Country Bites News snippets
November 3 – November 9, 2014
SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED
UK & IRISH
News
UK & IRISH News
For a full listing of 2014 and beyond UK Tour dates
PLEASE check out our Tour Dates Page
TV ALERTS
14th November; 'Bob Harris: My Nashville' goes out at 22:00
on BBC Four - BBC
Page
- In the programme Bob Harris explains how
Nashville became Music City USA and explores the city. As part of the show
the BBC filmed a special house concert at Beth Nielsen Chapman’s house.
There are a whole range of fantastic musicians featured including Beth,
Callaghan (UK), Jason Isbell, John Fullbright and more, performing or
giving interviews. Watch back BBC iPlayer
- Once that show is finished, at 11pm, you can
hit the Red Button and watch 'Back
to Beth’s' to see the whole, uninterrupted house show: Filmed last
November a few days after the 2013 CMA awards, a House Concert brought
some of the greatest songwriters and artists in the city into Beth Nielsen
Chapman's front room – sharing stories and songs over some home-cooked
food and cold beers. Watch favourites like Gretchen Peters, Suzy Bogguss and Beth Nielsen Chapman performing in this environment in a uniquely
‘Nashville’ experience (you can see the whole concert on the BBC Red Button on 14th November).
- 14th November: Watch Brad Paisley and Friends on BBC4 23.00
Bob
Harris and his BBC Radio 2 team clocked up some more hours backstage at the
Country Music Association Awards, adding a dozen more live sessions to the Bob Harris
archive and brought “the best of Nashville” to the masses with a three hour
Radio 2 show presented by Patrick Kielty live from Music Row (2pm Wednesday 5th
November)
(Nov 6) Amy Wadge the Wales-based songwriter
originally from Bristol was totally ecstatic when she announced that a song
that she co-wrote with Ed Sheeran had gone to No1 on the UK chart. 'Thinking out Loud'
hit the number one spot last Sunday (89,475 overall units, 73,832 sales, 15,643 streaming points (496,033 total
sales including streaming sales) and it also helds the record for the longest
ascension to Number one in chart history having been in the top 20 for a
staggering 19 weeks before hand. It is also entering it's 4th week at number
one in Australia as well as being number one in many other territories. The
video has also had more than 26 million views on YouTube.
Thinking” has had a very
different profile to the previous record holders, and has spent its entire life
thus far in the Top 30, debuting as an album track, and gaining strength after
becoming an official single, with the resulting surge in radio and TV support
conveying it to the summit.
Chart Run: Moving
26-25-29-23-28-20-18-16-13-17-18-24-19-18-17-10-4-2-1
In the New Year Amy was thrilled
to announce that she will be doing a solo tour with Luke Jackson as a double
headliner.
Ward
Thomas on Istagram (Nov 4th) commented
AND WE'RE OFF!! #homegrowntour @theshiresuk Can't contain the Excitement!!
Hannah
Jane Lewis is excited to announce the launch of her next EP titled RUN WITH ME
will take place at The Borderline in
London on January 17th.
Appearing: Hannah Jane
Lewis + Dexeter + Jess Roberts
When: Saturday 17th January
2015, 7:00 pm - 10:30 pm curfew BUY TICKETS Tickets: £5 Adv
Sam
Hollyman announced Nov 3rd on Twitter he will he proudly supporting US
recording artists Katie Armiger and Holly May at Birmingham The Glee Club
on 18th November "Awesome"!
Katie Armiger tweet @katiearmiger @HollyMayCountry: Grand Ole Opry
with @katiearmiger #opry #Nashville #fun
Pete
Kennedy the Birr, County Offaly, Republic of Ireland native and 2 time BRITISH
Country Music Award recipient now based in Nashville along with UK act Lucy May joined Brian Collins and Riah
Butler at the Bridgestone Arena Glass Tower Stage on November 6th (11am - 2
pm) sponsored by Europe’s #1 Country Station: CMA Nashville - Photo
The British Country Music
Awards (BCMAwards) are presenting "The Songwriters Round" featuring Gary Quinn, Luke & Mel (Thomas), Jess Roberts, Emma Jane and US act Beau Fuller on the line up. It takes
place at The Wick (Cre8 Life Style Centre, 80 Eastway, E9 5JH London) on
Saturday, November 22, 2014. Early Bird tickets cost £7 - Event Detail
Charlotte
Howard is described as “one of the UK's top singer/songwriter, country artist”
. The 22-year old (born Dec 17, 1991)
Singer-songwriter who hails
from a small village, Barnham West Sussex attends BIMM (Brighton Institution Of
Modern Music)
For the past 3 years she
has been writing her own material with a lot of country influences reaching
from Miranda Lambert to Reba McEntire. Charlotte writes: “Country music always
meant something to me, the way the misc makes me feel and how I can connect
with the songs is something I can relate to. With every song I write, I am
trying to connect with my audience on a very personal level. Even though i
focus my song writing and guitar playing on a country route, I sing a wide range
of styles of music from Amy Winehouse to Whitney Houston. I've had many gigs
performing covers, often tailored to specific requests, in addition to my own
material. I also perform a tribute to Adele (Adele 4u )”
You can listen to her music
on soundcloud.com and even book her to perform
at your special event entertaining your guests at any occasion. Visit her website and Facebook
Page
Invitation to a “buckets of
charisma” House
Concert with Ashton Lane featuring
Esther O’Connor; the daughter of Wet
Wet Wet’s Graeme Duffin singing “husky poppiness as fiery and precocious as her
red hair”; with support by Eleonora Gravagna.
