Country Bites News snippets
October 13 – October 19, 2014
SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED
UK & IRISH
News
For a full listing of 2014 and beyond UK Tour dates
PLEASE check out our Tour Dates Page
On the BBC Radio 2 Playlist for the week
commencing 18th October 2014. Ward
Thomas with “Way Back When” remained on A-List, Lady Antebellum with “Lie With Me” stayed on the B-List and Sheryl Crow with “Callin' Me When I'm
Lonely” was added to C-List playlist.
Wristbands were available with copies of the new album purchased in store, on a first come first served basis.
On Tuesday October 14th Lady A performed “Lie With Me” on This Morning on ITV - ITV Page
Watch their >> ITV interview
This Morning tweeted @itvthismorning Thanks to @ladyantebellum for a taste of award-winning country music in the middle of London!
Later Lady A played live on Tuesday night (Oct 14) to a sell out crowd at the Brooklyn Bowl London (Image) after the C2C Country to Country launch and Monday announcement on Simon Mayo’s Radio 2 Drivetime show that the trio would be one of the headliners of next year's event.
PHOTO: Lady Antebellum @ London's
Brooklyn Bowl Facebook Gallery Frography (by Flex)
Luke Bryan and Lady Antebellum were announced as the headliners for the 2015 C2C Country to Country Festival, slated to take place in several venues across Europe early next year. Accodring to their press blurb in 2014, the festival drew more than 50,000 fans to see acts like the Dixie Chicks, Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley at London’s O2 Arena and Dublin’s 3Arena.
O2 Arena London dates during the
weekend of March 15-16, 2014
Stats:
Stats:
Gross Sales: $2,565,780 Attend: 27,797/ 30,349 (2,552 tickets UNSOLD)
Promoters: SJM Concerts
Promoters: SJM Concerts
Next year’s event adds
concerts at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm on Feb. 28 and Oslo’s Spektrum
Arena on March 1, and returns to London on March 7 and Dublin on March 8
Legendary BBC Radio 2
broadcaster Bob Harris is once again
hosting and said in a press release - “I am excited and honoured to be a part of C2C
once more. It is a wonderful experience to walk out onto the stage of the O2
and see the arena absolutely packed with enthusiastic fans. There will be major
coverage of C2C 2015 on BBC Radio 2 and I am very proud that ‘Bob Harris
Country’ has played a part in the spectacular popularity of country music in
the U.K.”
 |
| Bob Harris (OBE) centre alongside Ward Thomas |
The C2C2015 Line up so far announced is:
Saturday March 7, 2015 (London) / Sunday March 8, 2015 (Dublin)
Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia
Line, Lee Ann Womack, Brandy Clark
Saturday March 7, 2015 (Dublin, 3Arena)
/ Sunday March 8, 2015 (London)
Lady Antebellum, Jason
Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, Kip Moore
More Details in our Tour Dates Page
How Country Music fans C2C fans reacted to the line up:
On the C2C Facebook to the Line up (830 Messages)
24/7 Internet radio station
UKCountryRadio.com C2C2015 Reaction:
See Facebook Post and Here
UK country magazine Country Music People (Magazine) Facebook comments
Alan
Cackett the former long-time editor of Maverick Magazine in a newsletter wrote:
“Already lots of country music fans who purchased their tickets in March for
next year's Festival have put their tickets up for sale because they are
so disappointed by the line-up - read what I have to say about the line-up on
my website
Extract: I was at the O2’s Brooklyn Bowl for the announcement of the line-up for the 2015 Country to Country Festival and have to say, that as the names were revealed, I was extremely disappointed. Too many of the acts fall into the ‘Bro-country’ genre, which has become very popular and commercially successful across America in recent years.
Extract: I was at the O2’s Brooklyn Bowl for the announcement of the line-up for the 2015 Country to Country Festival and have to say, that as the names were revealed, I was extremely disappointed. Too many of the acts fall into the ‘Bro-country’ genre, which has become very popular and commercially successful across America in recent years.
Erica Fielder from UK
Internet station 2Country.net talked Bro-Country, C2C ticket prices &
took a look at each #C2C2015 artist.
I was then asked what I
thought of the line-up. My initial thoughts were “I love it but boy is there
going be a backlash from the Trad/Non Bro-Country fans”. ….
Doncaster country singer
and C2C2014 Pop Up Stage artist Emma
Jade Garbutt tweeted @EmmaJadeMusic Oh LORD
@LukeBryanOnline at @C2Cfestival I don't even know how I'm still alive. Am I
still breathing?
Photographers Flex @xthefrog tweeted A #MASSIVE THANK U to the
organisers of @C2Cfestival 2015 for their efforts in bringing together a
brilliant lineup!
TV Alert - Beth Nielsen Chapman's house concert
will be on the BBC red button channel from 11.30pm (14th November) then looped
through the night. It's part of Bob Harris' Radio 2 Country Nights. With Beth
Nielsen Chapman, Suzy Bogguss, Kim Carnes, Gretchen Peters, Kim Richey, Chris
While & Julie Matthews, Kimmie Rhodes and the UK's very own
singer-songwriter Callaghan.
