Aaron Watson News

December 5, 2019: In an announcement made from the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) announced all but two of the nights for the 2020 Frontier Nights® entertainment series. The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) will return with its exclusive Last Cowboy Standing series and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo will return to the arena in 2020.

Country music singer-songwriter, Stephanie Quayle, has released her latest EP, If I Was A Cowboy, available now on all digital streaming platforms.

“Reigning indie underdog” (Rolling Stone) Aaron Watson's brand-new album, Red Bandana, opens at #2 on Billboard's Country Album Sales chart with nearly 10,000 sold and over 11,000 total consumption, including more than 2 Million first week streams for the “epic” 20-song collection. Written solely by Watson, who co-produced the project with Jordan Lehning, Red Bandana marks his 20th year in music and has been dubbed “his most ambitious album yet,” by Taste of Country and “a soulful, resonant record that sums up his restless, wandering spirit” by All Music. The “fiercely independent musician” (Texas Monthly) shares personal and poignant stories and showcases his introspective new song “Trying Like The Devil” during an appearance on TBN's “Huckabee” set to premiere on Saturday, July 6 at 87c with a repeat airing on Sunday, July 7.

Aaron Watson releases his brand new album, Red Bandana today, June 21.  The “epic” 20-song collection, all written solely by Watson who co-produced the project with Jordan Lehning, marks his 20th year in music and is now available on all platforms. Well-known as a “pioneering independent”, Watson releases Red Bandana riding a wave of success on the heels of the widely recognized commercial hit Vaquerowith his most defining project yet via his own BIG Label Records (distributed by ADA Worldwide).  The album is already racking up early stellar reviews with Sounds Like Nashville declaring his “ambition and drive is likely bigger and better sounding than it's ever been.” “Kiss That Girl Goodbye”  has already hit #1 in Texas and breaking out at radio nationwide.

As excitement builds for the June 21 release of Aaron Watson's brand new album Red Bandana,  the “reigning indie underdog” (Rolling Stone) reveals 16 new tour dates, adding to his already announced The Red Bandana Tour. Tickets for the tour, which spans coast to coast June through October, are available here!

“Pioneering independent” (Cowboys & Indians) Aaron Watson's brand new album, Red Bandana, is available for pre-order/pre-save starting today, Friday,  April 12 at smarturl.it/AWRedBandana.  Two tracks from the 20-song collection release today in advance of the June 21 album.  “To Be The Moon,” a lyrically lilting stunner debuts along with an accompanying lyric video which premiered today via Taste of Country.  The pensive and introspective “Trying Like The Devil” is also out now on all streaming platforms and as an instant grat with album pre-order. 

ADA Worldwide today announced an exclusive partnership with multi-platinum entertainer Sara Evans and her label, Born To Fly Records. ADA Worldwide will support the Nashville-based label across sales and distribution on a global scale. Launched in 2017, Born To Fly Records is home to Evans' critically acclaimed eighth studio record, Words, which was named one of Billboard and Rolling Stone's Top Country Albums of the Year. The ACM Female Vocalist of the Year is currently prepping her new album, due later this year.

The Country Music Association has revealed the initial artist lineup for this year's CMA Fest, which features hundreds of Country Music artists performing on multiple stages throughout downtown Nashville Thursday through Sunday, June 6-9. CMA Fest is a one-of-a-kind festival with artists donating their time to perform so a portion of ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music programs across the country through the CMA Foundation. A limited number of four-day passes for the nightly performances at Nissan Stadium are still available at CMAfest.com or through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST.  

Desert Ensemble Theatre's (DETC's) world premiere production of FOR A REASON, by DETC's playwright-in-residence and founding artistic director, Tony Padilla, is an uplifting comedy with witty repartee and fine acting by the whole cast. It is well worth seeing.

“Reigning indie underdog” (Rolling Stone), Aaron Watsoncontinues his DIY hot streak with his self-penned, “Kiss That Girl Goodbye,” launching a fast-paced visually exciting lyric video via his socials.  The track, which landed on the playlists of over twenty monitored radio and nearly fifty indicator/activator stations nationwide in its first week was third most added (Mediabase).  “Kiss That Girl Goodbye” is now spinning in markets including Kansas City, Jacksonville, Tampa, Charleston, Corpus Christi, San Jose, Pittsburgh, and more and is available on all streaming platforms HERE. The song has been received with praise from multiple music critics, including the following:

 An authentic torchbearer for independent artists, Aaron Watson continues to be “one of country music's biggest DIY success stories” (Forbes) with his latest effort, “Kiss That Girl Goodbye,” the solely self-penned lead single from his forthcoming studio album. The lyrically driven, up-tempo percussive stunner is the first glimpse into Watson's brand-new studio project, Red Bandana.  Slated for release in 2019 on his own BIG Label Records and distributed by ADA Worldwide, the album has already landed on “the most anticipated country albums of 2019” lists including Saving Country Music and The Boot.

