Country Bites News snippets
September 1 – September 7, 2014
SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED
UK & IRISH
News
Security Casualty: Singer songwriters Amy Wadge and Pete Riley were gutted to announce they had to cancel
the gig at Norwegian Church in Cardiff on Friday Sept 5th. They were advised to
do so due to all of the security measures that had to be put in place in
Cardiff for the NATO summit. The church was behind a barricade and access is
extremely difficult without clearance.
For the week
commencing 6th September 2014 The Shires
radio single “Tonight” has been dropped, after 4 weeks, from the BBC Radio 2 “B”
Playlist, it was first added the week of 9th August 2014
Jacqui Sharkey the Scotland born and Irish Republic native has
released her second album with 12 track album LOVE AND OTHER THINGS which offers
a blend of Mid-Road & Americana Country Music with a Celtic twist.
Jacqui, popular on the Phil Mack Show circuit, has a voice to compare with and rival the silky smooth Canadian songbird Anne Murray. She has also added her terrific previous single ‘Pretty Words’.
Irish Country Singer Derek Ryan has landed his biggest career achievement to-date with news on Sept 5th that his album THE SIMPLE THINGS had gone straight to the top of the Irish album chart after one week on release, holding off international stars such as Ed Sheeran, Paolo Nutini and Kate Bush from the coveted number one slot.
Earlier in the
week he had already become #1 on the Irish download chart and #1 in the UK
country chart as well as reaching the Top 40 in the general UK download
chart.‘The Simple Things’, released Friday 29th August, is his fifth studio
album which includes five of his own original songs (including ‘Hold on to Your
Hat’ ‘Flowers in your hair’ and ‘The House that Jack Built’) and includes his
biggest hit single ‘Hold On To Your’ featuring Sharon Shannon.
Speaking of the news from his County Carlow home, Derek said he is elated and wished to thank the thousands of fans who have supported his career over this past three years.
Speaking of the news from his County Carlow home, Derek said he is elated and wished to thank the thousands of fans who have supported his career over this past three years.
Derek busy with
touring commitments insisted that when
he lands in Australia on a two week tour he will toast the success. Raymond
Stewart from Sharpe Music congratulated Derek on his achievement and said it
was only a matter of time before he became No.1. Raymond also confirmed that the album was one
of the fastest selling CDs his label has released and believes it will be a
huge seller at Christmas.
The Phil Mack
International Country team will have a lot of interesting footage in
coming weeks on Showcase TV after an exciting week or so on their Tennessee trip (sponsored by Tour
America,Tennessee Tourism,United Airlines & Sweet Magnolia Tours) Accompanying
presenters Phil Mack & Lisa Stanley were Irish artist Shunie Crampsey &
Seamus O'Donnell of Videotek Ireland (who arrived in Knoxville after 14 hours
since leaving Ireland)
After filming in
the UK studios on Weds 3rd September Lisa & Phil flew out to Washington USA
only 39 on board out of a capacity of around 260 people on the United Airlines
flight from London Heathrow.
On Thurs 4th September they visited Clintwood to meet Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley and film at his museum and then visit Hiltons & The Carter Cash Ranch. They got some great footage speaking on camera with Rita Forrester of the Carter family who relives the history of the Carter and Cash clans.
 |
| Phil Mack International - Tennessee Visit CLICK to ENLARGE |
On Thurs 4th September they visited Clintwood to meet Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley and film at his museum and then visit Hiltons & The Carter Cash Ranch. They got some great footage speaking on camera with Rita Forrester of the Carter family who relives the history of the Carter and Cash clans.
During the trip
they were guided and chauffeured by Jay Kirkpatrick of Sweet Magnolia.
Lisa Stanley grabbed
an >> interview with T
Jae Christian in Nashville Tennessee. On Friday 5th September after leaving
The Hilton Doubletree Hotel, Johnson City they drove to Sevierville to tour
& film at Pigeon Forge the home of the superstar Dolly Parton followed by >>
filming at Dollywood the next day. The award room at Dollywood, holds the
numerous awards. Lisa interviewed Wes Ramsey who was permitted to allow them
free reign in what has been voted the world's best amusement resort for the
past SIX years.
Sunday 7th &
Monday 8th September saw the team head to Music City for filming at The Ryman Auditorium , The Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame in
Nashville. Jay Kirkpatrick their constant guide was so welcome and providing
seats for the brilliant show and backstage access!
They grabbed an interview
at The Willie Nelson Museum in Nashville with Country star David Frizzell who with Merle Haggard and others has just released
a tribute CD & DVD to Buddy Holly.
In Studio B Nashville Tennessee the team
had tears in their eyes stood on the spot where legends such as Elvis, Jim
Reeves, The Everly Brothers. Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton and dozens more
recorded their many hits.
