Saturday 21 June 2014

Country Bites News snippets June 9 - June 15, 2014

Country Bites News snippets June 9 – June 15, 2014

SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED

UK & IRISH News

Dolly Parton with “Home” was pulled from the BBC Radio 2 "A" playlist for the week commencing Saturday 7th June 2014. The Common Linnets with their the #2 Eurovision song “Calm After the Storm” remained on the “B” Playlist.


UKCountryRadio.com have announced the venue & date for their 7th Birthday Party & Awards Night. It will take place on Saturday 13th September 2014 at the Best Western Premier Yew Lodge Hotel in Kegworth, Derbyshire. Tickets for associates of nominees cost £35 each and are available from ukcountryradio.com They go on general release sale at the end of June.

UK duo Ward Thomas' new single "Push for the Stride" was played for a second time on Weekend Wogan on Sunday 15th June listen back from 55 minutes BBC Playlist. “Two great girls from Hampshire, setting the country music world alight, that's Ward Thomas” said Sir Terry!  >> Listen to “Push For The Stride” on soundcloud.com


They have now returned from Nashville after a few months in Music City and are preparing for their UK Tour. Their full debut
album FROM WHERE WE STAND (WTW Music Limited) will be released 21st July 2014.
Blurb: With the sounds of Country music permeating in the UK after the success of the hit television series Nashville, people both within and outside the music business have been asking - where are Britain’s home-grown country stars? Ward Thomas may well be providing some of the answers. They are on the threshold of becoming one of the first genuine major British Country acts.
Written in its entirety in the UK, without the help of A-list song writers, yet recorded in Nashville with some of Country Music’s finest including Bobby Blazier, Dan Dugmore and Chris Rodriquez, ‘From Where We Stand’ retains a certain Englishness which combined with the ‘Nashville’ sound gives us Ward Thomas’ own individual UK take on Country music.

Breckland Country Music Festival starts 26th June till 29th June 2014 "Acts booked for 2014" - Flyer

Steve Earle, Marc Ford, Rosanne Cash & Dixie Fried....one common theme, they are all playing the Southern Fried Festival in Perth (see Events Page) over the last weekend in July. Read the 20 Page brochure online

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Top 100 Album Chart (Week Ending June 21, 2014)
Dolly Parton with BLUE SMOKE / THE BEST OF (Masterworks) made a debut at No.6 selling 20,860 copies. 
This latest release has two things going for it as it pairs the 12 track  “Blue Smoke” her 42nd studio album, and a new 20 track Best Of compilation. It becomes the highest charting album of her career, it is the 68 year old's third Top 10 album, and follow-up to Better Day, which opened and peaked at number nine (13,979 sales) back in 2011. Her only previous Top 10 album was the 2007 compilation, The Very Best Of, which reached number eight. In total, Parton has placed 16 albums in the Top 75 since breaking her duck in 1978. She is due to headline this year’s Glastonbury festival. Dolly said "I am glad that people are enjoying the music from my new Blue Smoke album.  It feels great to be in the Top 10," says Dolly Parton. "It's always an honor to know the fans spend their hard earned money on my music. Thanks everybody!" (Via Press Release)
Johnny Cash with OUT AMONG THE STARS (Columbia) moved 29-25 in its 11th week with sales around  4,400 copies and an estimated new tally of 61,000.
Miranda Lambert with PLATINUM (RCA) who made a debut at No.52 (1,725 sales) last week fell off the Top 100.

First Aid Kit's latest single “My Silver Lining” which has had 66 plays on 6 Music and 22 plays on BBC Radio Two in the last six weeks, has become the Swedish folk duo's (Johanna Söderberg and Klara Söderberg), first Top 200 entry on the singles chart. It falls 103-136 (1,394 sales) this week, with attention switching to their third album, STAY GOLD, which debuts at No.11 (11,281 sales). Its immediate predecessor, Lion's Roar, only got to number 35 in 2012, but has thus far sold 76,759 copies, whilst their uncharted 2010 debut The Big Black And The Blue has sold 16,244 copies. Watch the >> Trailer for “Stay Gold
Do you remember 19 year old singer/songwriter Janet Devlin from Northern Ireland who finished fifth on The X Factor in 2011 but was not picked up by the competition's default label Syco and so returned to school to study. In the last few months she has released a trio of solo singles which failed to chart – “Wonderful”, “Hide And Seek” and “House Of Cards”. This week saw her debut album, RUNNING WITH SCISSORS, which appears on the independent Insomnia Music label and debuts No.43 (2,779 sales). Devlin co-wrote every song on the album, save for a cover of The Cure's “Friday I'm In Love”.

