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For the latest Billboard Country Charts Blog Post go HERE
UK & IRISH News
For a full listing of 2017 UK Tour dates PLEASE check out our Tour Dates Page
Recently added: (4
Nov 2017) Alan West & Steve Black (Nov-Jan), Case
Hardin (Nov), Fifth Floor(Nov), Charlie Dore (Jan-Apr), Gary
Quinn (Nov-Apr), Goat Roper Band (Nov-Dec), Hannah
Johnson And The Broken Hearts (Nov-Feb), Jess Morgan (Dec), Josh
Kelley (Feb), Journey Home (Nov-Jan), Kerri
Watt (Nov-Dec), Lisa McHugh (Nov), Lucy-May (Nov), Megan
O'Neill & The Common Threads (Dec-Jan), Nashville Nights
LONDON (Dec), Rhiannon Giddens (NOV) Ticketmaster UK
Ward Thomas (Dec; ON SALE ), The Worry Dolls (Nov-Dec)
On the BBC Radio 2 Playlist for the week commencing Saturday 4th November 2017
A Playlist:
Roy Orbison & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Drove All Night (feat. Ward Thomas)
B Playlist:
Andy Brown - Landslide (feat. Crissie Rhodes) added to the "B" Playlist
Kelsea Ballerini - Legends
C Playlist:
First Aid Kit - It's A Shame
(1 Nov 2017) UKCountryRadio.com introduce their
listeners to VELVET
& STONE.
They are an indie-folk band from Devon. They combine
rich vocals, acoustic guitar, bass riffs, keys and violin, to give an original
take on a traditional genre. Drawing upon personal stories, melancholy tales
and rugged landscapes, they create a serene and haunting sound that is
difficult to forget. Founding band members Lara Snowdon (vocals and guitar),
and Kathryn Tremlett (violin and piano), are joined by Roger Styles on guitar
and vocals and Barry Muir on bass. Watch their >> video "Raise Your Ghosts" (Official
Video) | Read More at UKCountryradio.com
(3 Nov 2017) Changes to Chris Country signal in London
& Suffolk
Changes have inpacted on way Chris Country transmits in London and Suffolk this week...
switching from DAB, to a newer
system called DAB+.
The good news is that this increases the quality of the
broadcasts. It’s now in stereo in London for the first time ever! It's
particularly noticeable in cars. However, there are some older and entry-level
radios that aren't DAB+ compatible. More information.
(3 Nov 2017) Lisa McHugh has been busy as usual she has been in Nashville and in Spain as well as touring up and down the country giging between concerts and dances. Lisa went down an absolute storm at the Farmers Bash at the start of October it was, by all account, a fantastic night and she felt the atmosphere was electric!!
‘Country Girl’ is a co-written song that tells the story of what a boy thinks he needs to do to attract a country girl which isn’t all about flowers and diamond rings. Instead he needs to show he can have a good time and “guide her round the floor till the end of the night, cause all you gotta do is do it right if you want to get a country girl"
Lisa has got
the bug for song writing, having just returned from a 10-day trip to Nashville
armed with new material.
Speaking on Nov
2nd, an excited Lisa said she was still on a high from the Stateside trip and
admits, although daunted about the prospect of sitting down with some of
Nashville ‘s great lyricists she found the experience exhilarating.
“I hope in the very near future to record
some of the songs and ultimately look forward to performing them to my fans”.
This past few
weeks have seen a career high for Lisa performing at the Farmers Bash in the SSE Arena Belfast to over 8000
fans. Along with concerts and the
upcoming weekend of dancing ahead of a busy period right through to New Year’s
Eve, the Female Entertainer of the Year is looking forward to a well due rest
at the start of January.
(3 Nov 2017) Scottish born singer-songwriter Kerri Watt spent her formative years
living between California and Glasgow, giving her a unique upbringing that has
influenced her sound. She taught herself guitar while backstage touring the UK
as an actor, swapping a life of theatres for venues!
Kerri
has spent the last two years touring across the UK and Europe with Starsailor,
Ward Thomas, Embrace, Nina Nesbitt, The Overtones and Mike & The Mechanics
to name a few. Kerri has performed at many UK festivals including Glastonbury
Festival, Isle Of Wight and Secret Garden Party amongst others. She has also
played in legendary Los Angeles venue Whiskey A Go Go a couple of times after
impressing promoters when she knocked on the door of the venue with her guitar
during a holiday out there. See BLOG Spotlight Feature New To You: Kerri Watt on UK Tour in
November & December
(4 Nov 2017) Hannah
Paris - New Single - "Just You Wait"
Essex girl Hannah Paris needs help recording her new song "Just You Wait". As of Saturday 4 November, £494 has been pledged of a Kickstarter crowd funded £750 goal by 25 backers with 6 days to go.