On returning to
the UK the lovely Lisa Stanley will hook up with Nathan Carter on his tour in
Scotland. Then on 26th - 29th September they all meet up with some great
artists for their Phil Mack International Country weekend at the Gleneagles
Hotel Killarney. >> See promo video
The Phil Mack Show
shared a very precious moment from Sunday, when the film crew were invited into
the Mausoleum at Woodlawn cemetery
Nashville Tennessee:
** MUST SEE ** wonderful footage captured >> Video >> Video
** MUST SEE ** wonderful footage captured >> Video >> Video
The Phil Mack team
kindly confirmed with us they are only involved in The Phil Mack
International Country Show & Keep It Country Music and are not associated
with the new Showcase TV CM&T
country show (http://www.cmandt.tv/ Check out last Weds
repeat Show https://vimeo.com/105155511
) although they did keep the seat warm for the Lee Williams produced show slot
which broadcasts Weds (9-10pm).
The Phil Mack Tennessee tour for 2015 is organised with Tour America.
The Phil Mack Tennessee tour for 2015 is organised with Tour America.
Listen to
Award-Winning Country/ Singer/Songwriter Colin
Clyne (11 tracks, total time: 35:50) on soundcloud
According to
SRWells Music Promotions Colin has a lot of support in Scotland from Jim
Gellatly (voice of new music in Scotland), BBC Scotland and STV ('...a rising
star in Scottish music...') for his last album 'Doricana' which was released in
2010 and was produced by Grammy Award Winning Engineer Alan Sanderson. Colin’s
newly released album 'The Never Ending Pageant' has been described by STV
Aberdeen City as a “truly stunning
collection of songs” and charted for a time at No.6 in the UK iTunes
Country album chart.
Roots/Bluegrass/Boogie
Woogie/Honky-Tonk and Glasgow based artist Daniel
Meade has new singles "Long Gone Wrong" & "Help Me
Tonight" (featuring Singer/Songwriter Diana Jones) available for digital
download from Sept 8, 2014 - Amazon UK & UK iTunes . They were recorded in
Hendersonville, Tennessee and produced by Morgan Jahnig (photo Left) . Test drive the singles from
his new Long Gone Wrong EP at soundcloud
Sturgill Simpson:
Dingwalls, London
(Sept 29th), The Maze at The Forest
Tavern, Nottingham (Sept 30th), St. The Tunnels, Bristol (Oct 1st),
Leaf, Liverpool
(Oct 2nd ), Whelans, Dublin (Oct 4th ), Oran Mor, Glasgow (Oct 5th) and The
Sage, Gateshead (Oct 6th)
1st September 2014
marked the seventh birthday of UKCountryRadio.com, which began broadcasting at
10am on Saturday 1st September 2007. The 6-piece country rock band Grand
Prairie accepted their invitation to perform at their 7th Listeners Club
Finalist Party (Sept 13), as did Elbow Jake Acoustic Band who were to perform a
set in the bar from 6pm ahead of the main show . It brought to eleven the total
number of artists performing on the night. Grand Prairie and Elbow Jake join
Raintown, Gary Quinn, Thorne Hill with Arizona Storm and Paul Martin's new
trio, together with the five Listeners' Club Song Award Finalists Interactive
Murcia, Kelly Michelle, Lucy Zirins, Suzanna Shore and Wayne Jacobs.
These are the UKCountryRadio.com spotlight artists they will
be featuring each weekend during September.
Sep 5-7: The Rising;
Sep 12-14: The McGlones; Sep 19-21: The Dunwells; Sep 26-28: Lucy May
Read more in their
September Newsletter
US countrt artist Katie Armiger has announced “U.S. Girls With Guitars,” her
first-ever European headlining tour, set to kick off November 16th in Glasgow.
The tour features special guest Holly
May.
Armiger is touring
in support of her latest album, FALL INTO ME, which was produced by Grammy
winner Chad Carlson (Taylor Swift) and features Armiger’s collaborations with
some of Nashville’s most sought-after songwriters, including Blair Daly (Faith
Hill, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw), Joe West (Toby Keith) and Bruce Wallace (Dierks
Bentley, Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry), among others.
Fueled by breakout
single “Safe,” which shot to No. 1 on the Top 20 Country Countdown Chart, while
its stunning video–a tribute to first responders–amassed more than two million
YouTube views, FALL INTO ME debuted on the Billboard Independent Albums Chart
at No. 6 and on the Billboard Country Albums Chart at No.7
Sadly “Safe” after
a No.40 debut only reached No.25 in its fifth and last week on the Hotdisc Top
40 chart promoted on April 2014’s Hotdisc #184 disc.
17 year old newbie country/pop
“starlet” Holly May who hails from Charlemont, MA released her July 2014
European single "Go Big
Or Go Home" (written by Una & Enoch Jensen; >> watch the Vevo video) which made a debut at No.39 on
Hotdisc To 40 and climbed to a No.25 peak (chart
Aug 3, 2014)
Katie’s UK dates
include: 16th Nov (Oran Mor, Glasgow), 17th Nov (Islington Assembly Hall,
London), 18th Nov (Birmingham, Glee Club), 19th Nov (Cluny 2, Newcastle), 20th
Nov (Cambridge Junction, Cambridge) , Nov 23rd (British
Country Music Awards bcmawards
Concorde Suite, Crane Lodge Road, Heathrow, TW5 9PQ) and Nov 24th (Loft Arts
Centre, Liverpool)
Tickets are now
available for the 2014 British Country Music Awards (BCMAwards) which
will be held on Sunday 23rd November 2014 (Concorde Suite, Crane Lodge Road,
Heathrow, TW5 9PQ - Doors open 6.30pm)
For information and tickets visit www.bcmawards.co.uk
Nominees have been
announced in seven categories so far. The awards panel writes: “Although there
are the usual names in a lot of cases, there are one or two new ones joining
the mix. The ultimate decision rests on industry people who will get the
chance to vote on the nominees in many of the categories”.