Spooked - Callaghan recently playing a few
ticketed dates and private House Concert events in the UK posted - "One of
the most interesting venues I've played...Dode Church in Kent, over 900 years
old, it fell out of use in 1349 when the village it served was wiped out by the
Plague. A very atmospheric and spooky place to play a show! - Photo
 |
| Steve Cherelle |
Early Bird Ticket Sales are
now live for Americana
International 2015. It will be held over July 9-12th 2015 at the
Prestwold Airfield Near Loughborough, (Leicestershire, LE12 5SH) Book in before
the end of 2014 here
Spotlight on UK
Country Singer Mike Ward
Remember Mike Ward (the cousin of British The X
Factor series 2 winner Shayne Ward) who made the final of Season 2 The Voice UK in 2013? No?
Well join the country club I didn’t watch any of that series either and first
read about him was in Country Music
People Magazine.
Apparently his performances
were credited for introducing country music to a new audience. Mike shared - “Before
The Voice I had only ever performed on karaoke once or twice. “My love of country music started when I was
looking online and I stumbled across a singer called Randy Travis.
The Series 2 of the Voice UK was broadcast from 30 March 2013 – 22 June 2013. In the final runner-up Ward performed "Suspicious Minds" "Green, Green Grass of Home", "Don't Close Your Eyes". The eventually winner was the partially sighted singer from Ulster Andrea Begley. Her introductory album, THE MESSAGE, debuted at No.7 (9,482 sales) on the Official UK Chart then dropping to #31 (4,331 sales; 2 week total 13,813) after appearing on BBC Breakfast and the Strictly Come Dancing results show performing “Dancing In The Dark” . This was massively more successful than Season 1 (2012) winner Leanne Mitchell's eponymous debut album, which didn't come out until 11 months after she won the contest, peaking at No.134. It sold 895 copies on its first week, a total which grew to exactly 2,000 in 20 weeks.
Hopeful Ward told The Sun how he was left broke and battling
crippling anxiety after being made redundant in 2012. The then unemployed joiner
(see BBC Profile), nailed it, wowing the coaches
on the BBC1 show when he auditioned, who we’re surprised he actually sung
country music. Coach Jessie J said
"He's not what you expect"
>> Video
(viewed more than 2.5 million times on
YouTube). The 95-minute >>
first blind audition episode, broadcast on 30 March 2013 BBC Page. Tom Jones, Jessie J, Danny
O'Donoghue hit the "I WANT YOU" button
The streetwise Salford 23 year
old country singer (born 14th Dec 1990) became part of Tom Jones' team singing mostly country and western music and
progressed as a finalist in the last Final 4.
He auditioned with the song "Don't
Close Your Eyes" from Keith Whitley, with three of the four judges,
Jessie J, Danny O'Donoghue and Sir Tom Jones turning their chairs.
In the competition he sung
"Suspicious Minds" solo and "Green Green Grass of Home"
with Jones and was eventually eliminated at the final.
Battling his shyness some were tipping him to be UK’s first big country
artist. He wanted to get country music noticed in the UK and bring it into the
21st century.
Country Music People’s David
Allan (the former BBC Radio 2 Country Club presenter) started championing
his cause and really praised his performances on The Voice making comparisons
to George Jones and Keith Whitley. He spoke of his raw emotion and his connection
with people putting over the lyrics with his vocal delivery. Mike released
"When I Was Your Man" (Bruno Mars cover) on 22 June 2013 which
briefly appeared at #60 and “Picking Up the Pieces" (Paloma Faith ) on 29
June 2013 which reached #72 on the Official UK chart. After that he did some
local pub gigs and shared a few low budget videos with fans. In the January
2014 issue of CMP Allan shared his disappointment on his page as to why the
media have seemingly ignored Ward.
Well fear not, Mike earlier in 2014 was excited to be in the studio recording a album. He was joined by some
great country musicians (Luke Thomas halve of the 2013 BCMAaward Winning Duo
and Simon Goulding) and USA producer/drummer Justin Johnson in Liverpool at the Studio2 Parr Street Studios
where some major pop albums have been recorded (The Spice Girls, Take That,
Echo and the Bunnymen, Oasis and former owner Phil Collins).
 |
| Mike Ward's Digipac EP CLICK to Enlarge |
The “talented” 23-year-old
from Higher Broughton recorded five self-penned country songs and also recorded
a cover of his audition song for The Voice “Don’t Close Your Eyes”. He told the
Salford Advertiser: “People all the over the world have seen my audition. “Another
song on the EP is a song I wrote on the train coming home after The Voice,
called “Welcome Home” [promoted on the August Hotdisc] which is the first single
off the EP. “I also revisited a country song I was writing before The Voice
called ‘Waiting For You To Come Home’.”
