ABC ANNOUNCES NEW MUSIC SERIES ‘GREATEST HITS,’ WHICH WILL FEATURE HIT-MAKERS OF THE 1980s, 1990s AND 2000s, PREMIERING JUNE 30

Country Music News from our friends at ABC!

SERIES PREMIERE: ABC ANNOUNCES NEW MUSIC SERIES ‘GREATEST HITS,’ WHICH WILL FEATURE HIT-MAKERS OF THE 1980s, 1990s AND 2000s, PREMIERING JUNE 30 Series to Be Hosted by Actor and Comedian Arsenio Hall and Country Star Kelsea Ballerini ABC announced today a new music series “Greatest Hits.” Each episode will highlight a five-year period celebrating the biggest hits from that time, hosted by Arsenio Hall and Kelsea Ballerini. Each week, iconic music artists, as well as today’s music chart-toppers, will take the stage and perform the songs that defined the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The six-episode series will feature special solo performances, never-before-seen duets and incredible tributes on “Greatest Hits,” premiering THURSDAY, JUNE 30 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on the ABC Television Network. [bctt tweet=”Woot Woot Woot! @ArsenioHall is back and he’s bringing @KelseaBallerini with him! Get all the details on their new show #GreatestHits from @CMNBlog!”] Arsenio Hall The versatile actor, comedian and producer first became involved in the arts at ”The Cleveland Playhouse” and continued to hone his craft through his Kent State University years. In 1979, Hall moved from Ohio to Chicago, Illinois, where he tried his hand at stand-up comedy and was discovered by Jazz singer Nancy Wilson. In the following few years Arsenio toured, opening for twenty major headliners, including Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder. Soon after, Arsenio made numerous appearances on television shows such as ”Solid Gold” and “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” In 1987, he served as interim host on “The Late Show,” and on the strength of his work, he was signed to a film and television deal with Paramount Pictures, which subsequently led to the opportunity to co-write and co-star in the hit comedy “Coming to America.” On January 3, 1989, “The Arsenio Hall Show” made its debut, providing a forum for cutting edge comedy and politics, and the television debut of such pop superstars as Mariah Carey, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Boyz II Men and countless others. He resigned from the late-night gabfest in 1994 to pursue other personal and professional interests. In 1998, Arsenio joined the cast of the CBS’s “Martial Law.” He followed this up with a two-season stint as host of CBS’s new “Star Search,” and then, taking on his most challenging task to date, he returned to stand-up comedy and toured for the first time in over a decade. In 2010, Arsenio was featured in the HBO sports documentary “Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals,” A&E’s documentary special “The Battle For Late Night.” In 2012, he was featured in the NBA Entertainment documentary “The Announcement.” Arsenio was also featured as a “Guest Mentor” on the OWN Network’s “Your OWN Show,” as well as appearing as guest host on “Access Hollywood LIVE!,” CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight” and “The View.” On May 20, 2012, Arsenio was crowned the “Celebrity Apprentice” on NBC. He returned to late-night television as executive producer and host of the CBS/Tribune Broadcasting nationally syndicated “The Arsenio Hall Show,” which aired during the 2013– 2014 season. Most recently, he appeared on the PBS special “Eddie Murphy: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize,” Continue reading ABC ANNOUNCES NEW MUSIC SERIES ‘GREATEST HITS,’ WHICH WILL FEATURE HIT-MAKERS OF THE 1980s, 1990s AND 2000s, PREMIERING JUNE 30

