Country Bites News snippets August 5 - August 11, 2013

Country Bites News snippets August 5 – August 11, 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

Hayseed Dixie, the AC/DC-inspired hard rock/bluegrass [hardgrass?] crossover outfit tour the UK in November - Dates

Nathan Carter announced his summer single "The Boys Of Summer" (Audio -a cover of Don Henley's classic track) is now getting "massive airplay on all radio stations". 

It’s a track from his brand new album, WHERE I WANNA BE was released digitally on the 3rd August (SHARPE MUSIC) and on CD on 6th August. CD - iTunes

It includes the Lumineers smash hit "Ho Hey" and "Eighteen Wheels & A Dozen Roses" (Kathy Mattea). 

The title cut (written by Sandy Denny) has been recorded by Thea Gilmore but used the word "London" in the lyrics which has been replaced with "Ireland". The album has been top 5 on the UK iTunes Country Album chart all week.

UKCountryRadio.com will host a special programme being broadcast on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26th at 1pm. Join Martyn Williams for “Listeners’ Club Award: The Finalists”, in which you will be able to hear an interview with each finalist (Chris Green Project, Ray Peters Band, Sharon King & The Reckless Angels, Thorne Hill and Wayne Jacobs) plus an acoustic track. The show is repeated on Friday 30th August at 8pm and Saturday 31st August at 5pm.

UKCountryRadio.com are currently processing hours of recorded material and putting together a special programme featuring the highlights of this year’s Americana Festival. You can hear it at 2pm on Bank Holiday Monday, 26th August. At the Newark Showground event the station interviewed a whole host of people – from US country music stars Mandy Barnett and Billy Yates, through UK talent including Raintown, The Kerr Donnelly Band, Lazy Dog, Aynt Skynyrd, Sharna Mae, Gary Perkins, Gary Quinn and Tony Wall.

UKCountryRadio.com UK Spotlight Artists the rest of August are: Aug 9-11: John Aston, Aug 16-18: Juey, Aug 23-25: David Ferrard, Aug 30-Sep 1: The Voodoo Katz. Source Listeners Club Newsletter

Mickie James the Montpelier, Virginia based and 3X TNA Wrestler Champ/ Country singer has been on a European Tour which included an album launch party at the Grace Bar (42-44 Great Windmill Street), Soho, London (July 21) and in Ayr, Scotland on Saturday (July 20, an event with fellow TNA star Robbie E, and faced off against British grappler Nikki Storm at a Pro Wrestling Elite show).

James travelled from her home in Virginia to London to promote TNA’s 2014 tour and her album SOMEBODY’S GONNA PAY. Running two careers side by side might sound tough, but the TNA beauty has assured fans she’s equally dedicated to both. She told The Sun: “My music is going down well with fans in the UK and Europe. They really seem to get it and like it. “This is not a hobby for me, I am very serious about it". “I like a challenge and take every opportunity I can to showcase our talented Knockouts division. “There is similarity between wrestling and music. I love and appreciate how much praise we get in the ring and that translates to the stage as well. “If people sing along or clap, you know you have done something right.”

The album launch party was hosted by Joel Ross and the WrestleTalk team! The London party offered fans and wrestling journalists the chance to celebrate the release of the new record alongside the singer. “The launch went amazing … it was my first opportunity to share my music and the album with the fans over here” she told the Mirror. “I have wanted the chance to come over to the UK for a while to do this, and everyone has been so supportive”.

Mickie also went to Germany as part of her tour and shared some of the photos - European 2013 Tour Photos  (Taken at Grace Bar by Tony Knox and Sarah Barraclough)

Away from the wrestling ring, Mickie is enjoying a successful music career as a country singer and released her second album SOMEBODY’S GONNA PAY which charted at #55 on the Billboard Country Album chart selling 1,062 copies on its debut chart week (June 1, 2013) "I went to the studio and did the first six songs and had a Kickstarter because I was originally going to self release the album. I was fortunate to get $16,000," she shared.

• Mickie James and the stars of TNA are coming to Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, London and Birmingham in January/February 2014 - gigsandtours
• Amplified TV sat down with the multi-talented Mickie to discuss her brand new album, “Somebody’s Gonna Pay”, and being TNA Knockouts Champion.
• UK Album Launch Photoshoot 

For the week commencing August 10th Kacey Musgraves with "Silver Lining" enjoys a third week on the BBC Radio 2 “B” playlist and is joined by the Zac Brown Band with "Jump Right In" for their 2nd week following their “A” playlisting.

Florida Georgia Line's now 23-week US No.1 smash "Cruise" feat. rapper Nelly which was last week’s BBC Radio 2's Record Of The Week is now added to the “B” playlist. The remix single gets an official UK release on 30th August - MP3 . 

September 2nd is the UK focus date when the label want radio to play it! The video has received 16.3 million YouTube hits!

Glen Campbell’s “Postcard From Paris” stays on the C” list.

OUT:

Taylor Swift's "Everything Has Changed" is pulled from the “B” list.

The Mavericks with "Come Unto Me" is pulled from the “C” list.

