Country Bites News snippets August 12 - August 18, 2013

Country Bites News snippets August 12 – August 18, 2013

SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED

UK & IRISH News

The ABC of British Country Music Live listings for Artists, Bands & Clubs. Send your events to allbritishcountry@gmail.com

Scottish Country Concert & giglist

Josh Ritter (along with Zack Hickman and Josh Kaufman) will be playing some very special, very intimate acoustic shows in Ireland this December

Sweden’s own Miqael Persson aka Hicks has spent the last few months on a roller coaster ride with his career, and now officially he has been nominated in the Best European Act category of the BCMAwards (British Country Music Awards).

This is the first time that European acts have been included in these awards. Until now the Awards have been all about British Artists, and recently USA categories were added, and now the Europeans have been included due to the rise of Country Music all over Europe. There will be 25 awards including inductions into the British Country Music Hall Of Fame. The event takes place in London on Nov 24th. Further details from www.bcmawards.co.uk

The European Award is sponsored by DreamWest TV and Magazine from France, who nominated five acts from all over Europe. Voting for the winner will come from the Awards committee and Industry people.

Miqael kicked off 2013 with two European “hits” on the European Country Top 40, he then represented Sweden at the CMA Global Show in Nashville as part of the CMA Fest week in June. Whilst there he also appeared on two CMR Nashville hosted shows at the Whiskey Bent and Bridgestone Arena Glass Building and other guest appearances.

(Source Lee Williams Manager/ CMA International Broadcaster of 2013/CEO CMR Nashville/Django Promotions)

2012 Award winners Travellin Rose & Bob Harris (OBE)

BCMAwards People’s Choice Award, this is your chance to vote for your favourite Country artist, entries must be in by September 30th 2013. 

You can Download a BCMA Voting Form Here (PDF File) 

Only one vote per person will be permitted.

Please write down your choice and return the coupon to:

Roger Wild, BCMA, People’s Choice Award, 74 Green Lane, Lofthouse, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF3 3QH.

Alternatively, send your choice on a postcard or the back of sealed envelope to the address above.

Ramelton native, Trevor Loughery, recently won the prestigious ‘Best Modern Country Voice’ award, at the Ulster Country Music Awards, which took place on 28th June. This award marks Trevor’s 3rd award to-date, and is cementing his reputation as one of the top up-and-coming country acts in Ireland. Trevor was joined at the ceremony by Highland Radio’s Steven Lynch, who won the ‘Best Daytime Country Show’ award, at the event.

Clydebank’s Aaron Fyfe is a Scottish singer-songwriter currently based in Scotland’s musical capital, Glasgow.

After the recent success of his debut EP, CLOSER TO YOU,  Fyfe is back with a stunning Double A-side release: Freedom

Fighters/Angels. Signed last year to Innovation Music after an impromptu performance at a party (a testament to the raw talent of the Dunblane-born artist); Aaron Fyfe has a distinct, honest quality to his music which has recently impressed both producers and critics far and wide....Read more in the Press Release  (Source PR quitegreat.co.uk )

 Aaron Fyfe “Freedom Fighters” video - soundcloud - Aaron-fyfe-music

Daniel O'Donnell Article "News Kids On The Block" - Nathan Carter and co. give country scene a lift

Peter Cooper introduced highlights from the first night of the CMA Music Festival in Nashville with music & chat from Taylor Swift broadcast on BBC Radio 2. 

Taylor said: "I think its definitely a creative time. It's a time really exciting in music where you have a lot of genres blending into one another. You have a lot of country that's also Folk/Americana you have country that's also pop, and country that is rock influenced.

Most of the country you hear on the radio today is a blend of country and something else which to me is a really progressive step to getting more fans to acknowledge country and love country because I think the more you experiment musically the better a genre gets".

Peter Cooper: Yeah, we don't have many record stores anyway so I don't know why were hung up on the genre thing at all.

Taylor: “I don't think you need to label as much anymore in the generation that everybody has got an iPod everyone's got their own customized playlists. We want to listen to everything we love , not just select lists. Something I've been very grateful of is still to be welcomed into my home which is Nashville and still to be welcomed on country radio and also get to go out and experiment and that's one of my favourite things that's happened this year”. 

Taylor confirmed she will be playing the London O2 Arena and will shortly announce her European tour.

Florida Georgia Line's now 24-week US No.1 smash "Cruise" feat. rapper Nelly enjoys a second week on the BBC Radio 2 “B” playlist for the week commencing August 17th.

OUT:

Kacey Musgraves with "Silver Lining" is pulled from the “B” list.

Glen Campbell’s “Postcard From Paris” is pulled from the “C” list.

UK CHART NEWS

On the Official UK Singles Top 100 Chart (Week Ending August 24, 2013)

Taylor Swift’s ” Everything Has Changed” (Mercury) feat. Ed Sheeran, was down 24-32 in its 13th retail week. Taylor’s “22” was down nineteen slots 72-91 in its 26th chart week.