All or nothing. This project will only be funded if it
reaches its goal by Fri, Nov 10 2017. Pledges start at £1 to £120 (Songwriting
session + Publishing tips)
** UPDATE ** The project
was successfully fund: £858 pledged
of £750 goal by 53 backers with 48 hours to go
UK CHART NEWS
Official UK Top 100 Singles Chart (Week Ending 9
November 2017)
3 November 2017 - 9
November 2017
Patience is a virtue, and
after increasing its sales for 13 weeks in a row – the last three of which it
spent at No.2 – Camila Cabello's Havana (feat. Young Thug) finally reaches No.1
With sales of 48,615 copies
(including 30,499 from sales-equivalent downloads + 18,116 pure sales), the
track – taken from Cabello's upcoming album The Hurting, The Healing, The
Loving – is the first No.1 for the former Fifth Harmony star, surpassing said
band's Work From Home (feat. Ty Dolla $ign), which reached No.2 shortly before
she left them in 2016.
Official UK Top 100 Albums Chart (Week Ending 9
November 2017)
3 November 2017 - 9 November
2017
With just eight sales
between the first week tallies of their last albums, it always looked as though
there would be little to choose between Stereophonics'
new album SCREAM ABOVE THE SOUNDS and
tenor twosome Michael Ball & Alfie
Boe's latest collaboration, TOGETHER
AGAIN, this week – and so it proved.
After opening up a
commanding lead in early trading, Stereophonics' advantage dwindled
consistently throughout the week, descending from 11,925 after two days on
release to a deficit of 35 in the final analysis, with Scream Above The
Sounds – their 10th studio album – eventually debuting at No.2 (43,760 copies;
42,632 sales + 1,128 streams)
Pooling their talents for the second time,
Michael Ball & Alfie Boe's Together Again thus arrived at No.1 on sales of 43,795 copies (including 149 from streams) a week short of a year
since their first collaboration, Together, opened at No.2 on sales of 44,860
copies. Together eventually reached No.1 five weeks later.
Together Again provides
55-year-old Ball, from Worcestershire, with his 21st chart album, his eighth
Top 10 entry and his third No.1. It is the eighth Top 75 entry, the sixth Top
10 album and second No.1 for 43-year-old Boe from Lancashire, who made his
chart debut in 2007. Together Again comprises primarily of show tunes and movie
music – as did Together – and a virtual collaboration with the late Bing Crosby
on his seasonal smash, White Christmas. Ball & Boe were already the oldest
duo to have a No.1 album, and now hold the top two slots in that category.
CHART CLASH The Official
Charts Company forced to RECOUNT – The Sun
In her fifth frame former
No.1 Shania
Twain with NOW fell 40-47 (2,200
estimated sales; 5-week total 33,700)
Margo Price with ALL AMERICAN MADE made a debut at #86 with estimated sales of 1,000
copies
Overall album sales were up
2.52% week-on-week at 1,772,826, 3.10% above same week 2016 sales of 1,719,519.
Streaming accounted for 812,660 sales – 45.84% of the total. Sales of paid-for
albums were up 7.02% week-on-week at 960,166, 19.71% below same week 2016 sales
of 1,195,946.
Official UK Country Album Top 20 (Week Ending 9
November 2017)
3 November 2017 - 9
November 2017
Glen
Campbell with ADIOS held at #1 (21 weeks; #1 peak)
Lucinda
Williams with THIS SWEET OLD WORLD rose 3-2 (2 weeks; #2 peak)
Margo
Price with ALL AMERICAN MADE climbed 9-3 (2 weeks; #3 peak)
Darius
Rucker with WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME held at #4 (2 weeks; #4 peak)
Chris
Young with LOSING SLEEP rose 6-5 (2 weeks; #5 peak)
White
Buffalo with DARKEST DARKS LIGHTEST LIGHTS fell 2-7 (3 weeks; #2 peak)
Lady
Antebellum with HEART BREAK held at #7 (210 weeks; #2 peak)
Willie
Nelson with WILLIE AND THE BOYS - WILLIE'S STASH - 2 rose 11-8 (2 weeks; #8
peak)
Lee
Ann Womack with THE LONELY THE LONESOME & THE GONE made a debut at #9
Dolly
Parton with I BELIEVE IN YOU fell 5-10 (3 weeks; #4 peak)
Outside the Top 10
Lisa
McHugh with WHO I AM fell 10-12 (4 weeks; #7 peak)
Turnpike
Troubadours with A LONG WAY FROM YOUR HEART rose 19-14 (2 weeks; #14 peak)
Carly
Pearce with EVERY LITTLE THING made a debut at #20
Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40 (Week Ending 9
November 2017)
3 November 2017 - 9
November 2017
This
Week/ Last Week/ Title/ Artist
1 1 Carry Fire Robert Plant #9 Official Album Chart
#20 Official Album Chart
2 9 All American Made Margo Price [Tagged Country] #86
Official Album Chart
3 3 Roll With The Punches Van Morrison [Tagged Blues]
4 14 Life Love Flesh Blood Imelda May [Tagged Singer/Songwriter]
5 2 Lotta Sea Lice Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
6 5 Adios Glen Campbell [Tagged Country] #
Official Album Chart
7 NEW Turn Out The Lights Julien Baker [Tagged Singer/Songwriter]
8 6 A Deeper Understanding War On Drugs [Tagged Alt]
9 4 This Sweet Old World Lucinda Williams [Tagged
Singer/Songwriter Alt/Folk]
10 11 A/B Kaleo [Tagged
Alt]
Outside The Top 10
12 8 Hitchhiker Neil Young [Tagged Rock]
14 NEW The Lonely The
Lonesome & The Gone Lee Ann Womack [Tagged
Country]
15 7 Exile & Grace King King #31 Official Album Chart [Tagged
Blues]
19 10 Out Of All This Blue Waterboys [Tagged Rock]
23 NEW River Megan Henwood [Tagged
