C2C

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Friday, 4 April 2014

Country Bites News snippets March 24, 2014 - March 30, 2014

Country Bites News snippets March 24, 2014 - March 30, 2014

SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED

UK & IRISH News

** UDATED ** * UK Tour Page updated:
a) UK Tours Dates b) LONDON Concert & Gig Dates
c) Major Festival Events d) Norfolk Festivals and Show Guide

  • Maverick Festival 4 - 6 July 2014 - Line up Graphic  
  • The California Country Festival takes place April 25 - 27 at the Oasis Club Norfolk (Nr. Great Yarmouth Norfolk NR29 3QL) after the “storming success last year” said Steve Cherelle on BBC Radio Essex. Acts appearing include Travis Logan, Capricorn,  Texas Gun Duo, John J Paul, Danny Lee Band, Gary Quinn Band and Jeff Gallant Band for more details see flyer
  • Record Fairs, CD fairs, Music fairs due at Norwich, Leicester, Birmingham and Wolverhampton - www.vip-24.com
Ward Thomas, twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy Ward-Thomas who the previous week played live for Sir Terry Wogan on BBC Radio 2 have now been playlisted on the “B” BBC Radio 2 Playlist with their new single “The Good And The Right”.
Ward Thomas BBC Radio 2 Graphic
Click to ENLARGE

"They can sing" said Richard Allinson on his March 30th show - BBC Playlist. 

 "They were brilliant..you heard it hear first" said Sir Terry Wogan on the latest Weekend Wogan
"This one stuck out, it's Ward Thomas..love the blurb from the  record company, they are steeped in country as the were brought up on a farm.....its good though..I think that's excellent" - Alex Lester April 1, 2014 - BBC Page

 The Petersfield, Hampshire Country/Americana duo now find themselves in the company of such artists as Neil Sedaka, Eurythmics, Paul Simon and Percy Sledge. Their 4 track EP Footnotes (WTW Music Ltd) is released on iTunes & Amazon on April 6, 2014. Watch their official video for >> "Footnotes" (Happy Endings).

Elsewhere on the BBC Radio 2 playlist for week commencing March 29th saw C2C2014 acts Zac Brown Band's "All Alright" (first added to the "B" playlist March 1, 2014) and Rascal Flatts “Rewind" (first added to the “C” playlist commencing Feb 22, 2014) both removed from the “A” and “C” lists respectively. Johnny Cash’s "She Used to Love Me A Lot" climbs from the “C” to the “B” list.

Adrian Duffy & The Mayo Brothers have officially released their new single “Someone Like You” on iTunes on 30 March 2014
It was mixed by Matt Kemp (Robbie Williams, Ry Cooder, The Chieftains) and mastered by Denis Blackham (Dolly Parton, Elvis Costello). 
The single enjoyed a 7-week run playlisting on Ireland's national RTE Radio 1 alongside Coldplay and Rufus Wainwright. BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris & Graham Norton have played their music along with national airplay on BBC 6Music, BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio Ulster. The band are London based brothers Adrian Duffy (vocals, acoustic guitar & mandolin), Melvin Duffy (pedal steel, slide & electric guitars & vocals) and Chris Duffy (drums & percussion), with the family hailing from Co Mayo, Ireland.

Alan Perkins from UKCountry Radio.com reviewed the C2C 2014 Country to Country Festival.
Alan according to the UKCR website “is a man who knows what he’s talking about – that’s not to say that the other presenters on UKCountryRadio.com don’t. 
And his specialist subject – line dancing”. Alan presents The Line Dance Show on UKCountryRadio.com.

