Country
Bites News snippets November 27, 2017 – December 3, 2017
UK & Irish
News, UK Chart News, Album Releases, Canadian News, Country News (Awards, TV,
Babies), Music News, Press Releases, Gossip, Birthdays, Links to Articles,
Magazines & Videos.
SOURCES / LINKS shown
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
On the BBC Radio 2 Playlist for the week commencing Saturday 2nd December 2017
A Playlist:
Gwen Stefani - Like Christmas feat. Blake Shelton added to the
"A" Playlist
Taylor Swift - Gorgeous added to the "A"
Playlist
B Playlist:
Andy Brown - Landslide (feat. Crissie Rhodes)
Shania Twain - Who's Gonna Be Your Girl added to the
"B" Playlist
C Playlist:
Maren Morris - 80s Mercedes
(27 Nov 2017) CAMBRIDGE FOLK
FESTIVAL IS BACK FOR 2018
TICKETS ON GENERAL SALE 10AM FRIDAY 1 DECEMBER 2017
 |
| CLICK to Enlarge |
Back for 2018, Cambridge Folk
Festival celebrates over five decades of presenting the most exciting
and critically acclaimed talent in the genre. With the first wave of eclectic
names to be announced in the coming weeks, tickets went on general sale Friday
1 December at 10am available from www.cambridgefolkfestival.co.uk
Ticket information: Full Festival ticket: £175.50; Day tickets: £29 (Thu), £62 (Fri), £72.50 (Sat), £72.50(Sun).
The UK’s most famous folk festival once again returns to its
iconic home and the picturesque grounds of Cherry
Hinton Hall between 2-5 August, 2018 for four days of outstanding music
from legendary acts and breakthrough artists alike.
Cambridge Folk Festival is very proud to announce a historic
twinning with the legendary Newport Folk
Festival. This partnership will herald the start of a new transatlantic
artistic relationship that will allow both festivals to share ideas,
experiences and indeed artists between these two festivals that have grown up
together since the 1960s.
Hailing from North Carolina, this year’s guest curator is
Grammy Award winning songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and founding member
of Carolina Chocolate Drops, Rhiannon Giddens. Fresh
from her recent UK tour, Rhiannon is set to bring her vast knowledge of the
most cutting-edge talent and respected musicians on the scene to the 2018 line up
(includes Patti Smith, John Prine, Janis Ian, Rosanne Cash, Kate Rusby &
Friends, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Eric Bibb, Ron Block and Eliza Cathy & The
Wayward Band)
(27 Nov 2017) Hannah Johnson is
to release her second single Morning Cocktail 4:01 (Hannah
Johnson/Sarah Sharp) on the promotional December
Hotdisc #228. It was recorded at The Ameripolitan Studios, Austin, TX in December
2016. See Lyric
Video
Press Release
At a time when it is fashionably cool to be Americana and dressing vintage is de rigueur”, it is easy to feel tired of the clichés around the modern country scene. Much of the music coming out of Nashville today seems to be either watered down country pop, or stylistically affected Americana with chanted choruses and stomping bass drums. However, there is also a reaction against these extreme ends of the industry machine and artists like Hannah Johnson are approaching their music with a refreshing honesty and commitment to the core principles of ‘old’ country music, celebrating the heritage and history rather than diluting it. ‘Morning Cocktail’, the second single from Hannah’s debut album ‘Shaken’ perfectly demonstrates how this artist is seeking to break the current mould by keeping her sound authentic.
‘Morning Cocktail’ is a heartbreaking
waltz written by Hannah Johnson/Sarah Sharp, and features the remarkably
talented Emily Gimble (granddaughter of the late, great Jonny Gimble) on
piano/harmony vocals. Lamenting loss, the song explores the complex emotions of
unrequited love and a heartbreak that is soothed by the numbing effects of
alcohol: two themes arguably at the very heart of traditional country music.
Hannah has conscientiously shunned big production on this track, opting for a
more sophisticated and grittier sound that forces emphasis upon the poetry of
her lyrics. Keeping true to her motto “if it breaks my heart, then I’m
interested Hannah continues to demonstrate that there is much room for a more
authentic sound within the modern country music genre.
Dan + Shay London was LOUD:
London was LOUD. pic.twitter.com/8Xt4cWTkuC— Dan Smyers (@dansmyers) 29 November 2017
(30 Nov 2017) Laura Oakes announced (>> Facebook video) 12 busks of Christmas (Dec 1 - Dec 12) from a different UK city every day starting from Sheffield train station at 1pm and raising money for Youth Music
It's a grassroots effort to showcase singers and singer-songwriters moving to Nashville to pursue their dreams of making it in the music industry. The first album released Friday (Nov 24) via Tunecore titled Nashville Dreamin' Country Volume One. There are 11 songs on it, 10 original and 1 not original.
The goal is to produce multiple albums in multiple genres over time showcasing new artists. Their next album will be either pop or worship. Then late next year do Country Volume Two. Further info: nashvilledreamin.com/music
UK CHART NEWS
Official UK Top
100 Singles Chart (Week Ending 7 December 2017)
1 December 2017 - 6 December 2017
After initially looking likely to lose pole position, Camila Cabello's Havana recovered to eke
out a fifth week at No.1 on sales of 41,438 (including 29,209 from
sales-equivalent streams), leaving Rita Ora – who seemed likely to claim the
fifth No.1 of her career – in second place for the third straight week with
Anywhere (40,414 sales).