On the Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week Ending August 24, 2013)

Taylor Swift’s RED was down two slots 35-37 in its 43rd chart week.

The Civil Wars, the alt/Rock/Country duo Joy Williams and John Paul White, who had their highest new entry with their eponymous second album last week saw it fall 15 places from No 2 to No.17. Their debut album “Barton Hollow” which was a re-entry on the previous week dropped 94-96 in its 28th chart weeks.

Veteran US country star Glen Campbell debutted at No.35 (2,682 sales) with SEE YOU THERE (Surfdog). He has released more than 60 studio albums throughout his career, but this is only his eighth to break into the UK Top 40.

Largely recorded in 2010, “See You There” finds Glen revisiting many old favourites in new stripped-down versions. It extends his album chart career to more than 43 years. It is the follow-up to his highest charting studio album, GHOST ON THE CANVAS, which reached No.27 (6,501 sales) back in 2011. That was scheduled to be his last, as he has announced his retirement, and is battling with Alzheimer’s Disease, but the “See You There” sessions were resurrected following the favourable critical reaction to Ghost On The Canvas . 

Campbell has charted 14 albums in the UK, reaching No.1 only once with his 1976 compilation, TWENTY GOLDEN GREATS. At 77, he is one of the oldest men ever to chart an album of new recordings – John Lee Hooker was 79 when he charted with “Don’t Look Back” in 1997, and James Last was 82 when” Music Is My World”, charted in 2011.

“See You There” (Surfdog) is available on Amazon UK CD - MP3 See Tray inlay

Official UK Country Album Chart (Week Ending August 24, 2013)

Glen Campbell new album SEE YOU THERE made its bow at No.1

Nathan Carter with WHERE I WANNA BE (Sharpe Music) stayed at No.2. His debut last week represented a #182 place on the overall Official album places.

Lady Antebellum moved 1-3 with GOLDEN (Decca) in its 15th week.

Vince Gill & Paul Franklin’s collaboration BAKERSFIELD (MCA Nashville) which made its bow at No.15 last week has fallen off the Top 20!

On the Hotdisc Chart (August 18, 2013 Chart)

Chris Higbee with his debut European single “Fiddles Rock” stays at the top for a second succesive week.

Billy Yates’ “She Ain’t Got Nobody” holds at No.2 as Drew Gregory with “Truck.Beer.Girl” moves up one notch 4-3.

Stephanie Jansen’s “Running From The Blues” was up one place 5-4 with Rachele Lynae right behind her at No.5 with “Fishin’ For Something” (co-written with Hannah Bethel).Branch & Dean’s former No.1 "The Dash" dropped 3-6.

Mike Atkin’s “Summertime Song” rounds out the Top 10 jumping up a further 5 places 15-10.

Yorkshire band Atlanta with the original composition "This Promise" made a move up the chart rising 14-9 and thereby top the British & Irish Top 10 brushing aside Stu Edwards & Gone Country. Their a cover of Ray Scott's "My Kind Of Music.", (#11 Hotdisc Top 40) lasted a mere one week atop the chart.

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

(5 Aug 2013) The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars (Columbia/Sensibility Recordings) 11 Tracks / Time: 42:58 #2 Debut on the Official UK album chart. Genres: Alt, Rock, Country, Singer/Songwriter, Americana  CD - MP3 - Vinyl Boxset - iTunes

(13 Aug 2013)  Zane Williams – Overnight Success (Be Music & Entertainment)

11 Tracks/ Time: 42:47 CD - MP3 - UK ITunes

(13 Aug 2013) Erin Enderlin - I Let Her Talk (self release) 

9 Tracks / Time: 30:59 MP3 - iTunes

(13 Aug 2013) Luke Bryan - Crash My Party Import CD

(16 Aug 2013) Ashton Shepherd - This Is America (pickin shed records)

10 Tracks / Time: 34:31 MP3 - iTunes

(20 Aug 2013) Tracy Lawrence - Headlights, Taillights and Radios (Lawrence Music Group) 11 Tracks / Time: 39:30 CD - MP3

(20 Aug 2013) Charlie Worsham – Rubberband CD

2013 debut album from the singer/songwriter. This 11 track release, which features his first single, "Could It Be," was entirely co-written by Worsham, and co-produced with Ryan Tyndell

(20 Aug 2013) The Lacs - Keep It Redneck (Average Joe's)