Alan Perkins #C2C2014 superlatives hit count LOL
abounding (1), absolutely (1), amazing (1), awesome (2), beautiful (3), brilliant (3), classic (2), delighted (2), exciting (3), exploded (2), fabulous (10), fantastic (4), flat (2), great (1), outstanding (2), phenomenon (1), powerful (7), quality (7), soulful (1), stirring (1), stunning (5), superb (2), top (6), ultimate (1), unbelievable (1)
>> Listen to the edited 32 minute review with audio from the C2C O2 media room:

 "One of the events you need to attend"..."You must go and see this fantastic event" - Alan Perkins [UKCountryRadio.com The Line Dance Show presenter]
"What a weekend....Let me congratulate the UK artists on the  Pop-Up stages it shows the fantastic talent that we've got in the UK. I saw the likes of McKay, Raintown, Stevie Agnew and Emma Jade. I would definitely go to see them again" - Margaret Anne [UKCountryRadio.com presenter of the Late Night Love Affair]
"A brilliant weekend...Amazing to see so many BIG stars...Least favourite were The Dixie Chicks..the sound wasn't good, I could not pick up ANY of their words from their songs" - Liz Hill [UKCountryRadio.com presenter]
"I can sum up the C2C festival weekend with one word...AWESOME" - Simon Large [Weekend afternoon UKCountryRadio.com presenter]

Alan Perkins asked Glasgow Pop/Country duo and C2C2014 Pop Up stage act Raintown [Claire McArthur & Paul Bain], who are the current BCMAward Vocal winning duo, a few questions. Several of the UKCountryRadio.com presenters have been championing their cause in recent years.
Alan Perkins: You're on the up, where do you see yourselves going, you've seen the curve in the last 5 years where would you like the curve to take you?
Claire McArthur: "We would like to be playing on the International stage representing the UK at the highest level for country music, that's out goal"
Paul Bain: “Absolutely, We get a lot of interesting feedback when we say things about representing LP Field at CMA...let's get on the main stage. Let's get some great UK country acts on the C2C main stage and we would like to be one of them. We want to win CMA Awards"
Claire McArthur: "We do get a look of flak for having such big goals, but I'm not ashamed to have big goals"
Lorna

 Two weeks ago, the Nashville music family lost one of their strongest supporters when former PE teacher and Sheffield singer-songwriter Lorna Flowers passed away unexpectedly.
 In honor of Lorna, a memorial was set for Sunday, March 23, from 3pm to 5pm in Nashville (The Listening Room Café 17 2nd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201). 

 Read some of the many tributes paid to her.



Graham Rodgers a fellow Sheffield singer-songwriter paid tribute to Lorna in an UKCountryRadio.com special which was broadcast on March 25th.
 >> Listen here:
UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Singles Chart Top 100 (Week Ending April 5, 2014)
Folk singer Sally Barker with “To Love Somebody” (UMTV) entered at No.81 (sales around 2.8 – 2.9K available on Amazon UK and UK iTunes). Sally has now qualified for the final of The Voice UK representing Tom Jones’ Team Tom after performing her cover of  The Waterboys' 1985 single >> “The Whole Of The Moon” – iTunes. The live semi-final, which saw the contestants perform with their coaches, averaged 5.94million (28.3%) from 7pm to 9.10pm on BBC One, dropping below 6m for the first time this series.
Fans of Folk music will likely remember the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire native and singer-songwriter known for her solo work and as a founding member of the Cajun, folk, blues and all-woman country outfit The Poozies. In the past Sally has toured with and supported acts such as Fairport Convention. Check out Sally's compilation album 'Another Train' (>> Title cut audio) first released in January 2000, available on Amazon UK and iTunes

Official UK Country Album Chart (Week Ending April 5, 2014)
Sheryl Crow with FEELS LIKE HOME (Warner Brothers) returned to No.1 on her 14th chart week.
Rosanne Cash new album THE RIVER & THE THREAD (Decca) climbed 3-2.
Don Williams with former #1 REFLECTIONS (WELK) moved 4-3
Last weeks #1 Dierks Bentley with RISER (Decca) fell six places (1-7).
Johnny Cash with the 1994 released AMERICAN RECORDINGS made a return at No.8 as fever builds for the lost album “Out Among The Stars” released on March 21st (Sony Music). A audiophile quality UK limited edition 13-track LP vinyl of the “American Recordings” has been released. The collection of solo acoustic recordings produced by Rick Rubin features four Cash originals plus tracks written by Leonard Cohen Tom Waits & Loudon Wainwright III
Sara Evans with SLOW ME DOWN (RCA Nashville) fell back 6-11 in her 3rd week