Hailee Steinfeld & Alesso feat. Florida Georgia Line was
up 60-44 (7,489 sales).
Official UK Top
100 Albums Chart
(Week Ending 7 December 2017)
1 December 2017 - 6 December 2017
Seven weeks after ‘our kid’ Liam Gallagher scored his first No.1 solo album with AS YOU WERE, Noel Gallagher is flying
high with his third, Who Built The Moon?
The tide may be turning, however, as Who Built The
Moon?’s introductory sales of 77,853 (including 4,835 from sales-equivalent
streams and 12,809 copies on vinyl) are 24.16% below the 102,660 copies that
Liam's As You Were sold on debut at No.1 in October. Who Built The Moon? also
has a smaller first week sale than Noel's previous solo albums – Noel
Gallagher's High Flying Birds sold 122,530 copies when storming to No.1 in
2011, while Chasing Yesterday sold 89,110 copies on arrival in 2015. The first
album has to-date sales of 835,043, while Chasing Yesterday has sold 311,714
copies.
Taylor Swift with REPUTATION
fell 8-12 with 16,890 sales (3-week
total 120,258).
Also securing his second chart album of the year is Daniel O'Donnell whose Christmas
With CD/DVD set – recorded with guests in Dublin last December – opened at No.19 (13,218 sales). It is the
55-year-old Irish country/MOR crooner's 36th Top 40 album and 40th Top 75
album. O'Donnell has charted for an unprecedented 30 years in a row since his
1988 debut.
Strictly Come Dancing hoofer Anton Du Beke is the latest TV star to try his hand as a recording
artist. The 51-year-old's debut album, FROM THE TOP, consisting of tried and
tested oldies, made a bow at No.21
(10,635 sales), and follows recent chart incursions from the likes of Jason
Manford, Bradley Walsh, Shane Richie and Sheridan Smith.
While 2011 X Factor winners Little Mix's Glory Days
returned to the Top 10, 2016 winner Matt
Terry is having a torrid time with his debut album – with the ill-advised
title of TROUBLE – hitting just
that, and making a tepid debut at No.29
(6,443 sales). Of 12 previous winners of The X Factor, dating back to Steve
Brookstein in 2004, 11 made the Top 10 with their debut albums, five of them
reaching No.1. Terry's immediate predecessor, Louisa Johnson, is the odd one
out – nearly two years after she won the competition, her debut album has yet
to surface
EastEnders star Shane Richie with
A Country Soul fell off the top 100 from No.95
Official UK
Country Album Top 20 (Week Ending 7 December 2017)
1 December 2017 - 6 December 2017
Shane Richie with A COUNTRY SOUL held at #1 (3 weeks;
#1 peak)
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill with THE REST OF OUR LIFE held at #2 (2
weeks; #2 peak)
Glen Campbell with ADIOS held at #3 (25 weeks; #1 peak)
Margo Price with ALL AMERICAN MADE rose 5-4 (6 weeks;
#1 peak)
Lady Antebellum with HEART BREAK rose 7-5 (25 weeks; #2
peak)
Kelsea Ballerini with UNAPOLOGETICALLY fell 4-6 (4 weeks;
#2 peak)
Brothers Osborne with PAWN SHOP fell 6-7 (26 weeks; #5
peak)
Chris Stapleton with FROM A ROOM -Vol 1 pushed 11-8 (30
weeks; #1 peak)
Cadillac Three with LEGACY held at #9 (14 weeks; #2 peak)
Lucinda Williams with THIS SWEET OLD WORLD fell 8-10 (6
weeks; #2 peak)
Outside the Top 10
Philippa Hanna with COME BACK FIGHTING made a debut at
#11
Darius Rucker with WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME held at #12 (6
weeks; #4 peak)
Official
Americana Albums Chart Top 40 (Week Ending 7 December 2017)
1 December 2017 - 6 December 2017
This Week/ Last Week/ Title/
Artist
1 NEW Songbook Frank
Turner [Tagged Alt] #36 Official Album Chart
2 1 Carry Fire Robert
Plant # Official Album Chart
3 2 A Deeper Understanding War On Drugs [Tagged Alt]
4 3 Roll With The Punches Van Morrison [Tagged Blues]
5 6 Lotta Sea Lice Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile [Tagged Alternative]
6 4 Life Love Flesh Blood Imelda May [Tagged Singer/Songwriter]
7 5 Adios Glen
Campbell [Tagged Country]
8 8 Crack-up Fleet
Foxes [Tagged Alt]
9 9 Hitchhiker Neil
Young [Tagged Rock]
10 NEW I Knew You When Bob Seger [Tagged Rock]
Outside The Top 10
11 NEW Greatest Gift Sufjan Stevens [Tagged Alt]
12 10 A/B Kaleo
[Tagged Alt]
18 NEW Belle Of The West Samantha Fish [Tagged Blues]
