham Arms, Broadstairs, Kent Wednesday 11th April – Worthing Pier, Southern Pavillion, Worthing, West Sussex Thursday 12th April – The Troubadour, London Friday 13th April – Globe At Hay, Hay On Wye, Cwmbran, Wales Saturday 14th April – Borough Blues Club, Cwmbran, Wales Sunday 15th April – O2 Academy Sheffield Sheffield, Yorkshire, HRH Blues

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Awards Show hosted by Ruthie Foster begins 30th conference by Folk Alliance International

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Folk Alliance International (FAI) kicked off its 30th Annual Conference with the International Folk Music Awards Show held for the first time at Kansas City’s historic Folly Theater. The awards show, which included a live-streamed broadcast and was presented in partnership with Folk Music Canada, opened with a ceremonial land acknowledgement by Ed Smith, a leader from the Osage Nation. The evening included celebratory reflections from FAI Executive Director Aengus Finnan, and the screening of a new 30-year retrospective short film about the organisation’s history. Three-time Grammy Award nominee Ruthie Foster emceed the evening, which featured performances by Guy Davis, Giri and Uma Peters, Anais Mitchell, and The Staley Falcon Chorale. The evening ended with a full-cast finale performance of “Goodnight Irene” with the full audience singing along. The People’s Voice Award went to Bonnie Raitt and The Spirit of Folk Awards went to Kristian Blak, Richard Gillmann, Martyn Joseph, Anaïs Mitchell, Betse Siggins. Special guest presenters during the evening included acclaimed artist John Oates, who presented the People’s Voice award, and the legendary Kingston Trio, who presented the memorial Lifetime Achievement Award to the late Richie Havens. Throughout the evening, awards were presented for Lifetime Achievement, Spirit of Folk, and member-voted ‘Best of 2017’ (including Album, Song, and Artist of the Year). In a permanent commitment to honor the socially conscious roots of folk music, the People’s Voice and the Clearwater Awards were also awarded. Three inductions were made into the Folk DJ Hall of Fame. Album of the Year went to Freedom Highway by Rhiannon Giddens; Song of the Year was awarded to “You Didn’t Call My Name” from Molly Tuttle, while Artist of the Year was awarded to Ordinary Elephant. Folk Alliance International (FAI) is a registered nonprofit based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1989, FAI is an advocacy, professional development, and networking organisation that produces the world’s largest conference of the folk music community and industry. Finalists for the 2017 Album, Song and Artist of the Year awards are based on U.S., Canadian, and International industry year-end lists as well as Folk DJ airplay. Winners are determined by the voting membership of Folk Alliance International and the results are announced annually. The Clearwater Award was awarded to Winnipeg Folk Festival and Lifetime Achievement Awards were given to Peter, Paul and Mary (Living), Richie Havens (Legacy), Elektra Records (Business/Academic).

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Vince Gill tries to ease tensions over gender inequality

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Vince Gill has defended the Recording Academy after it was criticised for underrepresenting female artists at this year’s Grammy Awards. “I look at it kind of trying to see the whole field, you know. And I think the Grammys will go on and the country artists will feel slighted. Or maybe the classical people will feel slighted,” Gill said. “It’s impossible to pull something off like that and not leave a few people by the wayside.” The country star spoke out before a benefit concert for the Country Music Hall of Fame in New York. Sat with Emmylou Harris and Maren Morris before the concert began, the 21-time Grammy winner said all that matters is that people are “conscious of what’s great at the end of the day.” He continued, “You’re looking at three really open-minded musical people. We don’t care about genres, of color of skin, or gender, or anything. We just love playing music with great people and that’s all. Morris emohasised this view, adding, “I think the person that’s won the most Grammys is Alison Krauss so I don’t know. I mean, there’s obviously some things that need to be looked at, I think, and maybe it’s just voting members…” Krauss is tied for second place with Quincy Jones for the most Grammy wins, with Hungarian composer Georg Sorti holding the current record with 31 wins. Harris acknowledged that she was aware of the problems facing women in the industry, but excluded being ever treated inappropriately. “I haven’t run into a lot of the problems that I know are out there. But my path has been pretty unfettered with those kinds of things”, she claimed. Recording Academy CEO Neil Portnow recently stated that women need to “step up” when asked about the lack of female winners backstage. He later said he misspoke.

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