15 Tracks / Time: 54:15 CD - MP3 - iTunes

BLUEGRASS NEWS

• The 39th Annual Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Uncle Pen Days Festival will be held September 18-21, 2013 at the Bill Monroe Memorial Bluegrass Music Park & Campground in Brown County, Indiana. On Saturday, September 21, George Shuffler will be inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame.
• Nominees for the 2013 International Bluegrass Music Awards were announced August 14, 2013 at a press conference at Nashville’s Loveless Barn, with The Gibson Brothers leading the pack with eight nominations for the band and their individual members. They’re followed by Balsam Range with seven nominations, and The Boxcars, Alison Krauss & Union Station and Russell Moore & IIIrd Time Out with six nominations each. (A full list of nominations appears at the end of this press release 

AUSSIE NEWS

The Tamworth Country Music Festival will take place Jan. 17 - 26, 2014 - www.tcmf.com.au

Two of Australia’s premier singer songwriters, Aleyce Simmonds and Lachlan Bryan, will perform songs from their respective new albums in Sydney at The Mars Hill Cafe in Parramatta on Thursday 22nd August from 8pm. Aleyce’s album has a 13th September 2013 release - Product

The 2013 Gympie Muster kicks off Thursday 22nd August running for four days through to and including Sunday August 25. See the line up. Crowds in excess of 50,000 are predicted to attend the Muster at its dedicated sit in the Amamoor State Forest south of the city of Gympie in Queensland.

ABC Music is thrilled to announce the signing of Australian superstar Adam Brand. Brand established himself as one of Australian County Music's biggest stars over a decade ago and in recent years, he has also become a major mainstream media identity. His most recent album, THERE WILL BE LOVE, debuted at #4 on the ARIA Albums Charts (all genres). “There Will Be Love” was arguably Australian Country's biggest commercial hit of 2012. Brand is a 12 time Golden Guitar winner, has five #1 ARIA Country albums to his credit, over half a million album sales and has been voted CMC Oz Artist of the Year a record five times by Australian Country Music fans.

"I am absolutely thrilled to be starting this next chapter of my career with ABC Music. The team at ABC are undoubtedly at the top of their game and I can't wait to work with them." said Adam Brand.

Adam Brand's' first release will be an acoustically focused album, titled MY ACOUSTIC DIARY, on November 8, 2013. A new full studio album will then follow in mid-2014

Jayne Denham’s “Addicted To The Diesel” remains at #1 for a second week on Country Tracks Top 30 Australia's leading compiled by radio airplay of tracks released in Australia. Jayne was sponsored by 'Wickham Freight line" and now there are two JD Trucks on the road here is the 1st one.

CANADIAN NEWS

While a lot of American country stations are still holding a silly grudge against the Dixie Chicks for Natalie Maines' controversial comments on then president George Bush back in 2003, it appears that the Dixie Chicks are still holding a grudge against America.

Live Nation is thrilled to announce the triumphant return of the multi-platinum selling Dixie Chicks with their Long Time Gone Tour 2013 through select markets in Canada. 

This follows the incredibly warm reception from Canadian fans at this summer’s Craven Country Jamboree, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, and RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest, and marks the first full tour for the Dixie Chicks through Canada in 7 years. Dates start Oct 26, 2013 (Vancouver) to Nov. 10, 2013 (London, ON – Budweiser Gardens).See more at: www.dixiechicks.com Presale details will be posted on their Facebook

Jaydee Bixby, now five years beyond his Runner-Up win on Canadian Idol, and at the age of 22, traditional country music artist will release his third studio Jaydee Bixby album, WORK IN PROGRESS” to iTunes on August 13th and to retail on August 20th 2013. Bixby’s album is the first release from Black Sheep Productions, Bixby’s own independent record label.

CCMA Single of the Year nominee is Bobby Wills’ “Show Some Respect”. The song was the debut single off Wills’ IF IT WAS THAT EASY and it was co-written by Bobby Wills, legendary writer Walt Aldridge (Reba McEntire, Blackhawk) and Mike Pyle (Earl Thomas Conley). Watch the video