UK CHART NEWS

On the Official UK Singles Top 100 Chart (Week Ending August 17, 2013)

Taylor Swift’s ” Everything Has Changed” (Mercury) feat. Ed Sheeran, was down 19-24 in its 12th retail week. Taylor’s “22” was down four slots 68-72 in its 25th chart week.

Dated Aug 8th Year-to-date UK sales for Taylor’s hit “I Knew You Were Trouble” were 526,600

Of note 20-year-old singer and actress Miley Cyrus has gone straight to the top of the Official Singles Chart with “We Can’t Stop” (“A” playlisted by BBC Radio 1), ending Avicii’s three week stand at Number 1 with Wake Me Up!.

Miley sold 128,159 copies of “We Can’t Stop” and it was not only Miley’s first British Number 1, it is also her first Top 10 single in the UK.

Her previous highest charting tracks were 2008’s “See You Again”, and 2009’s “The Climb” and “Party In The USA” which all peaked at No.11. Thay are her three biggest-selling songs in the UK hitherto, “The Climb” (written by Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe) from the 2009 film Hannah Montana: The Movie is way out in front with 311,131 sales, followed by “Party In The USA” (245,300), then See You Again (149,553). “The Climb”, was subsequently the coronation single of 2009 X Factor winner Joe McElderry, reaching number one, and selling 809,182 copies.

She also finally eclipses father Billy Ray Cyrus' biggest hit, Achy Breaky Heart, which reached its No.3 peak 21 years ago next week, three months before Miley was born.

Watch Miley’s “We Can’t Stop” video at www.muzu.tv

On the Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week Ending August 17, 2013)

Taylor Swift’s RED was down eight slots 27-35 in its 42nd chart week. As of August 8th UK Year-To-Date sales for RED were 193,400.

The Alt/Rock/Country duo Joy Williams and John Paul White, known collectively as The Civil Wars, scored this week’s highest new entry with their eponymous second full-length new in at No 2. 

The album, which was co-produced by Rick Rubin (Adele / Red Hot Chili Peppers / Kanye West), is the pair’s highest charting UK album to date; their 2011 debut, BARTON HOLLOW, peaked at #13 and re-enters the chart at #94. This new entry from Civil Wars unseated X Factor English singer Jahmene Douglas whose "Love Never Fails" fell to fifth. The Civil Wars were outsold by a cool 15,000 copies by The Impossible Dream from Britain’s Got Talent brothers Richard & Adam [Johnson] which sold 24,864 copies to spend a second week at No.1.

The title is the second lowest for a #1 album this year, beating only the 18,904 copies that Jaheme Douglas' chart topper

sold a fortnight previous.

The Civil Wars took the runners-up slot with sales of 9,825 copies. It is only the second time that the number two slot has been secured on sales of less than 10,000 in 710 weeks that have thus far elapsed in the 21st century. Their first album Barton Hollow  was originally released in February 2011, and reached number 54 that October. It was subsequently expanded in March 2012 with new additions. It re-entered the chart and peaked at No.13. It has sold 84,585 copies to date.

Official UK Country Album Chart (Week Ending August 17, 2013)

Lady Antebellum stay at No.1 with GOLDEN (Decca) in its 14th week.

Nathan Carter with WHERE I WANNA BE (Sharpe Music) makes his debut at No.2.

Vince Gill & Paul Franklin’s collaboration BAKERSFIELD (MCA Nashville) made iot bow at No.15

On the Hotdisc Chart (August 11, 2013 Chart)

Chris Higbee with his debut European single “Fiddles Rock” topped the chart moving 2-1 knocking off Branch & Dean’s "The Dash" which dropped 1-3 after enjoying 2-weeks at No.1. Billy Yates’ climbed 3-2 with “She Ain’t Got Nobody” and Drew Gregory with “Truck.Beer.Girl” was up 2 slots to No.4.

Stephanie Jansen’s “Running From The Blues” jumped up 4 places from 9-5 with Rachele Lynae right behind her with “Fishin’ For Something” (co-written with Hannah Bethel) which entered the top 10 moving 13-6.

Mike Atkin’s “Summertime Song” made big strides leaping up 8 places 23-15 as does David Wood’s “Pretty Country Girls” with the weeks biggest climber accolade with a nine place hop to No.16.

Stu Edwards & Gone Country top the British & Irish Top 10 and held at #12 on the Hotdic Top 40 with their first single on Hotdisc, a cover of Ray Scott's "My Kind Of Music."

UK COUNTRY ALBUM / DVD RELEASES

(6 Aug 2013)  Brett Eldredge - Bring You Back(import) 

13 Tracks/ Time: 45:10 CD - MP3 

(5 Aug 2013) The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars (Columbia) 

12 Tracks/ Time: 42:58 CD - MP3 

(12 Aug 2013) Glen Campbell - See You There (Surfdog) CD - MP3

See You There, which offers stunning new takes of his career-defining hits

(13 Aug 2013) Luke Bryan - Crash My Party CD  his third studio album

I Got A Woman: Gems From The Decca Vaults 1960-1961 (Box Set)  ..tracks from a bygone era from artists such as Brenda Lee, Sandra Dee and Bill Haley, all appearing on this compilation.