Other BCMAwards categories are still to be announced for:
International Act of the
Year, International Album of the Year, UK Song of the Year, International Song
of the Year, Irish Act of the Year, Band of the Year, Radio Act of the Year,
Musician of the Year, European Act of the Year, UK Services to Industry,
International Services to Industry, Peoples’ Choice (Voting closed on August
31st 2014).
Where are they?: For some unknown reason there is as yet no place
for duo Ward Thomas the most successful
UK country act in 2014 to date who had a No.1 UK iTunes single, 5 weeks on the
Official UK Top 100 albums (outselling and out charting many of America’s
biggest names), 5 weeks at No.1 on the Official UK Top Country Albums chart
along with many national UK radio and TV appearances and 8 weeks playlisted by
BBC Radio 2. The duos notable ongoing achievements first began in June 2013 when
they represented the UK in Nashville at the Aristo Global Artist Showcase. For
them NOT to receive a nomination in The Horizon & Duo cateogary is a
remarkable ommision!
Entertainer
of the Year:
Henry Smith Band, Next Of
Kin, Raintown, Texas Tornados, Nathan Carter
Female
Vocalist of the Year:
Nancy Ann Lee, Donna Wylde,
Hayley Oliver, Claire Bain (Raintown), Michelle Hughes (Next Of Kin)
Line
Dance Act of the Year:
Alan Gregory, Paul Bailey,
Texas Tornados, Richard Palmer, Glenn Rogers
Horizon
Act of the Year:
The Shires, Sam Hollyman,
Sara Crockett, Trey Jackson, Hicksville Band
Duo
of the Year:
Raintown, Jonny &
Lynnette, Luke & Mel, Thrillbillies, West & Black
Solo
Act of the Year:
Nancy Ann Lee, Bob Keeley,
Darren Busby, Chris Raddings, Billy Curtis
Male
Vocalist of the Year:
Gary Perkins, Richard
Palmer, John Taylor, Gary Quinn, Steve Cherelle
UK CHART NEWS
Official UK Top
100 Singles Chart (Week
Ending September 13, 2014)
Taylor Swift fell 4-6 with her Pop single “Shake It Off” selling another 38,325 copies
(sales down 6%) for a 3-week total of 116,509.
Official UK Top
100 Album Chart (Week
Ending September 13, 2014)
Although sales of the number one album [Sam Smith] are
above 30,000 for the third week in a row, overall album sales last week
plummeted to a 19 year low.
Dolly Parton with BLUE
SMOKE/THE BEST OF (Masterworks) ended its initial 12 week engagement in the Top 10, dipping 10-11
(6,062 sales; down 22% on previous week 7,738; 12-week total 189,961).
Brad Paisley with MOONSHINE
IN THE TRUNK (Arista Nashville) who made a debut at No.34 selling 2,387 copies last week fell off the Top 100 once again like
previous set "WHEELHOUSE" only able to a solitary chart week.
Official UK
Country Album Chart (Week
Ending September 13, 2014)
Brad Paisley with MOONSHINE
IN THE TRUNK held at No.1 for a
second week.
The UK’s Ward Thomas with FROM WHERE WE STAND (WTW Music) held
at No.2 in their a seventh week.
Popular Irish artist Derek Ryan
made a debut at No.3 with THE SIMPLE
THINGS (Sharpe Music)
UK iTunes Top 1500 Country Albums
(Last updated Sept 8, 2014)
Dolly Parton’s album
BLUE SMOKE/ THE BEST OF held at No.1
as Brad Paisley’s new album MOONSHINE IN THE TRUNK.
slipped 2-5 and Irish artist Derek Ryan fell 12 slots 3-15 with his new Aug
29th set THE SIMPLE THINGS.
Ward Thomas with their 7 week old debut album FROM WHERE WE STAND maintained thier
place at No.9
UK iTunes
Country Albums
1 Dolly Parton
- Blue Smoke/ The Best Of (#77 overall Album chart)
2 Taylor Swift
- Red (#294 overall Album chart)
3 Lady
Antebellum - Need You Now (#297 overall Album chart)
4 Dolly Parton
- The Very Best of Dolly Parton
5 Brad Paisley
- Moonshine in the Trunk (#346 overall Album chart)
6 Various
Artists - The No.1 Country Hits Collection – 100 Greatest Country Hits
7 Lady
Antebellum - 747 (#416 overall Album chart)
8 Johnny Cash -
The Man Comes Around
9 Ward Thomas -
From Where We Stand (#491 overall Album chart)
10 Various
Artists - American Heartland: Legends of Country
11 Various
Artists - The Music of Nashville: Original Soundtrack Season 2, Vol. 2 (Deluxe)
15 Derek Ryan -
The Simple Things (#687 overall Album chart)
UK iTunes Top 1500 Country Singles (Last updated August 26, 2014)
Taylor Swift with her official POP single “Shake It Off” held at No1 with the
single purchased from the Deluxe album climbed 3-2 and posts a further 6 songs
in the top 20.
