Country Bites News snippets May 28 – June 1, 2012
Links / Sources shown in RED
UK & IRISH News
Wembley International Country Festival and 2011 BCMAward "Horizon Act of the Year" PIG EARTH along with award winning Brighton based UK County rockers THE DIABLOS are to play a double bill titled “A Night of Country Folk and Country Rock”
They will be performing original songs from their respective albums.
Where - The Cut Theatre, Halesworth, Suffolk
When - Saturday 16th June ( Time 7:30pm )
Tickets: Price £10 from the Box Office: 0845 6732123 or via the Website - http://www.newcut.org/whatson.php
Ahead of her show at The Norwich Arts Centre (28 May) Suzy Bogguss talks to Stephen Bumfrey and Thordis Fridriksson from a London studio and discusses what sets her teeth on edge, country music and her American Folk Songbook project. Broadcast on BBC Radio Norfolk
The London based Heidi McCaffrey whose latest album COME ON IN contains original country and country 'n' Irish music is starting to make a big impact in Ireland
Heidi, whose single “Whatever Happened To My Angel”, a romantic balled in the folksy/country genre, has been featured on country music stations around Europe, Australia and America and Canada UK and in places like Singapore , South Africa and the Czech Republic
Heidi has always looked to establish herself on the Irish scene. When she played Galway 's Town Hall Theatre earlier this year, Heidi enjoyed a rapturous reception from the fans.
"I have played all over the world, but nowhere matches the reception I got in Galway ," she said. "I just can't wait to go back to Ireland
SHAUN Loughrey, recently released a great two-CD set called TWO SIDES OF ME. It features 20 American and Irish country classics, including The Gambler, The Hills Of Donegal, Galway Girl, Locklin's Bar and He Stopped Loving Her Today.
Daniel O’Donnell will be back on board the Gertrude Byrne All Star Irish Caribbean Cruise again next February 10 -17, 2013, and currently there are only 200 cabins now available.
Almost two years after his death, a special CD honouring the “voice of Norfolk ,” Roy Waller (who hosted "Rodeo Norfolk"on BBC Radio Norfolk), has gone on sale to raise money for the Liver Research Department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge
“I have always felt the need to say thank you to Addenbrooke’s where Roy
Now, a number of people have come together to produce An Ode to Roy Waller , written by Pearce Arnopp, a fitting tribute to the much-loved Radio Norfolk presenter and former Sheriff of Norwich. The music has been. The artwork is by Mervyn J Futter and the narration is by the one and only Irish crooner Daniel O’Donnell.
Roy helped so many singers and performers along the way, and now some of them have come together to make sure he will always be remembered.
You can get a copy of the CD by sending a cheque made out to S Waller for £6, which includes p&p, to Sylvie Waller, c/o Radio Norfolk, The Forum, Norwich, NR2 1BH. Sylvie will also be selling the CD for £5 at the King’s Lynn Country Music Festival at the Norfolk Showground from May 31 to June 3.
Matraca Berg writes on Facebook- "YES. I will be touring the UK in November. Mostly England ..some Scotland..and wow..Ireland!"..."Going through my entire family tree.The Berg is Norwegian.....Wrote a sweet sweet song with Liz Rose thanks for the break Taylor..."just recorded the centerpiece of the next record. wrote with Lady Goodman. it's rolling now!"..."just informed my record needs to be turned in by July 30 to make it in time for the November UK tour. ack"
AUSSIE NEWS
Congratulations to Brooke McClymont (and Adam) - she's just announced that she's expecting the couples first child a miniature McClymont is on the way
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| Brooke & Adam |
Watch the Music video of The McClymonts performing “Piece of Me” which is Track #4 on their new album releaed in Australia on May 18 >> YouTube
Lady Antebellum have announced that their Own The Night World Tour 2012 will roll into Australia this September.
Tickets will go on sale Friday June 15. In an interview Band member Dave Haywood said "We’ve anxiously been waiting to announce that we’re coming. We were over there a little bit over a year ago with Keith Urban touring and it was honestly one of the best experiences of our performing career."
Aussie Tour dates:
Tues Sept 25, Melbourne ,Palais Theatre / Friday Sept 28, Brisbane, Convention Centre /
Monday Oct 1, Sydney, Opera House
CANADA NEWS
Canadian Country Superstars Dean Brody and Deric Ruttan are set to rock the 2012 Canadian Country Music Association Awards in Saskatoon. Miranda Lambert, nine time ACM award-winner, and Pistol Annies are confirmed to perform. Broadcast live from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for the first time, the 2012 CCMA Awards will air from Credit Union Centre on Sunday, September 9.