On the Hotdisc Chart (March 30, 2014 Chart) 

M Callahan with “Chicken On A Chain” remained at No.1 for a second successive week on the Hotdisc Top 40.
Bertie Higgins (USA) with "Just Another Day In Paradise" held at No.2.
British singer-songwriter Katie Nicholas with her self written “Chemistry” climbed to a new No.3 peak (4-3) to retain the No.1 on the British & Irish Chart list for a second week.
Branch & Dean who were chart toppers for one week with "Glad She's Not An Angel“ fell 3-4.
Former Top 40 No.1 and 6 week British & Irish No.1 from Irish singer Fergal Flaherty with "Hey Son” held at No.5

Aussie duo Stuie French & Camille Te Nahu with “The First Time” climbed further with a 10-8 hop in the upper tier.
US artist Stevie Lee Woods with his self penned “Hey!..What Do I Know” freshened the Top 10 with the highest climber which  made a 13-9 jump.
Next week will see the new singles from the April 2014 Hotdisc #184 promo release impact the charts. Look out for Billy Yates to land high in the Top 10 once more.

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

(31 March 2014)  Chuck Mead - Free State Serenade (Plowboy Records)
12 Tracks/ Time: 43:35 CD - MP3 - Amazon.com  >> Watch "Knee Deep In The Wakarusa River"
Interview Chuck Mead Salutes Kansas on Free State Serenade.....Chuck Mead may have spent the past 20 years in Nashville, but he’s still a Kansas boy at heart. His new solo record, Free State Serenade, is a fine tribute to the Kansas that Mead – who grew up in Lawrence, the site of Quantrill’s Raid during the Civil War – remembers, from the grisly murder of a childhood acquaintance to a UFO sighting he swears is true. The album, Mead’s first for fledgling label Plowboy Records, is perhaps his strongest solo record to date

(31 March 2014) Hurray For The Riff Raff - Small Town Heroes (ATO Records)
12 Tracks/ Time: 44:03 CD - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 
(31 Mar 2014) Johnny Cash - Out Among The Stars (Sony Music CMG)
13 Tracks/ Time: 39:02 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music

(31 March 2014) Nickel Creek - A Dotted Line (Nonesuch)
10 Tracks/ Time: 37:52 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com  * Recommend you Listen first, sample the whole album on NPR Radio . Top tracks: Love Of Mine and Destination
(1 April 2014) Various Artists - Looking Into You: A Tribute To Jackson Browne (Music Road Records) 2CD set
23 Tracks/ Time:  1:54:37 CD - MP3 - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley and more

(1 April 2014) Hank Williams III - Ramblin' Man (Curb)
8 Tracks/ Time: 26:15 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 

(1 April 2014) Dan + Shay - Dan + Shay (Warner Brothers)
12 Tracks/ Time: 41:37 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com  
(1 April 2014) Josh Thompson - Turn It Up (Show Dog) 
10 Tracks/ Time: 31:22 CD - Amazon.com  

BLUEGRASS NEWS
Donna Ulisse will make a return appearance to the world famous WDVX Blue Plate Special in Knoxville, TN this Friday April 4th at noon. It's a live show event in the Knoxville Visitor Center downtown in Knoxville at noon each weekday featuring some of the top American, Roots, Bluegrass and Folk artists from all over the world - See Graphic You can tune in at 12:00 noon Eastern time (17:00 in the UK) and listen online at WDVX.COM (using Windows Media player)