Check out the Top Country Charts in Canada (August 14) Link

NEWS

• Carrie'd Away: Carrie Underwood released The Blown Away Tour: Live DVD Tuesday (8/13) complete with performance footage, all four music videos from the Blown Away album and extras that include "The Rehearsals," "The First Show," "Show Build Time-Lapse," "The Fans" and "The Wardrobe." "I think me changing my wardrobe has kinda become a thing," says Carrie of her 15 costume changes per night. "We spend a little extra time doing some things to help tell the story better." In other news, a partnership with Nicole by OPI brings 14 new Carrie inspired nail lacquers in January 2014. The line will feature a signature gold textured shade called "Carrie'd Away."
• The mayor of Rosemont, IL, Brad Stephens, named a street after Toby Keith Wednesday (Aug 14), and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn declared it Toby Keith Day. Both happened during the opening of Toby's latest I Love This Bar & Grill restaurant outside of Chicago, and the man himself made a surprise appearance to play a midday concert for a crowd of approximately 200.
• George Strait will be honoured with the Legend Of Live Award at the 10th annual Billboard Touring Awards, to be held Nov. 14 at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York. Strait -- who has forged a reputation as a record-breaker -- becomes the first country artist to receive the trophy, which recognizes individuals or bands who've made lasting contributions to live music and the touring business.
• Randy Owen, Jeffrey Steele, Will Jennings and Layng Martine Jr. have been announced as the newest members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
• The Henningsens and Lee Brice pranked Brad Paisley on his Beat This Summer Tour in Colorado. Dressed as Star Wars characters, Lee and The Henningsens snuck onto the stage during Brad's set and danced around with their lightsabers.
• CMT OFFSTAGE: Luke Bryan Mixes Twerking With Hip-Hop…The conversation started with Chelsea Handler asking Luke Bryan about twerking. It's that dance with your hands on your hips, your feet apart and your hips bouncing up and down. Like Bryan sometimes does, momentarily and usually by accident, during "Country Girl (Shake It for Me)." "I just get up there and dance, and if it looks like twerking, then you can say, 'Hey he twerked right there,'" he told Handler on Chelsea Lately (Aug. 13).
• Flynnville Train have signed with AGR Television Records – “the audience understands and appreciates our music in Europe more than anywhere else For us, Europe is a kind of second home. 'Jump The Moon PR' are their European publicists -
• Old Crow Medicine Show, the modern-day string band was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry by Opry member and friend Marty Stuart during the group’s concert at the Ohio Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. The group will formally be inducted into the Opry at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Tues., Sept. 17.
• Martina McBride is no longer on the main artist page on Republic Nashville’s website, fueling the rumor that she’s parted ways with the label?
• Tours: The CMA Songwriters Series makes its debut in Texas Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Antone’s in Austin for a special night of storytelling and song. Celebrating its ninth remarkable year, the CMA Songwriters Series will feature special guests Lee Brice, Randy Houser, Jerrod Niemann, and Bob DiPiero, who will also serve as the evening’s host..
• Gary Allan and The Band Perry are a bargain compared to Toby Keith. St. Louis' local CBS station obtained state records that show what each of the headliners at this year's Illinois State Fair make for performing: Toby Keith, John Mayer, and Journey each make $300,000. They'll also get a cut of the gross box office receipts from their shows. The Band Perry's makes $125,000. Billy Currington will earn $80,000 and Gary Allan $75,000.
• TV: ABC went all country and boosted ratings in the process. The network's three-hour "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock," exploded to an average viewership of 8.19 million, according to early numbers from Nielsen, up 44% from last year's telecast. The festival, which featured performances by Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Jason Aldean, roped in a rating of 2 in the key adults 18-49 demographic , an increase of 33% from last year. It was the festival's best rating since 2006 - LA Times

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS

• Dierks Bentley released the driving new single “I Hold On” to country radio in advance of his upcoming seventh studio album RISER. Written by Bentley and Brett James, the song deftly pins spiritual questions to material symbols and is delivered with a building vocal intensity that reassures the listener that each lyric is more personal than the last. Think of Dierks Bentley's new single as the 2013 version of I Walk the Line. It echoes the closely held faith and steely determination of the Johnny Cash classic. "It's so me, so personal, yet it's so universal at the same time," Bentley says in a behind-the-scenes video, that shows the singer on the road and in the studio. "It's kind of a song of self-discovery, too."
• Rascal Flatts have recorded eight songs for their upcoming album and they have a new producer, rocker Howard Benson who’s done albums for Bon Jovi and Daughtry.
• Joey + Rory announced on their RFD-TV television show that they will release their next album, MADE TO LAST, this Autumn.
• Ty Herndon’s Kickstarter campaign was a clear success. He hoped to raise $25,000 during a 30-day period ending Aug. 6. Instead, he generated $54,600 from 380 backers, more than twice his goal. Fifteen of his backers will receive dinner with Herndon, a personal concert or a chance to record with him in return for pledges ranging from $500-$10,000: $1 (9 backers), $10(40), $25(184), $50(41), $75(25), $100(30), $500(5), $2,500(3) to 1 backer at $10,000!