Mike tweeted @MIKEWARDUK In the studio today
recording my album can't wait until it's all done wish me luck
#keepingitcountry
Then Django Promotions Lee Williams (CEO of CMR Nashville/ CMR Hot "Europe's #1
Country Music Radio Station") who was the CMA International Award
Broadcaster in 2013 signed Mike to management. On Friday 25th July there was a World exclusive
first play of his lead off single "Welcome Home" promoted by Williams at UK
internet station CMR Nashville. The track was promoted on August 2014 Hotdisc and reached the No.7 slot on
the Hotdisc Top 40 and secured a 2-week No.1
British Hotdisc track overhauling a 3-week #1 from Charlie Boston which slipped
back.
On Sept 5, 2014 Sir Tom Jones lent his “voice” via Twitter in support of the debut single:
As we previously reported
over the course of the weekend 6th & 7th September 2014 we were actively
engaged on a Twitter buzz and the single made big strides from a lowly No.19 on
the UK iTunes Country Chart to No.3 by Sunday evening as his fans really got
behind him (Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” POP singles blocked his path to Nos 1
& 2) .
“Welcome Home” peaked at #392 on the overall UK iTunes singles chart, a long way short of Miss Swifts rankings at #4 & #162. Shortly after Ward’s single sank to No.118.
“Welcome Home” peaked at #392 on the overall UK iTunes singles chart, a long way short of Miss Swifts rankings at #4 & #162. Shortly after Ward’s single sank to No.118.
No
Show Ward:
A prestigious gig set for Sat
2nd August at The Royal Oak, High Street, Barlborough, Chesterfield S43 4EU (£35, incl 3 course meal) was cancelled by the promoter due to small ticket
sales who said – “ONLY a
handful of people had
booked to go to the event”!
Following that disappointment Ward planned a big release party for his new EP at The Ritz in Manchester on 26 October 2014 presented by J Room 3 productions (Justin Johnson; Producer for Mike Ward, Raintown, Sam Hollyman - see flyer) with special guests from big hitters 2013 BCMAward winning acts Raintown & Gary Quinn along with The Voice UK 2013 contestants Laura Oakes (Photo) and Emma Jade Garbutt. Mike and Emma Jade together performed a rendition of Stevie Nicks' Landslide in a battle round.
Oct 9th MIKE WARD pinned a tweet @MIKEWARDUK Ok guys, who's coming
to this, it's going to be amazing!!! Laura Oakes (who was also on The Voice UK)
is amazing!!!
Emma Jade tweeted So me and @MIKEWARDUK have over 1million views on our 'landslide' performance. We'll sing it Oct 26th one time only at his EP release!
Their Voice UK 2013 Mike Ward Vs Emma Jade Garbutt Battle
Rounds 3 >> performance
had reached 1,267,481 million views.
Of Note: Asking for support Sheffield based Emma
launched a Kickstarter Campaign (Funding period Aug 15
2014 - Sept 4 2014). Just 12 backers pledged £345 of a £5,000 goal resulting in
an unsuccessful funded project to record her debut EP.
So what was effectively a “hometown” gig for Ward was
also cancelled by the promoter with apoligies to anyone who had already bought
tickets. The ticket sales were so low that a decision was made to cancel
than rack up more losses.
Ticketline tweeted @Ticketline @MIKEWARDUK's show at
@TheRitzHQ on Oct 26th has been cancelled. Refunds available from point of
purchase. #sadface
Mike Ward tweeted @MIKEWARDUK Sorry everyone, the
powers that be have pulled the plug on this one.
Emergency – Ward 10:
On Facebook “Big
things too come this year thank you all for your support” – Mike Ward
His ultimate dream he said
“would be to record in Nashville, the home of country music, and to make it big
in America”!
Columnist David Allan in
September wrote: "I'm assured that like Mike - it's about to "take
off". Then following up in the October 2014 issue of Country Music People
penned “He’s on his way, signed up to a leading entertainment agency. He is a
special talent and has a great country
voice and style (shades of a young
George Strait ?) whose appeal was proved beyond doubt on The Voice……Do you him
your support and consider adding him to your collection”.
Question: So what exactly will Mr. Allan make of the
cancelled CD launch in next next update!
Why is there such a
disconnect with the large
TV audiences who watch the “Talent” shows and then don’t buy the music when an
artist releases music or buy tickets to go watch them live?
Are such shows merely “Entertainment Factor” and
something to watch on a Saturday night? I don’t think I can put a single name
to the faces who were on the live stages of X Factor 2013. The only artists I
knew on this years The Voice UK were Talia
Smith whose music I had followed in the country BCMAward winning duo
Travellin Rose and Folk artist Sally
Barker whose music I’d previously purchased in the early 2000s.
In 2013 The final of The Voice UK attracted 7.24 million (34.8%) viewers from
7.15pm on Saturday night (June 22), overnight data suggests. All those people watched
Mike Ward on that one programme alone on his journey.
He has since bagged 32.9K Tweeter Followers along with 11,319 likes on Facebook
The 23-year old recently announced his brand new shiny
website.