Official UK Country Album Chart (Week Ending June 21, 2014)
Johnny Cash with OUT AMONG THE STARS (Columbia) remains at No.1 for a eleventh week. It was also joined in the top 5 at No.4 with the “Out Among The Stars/ The Classics Special Edition CD . This exclusive 2CD special edition combines the critically acclaimed new lost album ‘Out Among The Stars’ with ‘The Classics’; a 24-track collection of Johnny Cash hits including I Walk The Line, Ring Of Fire, Folsom Prison Blues and A Boy Called Sue, all housed in a card slipcase.
Miranda Lambert with PLATINUM (RCA) held at No.2 in its second week.
Mary Gauthier with TROUBLE & LOVE made a bow at No.3
Lady Antebellum’s NEED YOU NOW in its 133rd chart week fell 3-5. Rascal Flatts with REWIND (Big Machine) slipped back 4-7 in their fourth week.
The Secret Sisters with PUT YOUR NEEDLE DOWN (Republic Records) fell 5-10 in their 6th week on the Top 20

UK iTunes Top 1500 Country Songs
After Thursday’s emotional TV soundcheck performance by Clare Bowen (aka Scarlett O’Connor) on the TV drama Nashville “Black Roses” goes to No.1 ahead of three Dolly Parton tracks with “Jolene” at #3, “Home” is at #3 and Islands In the Stream” at #4.
Miranda Lambert’s highest positions for the 2009-2013 CMA and 2010-2014 Academy of Country Music Female Vocalist rest with “Automatic” at #71, “Somethin' Bad” (with Carrie Underwood) at #72, “Platinum” at #130 with Old Sh!t at #339.
Cassadee Pope #543 “Wasting All These Tears” and #1015 “11”.

(Last updated June 16, 2014)
1. Nashville Cast - Black Roses (feat. Clare Bowen)
2. Dolly Parton - Jolene 
3. Dolly Parton - Home 
4. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Islands In the Stream 
5. Nashville Cast - Black Roses (feat. Clare Bowen & Lucy Schwartz) [Live] 
6. Dolly Parton - Jolene (Single Version) 
7. Dolly Parton - 9 To 5 
8. Hayden Panettiere - Don't Put Dirt On My Grave Just Yet 
9. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Islands in the Stream 
10. Lady Antebellum - Need You Now 
11. Nashville Cast - Black Roses (feat. Clare Bowen) [Full Band Version] 
12. Taylor Swift - I Knew You Were Trouble. 
13. Dolly Parton - 9 To 5 
14. Clare Bowen - Falling 
15. Lennon Stella & Maisy Stella - Ho Hey 
16. Taylor Swift - 22 
17. Taylor Swift - Love Story 
18. Charles Esten & Lennon & Maisy - Believing 
19. Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me 
20. Dolly Parton - Blue Smoke 

On the Hotdisc Chart (June 15, 2014 Chart)

David Frizzell & Shelly West with the re-issued "You're The Reason God Made Oklahoma" (Collins/ Pinkard) held at No.1 on for a sixth week. Whilst Frizzell's "Where Are You Spending Your Nights These Days" reached a new peak 6-5
Sawyer Brown with their latest single, "Walk Out Of The Rain" represent their nearest threat as they climbed three slots 5-2 following their Hotdisc HotShot No.5 bow.
Allan Craig Miller with "Cornfields" fell back 2-4 with Bertie Higgins and his countrified "Key Largo" staying rooted at No.3.
Jamie Lee Thurston’s15 Minutes” moved up 8-7 and it was also a one place climb for M Callaghan with “God’s Green Earth” (8-7)
Leah Seawright’sCountry Girl 101” is beginning to cool as it slipped back 4-8.
Jim Reeves with "I'll Fly Away"(2014 Version) rose 10-9.
Bryan Mayer with his self penned “This Is Me” rounded out the Top 10 with a 2 rung jump (12-10)
Outside the Top 20 and moving nothwards were US acts Jessie Lee Cates (14-11) with “Let Your Country Out” and Erica Sunshine Lee (16-12) with “Georgia For This”, Kasey Landsdale with “Sorry Ain’t Enough” (co-written with Derek George and Tim Owen) climbed four (21-17) as Donny Richmond with “Candles On A Cake Of Pink And White” (written by Walter Cunningham and Sean Green) made a 3 place stride (22-19)