Singer/Songwriter]
33 NEW Yarrow Deep Dark Woods
UK Country iTunes Chart November 6, 2017
Songs
1. Little Big Town - Pain Killer (#179 overall UK Singles chart) sales
sparked by >> a performance on his very own
show, Harry Styles At The BBC - BBC page
2. John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads (#270 overall UK Singles
chart)
3. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Islands In The Stream (#395
overall UK Singles chart)
4. The Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down To Georgia (#563
overall UK Singles chart)
5. Johnny Cash - Hurt (#589 overall UK Singles chart)
6. Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey (#620 overall UK Singles chart)
7. Kelsea Ballerini - Miss Me More (#687 overall UK Singles chart)
8. Dolly Parton - 9 To 5 (#791 overall UK Singles chart)
9. Dolly Parton - Jolene (#794 overall UK Singles chart)
10. Lady Antebellum - Need You Now (#858 overall UK Singles chart)
Of Note
11. Carrie Underwood - Before He Cheats (#914 overall UK Singles chart)
Debuts November 3, 2017:
Paul
Kelly - Willie the Dealer #7 UK Country iTunes Singles (#564 overall UK
Albums chart) UK iTunes
UK Country iTunes Chart November 6, 2017
Albums
1. Kelsea Ballerini - Unapologetically (#23 overall UK Albums chart) |
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #1 UK Country iTunes (#7 overall UK Albums chart)
2. Kid Rock - Sweet Southern Sugar (#106 overall UK Albums chart) |
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #3 UK Country iTunes (#47 overall UK Albums chart)
3. Various Artists - The Country Album (#186 overall UK Albums chart)
4. Blake Shelton - Texoma Shore (#214 overall UK Albums chart) | Debut
Fri 3 Nov: #2 UK Country iTunes (#32 overall UK Albums chart)
5. Various Artists - Country - 101 All Time Greats (#313 overall UK
Albums chart)
6. Shania Twain - Now (Deluxe) (#363 overall UK Albums chart)
7. Shania Twain - Greatest Hits (#378 overall UK Albums chart)
8. Luke Combs - This One's For You (#416 overall UK Albums chart)
9. Brett Young - Brett Young (#424 overall UK Albums chart)
10. Taylor Swift - Red Deluxe (#478 overall UK Albums chart)
Debuts November 3, 2017:
Jess
Moskaluke - Past the Past #24 UK Country iTunes (#785 overall UK Albums chart)
Ned
LeDoux - Sagebrush #25 UK Country iTunes (#791 overall UK Albums chart)
Danny
Phegan - From Where I Stand #50 UK
Country iTunes
Lucy-May - Little By
Little #84 UK Country iTunes
UK COUNTRY
ALBUM RELEASES
(1 Nov 2017) Jimmy
Wayne - Ruby Toons (Bea Hive Records)
13 Tracks/ Time: 43:58 Children’s Music Amazon UK
Nearly a decade after his third country record and
literally hundreds of thousands of miles under his feet from tirelessly
campaigning for the rights of foster kids across the country, Jimmy Wayne has found
a new way to deliver his message and continue his work, a family and kids album
inspired by the puppy he adopted on his well-documented walk across America,
Ruby.
(3 Nov 2017) Blake
Shelton - Texoma Shore (Warner Bros.)
11 Tracks/ Time: 38:23 Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #2 UK Country iTunes (#32 overall UK
Albums chart) | #4 US iTunes
Named for Lake Texoma, the Oklahoma native’s 11th
studio album was produced by Scott Hendricks and features lead single “I’ll
Name The Dogs,” plus cuts by Ben Hayslip, Josh Osborne, Craig Wiseman,
Dallas Davidson, Ross Copperman, Rhett Akins, Ashley Gorley and more.
"Texoma Shore" will feature SHELTON's
current single, "I'll Name The Dogs," "LAKE TEXOMA has always
been a place of great memories, new and old," said SHELTON of the album's
title.
"I literally recorded this album on its shore, so it's full-circle for me to take the love of this place and my love of Country music. When you listen to the record, it will go from something traditional, to something that will make your head spin back, to something even more traditional. That's just what you can expect from my albums. At this point in my career, it's always good for me to try something different, with different sounds, and I think that you'll hear hints of that on this record. I've explored just about every part of Country music you can explore, and it seems like I always keep coming back to my roots, which is traditional Country music. I love great songs, and there are so many talented writers in NASHVILLE, but I do have a song on the album that I wrote, and I'm very proud of it."
"I literally recorded this album on its shore, so it's full-circle for me to take the love of this place and my love of Country music. When you listen to the record, it will go from something traditional, to something that will make your head spin back, to something even more traditional. That's just what you can expect from my albums. At this point in my career, it's always good for me to try something different, with different sounds, and I think that you'll hear hints of that on this record. I've explored just about every part of Country music you can explore, and it seems like I always keep coming back to my roots, which is traditional Country music. I love great songs, and there are so many talented writers in NASHVILLE, but I do have a song on the album that I wrote, and I'm very proud of it."