Aaron Watson is set to make a rousing return to Nashville's iconic Ryman Auditorium on January 24, 2019.  As announced via Watson's socials this week, opening the marquee date is a songwriter in-the-round lineup featuring some of his native Lonestar state's songwriting royalty: Music Row hit makers Rodney Clawson, Liz Rose, and Tom Douglas.  

The Christmas season is in full swing for “pioneering independent” Aaron Watson as he makes his debut appearance on the Hallmark Channel, performing songs from this brand-new Christmas album, “An Aaron Watson Family Christmas,” on the morning talk show “Home & Family,” airing Thursday, December 6 at 10am eastern / 9am central. 

On the heels of announcing his headlining return to Nashville's iconic Ryman Auditorium for his “A Night of Texas” show on January 24, “fiercely independent” Aaron Watson reveals the first dates of his 2019 headlining tour with more than 20 shows spanning coast to coast on its initial swing. All tour dates just released are on-sale now and tickets are available at www.aaronwatson.com/tour. Stay tuned as additional dates and marquee shows will be announced in the coming weeks!

The Christmas season is starting early for “pioneering independent” Aaron Watson as he announces his first ever Christmas album, “An Aaron Watson Family Christmas,” will release on Friday, October 5.

With current single “Run Wild Horses” in the 30s and climbing on the US country radio charts and making waves on the international scene with radio play on the UK's 24/7 station Chris Country and across the BBC regional network, Aaron Watson wrapped his eighth international tour in the UK over the weekend, stepping in to upgrade an already planned set for ten thousand plus fans at the new The Long Road festival in Leicestershire, to a 90-minute Saturday night headline performance. In his 15+ year career as an independent artist Watson has played over 2,500 shows in the US and 20 plus overseas, with nearly half a million headline tickets sold in the last 18 months alone, so he was well positioned to step in at the last minute when Carrie Underwood had to cancel her appearance due to illness.

Aaron Watson's Live at the World's Biggest Rodeo Show, the “pioneering independent's” (Cowboys & Indians) 14th album and his first live album in nearly a decade, is now available. Friday's release marks the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, the Category 4 storm that caused $125 billion in damage, impacting 13 million people in 41 Texas counties.  $1.41 from each album sold will benefit the Rebuild Texas Fund, in recognition of the widespread devastation across Watson's beloved home state. The project, which “captures Watson in full-fledged rockstar mode,” (Rolling Stone Country) was recorded live in front of 65,000 fans on opening night of the 2017 Rodeo Houston.

Aaron Watson Live at the World's Biggest Rodeo Show, the “pioneering independent's” (Cowboys & Indians) 14th album and his first live album in nearly a decade, is set to release on August 24, 2018, marking the one year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey's landfall on the south Texas coast (August 25, 2017). The Category 4 storm caused $125 billion in damage according to the National Hurricane Center and impacted 13 million people in 41 Texas counties.  $1.41 from each album sold will benefit the Rebuild Texas Fund, in recognition of the widespread devastation across Watson's beloved home state. Recorded live in front of 65,000 fans on opening night of the 2017 Rodeo Houston, the album is particularly poignant to the Texas born-and-bred singer/songwriter. 

Country music fans can catch the long-awaited music video for Aaron Watson's hit, “Run Wild Horses,” set for an exclusive broadcast premiere on June 28 on CMT's 24/7 digital music channel, CMT Music.  Tune in at 6:00am ET and throughout the day to see the sweet clip (or online HERE), featuring his wife of 15 years, Kimberly (@MrsAaronWatson), as she makes her music video debut.

ADA Worldwide announces an exclusive partnership with BIG Label Records.  ADA Worldwide will support the burgeoning record label, anchored by “pioneering independent” Aaron Watson, across sales, distribution, promotion, and retail marketing, while maintaining the imprint's true autonomy.  The global partnership will position BIG Label Records as a full service independent record label.