Lady Antebellum’s juggarnaut single “Need You Now” moved up 11-3
English duo The Shires
with their second Radio 2 playlisted single “Tonight” fell 7-19.
Ward Thomas who their former BBC Radio 2 “A” playlist with “Push For the Stride” fell one place 18-19.
Of NOTE: Mike Ward
(the cousin of British The X Factor series 2 winner Shayne Ward) and former
finalist on Season 2 of The Voice UK holds the No.7 slot with his new single
and No1 British Hotdisc track “Welcome
Home”. Over the course of the weekend the single made big strides from a
lowly No.19 on Friday to No.3 by Sunday evening as his fans really got behind
him. Due to the fact Taylor Swift >> officially announced
that her new single and forthcoming October album is her first documented POP
album then few can argue that Mike held the No.1 “Country” place. In America
her new song is no longer included on country charts apart from Billboard
Country airplay at No.59 recently which were just radio programmers being
curious spinning the track. “Welcome Home” has so far peaked at #392 on the
overall iTunes singles chart which was a long way short of Miss Swifts rankings
at #4 & #162 with the two “Shake It Off” versions.
 |
| Click Graphic to view FULL SIZE |
Listen to Mike’s “Welcome
Home” (released Aug 29, 2014) on SPOTIFY which is available to purchase on
Amazon UK and UK iTunes
1 Taylor Swift -
Shake It Off (#37 overall Singles chart)
2 Taylor Swift -
Shake It Off (#191 overall Singles chart)
3 Lady
Antebellum - Need You Now (#360 overall Singles chart)
4 Taylor Swift -
I Knew You Were Trouble. (#394 overall Singles chart)
5 Taylor Swift -
Love Story (#411 overall Singles chart)
6 Dolly Parton -
Jolene (#442 overall Singles chart)
7 Mike Ward - Welcome
Home (#466 overall Singles chart) #392 -
#466
8 Kenny Chesney
- The Big Revival (#548 overall Singles chart)
9 Dolly Parton -
9 To 5 (#595 overall Singles chart)
10 Lady
Antebellum - Bartender (#652 overall Singles chart)
11 Dolly Parton
- Lay Your Hands on Me (#654 overall Singles chart)
12 Taylor Swift
- 22
17 Ward Thomas -
Push For the Stride (#1234 overall Singles chart)
19 The Shires -
Tonight (#1306 overall Singles chart)
On the Hotdisc Chart (September 7, 2014 Chart)
Tony Stampley retains the number 1 position with his
first single, "It Ain't All Good But It Ain't Half Bad" with David
Frizzell's old chestnut "Maybe There's Love After You After All"
staying in the runner-up position for another week.
In the British & Irish Top 10, it's a second week
of chart topping for Mike Ward, the runner up from a previous series of the
BBCTV programme, "The Voice."
Tony Stampley remained atop the Hotdisc Top 40 for a
second week with "It Ain't All Good
But It Ain't Half Bad" in his fifth chart frame.
Owen Howell with "Let's Start A Party" has now logged his highest ranking to
date 7-6.
David Shelby with “Southern
Drawl” reached new heights with
a 11-8 shift.
Sonia Leigh with “Put
It In Your Pocket” also advanced to the top tier with a 13-10 hop.
Outside the Top 10:
US act M Callaghan
with “Wrecking My World” climbed
four 18-14 and Kaylee Rutland’s “Good Day To Get Gone” reached a new highest rank at
#18 (19-18)
Mike Ward with "Welcome
Home" slipped back 12-15 on the Top 40 but safely held his second week
at No.1 on the British & Irish Hotdisc chart with
former british #1 Charlie
Boston heading south 16-19 with “How I
Only Wish I Could Fly” .
The coming week will
see tracks from the latest September 2014 Hotdisc #189 promo disc impact the
chart as the new set hits the doormats and email in boxes of the DJs and
industry folks.
Acts slated to
appear: SaraBeth, Luanne Hunt, Beau + Luci, Mandy Strobel, David Hilgenfeldt
Project, Nu-Blu, Dave Sheriff, Cameron Troy, Doug Adkins, Philip Claypool, Mim
Grey, Jeremy Starkel, Native Run, Ray Scott, Bruce Larson, Tony Clarke, Ace
Diamond, Ashliegh Lisset, Sammy Hakim, Pete Dymond, Pawn Shop Kings and The
Diablos.
International Mainstream Country Music Chart (8-14 JULY 2014)
#1 Radio Playlist Board
1.Johnny Cash 2.
