Author Archives: Country Music News

John Anderson To Perform First Nashville-Based Acoustic Concert In Over 30 Years

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Set To Appear On General Jackson Showboat As Debut Act On 650 AM WSM’s Country On The Cumberland (Nashville, Tenn. – July 17, 2015) – Country music icon and Hall Of Fame songwriter, John Anderson, will perform an intimate acoustic show in Nashville on July 29 as he appears as the first guest on the inaugural Country On The Cumberland concert series, presented by 650 AM WSM. The special acoustic show, which will take place aboard the General Jackson Showboat, is a rare opportunity for fans to experience Anderson’s intimate show and marks the Country music legend’s first Nashville-based acoustic concert performance in over 30 years. As part of 650 AM WSM’s 90th celebration, the station is hosting the unique concert series aboard the General Jackson Showboat from July – October and will feature a spotlight artist for each concert. Listeners can purchase tickets to the Inaugural Country On The Cumberland concert via WSMonline.com, which includes an evening cruise down the Cumberland aboard the General Jackson Showboat, dinner, and a very special acoustic concert from the legendary John Anderson. Anderson will perform songs from his hit catalog and most recent album release, Goldmine, which was released on May 26. The highly anticipated new project features songs of faith, family, loss, the love of life and more, and is his first studio album release in nine years. Goldmine is now available for download on iTunes, Amazon and other major digital retailers. Included on the album is leadoff single “I Work a Lot Better,” which hit radio in mid-May. The rocking mid-tempo track is in the style of previous chart-topping hits, such as “Money in the Bank.” Raised in Apopka, Fla., John Anderson grew up listening to both rock and traditional country. In the end, Anderson resisted the call of rock ‘n roll and chose to pursue his country music dreams, and is recognized as one of the greatest country singers to ever step up to the microphone and possesses one of the most instantly identifiable vocal instruments in the history of the genre. In 1977, Anderson signed with Warner Brothers Records and had his first major hit in 1980 with Billy Joe Shaver’s, “I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Someday).” Other hits include the classic “Wild and Blue” released in 1982, and “Swingin,” the No. 1 Billboard Country single co-written with Lionel Delmore that would lead Anderson to garner the CMA Horizon Award. Throughout his career, Anderson has produced 31 albums and released more than 60 singles (26 of which charted in the Top 10). He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on October 5, 2014, and holds a wealth of industry awards including Academy of Country Music Career Achievement Award. Anderson is currently touring heavily throughout the United States. For a complete list of upcoming tour dates, please visit JohnAnderson.com/tour. Read more at AristoPR!

DARIUS RUCKER EXTENDS SOUTHERN STYLE TOUR INTO FALL THANKS TO OVERWHELMING DEMAN

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Rolling Stone’s ‘chillest dude in Nashville’ also to release video for latest single ‘Southern Style’ NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (Friday, July 17, 2015) – Darius Rucker’s Southern Style Tour has been such a success this summer, the singer has decided to extend it into the fall. After an astounding 400,000 fans turned out for the first leg, Rucker will now stretch his laidback, hit-filled tour into November. Coming off last weekend’s huge sellouts in Gilford, N.H., Boston, Mass., and Jones Beach, N.Y., the summer run has 15 shows left and is on track to exceed 700,000 tickets sold. Show dates and ticket information for the fall run will be announced next week. Breakout band A Thousand Horses will continue its run with Rucker and David Nail will join the tour in October. Fans have been picking up on that vibe – from A Thousand Horses’ special blend of Southern rock and country to kick off the night to Rucker’s all-around entertainer abilities. Brett Eldredge has added a dress-up gloss to the affair this summer, something Nail also is known for. Critics have also responded warmly to the tour. “Rucker proved to be one to defy expectations, if not challenge conventions,” the Asbury Park Press said of the concert. And The Record noted Rucker’s “once-in-a-lifetime voice — burly and richly textured — as well as a vocal delivery that’s warm and ingratiating.” Find out more straight from the source! http://ebmediapr.com/dariusrucker/924-darius-rucker-extends-southern-style-tour-into-fall-thanks-to-overwhelming-deman

Kenny Chesney Sets Target Field Record A Third Time

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Kenny Chesney on Country Music News