Tony Clark’s self penned “You & Me” nudged up 15-14 on the Top 40 but he secured his British & Irish Hotdisc Chart No1 for a second week.

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

(18 April 2014) Cherry Lee Mewis - Catch My Drift
10 Tracks/ Time: 31:28 MP3 - UK iTunes - Spotify
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 41,704 in MP3 Albums / Top Tracks: Love Can Wait, Bride Ain't Me, Old Shoes,  ….with Cherry Lee’s new disc the future seems very bright for her, the musical partnership with Max Milligan, is alive with the possibilties for the future and Catch My Drift is an addictive slice of adventurous country/ blues (Paul Riley, Country Music People June 2014 )

(2 June 2014) The Very Best Of Janie Fricke / Saddle The Wind (Morello Records)
20 Tracks  CD

NEWS
Snapshot Country Aircheck's Insider Artist News: June 10, 2014 - June 13, 2014

J.P. Arencibia won't let Kimberly be lonely: The Band Perry's  "If I Die Young" lead singer 30-year old Kimberly Perry has married 28-year old professional baseball player J.P. Arencibia (image)near her family's home in Greeneville, Tennessee.
Arencibia had been the regular catcher for Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish but was optioned to the minors in May.
Us confirmed last October that The Band Perry singer, 30, and Arencibia got engaged. According to the Tennessean, the ball player made his now wife's dream come true when he popped the question at her parents' home under a large oak tree.
Read more: Us Magazine
Photo Credit: Tec Petaja
And it all happed on a sunny June 12th evening at a small, beautiful chapel in the heart of the bride's adopted hometown -- just the way she wanted it. Perry and Arencibia were married in Christ Chapel, adjacent to Greeneville First Presbyterian Church, shortly before 7 p.m. They had been dating since 2012 and engaged since just September last year, the pair wed in front of friends and family among which included stars Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert.
There may have been challenges and last-minute glitches that insiders knew about. It would not be the first time such things had happened at a well-planned wedding.
But, for the couple of hundred fans and onlookers gathered on North Main Street to enjoy the occasion from a distance, things seemed to go very smoothly. The Perrys -- Dr. and Mrs. Steve Perry, and Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry -- had kept the wedding date and hour a closely-guarded secret for months, to provide the couple and the families as much privacy as could be expected given the prominence of the bride and groom. As a result of those efforts, there was apparently only a small news media presence on North Main Street as the time of the ceremony approached: The Greeneville Sun, and two Northeast Tennessee television stations, at least one of which learned of the wedding accidentally while covering another local event during the afternoon. See photos at greenevillesun and www.wjhl.com

Findin' A Good Man: Congratulations to Danielle Peck, who married tour production manager Josh Smith last week at Belleek Castle in Ballina, Ireland. "This day was a dream come true for me," says Peck. "I've married my best friend and look forward to spending the rest of my life with the one I love.

BABY NEWS
It’s a girl for Kelly Clarkson. The singer announced that she delivered her first baby and very own “little Miss Independent” on Thursday (June 12): Our baby girl River Rose Blackstock arrived on June 12th! Thank you everyone for all of your well wishes! Brandon and I are on cloud 9!! :)
Fans were expecting the baby at any time, as Clarkson and husband Brandon Blackstock announced they were expecting a baby in November. Previously she confirmed it was a girl, but hadn’t announced the name. She did say the name — River Rose —  was going to be the same for a boy or a girl. This is the 32-year-old’s first baby. Blackstock has two children from a previous marriage. They were married during an intimate ceremony in Tennessee last October.