Willie Nelson 3. George Strait 4. Jim Reeves 5. George Longard
6. Dennis Ledbetter 7. Jeff Chance 8. Peter Trenholm
9. Miranda Lambert 10. Allen Karl
11. Boxcar Willie 12. Clelia Adams 13. Scott Sharp 14.
Vince Gill 15. Hank Snow
International Mainstream Top 40 Singles Country Music
Chart (8-14 JULY 2014)
1. Jannet Bodewes - Hank / 2. Jeff Chance/Hermann L
Meyer - Toolin’up my Harley
3. The Wilburn Brothers - Treat The Dog Like A Dog / 4.
Jack Webb - Since You Made A Wreck Out of Me
5. Dennis Ledbetter - Three Acres Of Fillies At
Billy’s / 6. Blake Shelton - My Eyes
7. Ray William Roldan - I Remember / 8. Peter
Trenholm/George Longard - Truck Drivin'Man
9. Jim Reeves - I’ll fly away / 10. Tjae Christian -
This Song Wrote It self / 11. Graeme Clarke - Darlin On Your Way Out Close The
Door
UK COUNTRY
ALBUM RELEASES
(2 Sept 2014) Frank
Foster - Rhythm and Whiskey (Lone Chief Records)
11 tracks/ Time: 41:32 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(9 Sept 2014) Lee
Brice - I Don't Dance (Curb Records)
(9 Sept 2014) Rose's Pawn Shop - Gravity Well
12 Tracks/ Time: 46:38 MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(9 Sept 2014) Terri
Clark - Some Songs (BareTrack Records)
10 Tracks/ Time: 32:30 CD - Amazon.com
AUSSIE NEWS
Australia’s most prestigious country music talent competition
– Toyota Star
Maker - will celebrate its 36th anniversary.
In addition to this, a 20-year milestone has been
reached by the Toyota Motor Corporation as the major sponsor of the
competition. Tony Cramb, Sales & Marketing Executive Director from Toyota
Australia, said, “The Toyota Star Maker
competition is Australia’s oldest and most successful country music talent
search. We are very proud of our association with such a prestigious initiative
and we’re looking forward to making our 20th year involved the biggest yet.”
The Toyota Star Maker Top 10 Final is on the first
weekend of the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The iconic festival, sponsored again by Toyota, will
be held from Friday, January 16, 2015 to Sunday, January 25, 2015 with the
Toyota Star Maker Top 10 Final on Sunday, January 18, 2015.
In 2014, Star Maker returned to the historic Tamworth
Town Hall, a much-loved venue steeped in country music history comparable to
Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.
In the first week of December 10 artists will be
announced as finalists after being judged by an industry panel. Three finalists will be chosen to compete in
the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final on Friday, January 23rd, 2015 at the Toyota
Concert In The Park.
They will compete for the title ‘2015 Toyota Star
Maker Winner’ and to be added to an honour roll that includes Lee Kernaghan,
James Blundell, Keith Urban, Beccy Cole, Gina Jeffreys, Kylie Sackley, Lyn
Bowtell and many more.
The Sunny Cowgirls have delivered their seventh album with a collection of
carefully selected covers paying tribute to paternal figures across the
country. Their new release ‘My Old Man’ was unveiled
nationally on Friday 29th August 2014.
‘My Old Man’ was launched at the 2014 Gympie Muster,
as the girls took to the Muster main stage for a huge show, followed by a late
night performance at the Crow Bar.
Universal Music Australia is proud to announce the release of Great Women Of
Country and the songs that made them, a collaboration by two of
Australia’s finest country stars, Melinda
Schneider and Beccy Cole. The
album will be released on November 7 2014. Containing 22 classic country tunes,
Great Women Of Country is Melinda and Beccy’s heartfelt homage to the songs,
the songwriters and the singers who have shaped them, and focused their determination
to pursue the career of singer-songwriters which they have so successfully
achieved.
CANADIAN NEWS
How country music is sidelining female artists. From
award lists to the charts, women are getting squeezed out by Nick Patch, The Canadian Press
September 7, 2014 (Edmonton, AB) The Canadian Country
Music Association® (CCMA®) continued to reveal winners of 2014 CCMA Awards
at the CCMA Gala Dinner & Awards and the CCMA All Star Band Awards. These were
the second and third of four awards ceremonies which took place over the
weekend as part of Country Music Week 2014.
- Johnny Reid took home the hardware for Top
Selling Canadian Album of the Year
- Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Deric Ruttan won the CCMA Award for Songwriter(s) of the Year,
for their hit song, “Mine Would Be You”.
- Lindi Ortega and Brett Kissel both won their very first CCMA Awards tonight;
Kissel for Interactive Artist, and Ortega for Roots Artist or Group of the
Year.
- Poignant
awards presentations were made for Slaight Music Humanitarian Award
recipient, Beverley Mahood and
Hank Smith Award of Excellence recipient, Deane Cameron.
- Canadian
Country Music Hall of Fame, Artist inductee, Wendell Ferguson and Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame Stan
Klees Builder Award, Builder inductee, Ron Sakamoto, were both honoured for their lifelong commitment
to furthering country music in Canada.
