Joe Ely News

Karen Jonas has announced the release date for her fifth album, The Southwest Sky and Other Dreams - out August 28.

Eliza Gilkyson, the two-time GRAMMY-nominated (2006/2014) folk singer, songwriter and activist is one of the most respected musicians in Folk Roots/Americana music today. In keeping with the idea of folk music as an instrument for change, Gilkyson is announcing her new release, 2020, a collection of politically charged anthems designed to motivate, reflect and inspire action during what she believes will be “the most important USA election of our lifetime.” She is sharing the song 'Sooner or Later' today at Billboard, which writes 'the bluesy, biting 'Sooner or Later' is intended as a rallying cry and a statement of purpose.' Gilkyson examines the inequality in our world right now and warns that sooner or later we're 'gonna rise up, gonna take all back.'

Fredericksburg, VA-based award-winning Americana artist Karen Jonas is set to release a new album, Lucky, Revisited, on July 19, 2019. Wide Open Country has partnered with Jonas to premiere the first single, 'Ophelia' (which is scheduled for release on June 14, 2019, in advance of the album), and to announce the new album here. Lucky, Revisitedis Jonas's fourth studio album and features new, stripped-down, acoustic recordings of nine songs released on her first three albums, as well as two stellar covers. Focus tracks include the first single, 'Ophelia,' as well as 'Country Songs,' and 'It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry.'

The Country Music Hall of Fame said it best when they opened the Outlaws and Armadillos exhibit in May of 2018, Bobby Bare originated “Outlaw Country” when he became the first artist of the era to gain control of his productions, leading to the likes of Willie, Waylon and the boys following suit. In celebration of the Country Music Hall of Famer's 84th birthday on April 7 and over 60 years in the music business, SiriusXM's Outlaw Country will air an all-star tribute concert recorded on the 4th annual Outlaw Country Cruise. The two-hour special will air on SiriusXM Outlaw Country, Channel 60 on Friday, April 5 at 8 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 6 at 10 p.m. ET and Sunday, April 7 at 12 p.m. ET and be available OnDemand through the SiriusXM app on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online at siriusxm.com.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member and world-renowned Nashville-based keyboardist Reese Wynans releases his first-ever solo album Sweet Release today; a collection of songs honoring a paramount selection of blues-rock legends. The much anticipated album comes following a career that's spanned over 50 years and literally hundreds of historical collaborations. Sweet Release also serves as Joe Bonamassa's inaugural credit as a producer. Bonamassa has long been a fan of Wynans' work, urging him to create a solo album and championing the project as producer. Today, the album is available to stream and/or purchase via reesewynans.com, jbonamassa.com and all major music services and in stores.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member and world-renowned Nashville-based keyboardist Reese Wynans recently announced his first-ever solo albumSweet Release, a collection of songs honoring a paramount selection of blues-rock legends. The long anticipated album comes following a career that's spanned over 50 years and literally hundreds of historical collaborations. Along with the announcement came the first single 'Crossfire', a tribute to the legacy of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Wynans' work with Double Trouble, featuring the iconic Sam Moore of Sam & Dave on vocals. Today, Wynans shares the video for 'Crossfire' with behind-the-scenes footage from the studio recordings. 'Crossfire' is available now as a free song download on Reese and Joe's websites (reesewynans.com and jbonamassa.comrespectively).

The Legendary Soul Man Sam Moore was announced as a guest collaborator on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member, and world-renowned Nashville-based keyboardist, Reese Wynans first-ever solo album, Sweet Release. Moore makes his guest appearance on the album's first single, 'Crossfire,' providing his signature vocals on the classic song, once sung by Stevie Ray Vaughan.

 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member and world-renowned Nashville-based keyboardist Reese Wynans announces his first-ever solo album Sweet Release, a collection of songs honoring a paramount selection of blues-rock legends. The long anticipated album comes following a career that's spanned over 50 years and literally hundreds of historical collaborations. Sweet Release also serves as Joe Bonamassa's inaugural credit as a producer. Bonamassa has long been a fan of Wynans' work, urging him to create a solo album and championing the project as producer. Today, the album is available for pre-order on reesewynans.com, jbonamassa.com and available on all major music services and will be in stores on March 1st. 