MUSIC NEWS
The stellar work of singer-songwriter-guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Nils Lofgren receives a comprehensive retrospective in Face the Music, a definitively annotated nine-CD/one-DVD boxed set that takes in Lofgren’s 45-year solo career, due from Fantasy Records on August 5, 2014.

After Midnight: Changes are due to take place on BBC Radio 2s overnight schedule will see Alex Lester moved to weekends and the 3am to 5am slot filled with repeats.
A new in-house show, "After Midnight", will air 12am till 3am with Janice Long Monday to Thursday and Alex Friday to Sunday.
Janice Long says: “My audience have been hounding me for ages to go back to three hours so it gives me great pleasure to give them what they want on wonderful BBC Radio 2.
Alex Lester says: “At last a chance to make weekends extra special, brimming with top tunes, captivating conversation and sustenance aplenty for insomniacs, night owls and worker bees – all are welcome!”
In other changes, Huey Morgan and the "Country king" Bob Harris’s weekend programmes will move to 3-6am (from midnight-3am) on Saturday and Sunday early mornings, respectively, replacing Richard Allinson (Saturday and Sunday, 3-6am) which will be scrapped but who will continue to deputise on key shows across the network.
Richard Allinson says: “Whilst I’ll miss my regular Radio 2 show, it does require a level of commitment that, for the time being, I can now direct towards a new range of future projects with my production company.
To fill in the gaps on weekday early mornings from 3am to 5am, Radio 2 will be repeating other recent programmes. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights will broadcast Sounds Of The 60s with Brian Matthew, Sounds Of The 70s with Johnnie Walker and Sounds Of The 80s with Sara Cox. Thursday and Friday night programme details will be confirmed at a later date.
Bob Shennan, Controller, BBC Radio 2, says: “I’m delighted that Janice and Alex will be hosting the new show, bringing music and entertainment to our faithful night-time audience. We have had to make some difficult decisions in light of our reduced budgets, which is why we are reducing some of our live originations overnight, but I’m pleased that we are able to offer this new live programme seven nights a week. I’d like to thank Richard for his contribution to weekends and his continuing association with the network in the future.”
This looks like Bob Harris will lose his live audience with fans and musicians tuning in on their way home from gigs during what had become a graveyard shift compared to the "special" days when he broadcast at a more socialable 10-1 am Saturday Night slot. Since the move to midnight many exclusively listened back via BBC iPlayer or using Digital Radio automatically record it direct to an SD card and listen back at leasure. With the potential loss of 10 hours of live radio shows Mon-Fri one wonders how this will affect artists who are A,B or C playlisted with 5 to 20 spins a week cross the Radio 2 shows.

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS

  • Gwen Sebastian Single: "Small Town Soul" will be available on iTunes: June 17th – Cover Art
  • "The Way I Am" (Running Dog Records) the first single from Donna Hughes upcoming album FROM THE HEART, is now available on Amazon UK and UK iTunes.
  • Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited will release in October, and features Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Marty Stuart, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers and Ashley Monroe. The recording project includes 16 of the original songs from the 1927 Bristol Sessions, or, as Johnny Cash referred to it, “the single most important event in the history of Country music.” Also known as the “Big Bang of Country Music,” the recordings by Ralph Peer in Bristol, Tenn., produced pioneers of the genre, such as Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family.
  • On Tuesday June 17th, 2014 Valerie Smith is pre-releasing THE HUMAN CONDITION (9 tracks; Time: 28:13; Bell Buckle Records) DIGITALLY on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and through website at www.valeriesmithonline.com  If you are interested in a physical hard copy of "The Human Condition" it will be available Tuesday August 5th, 2014. For details see thehumancondition.info
  • Allison Moorer has announced on Twitter that her next album, DOWN TO BELIEVING, will be released on February 17, 2015.
New To You Feature: Duo Haley & Michaels (Shannon Haley and Ryan Michaels; Photo 2012) recently attended the 2014 CMT Awards. 
Haley & Michaels at the
CMT Awards 2014
They hail from the San Francisco Bay Area growing up just three miles apart and are currently based in Nashville. They met in Nashville through a mutual guitar player. Blurb: Combining their two unique voices into one complete sound, the well-blended harmonies of Haley & Michaels is catching on fire and captivating music lovers across the country. In 2013, they were awarded for “Best Video,” and “Song of the Year” for their single “The Price I Pay,” well as  “Best Live Country Performers,” and “Artist of the Year” at the Nashville Independent Music Awards (NIMA.)
They released >> “Just Another Love Song” (feat. Richie McDonald) on 22nd April 2014 (2014 H&M Music, LLC) which is available from Amazon UK and UK iTunes. The song which splices in Lonestar's "Amazed"” hit CMTPure on May 28th where fans could cast votes for #JALS to help them make CMT’s Top 20. “It’s basically a song about two people who have a song, a love song when they’re together,” Shannon Haley says of the track in the >> Behind The Scenes video. “The idea of what happens when you break up, what happens to that song? It becomes just another love song.” The duo wrote the song with Lonestar front man Richie McDonald, and the lyric incorporates elements of Lonestar’s signature hit.
CONNECT with Haley & Michaels:
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PRESS RELEASES