Copies of his new 6 track EP are available for purchase from his website via
PayPal – See Digipac EP Artwork [JPG] –
Signed Inlay
Mike Ward tweeted I Give Up! on Oct 16, 2014 but this
has since been removed.
I give up!
— MIKE WARD (@MIKEWARDUK) October 16, 2014
@MIKEWARDUK eyyy you,you taught all your fans never to give up and now we'll never let you give up!!! #Wardys
— Kirsty Hewitt (@kirsty_Leigh_H) October 16, 2014
Listen to Mike’s “Welcome
Home” (released Aug 29, 2014) on SPOTIFY which is available to purchase on
Amazon UK (currently ranked #58,729 in MP3
Albums) and UK iTunes NOTE - The single no longer shows on the UK Country
Top 1300 iTunes singles having peaked at No.3.
Photos: Mike Ward Young & Stupid
He has invested in an entainment agency and
management, Hotdisc single promotion and the recording of an studio produced
EP. Where does Mike Ward go from here,
ANY idea’s?!!!
UK CHART NEWS
Official UK Top
100 Singles Chart (Week
Ending October 25, 2014)
Taylor Swift's with her pop
single “Shake It Off” scored a hard-earned third UK No.2 hit of her
career as it jumped 4-2 (56,687
sales, 9-week total 422,894). The first single from upcoming fifth album 1989,
the track previously peaked at #3 and has actually been in the top six
continuously since its release. It is just one week away from equalling Swift's
longest running Top 10 hit, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”.
Official UK Top
100 Album Chart (Week
Ending October 25, 2014)
Rose Ave. the debut album of You+Me, a pop/folk duo made up of
Canadian singer/songwriter Dallas Green who
had two very minor chart albums as a member of the group Alexisonfire, and the
formidable Pink, who has placed
eight solo studio albums and compilations in the Top 15 since 2000. Rose Ave. made
a bow at No.10 (7,948 sales). Of note Jessie J who was on X Factor Sunday
results show landed at #5 (16,733 sales)
Lady Antebellum with 747
fell 12-21 (sales around 4,000,
2-week total 10,000)
Dolly Parton with BLUE
SMOKE/THE BEST OF (Masterworks) fell 34-35 in her 19th
chart frame (2,400 estimated sales, 19-week
total 223,400).
Perennially popular Irish folk duo Foster & Allen
were down 28-40 in their second week. The previous week they racked up their
31st chart entry since 1983 with GOLD & SILVER DAYS which made a bow at No.28
(3,241 sales). Together for almost 40 years, Mick Foster is 67, and Tony Allen
is 62.
Official UK
Country Album Chart (Week
Ending October 25, 2014)
Lady Antebellum with 747 stayed at No.1 for a second week as
their archive album NEED YOU NOW
moved 4-2 in its 151st chart frame.
Tim McGraw with SUNDOWN
HEAVEN TOWN (Big Machine) was down 2-3 in his fourth week.
The UK’s Ward Thomas with FROM WHERE WE STAND (WTW Music) fell 3-4
in their 13th week.
Blake Shelton with BRINGING BACK THE SUNSHINE (Warner
Bros) fell 5-6 in his third week.
Brandy Clark with 12
STORIES returned to the chart for a
second chart frame after a year gap at No.16 with interest from C2C festival
fans.
Fellow Country To Country 2015 Festival artist Lee Ann Womack
with THE WAY I'M LIVIN' fell 12-17
in her 4th week.
On the Hotdisc Chart (October 19, 2014 Chart)
Ray Scott held onto No.1 on the Top 40 for a sixth
straight week with "Drinkin' Beer"
holding off the late Ray Price feat. Martina McBride with “An Affair To Remember” which was a
non-mover at No.2.
Ian Highland and Frank Jennings lifted 8-4 and secured the No.1 slot on the British & Irish Chart for a 2nd frame
Dave Sheriff with his 6-week “Highway Number Nine” rebound 10-9 (3-2 British) as former No.1 Tony Clarke’s "I Am What I Am" slipped (9-11; 2-3
British).
US act Michael Scott with "Radio Song" improved 7-5.
US based singer-singwriter Kenny Butterill with his self
penned “Gaia Blues” rounded out the
Top 10 with a 13-10 climb.
Outside the Top 10
Atlanta native Brian Collins
with “Enjoy The Ride” rose 17-15. Katie Armiger with her new single “One Night Between Friends” lifted 19-16. Fellow US acts Stevie Lee Woods
with “California Girls Have Gone Country”
made a 20-18 hop as female duo North 40 nudged up one
rung 21-20.
Outside the Top 20
Tim Cadiere with “Hop
In My Truck” moved up 4 slots 25-21 as USA singer songwriter James Robert Webb
with “Party in The Barn” climbed one
place 23-22.