Where: Chapel Allerton,
Leeds LS7 4LF. When: Sat 13th Dec 2014. Food from 6pm. Concert @ 7pm sharp.
Listen to Esther
O’Connor/Ashton Lane music at Reverbnation.com
Reserve your seat with an Advanced Donation online via Paypal or Phone
at www.chapelahouseconcerts.co.uk
Sera
Owen has a new EP titled COLLIDE out on November 24th. Inspired by the
Celtic landscape and folktales of her native Snowdonia, bilingual
singer-songwriter Sera presents her new EP “effortlessly fusing alt country
& nu folk into an explosion of melodies and stories”. This EP (3 English
songs and 1 Welsh song) is really a collection of love stories of the past and
present, of chance
encounters and life-changing moments. It sees SERA focus on her new
found love
of writing with the guitar, instead of always on the piano, and is a subtle
change of direction which takes her more into the country side of folk than
ever before. With a love of artists such as First Aid Kit and Norah Jones she is
a songwriter with who really embraces the art of storytelling in her music.
SERA’s back catalogue
includes her album Dream Catcher, with tracks playlisted on BBC Radio Wales,
BBC Radio London and other regional BBC channels, and has been supported by BBC
Introducing, Tom Robinson’s Fresh on the Net, Amazing Radio, Heart FM and was
Artist of the Week on BBC Radio Wales. SERA has played gigs with an array of
contemporary songwriters such as Al Lewis, Amy Wadge and Winter Mountain, and
has opened shows in North Wales for Mumford and Sons and Midge Ure. Find out
more at www.seraofficial.com
Annie
Marks releases second album. UKCountryRadio.com’s
next Live Music Night takes place at Bistro Guy, Gillygate in York on
Saturday 22nd November (Alan West). November's UKCountryRadio.com Spotlight UK
Artists: Nov 7-9: Graham Lister, Nov 14-16: The Outwoods County Riders, Nov
21-23: Gary McGill and Nov 28-30: Lesley Curtis.
Read much more in the
UKCountryRadio.com Listeners' Club Newsletter
for November.
UKCountryRadio.com launch two
brand new CD
production and album services for country music artists:
(i) Pro-Package Teaming up with Justin Johnson, a full-time record
producer, at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool, who spent nine years working in
Nashville before moving to the UK with his British wife. Costs: £9,950 for a
10-track album £5,950 for a 6-track EP (incl 1000 CD's in jewel cases,
shrink-wrapped and retail-ready, studio music video, photoshoot etc) .
As part of the deal it
includes a 4-week “Mega Promotion” on UKCountryRadio.com [whose claim to fame
is “Playing the Hottest Country Music for the UK”] with a full page ad in their
Listeners' Club Newsletter, a Standard brick on UKCR Wall for one year
, promotions through their social
media and more besides.
(ii) Budget Production And Promotion Package:
Richard Freeman of Safety Zone Studios is a new recording facility nestled in
the beautiful Peak District , Richard, a guitarist with over 40 years musical
and recording experience, has a real musician's passion for making good music
sound better. Cost: £199 for an album of up to 10 tracks £129 for an EP of up
to 6 tracks £30 for recording of one track. For FULL details visit www.ukcountryradio.com
Artists who have already
used the studio facility at Parr Street Studios include Sam Hollyman who had a British & Irish Hotdisc single #1 though
his music doesn’t seem to sell at online retail on Amazon UK or UK iTunes. Mike Ward who was a finalist on The
Voice UK in 2013 recorded a 6-track EP also snagged a British & Irish
Hotdisc single #1 and charted as high as #3 for on one day on UK iTunes Country
Chart. His October EP launch, promoted by Justin Johnson, was cancelled due to
low ticket sales.
Now we see Glasgow duo Raintown who were made UKCountryRadio.com’s
UK Artist of the Year (presented by Justin Johnson) and BCMAward 2013 Duo of
the Year winners (voted by a self appointed panel) plan to record a FULL album
there.
The much hyped duo
comprising Paul Bain and Claire Bain (formerly McArthur) were recently married
and “launched” a Pledge campaign in order to fund the project lighting the fuse
the day before Bonfire Night as they set off on a luxury cruise (image)on their honeymoon!
Facebook Post Our home for the next 10
days & we are loving it! Off to Athens tomorrow & will upload more
pictures! Paul&Claire xx #honeymoon
 |
| Raintown launch their Pledge Campaign on their honeymoon |
As they enjoy themselves in
Athens, Cyprus, Rome and Sicilia (tweet) they are asking fans (16.6K Facebook
Followers) to freely donate and dig deep on an “ambitious campaign” that “will
be short (40 DAYS) and not without risks”. The project, if funded, recorded at Parr
Street will be mixed in Nashville by Billy Decker who has worked with top
Nashville artists including Darius Rucker, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and
LeAnn Rimes. Raintown who last released an album over 4 years ago in 2010 have
been working with UK and Nashville Song-Writers including Beau Fuller, Brian
Hughes and Stevie Kane to bring the very best album they can.
Doing the maths the project
GOAL adds up to over £12,000.
So far 111 fans have pledged,
reaching 34% of Goal with 31 days left which is an average of £36/ pledge.
If you don’t mind ordering
a meal without knowing what is on the menu than the pledges for the Digital
Download of the album (£8) or signed copy (£10) seem OK. Other store options
include Skype Call + Song of Your Choice (sing For You) for £40
to a Acoustic House Concert + Signed CD for £510 (neither of the duo play an instrument) to a jaw dropping £1000 X2 Studio Experience &
Executive Producer Credit when you go to Parr Street Studios and spend the
morning with the whole team and see all the “magic of making this recording
happen before your eyes” !?!.