  • The award-winning bluegrass duo, The Roys, released the first single, "No More Lonely," on Tues June 10, from their highly-anticipated album The View, set to be released in September. The song celebrates a fresh, optimistic look at life and the dismissal of former anguish with the discovery of one's "true love."
  • Jerrod Niemann to headline Historical Ryman Auditorium
  • Red River Entertainment releases The Truckin’ Sessions Trilogy: Dale Watson adds 3rd to Truckin’ Sessions Collection
  • Kelley Mickwee of The Trishas steps out on her own with YOU USED TO LIVE HERE. Austin singer-songwriter embraces her soulful Memphis roots on solo debut, due July 22. Listen to Track 2 on soundcloud
  • Jana Kramer joins Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Chris Young, Lee Brice, Dustin Lynch, Randy Houser for All-Star Kicker Country Stampede Line Up to be held June 26-29 in Manhattan, Kansas.
  • Rosie Thomas after a brief stint in purgatory, sees one of most beloved albums, THESE FRIENDS OF MINE, has finally been released from the Disney vault, and is available again now. 
  • Kenny Chesney returns With “American Kids” -
  • Over the past year, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen have been taking the bluegrass world by storm. With the release of their new album COLD SPELL on August 12, they are poised to branch out even further into the burgeoning roots music scene.
  • Donna Ulisse wrote a book and reveals ‘The Songwriter in Me’
  • Charlie Daniels Band new recording Of "My Home" set for 38th Annual Macy's 4th Of July Fireworks Display.
  • WTF! Wholesale Truck and Finance has signed on to sponsor the 2014 Highway Angel Truck Stop Tour with Lindsay Lawler for the second consecutive year.
  • Great Father's Day Gift ideas from Holly Williams
  • The Americana Music Association applauds the Recording Academy for adding a new category - Best American Roots Music Performance, an artist’s award - to the American Roots Music Field for the 2015 GRAMMY Awards.
  • The Oak Ridge Boys have been added to the superstar lineup of artists performing aboard the 2015 Country Music Cruise which will also feature performances by Martina McBride, Charley Pride, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Lorrie Morgan, Asleep at The Wheel, Restless Heart, Bryan White, The Roys and more.

ARTICLES
CMA Close Up (by Kip Kirby) Miranda Lambert has followed her path with the surefootedness of a high-wire aerialist..

Country Weekly On the Edge: Logan Brill.. “I’ve always been very infatuated with really depressing thoughts and things, even though I’m not a very depressed person, I guess,” says singer/songwriter Logan Brill with a laugh. You could be excused for thinking otherwise after listening to Walking Wires, the 22-year-old Knoxville, Tenn., native’s latest album, which sounds at times like the aftermath of a particularly messy breakup.......