Brad Paisley Announces 2016 Tour — LIFE AMPLIFIED WORLD TOUR

BRAD PAISLEY ANNOUNCES 2016 TOUR LIFE AMPLIFIED WORLD TOUR Launches May 19 Special Guests include Tyler Farr and Maddie & Tae Country music superstar Brad Paisley has announced his 2016 tour, Life Amplified World Tour, which kicks off May 19 in Sacramento, CA.  The tour will travel across the country during the summer and fall with more dates to be added. Special guests will be power vocalist Tyler Farr and CMA Award winning-duo Maddie & Tae. Brad Paisley (photo by: Jeff Lipsky) Brad Paisley is the consummate singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer whose talents have earned him numerous awards, including three GRAMMYs, two American Music Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music Awards and 14 Country Music Association Awards (including Entertainer of the Year), among many others. He has been a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry since 2001. Paisley has written 20 of his 23 #1 singles with the first being his 1999 hit “He Didn’t Have To Be” and his most recent, “Perfect Storm,” from his chart-topping 2014 album Moonshine in the Trunk. Paisley has partnered with Boot Barn® and developed an exclusive line of jeans, hats, T-shirts, jewelry, belts and woven shirts called Moonshine Spirit by Brad Paisley. Connect with Brad at www.BradPaisley.com, www.Facebook.com/BradPaisley, on Twitter @BradPaisley, on Instagram @Brad Paisley, and YouTube at YouTube.com/BradPaisley. Tyler Farr (photo by: Joseph Llannes) About Tyler Farr: Columbia Nashville’s Tyler Farr released his highly anticipated sophomore album, Suffer In Peace, in April 2015 making its debut in the top 5 on the BILLBOARD Top 200 Albums and BILLBOARD Country Albums Charts. Previously with the release of his debut album Redneck Crazy, which released in 2013, Farr landed at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and #5 on the Billboard Top 200 making Farr the only solo male country artist in the last 10 years to have his first two studio albums debut in the top-5 on the Billboard 200 Chart. Tyler’s first single off the newly released Suffer In Peace album, “A Guy Walks into a Bar,” proved to be Farr’s third No. 1 hit and is now RIAA Certified GOLD. Farr’s #1, platinum-selling title-track “Redneck Crazy” projected Farr forward to celebrate back-to-back #1 singles, including his first #1 as a songwriter, with his Gold-certified hit “Whiskey in my Water.” Farr’s most recent single at radio, “Better In Boots,” was described by the New York Times as a “muscular love song.” The Missouri native’s dry wit and energetic live show has earned him industry recognition as a 2014 CRS New Faces of Country Radio and 2014 Music Row “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” nominee, as well as rave reviews for his coveted opening slots touring with Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Brad Paisley. Maddie & Tae  (photo by: Alysse Gafkjen) About Maddie & Tae: Maddie & Tae boldly introduced their debut single “Girl In A Country Song” shortly after signing with Dot Records. Featured on their album START HERE, of which they penned each of Continue reading Brad Paisley Announces 2016 Tour — LIFE AMPLIFIED WORLD TOUR

AT&T, AUDIENCE Network, and iHeartMedia present: iHeartCountryFestival Airing Friday, May 13 at 9:00 PM ET/PT