AUSSIE NEWS
  • ABC Music Publishing has signed Lachlan Bryan, winner of the 2014 Golden Guitar for Best Alternative Country Album for his work Black Coffee. Lachlan "smashed" his way up the ARIA Country Charts with the release of Black Coffee late last year while winning accolades for his songwriting.
  • Camille Te Nahu and Stuie French were thrilled to be the 2014 Winners of the "Frank Ifield Spur Award" and are looking forward to working with Frank over the next year. They will be performing and receiving the award at Canterbury Country on May 8th.
  • Totally Biased Fan’s Review – Luke O’Shea – Sing You Up
  • On the week's national Country Tracks Top 30 (published April 5th): 8 Ball Aitken's latest hit "I'm Going To Jail" remained at No.1 as Doug Bruce's “Clock Out At Five” holds at No.2 and Christie Lamb's "All She Wrote" stays firm at No.3. The Bobkatz' former number one "Reelin' One In" falls 5-13. Catherine Britt's "Who Cares" made a 6-4 climb and Jasmine Rae's "Just Don't Ask Me How" rose 7-5. Sara Storer's "Come On Rain" edged up two slots (8-6) as did Kaylee Bell's "Little Bit Small Town" (9-7).
CANADIAN NEWS
  • 2013 CCMA Female Vocalist Kira Isabella has a new single called >> "Quarterback" which has dropped in Canada and United States April 1st on iTunes.
  • Dean Brody earned his first JUNO Award for Country Album of the Year on March 29th at the JUNO Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony in Winnipeg. Nominated for the third time in his career, Brody’s fourth album, Crop Circles (Open Road Recordings / Universal Music Canada) soared to the top of the charts upon release this past November.
NEWS

  • Snapshot Country Aircheck's Insider Artist News - March 28, 2014 - April 1, 2014
  • Vince Gill is always ready to help out a charitable cause, and he’ll do just that as he headlines the 16th annual Jammin’ to Beat the Blues benefit concert (which benefits Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee) at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tuesday night, April 1. Vince’s special guests will include acclaimed young artists Ashley Monroe and Charlie Worsham, Vince’s talented daughter Jenny Gill, Holly Williams and the band Striking Matches.
TOURS
Duo Florida Georgia Line are gearing up to bring their party from land to sea. The duo, in partnership with Sixthman Ltd., will debut the “This is How We Cruise” music festival aboard the Norwegian Pearl from Nov. 8-12. Tickets are selling fast, Rapper Nelly, Thomas Rhett, Colt Ford, The Cadillac Three, Canaan Smith, and Chris Lane will join FGL on the cruise. Sadly & unfortunately the chances of a run-in with an iceberg on a Bahamian cruise are pretty slim.

AWARDS
  • Voting for the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year award is now open online. The distinction, which is awarded to the highest vote-getter at the ACM Awards in April, can now be contested at the ceremony's website.
  • Shakira will join Blake Shelton on the 49th Annual ACM Awards to perform their duet, "Medicine."
TV

  • Big Machine Records, ABC Studios and Lionsgate have previously released three “Music of ‘Nashville’” soundtracks with all original music. The fourth highly-anticipated soundtrack will be on sale May 6, 2014. Collectively, the previous albums have sold over 3 million tracks.
  • The stars of ABC-TV's Nashville are taking to the road for real with the Nashville Concert Tour featuring Charles Esten (Deacon Claybourne), Clare Bowen (Scarlett O'Connor), Jonathan Jackson (Avery Barkley), Sam Palladio (Gunnar Scott) and Chris Carmack (Will Lexington). The three-date trek takes the cast to Joe's Bar in Chicago April 25, the Lincoln Theater in Washington May 4 and the Best Buy Theater in New York May 6. Will Chase (Luke Wheeler) will join in NYC – Broadway World.
  • “Nashville: On The Record” A One Hour Music Special will be performed by the cast is set to Weds, April 23 on ABC TV network. Direct from Nashville’s world famous Ryman Auditorium, cast members of the acclaimed primetime series “Nashville” will take the stage to perform show favorites then sit down in the Bluebird Café for acoustic performances and an intimate look at the songwriting process with the songwriters themselves, talking candidly about how this music found its way to the show and what it means to the actors and songwriters. 
BABY NEWS
  • Daryle Singletary and his wife of 10 years, Holly (photo), revealed to Country Weekly that they are expecting their fourth child this fall. The “Too Much Fun” and “I Let Her Lie” singer hinted at expanding the family earlier this year, but the news came as quite a surprise and much sooner than expected. The newest Singletary will join big sister Nora Caroline, who will turn 2 in October, and twin brothers Mercer and Jonah, turning 4 in October. Baby No. 4 will arrive in September.
  • Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney and his wife Tiffany – she’s expecting their third child late this summer. The baby will join 5.1/2 year old Jagger and Raquel Blue who’s 3.1/2
MUSIC NEWS