Various Artists - Black Smoke: Gems From The Starday Vaults 1961-1962 - CD

Enjoy the country tones of Clifton, West, Sovine et al, and transport yourself back to a more authentic era of US music.

(12 Aug 2013) Carrie Underwood: The Blown Away Tour - Live [DVD] [2013] 

Region 2 (Europe format)

AUSSIE NEWS

Jayne Denham's single "Addicted To The Diesel" has gone to No1! Check out Country Tracks Top 30 Australia's leading compiled by radio airplay of tracks released in Australia.

Sami Cooke is a rising talent on the Australian country scene. Earlier this year, she won the Maureen Wagner Award 2013 for Most Promising Young Artist in Australian country music at the Cancer Council's Country Music Showcase in Windsor. Sami was Beccy Coles' Shiny Star in Canberra and got to sing on her stage, "a wonderful experience", Sami said. This is Sami's final year of high school. She has been recording at Derwent Studio in Canberra her album of originals to be released in Tamworth in January 2014 to be followed by a major album launch/18th birthday on February 8 at the German Club in Canberra ahead of her Australian tour. Watch her "Click Of Her Fingers" video

Briana Lee, the Melbourne-based singer-songwriter released her debut recording PART OF YOU earlier this year, the album has been a long time coming for the performer, who most notably won the Telstra Road To Tamworth [Discovery] title back in 2007.

Briana, who either penned or co-penned 13 of the album's 14 tracks, started the project back in June 2011.

Writing and selecting tracks for the album turned serious and it was decided the music would be recorded in Nashville and Briana's vocals could be tracked at the Hervey Bay studio. Sadly in the midst of all the planning, Briana's father was killed in a car accident in March 2012. Needless to say, album proceedings were called to a halt. It was during this time that Briana started to pen the album's title track ... a stirring tribute to her dad.

25-year old Briana also co-wrote with Jasmine Rae on the final track off her new album 'First Song' after her father passed away from cancer..Read more

CANADIAN NEWS

• Langley, British Columbia artist Dallas Smith joins Country duo Florida Georgia Line for select dates (Oct 3rd onwards) on their “Here’s To The Good Times” Tour. Check out Dallas’ "Nothing But Summer" video and website for dates
• Top Country Charts in Canada (August 7)

NEWS

• Cassadee Pope is loving being able to perform her debut single, “Wasting All These Tears” every night on tour with Rascal Flatts
• Philadelphia based Americana/Alt-country singer-songwriter, Jiggley Jones has earned his second straight OnlyLyrics.com chart-topping music video with “Ain’t That Alright.
• Australian Rules Football:  What's more American (Idol) than football? Ask Keith Urban, who will perform live from a floating stage in Baltimore's Inner Harbor on Thursday, Sept. 5 as part of NFL Kickoff 2013.
• Billy Dean has been recruited by Kenny Rogers to play the lead role in this year’s edition of the critically-acclaimed Broadway-style Christmas production, The Toy Shoppe. It will kicks off on November 1 and will continue through December 21.
• Oh Baby Lets Go To Vegas!: Did Tim McGraw and Faith Hill blow their fortunes in Vegas? Well they are back with their Soul2Soul show will a new run opening Oct. 25 and spans 10 selected weekends through April of next year - Book - The song is legend viva Las Vegas
• Duo Dynasty:  LeAnn Rimes and husband Eddie Cibrian will star in a VH1 reality show premiering in the fall. Produced by Gurney Productions (Duck Dynasty), LeAnn & Eddie promises to "bring the truth and make fun of all the gossip." Six half-hour episodes are planned.
• Laura Bell Bundy the country music singer and former Broadway star has joined the cast of FX's Anger Management, starring Charlie Sheen. Bundy has already been in wardrobe fittings and line readings, and her single "Two Step" impacts Aug. 19.
• Loretta Lynn is set to receive America's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.The award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the national interests of the United States or American culture. A total of 16 recipients will make up the 2013 list.
• Angie Johnson was a special guest at the Cheez-It 355 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at The Glen, in Watkins Glen, NY at the  weekend. Johnson is also celebrating her own victory this week as she just released her very first single to radio, “Swagger” which she co-wrote.  The song is a fun up-tempo, forget your troubles and have a good time tune, guaranteed to make you wanna tap your foot! Her debut EP, Sing For You, was released digitally May 21, 2013. The Sony Music Nashville artist visited the MusicRow offices on Wednesday (Aug. 7) to preview songs from her EP - Photo
• Coles Whalen the Denver, CO singer-songwriter/Americana artist is OurStage.com's latest Artist of the Week. The country singer and songwriter has
  