Blake Shelton - Official Texoma Shore Pre-Order Bundles
Ultimate Texoma Shore Guitar Bundle $499.99 | I'll
Name The Dogs T-Shirt Bundle $34.99 | Texoma Shore Music Bundle $20.99
(3 Nov 2017) Kelsea
Ballerini - Unapologetically (Sony Music CG/ BLACK RIVER
ENTERTAINMENT)
12 Tracks/ Time: 41:23 Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #1 UK Country iTunes (#7 overall UK
Albums chart) | #3 US iTunes all genres |
For her second album, Ballerini penned or co-penned
more than 200 songs for consideration. Eleven songs made the final cut,
including lead single “Legends” and the title track, which was written with
Forest Glen Whitehead and Hillary Lindsey.
Tennessee native Kelsea Ballerini tries to avoid the sophomore
slump after a debut filled with hits including "Peter Pan,"
"Yeah Boy" and "Love Me Like You Mean It.
(3 Nov 2017) Meghan
Linsey - Bold Like a Lion
13 Tracks/ Time: 44:08 POP/ Country US iTunes - Amazon.com
(3 Nov 2017) Lee
Brice - Lee Brice (Curb)
15 Tracks/ Time: 52:59 Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #4 UK Country iTunes (#78 overall UK
Albums chart)
Brice co-produced his fourth LP, which features 15
tracks including “I Don’t Smoke” (with guitars by Warren Haynes), “Story To
Tell (Little Bird),” (cowritten by Edwin McCain, who also guests on the track),
and the album’s first single “Boy.”
(3 Nov 2017) Jess
Moskaluke - Past the Past (MDM Recordings) CAN
7 Tracks/ Time: 21:50 Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #24 UK Country iTunes (#785 overall
UK Albums chart)
(3 Nov 2017) Johnny
Cash - Unearthed (9-Vinyl LP Box set)
Johnny Cash’s much-acclaimed box set of primarily
unreleased material, Unearthed, is to be reissued as a nine-album vinyl box set
on November 3, 2017. To celebrate the Man in Black’s enduring and influential
legacy, American Recordings and UMe have reconfigured this monolithic
collection for its first-ever vinyl release, spreading Unearthed’s 79 songs over nine high-quality 180-gram vinyl LPs while expanding the
original box's distinctive packaging for the long-playing format.
 |
| Johnny Cash Boxset Click to Enlarge |
The Unearthed vinyl box features a pair of cloth-bound
books housed in an LP-sized black cloth slipcase. One book holds the nine LPs,
while the other is a gorgeous 60-page coffee table book that incorporates
Sylvie Simmons' extensive liner notes, drawn from five days of interviews at
Cash's home in Tennessee, as well as Cash and Rubin's comments on every song on
the set, plus a copious selection of photographs from the recording sessions,
including some of the last photos ever taken of Cash. Unearthed was originally
released as a CD box set by producer Rick Rubin’s American Recordings in
November 2003, two months after the country superstar’s passing.
In addition, after 2000's Classics and 2015's Classics
2, John Conlee is prepping to release Classics 3 on November 17 on his own Rose
Colored Glasses label.
(3 Nov 2017) Jennifer
Hanson - Under the Tree (Jennifer Hanson Music) CHRIS
4 Tracks/ Time: 10:54 Amazon
UK -
UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Her first new music in nine years, Hanson’s foursong Christmas EP includes two self-penned
songs, an arrangement of “What Child Is This” and Jennifer at the age of three
and a half singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Jennifer Hanson came on the scene to critical acclaim
with her self-titled debut album. Her single “Beautiful Goodbye” (2003 Amazon UK) went on to be a top 15
hit, the highest charting debut single by a new female artist for that year.
Solidifying herself as a viable artist in the country music format, recording
for both Capitol Records and Universal South, it has been Hanson’s songwriting
that has led to her continued success in an ever-changing industry. Hanson’s
artistry and songs have garnered ACM, CMT and GRAMMY nominations, as well as
numerous BMI, SESAC and NSAI awards. Collectively, her songs have sold millions
of albums worldwide.
Jennifer Hanson has released a wonderfully retro >> animated music video for the song "Only Thing I Really Need." The feel of the lyric video is intentionally reminiscent of the classic animated Christmas TV specials she watched as a child.
(3 Nov 2017) Kid
Rock - Sweet Southern Sugar (BBR Music Group/ 2017 Top Dog Records)
10 Tracks/ Time: 42:56 Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #3 UK Country iTunes (#47 overall UK
Albums chart)
Rock will hit the road with his "Greatest Show On
Earth Tour," which is set to kick off in Nashville on Friday, January
19th. The tour is also scheduled to make stops in Tulsa, Houston, Atlanta,
Toronto, Cleveland, Chicago, and many more. Tickets and VIP packages will go on
sale via the Live Nation website here the same day as "Sweet Southern
Sugar" is released.
Kid Rock makes his debut for the label, incorporating
country, rap and rock among the 10 songs. This marked the first time that the
Kid has recorded in Music City. "Greatest Show On Earth" and
"Po-Dunk," as well as recent single "Tennessee Mountain
Top" are among the songs.
