Monday night, at the 57th Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards, American music icon Randy Travis was presented the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award. Performing two of Travis' biggest hits were Garth Brooks, singing “Forever and Ever, Amen,” and Carrie Underwood, singing “Promises.” The duo then joined ASCAP President and Chairman, Paul Williams, in presenting the award, which will join the top shelf of Travis' award room alongside a Country Music Hall of Fame plaque, a Grand Ole Opry member trophy, seven GRAMMY Awards, 11 ACM statuettes, five CMA honors, 10 American Music Awards, two People's Choice awards, eight Dove Awards and many more honors.
Former music creative and fifth-generation farmer Tim Alderson's first initial foray into playwriting SALVAGE opens Saturday, November 16, 2019 at The Lounge Theatre. With music from his long-time cohorts Mark Heard, Pat Terry, and Randy VanWarmer, SALVAGE revolves around struggling singer-songwriter Harley's decision to pawn his guitar and look for some means of stable income for his wife and soon-to-come newborn. Damian D. Lewis directs the ensemble of David Atkinson, Christopher Fordinal, Nina Herzog and Leonard Earl Howze. Tim was gracious enough to make some time to answer my queries.
Today, Frontier Touring and Love Police are pleased to announce that Grammy Award-winner John Paul White – one half of acclaimed Americana, folk and country duo The Civil Wars – will head to Australia for the very first time in April 2020, as special guest of JohnPrine. White will join the storytelling icon at shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide next autumn, as Prine returns to our shores next year due to overwhelming demand. Tickets are on sale now.
Musco Center for the Arts will present internationally acclaimed acoustic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, with special guests Jim and Morning Nichols, on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 7:30 pm.
Wrong Again is Ags Connolly's third studio album, following on from his highly-acclaimed offerings How About Now (2014) and Nothin' Unexpected (2017). The traditional country singer-songwriter from Oxfordshire, England, took the reins on this latest effort, producing the album with a team of London-based musicians in the peaceful and intimate surroundings of Woodworm Studios in his home county. Ags also enlisted the expert help of accordionist Michael Guerra (The Mavericks) and fiddle player Eamon McLoughlin (Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell), both of whom had graced his previous album.
Wrong Again is Ags Connolly's third studio album, following on from his highly-acclaimed offerings How About Now (2014) and Nothin' Unexpected (2017). The traditional country singer-songwriter from Oxfordshire, England, took the reins on this latest effort, producing the album with a team of London-based musicians in the peaceful and intimate surroundings of Woodworm Studios in his home county. Ags also enlisted the expert help of accordionist Michael Guerra (The Mavericks) and fiddle player Eamon McLoughlin (Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell), both of whom had graced his previous album.
On the second Thursday of October, Nashville residents and music fans celebrated the return of Dancin' In The District by doing exactly what the event's name suggests: dancing. The Riverfront rocked with Leftover Salmon, JoJo Herman & Slim Wednesday, Space Capone, Alanna Royale, and Tennessee Muscle Candy, along with Nashville Legends Jam featuring Pat McLaughlin, Rodney Crowell, The McCrary Sisters, and Joe Bonamassa. And in true Nashville fashion, the house band—Kenny Greenberg on guitar, Michael Rhodes on bass, and Chad Cromwell on drums—was legendary, too. The mission of Dancin' has always been to reconnect locals and the music scene to Nashville's famed Lower Broadway district. Founder, Tom Morales, puts it this way, 'As Nashville begins to face another identity crisis we felt the revival of such an event as Dancin' in the District would be a perfect opportunity to remind locals, especially those new to Nashville, that Lower Broadway was once a platform for music discovery. This free community event brought music back downtown and we're working hard to do it again.'
Music industry executives Joseph Conner (Essential Broadcast Media), EJ Gaines (Capitol CMG/Motown Gospel), Adrien Good (Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy), Mike Molinar (Big Machine Music), Liz Rose (Liz Rose Music) and Ben Vaughn (Warner Chappell Music) have joined the Board of Directors of Nashville-based non-profit Music Health Alliance (MHA). The 19-member board, comprised of business leaders across multiple industries, help develop the strategic plans of MHA in support of its mission to PROTECT, DIRECT & CONNECT members of the music community with healthcare and financial solutions.
Multi-Platinum entertainer Dierks Bentley has been named the spokesperson for Music Health Alliance's “Heal The Music Day” and will spearhead the music community's efforts to provide financial support for the non-profit's critical and life-saving free services during the 3rd annual fundraiser. Entirely funded through grants and individual and corporate donations, MHA has:
Grammy Award winner John Paul White continues his tour across North America in support of his solo album The Hurting Kind (out now on Single Lock Records). Further stops include Callaghan's in Mobile, The Attic in Tampa, Abdo New River Room in Fort Lauderdale and more. See below for a complete tour itinerary.