22 7 If All I Was Was Black Mavis Staples [Tagged R&B/Soul]
UK Country
iTunes Chart
December 3, 2017 14:00
Albums
1. Chris
Stapleton - From A Room, Vol. 2 (#43 overall UK Albums chart) | Debut Fri 1
Dec: #1 UK Country iTunes Chart (#14 overall UK Album chart),
2. Chris
Stapleton - From A Room, Vol. 1 (#282 overall UK Albums chart)
3. Tim McGraw
& Faith Hill - The Rest of Our Life (#402 overall UK Albums chart)
4. Various
Artists - The Country Album (#440 overall UK Albums chart)
5. Chris
Stapleton - Traveller (#459 overall UK Albums chart)
6. Taylor Swift
- Red (#13 overall UK Albums chart)
7. Johnny Cash
- The Legend Of Johnny Cash (#527 overall UK Albums chart)
8. Johnny Cash
- The Best Of Johnny Cash (#532 overall UK Albums chart)
9. Luke Combs
- This One's For You (#605 overall UK Albums chart)
10. Lady
Antebellum - Need You Now (#654 overall UK Albums chart)
Outside the Top 10
13. Shania
Twain - Now (Deluxe) (#757 overall UK Albums chart)
17. Danielle
Bradbery - I Don't Believe We've Met (#817 overall UK Albums chart) | Debut
Fri 1 Dec: #2 UK Country iTunes Chart (#95 overall UK Album chart),
18. Maisie
Johnson - Sixteen (EP) (#836 overall UK Albums chart)
22. Kelsea
Ballerini - Unapologetically (#1135 overall UK Albums chart)
23. Barry Kirwan
- Moments (#1202 overall UK Albums chart)
Debuts December 1, 2017:
Niamh McGlinchey - At Long Last #4 UK Country iTunes Chart
(#374 overall UK Album chart) Nov 30
Barry Kirwan - Barry Kirwan Moments #3 UK Country
iTunes Chart (#203 overall UK Album chart)
Jess and the Bandits - Always Christmas Eve (EP) #10 UK Country
iTunes Chart (#488 overall UK Album chart), then #4 peak (#295 overall)
Maisie Johnson - Sixteen (EP) #11 UK Country iTunes Chart
(#1332 overall UK Album chart), #4 peak (#269 overall)
UK Country
iTunes Chart
December 3, 2017 14:00
Songs
1. Lady
Antebellum - Need You Now (#322 overall UK Singles chart)
2. John Denver
- Take Me Home, Country Roads (#389 overall UK Singles chart)
3. Mark W.
Georgsson - Dance (Around the Fake Fir Tree) (#503 overall UK Singles
chart)
4. Dolly Parton
& Kenny Rogers - Islands In The Stream (#654 overall UK Singles chart)
5. Johnny Cash
- Hurt (#667 overall UK Singles chart)
6. Chris
Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey (#671 overall UK Singles chart)
7. Luke Combs
- When It Rains It Pours (#975 overall UK Singles chart)
8. Dolly Parton
- Jolene (#1032 overall UK Singles chart)
9. Lady
Antebellum - Need You Now (#1284 overall UK Singles chart) From NOW That's
What I Call Country
10. Chris
Stapleton - Millionaire (#1301 overall UK Singles chart)
Outside The Top 10
12. Taylor
Swift - Love Story (#1323 overall UK Singles chart)
13. Megan
McKenna - High Heeled Shoes (#1450 overall UK Singles chart)
Debuts December 1, 2017:
Nathan Carter - Christmas To Me #2 UK Country iTunes
Singles Chart (#383 overall UK Album chart)
Paul McClure - Baby That's You #25 UK Country iTunes
Singles Chart (#1281 overall UK Album chart)
Hannah White - In It for Love #64 UK Country iTunes
Chart, then #50
Becky Lawrence - What It Takes #48 UK Country iTunes
Chart
UK COUNTRY
ALBUM RELEASES
For a full listing of 2017 Country/Alt/ Americana albums
forthcoming and past releases PLEASE check out our Country Music Store Page
(27 Nov 2017) Nathan
Carter - Christmas To Me (Single; Sharpe Music) UK
/ CHRIS
1 Tracks/ Time: 3:47 UK iTunes
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #2 UK Country iTunes Singles Chart
(#383 overall UK Album chart), then #3
(1 Dec 2017) Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volume 2. (Mercury Nashville)
9 Tracks/ Time: 32:19 Amazon UK -
UK
iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #1 UK Country iTunes Chart (#14
overall UK Album chart), Sat Dec 2: #1 (#29 overall)
Once again teaming with producer Dave Cobb, Stapleton
titled his new album after its recording site, Nashville’s historic RCA Studio
A. He wrote seven of the nine songs, including “Midnight Train to Memphis”
and “Tryin’
to Untangle My Mind.” The opening track “Millionaire” was written
by Kevin Welch, and Homer Banks and Lester Snell’s “Friendship” was
previously recorded by Pops Staples.