Taylor Swift Leaving Country Music?
Welp, that’s that. Gauging from the comments made in Rolling Stone‘s current country music special edition by the CEO of Big Machine Records aka the Country Music Antichrist Scott Borchetta, we can now put a period at the end of Taylor Swift’s pop country career. Finito. Done. End of story. Taylor Swift’s country run is in the books, and she’s now a pop star exclusively...…Country music needs Taylor Swift, and it will be unwilling to forfeit the opportunity to have her sales and touring force fall under its umbrella without a fight. If Taylor Swift is truly leaving country, it’s hard to declare a victory for country music here, or for Taylor Swift. Without the support of country, and with the presence of Max Martin, there’s likely going to be a lot less trophies adorning Taylor’s mantle. At the same time Taylor Swift is now free to do what she wants …. or what Max Martin wants to do with her. Read more at Saving Country Music.com
Read the Facebook comments of followers of UK Country station 2Country.net

Fox News Eric Church: I put beer in country music first…..But while the North Carolina native is thrilled to finally be getting hit singles, he says he is still dissatisfied with a lot of what is played on radio. “It’s very feel-good,” he shares with Rolling Stone Country. “It’s a little bit shallower than it was a few years ago — it’s ‘Let’s drink, forget our worries, beach, bonfire, lake.’ When something’s working, everybody falls into a pattern. One thing I miss is turning on the radio and just having a song punch me in the gut, and, as a songwriter, knock me on my ass. And I think we could use more of that.” The 37-year-old says that, ironically, he was the one that unintentionally introduced the new format to radio. “‘Guys Like Me’ [from his 'Sinners Like Me' album] has a guy that drinks too many beers,” Church explains. “That was before anybody had ever put beer and trucks related in songs. Now, it’s in every song.

Telegraph UK  (Rating: 4 STARS) First Aid Kit, Stay Gold, review: 'honey-drenched' The third album from Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg is the aural equivalent of lying in a sunny meadow, says James Hall.

INTERVIEWS
Listen to Lee Williams recorded Nashiville interview with Jamie Lee Thurston first broadcast on 13th June on CMR Nashville "Europe's #1 Country Music Radio Station".
From his Facebook Page: JLT from Waterbury, Vt.is BIG—BIG personality and BIG talent. A 100-proof, authentic and talented vocalist, guitar player and songwriter, Jamie Lee Thurston is the definition of artist. With a baritone voice that is deep and rich, he sings with heart and soul. 

He delivers a tender ballad with as much heart and conviction as a kick-ass tune. Described as a “powerhouse,” it’s been said, “there are none better out there.”
His latest single "15 Minutes" is currently #7 in Europe on the Hotdisc Top 40 chart.

Listen to Lee Williams recorded Nashville interview with Fort Payne, AL native Leah Seawright during the CMA 2014 Festival. She has recently promoted her single "Country Girl 101" (see >> video) to Europe.
If you like what you hear CONNECT with Leah:
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>> Enjoy the interview, first broadcast on 13th June on CMR Nashville "Europe's #1 Country Music Radio Station"


MAGAZINES
The July/August 2014 issue of Maverick Magazine is now in W.H.Smith stores. It features an exclusive interview with Miranda Lambert prior to the release of her highly personal new album PLATINUM.
This issue also features interviews with US 'The Voice' winner and rising star Cassadee Pope and articles on Holly Williams, Amanda Shires: Light and Shade, Ward Thomas: British Country Girls, The Shires: Like A Dream, Nickel Creek Rise Again: Back After A Seven-Year Hiatus, Thomas Rhett: It Goes Like This... |  Mary Gauthier: Trouble & Love, Jim Reeves: 50 Years On with live reviews of Tinderbox, Jace Everett, Rosanne Cash and more.
Sample the cover + Holly Williams, Steven Seagal: Blues Man, Nickel Creek

LISTEN
NPR First Listen: Willie Nelson, 'Band Of Brothers'....When Willie Nelson was a young hustler selling songs to Patsy Cline's people, he probably never thought he'd become the crowd-anointed sage of country music. But that's what happened as the Redheaded Stranger went gray, turned smoking weed into a brand and a virtue, and produced a discography that added up to its own American Songbook. Nelson's gentle persona and approach has always somewhat masked his fire: to have hits; to play his legendarily worn guitar, Trigger, with killer precision; and to sing, in that quiet voice, with skill that matches the jazz greats
who've inspired him. On Band of Brothers, Nelson's first album of mostly original material in 18 years, he calmly asks listeners to consider his whole person. 
The Wall - rip off of The River
Whenever You Come Around - Vince Gill