 Sam Bailey the former prison officer becomes the fifth of the 10 X Factor winners to reach No.1 with a debut on Official UK Album album chart, locking up pole position (72,644 copies sold) with her introductory set THE POWER OF LOVE (named after Jennifer Rush's power ballad).
Sam Bailey
It has ten covers among the album's 11 tracks. American songwriter Dianne Warren penned three of the tracks, including the only new song on the set, “Treasure”. Bailey's coronation single “Skyscraper”, topped the chart on debut last December, and has thus far sold 301,556 copies.
Released only 20 weeks after Bailey won The X Factor but perfectly and wisely released in time for Mother’s Day it comes only a week after her X Factor runner-up pal Nicholas McDonald's first album, IN THE ARMS OF AN ANGEL debuted at No.6 (11,299 sales). McDonald's album too probably looking to enjoy a Mother's Day gift-buying lift, slid 8-18 (8,382 sales) this week. It falls 1-2 in Scotland, where Bailey's album opens at number one with a 66.63% lead over McDonald's.

Selling 72,644 copies last week, Sam secured the highest first week's sales for an X Factor winner's debut album since Alexandra Burke's OVERCOME in 2009, and the highest weekly sale of any artist album thus far in 2014.
It’s the first solo mother to top the album chart on Mother's Day since Barbra Streisand in 2002.
Previous X Factor winners, their debut albums and their performances are as follows:
Steve Brookstein (Heart And Soul, 2005, 50,989 first week sales, 105,199 cumulative, #1)
Shayne Ward (Shayne Ward, 2006, 201,266 first week sales, 537,573 cumulative, #1)
Leona Lewis (Spirit, 2007, 375,872 first week sales, 3,115,366 cumulative, #1)
Leon Jackson (Right Now, 2008, 37,197 first week sales, 135,892 cumulative, #4)
Alexandra Burke (Overcome, 2009, 132,065 first week sales, 818,628 cumulative, #1)
Joe McElderry (Wide Awake, 2010, 39,405 first week sales, 104,445 cumulative, #3)
Matt Cardle (Letters, 2011, 70,896 first week sales, 276,845 cumulative, #2)
Little Mix (DNA, 2011, 53,314 first week sales, 344,969 cumulative, #3)
James Arthur (James Arthur, 2013, 63,995 first week sales, 255,558 cumulative, number two).
McElderry's album, has the lowest tally of any X Factor winner's debut album - and although first winner Steve Brookstein's album has sold only 754 copies more, it will take McElderry a long time to close the gap: Heart And Soul sold just 25 copies in the last three months while Wide Awake sold 135 copies.

Now in its seventh year, Record Store Day 2014 is set to take place on Saturday, April 19. Among this year’s releases, there will be limited edition 7” singles from One Direction (Midnight Memories), Kylie Minogue (Golden Boy), Paul Weller (Brand New Toy / Landslide), Elbow (Charge) and David Bowie (Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide). See all the 608 exclusive releases.

Fleetwood Mac have announced a North American reunion tour that will kick off Sept. 30. As expected, it will be the band's first trek since singer-keyboardist Christine McVie rejoined the classic rock group after a 16-year absence.
The classic-era lineup will launch the 34-date/33-city "On With The Show Tour" in Minneapolis on Sept. 30 before hitting most major markets through the end of the year. Notable stops include Madison Square Garden in New York City on Oct. 6 and a two-night stand at the recently renovated Forum in Los Angeles on Nov. 28 and 29 (See Events Price: $49.50 - $179.50). Mick Fleetwood (age 66), John McVie (age 68), Lindsey Buckingham (age 64), Stevie Nicks (age 65) and Christine McVie (aged 70) made the announcement on NBC's "Today" show on Thursday. This will be McVie's first time on the road with the band since 1998's The Dance tour.