  been on their Best of the Best charts for over 140 weeks, and perched at #1 on the Best of Country chart for the better part of that time. Blurb: And it’s no surprise. Whalen’s voice is strong and commanding, but without the usual grit many singers employ when striving for power. Often delivering her lyrics in a kind of hushed whisper, they only come off as more insistent. Whalen has just released her newest LP, Come Back, Come Back on XMG Records. It’s a collection of alternately seething and jubilant country songs. The Denver-based musician straddles the line between commercially accessible and alt-country, hitting the sweet spot for an artist possessing both soul and ambition. The lead single, “Catch Hold” captures this perfectly, with a flowing melody atop a clever arrangement that adds harmonies, banjo, shaker, and a subtle, phasey guitar solo to some roomy drums and bass as the song builds. Having crossed the country many times, opening for the diverse likes of Rufus Wainwright,Paula Cole, Joan Jett and Kellie Pickler. Coles Whalen is no stranger to the road. Read her full Bio and listen to her songs at ourstage.com
• George Strait  will be honored at this year's upcoming ASCAP Country Music Awards with the prestigious Founder's Award. He will be given the honor at the invitation-only, black-tie gala on Nov. 4 at the Music City Center in Nashville.
• Tour News: Gwen Sebastian will be joining Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley on their “Locked and Reloaded” tour. Scotty McCreery has added a fall leg to his Weekend RoadTrip Tour beginning Aug. 9 in Hyannis, MA. So far, 19 dates are confirmed through year's end. Luke Bryan’s “Dirt Road Diaries Tour” is selling out venues across the U.S. and it was announced that the tour will add a second show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, October 19. The sold-out Friday, October 18 show will feature openers Florida Georgia Line and Thompson Square and the October 19 show will feature very special guest Dierks Bentley and Cole Swindell.
• TV – The airdate for 'CMT Crossroads' with Lady Antebellum and Stevie Nicks will be be Sept 13.

COUNTRY AWARDS

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will return to host the CMA Awards for the sixth time in 2013! “The 47th Annual CMA Awards” airs live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, November  6th live on ABC - Graphic

Winners of “The 47th Annual CMA Awards” will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members of CMA (7,000 industry professional members).

The eligibility period for the 2013 CMA Awards is July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.

The second ballot will be emailed to CMA members Tuesday, August 20 and voting closes at Friday, August 30.

The final nominees in each of the 12 categories will be announced in September.

The third and final ballot will be emailed on Thursday, October 10. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Monday, October 28 -  Read full CMA Press Release

Teen Spirit: Country winners at Sunday night's (8/11) FOX-TV Teen Choice Awards included:

Choice Female Country Artist: Taylor Swift

Choice Country Song: 

Taylor Swift "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Choice Male Country Artist: Hunter Hayes

Choice Country Group: Lady Antebellum.

That makes 22 career wins for Taylor at the Teen Choice Awards! They were held at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA. Florida Georgia Line performed with Nelly; watch here and view all the winners

MUSIC NEWS

The Pirate Bay has released its own browser that allows user to get around ISP blocks. TorrentFreak reports that the 'Pirate Browser' - a version of the Firefox browser - is currently only Windows-compatible but will be released for Mac and Linux soon.

As well as getting around censored sites, it comes pre-loaded with bookmarks to several other blocked sites.

A company spokesperson said: “It’s a simple one-click browser that circumvents censorship and blockades and makes the site instantly available and accessible. No bundled ad-ware, toolbars or other crap, just a Pre-configured Firefox browser.

“This browser is just to circumvent censorship, to remove limits on accessing sites governments don’t want you to know about.”

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS

• Patty Griffin's 2000 effort "Silver Bell" (intended follow-up to album Flaming Red) is finally seeing release on October 8th through Universal Music Enterprises. The all-original songs spent about 13 years in catalog limbo, due in large part to a change in ownership at A&M, and in that time both “Top of the World” and “Truth #2" were covered (and made hits) by the Dixie Chicks on their 2002 album Home. 
• The Band Perry's third single from PIONEER is "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" (Written by Sarah Buxton, Chris Tompkins and Rodney Clawson).
• John Oates third single “Let’s Drive” from new cross-genre journey, Good Road To Follow, will be released on August 13. A laid-back cruiser written by Oates and produced by Nashville guitarist and producer Tom Bukovac, was inspired by Oates’ son.
• Erin Enderlin a celebrated songwriting maverick will release her highly anticipated second album I LET HER TALK August 13. The dynamic tunesmith co-wrote the entire nine-song collection, which includes the rowdy lead single “Countryside” and the arresting title track, which gives a fresh spin on the classic cheating song. Featuring Joey + Rory’s Joey Martin Feek on guest vocals, “I Let Her Talk” describes a scene of a woman in a bar-room where, thanks to a loose-lipped drunk, she discovers her husband is having an affair.
• Peter Cooper, musician, songwriter and music journalist will release his third solo record OPENING DAY on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The project follows his recent duo release with Eric Brace, “The Comeback Album”.
• Keith Urban’s much-anticipated seventh studio album FUSE, set for release on September 10th, is his first in nearly three years. It will contain thirteen brand new tracks including his newest Top 10 single “Little Bit Of Everything”, as well as duets with Miranda Lambert (“We Were Us”) and Eric Church (“Raise ‘Em Up”). A deluxe edition will contain sixteen songs. The songs on FUSE were written, gathered and recorded over the past year and half.  Says Urban, “these songs just connected with me, whether for their energy or for what they were saying or just for the fact that they made me feel good.  All of them have merit and even though we recorded a lot of songs, slowly this particular group started to come together.” 