A few lines from a new song written with
Brian Hughes for all the haters called 'Shut the Front Door.'
This is the second time in
a week that a UK country act has included a £510 - £1,000 House Concert package in their Pledge Music Campaign. Raintown
describe themselves as a “history making” duo and “are fast gaining the
reputation as one of the hottest Country acts in Europe” One Raintown fan obviously
believes the blurb and actually commented “I think the house concert is a
bargain”!!
Fans can freely pledge
money but these money making exercises go against the grain about what House
Concerts are about and setting such high benchmarks could effect the UK House
Concert scene.
House concerts are
a phenomenon that have been catching on all over the world. In the USA, SLAMM
Magazine had this to say:
"Frustrated
by the distance traditional venues put between artists and their audiences,
these concerts sought to bring the music back to places where artist and
listener shared the same few feet of floor space. Almost all of the concerts
are acoustic, focusing on the long-ignored art of the singer/songwriter"
A host invites an
artist to their home they do NOT pay for them come. This can be arranged at the
start of a tour or fit in with the artists tour schedule to cut travelling/fuel
costs down. The artist has NO venue, food or accomodation costs.
The cost of a
House Concert ticket depends on what is agreed with the artist (Suggested
donations £10 - £15, normally 20 – 35 people). If a lot of people have applied
for tickets sometimes it is moved away from a private home to a local room/
hall.
ALL money donated
by the audience goes to the artist along with the sales of CDs and merch. By the
time the host has hired chairs and provided food for a party, each show costs
money. Read more about House Concerts at bbc.co.uk
Adrian Gibson Music Productions Ltd. (website) presents Grass Roots Music UK featuring "the cream of new UK folk, Roots & Country artists"
Appearing: Red Sky July,
Balsamo / Deighton, Raintown, Lucy-May & Frankie Davies
Where: London 229 (Great
Portland Street, W1W 5PN LONDON) MAP - Event Details - Graphic
When: Monday 24 November
2014.
This special event will
feature a set from each artist showcasing their great individual talents which
are already earning themselves recognition from fans, media and industry alike.
229 is a multi-purpose
entertainments venue which first opened its doors in 1965 as part of
International Students House (ISH). In April 2007 after a major refurbishment
and a technical overhaul, 229 was launched as a dedicated live music and
entertainments venue. Over the past two years, major technical improvements
have been made to the two room, 760 capacity venue including most recently the
installation of a D&B PA system in Venue 1 (620 capacity) and a new stage,
PA and lighting in Venue 2 (140 capacity). Over £250k has been invested in PA
and lighting in both rooms.
C2C
Country to Country Norway (Sat Feb 28 - Sun March 1st) Da er siste artist blitt bekreftet til
#C2C2015! Doug Seegers blir med Luke Bryan, Florida-Georgia Line og Brandy
Clark i Spektrum søndag 1. mars! Graphic
UK CHART NEWS
Official UK Top
100 Singles Chart (Week
Ending November 8, 2014)
Taylor Swift's pop single “Shake It Off” fell 3-5 (29,528 sales,
12-week total 547,743).
It was congratulations to Cheryl, who has scored her fifth UK No1 (!0th #1 in
total, four chart toppers with Girls Aloud) with “I Don’t Care” (selling 82,346
copies; 4,500 of them streaming sales) which she performed live on the X Factor
results show.In doing so, the singer now holds the record for the most UK No1s for
a British female artist. In addition to I Don’t Care, Ms. Fernandez-Versini has
topped the chart with Fight For This Love
(2009), Promise This (2010), Call My Name (2012) and Crazy Stupid Love (2014). The star
overtakes previous record sharers Geri Halliwell and Rita Ora, who each lay
claim to four Number 1 singles.
Official UK Top
100 Album Chart (Week
Ending November 8, 2014)
Taylor Swift with her POP album 1989 fell 1-3 (29,203 sales; 2-week total 119,539) after it opened atop
the UK chart with sales of 90,336 copies. Her previous album RED moved up 82-66
with sales around 1,200 in its 87th week on the top
100. That album opened with at #1 with sales of 61,779 and fell 1-5 in
its second week selling 20,696 units.
Dolly Parton with BLUE
SMOKE/THE BEST OF (Masterworks) rebounded 44-30 in her 22nd
week (3,800 estimated sales, 22-week total 231,400) getting a bounce from her BBC 4 documentary
during the Country Music Association awards week.
Lady Antebellum with 747
(Decca) fell again 71-90 (sales
less
than 1,200 copies, 5-week
total 14,300)
Official UK
Country Album Chart (Week
Ending November 8, 2014)
Lady Antebellum with 747 held at No.1 for a fifth week.
C2C2015 festival artists Florida Georgia Line debut with ANYTHING GOES at No.2.
Kacey Musgraves with SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARK climbed 6-3
in its 82nd week.
Sheryl Crowe’s FEELS Like HOME with a BBC Radio 2
single playlisted moved 5-4 (41 chart weeks)
The UK’s
Ward Thomas with FROM WHERE
WE STAND (WTW Music) fell 3-5 in their 16th week.
Lee Ann Womack with THE WAY
I'M LIVIN' (Sugar Hill) improved 14-9 in her 7th chart frame.
A new John
Denver set ALL OF MY MEMORIES
made a debut at No.11
On the Hotdisc Chart (November 9, 2014 Chart)
Ray Price’s duet feat. Martina McBride “An Affair To Remember” enjoys a second
successive week atop the chart in its 5th chart frame having ben in the top 2
the whole time.