(1 Dec 2017) Danielle Bradbery - I Don’t Believe We’ve Met (BMLG Records)
10 Tracks/ Time: 33:29 Amazon UK -
UK
iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #2 UK Country iTunes Chart (#95
overall UK Album chart), Sat Dec 2: #4 (#329 overall), then #5 (#411 overall),
then #8 (#457 overall), Sun Dec 3: #9 (#612)
Bradbery’s 10-song sophomore album—the follow-up to her 2013 self-titled debut—features seven songs she co-wrote, including lead single “Sway.” Additional contributing songwriters include Thomas Rhett, Jaren Johnston, Rhett Akins, Nicolle Galyon, Emily Weisband and Heather Morgan.
Bradbery’s 10-song sophomore album—the follow-up to her 2013 self-titled debut—features seven songs she co-wrote, including lead single “Sway.” Additional contributing songwriters include Thomas Rhett, Jaren Johnston, Rhett Akins, Nicolle Galyon, Emily Weisband and Heather Morgan.
In Case You Missed it: BMLGR's Danielle Bradbery
performed "Worth It" on NBC-TV's The Voice (Dec 5). Watch here.
(30 Nov 2017) Niamh
McGlinchey - At Long Last (2017 Niamh McGlinchey) IRE
Debut Nov 30: #4 UK Country iTunes Chart (#374 overall
UK Album chart), Fri Dec 1: #17
(1 Dec 2017) Barry
Kirwan - Barry Kirwan Moments (2017 Rosette Records) IRE
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #3 UK Country iTunes Chart (#203
overall UK Album chart), Sat Dec 2: #25 (#1129 overall UK Album chart), Sun Dec
3: #35
(1 Dec 2017) Jess
and the Bandits - Always Christmas Eve (EP) (After Midnight Girl
Entertainment LLC) CHRIS
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #10 UK Country iTunes Chart (#488
overall UK Album chart), then #4 (#295 overall), then #6 (#306 overall), Sat
Dec 2: #14 (#775 overall), #18 (#827 overall), Sun Dec 3
(1 Dec 2018) Katie
Garibaldi - Home Sweet Christmas (2017 Katie Garibaldi) Christmas/ Holiday
12 Tracks/ Time: 43:02 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com - Bandcamp
Katie Garibaldi's Home Sweet Christmas features a
collection of original Christmas songs that embrace Garibaldi’s operatic vocal
prowess and soulful folky affection, but also songs that branch out into
traditional country and even gospel atmosphere.
(1 Dec 2017) Troubadour
77 - Selma Avenue (2017 Transfer Records)
11 Tracks/ Time: 55:51 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Troubadour77 is a 5-piece band featuring founding
members Anna Wilson & Monty Powell that pays homage to the 70s Troubadour
era with original songs.
Anna Wilson (Lead Vocals / Piano / Acoustic Guitar),
Monty Powell (Electric Guitar / Vocals), Austin Weyand (Acoustic & Electric
Guitars / Vocals), Kassie Weyand (Bass / Vocals), Nathan Chappell (Drums).
Home Town: Salt Lake City.
Troubadour 77 is a Utah country-rock band with a
pedigree that reaches to Los Angeles, Wyoming and Nashville.
Lead vocalist, pianist and acoustic guitarist Anna
Wilson is a renowned country-jazz singer who has written songs for Lady
Antebellum (“If I Knew Then”), Suzy Bogguss (“The Bus Ride” - Gary Burr / Matt
Rollings / Anna Wilson), Lee Ann Womack (“When You Gonna Run to Me” - Monty
Powell / Jimmie Lee Sloas / Anna Wilson) and Reba McEntire.
Her husband Monte Powell, who plays electric guitars
in the band has written songs for various artists including Keith Urban.
Acoustic and electric guitarist Austin Weyand, who is
married to the band's bassist Kassie Weyland, is the 2014 Wyoming Fingerstyle
guitar champion and drummer Nathan Chappell is a world-class cajone player.