(3 Nov 2017) Ned
LeDoux - Sagebrush (Powder River/Thirty Tigers)
12 Tracks/ Time: 46:46 Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #25 UK Country iTunes (#791 overall
UK Albums chart)
The debut album was produced by Mac McAnally and
includes eight songs Ned wrote or co-wrote, including “You Can’t Tell Me We
Ain’t Got It All” (the first original song he co-wrote with his dad, the late
Chris LeDoux), plus a remake of his father’s song “This Cowboy Hat,” featuring
Chase Rice.
(3 Nov 2017) Trout
Steak Revival - Spirit to the Sea (Trout Steak Revival)
13 Tracks/ Time: 49:00 Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #147 US Country iTunes (# overall US
Albums chart)
(3 Nov 2017) Amanda
Cook - Deep Water (Mountain Fever Records)
12 Tracks/ Time: 41:01 Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #110 US Country iTunes (# overall US
Albums chart)
(3 Nov 2017) Blitzen
Trapper - Wild and Reckless (2017 Lojinx)
12 Tracks/ Time: 38:11 Rock Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #83 UK Country iTunes
(3 Nov 2017) Sam
Carter - Sam Carter (EP)
4 Tracks/ Time: 14:41 Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #41 US Country iTunes
(3 Nov 2017) Danny
Phegan - From Where I Stand (William
Osland Consulting) AUS
15 Tracks/ Time: 56:33 Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #50 UK Country iTunes (# overall UK
Albums chart)
Lyrical country blended with a modern feel. 15 tracks
of country, country/rock, folk, ballad and blues
Danny Phegan is a well-known Albury identity and
businessman with a big heart and enormous energy. He is a farmer and family
man; a horseman (and fellow 'Longrider' of the long riders guild, having ridden
horse-back 5,500 km's across Australia); a publican; a published author; a
popular singer/songwriter and now recording artist.
There are 15 tracks in total on the album which
include a handful of bonus covers, one of which was recorded with his band
LONGREACH at a live performance.
Danny Phegan is a larger than life character who
typifies the image of a hard working all-rounder Aussie bloke.
(3 Nov 2017) Lucy-May
- Little By Little (Absolute Marketing)
11 Tracks/ Time: 37:49
Amazon UK (MP3) - Amazon UK (CD) - UK iTunes - Amazon.com - HMV (Physical copies
in HMV)
Debut Fri 3 Nov: #84 UK Country iTunes
BLUEGRASS NEWS
(3 Nov 2017) IB:
International Bluegrass November 2017
Exhilaration: the 28th Annual IBMA Awards; Every Shade
of Bluegrass on Second Ballot; Rhiannon Giddens' Keynote Address: 54 Page Feature on line
CANADIAN NEWS
(30 Oct 2017) Genevieve Fisher "Have
Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
For her first Christmas release, Genevieve selects the
all time classic, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. This was recorded at
Barrytone Studios, the track combines Genevieve's smooth, silky vocal
performance – iTunes.ca
(31 Oct 2017) Erin Hill “Easy”
Born and raised in small town Saskatchewan, Erin Hill
developed a love for music at an early age. Through the years Erin spent her
time singing, playing guitar and perfecting her songwriting to develop her
unique style and brand she can call her own. With country, pop and folk
influences, Erin Hill is an artist who is true to her craft and is now breaking
out in 2017 as the female artist to watch. The album is written entirely by
Hill and shows the depth and maturity of this artist. Be sure to watch out for
her this year!
(1 Nov 2017) Leah Belle "Time
For Some Country"
(1 Nov 2017) Alecia Aichelle "Get Gone"
ACMA nominated country artist, Alecia Aichelle, is
captivating, passionate, and driven. Informed she would never sing again after
complications with throat surgery a few years ago, Alecia illustrated true
resilience and fought all odds for a miraculous recovery. After releasing three singles to radio off
her debut full-length album, Golden. Songwriting and recording new music in
Nashville. "GET GONE", Alecia's 4th
single to radio, is fun and feisty with the perfect combination of both
class and sass. Written solely by Alecia, Get Gone packs a punch with its
dynamic lyrics and upbeat tempo.
(3 Nov 2017) Heather Rankin "Wrap
It Up" (Christmas Single)
Growing up in a large family, in the close-knit
community of Mabou on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, Christmas for Heather
Rankin was a joyous, fun filled affair with good food, lots of music and the
warmth of family and friends. While the meaning of Christmas and the ways of
celebrating it have changed over the years, those essential ideas of
togetherness, peace and remembrance have remained. And they are the emotional
impetus behind "Imagine", Heather Rankin's first Christmas album.
"Imagine" comes on the heels of her first solo record, having
recently embarked on her new artistic journey after twenty-five years as a
member of Canada's beloved Rankin Family.
NEWS
(3 Nov 2017) Kim Richey is
back with a new single! (UK iTunes) “Hey
there! Here’s a new song produced by Brad Jones - a duet with one of my
favorite writing partners, your friend and mine...Mando Saenz! The Get Together." - Kim Richey
AWARDS
(3 Nov 2017) News broke that the Country Music Association had lifted restrictions
set on media ahead of next week's #CMAAwards red carpet:
Several artists openly criticized or mocked the new
guidelines, most notably CMA Awards co-host Brad Paisley, who said, "I'm
sure the CMA will do the right thing and rescind these ridiculous and unfair
press guidelines. In 3...2....1....."."