While a song written by Ray, "Pride," moved up 3-2 by British
singers Ian
Highland and Frank Jennings (fifth
week at No.1 slot on the British & Irish Chart)
US duo Native Run held at No.4 with their highest rank after 9 chart weeks.
Ray Scott’s 7-week No.1 "Drinkin' Beer" retreated 2-5.
Brian Collins with “Enjoy The Ride” reached yet new heights with a 8-6 hop.
US country superstar and Forbes A-lister Toby Keith
continues to promote his music to Europe courtesy of Hotdisc as he returns at No.7 with brand new radio single “Drunken Americans” written by a trio of
CMA Award winners (Brandy Clark/Bob DiPero/Shane McAnnally). Previous singles
have included viral smash hit “Red Solo Cup” (HD156, #2 peak), “Beers Ago” (HD161;
#3 peak), “I Like Girls That Drink Beer”
(HD166; #1 peak) , “Rockin Around The Christmas Tree” (HD168; #5 peak), “Hope
On The Rocks” (HD170, #2 peak), “Drinks After Work” (HD177; 3 weeks at #1) and
last single from Dec 2013 “Shut Up And
Hold On” (HD180; #3 peak)
Also new on the chart at No.8 (No.2 on the British & Irish Chart) is 11-year old Megan Adams
launching her first solo single with an adaption of “Travellin’ Soldier” (written by Bruce Robinson). Megan who hails
from Stirling in Scotland, shot to fame at the age of 10 as one of the five
Poppy Girls, who came together to launch the 2013 Poppy Appeal. Their single
reached the British Top 20 Singles chart and appeared in front of Her Majesty
The Queen and The Prime Minister at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the
Festival of Remembrance broadcast live on BBCTV. On a memorable day Megan was
shocked to find her father had flown over from Armed Forces duties on the other
side of the world to be there and the tear-jerking moment went viral. Megan,
now 11, will continue to support PoppyScotland with appearances over the coming
months.
"Travelin' Soldier" was originally recorded
by American country music artist Bruce Robison in 1996. The first rendition to
be issued as a single was by The Dixie Chicks back in December 2002, from their
album HOME. It became the group's sixth and final single to reach No.1 on
Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The track has appeared on Hotdisc before
when British singer Rosie Horne recorded
a great version of it.
To put a Scottish twist on it the adaption on Megan’s
cut includes the use military drummers and bagpipes and was released on UK iTunes on Nov 3, 2014. Well done to all
concerned!
James Carothers with his self penned “New Country Singers” make his debut with a bow at No.9 drawn from
his album HONKY TONK LAND.
Outside the Top 10
US based singer-singwriter Kenny Butterill with “Gaia Blues” slipped 7-11 as UK bound Katie Armiger with “One Night Between Friends” falls back 2
places 10-12.
Regular Hotdisc US act David Starr debuts his new self
penned single “Feel Like Coming Home”
at No.13 from the album ALIVE AGAIN. Previous singles include title cut “Alive
Again” (HD179; #13 peak), “Way Past Ready” (HD182; #6 in 12 weeks), “Underneath
The Clear Blue Skies” (HD184; #10 peak in 10 week run), and recent single “Everything
Is Made In China” (HD187; #5 peak in 13 weeks)
Michael Lusk with “My
Best Friend” (written by Andrew Kay) lands at No.14 from his album ANZAC
DAY. He last charted with “Try” (HD169; 3 weeks at #2)
USA duo Beau + Luci land another single with their self
composed “Mosaic” at No.16. Their
last single “Fire” sits one place behind at as it falls 11-17 having reached a
No.10 peak in 9 weeks after an initial #25 debut
Former CMA Horizon of the Year winner Jo De Messina
made her Hotdisc debut at No.10 with “He’s
Messed Up!!!” co-written with Alyssa Bonagura. The track comes from the
$120,000 crowd funded album ME.
British regular Tony Clarke
charts his latest new self penned single “Raise
The Bar” at No.19 (No.3
British & Irish Chart). His most recent singles include “You & Me” (HD185;
#12 peak), “Put That Country Song On” (HD187; #14 peak) and “I Am What I Am”
(HD189; #3 peak)
Canada’s Gordon Jensen
with his self penned title cut “Miranda
In The Moonlight” blew in at No.20
Outside the Top 20
Norway artist Karin Wright
with “Like A Fading Rose”
(co-written with Johanna Demker) debuts at No.24 from the CD YOU GOT THE
SILVER. Previously she charted with “Dancing In My Mind” (HD152; #16 peak) and
“Too Rock N Roll For Country” (HD156; #9 peak).
US singer-songwriter Madeline Smith
with “Stay” makes a bow at No.25 with
her self written tune. Previous singles were
“State Of Mind” (HD177; #16 peak) and the lovely “Catchin' Fireflies” (HD187;
#20 peak in 9 weeks)
Southbourne Dorset and
local high street busker Owen Moore enters the chart at No.26 with fun
ditty “Two Cats” which might have
been another time consuming exercise recorded in his suite of studios on the PC
in his lounge! Owen has charted with “Baby, Let's Drive” (HD153; #16 peak), “True
Love And Romance” (HD158; #29 peak) and “A Dollar Short” (HD164; #20 peak).
US act David Wood has charted numerous
singles over the years. It seems Christmas has come very early as “Ralph The Sneaky Elf” arrives at No.34
with a re-issue of the same track (?) which first appeared on Hotdisc 180
reaching No.20. Previously “Memories Are Made Of This” (HD182; 17 week run #4
peak), “My Side Of The Fence” (HD185; #14 peak in 9 weeks) and most recently “Who
Left The Door To Heaven Open” from August’s HD188 disc had 3 weeks at #4 in a
13-week frame. He reached #1 with “My Dash” for 3 weeks on HD158.