44,152 Show Up for First of Two Nights of The Big Revival 2015 Tour Minneapolis, MN (July 19, 2015)– In 2012, Kenny Chesney set the record at the Target Field with 42,542 fans rocked. In 2013, the 8-time Entertainer of the Year broke that record with 43,940 fans played to – a number even Sir Paul McCartney couldn’t topple when he played there last summer. But on the first night of a two night stand, the man The Wall Street Journal called “The King of the Road” set the record again, playing to 44,152 fans for a new single night record with tonight’s show already almost sold out. “This has been the most amazing tour,” Chesney said. “Every week, it seems like the fans are louder, more alive, more inside the songs – and as someone who wants to connect with every last fan, right up to the top back of the stadium, that’s the best feeling in the world! I can’t believe how in the moment tonight’s audience was, and I can’t wait for tomorrow to do it all again.” Comparing and contrasting Garth Brooks, long-time Minneapolis Star-Tribune critic Jon Bream offered, “Style: Garth is all about mugging, Kenny about being in motion. Garth is all about sincerity, Kenny is all about fun. Garth is an unrepentant showman, Kenny is amped-up rock star with a cowboy hat,” while The Pioneer Press’ Ross Raihala wrote, “Chesney remained the alpha…” Find out more straight from the source! http://ebmediapr.com/kennychesney/925-kenny-chesney-sets-target-field-record-a-third-time

New EP From The Cains NOW Available On iTunes

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(Nashville, Tenn. – July 21, 2015) – Country’s newest sibling harmony band, The Cains, have released their self-titled EP to fans today, Tuesday, July 21. The five-track EP is available on iTunes, Amazon and other major digital retailers. The Cains features songs co-written by the group’s Logan, Madison and Taylor Cain, with additional writer credits, including Jaida Dreyer, Stephony Smith, Billy Lawson, Ed Hill, Becki Devries and Dave Thompson. The EP was produced and mixed by Daniel Agee. Leadoff single, “Journey’s End” is a sentimental ballad about love, family and hope, and is currently playing On The Horizon on Sirius XM’s The Highway. Of the new music, Logan Cain commented, “It’s funny that we are ‘releasing’ this EP because that’s the word that comes to mind when I think about these songs – release. Now that we can share this record with the world, I feel such a release. We’ve poured everything that we are into this project and cannot wait for the fans to hear it. From top to bottom, this EP captures exactly who we are as artists.” The two sisters and brother from Hartselle, Ala. have shared a lot over the years, but their passion for music is what has brought them together as The Cains, a country band with unique harmonies and a variety of influences. Taylor, Madison and Logan Cain are not only singers and songwriters, but also multifaceted entertainers and musicians who play guitar, piano, bass, harmonica, mandolin, drums and more. Their original music features compelling, edgy lyrics that evoke emotion and is inspired by a vast combination of genres from country, soul and pop to Americana, folk and contemporary Christian. Most recently, the group partnered with Bravo TV to write and perform exclusive re-cap tracks for the network’s hit reality television show, “Southern Charm.” The group wrote and recorded original tunes, all titled “Southern Charm,” that musically recount episodes within the series. In March of 2015, hot off the heels of a successful radio debut and packed performances at Country Radio Seminar 2015, The Cains broke onto the U.K. Country music scene with their first international appearance at London’s Country to Country (C2C) festival, Europe’s largest and most well-attended Country music event of the year. After their wildly successful C2C performances, the group landed a cover feature and four-page spread on the UK’s leading Country music magazine, Up! Country Magazine. The group has also recently inked a booking agreement with Nashville’s The Kinkead Entertainment Agency. For more information on The Cains, view their website at www.TheCainsOfficial.com and follow them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Read more at AristoPR!