To no one’s surprise, the Route 91 Harvest tragedy in Las Vegas was an ever-present backdrop
to the press conference. “Art is important in these times, especially art that
allows you to process,”
Paisley said. “If we are at our best Wednesday night,
we are going to be a therapy session. We are going to be a chance to get
together and mourn, celebrate the good things and lift one another up.
That’s why it’s important to watch.”
Asked about
finding a balance with lighter material, Carrie Underwood added,
“There’s a lot to talk about, it’s just
the way in which we talk about it that’s been the challenge. We’re not short of
news, we’re just trying to find our way on how to deliver. It’s a balance. I
hope we get it all right.”
“We won’t,”
Paisley joked. “If you ever go to a memorial service, you will hear a lot of
laughter because it’s a place you tell stories. This isn’t a memorial service
this year, but there is an aspect of the show that has to memorialize some things.
In some ways, the comedy aspect of what we’ve written has come a little easier.
It’s just how to put that in the right place in the show.”
* UPDATE *
Brad Paisley Backstage during Rehearsals
at the CMA Awards >> Vimeo
Kelsea Ballerini Backstage during Rehearsals
at the CMA Awards >> Vimeo
TV
(4 Nov 2017) The Nashville
TV drama will feature several
fresh new faces when the show returns for its sixth season. CMT has revealed
the five new actors who will join the cast in 2018.
Josh Stamberg, Jake Etheridge, Rainee Lyleson, Nic
Luken and Dylan Arnold will join the cast of the beloved CMT show for the upcoming season, heightening some of the ongoing
storylines with main characters and also bringing new drama and intrigue to
Nashville. Stamberg is a veteran of The Affair, Parenthood and more. According
to CMT's announcement, he comes to the show in the recurring role of Darius,
described as "an extremely charismatic founder of a self-actualization
movement that has transformed many lives. Read more at Taste Of Country
BABY NEWS
(2 Nov 2017) Country music star Chris and Morgane Stapleton are expecting
twins, according to a post
on Morgane's Instagram account.
Her post read, “14 years, 2 babies, & 2 more on
the way. Happy 10 year anniversary babe! You make my whole world go round.”
The pair were married in 2007 and already have two
kids, a son and a daughter. They've chosen to not to publicly reveal the names
of their children.
(4 Nov 2017) Clay Walker and
his wife, Jessica, have welcomed their fourth
child, a son named Ezra Stephen
Walker.
Walker revealed the news via social media on Friday
(Nov. 3), writing, "Our newest angel!! Ezra Stephen Walker has arrived! He
and Mama are healthy and home:) Blessed...thank you for your prayers
always."
The couple revealed the pregnancy when they walked the
red carpet at the ACM Awards on April 2.
PRESS RELEASES
(30 Oct 2017) SESAC, the only music rights organization in the
U.S., will honor GRAMMY™ award-winning superstar and music icon Kenny Rogers with the SESAC
Legacy Award at its Nashville Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, it was
announced by John Josephson, Chairman and CEO of SESAC Holdings, Inc.
Rogers, a SESAC affiliate and one of the most
highly-esteemed performers in country music, will receive the SESAC Legacy
Award in recognition of his many outstanding contributions to the creative
arts. The annual awards show, which celebrates the successes of SESAC's
songwriters and publishers, will be held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and
Museum in downtown Nashville.
(1 Nov 2017) The
Christmas 4 Kids organization (Website) announced the lineup for
its 2017 Ryman Auditorium concert,
set for Monday, November 20 at 7:00 PM in Nashville. Hunter Hayes will headline this year's show with Brett Young, John Berry, Halfway to
Hazard, and Lindsay Ell also
scheduled to perform. This year marks the organization's 35th anniversary.
"We are so thankful for all of these great
artists who have all volunteered to donate their time and talent to help bring
a better Christmas to so many children in need," said Christmas 4 Kids
President Linda O'Connell. "This year, Christmas 4 Kids is celebrating its
35th anniversary so this concert will be extra special!"
ARTICLES
(3 Nov 2017) Cacketts Cackling: Off the Record with Alan Cackett – November 2017
The November Off The Record with Alan Cackett column was
published in Music Republic Magazine
In this hard-hitting column he raises the issue of high ticket prices and the growing disparity between the money the big
stars are paid and the performers near the bottom of the pile, many of whom
are increasingly finding it difficult to make a living with their music. The
‘greed’ of the big stars and also the major promoters is now, in his my view,
quite immoral. Selling out huge arenas a year in advance, and sitting on the
their fans hard-earned cash is just not acceptable. What is this world coming to
… a greedy minority taking full advantage, and we’re helpless to do anything
about. Do take the time to read the column and let me have your comments and
feedback…Read More
BOOKS
Charlie
Daniels - Never Look At The Empty Seats: A Memoir
Kindle, Audio CD,
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
(October 24, 2017)
The Incredible Story of a
Country Music Legend
Few artists have left a
more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Charlie Daniels.