Governor Greg Abbott and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the global leader in performing rights management, today announced that BMI is expanding its presence in the Lone Star State and will open its first creative office in Austin, Texas.

Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore have been filling canvasses with music of the American West for decades, coming from two very different directions. Now, they will play together at the South Orange Performing Arts Center on Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. for the very first time. Though far from home, Alvin and Gilmore's first duo album, Downey to Lubbock, contains all the elements that have sustained their musical journey through the years.

Eisemann Center Presents the Theatre & Comedy production of Jaston Williams' hilarious new comedy Clear to Partly Crazy for three performances running October 19-20, 2018 at the Eisemann Center, 2351 Performance Drive in Richardson. The Tuna series (Greater Tuna, A Tuna Christmas, Red, White and Tuna and Tuna Does Vegas) - performed for over two decades - earned Williams a reputation as a gifted story-teller.

The Kentucky Center presents An Evening with Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen, Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at the Brown Theatre, 315 W. Broadway.

The Kentucky Center is offering a wide variety of entertainment as it opens its 35th anniversary arts season. Fall performances will feature Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon, rock band The Revivalists, late-night talk show host Craig Ferguson and many others. View the current season lineup at www.kentuckycenter.org/kcpresents.

Country music's original outlaw, Bobby Bare, has a long list of accolades: he's a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, he's celebrating a 60-year career, he's had over 50 successful hits and he even hosted his own television show in the '80s, “Bobby Bare and Friends.” More than 30 years later, Bare is announcing a new podcast of the same name featuring conversations with Jamey Johnson, Trace Adkins, Jessi Colter, Ray Stevens, Billy Joe Shaver, Joe Ely, Delbert McClinton, Bill Anderson and more. “Bobby Bare and Friends” launches today on podcast networks and on wsmonline.com. 

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will mark the opening of its new major exhibition, Outlaws & Armadillos: Country's Roaring '70s, with a lively concentration of programs highlighting the cultural and artistic explosion forged in the 1970s by two distinctly creative cities: Austin and Nashville.

Steven Van Zandt's Renegade Circus and Sixthman, the industry leader in music festivals at sea, are excited to announce the lineup for the 2019 sailing of The Outlaw Country Cruise 4. The deep and diverse bill of new artists and returning favorites will be anchored byDrive-By Truckers, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Margo Price, The Flatlanders (Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock), Bobby Bare, Nikki Lane, Terry Allen, Old 97's, Reckless Kelly and stars of SiriusXM's Outlaw Country channel, including Shooter Jennings, Elizabeth Cook, Mojo Nixon, Paula Nelson Band, Dallas Wayne, Jim Lauderdale and Roger Alan Wade. The cruise will sail January 27 - February 1, 2019 from Tampa, making stops at the private island of Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas, and Nassau, Bahamas.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will present a very special concert, under the musical direction of Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings, to mark the opening of the museum's new major exhibition, Outlaws & Armadillos: Country's Roaring '70s. The concert, exhibit and additional programs will explore an era of intense cultural exchange between Nashville and Austin, Texas, in the 1970s, when country music's Outlaw movement was on the rise.

The Austin Music Awards (AMAs) announced today more musicians to perform at the 36th Annual Awards to be held Wednesday, February 28 at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. Acclaimed songwriter JOHN FULLBRIGHT and JOHN HIATT, who the Los Angeles Times calls, '...one of rock's most astute singer-songwriters of the last 40 years,' will take the stage along with singer, songwriter, fiddler extraordinaire PHOEBE HUNT and celebrated songwriter MICHAEL FRACASSO. Add to this Austin's beloved ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO and DAVÍD GARZA and the AMAs have created a most memorable night of music once again. And as in years past, don't be surprised if the AMAs produce a VERY SPECIAL GUEST or two.

The Austin Music Awards announced today that the Townes Van Zandt Songwriting Award will be presented to singer-songwriter JOE ELY by artist-musician TERRY ALLEN and the Margaret Moser Women in Music Award will be presented to LIZ LAMBERT, founder and Creative Director of Bunkhouse Hotels by Grammy Award winner and musician, LUCINDA WILLIAMS.