Greenville favorite Edwin McCain and accomplished songwriter Maia Sharp return for the Peace Center's Songwriters Concert Series and Workshop Series. Each concert brings a new guest singer-songwriter to the Upstate for an intimate one-of-a-kind listening room experience in Genevieve's theater lounge at the Peace Center. The guest artists will also join McCain and Sharp for a four-part Workshop Series.
Amid a galaxy of country music stars gathered in downtown Nashville for its annual awards shows, industry VIPs will celebrate one of the brightest when Country Music Hall of Fame member Randy Travis receives the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award at the 57th annual American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Country Music Awards. The exclusive, invitation-only gala, which celebrates the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most-performed country songs of 2018, takes place on Monday, November 11 and will include special guest performances to honor Travis.
Today, Alberta singer-songwriter Leeroy Stagger sets himself free on new track a?oeDeeper Wella??, premiered with New Noise Magazine. While the tempo is upbeat and breezy, underneath its surface is a story of survival and moving forward. Stagger reflects on his past, declaring in the song's first verse a?oeI've been a fighter all my life.a?? This strength is present throughout Stagger's forthcoming album Strange Path due out September 13 via True North Records. Previously, Stagger released Marie Antoinette and The Favourite inspired-video for lead single a?oeStrange Attractora??.
This November Montalvo Arts Center presents a variety of musical offerings in its Carriage House Concert Series. From the California & Montreal Guitar Trios to Asian-influenced jazz band Hiroshima, Bay Area audiences will have a plethora of live performances to choose from.
To say that Alberta musician Leeroy Stagger's life journey has followed a strange path would be a bit of an understatement. A celebrated artist for nearly two decades and 10 years sober, he gained national attention with Hot Hot Heat and Carolyn Mark and has built a world class recording studio. A lush reflection of his life's evolution, Strange Path is the title of his newest album and book, due out September 13 via True North Records. Leeroy Stagger will tour to support Strange Path throughout North American and Internationally. Tour dates listed below.
Wouldn't it be great if we could all take a look at the bright side more often? It's clear when speaking with Monica Rizzio that she certainly does. Her new album, Sunshine Is Free, is all about appreciating how the little things in life make it all worth it. A bonfire on a beach. A couple of days with the one you love. Simply doing...nothing. The album is set for release on October 4, and the first single, “My Sweet Heart,” is now premiering on Wide Open Country.
Grammy Award winner John Paul White is set to continue his North American tour in support of his new solo album The Hurting Kind (out now on Single Lock Records) with a run of west coast performances with Shovels & Rope. Tickets go on sale on July 19 at 10 a.m. local time, see below for a list of dates.
The 47-year old step-father of a young country artist had been diagnosed with stage IV cancer and told there was nothing more that could be done. Music Health Alliance helped get him accepted into an out-of-state clinical trial, fill out and submit disability paperwork and find free housing near the hospital. A 45-year old single mom working in concert promotion lost group health coverage and a few days later her daughter broke her leg. Music Health Alliance advocated on her behalf, helping her to apply for coverage through the ACA marketplace, proof of eligibility and negotiated with the insurance company to back date her coverage and cover the expenses, saving the family over $2,000 in out-of-pocket medical expenses. A 61-year old drummer with over 30 years of professional experience suffered a blood borne infection in his eye. Without insurance, he was faced with over $45,000 in medical bills and was told that he would not be able to get diagnostic work done to save his retina without advance payment. Music Health Alliance facilitated a financial aid application with the hospital and was able to get the entire bill for his emergency room visit, surgery and hospital stay written off. A grant from the Ben Eyestone Fund gave him access to an ophthalmologist and a glaucoma specialist where he continues to receive treatment. He is back on the road now with a multi-platinum recording artist.
Michaela Anne is proud to debut “Child of the Wind”, which exclusively premiered today via Brooklyn Vegan, who dubbed the track “a catchy, breezy dose of modern country.” You can listen here. The single is the newest from her upcoming album Desert Dove, out September 27th on Yep Roc Records. In June, Anne released the first single from the record, “By Our Design”,which premiered on Rolling Stone. In addition to playing notable festivals like Wisconsin's Mile of Music and Nashville's long-running AmericanaFest, Michaela Anne announced new East coast dates today for her fall tour.
Among nominations for ACM Guitarist of the Year and Americana Musician of the Year; touring with Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, and Vince Gill; and playing on countless A-list Nashville recording sessions, Jedd Hughes has never lost focus on what he'd intended to do since he was an 8 year-old aspiring musician in Quorn, Australia; write and play his own music. WEST, Jedd Hughes's highly anticipated return to the spotlight, will be released on August 30. Self produced and mixed by Hughes, WEST runs the gamut of emotions through its dynamic ten song tracklist, drawing on a number of close friends' heavyweight musical talent as well as a stunning string quartet for more than half of the album. Hughes's songs are largely self-written and intimate, but a few co-writers are sprinkled throughout WEST, including the aforementioned Crowell, as well as Parker Milsap, Sarah Buxton, and the late, great Guy Clark.