Ontario’s Ottawa Valley, Kelli Trottier fiddle player and singer released her new single released to country radio on Monday, March 12th, title “I Can Smell The Rain” – Listen to the song on soundcloud.com
Kelli Trottier & Greg Simm perform Kelli's song I Can Smell the Rain from her CD "Now" at a house concert in Carleton Place Ontario, Sept 2011 >> YouTube -
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| Michelle Wright Single Cover Art |
Michelle Wright is currently on a radio tour In Canada promoting her brand new single “Another Good Day” . Written by Michelle along with good friend Patricia Conroy and Emerson Drive's Danick Dupelle, and produced by Jason Barry, Another Good Day also features the creativity of some of Michelle's favourite Music City musicians.
Michelle lights up when she talks about the new new “infectious, can’t get it out your head, positive, uplifting summer song” single, revealing that "it feels great to be releasing new music, as always, but I'm especially proud of this song, its positivity, its optimism ... That's the kind of overall mood I'm in these days and the songs I've been writing and singing lately reflect that."
Sample the song here at - www.michelle-wright.com
Available on UK iTunes and in the UK as an MP3 on Amazon - Cover Artwork
(28 May, 2012) Country Music artist Codie Prevost officially released his brand new single “Last Night All Day” off his upcoming 4th album to Country Radio and ITunes worldwide today.
NEWS
Season 11's 'American Idol' had the lowest-rated finale ever.Down 32% From 2011, it pulled a 6.1 rating among adults 18-49 and 20.7 million viewers.With his winning coronation song, "Home," Phillip Phillips Won 'American Idol 2012 with comparisons being drawn to Mumford & Sons and Fleet Foxes. >> YouTube . It was co-written by Drew Pearson with U.K. singer Greg Holden (who was its intended recipient).
Viewing figures were a far cry from last year's rebounded finale (which featured country newbies Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina), which brought in a 9.2 demo rating and outpaced 2010 by more than 10 percent.The show, in recent years, is said to be predictabile. Phillip Phillips is the fifth winner in a row who can be categorized under the "white guy with guitar" moniker. AMERICAN MALE IDOL?
Phillips win marks the fourth time in five years that the winner is likely suited to a career in the adult-alternative radio format following David Cook, Kris Allen and Lee Dewyze.
Many fans and critics had previously predicted country singer Skylar Laine would safely make the final three and even have a real shot at winning the TV talent contest. She was eliminated from the show at the final 5 stage. Skylar didn't look too upset at the news of her surprise elimination and is happily looking to the future. Sticking to her country roots she performed her final number cutting Miranda Lambert's Gunpowder Lead. On the Finale show she got to perform “Turn On The Radio” with her Idol Reba McEntire.
The 4th Annual Guitars of the Stars Benefit auction is set to take place Thursday, June 7 at the CMA Music Festival's Buckle State in Nashville. Artists have donated autographed guitars inspired by their hits to the auction which will be hosted by Casey James. The Band Perry, Keith Urban, Loretta Lynn and Dierks Bentley are some who have come forward to donate and in honour of their latest #1 hit, Rascal Flatts has donated a banjo!
Taste Of Country list 100 Best Drinking Songs in Country music -
Feels Like The First Time For The Mavericks - It's been 20 years since The Mavericks came to Nashville, but in some ways, this new phase in their career feels like the first time. "I don't think we've had more excitement generated from within and then in the intimate circle that surrounds a band, I don't think we've ever had that excitement since the earliest days," says Robert Reynolds. "This feels like 1992, we've just landed in Nashville." He attributes a lot of that to their new record label, The Valory Music Co., and working with label chief Scott Borchetta. "We are truly loved by the label, we're revered for our differences, they're not afraid of our differences. Scott has been unbelievable. To me, this reflects his willingness to invest in something that he saw as maybe unfinished business with us." The Mavericks new single "Born to Be Blue," is now at radio >> LISTEN (Neil Haislop Nashville IQ)
The third annual Billboard Country Music Summit, presented in association with CMA, is set for June 4-5 at Nashville’s recently renovated Cannery Ballroom. The Summit features industry-leading programming that informs, educates and inspires, providing networking opportunities for all Country Music related businesses. This year's event will offer insightful Q&A sessions with Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam and Rob Light, managing director of Creative Artists Agency. See Event Page
CMT announced (29 May) that Hunter Hayes will be featured in the upcoming new episode of CMT CROSSROADS: JOE WALSH & FRIENDS, starring the Rock great/guitarist Joe Wash from The Eagles, accompanied by Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, Luke Bryan and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. The artists will pay homage to Walsh, performing his hits and Eagle’s classics, including “Life’s Been Good to Me,” “In The City” and more. The show takes place June 23rd.