CHASE RICE ANNOUNCES FIRST ROUND OF DATES FOR UPCOMING JD AND JESUS TOUR 2015

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Kenny Chesney’s stadium tour opener will headline fall run with The Cadillac Three joining as a special guest for select shows NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 24, 2015) – After announcing earlier this week that he will be hitting the road as a headliner this fall on the JD and Jesus Tour 2015, Columbia Nashville recording artist Chase Rice is releasing the first round of dates for the tour today, July 24. Major stops will include Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh and New York City, with more markets and on-sale information to be announced in the coming weeks. For his third headlining tour, Rice tapped raucous Nashville trio The Cadillac Three to join as a special guest on select shows. He sold out multiple venues on his 2014 Ignite The Night Tour and led Live Nation’s Ones To Watch: Ready Set Roll Tour in 2013 before his now-Platinum Top 5 single, “Ready Set Roll,” had even hit the mainstream airwaves. Rice’s live show has been hailed as “both never-ending and refreshing” (The Trinity Voice) and critics say he “commands a performance with such force and zeal, that he will have you hooked from the time you walk in the doors to the time you leave” (AXS.com). Having spent the summer taking notes from his musical hero and tourmate Kenny Chesney on The Big Revival Tour, Rice is poised to hit the road this fall with more energy and passion than ever before. Find out more straight from the source! http://ebmediapr.com/chaserice/928-chase-rice-announces-first-round-of-dates-for-upcoming-jd-and-jesus-tour-2015

Amy Wilcox Releases Music Video for New Summertime Single, “Summer In Slow Motion”

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(Nashville, Tenn. – July 7, 2015) – Singer-songwriter Amy Wilcox has released a new music video for her single, “Summer In Slow Motion.” Produced by Dusty Barker and directed by Justin Clough, the video is now available for viewing on Wilcox’s YouTube channel, here, and the song is available for download on iTunes, Amazon and other major digital retailers. Written by Wilcox, Lisa Goe and Jordan Schmidt, and produced by Schmidt, “Summer In Slow Motion” is an upbeat party anthem about enjoying the long days of summer with friends. Of the new single, Wilcox commented, “Lisa, Jordan and I were all talking about how excited we were that summer was finally coming and how every year, we always say, ‘I’m really gonna make this one count,’ and then it just flies by. The idea behind ‘Summer In Slow Motion’ is that you have to do everything you can to make every second count. Do the things you truly want to do and have fun. Just remember to slow down, appreciate what you have and make every moment worth it.” Born in Oklahoma and raised in Arlington, Va., Wilcox first moved to Music City to play Division 1 soccer at Vanderbilt University. While majoring in history and economics with a minor in communications, she topped the SEC Academic Honor Roll and was a leader in shots-on-goal percentage for the Vanderbilt Commodores. After graduating from Vanderbilt, Wilcox took to the road to pursue music full time and began playing at bars and honky-tonks all over the U.S. Wilcox was also a featured cast member on A&E’s “Crazy Hearts: Nashville.” The show documented the lives of up-and-coming Nashville artists and Wilcox is featured on two tracks from the Original Soundtrack, now releasing her highly anticipated single since coming off the show. For more information on Amy Wilcox, visit her official website at www.AmyWilcox.com and follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Amy WilcoxPhoto credit: Chase Lauer of The Lookout CollectiveHi-res Read more at AristoPR!

SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH HUNTER HAYES AND PARTY LIKE YOU’RE “21”

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CMT, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Palladia and CMT Canada band together to launch Hunter Hayes “21” Weekend as the video for Hayes’ hot new single premieres worldwide on Saturday, June 27 NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (June 27, 2015) – Hunter Hayes is taking the world by storm with his anthemic new single, “21,” already racking up nearly 9 million streams and entering the Top 40 on Billboard country charts since the song debuted just weeks ago via streaming and digital services in what Billboard called “country’s biggest digital experiment to date.” Starting today, June 27, CMT is kicking off Hunter Hayes’ “21” across CMT Hot 20 and all platforms as the new music video for “21” makes its global premiere. Sister networks MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Palladia and CMT Canada are also joining in the weekend-long premiere before the video releases to all partners on Monday, June 29. Watch the video for “21” here. Find out more straight from the source! http://ebmediapr.com/hunterhayes/915-spend-the-weekend-with-hunter-hayes-and-party-like-youre-21