SPOTIFY COUNTRY
Hicksville Band – Comfort in the Glass - 12 Tracks, UKCountryRadio.com Album of the week June 9
First Aid Kit – Stay Gold - 10 tracks released June 9, 2014

Demun Jones – Jones County - Country Rap, 12 tracks released June 10, 2014
Danny Boone – Fish Grease - Country Rap, 12 tracks released June 10, 2014
Joshua Scott Jones – The Healing - 11 Tracks, released June 3

Mary Gauthier – Trouble & Love - Released June 10, 2014 - 8 tracks

Wayne Rooney's World Cup Spotify playlist is even more boring than you're imagining: Rooney
picked a selection of tracks on Spotify to get him fired up for the 2014 World Cup, including the always motivational "Goodbye My Lover" by James Blunt and the ever training montage-ready "Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice. Rooney posted the playlist on Twitter where he described it as a 'mixed bag', instantly redefining the meaning of eclecticism such is its mawkish banality. 

Artists that the striker listened to as he headed to Brazil included Ed Sheeran, The Stereophonics, John Legend, Jake Bugg and Mumford & Sons. He also picked out "Ho Hey" by the Lumineers, wonder if you likes a bit of Lennon (Stella) & Maisy too? No sign of: “I Still Miss Someone” by Johnny Cash,  Mickey Gilley’s “The Boy Who Didn't Pass” or Gretchen Peters’ “England Blues”!  
Brazil babes wish Neymar and Co good luck - Daily Mail UK


WATCH

Aston Lane cover "Rewind" by Rascal Flatts in their latest Kitchen sessions get 7 free songs

x Jana Kramer - "Love" (Official Music Video) x

COUNTRY FASHION

Taylor Swift seen out and about in New York was spotted wearing a Suno deep V romper (Shopbop.com) - Fashion Pic

Carrie Underwood attended the 13th Annual Samsung Hope For Children Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on Tuesday (June 10) in New York City, joining Jessica Alba. 
The singer wore a dazzling strapless Rubin Singer Fall 2014 black and silver chevron-print cocktail dress with an asymmetrical neckline. The hemline was purposely asymmetrical, in sync with the dress' maze-like pattern, and showed off her slender limbs from the knees down to her black heels. Carrie, who has no qualms baring some skin, did some of that here too, as her tanned shoulders were exposed without showing too much cleavage.
Her bold print frock was styled with Jacob & Co. jewels including chandelier earrings (image), Henri Lepore ‘Carmela’ black T-strap pointy pumps and a metallic clutch (image) Image - Fashion Pic 

Her hair was styled smooth with a few soft curls at the ends, and a light dusting of rouge, neutral lipstick and eye shadow made her features stand out. Carrie was more than happy to turn and show off her dress at different angles at the event, which served to help children's education and health-related
issues.
Carrie was there to support her charity

>> Watch her carpet interview  Photo with Tony Bennett -


Taylor Swift was photographed in a white lace dress with a bold red lip in NYC on a luck day for her Friday, June 13th. The singer was later joined by Victoria's Secret pal Karlie Kloss. Read more: Us Magazine

Lucy Hale made a guest appearance at Macy’s Sherman Oaks For American Rag’s ‘ALL ACCESS’ Campaign held at Macy’s Sherman Oaks on Saturday (June 14) in Sherman Oaks, California. Wearing a piece from the American Rag collection, the actress/singer wore a strapless, tie-dye print, drawstring waist jumpsuit. Her boho-inspired look was styled with black American Rag ‘Carllie Demi’ wedges (image ) and gold accessories including a gold Michael Kors timepiece - Fashion Pic - Performing Live in the store

She's Got The Legs: Taylor Swift wore a little black Minkpink playsuit ‘See The World Romper’ (shop.nordstrom- $74.00) while leaving the ModelFIT Gym in Tribeca, New York City on Saturday afternoon (June 14). The 24-year-old "Begin Again" country singer was joined by her younger brother Austin, who was dressed in his workout clothes. Tay kept the styling minimal with all-black accessories wearing adorable ankle-strap Seychelles ‘Little Owl’ sandals (Fashion Pic) featuring a cutout at the heel and cinching at the peep toe and ever-the-hopeless-romantic star carried a Gelareh Mizrahi bag (Image - Image, $800 - gelarehmizrahi.com). To get the wear-your-heart-on your-shoulder-look for under $32 visit ASOS . Her shoulder-length honey blonde locks were worn in soft waves, with a sideswept fringe framing her pretty face. She played up her eyes with a heavy slick of kohl liner and was sporting her trademark ruby red pout.
Legs eleven! Taylor Swift shows off the results of her workout...Read more: Daily Mail UK
23 Reasons Why Taylor Swift Is a Street Style Pro - instyle.com