Readers will experience a
soft, personal side of Charlie Daniels that has never before been documented.
In his own words, he presents the path from his post-depression childhood to
performing for millions as one of the most successful country acts of all time
and what he has learned along the way. The book also includes insights into the
many musicians that orbited Charlie’s world, including Elvis Presley, Bob
Dylan, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette and many more.
A tale of hard work,
musical discovery, and faith, Charlie Daniels’s journey has been one of a kind.
Equal parts rebel-rouser and apostle, it’s no small coincidence he launched his
career by beating the Devil with a fiddle in hand. I love this man, the things
he stands for, and his music. What a story. - Brad Paisley, Grammy Award-Winning Singer and Songwriter.
WATCH
(29 Oct 2017) Walker Hayes "Halloween"
feat. Nicolle Galyon (Walker Hayes, Nicolle Galyon) >> YouTube (published
on Oct 6, 2017; 50K views)
Monument Records’ Walker Hayes will release boom., his
long-awaited, full-length studio album, on Friday, Dec. 8. Hayes, who wrote or
co-wrote every song on the 10-track album.
COUNTRY FASHION
(4 Nov 2017) Kelsea Ballerini attended
the Nickelodeon Halo Awards at Pier
36 in New York City. November 4th, 2017.
She was wearing Victoria Hayes Spring/Summer 2018 (Not available online) and Aldo Stessy Pumps ($80.00)
She was wearing Victoria Hayes Spring/Summer 2018 (Not available online) and Aldo Stessy Pumps ($80.00)
COUNTRY GOSSIP
(31 Oct 2017) Florida
Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard knows
how to show a pregnant woman a good time - he has bought his wife a vintage
truck as a push present.
The singer took to Instagram over the
weekend and shared photos of the happy couple in her new vehicle, which just
happens to be the first car they drove as a married couple.
"So flipping thoughtful he is... surprising me
with the first car we drove away in as a married couple," Hayley captioned
one photo of herself seated next to the country star in the truck.
Hubbard also shared a photo showing his wife standing
beside the blue truck on their property, and added: "Sunday night date
night in our date night truck."
The couple recently revealed it is expecting a baby in
December, and Tyler and Hayley recently celebrated the impending birth at a
baby shower, which featured guests like Jason Aldean's pregnant wife, Brittany,
who shared an Instagram photo of herself and Hayley touching their baby bumps
together.
"Celebrating BABY GIRL @hayley_hubbard &
@thubbmusic," she wrote. "I have a feeling our little man is going to
have a lifelong crush."
(3 Nov 2017) Webster PR now known as Westby Public Relations
have lost most of their Clients!
A day after a former client issued online allegations
of sexual misconduct and assault by Webster Public Relations
Founder Kirt
Webster, the company is rebranding as Westby Public Relations under the direction of Webster PR executive
Jeremy Westby. A statement from the
company reads, "Earlier today, it
was mistakenly posted on the Webster Public Relations' website that the firm
has been closed”.
Webster PR has run into a lot of trouble with Kirk
Webster being accused of sexual assault. This apparently happened back in 2008.
Several employees have now
come forward
with complaints as well. This could be the end of this PR company as artists
drop this company as their representatives.
Webster Public Relations will continue operating - but
under the name Westby Public Relations while Kirt Webster takes some time away
from the business to focus on combating the egregious and untrue allegations
made against him. The company's work on behalf of its clients will continue
under the leadership of Jeremy Westby, Kirt's longstanding colleague." The
rebranding follows social media posts from Austin Rick and multiple media
reports over the last 24 hours.
Several artists, including Dolly Parton and Kenny
Rogers, have apparently dropped Webster Public Relations as their agency
after the company's founder Kirt Webster was accused by a former artist of
sexual assault.
Artists who have been removed from the site - as of
11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2 - since the allegations were reported are Aaron
Lewis, Big & Rich, Bill Anderson, Billy Ray Cyrus, Crystal Gayle, Cyndi
Lauper, Deborah Allen, Denny Strickland, Dolly Parton, Don McLean, Gene Watson,
Hank Williams Jr., Jeannie Seely, Jimmy Fortune, John Anderson, John Conlee,
Johnny Lee, KC and the Sunshine Band, Kenny G, Kid Rock, Keifer Sutherland,
Lacy J. Dalton, Lee Greenwood, Leroy Van Dyke, Locash, Lucas Hoge, Meat Loaf,
Moe Bandy, Olivia Lane, Rodney Carrington, Roy Clark, Sam Moore, Sylvia, Tanya
Tucker, The Judds, The Oak Ridge Boys, Tim Rushlow, Wanda Jackson and William
Michael Morgan.
Austin Rick claimed he was drugged and sexually
assaulted. Rick said Webster offered him publicity opportunities and magazine
coverage in exchange for the sexual acts.
Rick claims Webster paid him to stay quiet and
threatened he would make it so nobody in the country music industry ever heard
his name again.
At the time, Rick was an aspiring country music artist
who opened for big names and once performed at the Grand Ole Opry.
Webster has not been charged with a crime, and one
legal analyst said it's unlikely he could face charges stemming from Rick's
allegations.