- Gord Bamford received the Global Country Artist Award
from the Country Music Association (CMA)
Read the Full Press Release at ccma.org
Watch One-minute >> video
recap of all the highlights from Day Three, at Country Music
Week 2014
NEWS
Country Aircheck's Insider Artist News
September 5, 2014: Garth Brooks
(Goes Digital), Nominees for the 48th Annual CMA Awards (Nom Squad), Hunter Hayes (Guitar Man), Kenny Chesney (Roadhouse Rum)
September 9, 2014: Miranda
Lambert ("Shabby Chic meets Rock & Roll"), Lady A/ Baby A (Cash On Arrival), Josh Turner (Boy Oh Boy), Glen Campbell (He'll Be Him), Trisha Yearwood and Kelly
Clarkson (Knockouts),
AWARDS
Little Big Town and Darius
Rucker revealed the 2014 CMA Awards nominees in a special press conference
Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014 from New York City's Best Buy Theater in Times Square.
They took to the
streets to announce the final nominees for “The 48th Annual CMA Awards.”
The first announcements happened live on “Good Morning America” where final nominees for Album, Vocal Group, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, and
The first announcements happened live on “Good Morning America” where final nominees for Album, Vocal Group, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, and
Entertainer of the
Year were revealed.
Following “Good
Morning America,” Little Big Town and Rucker made their way to the Best Buy Theater
where they announced final nominees in the
remaining seven categories, and helped the CMA Foundation announce a $125,000
donation to New York-based Education Through Music.
Miranda Lambert tops the list of final nominees with nine nominations,
matching the record she set in 2010 – the most for
any female artist
in the history of the CMA Awards. Alan Jackson received 10 nominations in 2002.
Prior to that, Merle Haggard held the record with nine in 1970.
Dierks Bentley received five nominations.
Eric Church and Keith
Urban collected four nominations each, and Luke Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, Blake Shelton, and Carrie Underwood each received three nominations for trophies that will be
handed out on “Country Music’s Biggest Night.
Awards criteria,
rules of election and balloting procedures are established by CMA’s Board of
Directors. Singles, albums, music videos and qualified music products for the
annual show must have been first released during the eligibility period,
which for the 2014 show is July 1, 2013,
through June 30, 2014. (Via CMA World Press Release)
Differences to the
the list of nominees compared to 2013
are:
Miranda Lambert
and Keith Urban (Entertainer), Martina
McBride (Female Vocalist), Dierks Bentley (Male Vocalist), Dan + Shay The Swon Brothers
(Vocal Duo), Jerry Douglas (Musician Of The Year) and Brandy Clark, Thomas
Rhett and Cole Swindell (New Artist Of The
Year) the rest of the names in the categories
remained exactly the same!
BABY NEWS
Sept 5 Congratulations to Josh Turner and his wife, Jennifer, on the arrival of their fourth child
Thursday. Samuel Hawke Turner was born weighing eight pounds, six ounces and
measuring 20.5 inches. He joins older brothers Hampton 8, Colby 5 and Marion 3.
Josh says, "God has truly blessed Jennifer and me with this healthy little
boy. We are so thankful and excited to see our family grow yet again." On
the music front, Josh's new single, "Lay Low," was just released to
country radio.
MUSIC NEWS
On Sept 8th Spotify revealed that Calvin Harris has made history by smashing the milestone of one
billion streams, becoming the first British solo artist in history to do so.
Mark Terry, Co-President of Columbia Records UK commented: “This is a landmark
achievement for Calvin and deserved recognition that he is in the elite tier of
global artists. His recent level of success has been extraordinary and
something that all of us here at Columbia are very proud to be part of.” Steve
Savoca, Spotify’s VP Content and Distribution, commented: “We would like to
congratulate Calvin Harris on reaching the huge milestone of a billion streams
on Spotify, conclusive proof if any were needed that he is one of the most
popular artists on Spotify.
Neil Young filed for divorce from Pegi Young, his wife
of 36 years and frequent musical collaborator, reported Rolling Stone.
The magazine obtained the divorce petition Neil Young
filed in San Mateo, Calif., where they live, on July 29. A hearing is set for
December. RS says the Youngs met at a diner near his California ranch, where
she worked as a waitress. She was the
inspiration for several of his love songs, including Unknown Legend, and served
as a backup singer on multiple tours for years. Eventually she achieved a solo
career, released three albums and toured
on her own.
SINGLE / ALBUM
NEWS
Hal Ketchum's first release with Music Road Records and
first album in six years sees the follow-up to 2008s Father Time, I'M THE TROUBADOUR
will be out Oct 7, 2014. Described as a genre-defying collection of 15 songs
(Americana/ AAA / Acoustic Country) that pulls from Ketchum's diverse
influences, including blues, rock and soul and it includes a couple of reworks
of Ketchum favorites "I know Where Love Lives" and "Stay
Forever".
"I had pretty much thrown in the towel. I wasn't
interested in putting out another big country album. I've done that. I've been
there, man," says chart topping legend and Grand Ole Opry member Hal
Ketchum, describing his recent five-year respite from the music
industry.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis fifteen years ago,
the symptoms were starting to catch up with Ketchum, who is now 61 years old.