Ladylike Ray of Sunshine: Whilst celebrating Father’s Day Taylor Swift was with her dad Scott in New York City on Sunday June 15, 2014. After spending her morning visiting the World Trade Center memorial she was later seen sporting a beautiful yellow Oscar de la Renta ‘Floral Pleated Dress’ (farfetch.com - $3,390.00 $2,034.00) with an asymmetrical hem and a neckline which flatters Tay Tay's collarbones - Fashion Pic It was worn with Prada ‘Peep Toe Slingback' sandals (image)

COUNTRY GOSSIP
Kip Moore has a big celebrity crush on Shania Twain. In fact, her "Any Man of Mine" video is his favorite of all time.
Kip told CMT.com, "That's when I discovered that we were meant to be together. She just doesn't know it yet."
Kip and Shania are on the same record label, so there's a good chance he might get to meet her one day. Unfortunately for Kip, Shania tied the knot with her husband, Fred, in 2011.

After 14 months and 86 concerts all over the globe, Taylor Swift's RED tour has finally come to an end. Her fans aren't quite ready to let go, however, using the hashtag #LongLiveREDTour on Twitter to express their sadness about the fact that it'll be a while before they get to see their idol rock the stage again.  Taylor's taken to Instagram with a message designed to make them feel better. Taylor wrote, "Just so you know...." and posted a photo of a piece of paper with this quote by author C.S. Lewis: "There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind." This is, we assume, a reference to the fact that Taylor will now have time to finish up her new album, which she said is "already my favorite thing that I’ve ever created

TWEETS
Sarabeth who is coming to the UK to play some gigs tweeted:


Florida Georgia Line


PHOTO
CMA Fest 2014: Highlights Day 1: Riverfront Stage - Facebook Gallery
CMA Fest 2014: Highlights of LP Field Day 1 - Facebook Gallery
CMA Fest 2014: Highlights of LP Field Day 2 - Facebook Gallery
CMA Fest 2014: Highlights of LP Field Day 3 - Facebook Gallery
CMA Fest 2014: Highlights of LP Field Day 4 Part 1 - Facebook Gallery
CMA Fest 2014: Highlights of LP Field Day 4 Part 2 - Facebook Gallery
Miranda Lambert @ CMA Fest 2014, LP Field, Nashville, TN - Facebook Gallery
Slideshow - The Tennessean Fans share photos from CMA Fest - The Tennessean

BIRTHDAYS
June 18: Julie Reeves (1974), Blake Shelton (1976) 
June 19: Lester Flatt (1914), Doug Stone (1956)
June 20: Anne Murray (1945), the late Chet Atkins (1924; Chester Burton Atkins; died June 30, 2001; aged 77
June 21: Allison Moorer (1972), Kathy Mattea (1959)  
June 22: Kris Kristofferson (1936)

R.I.P
Hit country songwriter Don Devaney died on Friday, June 6, 2014. His friends and family gathered at Brown’s Diner to celebrate his life on Saturday, June 14. Devaney hit the top of the charts with 1978’s “Someone Loves You Honey,” sung by Charley Pride and with 1988’s “Cry, Cry, Cry” by Highway 101. He wrote the bluegrass standard “Listening to the Rain,” which has been recorded by The Osborne Brothers (1970), Special Consensus (1996), Pam Gadd (1997), Doc & Merle Watson (1998), Ronnie Reno (2002), Monroe Crossing (2003) and others. Other notable cuts include Johnny Cash’s “Ain’t Gonna Hobo No More” (1982), Rick Trevino’s “Serious Love” (1996) and The Wilburn Brothers’ “Signs Are Everywhere” (1970).

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