Big & Rich post the highest debut by a duo in the Nielsen BDS era, as "That's Why I Pray" opens with the Hot Shot Debut, Most Increased Audience and Breaker triple crown on Country Songs. In the 22-plus years since Billboard and Nielsen BDS pioneered technology-based radio charts, Big & Rich is only the third duo to open inside the top 30.
The single which impacted on radio May 29th focuses on the frustrating problems out there in the world right now but is also optimistic. >> Audio
SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS
John Fogerty's new album, WROTE A SONG FOR EVERYONE, will be out October 9. It will feature guest appearances from Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert and Alan Jackson among others.
Kenny Chesney will have a new song on his forthcoming album titled “While He Still Knows Who I Am" is, according to Billboard, a song about someone going back home to visit a father who has Alzheimer's disease. But Chesney told the magazine, "It's got so much more than that." He says there's an element of searching in it. "This guy's going back to reconnect with his father, but in a sense he's trying to connect with himself, too. He's busy and he's getting lost in the world, and that was me to a T, really," Chesney said. (That makes it sound very "Cat's in the Cradle.") He adds, "It's interesting that I have this knack for connecting with thousands of people in an audience and, in an ironic kind of way, in the middle of doing that I've felt this disconnect from the people that love and care about me the most and molded me as a person growing up in East Tennessee”
Kenny is on the cover of June’s Billboard Magazine and he says the power of being an entertainer is with his index finger he can make 60,000 people just move.
Bigger Picture Group artist Chris Cagle will release his fifth studio album, BACK IN THE SADDLE, on June 26, 2012. The album is his first since joining Bigger Picture’s artist roster.Back In The Saddle was produced with Keith Stegall (Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson) and features Cagle’s current single “Got My Country On.” Cagle wrote five of the 11 tracks on the album, which also features contributions from Danny Myric, Kim Tribble, the Warren Brothers and more.
“The experience I’ve had making this record has rekindled the passion I had for music when I recorded my first record,” says Cagle. “Back In The Saddle is my life!
Elizabeth Cook will release her GOSPEL PLOW EP on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, and is hitting the road this summer to support the release. Cook was inspired to record Gospel Plow after participating in the California-based Strawberry Music Festival’s Sunday morning gospel show in 2011 and being moved by the music.
The resulting collection features six of Cook’s favorite Southern gospel songs and a cover of Velvet Underground’s “Jesus.”
The resulting collection features six of Cook’s favorite Southern gospel songs and a cover of Velvet Underground’s “Jesus.”
Kasey Chambers‘ new album STORYBOOK which relates to her musical upbringing will be released on the Sugar Hill label July 30. It will contain 15 tunes that inspired her to be a musician. The collection includes her covers of songs penned by Gram Parsons, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, among others. Her husband Shane Nicholson is featured on “Orphan Girl.” This project serves as a companion piece to Chamber’s autobiography, A Little Bird Told Me, which was published recently by Harper Collins in Australia. Tracklist and US Tour details – Flickr Photo Link
PRESS RELEASES
(Nashville, Tenn. May 29, 2012) Craig Morgan is ecstatic about releasing his second single from This Ole Boy. “Corn Star,“ written by Shane Minor and Jeffrey Steele, is a rockin’ up-tempo smash that is sure to become a summer anthem. The tongue-in-cheek tune colorfully describes the town’s hottest catch “…with a bag of seed on her suntan shoulder, cut off jeans and a tight tank top with a big red mower on it…She’s a CORN STAR.”
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| John C.Reilly Annouces the nominees |
(Los Angeles, CA 31 May) The Americana Music Association took to the City of Angels to announce the 2012 nominees for the Americana Honors & Awards, presented by Nissan. Music aficionado John C. Reilly announced the nominations at Thursday’s event hosted by Americana ambassador Jim Lauderdale at The Grammy® Museum’s Clive Davis Theatre. Jason Isbell and Gillian Welch lead the nominations.
The celebration also featured performances by special guests Lucinda Williams, Shelby Lynne and Robert Ellis alongside the Americana All-Star band, led by Buddy Miller with Lauderdale, Greg Leisz, Don Heffington and Don Was.