PRESS RELEASES

• Sarah Darling called opening for ALAN JACKSON "Beyond Amazing"
• The Civil Wars were congratulated by The Americana Music Association on their No.1 Billboard Top 200 debut.
• Noam Pikelny, widely known for his work in cutting-edge string band music as a founding member of Punch Brothers will release his 3rd solo Album "Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe" is set for October 1st release on Compass Records.
• Craig Morgan shared his excitement over the new single “Wake Up Lovin’ You” by releasing the brand new music video
• Rising star, Carissa Leigh, embarks on her first summer acoustic tour which began with a performance in Los Angeles and now takes the classic country beauty to major cities across the United States. The tour celebrates Carissa’s debut EP "Not the Same Girl.
• Big Machine Records Newsletter August 16, 2013
• The Band Perry will begin their first headlining tour this fall in Sweden. The We Are Pioneers Tour kicks off on Nov. 8 in Gothenburg and will continue through 10 European countries (20 shows total) before returning to North America in 2014.
• Katie Armiger recently performed in Minneapolis, MN for the teen run Hearts4Charity, to help raise money for their community outreach cause.
• More than twenty Australian roots music artists will travel to Nashville, Tennessee to perform at the 14th annual Americana Music Festival and Conference, held Sept. 18-22. This year’s lineup of official Aussie artists includes The Bushwackers, The Hillbilly Killers, Paul Kelly, Mustered Courage and Melody Pool.
• Marty Raybon snagged two International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) nominations. Sarah Harris (Trinity River Band) received a IBMA Momentum Award Nomination. Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder secured a (IBMA) nomination in the “Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year” category for “New Jerusalem.” 
• Shannon and Heather Slaughter hit Satellite Radio, TV, and Bluegrass & Country Radio Charts. Next month they will be featured on the popular TV show Absolutely Alabama. The couple are expecting a new baby next month.
• Lisa Matassa, rising Country star will sing the National Anthem for one of her favorite hometown MLB teams, the New York Mets, when they face the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, August 20.
• 2013 Inspirational Country Music Awards Finalists announced...Finalists Include Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Darius Rucker and more. The Roys nominated for 2 ICMA’s.

ARTICLES

• CMA Close Up The Subversive Country Artistry of Kacey Musgraves.
• Countrymusicislove Recap: Luke Bryan’s Album Release Party at the iHeartRadio Theater in New York City
• CMT Offstage: Connie Britton Expected Nashville to Be Easy..."I thought it would be easy to move to Nashville, a town where I didn't know a soul, start filming a show that shoots long hours, with a son I'd only adopted four months earlier. That was a rookie mom mistake," Britton says in the new issue of Ladies' Home Journal. "It's been a challenging year, but there've been tremendous rewards." ….

REVIEWS

• Chicago Tribune -Taylor Swift full of fireworks, growing talent at Soldier Field....Taylor Swift struck a great balance between stadium-size production and maturing talent during her sold-out show at Soldier Field on Saturday, where fireworks, pyrotechnics, dancers, myriad costume changes and drummers hoisted into the air added visual spectacle during her set.
• USA Today Luke Bryan has only one place to go — up...Country's hottest entertainer lives the life he sings about in his songs.
• Boston Globe Keith Urban adds to legend with close-up passion…Extract: When he wasn’t meeting-and-greeting, the guitar wonder from Down Under was giving an impassioned performance that ranked among the best of the summer, chock-full of soaring anthems and delicate balladry, sung in his creamy croon and flavored with his tart, economical soloing....Backed by an
• all-secret-weapon four-man band, Urban was deep in the pocket, creating pinpoint moments of intimacy on tunes like the poignant “Stupid Boy” and the defiantly melancholy “You’ll Think of Me” and then busting things wide open on expansive rockers like “Long Hot Summer,” and a cover of the Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
• Australian.com.au :Claire Lynch; Aoife O'Donovan ..…are singers of impeccable pitch and phrasing who have forged their reputations in bluegrass-styled bands, though both were reared a long way from the backwoods of Kentucky. Their careers seem to be running on a remarkably similar trajectory. Lynch, born in upstate New York, has the patronage of the aforementioned legends, to whose mantle she aspires, having added her pristine harmonies to their recordings. Parton credits her with one of the sweetest, purest and best lead voices in the business. Lynch's emotional high and lonesome vocals have also been compared
• to Alison Krauss. O'Donovan, a more sultry and soulful singer, was tacitly anointed by the bluegrass luminary when she covered the Bostonian's Lay My Burden Down on her last album.
• Album reviews: Madison Violet: Come As You Are Live - Emily Maguire: Bird Inside A Cage  
• Uncut (Rating: 9/10) Diana Jones - Museum of Appalachia Recordings
• Country Music People Album of the Month (Duncan Warwick) Terri Sharp's 'Empty Frame' (a tremendous 5-star rating). Listen to "An Empty Frame"- and Behind the scenes video in the recording studio recording her version of 'Eventually' (hit song that Terri wrote for Don McLean)