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS
  • Jill and Kate the C2C2014 US pop Up Stage duo announced that you can pre-order their Acoustic Covers album that comes out on April 8th! They made this project album for their fans. Pre-order bundles (closes April 4th) cost $20 and includes: a Autographed physical copy of the album, press photo and a Jill and Kate guitar pick.
  • Omnivore Recordings will release (May 20, 2014) the full-length version of The Garden Spot Programs, 1950, featuring 24 performances, unheard for 64 years, from country music legend Hank Williams. Read the Press Release for info and track listing >> See Trailer
  • Leah Turner (Columbia Nashville)
    has a new single “Pull Me Back” (written by Leah Turner, Jon Nite and Jimmy Robbins) due out impact late April 2014 (iTunes). It’s the official follow-up to her Top 40 debut single "Take The Keys." 
  • Lucy Hale asked her more than 9.8 million fans to help reveal the album cover and 11 track listing for the June 3rd release of her debut album, titled “Road Between” on her socials.
  • C2C2014 stars Rascal Flatts have given fans a peek of what's to come from their new album by revealing its track listing.

PRESS RELEASES
  • Singer/songwriter Brandy Clark made her debut performance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Monday, Mar. 24, performing “Stripes” from her critically-acclaimed album, 12 Stories.  View the performance HERE.  “Performing on ‘Ellen’ was a bucket list item for me, and I was thrilled to be there,” said Clark. “I appreciate her support of new artists and music from all genres, and hope to have the opportunity to return to her show some day.”
  • Brandy Clark will debut her music video, directed by Becky Fluke, for her song “Get High” on PerezHilton.com
  • Steve Wariner’s classic instrumental album Steve Wariner c.g.p….My Tribute to Chet Atkins, is now available in all Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
  • George Strait made a memorable stop at Music City’s Bridgestone Arena Friday on stop 16 of 26 on his two-year record-breaking The Cowboy Rides Away Tour.
  • Charlie Daniels is set to release a new album Off The Grid—Doin’ It Dylan on April 1, 2014. In support of Off The Grid, Daniels will be making the media rounds.
  • Chase Rice, Thirty Tigers and RED Distribution has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Columbia Nashville. Columbia who will immediately start promoting Rice’s Top 40-and-climbing single “Ready Set Roll” at country radio
  • The Oak Ridge Boys celebrated a 41st Anniversary with President George H.W. "41" Bush -
  • Kent Wells Productions artist Jordan Anderson’s single “Please Don't”, has found it's place among Music Row's top 40, landing at #36, after just twelve weeks at radio. Co-written by Anderson and Caleb Maitland, it's her second single to visit the top 40 on Music Row in the last year.
  • Angel Mary And The Tennessee Werewolves attend broadcasting greats Book Signing.
  • Jeff Bates was recognized with a Resolution put forth by the State of Mississippi’s House of Representatives.
  • The Roys, will once again be sailing on the Country Music Cruise in January 2015.
  • Hop into Spring with a "Sweet" April Lineup at Larry's Country Diner (Gary Chapman, Mickey Gilley, T.G. Sheppard, Suzy Bogguss)
  • Blaster Records artist Allison Veltz released her debut single “Bright Side” to country radio. The upbeat, feel-good-even-when-you’re-down tune “Bright Side” is penned by Allison with creative partner Dan Muckala and produced by Mark Bright (Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Sara Evans) and ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Mucka. >> Listen HERE.
ARTICLES

Nashvillescene : Erin Enderlin, Tin Pan South and the off-screen reality of the Nashville songwriter...Will the Round Be Unbroken