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 Feb 2014) Caddy
Cooper – Snapshot 13 Tracks/ Time: 50:16 Blues/ Country MP3
(29 Sept 2014) Jon
Weisberger - I've Been Mostly Awake (feat. the Lonesome Heirs) (Wise Kings)
13 Tracks/ Time: 42:35 Bluegrass/ Americana / Acoustic
Country MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
13 bluegrass
and related singers/songwriters singing songs they've co-written with IBMA
Songwriter of the Year Jon Weisberger, backed by The Lonesome Heirs, an
"all star" band featuring Jesse Brock (The Gibson Brothers), Andy
Falco & Jeremy Garrett (Infamous Stringdusters), and Ned Luberecki &
Weisberger (Chris Jones & The Night Drivers).
(9 Oct 2014) Trinity
River Band - On a Morning Like This (Orange Blossom Records)
10 Tracks/ Time: 30:29 MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(13 Oct 2014) You+Me - rose ave. (RCA Records Label)
Debut album from folk duo Dallas Green of City and
Colour fame and Alecia Moore (better known as Pink). Entering the UK Albums
Chart at #10 the album features brand new material. pink and green can clash
horribly so the use of her real name was probably wise on this their first
album together. One song on the album includes vocals from Sade Adu of
“whatever happened to Sade” fame.
(13 Oct 2014) Guy
Clark - An American Dream: 4 Classic Albums 1978-1992
2-CD
- 4 Classic Albums 1978-1992 presents four essential albums by the Grammy
Award-winning and alt-country legend Guy Clark. Recorded for Warner Bros and
Asylum, Guy Clark (1978), The South Coast of Texas (1981), Better Days (1983)
and Boats to Build (1992)
(14 Oct 2014) Mac
Powell – Southpaw (Independent)
12 Tracks/Time: 38:14 Country/Rock MP3 - Amazon.com
(14 Oct 2014) The
Dirty River Boys - The Dirty River Boys (DRB Music)
13 Tracks/ Time: 45:02 Rock/Country MP3 - Amazon.com
(20 Oct 2014) Shelby
Lynne - I Am Shelby Lynne CD+DVD, Deluxe Edition (Commercial Marketing/
Rounder)
Rounder celebrates the 15th anniversary of Lynne's
landmark breakthrough album I Am Shelby Lynne with a special deluxe reissue of
the now classic recording. The 2-disc (1CD/1DVD) I Am Shelby Lynne Deluxe
Edition features the re-mastered full-length album plus six previously
unreleased bonus tracks from the original sessions, as well as Shelby Lynne: Live at the House of Blues a newly unearthed, never before-released,
16-song, 90-minute concert performance captured at Los Angeles' House of Blues
on April 28th, 2000.
(20 Oct 2014)
Various Artists - The Best Of Me
Soundtrack (Decca)
14 Tracks/ Time: 50:58 CD - Amazon.com (out Oct 7) - US iTunes
The soundtrack for the new Nicholas Sparks’ movie
includes a host of country stars contributing – Read the FULL Press
Release
(20 Oct 2014) Little
Big Town - PAINKILLER (Liberty Records)
13 Tracks/ Time: 46:19 CD - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com
(21 Oct 2014) Becky Buller - 'Tween Earth and Sky (Dark Shadow Recording)
12 Tracks/ Time: 41:44 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(21 Oct 2014) The
Stray Birds - Best Medicine (Yep Roc Records)
12 Tracks/ Time: 46:10 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(21 Oct 2014) Twang
and Round - Pour Another Round (Backroad Records/Average Joes)
(21 Oct 2014) Reed
Foehl – Lost In The West (NeverFoehl Records)
7 Tracks/ Time: 33:21 Folk MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(21 Oct 2014) Jawga Boyz (feat. DEZ) - Tailgate
Music (Thrash Productions)
(24 Oct 2014) Lisa
McHugh - A Life That's Good (Sharpe Music)
16 Tracks CD - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Her band new album features 15 newly recorded songs
including her single Apple Jack which was a massive Radio hit. Continuing with
the promotion of the new album this week, Lisa has released her brand new
single, "Hillbilly Girl" .
CANADIAN NEWS
Canadian singer-songwriter Tia McGraff announced a UK date on Fri
17 Apr 2015 - The Stables, Wavendon, Milton Keynes MK17 8LU Price:£10 in
advance, £12 on the door - Event Page
Elyse Sanders thanked @ebiznews for the coverage on the
3rd Annual "Warm Coats Warm Hearts" Coat Drive & Concert, the
video turned out awesome!! Bonnie Crombie and Lake Affect made special
appearances too >> Video
Twenty-seven years ago on Oct. 16, 1987, Anne Murray made history in country music. It was on that
day that her ‘Greatest Hits’ album, released in 1980, earned triple platinum
status, signifying sales in excess of three million units and making
Murray the first female artist to achieve that sales record. The album was
certified gold and platinum only two months after its release, and it earned
Murray a Canadian Juno Award in 1981 for Best Album.