Miranda Lambert on Country Music News Blog

AT&T,  AUDIENCE Network, and iHeartMedia present”iHeartCountry Festival Airing Friday, May 13 at 9:00 PM ET/PT On DIRECTV and U-verse (DIRECTV Ch 239/U-verse Ch 1114) Tune in to watch the 2016 “iHeartCountry Festival” airing exclusively via nationwide broadcast this Friday, May 13 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on the AUDIENCE Network DIRECTV Ch 239/U-verse Ch 1114. To watch behind-the-scenes footage and interviews from the 2016 iHeartCountry Festival, click here: Miranda Lambert: https://youtu.be/6PafTe66nvk Keith Urban: https://youtu.be/W1p5kTErvmA Thomas Rhett: https://youtu.be/W7cP998nemU A celebration of all things country, watch as music icons and superstars in the genre including Florida Georgia Line, Brett Eldredge, Sam Hunt, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Miranda Lambert, Lee Brice, Chris Young, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band rock the crowd during the 2016 iHeartCountry Festival at The Frank Erwin Center (April 30) in Austin, Texas hosted by Bobby Bones and Brooklyn Decker. Keith Urban. Photo credit: Andrew Swartz. Zac Brown Band. Photo credit: Andrew Swartz. AUDIENCE Network’s new music slate continues to deliver groundbreaking concerts, in-depth artist interviews, unique stories and exclusive performances across all genres, plus some select programming in ultra high-definition/4K* to audiences nationwide since multiple series began airing this past January. Recent concert specials include: CeeLo Green, Hank Williams Jr., Peter Frampton, Lukas Graham, Kelsea Ballerini, Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco, 2 Chainz, Cypress Hill, and others. New shows premiere via national broadcast Friday at 9:00 pm ET/PT on DIRECTV Ch 239/U-verse Ch 1114,as well as streaming on directv.com, uverse.com and on smartphones and tablets, via the DIRECTV and U-verse apps.**   AUDIENCE Network’s multiple series of original and exclusive performances gives music fans an intimate view of music’s most influential artists today. The network collaborates directly with musicians to create a unique show from their perspective.   Florida Georgia Line. Photo credit: Brian Friedman. Sam Hunt. Photo credit: Andrew Swartz. Brett Eldredge. Photo credit: Andrew Swartz. **Access via computer or app requires qualifying device and data connection. Access to content varies by device, TV plan, and viewing location. Data charges may apply.   About AT&T: AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T<http://www.att.com/gen/landing-pages?pid=5718>) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, mobile, high speed Internet and voice services. We’re the world’s largest provider of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. We offer the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider***. And we help businesses worldwide serve their customers better with our mobility and highly secure cloud solutions. Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att. © 2016 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. ***Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and data roaming; LTE roaming; voice roaming; and world-capable smartphone and tablets in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier. International service required. Coverage not available Continue reading AT&T, AUDIENCE Network, and iHeartMedia present: iHeartCountryFestival Airing Friday, May 13 at 9:00 PM ET/PT

Dan + Shay Announce Forthcoming Album "Obsessed" To Be Released June 3

Dan + Shay on Country Music News Blog!

DAN + SHAY ANNOUNCE FORTHCOMING ALBUM OBSESSED TO BE RELEASED JUNE 3 Lead single “ From The Ground Up” Top 30 and climbing on Country radio NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (April 20, 2016) – Multiple ACM Award, CMT Music Awards and CMA Award nominated chart-topping duo Dan + Shay (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney) announced today that they are set to release their brand new album Obsessed, the follow up to their No. 1-peaking album Where It All Began, June 3 on Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville. “The idea for the album title, Obsessed, came directly from our fans,” shares Smyers. “Our fans know we live on social media both when we’re in and out of the studio, and we started noticing that hashtag ‘#obsessed’ being tagged in all our fans’ posts when we first revealed our single, ‘From The Ground Up,’” Mooney adds. “So when it came time to pick a title for this album, it seemed pretty appropriate that we’re even more obsessed with making music for our fans than they are to hear it.” “From The Ground Up,” the first single off of Obsessed, is currently Top 30 on Country radio and climbing. Dan + Shay premiered the heartfelt song last month on ABC’s Good Morning America. Written by the pair along with Chris DeStefano and co-produced by Smyers and the award-winning Scott Hendricks, the track has already accumulated more than 8 million streams. The duo recently earned American Country Countdown Award nominations for Group/Duo of the Year and Breakthrough Group /Duo of the Year, as well as a nod from the Radio Disney Music Awards for their No. 1 hit single, “Nothin’ Like You.” With their debut album, Where It All Began, producing three Top 40 singles, Dan + Shay have sold an excess of 1.6 million tracks, more than 400,000 album equivalents and racked up more than 140 million streams in addition to their 30 million YouTube views. They also earned Platinum certification from the RIAA for their debut single, “19 You + Me.” MusicRow magazine, which named the pair one of their “Next Big Thing” artists of 2016, declared, “Dan + Shay are equipped to be superstars, possessing the unbeatable combination of musical talent, good looks and outgoing charm.” Dan + Shay are currently on the road and will join Darius Rucker on his Good for a Good Time Tour this summer2C kicking off on June 3 in Tampa, Fla. For tour dates and more information, visit www.DanandShay.com and follow @danandshay on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Dan + Shay Credit: Robby Klein

Brantley Gilbert releases new single ‘Bottoms Up’