"I went through some really serious
bouts of paralysis, blindness and the fear that goes with all of that. I was in
kind of a dark place," he says. "I didn't write, didn’t perform.
I was just laying low, living in a cabin out in Wimberley, TX."
After focusing on his health for several years, his
strength began to return, but Ketchum soon realized he would never really be
himself without returning to his lifelong art form. "I came to the
realization that I had gotten to this deep level of depression, and I finally
said to myself, 'I can still do this. I can still write.
But when Jimmy LaFave and Kelcy Warren of the small
Austin, TX label Music Road Records heard his songs, they knew they had to
convince Ketchum to write another album.
Billboard have an exclusive premiere of the first single from (and title track) …Ketchum
tells Billboard that I'm The Troubadour is also one of the most eclectic discs
he's made during his career. "It's reminiscent of a record I made with
Stephen Bruton years ago called Awaiting Redemption.
Pre-order at Amazon UK - Amazon.com
Angaleena Presley reveals “American Middle Class” Album Cover….Since
(Sept. 1) was Angaleena Presley’s birthday, check out this exclusive look at
the cover art for her forthcoming solo project, American Middle Class, due in
stores on Oct. 14. The album was co-produced by Angaleena with her husband,
Jordan Powell, and Angaleena wrote or co-wrote all 12 of the
autobiographical tracks.
Alabama's star-studded concert at Nashville's Ryman
Auditorium is coming to life with the new DVD/CD/LP
release, ALABAMA
& FRIENDS AT THE RYMAN. The live project is due out September 30
featuring Alabama singing their biggest hits with special guests Luke Bryan,
Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Trisha Yearwood, Eli Young Band, and Jamey
Johnson.
Ronnie Milsap will be formally inducted into the Country
Music Hall of Fame in Nashville next month, and a new Milsap box set is coming out November 4 to celebrate the
milestone. The RCA Albums Collection features remastered versions of all of
Ronnie's albums, from 1973's Where My Heart Is to his 1991 album, Back to the
Grindstone. His 2006 release, My Life, is also included in the 21-CD set.
You can get the brand new Garth Brooks single "People Loving People" instantly when
you pre-order his upcoming album digitally. Also, available digitally for the first time, a super bundle
including Garth's catalog with ALL 8 studio albums PLUS the new Double Live
25th Anniversary Edition, his new Fall 2014 album and another new album in Fall
2015. That's 10 studio albums plus the new Double Live for the crazy low price
of $29.99!
Kenny Chesney’s added a 64-page magazine for The Big Revival
ZinePak, featuring the new studio album from Kenny Chesney, includes
11 new songs the full-color magazine with exclusive interviews and photos, plus
four postcards. It drops on Sept. 23 but that special edition will only be at Walmart
PRESS RELEASES
- Larry's Country Diner serves up
Faith, Family & Fun at America's favorite Country Music Eatery!
(September schedule on RFD-TV)
- Buddy Lee Attractions (BLA), Donna Lee (Owner/CEO) is
pleased to announce another new addition to its award-winning roster; the
versatile television and music entertainer, Brooke Hogan has signed on to join Gwen Sebastian,
Jason Michael Carrol, The Lacs, Bucky Covington and, most recently, The
Roys and Outshyne upping the well-rounded BLA class of decorated,
sought-after performers.
ARTICLES
American Songwriter Lyric Of The Week: Marty Stuart, “Observations Of A Crow”
Billboard Taylor Swift Makes Album Promotion an Art in Her Debut
'Shake It Off' Week….What does it take to push an album or song to the top of
the charts? Ask Taylor Swift, who spent the last month tirelessly promoting her
debut POP album, 1989, and pushing it's lead single "Shake It Off" into
the national pop-culture conversation.
Billboard Why Garth Brooks Should Have
Gone With iTunes (by Glenn
Peoples)…Last week, Garth Brooks debuted GhostTunes, a new music download store
seemingly created to be the exclusive source of Brooks' digital catalog.
Although the
store has a wide range of other artists and genres,
the focal point is a $29.99 bundle that includes Brooks' new album to be
released this fall, another new album to be released next year and nine of his
previously released albums.
Fan-friendly it is not. Only albums, not individual
tracks, can be purchased. To buy Brooks' music in a digital format, fans have
to purchase at a new, unfamiliar store rather than their preferred music
retailers. Basically, Brooks has built a system geared toward maximizing album
sales rather than maximizing revenue and access to his music -- and that's if
his plan works. There's ample reason to believe Brooks will have a difficult
time getting people to shop at GhostTunes.......
REVIEWS
Philly Stock Music.com YeeHaw Festival (UK), Saturday 6th September 2014
The Tennessean (live Review) Garth
Brooks connects live with old hits, new favorites ….CHICAGO – About 18,000
Garth Brooks fans pumped their arms in the air and jumped up and down,
screaming the words to the singer's hit "Rodeo." He worked the stage
in his black cowboy hat and gray plaid pearl-snap shirt just like it was 1998,
when he last toured.But it's not. It's been 16 years since Brooks last took his
show on the road — 14 years since he announced his retirement — and fans wasted
no time Thursday assuring him with their frenzied screams that they've been
pining for him since he left....Here's Garth's Chicago set list
For The Country Record Garth Brooks ‘People Loving People’ (Single Review)…But
the new song sounds like a leaked demo, and I’m not the only one who thinks so.