INTERVIEWS

• CMC Interview: Sara Storer The singer/songwriter talks about her new album, Lovegrass.
• thegirlsare.com  Interview with Gretchen Peters (by Herpreet Kaur Grewal)...Extract: When I moved to Nashville, there was and still is to some extent a real good old boys system in place. When I got my big publishing deal after I’d had a hit or two, I asked the head of the publishing company – who was a woman which was really unusual – why she wanted me and she said ‘we need more women writers’. I remember thinking ‘am I ever just going to be a writer, not a woman writer?’ No one ever talks about men writers. But I accepted that and thought that’s why they think they want me, but I will prove to them why they really want me.  There was definitely the reality that female artists are far more judged on the way they look than male artists are especially back when I first got my record deal (in 1995). There were a lot of male artists that were being signed to record labels then that looked like the guy who worked on your dad’s farm. They were not pretty boys but that was not a factor. But for female artists it was different. Shortly after my first record came out, Shania Twain blew the whole country scene open, and it shifted even more towards that ethic. It’s a shame, it’s the most pervasive thing that female artists have to face: that they are going to be judged that way and not on their songs, singing or performance.
• Country Music Is Llove Five Questions with Charlie Worsham ….Country newcomer Charlie Worsham has been hard at work on his debut album, Rubberband, which is set for release Aug. 20. The Mississippi native, who is known for his banjo skills and signature orange chucks, is eager for fans to finally hear the project. His debut single, “Could It Be” is currently Top 20 at country radio, he opened for Taylor Swift on her Speak Now Tour, is also gearing up to hit the road with Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley.

BOOKS

Read from Ricky Skaggs' Memoir, Kentucky Traveler Musician Reminisces on Growing Up in Eastern Kentucky Amazon.com

MAGAZINES

Travelling Time (who sponsor UK internet station CMR Nashville) - Online Tennessee Brochure

LISTEN

Leah Turner  “Take The Keys” (Edit) It impacts Radio Oct 7th.

FREE DOWNLOADS

Sheryl Crow THE LIVE ROOM SESSIONS ("We Oughta Be Drinkin", "Best Of Times", "Happy") + new single "Easy" for an email share, MP3's are 160kbps quality from noisetrade.com

SPOTIFY COUNTRY

Spotify Payouts Revisited – How Much Does it Pay Now and How Much Should Artists Demand?

(by Justin Colletti is a Brooklyn-based producer/engineer, journalist and educator)  Extract: Spotify made big news again in mid-July when producer Nigel Godrich and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke pulled their music from the streaming service. 

Their move was not without precedent. Just a few months earlier, Jeremy DeVine, head of the indie record label Temporary Residence Ltd, came on to our InputOutput podcast to discuss his plans to withhold new releases from Spotify. Earlier this week, The Huffington Post confirmed that several other independent artists planned to follow suit....in reality, we’re continuing to see average gross payouts just shy of a half-cent ($.005) per play for ad-supported streams, about three-quarters of a cent ($.0075) for “unlimited” streams, and around one-and-a-half cents ($0.015) for “premium” streams.

This means that if you self-released your music and only attracted listeners on the ad-supported service, you’d need about 230,000 spins each month – about 7,700 plays every day – in order to earn minimum wage for just one person. Bleak, perhaps, but a far cry from 4 million (previously reported in 2012) 

Although this revenue share is far better than the $0.00 offered by pirate websites, it remains an unworkable replacement for recorded music sales. Even at $.015 per stream, you’d have to listen to your favourite artist’s song 46 times in order for them to earn the same $.70 they would have ended up getting if you had bought that song on iTunes....

The Guardian Streaming music payments: how much do artists really receive? ...Musician Zoë Keating earned $808 from 201,412 Spotify streams of tracks from two of her older releases in the first half of 2013, according to figures published by the cellist as a Google Doc. The spreadsheet was Keating's latest attempt to shed more light on the issue of streaming music payouts to artists, as part of the wider debate on whether Spotify and its rivals can generate a sustainable income for musicians.

"This is streaming revenue reported from January to June 2013 for my 2 old recordings distributed by CDBaby," explained Keating in the notes section on her spreadsheet.

WATCH

• Vince Gill and Paul Franklin perform "Together Again" a Buck Owens classic from their new album 'Bakersfield' at the Grand Ole Opry.
• Brett Eldredge sings “Don’t Ya” on Fallon
• Steven Lee Olsen "Never Done It Like This"  
• Tiffany Houghton "High"
• Jordan McIntosh "Grew Up in a Country Song"

COUNTRY FASHION

Carrie Underwood took up co-hosting duties on Good Morning America on August 12th covering reports on fashion and music.

She wore a sophisticated pretty Oscar de la Renta printed fit-and-flare three-quarter-sleeved dress in autumnal hues of red and chocolate-brown from the designer’s Pre-Fall 2013 collection. As for pumps she opted for red patent-leather Mary Janes - Fashion Pic Sitting alongside George Stephanopoulos she wore subtle-yet-sparkly earrings from Crislu and a Victorian inspired bracelet from We Dream in Colour.

Carrie Underwood Nail's it!: 

Manicurist Deborah Lippmann may have recently tapped former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson to produce a glittery purple lacquer, but Nicole By OPI announced that it’s partnering with Carrie (image) to produce a line of fourteen polishes, set to hit shelves in January 2014. 