REVIEWS

  • houston.culturemap -Rodeo Houston: Blake Shelton disses Adam Levine and springs a big surprise at boozy Rodeo lovefest
  • Tulsa World Lady Antebellum connects harmoniously with excited Tulsa crowd. The country stars make it personal for the loving audience: Lady Antebellum has perfected its sound, mixing rock, pop and country into a night of earworms. Its songs were sweet, and the on-stage connection among the trio of singers, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood, was dynamic......
  • Orange County Register: Live Jennifer Nettles & Brandy Clark: Jennifer Nettles rock-solid at Wiltern solo show: The Sugarland star’s sharp debut in L.A. ranged from spry soul revamps to covers of Barry Manilow, Bob Seger and Imagine Dragons.....During an intimate and engaging sold-out show Saturday night at the Wiltern, Nettles performed all of That Girl plus a few covers and Sugarland hits to a boisterous crowd. A smattering of fans sported cowboy hats, while some clusters of drunken women loudly voiced their approval at inopportune times (hey, save it for Stagecoach next month)....
  • My Kind of Country Album Review – Sara Evans – ‘Slow Me Down’ (Rating: C-) With Slow Me Down Evans fits squarely into the former category with an album that exposes a hidden truth of her career – that she was never that artistic at all, just a trend follower who happened to come of age at a time when good quality songs were still the mainstay of mainstream Nashville. With that era firmly in the rearview mirror, we’re left with a singer resorting to whatever she can to find a platform, and the results are more than a little desperate….When the title track was released late September, the press behind it made “Slow Me Down” out to be the best thing Evans had ever recorded, a record akin to the 80s crossover hits that came between the Urban Cowboy era and the new traditionalist movement. In reality it’s a terrible song, shoddily written by Merv Green, Heather Morgan, and Jimmy Robbins. The verses are stunted and repetitive and the chorus, while strong, becomes too breathy when Evans morphs into a pop diva by the end……
INTERVIEWS

CMC:  O'SHEA - Born entertainers.....Mark and Jay O'Shea are working as the official Social Media Correspondents for the massive Houston Rodeo in the position of Social Media Correspondents which means they shoot a piece on the rodeo during the day and then every night they have a major artist in their stadium that holds 75,000 people.

 MAGAZINES

Country Weekly have a special issue representing their 20th anniversary, they celebrate the stars, songs and special moments of the past two decades!

LISTEN
  • Discover Country Radio stations on radiotuna.com . Select from the Country & Folk categories and page through the lists
  • Hear Big & Rich’s new single: "Look At You" (Writers: John Rich, Shannon Lawson) released on Big & Rich Records/ Kobalt Label Services. Yes more clichéd party song music with lyrics bordering bro-country but NOT full on bro!
  • Hear Ray Price’s Final Duet: When the Opry Country Classics show pays tribute to the late Ray Price on April 17 at the Ryman
  • Auditorium, it’ll do so with a special guest: 18-year-old Mary Sarah. A rising country singer blessed with a soaring voice, Mary Sarah recorded the last-ever duet with Ray, covering his classic “Heartaches by the Number” on her upcoming album, Bridges.
  • Jason Aldean sings Merle Haggard’s “Going Where the Lonely Go” on forthcoming tribute record Working Man’s Poet exclusive listen at news.radio.com
SPOTIFY COUNTRY

Spotify discount to students: As of the 2012 U.S. Census there were 26.1 million students enrolled in college or vocational schools, all of whom are now eligible for a steep discount $4.99, down from $9.99 on Spotify's premium music subscription service. Britain has a similar 'subsidy' for its students, which Jeff Levick, Spotify's chief marketing and revenue officer, has said fueled an increase in subscribers over the last year.

FREE DOWNLOADS
Glasgow group Ashton Lane have 7 Free MP3 Songs  

WATCH

  • Brandy Clark performs "Pray To Jesus" and "Hold My Hand" in an exclusive live recording session at Blackbird Studios in Nashville Tennessee.
  • Christie Lamb high energy "Manhunt", the second single from the Sydney, NSW native's debut album "All She Wrote"
  • Luke Bryan crashes >> A Wedding and a >> Baby Shower in a promo for the 2014 ACM Awards.
  • Taylor Swift - For Your ACM Consideration with >> Meredith and Scott Borchetta.
COUNTRY FASHION

Taylor Swift was seen heading to lunch in New York City March 28th wearing a bright, colorful outfit. She wore a Katherine Hooker Cape Coat online), a Printed Mini Dress by Paul & Joe, a pair of Rag & Bone Harrow Booties ($495.00) and a J.Mendel Midi Clutch ($1,650, Black).