See if you agree or disagree with how the Hotdisc DJ’s
and industry folks are rating the latest Hotdisc 191 singles by checking out
this Spotify playlist:
Links below require you to have installed SPOTIFY and
have the application open
UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES
For a full listing of 2014 Country/Alt/ Americana albums
and future releases PLEASE check out our Country Music Store Page
(11 Aug 2014) Bernie
Nelson - Blue (Import)
13 Tracks CD - CDBaby - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(8 Sep 2014) Orfila
- Writing On the Wall (Somebody's Music)
Maverick Magazine November/December issue: Album Review Page 105 (3 Stars)
ORFILA are an acoustic folk/pop trio consisting of
siblings Abi, Louise and Matt Orfila from Folkestone in Kent. They are all
accomplished musicians and songwriters in their own right.
(10 Nov 2014) Garth
Brooks - Man Against Machine (Sony Music)
CD
- Smart Choice Music (£12.99; UPC 888750113528) - Amazon.com
* ONLY available as a FULL Album download on www.ghosttunes.com/garth-brooks
(10 Nov 2014) Jeff
Bates - Me & Conway Import (Red River Entertaint) Import
12 Tracks/ Time: 42:40 CD - US iTunes - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com
(10 Nov 2014) Various
Artists - BBC Radio 2's Sounds Of The 80s (Rhino)
2-CD 37 Tracks CD BBC
Radio 2's Sounds Of The 80s is a unique collection of tracks recorded by some
of the biggest artists around, every track is a cover version of a song from
the 80s and has been carefully chosen by the artist specifically for this
album. Country interest comes from 3 UK Radio 2 playlisted country/poip artosts
and superstar Dolly!
Disc 1 Track 14: The Shires - Islands In the Stream
(Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton)
Disc 2 Track 3: Dolly Parton Feat Richie Sambora - Lay
Your Hands On Me (Bon Jovi)
Disc 2 Track 9: Millers Daughter - Head Over Heels
(Tears For Fears)
Disc 2 Track 11: Ward Thomas - Man In The Mirror
(Michael Jackson)
(11 Nov 2014) Zac
Brown Band - Greatest Hits: So Far (Atlantic)
14 Tracks/ Time: 54:19 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com
(10 Nov 2014) Rumer
- Into Colour (ATLANTIC)
11 Tracks CD
Looking for a
Christmas bargain stocking filler?
First released Oct 2003 18 tracks Daniel O'Donnell: The Christmas Album CD (£2.30 NEW) CD
BLUEGRASS NEWS
Mississippi’s Volume
Five (Glen Harrell on fiddle; Harry Formby Clark on mandolin; Colby Laney
on guitar, Patton Wages on banjo, and Chris Williamson on bass) headed to radio
on Nov 6th with the release of “Crazy Night,” the first single from their
upcoming Mountain Fever Records album VOICES, scheduled to hit the streets in
January 2015. Press Release
AUSSIE NEWS
Jasmine Rae >> “Why'd
You Tie The Knot” (Official Music Video). From the album IF I
WANT TO
NEWS
Country Aircheck's
Insider Artist News
November 4, 2014: Brad &
Carrie (Country Bump Kin), 48th
Annual CMA Awards (And the List Goes On), Garth Brooks (Ain't Goin' Down: Album preview), Luke Bryan (Right On Target), Brad Paisley (Country Nation World Tour
:Say Cheese)
November 7, 2014: 48th Annual
CMA Awards (History In The Making & Quotebook); Taylor Swift (Out Of The Woods); CMT (Wonder Women)
November 11, 2014: Garth Brooks
(Garth Gets A Sign), Country artists
reach out (Military Men), Kenny
Chesney and Jason Aldean (Please
Come to Boston), Lady Antebellum
(Take Me Downtown/ New Year's Rockin' Eve) Garth Brooks (ABC-TV's Good Morning
America)
CMT’s Next Women
of Country Rallies Behind
Female Artists
It’s a somewhat sad reality that women are finding it
tough to get even a morsel of radio airplay these days. But it’s certainly not
for a dearth of talent. That was proven in abundance Tuesday morning (Nov. 4)
at CMT’s second annual Next Women of Country showcase at City Winery in
Nashville. The show a splendid array of female talent, with performances by the
new class of CMT’s Next Women of Country: Mickey Guyton featured, Kelsea Ballerini, RaeLynn and the
duo of Maddie & Tae.
Lee Ann Womack was the show’s special guest and
co-host.
Names include: Rose Falcon, Lauren Alaina, Danielle
Bradbery, Kristen Kelly, Kelsea Ballerini, Jana Kramer, Natalie Stovall,
Kelleigh Bannen, Cassadee Pope and Rachel Farley, Mickey Guyton, RaeLynn,
Angaleena Presley, Maddie & Tae, Lindsay Ell
BIG MACHINE artist Tim McGraw has left Red Light Management after five-and-a-half
years, with plans to reunite with former longtime manager, Scott Siman, on an
interim basis at least. MCGrawteamed with RED LIGHT in April of 2009 while
still at Curb Records. During his time with RED LIGHT, he segued to BIG MACHINE
where he’s released two albums and teamed with wife Faith Hill for a residency
in Las Vegas. Siman heads RPM Management; earlier this year, he shuttered the RPM
Entertainment radio promo team, shifting the company emphasis to management and
publishing. Siman originally assumed management of McGraw’s career in the 90s.