PRESS RELEASES

• Kenny Chesney rocked The Georgia Dome (49,302 fans, plus family, friends + Surprise Jam) - 18 Pics Gallery
• Tyler Farr (Columbia Nashville) had two career-firsts, his hit single, “Redneck Crazy” went GOLD and he hit TOP 10 on the Country Mediabase chart, all before the launch of his debut album.
• 84-year old Jesse McReynolds, mandolin pioneer and bluegrass songwriter is at home taking it easy and wearing a heart monitor after being diagnosed recently with an irregular heartbeat.
• Show Your Support for The Band Perry & Vote for them as Part of the Teen Choice Awards! -Image
• Sweetwater Rain (Curb Records) peaked Billboard Top 50 with their debut single “Starshine”, the band who comprise Danny Rivera (guitar and lead vocals), Fred Stallcup (lead guitar and vocals) and Thomas Hewlett (bass guitar and vocals) digitally releases their sophomore single “Pray For Me”. The trio introduced the inspirational single to fans with a lyric video in the summer of 2013 and will be sent to radio in the fall – UK iTunes
• Tim Ash (SMG Nashville) artist and ivory-tickling stylist releases his debut single “Broke”** from his CD entitled UP ON BLOCKS (produced by Gary Sadker and Tim Ash/anticipated in early Fall, 2013). Written by powerhouse hitmaker collaborators Ashley Gorley (“Crash My Party”/ Luke Bryan, “Good Girl”/ Carrie Underwood) and Bryan Simpson (“Better Than I Used To Be”/ Tim McGraw), the storyline equates the humorous and metaphoric “relationship” between a broken heart, an egg, a window, an empty wallet and a car up on blocks—all in a “no-fix” situation.
• The Roys returned to RFD-TV's Larry's Country Diner - Image
• Craig Morgan, enlists Aaron Lewis and Tate Stevens, with motocross celebs for his 7th annual charity event.
• Phil Vassar‘s latest hit, “Love It Alive,” the upbeat single premiered on CMT Pure and CMT.com. The premise of the video is a three-act love story reminiscent of John Cusak-inspired films such as Serendipity - Image
• Carrie Underwood will celebrate the release of her live concert DVD on Mon, August 12. Carrie will join the anchors of Good Morning America as a special guest host then on Tues, August 13 she will be a guest on Live! with Kelly & Michael.
• Sponsor Fikes Truck Line has debuted the official Highway Angel Truck Stop Tour truck. Prominently featuring (TCA) Highway Angel spokesperson Lindsay Lawler on the side, the truck will also serve as a stage throughout the tours 26 stops.
• Rural Rhythm Records announced a new archival series that will focus on “classic album reissues” with a HERITAGE COLLECTION Series to will help keep traditional roots music alive. 
• Kenny Chesney, 4-time Entertainer of the Year has never done a costume change until…Bangor, Maine.
• Sarah Darling  calls opening for Alan Jackson "Beyond Amazing" + US tour dates

ARTICLES

• Spot On: Krystal Keith ...being the daughter of a country music icon must have inspired and influenced Krystal to pursue her own musical dreams. It sure can’t hurt to have Toby Keith as your daddy lending you advice while you pursue your passions…
• Rollingstone Taylor Swift gets all sweaty on her HOT RED Tour
• Billboard Reba Week: Her 10 Biggest Billboard Hits - "Consider Me Gone", first release July 29, 2009 (written by Steve Diamond and Marv Green) is surprisingly at #1. It was her second release for the Valory label (imprint of Big Machine) from her thirty-third studio album Keep On Loving You (GOLD certified), which was released on August 18, 2009. On the chart January 2, 2010, the song became McEntire's 34th #1 single. It is also her longest-lasting #1 at four weeks (Chart issue dates Jan 2 - Jan 30th) until Tim McGraw's "Southern Voice" toppled it. Watch "Consider Me Gone" at http://vevo.ly/JY9ulY . Reba's first #1? On the Billboard Chart Jan 8, 1983 with "Can't Even Get The Blues" (Mercury)
• Washington Post: Country goes dance: Why music’s most traditional genre is adding some thump ..Extract: The concept has taken off recently, buoyed by the release of “Country Club,” an EP from longtime nightclub DJ/producer Dee Jay Silver on which two scorned-lover tales (Carrie Underwood’s “Two Black Cadillacs” and Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”) get spliced together, while Alabama’s 1983 hit “Dixieland Delight” features guest vocals from Southern rap group Nappy Roots. “Country isn’t some slow music about a lonely guy — it’s party music,” said Silver...Scott Borchetta, president and CEO of the Big Machine Label Group, says the growth of dance-heavy music is a natural progression with the emergence of younger artists coming up through the ranks, and their diverse musical influences.“When you look at the current crop of country singers who are getting traction the last couple of years, they grew up listening to hip-hop as well as country. It’s coming out in their music because it’s in their DNA,” Borchetta said. “Look at Florida Georgia Line — you listen to the cadence of a lot of their melodies, and there’s a natural hip-hop element to that.”
• Taunton Gazette (2 pages) : Vince Gill considers himself a student of country music   Extract:…“I feel like these songs and this music have been in my brain my whole life,” explained Gill by telephone recently from his home in Nashville. “When it comes to country music, Buck Owens and Merle Haggard have always been a cut above. And when you’re a cut above everybody else, it is because of the songs. Buck and Merle have two of the defining catalogues in country music history. They are Mount Rushmore guys. And they put the honky-tonk beer joint sound into country. Buck and Merle led the movement from croonerish country to twang, running pretty hard as they went. It wasn’t smooth or pretty, but it was life-changing.”...........Owens died in 2006, but the 76-year-old Haggard continues to makes records and perform. At Franklin’s request, Haggard wrote the liner notes for “Bakersfield.” “Merle’s acceptance and positive assessment of this album means everything to us. The most important thing is to have Merle know how much I respect him. I’ve known him, and I knew Buck, for a long time. To know your heroes is very sweet. I remember being awestruck when I did ‘Hee Haw’ in the 1980s and got to meet Buck for the first time. I’ve been awestruck every time I’ve been in the presence of either one of them. No matter what I have achieved, that reverence will always continue. I still very much feel like their student.”