Selma Avenue is a little street just off Hollywood
Boulevard where a great independent publishing house and recording studio used
to be. It was known as Criterion Music Corporation, and its doors opened in
1950 with Mickey Goldsen at the helm. Read more Inlays | Website – Facebook (1,300)
(1 Dec 2017) Maisie
Johnson - Sixteen (EP) UK
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #11 UK Country iTunes Chart (#1332
overall UK Album chart), then #9 (#468 overall), then #6 (#328 overall), then
#4 (#269 overall), Sat Dec 2: #5 (#333 overall), then #4 (#362 overall) | Sun
Dec 3: #10 (#620)
UK country/folk singer-songwriter Facebook (75 followers) Twitter (304 Followers) Instagram (746 Followers)
(1 Dec 2017) Hans
Chew - Open Sea (2017 At The Helm Records)
6 Tracks/ Time: Americana Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #32 UK Country iTunes Chart (#1325
overall UK Album chart)
(1 Dec 2017) The
Blake Camp Band - Volume 1 (2017 The Blake Camp Band)
10 Tracks/ Time: 38:10 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #90 US Country iTunes Chart
(1 Dec 2017) Emily
Reeves - Tequila + War (2017 Smith & Supply)
7 Tracks/ Time: 26:15 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #90 US Country iTunes Chart
(1 Dec 2017) Calhoun
& Hosier - Made in America (2017 Redneckin Records)
7 Tracks/ Time: 23:31 Country/ Hip-Hop & Rap Amazon
UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Debut Fri 8 Dec: #14 US Country iTunes Chart
(1 Dec 2017) Becky
Lawrence - What It Takes (2017 Becky Lawrence and Puzzlemaker Studios Ltd) UK
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #48 UK Country iTunes Chart, then #57
(1 Dec 2017) Ashley
Campbell - A New Year (Single; 2017 Humphead)
(1 Dec 2017) Jarrod
Dickenson – Christmas Time In The City (2 track single and video; Decca
Records)
(1 Dec 2017) Paul
McClure - Baby That's You (Single; 2017 Paul McClure)
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #25 UK Country iTunes Singles Chart
(#1281 overall UK Album chart), then #31
(1 Dec 2017) Pandy
Walshe - Family Christmas (Single; 2017 Pandy Walshe) IRE
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #36 UK Country iTunes Singles Chart,
then #16 (#1281 overall UK Album chart),
(1 Dec 2017) Hannah
White - In It for Love (Single; 2017 Sound Lounge Records) UK
Debut Fri 1 Dec: #64 UK Country iTunes Chart, then #50
(1 Dec 2017) Mark
W. Georgsson - Dance (Around the Fake Fir Tree) - (Single; 2017 Last Night
From Glasgow) UK
Mark W. Georgsson is a singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist
from Glasgow.
The former Velveteen Saints bassist released his debut
album, FACES AND PLACES in January 2017 that coincided with a sold-out headline
show at Celtic Connections.
Produced by Rod Jones of Idlewild and recorded between
Edinburgh, Mull and Reykjavík with a revolving door of friends and musicians,
Georgsson gives us his own take on alt. folk/country with touches of Nordic
vibe.
(8 Dec 2017) Orfila
- Built with a Dreamer's Hand (Single; 2017 Orfila) UK
CANADIAN NEWS
(28 Nov 2017) Lindi Ortega’s WHAT A GIRL'S GOTTA DO crowdfund Kickstarter project was successfully funded: £29,742 pledged of £22,498 goal 531 backers with
5 days to go
She shared: Between being on the road touring in support
of my recent EP and getting married, I've been writing feverishly. I've spent
the last year making many positive changes in my life, and I'm more excited and
more inspired than ever before. I've taken my old formula and turned it upside
down because... I want to! I've been in hibernation mode and reconnecting with
my creativity. Sometimes when given absolute creative freedom, it comes with
great excitement, as well as great risk. The thing is, I've never felt more
prepared to take such a risk. Out of this joy, an idea sparked, and this
campaign came to life.
(30 Nov 2017) Jessie T - "Mama's
Christmas Cookies"
Jessie T is a singer/songwriter whose captivating vocals and
unique songwriting perspective is undeniable. Teamed with award-winning Canadian
producer, J.Richard Hutt, her debut FACTOR funded album RECKLESS HEART was released September 2016.
A Kingston native, she moved to Kitchener in 2012 to
pursue her passion for music. Since then, she's been playing venues throughout
Southern Ontario expanding her fan base.
Jessie' s talent has won her many vocal/songwriting
competitions, most notably placing first in the KIX 106.7FM songwriting
competition in Waterloo. She's also was a judge on critically acclaimed vocal
competition The Shot for Season 5 alongside Rick Barker (former manager to
Taylor Swift, Social Media consultant for Scott Borchetta of Big Machine
Label).
With four singles released from her debut album and
Christmas around the corner, she figured it was the perfect time to show some
more of her roots. "Mama's Christmas Cookies" is a reminiscent,
feel-good and timeless song about one of Jessie's favorite Christmas
traditions; her mom's holiday baking.
Written by Jessie, Jamie Warren and Carrie DeMayer,
the story tells her heart's yearning to be back home with family during the
season and touches on the memories made in her moma's kitchen each year.
Mama’s Christmas Cookies REVEAL
Posted by Jessie T on Thursday, 30 November 2017
(1 Dec 2017) Allison Pierce - "Think Of Me, Dear (This Christmas)"
In 2017, Allison released her acclaimed solo debut, YEAR
OF THE RABBIT (Sony Music Masterworks). Alabama-born Pierce teamed with
producer Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne, Paul McCartney) to launch the
next phase of her career, following two decades with her sister in The Pierces.
Recorded in analog straight to magnetic tape, the LP was mostly performed by
Allison and Ethan at Hollywood recording mecca, Sunset Sound.
(1 Dec 2017) Growing up listening to, and falling in
love with country music, Jess Moskaluke (MDM
Recordings Inc. / Universal Music Canada) adored the greats, from Terri Clark
and Carolyn Dawn Johnson to her idol, Shania Twain. Acclaimed as the first Canadian female country
artist to have a song in the Top 5 since 2008 (Drive Me Away - #3), and the
first female Canadian country artist since [her childhood idol] Shania Twain to
achieve PLATINUM single status (with her hit track "Cheap Wine and
Cigarettes"), Moskaluke continues to dazzle the Canadian country music
world achieving not one, but three Top 10 hits. In 2016, Moskaluke had the #1 Most Played
Song ("Take Me Home") at Canadian Country Radio and was the top spun
Canadian female artist for the second year in a row. Here Jess teams with The Lovelocks for the Christmas Classic
"O Holy Night". First released Dec 9, 2014 on iTunes, now at radio.