AWARDS
See all our posts on 48th Annual Country Music Association
(CMA) Awards 2014
Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan just racked up another
impressive list of award nominations. He leads the American Country Countdown Awards nominees
with seven, including Artist, Male Artist, Collaboration with Florida Georgia
Line, Album and three nods for Digital Song. FGL follow with six and Jason
Aldean has four.
MUSIC NEWS
Taylor
Swift announced on Thurs Nov 6th that she's playing the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball on
December 7!! Get ALL of the details here The
‘Shake It Off’ superstar and Ed Sheeran join the line-up for day two at
London’s O2 Arena. Taylor Swift has now been confirmed for our all-star
line-up, and not only that… but she brought pop BFF Ed Sheeran along to the
studio to confirm he’ll be there too! "I'm so excited! As you know I love
any kind of Christmas-y type things. I've had a great time in the past and I'm
really excited to come back." Taylor told them (6th November)
The Capital Jingle Bell
Ball 2014 with Morrisons takes place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December
2014 at London's O2 Arena and is now COMPLETELY SOLD OUT! Keep it Capital in
the lead-up to the #CapitalJBB and find out how YOU can win tickets - www.capitalfm.com/jingle-bell-ball
Taylor Swift is doing just fine as a pop artist –
despite some doubters. Her new album 1989 sold 1,287,000
copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. And Swift feels
vindicated. "I was told to keep my expectations low because album sales
were in decline, no one had sold over a million albums this year and the last
time it happened on release week was with my album RED in 2012," she says.
"I was told my optimism was naive. I was told it was risky to change
creative directions. I was told my album wouldn't sell if it didn't have my
entire face on it. I listened to my intuition instead of all those voices. I'm
so proud that my fans were able to show the world that art is important and is
still valuable to them." The album scored the most sales in a week for any
artist since 2002, with copies selling at the rate of one every two seconds. In
these parts, that's called a good, old-fashioned
country butt-whuppin'.
Taylor has re-signed with Broadcast Music, INC (BMI) for representation of the public
performances of her music catalog.
"Beyond her stellar career achievements, Taylor
has a unique and extraordinary connection with her fans," said BMI
Pres./CEO Mike O'Neill.
Swift will perform "Blank Space" on the American Music
Awards Nov. 23 on ABC-TV.
SINGLE / ALBUM
NEWS
Toby Keith announces new album ’35 MPH Town’. The singer confirmed
to CMT (Oct. 13) the new record it’s his 18th record and first since DRINKS
AFTER WORK, which came out a year ago.35 MPH Town will be preceded by the
single “Drunk Americans,” which Keith described to CMT as what would happen if
past hits “I Love This Bar” and “American Ride” “had a child,” explaining that
he wanted to go retro with it.
“‘Beers Ago’ is their drunk uncle,” he added.
Currently there’s no word on a release date for 35 MPH Town. “Drunk Americans” was
released Oct. 14 as a single.
Texas native Breelan
Angel has officially moved back to Austin, Texas from Music City. Her new
single, “Pocket
Change,” (indieExtreme / MisBhavin Records) co-written with Bri
Bagwell was released Oct 14, 2014. It’s hitting the charts (CD Tex) with early
radio airplay and is available at US iTunes and Amazon UK. Originally created with a more
subtle approach, Breelan put her own spin on "Pocket Change" during
the recording process. Showcasing her trademark sass to really make a
statement, Breelan drives the point home with just the right blend of fiddle
and guitar while keeping it fun and light enough so that listeners can dance. –
via Press Release
Cole Swindell will release the DOWN HOME SESSIONS EP Nov. 17,
featuring songs he's written that didn't make it onto his 2014 self-titled
debut album. Track Listing: "Ready, "The Way You're Lovin' Me
Now", "Kiss", "Workin' on Me" and
"Boomerang"
Brantley Gilbert has released "One Hell of an Amen" as the
new single from his latest album, JUST AS I AM.
Gretchen Peters' 'BLACKBIRDS' is set to fly February 10, 2015. Press
Release: Fresh off her induction into the prestigious Nashville Songwriters
Hall of Fame, Gretchen Peters has confirmed the February 10 release of her new
album Blackbirds. Co-produced with Doug Lancio and Barry Walsh and recorded in
Nashville, the album features a who's who of modern American roots music: Jerry
Douglas, Jason Isbell, Jimmy LaFave, Will Kimbrough, Kim Richey, Suzy Bogguss
and more. But it's not the guests that make 'Blackbirds' the most poignant and
moving album of the GRAMMY-nominee's storied career; it’s the impeccable
craftsmanship, her ability to capture the kind of complex, conflicting, and
overwhelming emotional moments we might otherwise try to hide and instead shine
a light of truth and understanding onto them.
The eleven tracks on Blackbirds face down death
with a dark grit and delicate beauty. "During the summer of 2013 when
I began writing songs for Blackbirds, there was one week when I went to three
memorial services and a wedding," remembers Peters. "It dawned on me
that this is the way it goes as you get older - the memorial services start
coming with alarming frequency and the weddings are infrequent and thus somehow
more moving."
The Henningsens’ Holiday Collection OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS due Nov. 17. Barely
November but already it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and the
latest sign comes from family trio The Henningsens, who will release their
first holiday album. Siblings Clara and Aaron Henningsen, along with their
father, Brian, put together their versions of eight Christmas favorites. The
family worked with brothers Preston and Spencer Dalton to record the project.