Friends at radio have reported an overwhelming response from fans who dislike
it, and the majority of bloggers and critics I’ve seen are not exactly sold
either. If this were a new artist I’d never heard of, I’d almost
instantly brush it aside, because it just doesn’t
stand out and it isn’t even mixed properly. ....Telling us that we should love
one another is hardly a new or mind-blowing concept, but rather something we
all have a stab at from the time we understand such a notion. Sweet, but
all-too-simplistic, and actually quite patronising when we consider the
complexities of conflicting ideologies that are currently raging in the Middle
East. If it were that simple, Garth, wouldn’t we have solved it all a long time
ago?
MAGAZINES
Taylor Swift is on the cover of Rollingstone (Sept 25,
2014 issue) Cover
Pic - Inside
shot
"The Reinvention of Taylor Swift" is their
cover story….She’s left country behind, sworn off dating and built a fortress
around her heart. Read more: Rollingstone
LISTEN
There is something urgent that drives GRAVITY WELL, the new record from highly charged band Rose's Pawn Shop (out Sept 9th). It could be the anxious banjo plucking through intro track "What Were You Waiting For," or the sliding twee bass lines of "Go Get Gone." Stream it in its entirety for a limited time at The Bluegrass Situation
2013 was a year of great shows and adventures for the
band including their first tour in the UK and Ireland with 10 out of their 19
shows sold. Gravity Well is a successful Kickstarter crowd funded project where 237
backers pledged $16,210 of a $15,000 goal
Well.
Download from UK iTunes -
Amazon UK / Amazon.com or order a CD direct from band
from their shop.
Listen and cast your VOTE here
Blake Shelton "Neon Light" (Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville)
Clare Dunn "Get Out" (Independent)
Easton Corbin "Baby Be My Love Song" (Mercury Nashville)
Garth Brooks "People Loving People" (Pearl Records/RCA
Nashville) # Most Added song at Country radio o chart published Sept 8th
Katie Armiger "One
Night Between Friends" (Cold River Records) impact date September 22, 2014
Lee Brice "Drinking Class" (Curb)
Trisha Yearwood "PrizeFighter" feat. Kelly Clarkson
(Gwendolyn Records/RCA Nashville)
Will Hoge "Middle Of America" (Cumberland Recordings)
WATCH
- She
topped Fender's list of "Ten Guitar Goddesses" for a reason.
Vancouver's Hayley McLean has
serious chops. She's played with some of Canada's best country acts,
including spending time in Chad Brownlee's band . Watch the "Sounds Like A Love Song" Lyric Video to
- Canadian newbie
duo The Lovelocks "Dance" fan video
COUNTRY FASHION
Connie Britton attended the premiere of the film ‘This is Where I Leave You’ at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7 in Toronto, Canada.
The lovely Nashville drama TV actress (aka Rayna
James) wore a strapless black and floral print gown with red sash detailing
from the Noir
Sachin & Babi Spring 2015 collection. Her hair shows why she’s
known by many for having the best hair in Hollywood, and a slate gray manicure,
radiant skin and soft coral lips complimented the gown. She also upped her jewelry
game with a unique knuckle ring, black diamond bangle and long pearl earrings -
Fashion Awards
PHOTO
- Facebook Gallery Photos Frography (by Flex) The Shires (Ben Earle and Crissie Rhode) perform at YeehawUK Festival at Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire on Saturday 6th September 2014
- Facebook Gallery Photos Frography (by Flex) Highlights of Day 2 at YeehawUK at Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire featuring The Shires, Ward Thomas, Raintown, Gary Quinn, Chase Allan, Fitzwallace, Raihanna Estrada, Jeannine Barry and Dexeter
- The gorgeous Taci Shaffer Miss Rodeo Arizona 2014 (Necklace & earrings by Olav Jules Designs By Cat Sandstrom) Image - Image - Image (Laura McClure Photography - Facebook)
BIRTHDAYS
Sept 8: the late Harlan
Howard (1929; died March 3, 2002 (aged 74)), the
late Jimmie Rodgers (1897; died May 26,
1933 (aged 35))), the late Patsy
Cline (1932; died March 5, 1963 (aged 30)), Jake Owen (1981)
Sept 10: Tommy
Overstreet (1937), Rosie Flores
(1950), Ashley Monroe (1986)
Sept 12: the late George
Jones (1931; died April 26, 2013 (aged 81))
Sept 13: Bobbie
Cryner (1961), the late Bill Monroe
(1911; died: September 9, 1996), Joe Don
Rooney (Rascal Flatts) (1975)
Sept 14: Beth Nielsen Chapman (1958), John Berry (1959)
Sept 14: Beth Nielsen Chapman (1958), John Berry (1959)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.