Jess had her biggest year to date in 2014! From a CCMA
Female Artist of the Year win, Gold certification in Canada on her first single
'Cheap Wine and Cigarettes’, and
releasing her own line of lip glosses to coincide with the release of her debut
album, LIGHT UP THE NIGHT, Jess rounded out the year with her second Christmas
single. Originally recorded in 2012, 'Thank God for Christmas' (iTunes) is a Jess' spin to your traditional holiday anthem.
(1 Dec 2017) Kim Beggs - On
Christmas Time (Single)
On Christmas Time is a lovely heart felt song about
north highways and family. She shares: I
recorded it in Toronto and in Whitehorse with David Baxter, Brian Kobayakawa,
Burke Carroll with special Yukon harmony guest, the lovely crooner Kevin Bar.
Sincere, vulnerable, clear eyed and tough, Yukon's Kim
Beggs, with 6 WCMA nominations and 3 CFMA nominations to date, released her
fifth solo album, SAID LITTLE SPARROW on Oct 1, 2017 (iTunes). Kim Beggs delivers a heartfelt darkness in a
beautiful back woods, beat driven performance. Kim has toured with Buffy Saint
Marie, Chris Jagger and more.
(2 Dec 2017) Kylie Fox - Christmas Boyfriend
Now that we’re headed into the Christmas season, it’s
time to prepare for that festive staple: awkward family dinners. From dodging
conversation with outspoken uncles to avoiding prods from your parents about
how nice it would be to have some grandkids around, Kylie Fox has
a solution. Her new single ‘Christmas Boyfriend’, released
December 2, 2017, invites you to use a human shield to deflect these
challenges, so you can keep your holidays merry.
Right on the tails of her recent debut EP, BALCONY EP,
Saint John, N.B. singer-songwriter Kylie Fox has released ‘Christmas
Boyfriend’, a quirky track advertising a wish to have a partner for the holiday
season to bring to parties and impress your family. It is told with the energy
and free-flowing lap steel of a classic country song, reminiscent of the likes
of Dolly Parton.
Keeping with Fox’s cutting sense of humour, ‘Christmas
Boyfriend’ acknowledges a common holiday conundrum. Not every year can be
magical sleigh rides and trips to the tree farm. Some years it’s all you can do
to manage the more modest hurdle of not having anything better to compete with
your sibling’s newborn than your Christmas photoshoot with your cat; you didn’t
think it was even supposed to be some kind of contest for your parent’s
affection, and why can’t we just have a normal family dinner like everyone
else?
While a freshly minted significant other might be a
quick solution, Fox says that the song hasn’t always made the holidays less
awkward for her. “Last Christmas I was seeing a guy and I played it at a show
and everyone was elbowing him, but it wasn’t about him. It was just a
coincidence because I wrote it the year before.”
Recorded by John McLaggen of Tomato/Tomato at Porch
Light Studios in Grand Bay New Brunswick, the song features McLaggen on the
guitar, Geoffrey Smith on percussion (Little You, Little Me, Tooth and the
Fang), and Jon Estes on lap steel and stand up bass. ‘Christmas Boyfriend’ is
presently available for digital download on Fox’s Bandcamp page. Find Kylie on Facebook.
NEWS
(27 Nov 2017) Dolly Parton Signs With Concord Music
Publishing
Country legend Dolly Parton has
signed an exclusive international publishing agreement with Concord Music Publishing, covering the
UK, Germany, France, and Latin America, as well as other territories around the
world. The agreement includes PARTON's penned classics such as "I Will
Always Love You," "9 to 5," "Jolene," "Two Doors
Down," and hundreds of songs in her Velvet
Apple Music catalog.
"Dolly Parton is simply one of the most important
and influential artists in popular music history," noted CONCORD MUSIC
Chief Publishing Executive Jake Wisely. "We're extremely grateful for this
opportunity to work with her and her team and protect her incomparable
legacy." Parton added, "I am very proud and honored to be represented
by such a capable and prestigious company as Concord Music Publishing. As I've
always said, my songs are my children, and I expect them to support me when I'm
old, and I'm expecting them to help me with that. I feel very confident that
this is a perfect partnership."
AWARDS
(28 Nov 2017) 2018
GRAMMY Awards Nominees
Nominees for the upcoming 60th GRAMMY Awards were
revealed Tuesday morning (Nov. 28) and several country music stars are in the
running.
Chris Stapleton led the country pack with three nominations, including Best Country Solo Performance, Best
Country Song, and Best Country Album. Following close behind with two nods were
superstars Miranda
Lambert and Sam Hunt, who each earned nods for
Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song, and Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town who
are each included in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country
Album categories.
While country artists were noticeably left out of the
all-genre categories for the GRAMMYs, a few stars landed nominations outside of
the four country music categories, including Reba, whose first-ever gospel
album, Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope, earned a nod for Best Roots
Gospel Album.