REVIEWS

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Blake Shelton concert 'All About Tonight' for fans...."I came here for two reasons: to drink and to sing country music. Now let's get to work," Shelton said after his opening song....Read more
• The Republican (Springfield, MA): Miranda Lambert reigns on Hartford stage…It may sounds like a country music tour featuring one of the many new rowdy-boy faces of the genre trying to sell records with videos of truck-driving, mud-jumping, and beer-drinking to a formulaic pop-country sound track...Well…you’d be half right..The “Locked and Reloaded” tour is a country music tour that stopped at the Comcast Theatre on Saturday night but those good ol’ country boys were nowhere to be found; the night belonged to Miranda Lambert. Packing more musical heat than any of her country music contemporaries would dare to muster, the diminutive star offered up a 90 minute set of vitriolic “done somebody wrong” (and wait to you see what I have planned for revenge) songs that proved she is the real face (and attitude) of new country music....

INTERVIEWS

• Diva Dirt: Exclusive: Mickie James Hosts Album Launch Party in London, Talks New Record, Knockouts and More
• CMA Close Up: Little Big Town Previews ABC’s "CMA Music Festivals: Country's Night To Rock"

LISTEN

Charlie Faye the Americana Austin-based artist settled down in one place to record her upcoming album YOU WERE FINE, YOU WEREN’T EVEN LONELY recorded in the midst of her deteriorating relationship with Will Sexton, creating a collection of songs that explores heartbreak from every angle. Stream the new album / interview at americansongwriter.com

Alabama gear up for the release of guest-heavy album "Alabama & Friends," featuring Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Trisha Yearwood and others. Check out the exclusive premiere of "All American," one of two new Alabama songs off the album at

Billboard.com

Luke Bryan – Stream his new single “That's My Kind of Night” at iheart.com. The BDS Radio programmers are already backing it to the hilt with first week "Hot Shot Debut", "Most Increased Audience" and "Most Added" honours. Love it or hate it?

SPOTIFY COUNTRY

For users of this online music streaming service here are some of the more recent additions and recommendations.

When its free and easy on Spotify who needs music piracy? You might get the party started at the White House? 

Brett Eldredge Bring You Back - Stand outs: "One Mississippi", "Raymond"

The Civil Wars self-titled - Aug 2013 release ..Stand outs: "Eavesdrop", "From This Valley"

American Young – Love Is War (Single) - Impacts radio Sept 9

Skylar Elise – Gypsy Soul (Single) - Impacts country radio Aug 5

Cowboy Jack Clement – Guess Things Happen That Way – The late Country Music Hall of Famer’s album 

WATCH

• Chris Cavanaugh “I'm All About That”
• Skylar Elise "Gypsy Soul" (2013) (#2 on onlylyrics.com )
• Thomas Rhett  "It Goes Like This" (#4 on onlylyrics.com)
• Billboard 615 Article - Court Yard Hounds Rock 'Amelita' Tracks, Talk Album + Dixie Chicks
• Dolly Parton & Kris Kristofferson “Ping Pong”
• Templeton Thompson "When I Get That Pony Rode"
• Maggie Sajak country music newcomer is set to release a new single to Country radio on August 22nd, titled “Wild Boy.” the track is described as an upbeat, rhythmic salute to a rebellious boy with an intoxicating wild side. The catchy track was written by hit songwriters Aimee Mayo (“This One’s For The Girls”), Chris Lindsey (“Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful”), Caitlyn Smith (“Let It Hurt”) and Troy Verges (“Wanted”) and was produced by Josh Leo (Martina McBride, Love & Theft).
• Amanda Shires "Devastate" from the album, Down Fell The Doves
• Vince Gill and Paul Franklin perform "Together Again" a Buck Owens classic from their new album 'Bakersfield' at the Grand Ole Opry
• Carolynne Poole the 2012 X Factor contestant with covers “Everything Has Changed” by Taylor Swift & Ed Sheeran.