NEWS
Country Aircheck's
Insider Artist News
October 17, 2014: Brad Paisley
(Moonshine In The Barn), Toby Keith
(In The Spirit), Tanya Tucker (Tucker's
Time), Wynonna Judd (Tell Me, Wy), Angaleena Presley (TV),
This year the No Shave November for St. Jude Kids
Chairman of the Beard is Lady Antebellum's Dave
Haywood. Lady A have created a parody of Meghan Trainor's "All About
That Bass" to get you ready to embrace the beard! Team Lady Antebellum
does St. Jude's No Shave November! >> Video
Brantley Gilbert, who revealed Tuesday (10/21) he's
engaged to the woman he's written a lot of his songs about, including
"More Than Miles" and "You Don't Know Her Like I Do."
Brantley says the two have been on again – off again in the 10 years since they
met, but they're back together and he couldn't be happier.
Florida Georgia Line: Anything Goes and how folks should
"turn it up or turn it off." Watch their interview on TODAY.com-
FGL performed a Late Night web exclusive of "Anything Goes"
Watch it on nbc.com
Suggested Tweet: “Turn it up or Turn it off" say
#C2C2015 @FLAGALine see how much you can stand of "Anything Goes"
Live http://bit.ly/1o96oEH
Capitol Nashville's Little Big Town (LBT) was formally inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on Friday (Oct 17th)
by OPRY members Jimmy Dickens and Vince Gill. The group had been invited to
join the OPRY on Fri, Oct 3rd by Reba McEntire.
Backstage prior to the event LBT's Karen Fairchild
said, "I'm so excited about sharing this moment with the band. We've been
through the highest of highs together, and this is sure to be the highest. This
is as good as it gets." The group opened its set with a performance of its
hit “Bring it On Home,” hearkening back to its OPRY debut. On that night, as
the members recalled
backstage, they had been accompanied by only a
borrowed guitar. After the group’s performance of “Boondocks,” DICKENS and GILL
took the stage along with OPRY VP/GM Pete Fisher to present the group with its
Opry Member Award. “The word ‘family’ really means something out here. It
really does,” GILL said to the group. “You’ll make friends like I have with
this man right here,” he continued, nodding to Dickens. “You’ll be so be
blessed by the friends you’ll make out here, and they’ll last your entire life.
Welcome to the family, and remember to come here as often as you can.”
AWARDS
Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line,
Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban will be honored at the fifth annual CMT Artists of the
Year.
TOURS
American music icon Wynonna has announced dates for her “Wynonna and Friends: Stories & Song”
tour - www.wynonna.com/the-road . Launching Wednesday, January 14 in Durham,
NC, with a stop in her Ashland, KY hometown, the special run of shows will
visit intimate venues only. WYNONNA has been working with
husband/producer/drummer Cactus Moser on solo material for her 8th studio album
due out 2015 on Curb Records. She recently opened up to Rolling Stone Country
about the direction the new music is taking, describing it as “vintage yet
modern.” (7/9/14) The full interview can be read here.
Alan Jackson ringsin 2015 with the continuation of the multi-faceted 25th
anniversary celebration and the launch of his 25th Anniversary Keepin’ It Country
Tour. Sponsored by Kubota Tractor Corporation, the tour kicks off in
Fort Myers (Estero), FL on January 8 and will culminate at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater
in Denver (Morrison), CO on May 17, 2015. Joining Jackson on his KEEPIN’ IT
COUNTRY TOUR will be Capitol Records Nashville’s rising new artist Jon Pardi and Grammy/CMA/ACM nominated
hit singer/songwriter Brandy Clark.
Jake Owen warmed up well over 15K fans by bringing
the beach, palm trees and sunshine to back-to-back sold-out shows on his
nationwide DAYS
OF GOLD headline tour at the weekend in Mankato, MN (Oct 17) and
Lincoln, NE (Oct 18).
MUSIC NEWS
- Billboard: 4 Reasons Taylor
Swift's 'Out of the Woods' Is About Harry Styles
- Billboard: Taylor
Swift's New Diet Coke Commercial features
New '1989' Song (And Tons of Cats) >> Video
- Billboard: Swiftober
is continuing along nicely…Taylor Swift >> announced Monday morning (Oct. 20) that the song
"Welcome to New York," off 1989, will be available for download
on iTunes Tuesday (Oct. 21). "Welcome to New York" follows last
week's "Out of the Woods" as well as the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100
hit "Shake It Off."
- Taylor Swift reveals '1989' Tracklist (and We Guess
Who Each Song Is About)
- Billboard: Annie
Lennox: 'Twerking Is Not Feminism'…."Listen," said Lennox,
"Twerking is not feminism. Thats what I'm referring to. It's not --
it's not liberating, it's not empowering. It's a sexual thing that you're
doing on a stage; it doesn't empower you. That's my feeling about it.
- Billboard: SoundCloud
Posts $29 Million Loss in 2013 on $14 Million Revenues……As SoundCloud is
amidst focused efforts to build a profitable business from its 175 million
users a month, the popular online music streaming and sharing platform has
posted a loss almost twice that of its revenues in the past year. As
SoundCloud's annual report points out, the market for music streaming
services is looking highly competitive today. That makes another hurdle as
the company works to get its monetization efforts off the ground, as well
was the necessity for strategic focus as they continue to move forward.