Brantley Gilbert’s New single ‘Bottoms Up’ out now Watch the video here International Blackout Tour In May with support from Broken Witt Rebels Brantley Gilbert has announced the UK release of his 3x Platinum-certified American single ‘Bottoms Up’. The smash-hit has had more than 80 million views to date and over 42 million plays on Spotify. Hitting the top spot at country radio Stateside, the UK release of ‘Bottoms Up’ coincides with Brantley’s return next month as part of his international Blackout Tour. Brantley Gilbert UK DATES Thu 05 May 2016 – Glasgow Oran Mor SOLD-OUT Fri 06 May 2016 – Manchester Academy 2 Sat 07 May 2016 – Birmingham O2 Institute 2 Sun 08 May 2016 – London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire Brantley is a force to be reckoned with, notching six career number one singles in the US and selling nearly 10 million tracks to date off his three studio albums which include back-to-back Platinum projects Halfway To Heaven and Just As I Am. Just As I Am scored the third-highest Country chart debut of 2014, landed in the Top 5 Best Country Selling Country Albums of 2014 and was named the American Music Awards Favourite Country Album. The project also features 2x Platinum #1 hit ‘One Hell Of An Amen’ and Gold-certified ‘Small Town Throwdown’. With a blistering stage show, the rough-hewn southern singer-songwriter believes in cutting deep veins of truth into his music. A definite must-see artist, the few remaining tickets for Brantley Gilbert’s headline UK tour are £16.00 (£18.50 London) and are on sale now – http://gigst.rs/BG

KELSEA BALLERINI’S CHART-TOPPER "DIBS" GLIMMERS GOLD

Kelsea Ballerini on Country Music News Blog

KELSEA BALLERINI’S CHART-TOPPER “DIBS” GLIMMERS GOLD Third Single “Peter Pan” Already Taking Flight At Country Radio Pictured (L-R): Josh Kerr, Jason Duke, Kelsea Ballerini, Ryan Griffin, Jason Massey and Forest Glen Whitehead Photo Credit: Ed Rode / ASCAP NASHVILLE, TN (April 15, 2016) – On Wednesday (4/13), ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year Kelsea Ballerini celebrated her second consecutive #1 hit “Dibs” at a formal gathering in Nashville hosted by ASCAP. Surrounded by family, friends, and members of the music industry community, Ballerini was surprised by Black River Entertainment CEO Gordon Kerr with the news that “Dibs” now glimmers GOLD. Co-produced by Forest Glen Whitehead and Jason Massey, the follow up single to “Love Me Like You Mean It” has been officially certified by the RIAA for exceeding 500,000 sales and streams in the U.S. alone. To put off “ugly crying” for a minute or so, Ballerini opened up to the packed crowd with a funny story about her first GOLD record. “When I got my GOLD record for ‘Love Me,’ I got it the same day that my car broke down, which happens all the time, and I put it in my backseat. I brought it to the car shop, and then I got it back from the car shop, to find out they left my car in a sunny parking lot. And my GOLD record is now hanging on my wall, completely melted down to the bottom…and it’s beautiful,” laughed Ballerini. “So I’m really excited to have a new GOLD record, that’s not warped and weird!” Guests cheered on the “Dibs” songwriters – Ballerini, Jason Duke, Ryan Griffin and Josh Kerr – as the publishers (Black River Publishing, Dan Hodges Music and Nyssa Family Music) recognized each writer. The day was extra special for all four ASCAP songwriters since it marked the first career #1’s for both Duke and Griffin as well as second consecutive #1’s for Ballerini and Kerr (Co-writers on “Love Me Like You Mean It”). Ballerini’s third single “Peter Pan” (written by Ballerini, Jesse Lee and Forest Glen Whitehead) continues to soar to new heights, entering the Top 40 this week on the Country radio charts. Alongside “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Dibs,” the song is from her critically-acclaimed debut THE FIRST TIME. Adding to the excitement, Ballerini is up for three Radio Disney Music Awards – Best New Artist (all genre), Favorite Country Song “Dibs,” and Favorite Country Artist – and is also a first-time finalist for the ACCA Female Vocalist Of The Year and Breakthrough Female Of The Year. Ballerini will perform on both awards shows, airing on May 1st. Having shared the stage with Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban, Ballerini recently performed at the Country CMC Rocks Festival in Australia and will join select dates with Billy Currington and Rascal Flatts this spring. About Kelsea Ballerini Kelsea Ballerini launched to stardom with two consecutive record-breaking #1 smashes, making her the first solo female Continue reading KELSEA BALLERINI’S CHART-TOPPER "DIBS" GLIMMERS GOLD