COUNTRY FASHION

The Tennessean: Reba McEntire’s designer Sandi Spika Borchetta shares memories, pieces for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit....

Sandi Spika Borchetta had such an impact on Reba McEntire’s career that she has her own section in the book “Reba: All the Women I Am,” which was compiled to coincide with McEntire’s exhibit of the same name at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum...Borchetta started working with McEntire in 1987..(She says she only parted ways with the singer to marry husband Scott Borchetta, president and CEO of Big Machine Label Group.)..It was during that time period — and with Borchetta’s creative guidance — that McEntire became known for not only 15 costume changes per show, but also the speed at which she made the swaps. The women developed the concepts together, and then Borchetta worked to execute the ideas, which included McEntire being able to change clothes “in a flash.” “Every night, it was special … to hear the gasps from people,” Borchetta recalls. “She had a clothing change that would be on stage in the middle of the arena and dancers around her executed a costume change. She appeared in something else in a split second. People would be wowed.” Sewing clothes that would break away at strategic places with just a couple tugs wasn’t a technique that Borchetta had in her arsenal when McEntire hired her. Couple of Borchetta’s favorite pieces: a two-piece turquoise silk and taffeta gown that McEntire wore during a performance on the ACM Awards in the ’90s and a strapless hunter green silk gown the singer wore in her “If I Were a Boy” video.

Billboard - Reba Week: From Cowgirl to Glam, a Look at Reba McEntire's Fashion Evolution

One piece that will be on prominent display in the exhibit will be the famous "red dress" the singer wore during her 1993 CMA Awards performance. Borchetta recalls that the outfit pushed the envelope from the start – but nobody had any idea the impact it would make....For a sneak peek of the new Reba exhibit watch this video

Reba McEntire welcomed family, friends and industry guests for a special reception celebrating her new exhibit on Wednesday night (Aug. 7). In her remarks to guests at the reception, Reba noted that she actually had most of the items in her possession. “I kept everything,” said Reba, clad in a classy black outfit, with a gracious smile. “I’m a pack rat, just like mom.” -

Julianne Hough attended the premiere of DirecTV’s ‘Paradise’ held at Mann Chinese 6 in Los Angeles, California.

The country-pop "footloose"singer/actress/dancer wore a stylish double-breasted Moschino Resort 2014 dress, which was a sexy twist on a classic tuxedo dress.

She kept accessories to a minimum, the styling simple and chic, adding a black Edie Parker clutch and black ankle-strap pumps  (image) Her choppy bob was twisted and tousled and she completed her look with nude lips and kohl-rimmed eyes. (Fashion Pic)

How is your skin holding up with the chilly Winter elements and being in heating all day long? Aussie Shepparton based country singer-songwriter Briana Lee keeps up with applying her favourite Hand & Body Custard ("Buller Bliss") and also using the CoQ10 & Rosehip Complex Oil 3-4 times a week at night with Rustic Hyde Antioxidant Face Cream over the top. "It's keeping my skin nourished and protected with the super dose of vitamins, antioxidants and nourishing skin oils" she shares.

Emma Jade (Garbutt) is a unsigned 19 year old country/pop artist from Doncaster, UK.

In her blog you can find out all of her Beauty secrets and fashion tips!  Her 5 Must Have Beauty Products!

a) Bare Minerals Neutralising Primer  b) Benefit They're real! mascara c) Sleek Blush

d) MUA Eyeshadow Palette  e) Bare Minerals Original SPF Foundation

Emma Jade Factfile

Name: Emma Jade Garbutt  Besed: Doncaster, Yorkshire UK

Job: Beauty Consultant in Meadow Hall

Quotes:

"There aren’t many country singers like me from Yorkshire!"

"When I was over in Nashville a producer said to me you could become the first English country superstar and that has become the biggest goal for me"

Ref Joe Nichols - "Theres a possibility i’d faint if i met this man… jus’ sayin"

About: Emma Jade describes herself as ditsy and once broke a microphone because she sang too loud!

She is a HUGE country music fan, her idol is Miranda Lambert and she also loves a bit of Dolly Parton.