John C. Reilly: "They call this the Americana Awards, but really it should be The All The Great Artists Out Right Now Awards"
AMERICANA HONORS & AWARDS 2012 Nominees
Album Of The Year:
Here We Rest - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive - Steve Earle
The Harrow & The Harvest - Gillian Welch
This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark - Various Artists
Artist Of The Year: Gillian Welch, Hayes Carll, Jason Isbell, Justin Townes Earle
Emerging Artist Of The Year: Alabama Shakes, Dawes, Deep Dark Woods, Robert Ellis
Song Of The Year:
“Alabama Pines” – Written by Jason Isbell and performed by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
"Come Around" - Written and performed by Sarah Jarosz
“I Love” – Written by Tom T. Hall and performed by Patty Griffin
“Waiting on the Sky to Fall” – Written and performed by Steve Earle
Instrumentalist Of The Year:
Buddy Miller, Chris Thile, Darrell Scott, Dave Rawlings
Buddy Miller, Chris Thile, Darrell Scott, Dave Rawlings
Duo / Group Of The Year:
Carolina Chocolate Drops, Civil Wars, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings,
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Punch Brothers
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Punch Brothers
The Americana Honors & Awards, returns to the historically cool Ryman Auditorium on September 12, 2012 (as part of the Americana Music Festival to take place September 12-15, 2012 at various venues throughout Music City.
Americana has been described by The New York Times as "the coolest music scene today."
ARTICLES
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| Gretchen Peters with her Vinyl album courtesy gretchenpeters.com |
Gretchen Peters: 'I'm a Boulder girl.'…I really don't know what would have become of me if I hadn't moved to Boulder,” Peters said. “I was in a really critical age when I moved there. I was just turning 13 and the music scene was so vibrant and so alive, and it brought a whole new sensibility about music to my brain. I moved here from New York, and as a little kid I was listening to the New York folk scene -- Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel and all that.
When I got to Boulder there were all these hippie bands playing folk music, and country music, and rock music, and mixing it up.”
he was here in the ‘70s when, she said, the town was an epicenter for the “hippie country rock” rock movement. At a relatively young age, being immersed in that culture made a big impression.
“There were a lot of bands of national renown that were hanging out in Boulder a lot or just living there,” she said. “That was very influential to me. It definitely colored my music background.”…Read more at www.coloradodaily.com
INTERVIEW
There’s little doubt that Grace Potter, front woman of the Vermont-born Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, is the favorite cousin of the country world. Ever since her duet with Kenny Chesney on the Metraca Berg and Deana Carter song “You and Tequila”—that resulted in two nominations for GRAMMY Awards—Potter has been a constant presence on all kinds of high-profile events including the Academy of Country Music Awards show, the Academy of Country Music Awards show and everything in between.
Ourstage asked her in a Q & A: What specifically have you gotten from working with Kenny Chesney?
GP: I have learned a lot from him. He’s got an excellent ear for a great song. He knows what to do with it. He’s a workhorse, just like I am. All his energy or anxiety or whatever you want to call it is good energy. It’s meaningful and it not only yields something for him but it helps other people. Just the generosity he carries with him is really inspiring”.
LISTEN
Recommended by Mary Chapin Carpenter on Facebook Gregory Alan Isakov "That Moon Song" >> YouTube
Born in South Africa and raised in Philadelphia, Gregory Alan Isakov makes quietly lush, deeply vibrant music more rooted in the starry night sky—like the one on the cover of his latest LP—than any terrestrial locale." -Paste Magazine
Tiffany Houghton - "Only One" debut single from up and coming artist (Taylor Swift-like), listen on soundcloud.com
WATCH
Neil Young and Crazy Horse released another video from their forthcoming album, AMERICANA, which is a collection of traditional folk songs. The track features because the British national anthem was also a 'de facto' anthem for the United States before the adoption of The Star Spangled Banner.As Q pointed out, the video for “God Save the Queen” (The British national anthem, not the 1977 Sex Pistols track) hit the web May 25th.
"Written in the 18th century with possible melodic roots in the 17th century, this anthem has been sung throughout the British Commonwealth and may have been sung in North America before the American Revolution and Declaration Of Independence in 1776, which rejected British sovereignty," Young notes of the song's pedigree.
"The Americana arrangement draws from the original melody and changes some melody and lyrics in the folk process."
>> YouTube
Inside Music Row catch up with recently married Angeleena Presley from the Pistol Annies at a special NSAI benefit to talk about her work as a songwriter >> YouTube
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