Nashville Bike Week To Cruise Into Middle Tennessee September 2017

Nashville Bike Week To Cruise Into Middle Tennessee September 2017 The newest 10-day motorcycle rally in over 60 years Nashville, Tenn. (April 13, 2016)– Event organizers for the inaugural Nashville Bike Week have announced a 10-day motorcycle rally and festival, based at the historic Loretta Lynn’s Ranch and Camp Grounds, on September 14-24, 2017 in Hurricane Mills, TN. Nashville Bike Week will offer motorcycle enthusiasts live music, stunt shows and multiple scenic rides around the great state. Early bird tickets are currently available online at www.nashvillebikeweek.com. “After over five years of planning, we are excited to announce the newest 10-day rally in over 60 years,” said event organizers. “The scenic state of Tennessee is within hours of more than a dozen other states and with so much to offer, Nashville Bike Week is more than just a rally; it’s an experience.” With over 200k registered motorcyclists just in the state of Tennessee, and an invitation extended to thousands of motorcyclists worldwide, this could prove to be one of the largest and most anticipated bike rallies to take place in this region of the country. Hosted on 2800 acres of beautiful scenery, Nashville Bike Week will offer something for everyone with onsite camping, four stages of live music, over 200 vendors, multiple stunt shows and performers, bike games, charity rides and planned daily rides on some of the most picturesque trails and famous rides in the United States. Two of those celebrated rides include Tail of the Dragon, which straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina state line along the southwestern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Cherohala Skyway, which crosses the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests in both states. Other breathtaking rides with sweeping corners and historic views include Natchez Trace Parkway, TN Route 12 North and hundreds more! For the racing enthusiast, Nashville Bike Week will offer an additional 200 acres set up just 10 miles from the ranch to hold motorcycle flat track and motorcycle dirt drags races during the 10-day event. For bikers who want to experience the historical Nashville honky-tonks and other downtown sites, Nashville Bike Week has arranged exclusive motorcycle parking for Nashville Bike Week attendees (participating bars and information to follow at a later date.) Event-goers are urged to purchase early bird tickets, currently available for $150. Ticket prices will increase starting April 29 when the first headline performer is announced. Ticket price includes primitive onsite camping, hundreds of bands, with major music headliners performing every night, daily shows including death defying stunts by the Ives Brothers, the Busted Knuckle Stunt Tour, along with one of the top fire performers in the country, Torch, The Fire Performer, biker comedian legend, Bag Lady Sue and much more. Together with daily stunt shows, performances, and some of the biggest motorcycle vendors onsite, Nashville Bike Week is set to make history as one of the top motorcycle rallies in the country. Nashville Bike Week is sponsored in part by American Born Moonshine, Miller Lite, and Sun Continue reading Nashville Bike Week To Cruise Into Middle Tennessee September 2017

