About Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena is a freelance writer for both Country Music News and Country Music On Tour. Want to collab on some content? Email me. Want my rates for commercial promo work? Get them right here.

Nickelback Goes Country?

Nickelback is known for their hard-hitting rock and roll… so why is their video playing on CMT? CMT just put Nickelback’s video for “This Afternoon” into the rotation. Not really what I would expect to see on CMT, although it’s rare enough to turn to that station and see music videos at all anymore. To his credit though, Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger did write “Business Doing Pleasure With You,” which Tim McGraw fans have so thoroughly enjoyed, so maybe there’s some real country in this guy Kroeger. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how the video fares with the fans.Country Music Photo Gallery

Country Throwdown Tour Cancels Four Stops

The Country Throwdown Tour has canceled four stops this summer due to low ticket sales. The 2010 Country Throwdown Tour featuring Montgomery Gentry, The Lost Trailers, Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Little Big Town, and Jack Ingram, has fallen victim to what tour organizers refer to as the industry’s tendency to self-cannibalize their market. With too many summer concert festivals overlapping each other, the tour has failed to meet acceptable ticket sales to support the following dates: The canceled shows are June 9 in Houston, June 10 in Dallas, June 17 in San Diego and June 18 in Phoenix. The Bakersfield, Cal. date, originally set for June 16, was moved to Friday, June 18. Tickets from the Houston, Dallas, San Diego and Phoenix shows will be honored at all other Throwdown tour dates. Otherwise fans are able to get a refund for their tickets at their original point of purchase. Tour Producer Kevin Lyman, said, “After many attempts to keep these shows, we’re regretfully unable to bring Throwdown to these four markets.” “Low tickets sales and too many shows competing with one another” caused the cancellation, according to Lyman. “We are trying to bring a festival style tour with 21 artists, at a reasonable and fair ticket price (average ticket cost $31), but because most markets are currently flooded with shows, we end up cannibalizing one another and someone ends up with lower ticket sales.” “As a result, we can’t afford to keep the show on the road for all of its intended dates. It’s a first year tour and we expected year one to be full of key lessons, so that next year – and there will be a next year – is even better.”

The Lost Trailers Break Up

Relatively newcomers on the Nashville mainstream, The Lost Trailers surprised fans with the announcement that they are calling it quits. The Lost Trailers seem to be another Nashville comet, burning brightly with their hit single “Holler Back” before fading into the night. According to sources, the band will continue to play out all currently scheduled engagements before heading off on individual career paths.There has been no word so far as to what led up to the split of the band, but the members seem amicable and sweet about it. “We started this band as a bunch of high school friends with a dream of making music, and we’ve taken that dream to incredible places that have opened a lot of doors for us,” Stokes Neilson said. “I look forward to thanking the fans on our tour dates throughout this year; they’ve always been there for us.” You can catch The Lost Trailers at one of the remaining Country Throwdown Tour dates: Event Venue Date/Time Country Throwdown Virginia Beach Amphitheatre Virginia Beach, VA Friday 6/4/2010 12:00 PM view tickets Country Throwdown: Montgomery Gentry Jiffy Lube Live (Formerly Nissan Pavilion) Bristow, VA Sunday 6/6/2010 2:15 PM view tickets Country Throwdown Usana Amphitheater Salt Lake City, UT Saturday 6/12/2010 7:00 PM view tickets Country Throwdown Comfort Dental Amphitheatre (formerly Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre) Englewood, CO Sunday 6/13/2010 8:00 PM view tickets Country Throwdown Rabobank Arena Bakersfield, CA Wednesday 6/16/2010 TBD view tickets Country Throwdown Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre (formerly Coors Amphitheatre) Chula Vista, CA Thursday 6/17/2010 1:00 PM view tickets Country Throwdown Cricket Wireless Pavilion Phoenix, AZ Friday 6/18/2010 1:00 PM view tickets Country Throwdown Verizon Wireless Amphitheater – CA Irvine, CA Saturday 6/19/2010 1:00 PM view tickets Country Throwdown Shoreline Amphitheatre – CA Mountain View, CA Sunday 6/20/2010 1:00 PM view tickets Country Music Photo Gallery