Additionally, the 10-track album includes two Henningsen originals, Track 1
“Happy Birthday, Merry Christmas, Baby Jesus” and Track 4 “Christmas Kissin’,”
which features guest vocals by Jerrod Niemann. “We really wanted to make it
very traditional in the songs and the melodies, but a lot of our arrangements
are new, modern, cool arrangements,” said Brian Henningsen.
Craig Campbell made the cut—and landed a Garth Brooks cut. And the
“Outta My Head” singer couldn’t be more pumped. During the SESAC Nashville
Music Awards, held this past Sunday (Nov. 2) in Nashville, Craig noted that Garth selected one of his songs
for his new album, Man Against Machine. Craig’s song for the album,
“All-American Kid,” is a touching story co-written with Brice Long and Terry
McBride.
Aerosmith's Steven
Tyler shoots a country 'Bullet' with Jana
Kramer. The Rock legend lends backup vocals to a tune on the
actress-singer's upcoming album Kramer is gunning for "Bullet"
to be her next single, following the upcoming album's soaring, whimsical first
tune, "Love." The former One Tree Hill actress, who was the ACM's Top
New Female Vocalist in 2013, is now putting the finishing touches on her second
country album, due early next year.
PRESS RELEASES
- The CMA Songwriters Series has added Country Music star Sara Evans and songwriter Brett James to the lineup, which
includes previously announced performer and 2014 CMA Awards nominee, Brandy Clark.
- MTS
Management Group would like to congratulate Hicks on becoming the first Swedish country artist to
reach the Music Row Country Breakout Chart's Top 80 published chart.
Hick's single, "Hayride" (MTS Records) climbs 6 spots
this week, coming in at #80. The track, co-written by Hicks and Lasse
Andersson, comes in ahead of releases by Jana Kramer, Billy Ray Cyrus, and
Ricky Skaggs with Sharon White.
- Dolly Parton has been nominated
for a People’s Choice award in the Favorite Female Country Artist
category.
- Portland,
Tennessee, native Ronnie McDowell
set to take music to the masses
- Chris Young to make “Late Show With David Letterman”
debut Friday, November 14 at 11:35pm eastern/10:35pm central on CBS. The
performance will mark not only Young’s first time
playing the esteemed show, but also the national TV debut of the song.
- NRA Country taps The Swon Brothers as featured artist
for November . Note: The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a formidable
opponent, however, when it comes to grass-roots organizing. It has more
than 4 million members who feel passionately about gun rights. Nearly 90
percent of NRA members oppose the
banning semi-automatic weapons.
- James McMurtry releases COMPLICATED GAME, his first
studio album in six years. The celebrated tunesmith's highly anticipated
record, due February 24, 2015.
- Larry's Country Diner promises
a warm and nostalgic November, featuring performances from Jean Shepard,
Gene Watson, Johnny Rodriguez, Jamie O'Neal and Tim Menzies.
- Two new titles from Rural Rhythm's
"Heritage Collection" series by Dale Potter & Buck
Ryan
- Vince Gill receives CMA’s Irving Waugh Award of Excellence
during The 48th Annual CMA Awards On ABC.
- "Waiting on June" video premiere from Holly Williams, the bittersweet true story of her maternal grandparent's 60+ year love affair. Watch it on YouTube
Beverly Keel, for The Tennessean : Country radio needs to
show female artists some respect
REVIEWS
David Shelby – Oh Yeah (album
review by Preshias)
David Shelby announces sophomore recording project Oh
Yeah - Digital Rodeo
INTERVIEWS
knue.com Ray
Scott Is Bringing Back Traditional Country Music With New Album…….Country
fans who complain that traditional country music is dead evidently haven’t
heard the music of Ray Scott. The singer-songwriter made quite a stir with his
third album, ‘Rayality,’ which he released independently in 2012. Using
alternative marketing methods that focused on the internet and satellite radio,
Scott ended up selling several hundred thoudsand units — a feat practically
unheard of in the current industry climate, where even many major label
releases are consistently under-performing. Scott released a new self-titled
album on Oct. 7, produced once again by Dave Brainard, whose credits also
include Jamey Johnson, Brandy Clark and more. The men have partnered for a new
label, deciBel Nashville, to release and promote the project, which features a
wide mix of songs that are sure to please not only fans of traditional country,
but fans of well-written songs from a unique perspective.
MAGAZINES
Country Weekly November 3, 2014 – Lady Antebellum Is Flying High....Lady Antebellum is flying high
with the release of their new album, 747. The trio of Charles Kelley, Hillary
Scott and Dave Haywood talks about the album and their recently-launched
charity initiative, 7FOR7, in this exclusive cover story. “This album is
definitely our most in-your-face. It’s the biggest-sounding record we’ve ever
had,” says Charles. Hillary explains the title, noting that, “We wanted it to
come at you with a lot of force and energy like a 747 jet.” - Large Cover - Lady A P44-45 "Coming In Hot" - Table of Contents [PDF]
Darius Rucker Holiday Homecoming (Feature in Nash
Magazine) - Image
SPOTIFY COUNTRY
For users of this
online music streaming service here are some of the more recent additions and
recommendations.
When it's free and
easy on Spotify who needs music piracy?
Links below require you to have installed SPOTIFY and
have the application open
The Shires – The Green Note EP (Live) - 5 Tracks released Nov 4,
2014
David Shelby - OH YEAH (EP) - 6 tracks released
Nov 4, 2014
Doobie Brothers - Southbound - 13 tracks,
out Nov 4, 2014
Maddie & Tae - debut EP - 4 tracks out
Nov 4, 2014
Various - Frizell & Friends present Buddy Holly Country
Tribute: Remember Me - 21 tracks, released Sept 7, 2014
Billboard.com Sharing is caring, unless you're talking about
Spotify. The streaming music giant has announced a new subscription that makes it
easier for the whole family to get their own dang customized account under one
bill. "Spotify
Family" allows any premium subscriber to add up to four family
members to an account at 50% off, which would amount to $29.99/ month for a
clan of five.