The predetermined hit designed exclusively for for the country star by Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Nicole by OPI's executive VP & artistic director: a gold textured shade aptly named Carrie’d Away. 

The line also includes everything from soft pinks to a deep purple to Carrie's signature shade. There's sadly no vampy dark shade entitled Before He Cheats. - www.refinery29.com - twitter.com/nicolebyopi

Julianne Hough attended the premiere of ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’ held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, California. 

The "Footloose" singer/dancer/actress showcased her sartorial style wearing a Jenny Packham Fall 2013 ensemble (inspired by seventeenth-century Paris salons), which featured a beautiful floral-beaded crop top and bright-red tapered trousers. She matched up teamed with Stuart Weitzman ivory ‘Nudist’ strappy sandals from the Fall 2013 collection featuring ivory textured leather and skinny straps (image). 

Miley (L) & Julianne (R)
Click ENLARGE

Julianne carried a cute clear crystal-accented Jenny Packham ‘Mystery Palace’ clutch (image) which revealed a Chanel compact, lipstick and her white iPhone - Fashion Pic

Celebrity Hairstylist Riawna Capri helped Julianne achieve her look by starting with wet hair. She used Unite’s 7Seconds Leave-In Detangler (1) to condition as well as Oribe Surfcomber Tousled Texture Mousse (2) all over. Riawna then twisted sections of Julianne’s hair all over to the point of where it looked like mini dreadlocks.

The next step was letting it air-dry as long as possible before Riawna finished it off by using low air and high heat while blow-drying it in place. Once dried, she and Julianne shook it out and pieced it out with a dry wax, twisting it in place. Riawna used Unite Conundrum Paste (3). To polish it off, she used Oribe’s Shine Light Reflecting Spray (4) as it left Julianne with “that effortless texture that a curling iron can’t create!,” says Riawna.- See more

Orange is the new black – Julianne Hough paired the citrusy shade with a simple white top as she arrived at the 12th Annual InStyle Summer Soiree at the Mondrian Los Angeles.

Julianne Hough

She wore a dramatic look consisting of a white Bec & Bridge top and a tulip orange Halston Heritage maxi skirt, which really stood out on this dove-grey red carpet. She had a half-up, half-down ‘do and neutral makeup.  

Miley Cyrus wore Saint Laurent Janis platform pumps to the 2013 Teen Choice Awards. These Spring 2013 shoes feature white leather, 125mm heel and small beveled platform (image). Miley wore a bondage style Fall 2013 two-piece outfit by Saint Laurent. 

Miley took home three surfboard awards including one for Choice Style Icon. She posed wearing a black

leather bralet, soft leather buckled mini skirt and ruffled fishnet button-up blouse.

Kacey Musgraves's Flawless Makeup "If I wasn't a singer, I think I'd be a makeup artist," says the 24-year old. She shows us how it's done! Here, Kacey makes up your face.

COUNTRY GOSSIP

Brantley Gilbert and Jana Kramer are no longer engaged, according to People magazine. Gilbert asked Kramer to marry him from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville during an appearance there on Jan. 20, 2013. 

Its OVER !

A source confirms to PEOPLE that the country singers – who celebrated both of their best new artist nominations at the Academy of Country Music Awards in April – blame their careers for the split."They are both so busy right now," a source says. "They are both on the road and have to spend a lot of time apart, which isn't ideal for any couple, let alone a couple trying to plan a wedding."

There was no foul play involved, it's nothing like that," the insider adds. "They were happy together but know what's best."

The former One Tree Hill starlet, 29, was previously married to Johnathon Schaech for a month in 2010, and to Michael Gambino in 2004. 

Jana Kramer may be a triple threat soon – she’s an actress and singer but could she be adding ’professional party girl’ to her resume? Rumours are floating that Jana is being labeled that by some of her peers.

Her now ex fiancé Brantley Gilbert has been sober for over a year. Brantley recently spoke about his sobriety:  “I felt like I could be more productive if I didn’t drink, and it wasn’t something I really needed in my life. I don’t need anything to have a good time or be a hell-raiser. I was born one. I actually have a really good support system. People around me have been really cool.”

Hayden Panettiere: Is the 23-year old engaged to 37-year old Boxer Wladimir Klitschko? Hayden Panettiere‘s love life seems to always be in question, whether it’s on the hit ABC show ‘Nashville,’ or in her everyday life. 

Now, rumors of the actress’ possible engagement have surfaced again. When Panettiere was leaving the LAX airport on Tuesday (Aug. 13), she flashed some major bling on her ring finger as she made her way past paparazzi, according to People. But, she seemed to be hiding the sparkly diamond by holding her iPhone in her left hand. Coincidence or intentional?

Luke Bryan lost his id, cash and credit cards when a backpack with his wallet was stolen following a flight to Seattle.