Zac Brown Band New Album

Okay all you Zac Brown Band fans, they have a new album expected out this fall. According to Billboard, the majority of Zac Brown Band’s second album is complete. Guitarist-Keyboardist Coy Bowles revealed some information about the new album. “I would say 85% of the album is already cut.” He went on further to say that the new album “steps in a direction of maturity without going over people’s heads. It’s been seasoned a little bit, its still the same wine, just couple years older and it tastes a little sweeter.” Personally, I am anxiously waiting the release of this new album and have no doubt it will be just as amazing as their first.Country Music Photo Gallery

Laura Bell Bundy at The Grand Ole Opry

Laura Bell Bundy at The Grand Ole Opry? Ridiculous! Last Saturday night, Laura Bell Bundy, debuted on the stage of The Grand Ole Opry. How long has Bundy been in the country music industry? I don’t know, maybe all of five minutes! What considerations are looked at before an artist is asked to perform on The Opry? I’m thinking with the latest guest appearance, not much. I mean we are talking about a stage that Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, and George Jones have performed on. So, someone please enlighten me as to why this girl deserves such an honor?Country Music Photo Gallery

Uncle Kracker:Happy Hour – The South River Road Sessions

Uncle Kracker, Top Dog/Atlantic recording artist, will debut a 6 track release for country music fans next month. Uncle Kracker, A.K.A Matthew Shafer, has worked with both Kenny Chesney (When The Sun Goes Down) and Kidd Rock (All Summer Long.) Happy Hour – The South River Road Sessions are revised tracks originally found on Uncle Kracker’s acclaimed 2009 album, “HAPPY HOUR.” “I’ve always had a genuine passion for country. I think that audiences appreciate that, and that’s why they’re giving me a chance,” Uncle Kracker explains. “Country music was one of the types of music I grew up with, so elements of it naturally come out in my songwriting. Listening to a lot of my songs – all the way back to ‘Follow Me’ – I feel like I’ve been making country music for years.” Country Music fans make sure to tune in to the 2010 CMT Music Awards, set for broadcast Wednesday, June 9th on CMT to watch Uncle Kracker celebrate the release of “Happy Hour – The South River Road Sessions.” Kracker will also be among the star-studded line-up appearing in Nashville at the annual CMA Music Festival, scheduled for June 13th at the festival’s Riverfront Park Stage. Track Listing: 1. Smile 2. Good To Be Me (featuring Kid Rock) 3. Me Again (featuring Jesse Lee) 4. I’m Not Leaving 5. Living The Dream 6. Letter to My DaughtersCountry Music Photo Gallery

2010 CMT Director Of The Year

Below are the nominees for Director of the Year! Leave us a comment with your prediction, and watch the 2010 CMT Music Awards live June 9th! Director: Deaton Flanigen Videos: “Temporary Home” – Carrie Underwood “The Truth” – Jason Aldean “All I Ask for Anymore” – Trace Adkins “Red White and Pink-Slip Blues” – Hank Williams Jr. “Why Don’t We Just Dance” – Josh Turner “Eight Second Ride” – Jake Owen “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” – John Rich “Work Hard, Play Harder” – Gretchen Wilson Director: Chris Hicky Videos: “Hurry Home” – Jason Michael Carroll “Bonfire” – Craig Morgan “I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes” – Dierks Bentley “Kiss a Girl” – Keith Urban “Only You Can Love Me This Way” – Keith Urban “White Liar” – Miranda Lambert “The Man I Want to Be” – Chris Young “Small Town USA” – Justin Moore “Whistlin’ Dixie” – Randy Houser Director: Shaun Silva Videos: “Indian Summer” – Brooks & Dunn “Out Last Night” – Kenny Chesney “Rain Is a Good Thing” – Luke Bryan “Here Comes Goodbye” – Rascal Flatts “Summer Nights” – Rascal Flatts “Living for the Night” – George Strait “Nightswimming/Joey” – Sugarland “Keep You” – Sugarland “I’m Alive” – Kenny Chesney “Do I” – Luke Bryan Director: Roman White Videos: “It’s Just That Way” – Alan Jackson “Mister Officer” – Jypsi “You Belong With Me” – Taylor Swift “Fifteen” – Taylor Swift “Didn’t Know You Know How Much I Loved You” – Kellie Pickler “Best Days of Your Life” – Kellie Pickler “Hillbilly Bone” – Blake Shelton “Skinny Dippin’” – Whitney Duncan Country Music Photo Gallery