JUSTIN MOORE GOES UNDERCOVER TO MEET HIS BIGGEST FAN IN PREMIERE OF "THE ED BASSMASTER SHOW" ON CMT

JUSTIN MOORE GOES UNDERCOVER TO MEET HIS BIGGEST FAN IN PREMIERE OF “THE ED BASSMASTER SHOW” ON CMT NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 14, 2016) – YouTube star and prankster Ed Bassmaster helps country music’s Justin Moore go undercover to meet his biggest fan in the premiere episode of “The Ed Bassmaster Show,” airing Thursday, April 14 at 10pm ET/PT on CMT. It will re-air throughout the weekend. For a full list of airdates, visit cmt.com. Click to view the trailer. In the new show, comedian Ed Bassmaster debuts his unique and hilarious characters including Skippy, Mumbles The Waiter and Bushman. Jaws will drop when they see what Justin looks like disguised as someone on his tour who is slightly less famous, all in an effort to surprise one of his long-time fans with a personal meet and greet. [bctt tweet=”@JustinColeMoore goes undercover to surprise biggest fan on @EdBassmaster PREMIERE on @CMT Apr. 14 @ 10pm ET/PT!”] Full of laugh-out-loud moments, fans will get to see the funny side of Justin, platinum-selling, No. 1 hit-maker known for his current single “You Look Like I Need A Drink,” and former hits, “Small Town U.S.A.,” “Backwoods,” “Point At You,” “’Til My Last Day,” “Bait A Hook,” “I Could Kick Your A**,” and “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” Justin’s latest “You Look Like I Need A Drink” is swiftly climbing up the country charts, currently at the No. 25 position. If you haven’t seen the Wild West-themed music video for the song, check it out on cmt.com/videos. “This may be my favorite video I’ve ever shot. I am a huge Western fan, and we shot one with a dose of comedy,” he said. Tune in and be part of the conversation with #EdBassmasterShow and follow @JustinColeMoore on Twitter and Instagram. For more information on Justin Moore, visit justinmooremusic.com. About Justin Moore Arkansas native and 2014 ACM New Artist of the Year Justin Moore recently released his newest single, “You Look Like I Need a Drink” which is currently making its way up the Country radio charts. This follows his second consecutive #1 album release with OFF THE BEATEN PATH. The project produced Justin’s fourth and fifth GOLD-certified #1 hits, “Point At You” and “Lettin’ The Night Roll.” Combined with two previous GOLD–certified albums, he’s sold over 7 million digital downloads. The Valory Music Co. recording artist has been featured on The Voice, Nashville, NFL Rewind, The Washington Post, People Country, USA Today, Fox & Friends and more. He has earned multiple ACM, ACA and ACC Awards nominations. In 2015, Justin was direct support on Brad Paisley’s CRUSHIN’ IT WORLD TOUR. Justin will join Colt Ford on the road this summer for Brantley Gilbert’s TAKE IT OUTSIDE TOUR. For tour dates and more visit, JustinMooreMusic.com.

Inaugural Oklahoma Songwriters Festival announced for Oklahoma City

Inaugural Oklahoma Songwriters Festival announced for Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, OK (April 11, 2016) – The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) is proud to sponsor the inaugural Oklahoma Songwriters Festival, the first-of-it’s kind for Oklahoma. This three-day festival will kick off Thursday, April 28, 2016, with a sponsor reception and conclude with a special “writer round” songwriter showcase on Saturday, April 30 at the ACM@UCO Performance Lab at 7:00 p.m. featuring performances by several talented Oklahoma songwriters and prolific Nashville songwriters including Festival founder and Ada, Oklahoma native, Zac Maloy. “Part of our goal is to create momentum and broaden relationships with the Oklahoma music community, while providing a unique set of performances not readily available to the local music scene in Oklahoma,” said Maloy. “Oklahoma has produced a tremendous lineup of talented songwriters, ranging from J.J. Cale and Leon Russell to Toby Keith and Carrie Underwood,” Governor Mary Fallin said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for budding songwriters to learn from professionals and for all to share ideas and tips. Oklahoma is proud to host this creative and fun event. Who knows? A hit as big as ‘Oklahoma Hills’ or ‘Okie from Muskogee’ may have its origins at the Oklahoma Songwriters Festival.” Several Oklahoma songwriters were invited by the festival organizers to participate in daytime writing sessions with Nashville songwriters. Artists will spend time creating new material with the goal of taking it back to Nashville to be pitched to industry tastemakers and major record labels. OF+MO Director, Tava Maloy Sofsky, notes that, “It is an honor to have my brother, Zac, bring his friends from Music City back home to mentor and work with our ever-so-talented local music community.” The first performance of the festival was curated by Greg Johnson, owner of OKC’s legendary listening room, The Blue Door, Thursday, April 28 at 8:00 p.m, featuring an Oklahoma Songwriter showcase with Michael Fracasso, Kierston White and a special appearance by Beau Jennings. Two music industry panels will be held on Saturday morning, April 30, at ACM@UCO’s Performance Lab at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Distinguished panelists include three Nashville songwriters and a publisher, Greg Johnson and ACM@UCO CEO and Executive Director, Scott Booker, who are all honored to support this opportunity for Oklahoma songwriters. “Songwriting is a key element of the music industry that is easily forgotten. Songwriters are often the Oz behind the curtain helping turn an artist into something even more magical,” said Booker. The panel discussions are free and open to the public, though reserved seating is required. Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m., the festival will head to the ACM@UCO Performance Lab, also in Bricktown, for intimate “writer round” style performances, a format frequently used in Nashville as it allows songwriters the opportunity to perform their original songs, often made popular by chart-topping artists, and tell the stories of how the songs were created. At this showcase, new music will be performed by acclaimed Oklahoma singer songwriter JD McPherson; Marcus Hummon who wrote the Continue reading Inaugural Oklahoma Songwriters Festival announced for Oklahoma City