Claim to Fame: As a then 18-year old Emma appeared as a contestant on 'BBC The Voice UK' after being chosen to join Sir Tom Jones' 2013 team Image after performing a cover of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine" on Episide 2 broadcast on 6 April 2013. Unfortunately Emma Jade left the competition at the third battle round stages episode aired on 25 May,2013 pitched against Mike Ward (cousin of British The X Factor series 2 winner Shayne Ward) performing Stevie Nicks' song "Landslide" (also cut by The Dixie Chicks) - BBC Profile - BBC Photo - Cowgirl Photo

Gossip: It was reported in May Emma was dating fellow hopeful Lex Flowers (Twitter pic) who is 14 years older, one half of duo De'Vide, who lost out to Danny County in the Battle Round stage in Jessie J's team. The couple are said to have met during the BBC One show's Blind Audition stage and have since been on a number of dates, The Sun reported. After De'Vide's exit, Garbutt tweeted: "Very proud of my boy tonight! I knew you were going to kill it! #nottheend"

Websites: emmajade.bandpage.com 

Facebook Followers : 605 + 1298 - EmmaJademusic - emmajadegarbutt

Twitter Followers: 5,218

Video: Emma Jade Live At The Granary "Stay" (Sugarland Cover)

Live Gigs: On Sunday 18th August at 6pm Emma Jade will bring fans together playing a 30 minute intimate live gig from her living room (Cost $4 / £2) She will also be chatting to the audience and answering questions!! You can send questions in advance to Emma on twitter @emmajademusic or emmajadegarbutt@live.co.uk - stageit.com Event

On Sunday 25th August at Gibralter Gardens in Norwich at 7pm "Norwich Rocks" by Day & Night Last of summer Gibraltar Garden Party. 

COUNTRY GOSSIP

• Laura Bell Bundy Admits She Has Her Vices: “The bad habits that I’m open to talking about are I am addicted to Red Bull. I’m addicted to Sugar-Free Red Bull. I wake up every morning and I have a Sugar-Free Red Bull. If I don’t have it I get skittish. I have to have my Red Bull. It’s a problem. I’m also addicted to Lay’s Potato Chips and I have to have chocolate every day"
• Carrie Underwood was welcomed on stage for her Saturday, Aug. 3 performance at WE Fest via video link to 47,000 awed fans by Karen Nyberg, currently serving at the International Space Station (ISS) circling earth in a 255 mile high orbit.
• Ed Sheeran would one day consider a country career, according to an interview with Yahoo! Music. Currently on the Red Tour with Taylor Swift, the British singer-songwriter famous for songs like ‘The A Team’ and ‘Lego House’, said that he wouldn’t rule it out in the future. “Country music is some of the best-written music in the world, so yeah, one day, I would keep my mind open to doing a country record. … ”
• The Band Perry recently performed at a festival in Bowmanville, Ontario when Kimberly was practically crushed against the barrier between them and their enthusiastic fans. Her dress got ripped and she also got a bruised and cut leg. Kimberly said, "when I noticed the rip in my dress and saw part of it was just hanging by a thread, I ripped off the rest and tossed it into the crowd."
• Miley Cyrus wants father, Billy Ray Cyrus, to attend therapy with her to repair their broken relationship after he filed divorce from Miley's mother Tish earlier this year. The 20-year-old was left distraught after Billy Ray split with her mother, Tish, and although the pair have now reconciled, Miley wants to seek professional assistance to help work through her issues with her dad. A source told Star magazine: "Just because her mom has taken him back doesn't mean that all is cool with Miley. It was her idea to enter counselling and Billy agreed. "Miley has always been Daddy's little girl and she wants to be able to love him like that again." The “We Can't Stop” hitmaker recently hit out at Billy via Twitter, demanding that he "tell the truth" before she does, when she hadn't been able to contact him via phone.She tweeted: "@billyraycyrus since you won't reply to my texts I'm giving you an hour to tell the truth or ill tell it for you (sic)."

TWEETS

Teea Goans asks: Been reading some interesting articles, it raised the question, "Where do you find the music (new or old) that you listen to?" (Terrestrial radio, satellite, websites, clubs, ect). And, do you typically search it out and purchase it once you've found it?

BIRTHDAYS

A Belated Happy Birthday Carolynne Poole x for August 5

August 12: Buck Owens (1929), Porter Wagoner (1927)  

August 13: Andy Griggs (1973), Dan Fogelberg (1951) 

August 14: David Crosby (Byrds), Connie Smith (1941)  

August 15: Paul Jefferson, Don Rich (1941), Rose Maddox (1925)

August 16: Billy Joe Shaver (1939), Emily Erwin (Dixie Chicks), Ashton Shepherd (1986) 

August 17: Kevin Welch (1955) 

August 18: Steve Wilkinson (Wilkinsons) (1955)

R.I.P

Country Music Hall of Fame inductee-elect “Cowboy” Jack Clement passed away at his home in Nashville after a battle with cancer. He was 82. The Memphis native began his career in 1956 as a producer and engineer for Sam Phillips at Sun Records, where he worked with Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. He produced Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” and as a songwriter had his work recorded by Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Charlie Pride and Tom Jones, to name a few.

He is survived by daughter Allison and son Niles. His induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame is set for later this year.

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Karen Black, the actress best known for her roles in film classics such as Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces and Nashville, died Thursday (Aug 8) from complications of cancer at 74. In 1971, Black worked with Jack Nicholson in Drive, He Said, which he also directed. After writing and performing songs for Robert Altman's Nashville, in which she played a country singer, she was nominated for a Grammy award.