Carrie Underwood is moving to New York City soon for ‘The Sound of Music,’ and she says her must haves include access to grass for her dogs plus a gym and a grocery store.

Billy Currington pled not guilty thru his attorney yesterday to those charges of terroristic threats and abuse of an elder person from April. Billy will have a trial with a jury October 4.

Carrie Underwood performed at the Toyota national dealer's meeting last week and they gave her a brand new Toyota Tundra.

LeAnn Rimes and her husband Eddie’s upcoming VH1 show has hit a bit of a snag. Eddie's ex-wife will not let their two sons be on it and since it isn't actually a reality show but more of a scripted sit-com, I wonder if they’ll hire child actors now?

Garth Brooks is being sued by an ex-employee who worked for him for 20 years. She wants $425,000 in back wages and she claims he’s paranoid, angry, deceitful and vindictive. Garth tried to have the suit moved to federal court recently, but the judge said no, the case will be tried in a Los Angeles Superior Court room.

Danielle Bradberry The Voice 2013 champ, Outside of the entertainment world says, “My mom’s a hairdresser and I’ve always watched her cut hair and all these cool hairstylists and that’d be kinda interesting for me. I’d like to cut hair.” Perhaps she could get her band members or back-up singers to let her cut their hair when she’s out on the road to get her fix.

Interviews from Hell: Paul Koffy (now morning host at KMNB [Buz’n 102.9] Minneapolis) had a bad day with singer John Berry. “We hadn’t added his record and he was in for a radio tour,” Koffy recalls. “He sat there holding the newspaper up over his face answering questions through the paper—this was live—and he couldn’t figure out why the interview only went, like, one minute ... I was wrapping up before he knew what happened.

WPOC Baltimore morning host Laurie DeYoung has had a couple of memorably bad interviews as well. Marty Stuart once “got upset with me when I asked about his drunk driving arrest,” she says. “I don’t usually ask those kinds of questions, but we were talking about changes in his life and how he felt like he was in a better place, and [I asked] if the arrest was a wake-up call that prompted some of the changes he had discussed. He went very cold ... after that. The interview was pretty much over.”

She had a similarly bad experience with singer Mandy Barnett at a remote broadcast from Nashville. “She just didn’t want to be there; it was really obvious,” DeYoung recalls. “She gave very short answers and looked like there were a million other places she’d rather be. I told her publicist afterwards that it’s better to say an artist won’t be coming than to bring them through the gauntlet when they clearly don’t want to be there. Better to leave no impression than to leave a bad one.”

TWEETS

SamPalladio Sam Palladio 16 Aug Great @thekillers show last night in Georgia with my buddies @ronnie_vannucci and @RealCarmack! Thanks boys! twitter photo

Hillary Scott tweeted, “so crazy to watch myself 8 months pregnant on CMA Music Fest and at the same time be watching my peaceful sleeping daughter!”

PHOTO

Wolvestock Festival 2013 ( by Sheila Southam) :

Main Band Stage (Saturday) / Main Band Stage (Sunday) /

UpCountry Stage / General Photos

49th Cambridge Folk Festival, Click on the Gallery Links 1 - 4

BIRTHDAYS

August 19: Lee Ann Womack (1966), Clay Walker (1969), Eddy Raven (1934)

August 20: Jim Reeves (1924), Rudy Gatlin (1952), John Hiatt (1952)

August 21: Nick Kane (Mavericks) (1954), Kenny Rogers (1938) 

August 22: Holly Dunn (1957), Collin Raye (1960), Mila Mason (1963) 

August 23: Sammy Sadler (1967)

August 24: Kristyn Osborn (SHeDaisy) (1970)

August 25: Jo Dee Messina (1970), Billy Ray Cyrus (1961) 

R.I.P

Tompall Glaser, one of country music’s original Outlaws, died at 79 after fighting a prolonged illness according to his family.

Glaser would never achieve the success of contemporaries like Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings but was a key player in the rebellion they started against Music Row in the early 1970s. He appeared on "Wanted! The Outlaws," a 1976 compilation that also included Nelson and Jennings and became country music's first platinum-selling album.

Tompall got his start in country music with his two younger brothers Chuck and Jim backing up Marty Robbins. They went on to form Tompall & The Glaser rothers and eventually became members of the Grand Ole Opry. Read Separate Blog Post

Prescription Bluegrass has learned tonight that Bobby Slone, a fiddler and bassist with the original J.D. Crow and New South band has died after a long battle with cancer and other health problems.

Following the disbandment of the Kentucky Mountain Boys, J.D. Crowe formed the New South, which was the most revolutionary bluegrass outfit of its time. Originally, the band consisted of guitarist Tony Rice, mandolinist Ricky Skaggs, dobroist Jerry Douglas, and fiddler/bassist Bobby Slone, and they played a wildly eclectic brand of bluegrass on electric instruments.