Spotify says each family member will have premium
accounts, with separate listening histories, recommendations and playlists. Up
until now, the service has maintained a one subscriber/one account plan. The
family model has become a standard for mobile phone carriers.
And Spotify can't shake it off: This Is Why Taylor Swift’s Album Isn’t on Spotify
Taylor Swift on How to Save the Music Industry: Treat
It Like a Love Affair
Time.com Taylor Swift has decided to remove her music from Spotify,
the company
announced in a pleading blog post Monday. The only song of hers
remaining on the service is ‘Safe & Sound,’ from The Hunger Games
soundtrack. “We hope she’ll change her mind and join us in building a new music
economy that works for everyone,” Spotify posted, noting that 16 million of its
users have played Taylor Swift music in the last 30 days and that she appears
on 19 million playlists. Swift refused to allow her 2012 album, RED, on Spotify
when it first debuted, but it later appeared for Spotify users to enjoy. Her
most recent release,
1989, never appeared on Spotify. The artist has also
been vocal about her thoughts on music sharing.
“Piracy, file sharing and streaming have shrunk the
numbers of paid album sales drastically, and every artist has handled this blow
differently,” Swift wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed earlier this year.
“It’s my opinion that music should not be free, and my prediction is that
individual artists and their labels will someday decide what an album’s price
point is. I hope they don’t underestimate themselves or undervalue their art. Spotify
even created a playlist in honor of the absent superstar, called “What to Play
While Taylor’s Away.” It includes artists like Katy Perry, Leagues, Ed Sheeran,
and One Direction — which is awkward for Taylor’s ex, One Direction’s Harry
Styles.
The post ended on a note of desperation, “P.S. Taylor,
we were both young when we first saw you, but now there’s more than 40 million
of us who want you to stay, stay, stay. It’s a love story, baby, just say,
Yes.”
BIG MACHINE Pres./CEO Scott Borchetta has long been a vocal critic of streaming services such as
SPOTIFY, saying on more than one occasion, to different publications
– including the New York Times -- the streaming business model is, “A race to
the bottom.”
Scott Borchetta Tells Nikki Sixx: Pulling Taylor Swift
From Spotify Is About Creating And Sustaining Value For Artists
November 10, 2014 at 3:37 AM (PT)
Sixx Talks Swift With Borchetta
Tongues have been wagging since the news last week
(NET NEWS 11/3) that on the same day TAYLOR SWIFT announced plans for a world
tour in support of her new “1989” album and hours before expected
record-setting sales figures for her latest project were due, BIG MACHINE
RECORDS instructed SPOTIFY to remove her entire catalog from its subscription
streaming service. BIG MACHINE Pres./CEO SCOTT BORCHETTA has long been a vocal
critic of streaming services such as SPOTIFY, saying on more than one occasion,
to different publications -- the streaming business model is, “A race to the
bottom.”
This weekend on the syndicated SIXX SENSE WITH NIKKI
SIXX, NIKKI SIXX and co-host JENN MARINO welcomed BORCHETTA, who spoke candidly
about the headline-making decision to pull SWIFT’s music catalogue from SPOTIFY,
the reasoning behind it, and why it’s important to the future of the music
industry.
BORCHETTA: “Yes, for all of TAYLOR’s records in the
streaming era, if you will, we have never put them on any free streaming
services for the first 90 to 120 days. And the reason being is we never wanted
to embarrass a fan. What I mean by that is, if this fan went and purchased the
record, CD, iTUNES, wherever, and then their friends go, ‘why did you pay for it? It’s free on SPOTIFY,’ we’re being completely
disrespectful to that super-fan who wants to invest, who believes in their
favorite artist ...
WATCH
For the second time in a couple of months, Garth Brooks fell onstage at a gig over the
weekend. The country superstar was performing in Lexington, Ky. on Friday (Oct.
31) when he lost control of his feet. Brooks’ stage features a moving
sidewalk-type
area and during his cover of Aerosmith‘s ‘The Fever,’
he stepped onto it and lost control >> YouTube
= #Keepitcountry
#keepitsimple
Carrie Underwood fans who tuned into Entertainment Tonight to get a >> sneak peek at the singer’s music video for
her current hit “Something in the Water.” The video features 16 choir members,
12 dancers, three costume changes and a custom-built tank of recycled water. Director
Raj Kapoor teamed up with So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Travis Wall
on the shoot. Carrie says of the video, “We took it in a direction that was
probably not what most people would think. We just made it joyful and happy and
uplifting.” The full video was posted on Carrie's Twitter Page on Weds Nov 5th
Florida Georgia Line channeled the hit '90s movie Office Space
for the first few moments of their fun-filled new video, "Sun Daze."
Sarah McQuaid >> "The
Silver Lining" from the album "Walking Into
White" (ARTWORK - Waterbug Records, 2015), now
available for pre-order from sarahmcquaid.bandcamp
BIRTHDAYS
November 10: Dave
Loggins (1947) Donna Fargo (1945),
Chris Cagle (1968), Miranda Lambert (1983)
November 11: Narvel
Felts (1938)
November 12: Barbara
Fairchild (1950)
November 13: Raymond
Froggatt (1941)
November 14: Gretchen
Peters (1962)
November 15: Hank
Wangford (1940), Sara Johns (1970)
November 16: Troy
Seals (1938)
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