The Rides’ (Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Barry Goldberg) new record "Pierced Arrow" out May 6 on 429 Records; US tour this spring

THE RIDES’ PIERCED ARROW OUT MAY 6 ON 429 RECORDS – GROUP FEATURES STEPHEN STILLS, KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD AND BARRY GOLDBERG “PIERCED ARROW” TOUR KICKS OFF MAY 2 photo credit Eleanor Stills “a diesel-fueled jam”—Rolling Stone “[Stills] spits out lyrics with joyful abandon…slow, soulful blues don’t get more scorching than Stills’ cracked, craggy vocals and riveting dueling solos.”—American Songwriter The Rides, the project of two time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stephen Stills, five time Grammy nominated guitar great Kenny Wayne Shepherd and celebrated Chicago rock/blues keyboardist Barry Goldberg, are set for the May 6 release of their sophomore album Pierced Arrow on 429 Records. Pierced Arrow, the album title referencing the 1920s classic American car, follows the group’s chart-topping 2013 record Can’t Get Enough (#1 on the Billboard, Amazon and iTunes Blues Charts and a top 40 Billboard debut). The new record, which also includes performances by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble drummer Chris Layton, features more original material from Stills, Shepherd and Goldberg. The record’s first single, “Virtual World,” recently premiered via Relix and can be streamed/shared at http://bit.ly/1YpEEID. The group will celebrate the album’s release with a 16-date U.S. tour, kicking off May 2 in Minneapolis. Please see below for a complete list of dates. For Stills, Shepherd and Goldberg, the process of writing songs from scratch and touring behind their first album opened an exciting new feeling of intimacy that fueled the creative process of writing and recording Pierced Arrow. “We had so much fun playing on stage, we had to do it more,” explains Stills. “Lots of freedom. Kenny and I found a wonderfully exciting knack for playing lead at the same time without a real ‘arrangement,’ just sort of instinctive guessing, from watching each other’s hands. Neil Young and I used to do this with Buffalo Springfield. And the grooves are always right on the money, never rushed or jittery.” Shepherd adds, “For me, it’s a liberating dynamic that’s different from my live solo band because I’m sharing the vocals and guitar playing with Stephen. I love being part of a unit where everyone weighs in with thoughts and opinions.” Goldberg also notes, “It’s so great to be back recording and playing live on this high level again with Stephen and Kenny Wayne, and we’re really excited about the music on Pierced Arrow. The chemistry is just so good between the three of us. We all have so much respect for each other.” A passion for rock and the blues isn’t the only thing The Rides have in common. Stills and Shepherd share a mutual love of classic cars which inspired both the band’s and the new record’s name. Pierced Arrow is a riff on the famed Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company, a maker of luxury cars in the first four decades of the 20th Century; it served as the ultimate musician’s mode of transportation in the ‘20s and ‘30s. PIERCED ARROW TRACK LIST 1. Kick Out of It 2. Riva Diva 3. Continue reading The Rides’ (Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Barry Goldberg) new record "Pierced Arrow" out May 6 on 429 Records; US tour this spring