TV
(29 Nov 2017) 'CMA Country Christmas' A Ratings Winner,
Says CMA
Television ratings for ABC-TV's "CMA Country
Christmas" grew by 19% in total viewers over the 2016 edition,
according to a release from the Country Music Association (CMA), which did not
cite a measurement source. The CMA said MONDAY's (Nov 27) telecast, hosted by Reba McEntire, drew 8.2 million viewers, up from 6.9 last
year.
The increase was greater among adults 18-49, which saw
a 20% increase, its best performance since 2014. Additionally, says the CMA,
FACEBOOK and TWITTER interactions were up 53% year-to-year. A re-broadcast of
"CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS" is set for SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23rd at 8p (ET)
on the ABC Television Network.
(4 Dec 2017) Warner
Music Nashville's Blake Shelton appeared
on the nationally syndicated daytime talk show, "The ELLEN DEGENERES
Show," Monday (Dec 4) to perform his current single, "I'll
Name The Dogs".
BABY NEWS
(1 Dec 2017) Jason Aldean and
his wife Brittany welcomed their
first child, a son named Memphis.
Brittany revealed in a post on Instagram that Memphis was born on Friday (Dec. 1)
at 1:29PM.
He weighed 9 lbs., 5 oz. at birth and has pouty lips
and dad's love, the photo the couple shared indicates. "Hands down the
happiest day of my life," Brittany says, thanking Aldean for the support
"and enduring all the hand squeezing and nail digging."
Aldean adds that the delivery went well and that
"mama was a rockstar."
"So blessed today to see my little man come into
the world. In a year that has been a rollercoaster ride, this is what it's all
about," the superstar singer writes on Twitter. "I cant wait to see what life has in store for
this kid."
Memphis was due around Dec. 7.
Aldean married the former Brittany Kerr on March 21, 2015 on the beach in Cancun, Mexico. The
couple revealed they were expecting their first child together in May of 2017,
and announced the baby was a boy via social media a few weeks later. They
revealed that they had chosen the name of Memphis for their son when they
posted shots of his nursery in September.
Aldean has two daughters from his first marriage, but
he admits he is really looking forward to doing guy things with his son.
"Hunt, fish, playing baseball in the yard and all that kind of stuff, I’m
looking forward to all of it," he told Taste of Country.
MUSIC NEWS
(1 Dec 2017) Happy TayTay Day. Taylor Swift’s sixth studio album Reputation became available on
streaming services.
As anticipated, Reputation hit Spotify, Apply Music,
Google Play, Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited, Pandora Premium and the other key
platforms for a midnight release staggered around the globe, with subscribers
in New Zealand and Australia getting in early.
PRESS RELEASES
(27 Nov 2017) Legendary country singer-songwriter, Margie Singleton was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. The ACMHF recognizes artists
who have been influential throughout Georgia. Members include Alan Jackson,
Bobby G. Rice, and Leon Ashley. Legendary country singer-songwriter, Margie
Singleton was a pioneer at the forefront of country music in the 1950s and
'60s. During her career, Margie recorded a total of 9 Top 40 Billboard country
singles, including her biggest hit, "Keeping Up With the Joneses," a
Top 5 hit with Faron Young. Margie's hit, "Old Records" was a Top 10
smash on Cashbox and Record World, two of the most influential charts of the
day. She was the first female artist to record a full album with George Jones,
14 tracks in all, including two of Margie's original songs, and she worked with
The Jordanaires, as a background singer.
In 1967, Margie's husband, Leon Ashley had a #1
Billboard Country hit, "Laura," a song they penned together. Margie's
songs have been covered by fellow legends like Charley Pride, Tom Jones, Kenny
Rogers, Tammy Wynette, and many others.
(28 Nov 2017) Craig Wayne Boyd, season 7 winner of NBC's The
Voice, has signed on with Nashville-based Absolute Publicity for exclusive
public relations representation. "Craig Wayne Boyd is a phenomenal talent,
as proven on NBC's The Voice," says Absolute Publicity company president
Don Murry Grubbs. "He's a welcome addition to our roster and we're
thrilled he chose Absolute to handle his publicity needs. Welcome aboard,
Craig!"
Boyd notes, "We have a lot of exciting things
happening right now with the release of my new record, Top Shelf. We are
thrilled to have Don at Absolute as part of our team as we move forward and
into the new year."
MAGAZINES
(1 Dec 2017) NKD Mag - Issue
#78 (December 2017) Published on Nov 30, 2017 - Sample online.
Featuring: Carly Pearce, Russell Dickerson, Emma
Dumont, Bohnes, The Knocks, Walker Haye. Order at nkdmag.com
WATCH
(28 Nov 2017) Callaghan - Christmas Lights (Acoustic) >>
Facebook Video https://www.facebook.com/callaghanmusic/videos/10155249018767602/
(28 Nov 2017) In Case You Missed it: Big Machine's Midland
performed "Make a Little" on NBC-TV's Late Night With Seth Meyers (Nov
27) and on Today (Nov 28). Watch here and here respectively.