PRESS RELEASES
- Jeff Bates to release tribute to Conway Twitty ME AND CONWAY (Sony RED / Red River Entertainment) on November 11, 2014 - Amazon.com
- New Album Release: TURN ON A DIME by Lonesome River Band
- Rhonda Towns (Dawn Records) Country music recording artist and inspirational talk radio show host, is pleased to announce her upcoming adventure. In the coming weeks, her itinerary takes her to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
- Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Martina McBride & others praise RAY PRICE's Performance On BEAUTY IS… the final sessions Hall of Famer's Last Studio Project Continues To Generate Admiration & Enthusiasm
- With the holiday season fast approaching, Kent Wells Productions artist Macy Martin officially launched her 2014 Winter Wonderland - Gift of Hope Toy Drive today
- Keni Thomas releases new “Hold The Line” Music Video
- Brian Collins album release show 3rd And Lindsley 6th Nov 2014
- The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will explore the career of superstar Tanya Tucker with the exhibition Tanya Tucker: Strong Enough to Bend, which opens November 14, 2014, and runs through May 2015.
- The Inspirational Country Music Association is gearing up for its annual ICM Faith, Family & CountryTM Week & Awards to be held in Music City on Nov. 9-13, 2014.
- Dave Adkins continues to dominate Charts with “Nothing To Lose” reaching the coveted #1 spot this month on Sirius XM Radio Bluegrass Junction Most Played Tracks
- Lester Flatt the Bluegrass and Country music legend was honored in his hometown of Sparta, Tennessee recently when city and county officials joined forces to unveil an historical marker in his honor.
- CMA World -CMA Country Christmas airs Dec.1 on the ABC Television Network: Artists already announced include Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Sara Evans, Lucy Hale, Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Idina Menzel, Nettles, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, and Carrie Underwood.
- Kentucky Headhunters celebrate 25 Years of Pickin' On Nashville
ARTICLES
Rollingstone: Brandy Clark Opens Up About Writing Toby Keith's new single
American Songwriter Larkin Poe: Family Ties…..There’s no mythology quite
like a family one. With both stories and traits handed down over generations,
those who came before us, more often than not, lay the groundwork for who we
become. For the sisters of Larkin Poe, that mythology has shaped their musical
identity more than any other force.
The AristoMedia Group has released the Fall 2014 Aristo International Report 12 page Webpage
or PDF (Abobe) Download
Highlights in this issue include:
- An update
on the UK Country Music scene including the lineup for the C2C Festival in
March of 2015
- An
overview of activities at the recent Canadian Country Music Week
- The CMAA
Lifetime Achievement Award winner
- The
latest news from Down Under, plus some insight into the recent APRA
SongHubs event in Nashville
- Tony Byworth
writes a fond remembrance of George Hamilton IV
- Photo
highlights of the Gstaad Country Nights Festival in Switzerland
- Sounds
Australia at the Americana Festival
- Americana
President Mark Moffatt discusses the global growth of the Americana Music
Festival
- Canada’s
Gord Bamford receives the CMA Global Artist Award
REVIEWS
For The Country Record James Robert Webb ‘Party In The Barn’ (Single)
For The Country Record Toby Keith ‘Drunk Americans’ (Single Review)
COUNTRY FASHION
Julianne Hough attended Samsung Electronics’
#DITCHtheDSLR event held at Hollywood & Highland Center on Tuesday (October
14) in Hollywood, California. She oozes pure feminine appeal in a delicate lace
Self-Portrait
‘Fantasia’ dress from the Spring 2015 collection. Cut to a classic silhouette
with a nipped-in waist and a midi-length skirt, the design fuses contemporary
and ladylike styling with an on-trend pointy collar and a semi-sheerness which
allows the design to hold true. - Fashion Pic
Julianne Hough paid a visit to the SiriusXM Studios on
Thursday (October 16) in New York City to promote ‘Dancing with the Stars’. Still
working a wardrobe with a distinct summery vibe, the dancer/actress selected a
look from
DKNY’s Spring 2015 collection. The top, which is intricately
embellished and cropped at the midriff, is balanced with a white high-waist
A-line skirt which exudes dreamy romanticism and feminine flair. Her ‘Nudist’
sandals are the perfect complement to this well-balanced look - Image
ARISTA's Brad
Paisley has partnered with BOOT BARN to develop an exclusive line of boots,
jeans, hats, T-shirts, jewelry, belts, and woven shirts. The line will be
called Moonshine Spirit By
Brad Paisley, and will blend Boot Barn's WESTERN
heritage with a modern, Country music edge. "We specifically chose Brad
Paisley to create this line because his values align beautifully with those of
our customers and employees," said BOOT BARN CEO Jim Conroy. "He is
authentic, and that's the essence of every BOOT BARN customer."
The Moonshine Spirit By Brad Paisley collection will
debut at the grand opening of the Nashville Boot Barn store on Fri, Oct 24th
and will be online and in all BOOT BARN stores on Mon, Dec 1st.
"Boot Barn and I have created what I think is an
authentic and very wearable line of country clothing," said Paisley.