KENNY CHESNEY VISITS FIRST COASTAL CONSERVATION REEFS IN ST. JOHN RIVER

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Jacksonville, Fla. (June 29, 2015) — Kenny Chesney got to do something very special before his sold-out Florida Country Superfest show June 14: the East Tennessee songwriter/superstar visited the first two No Shoes Reefs in Jacksonville’s St. John River. Named the Coastal Conservation Association and George Holt Reefs, the man-made reefs – designed to promote quality of aquatic life – were built through the support of Chesney’s ongoing partnership with Costa Del Mar Sunglasses and The Coastal Conservation Association/Building Conservation Trust. “It’s so easy to take the oceans and waterways for granted,” Chesney says. “What they were able to create here says a lot about the ways man can live not just in harmony, but supporting our natural aquatic resources. Beyond clean water, it is about supporting healthy marine life… and that includes being aware of the impact of erosion under the water.” Thirteen-hundred tons of concrete was used to create the two reefs. In total, 18 barge loads were needed to carry the material to the two designated reef sites. Each reef measures 200’ x 200’ – and were built in a two-week time frame to minimize disruption. Find out more straight from the source! http://ebmediapr.com/kennychesney/916-kenny-chesney-visits-first-coastal-conservation-reefs-in-st-john-river

Amber Hayes Releases New Song, “Hero’s Heart,” in Honor of Her Uncle and Medal of Honor Recipient, Bennie G. Adkins

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(Nashville, Tenn. – June 30, 2015) – Country artist Amber Hayes has written and recorded a new song titled, “Hero’s Heart” in honor of her uncle, Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2014. Hayes was in attendance at the White House with her uncle when he was presented with the award, which is the United States of America’s highest military honor. Hayes commented of her inspiration to write the song, saying, “Watching my Uncle Bennie, who is so humble, receive the Medal of Honor at the White House and be recognized for his bravery and service to our country was very emotional, and my entire family is just so, so proud of him. When I got back to Nashville, I wanted to pay tribute to him in some way and writing a song was the best way I knew how to do that. I found myself tearing up several times writing ‘Hero’s Heart’ just thinking about the sacrifice that he and all of our other service men and women make to keep this great country safe. I just want my Uncle Bennie to know we will be forever thankful for his service.” The special song recently premiered on CountryWeekly.com and can be heard here. Hayes is also featured as the “Who’s New” artist in the 7/6 issue of the publication, which is on stands now. President Barack Obama awarded Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins with the Medal of Honor in September 2014 for his bravery at the battle of Camp “A Shau” in the Republic of Vietnam. From March 9-12, 1966, Adkins, who is now among some of the most highly decorated soliders in the United States of America, distingushed himself during a 38-hour close-combat battle, and 48-hour escape and evasion, in which a large North Vietnamese force attacked the US military base. Adkins fought with mortars, machine guns, recoilless rifles, small arms and hand grenades expending an estimated 135-175 enemy troops and sustaing over 18 different wounds during the conflict, in which he vailently protected and rescued many fellow US troops. For an extended version of the account please visit, http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/adkins/. “Hero’s Heart” is now available for download on Hayes’ offical website, www.AmberHayesMusic.com, as well as iTunes, Amazon and other major digital retailers. For more information about Amber, visit www.AmberHayesMusic.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Read more at AristoPR!

A THOUSAND HORSES’ CHART-TOPPING HIT “SMOKE” OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED GOLD

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Will Debut New Single, “(This Ain’t No) Drunk Dial” on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on June 24 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 17, 2015) – Another week, another reason to celebrate for breakout Country rockers A Thousand Horses. And it seems like it’s been a non-stop celebration for months now. Just seven days after their debut album SOUTHERNALITY was released, their first single “Smoke” has officially been RIAA-certified GOLD. SOUTHERNALITY also debuts at No. 3 this week on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The Dave Cobb-produced album is available now at iTunes and all other major retailers. Michael Hobby, Bill Satcher, Graham DeLoach and Zach Brown also learned this week they will be making their late-night television debut when they play ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on June 24 where they will perform their next single, “(This Ain’t No) Drunk Dial.” Watch the new video for the song here. Fans have been rallying around A Thousand Horses since the release of first single “Smoke,” which set a record for highest debut on the Mediabase Country songs chart and reached No. 1 the first week of June, making A Thousand Horses the first Country band of more than three members to reach No. 1 with its debut single since December 2008. It’s been a scorching run for a band Rolling Stone, USA Today and other tastemakers have hailed as ones to watch in 2015. Find out more straight from the source! http://ebmediapr.com/athousandhorses/912-a-thousand-horses-chart-topping-hit-smoke-officially-certified-gold