(29 Nov 2017) Laura Oakes performs
a beautiful live acoustic version of her song 'Nashville Stole Your Girl'
for Under The Apple Tree sessions. >> YouTube
(1 Dec 2017) Paulina Jayne partnered
with Tennessee Miss Amazing and featured the Miss Amazing girls in this music
video! She made her own rendition of the Christmas classic, 'O Holy Night.' Filmed
and Edited by Tyler Manuel @thetylerchase in Nashville, TN. >> YouTube
COUNTRY GOSSIP
(1 Dec 2017) Glen
Campbell excluded three kids from his will
Three of Glen Campbell's children have been left out
of the country icon's will.
The Rhinestone Cowboy hitmaker, who died in August
(17) after a six-year battle with Alzheimer's disease, fathered eight kids
during his lifetime, but paperwork filed in a Nashville, Tennessee probate
court has revealed daughter Kelli and sons William Travis and Wesley Kane, from
his second marriage to Billie Jean Nunley, will not receive anything directly
from his estate.
The 13-page will, which Campbell signed in September,
2006, names his widow Kim Campbell as the estate executor, placing her in
charge of his fortune, estimated to be around $50 million (£37 million), reports
The Tennessean.
According to the documents, the three kids have also
been cut out of benefiting from a related trust for the late musician's family.
A hearing to examine the terms of the will is set to
take place on 18 January (18).
Campbell wed Nunley in 1959, but their union ended in
divorce in 1976.
He was also married to first wife Diane Kirk, the
mother of his eldest child, Debby, and he later wed Sarah Barg in 1976. They
became parents to son Dillon, but parted ways in 1980.
Kim became Glen's fourth wife in 1982, and they
welcomed sons Cal and Shannon, and singer daughter Ashley.
If the news of the will sparks a family feud, it won't
be the Campbells' first.
Kim fell out with her stepchildren Debby and Travis in
2015, after they claimed she had "secluded" the ailing star and
prevented them from "participating" in decisions about their father's
medical care.
They launched legal action, and subsequently won
unrestricted access to visit their dad, who had been moved into a care home.
(1 Dec 2017) Country
star Kelsea Ballerini will reportedly tie the knot with her fiance Morgan Evans
in Mexico this weekend (01-03Dec17).
Sources tell Us Weekly the couple is preparing to
exchange vows in celebrity hotspot Cabo San Lucas.
Morgan, a fellow musician, proposed to Kelsea on Christmas
2016 after less than a year of dating, and it appears they will be celebrating
their engagement anniversary as husband and wife.
The groom revealed their big day would take place
before the end of the year while talking to People.com on the red carpet at the
Country Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee last month (Nov17) just before his
wife-to-be hit the stage with Reba McEntire for one of the ceremony's magical
performances.
"It's
pretty wild, but somehow this year, it all worked out," he smiled.
"I put out a single, Kelsea put out
an album, and we got married within the course of about five weeks. I say 'got
married' in the past, but it's happening soon."
His comments sparked rumours suggesting they would wed
over America's Thanksgiving holiday weekend last month (23-26Nov17).
Kelsea previously shared their plans for a destination
wedding, stating, "We're getting married somewhere where people have to
travel, so that is the gift... people getting there."
The Miss Me More hitmaker also told Us Weekly she
needed a little help picking out her ideal gown: "I'm not a wedding
person," Kelsea said, "so my mum and my bridesmaids and my stylist
surprised me with a (dress) fitting and I walked in and put something on and then
walked out and I started crying, so we picked the dress!"
Kelsea met Australian singer-songwriter Morgan while
co-hosting the CMC Awards in Brisbane with him in March, 2016.
UPDATE: Kelsea Ballerini is a married woman! The
singer married her fiance, Australian singer Morgan Evans, on Saturday evening
(Dec. 2).
The couple married in a small oceanside ceremony on
the beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, People reported.
Ballerini walked down the aisle barefoot in a Berta gown, and Evans wore a tux by Joseph Abboud. They exchanged David
Yurman rings with customized messages engraved inside.
The 24-year-old "Legends" singer and
31-year-old Evans were both very busy with new music in the period right before
their wedding, so they ended up using the same wedding planner who did Carrie
Underwood's wedding.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays in the week ahead
December 4: Lila
McCann (1981), Chris Hillman
(Desert Rose Band/Byrds) (1944), Amie
Comeaux (1976; the late died December 21, 1997 (aged 21)
December 5: Ty
England - (1963), Gary Allan
(1967)
December 6: Helen
Cornelius (1941), Bill Lloyd
(Sky Kings/Foster & LLoyd) (1955), Tish
Hinojosa (1955)
December 7: Bobby
Osborne (Osborne Bros) (1931), Sunny
Sweeney (1976), the late Dawn Sears (Dec 7, 1961; died Dec 11, 2014 (aged
53)), Laura Oakes (UK), Narn (UK; Rheana Forrester)
December 8: Marty
Raybon (Shenandoah/Raybon Bros) - (1959), Sam Hunt (1984)
December 9: Sylvia
(1956)
December 10: Johnny Rodriguez (1951), Kevin Sharp (1970)
December 10: Johnny Rodriguez (1951), Kevin Sharp (1970)
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