"The question is what can the law do about this
after so many years?" said defense attorney David Raybin.
Kid Rock is never one to remain quiet, even in a controversial
situation. And, true to form, the singer is came forth with an opinion on his
former publicist, Kirt Webster, who
is in the middle of a swirl of sexual harassment allegations. According to the
Detroit News, the Michigan native minced no words regarding Webster. “I hope to
god this [expletive] he is being accused of is not true as he has been nothing
but a good friend to me,” he wrote in an email to Bob Lefsetz, whose popular
Lefsetz Letter newsletter is read by many entertainment industry professionals.
“But if it comes to light that it is, I will be the first to cut the head off
the snake.”
(4 Nov 2017) Meghan Linsey urges country stars to point
out Nashville predators
Outspoken singer Meghan
Linsey urged her fellow country stars to speak out about abuse and
harassment and shine a light on the seedy side of Nashville, Tennessee.
Last year (2016) Linsey took to Facebook and revealed
she had been groped by "a very powerful man in the music business"
who then threatened to end her career when she spurned his unwanted attention,
and she has been watching movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's fall from grace with
interest after he was accused by countless actresses of sexual assault and
harassment.
And she now thinks it's high time for country music's
stars to take aim at the industry's predators.
"It (initial report of the groping) was very
mixed reviews a year ago, and part of that was the reason I didn’t come out
with the name (of my attacker)," she told BuzzFeed News.
Linsey is still refusing to name names, but she is
hoping more women come forward with sordid tales of life behind the scenes.
"I hope that people start to open their eyes to
it and see what’s going on," she says. "Country music is so hush-hush
about everything. It’s so much harder to speak out."
She insists there are sexual predators throughout
country music, and she took aim at disgraced publicist Kirt Webster, who has
lost clients like Kid Rock this week after another former client went public
with allegations suggesting Webster molested and sexually assaulted him.
Webster denied the allegations.
"When you have a person like that, who everybody
kind of knows, and nobody says anything...," Linsey adds, "people do
dismiss it, and they go, 'Well, he’s so important, he works with all these
people'. I hope that people start to open their eyes to it and see what’s going
on... This business is so small. It’s such a small town."
(4 Nov 2017) Elle King proud of herself for overcoming
'tough' divorce
Singer Elle King overcame her "tough"
marriage split by throwing herself into her music and ridding her life of bad people.
The Ex's & Oh's star announced she had split from
her husband Andrew Ferguson on Instagram in May (17), and in the same post,
revealed the couple had actually been married for over a year, after secretly
tying the knot just three weeks into its romance.
"My heart is broken. My soul aches. I am
lost," she added. "He is the greatest love of my life. He is my best
friend. As we separate, and attempt to find our footing through life, all I can
hope for us is that we both find happiness within ourselves."
After struggling with a bout of depression, the
28-year-old bounced back by striking up a romance with rocker Josh Logan in
September (17), and Elle admits she is "proud" of how far she's come
from the dark days she suffered in the immediate aftermath of her marital
breakdown.
"I pulled myself out of a really, really, really
tough place," she told People magazine.
"I'm really proud of myself."
Elle credits her newfound happiness to re-evaluating
her priorities and the people in her life.
"I don't want to say it's the best place I've
ever been because there's always room to go higher - or get higher," she
joked. "I am having a lot of fun. I do this thing, I call it protecting my
joy, and there's like a 10-foot radius around me that's like a bum-out-free
zone. I took a lot of things out of my life that were dead weight, and I just
have a different outlook; I just surround myself with better people and just make
music all the time. It's just so great; it's awesome."
PHOTO
(30 Oct 2017) Chocolat: Marro/In2une's Fiona Culley stops by CMT
to deliver a performance and British
chocolates.
Pictured (l-r) are the label's Jamice Jennings, CMT's Kaitlyn Russell, Hannah Moy and Stacey Cato, Culley and CMT's Jen Danielson, Leeanne Lisk and Jen Morrison
(1 Nov 2017) Billboard’s ‘You Should Know’ country duo
Smithfield
paid tribute to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers at the Opry on Halloween night. Jennifer Fielder and Trey Smith also sang the
infamous duet, "Islands in the Stream."
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays in the week ahead
November 6: Doug Sahm - (1941; died Nov 18, 1999 (aged 58), Eamon McCann (1955), the late Guy Clark (1941; died May 17, 2016
(aged 74), the late Glenn Frey (Eagles;
died Jan 18, 2016 (aged 67) (1946), Stonewall
Jackson (1932)
November 8: the late Patti Page (1927; died Jan 1, 2013 (aged 85), Bonnie Raitt (1949), Susie
Luchsinger McEntire (1957), Bucky
Covington (1977), Lauren
Alaina (1994)
November 9: Liv Austen (UK)
November 10: Donna Fargo (1945), Chris
Cagle (1968), Miranda Lambert
(1983)
November 11: Narvel Felts (1938), Dave
Alvin (1955)
November 12: the late Jo Stafford (1920; died July 16, 2008 (aged 90), Barbara Fairchild (1950)
November 12: the late Jo Stafford (1920; died July 16, 2008 (aged 90), Barbara Fairchild (1950)
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