"It's hip, modern, progressive, rugged and country -- ready for the stage
and ready to go out on the town. It's a great time to launch Moonshine Spirit
by Brad Paisley. It embodies the enthusiasm of my new album, 'Moonshine in the
Trunk.'"
About Boot Barn Boot Barn is the nation's leading
lifestyle retailer of western and work-related footwear, apparel and
accessories for men, women and children. The company's 155 stores in 24 states
(as of June 6, 2014) feature a comprehensive assortment of approximately 200
brands and more than 1,500 styles on average. Read the FULL Press Release
BIRTHDAYS
October 20: Philomena Begley (1954), the late Grandpa Jones (1913; died Feb 19, 1998 (aged 84)) , Wanda Jackson (1937) , Jimi Westbrook (Little Big Town)
October 21: Owen Bradley (1915), the late Mel
Street (1935; died Oct 21, 1978 (aged 43))
October 22: Shelby Lynne (1968)
October 23: Dwight Yoakam (1956),
October 24: Heather Rankin (Rankins) (1967)
October 25: the late Sarah Cannon Minnie Pearl (1912), Chely
Wright (1970)
October 26: Charlie Landsborough - (1941), Wes
McGhee (1948), Keith Urban
(1967), Kristen Hall (ex Sugarland)
(1962)
R.I.P
Paul Craft (August 12, 1938 – October 18, 2014)
 |
| Paul Craft Montage CLICK to ENLARGE |
The Eagles recorded Mr. Craft's "Midnight
Flyer" for their 1974 "On The Border" album and Linda Ronstadt memorably performed his
"Keep Me From Blowing Away" on her "Heart Like A Wheel"
album.
Others who
recorded Paul Craft songs include Jerry Lee Lewis, Loretta Lynn & Conway
Twitty, Del Reeves & Billie Jo Spears, Charlie McCoy, Don Everly, Keith
Whitley, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers, David Ball, Jack Greene, Cledus T. Judd
and J.J. Cale.
Most of Craft’s
songs were solo written, rather than collaborations with others. He was
distinctive among Nashville songwriters in that he was always self-published
rather then being on the songwriting staff of a major company.
“This year’s Hall of Fame
induction was going to be a dream night for Paul,” said NaSHOF
Board
Chair and fellow Hall of Fame member Pat Alger.
“Membership in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame is the highest
honor that our songwriting community can bestow – and it was no secret that one
of Paul’s career goals was to be included in this group. Like all our inductees, Paul was excited to
be part of the big night and it is heartbreaking that he came so close without
being able to fully participate in his moment in the spotlight when he was
officially inducted along with John Anderson, Gretchen Peters and Tom Douglas.
We’re very grateful that he was able to enjoy the past few months knowing that
his long and prolific career was going to be honored by his friends, family and
fellow songwriters. We will miss him dearly and remember him always through his
legacy of brilliant songwriting.” A memorial
service was due to be held in Nashville on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at West End United
Methodist Church (2200 West End Ave.) with visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45
p.m. and the funeral at 1:00 p.m.
Born in Memphis
and raised in Arkansas, Mr. Craft taught himself to play various instruments as
a kid. In his early 20s, he paused his studies at the University of Virginia
and went on the road playing banjo with Jimmy Martin's Sunny Mountain Boys. He
also served six years in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, graduated from UVA,
attended law school, recorded with Martin for Decca Records, managed a Memphis
music store, played in a band and, at age 28, began writing songs. On Oct. 5,
Mr. Craft arrived at the Music City Center for his Hall of Fame induction. He
had his photo taken with his fellow inductees, then
was rushed to
Saint Thomas Midtown after falling ill. He died 13 days later...Read More
obituaries from Peter Cooper at
The Tennessean Robert K. Oermann’s at musicrow.com and Alan Cackett at www.alancackett.com and his archived article first published in Country
Music People, December 1980 .
Paul Craft's advice to new
writers?
Probably find
somebody who is a friendly ear who you won’t drive crazy and make a lifelong
enemy out of-and who will help you go in the right direction. People talk about
[songwriting like] it’s a lot of work and determination. Hell, it wasn’t work, it was play. You
couldn’t hold me back. I had to do it … like
a squirrel climbing a tree...Read Mr. Craft's 2007 interview with American Songwriter.com
Paul Craft, It
goes a little somethin' like this....Mr. Craft >> talked about a few of the songs in 2012
NAMM Oral History Interview on July 17, 2009
Paul Craft
Listen/ Buy
>> "I've Got You On My Conscience (But At Least
You're Off My Back)" from Paul's 1986 "Warnings" album Amazon UK -
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/paulcraft5/from/livewire
Paul Craft's
amusing tune >> "It's
Me Again, Margaret" recorded by Ray Stevens and Paul's
version made it to #55 in 1974.
>> Drop Kick Me Jesus (Through the Goalposts
of Life) by Bobby Bare 1976 (The world's only Christian football walz). Words
and music by Paul Craft.
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