 Taylor Swift was seen on a walk in New York City March 29th wearing a
J Brand Karle Leather Biker Jacket net-a-porter.com , a Caterina Purse ($385.00) from Cuore & Pelle and her Rag & Bone Harrow Boots ($495.00) - Fashion Image

COUNTRY GOSSIP

  • Oscar-winning 'Country Strong' and 'Iron Man 3' actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin announced they're separating after more than a decade of marriage. The pair, who tied the knot in 2003 have two children (Apple and Moses). They delivered the news in a joint statement titled "Conscious Uncoupling" on Paltrow's GOOP website.
  • In January it was reported Gwyneth and Chris Martin were selling their £7 million Belsize Park in North London home after a series of arguments with their neighbours. Top 10 Coldplay Lyrics To Help Move On From Heartbreak
  • Trace Adkins‘ wife Rhonda filed for divorce. After nearly 17 years of marriage, Rhonda Adkins filed paperwork in Williamson County, Tenn. on Tuesday afternoon (March 25), according to WSMV-TV in Nashville. She cites irreconcilable differences and asked for primary custody of the couple’s children, as well as child support, alimony and all her legal fees.
  • Taylor Swift has bought the New York duplexes from Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, she moved in Friday. They're located by Franklin & Hudson Street - Image.
  • Randy Travis is getting desperate. Sources told showbizspy the troubled rocker is so eager to revive his sagging career that he’s trying to convince Taylor Swift to record a duet with him! “Randy is desperate to get his career back on track,” said a source. “He has had his people reach out to Taylor Swift about a possible duet, but she said no!” A source close to Taylor says the Love Story hitmaker won’t work with her fellow country star as she’s worried about her own reputation. “Taylor is steering well clear of Randy,” a source says. “She knows about all his troubles. She can’t be associated with someone like that.”

TWEETS
  • Irish singer-songwriter Gary Quinn @GaryQuinnMusic tweeted #MANCHESTER Excited to announce that I'll be opening for @JaceEverett at @MancAcademy Fri 25th Apr!! Tickets here:
  • UK country singer (from “The Voice”) Talia Smith @TaliaSmithMusic tweeted Here's the band!!! Talia and the Boatmen!! Image
  • Sheryl Crow @SherylCrow tweeted Would someone please play a woman on the radio? Any woman. Doesn't have to be me but if I hear one more bro country song I'm gonna vomit!
  • Billboard and social media platform Twitter announced an exclusive, multi-year partnership to create Billboard Twitter Real-Time Charts. The charts, which will launch in the coming weeks, will track U.S. music conversations among the millions of Tweets sent each day. Combining the authority of the Billboard charts and Twitter’s public, real-time data, these powerful co-branded charts will reshape for consumers and the industry the way music success is measured. As part of the initiative, Billboard and Twitter have signed a Twitter Amplify partnership, which will help distribute the chart beyond Billboard.com and include custom in-Tweet charts and in-Tweet video round ups of the week in music on Twitter. The charts will reflect the top tracks being discussed at the moment and over an extended period of time on Twitter, as well as surface the most talked about and shared songs by new and upcoming acts. The chart will live on Billboard.com and will also be shared through Billboard’s Twitter account, @billboard, multiple times a week.
PHOTO
Shake It For Me: Luke Bryan showed Charlie Daniels how to work it during Daniels' Scholarship For Heroes Concert at Lipscomb University in Nashville (3/25). Bryan got in on "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" and the "South's Gonna Do It Again." - Image

BIRTHDAYS
March 31: The late Lefty Frizzell (1928, died July 19, 1975 (aged 47))
April 1: Jim Ed Brown (1934), Hillary Scott (Lady Antebellum) 
April 2: Emmylou Harris (1947), Billy Dean (1962) Buddy Jewell (1961), Jill King (1975)
April 3: The late Don Gibson (1928; died November 17, 2003 (aged 75))
April 5: Troy Gentry (Montgomery Gentry) (1967), Tommy Cash (1940), The late Jack Clement (1931; died August 8, 2013 (aged 82))
April 6: Merle Haggard (1937)
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