Category Archives: News

Brian Davis Joins Brantley Gilbert On Tour

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Brian Davis Hits The Road With Brantley Gilbert & Kip Moore For The 2013 Hell On Wheels Tour. Brian Davis will be hitting the road with Brantley Gilbert again on his 2013 Hell On Wheels Tour. This is the second time Davis will be rocking on this tour, as he was part of the first leg in 2012. Davis will be opening for Kip Moore when the tour kicks off January 31 in Independence, MO. “I am really excited to be rolling back out with Brantley Gilbert and having the opportunity to KICK OFF the PARTY every night on the ‘Hell On Wheels Tour’ as well as sharing the stage with Kip Moore,” said Brian Davis. “We had such a great time meeting so many cool fans out on the first leg of the tour. I can only imagine how crazy this next one’s gonna be!” Davis has recorded and released six albums on his own. His current, Under The Influence is on iTunes. We will be getting the chance to see a live show from Davis tomorrow when he opens for Lee Brice in Fort Smith, Ark. Be looking for a show review in the near future!

Ben Wells Teams Up With Ernie Ball

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Ben Wells And Lead Guitarist Partner With Guitar String And Accessories Company. Ben Wells and his lead guitarist, Stephen DeLoach have partnered up with one of the biggest guitar string manufacturing companies around, Ernie Ball. Just releasing his debut, self-titled album, Wells is very excited to be hitting the road with Ernie Ball premium strings and accessories. The company also has their own line of guitars, Music Man. DeLoach is now a proud Music Man artist. “It is an honor and blessing to be able to take Ernie Ball/Music Man on the road. It’s crazy to have our names next to some of these artists. I only hope, one day, we’ll be on the same playing level. Until then, we’re just thankful to have our name associated.” -Wells Ernie Ball endorses many major artists including Brad Paisley, Kid Rock and Kenny Chesney. The company was founded by Roland S. Ball (Ernie) and started manufacturing strings over 50 years ago.

Kelly Clarkson Performs At 2013 Inauguration

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Watch Kelly Clarkson Performs My Country Tis of Thee at 2013 Presidential Inauguration. Vocal power house, Kelly Clarkson, was one of a select group of performers at the 2013 Presidential Inauguration of President Barack Obama. The pop/maybe-country-crossover singer performed “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee’” in super cold weather in Washington, D.C. True to form, Kelly tweeted out to fans about the experience. What an honor to be a part of history! Obama’s presence was powerful and his words unforgettable. It’s a proud day for America! — Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) January 21, 2013 Watch: Kelly Clarkson Sings “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.’”

Country Music Blog Rodeo: 2013 North of Nashville – The Ozarks Go Country

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2013 North of Nashville – The Ozarks Go Country with New Festivals, More Concerts and Local Talent On The Rise! To answer the question of what will be big for country music in 2013, I decided to look close to home, Fayetteville, AR that is, and the closely surrounding area, the Ozarks, River Valley, etc. With so much already happening this year from big album releases to even bigger tours to country stars new and seasoned shining brighter than ever, I think you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t think the next few months are going to be huge for country music. What has me excited though, is the potential for our area up here, north of Nashville, to become a go to spot for for all things country music! Local Festivals: Thunder On The Mountain. If there is one thing we’re excited about in Northwest Arkansas for 2013, it’s the upcoming and brand new country music festival, Thunder On The Mountain! Nestled into the beautiful Mulberry Mountain, this fest will encapsulate the best of the area: beautiful views, a wonderful landscape and live country music! The festival claims a really impressive line-up that includes Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, JT Hodges, Big & Rich, Montgomery Gentry, Justin Moore, Gretchen Wilson, Easton Corbin and so many, many more. Taking place June 6th – 8th, this festival is going to be one of the major events for the surrounding states of the summer! We’re proud to welcome them to our backyard, and can’t wait to experience the new country fest front and center. Local Venues: The Amp & Georges Majestic Lounge. Truth be told, there are a lot of amazing venues in “our area” (which we broadly claim to be anywhere between the Ozarks, Northwest Arkansas, OKC, Tulsa and everything in between!) from the newly opened Longhorn Saloon in Ft. Smith, AR to the historic Cain’s Ballroom in Tusa, OK, on any given weekend there is going to be a country concert to attend. Today, though, I want to highlight two specific venues, mere miles from our HQ in Fayetteville, The Amp (Arkansas Music Pavilion) and Georges Majestic Lounge. Last year, The Amp hopped locations moving from a concrete spot to greener pastures, and it’s clear they are on the verge of unleashing something big. This something “big” has a whole lot to do with a whole lot more country acts coming to this area. In 2012 they quietly unveiled the 1st ever Taste of Country Festival bringing such popular folks as Miranda Lambert along with the Pistol Annies, Randy Houser, noteworthy songwriter Chris Knight and on the rise Adam Hood. Outside of this one night shindig, they also brought other big names to the area like Hank Williams Jr. and Luke Bryan. Their new concert season will kick off in the spring, and they already have Little Big Town scheduled as the first country act to perform on the new grounds in 2013. If last year is any indication, Continue reading Country Music Blog Rodeo: 2013 North of Nashville – The Ozarks Go Country→

Randy Houser First #1 Single

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Randy Houser Gets First #1 Single With “How Country Feels.” The CMNB team would like to give a huge congratulations to Randy Houser! He reached the top for the first time with his current single “How Country Feels.” Houser tweeted earlier today, “Thank all of u for congratulating me on my 1st number 1!!! I’m so thrilled and blessed. Thank u Country Radio and listeners for ur support.” The song is a favorite in our office and the honor of a #1 slot is well deserved. To top it off, Houser releases his brand new album at midnight! Get your copy of How Country Feels and enjoy all 15 tracks on it!

Vote Lee Brice for 2013 ACM Award Newcomer

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YOU Can vote for Lee Brice for an 2013 ACM Award for New Artist of the Year! You can help Lee Brice win an ACM Award for New Artist of the Year! Last week the Academy of Country Music announced the nominees for three fan voted newcomer categories! These feature groups for male vocalist, female vocalist and group or duo. The individuals in these 3 categories will be narrowed down via fan votes, and the remaining folks with the most votes will be in the running for the New Artist of the Year category! Guess what? The talented CMNB favorite, Lee Brice needs your help! He is currently in the running in the newcomer category for male vocalist and you can help him be one of the New Artist finalist! Voting opened today, and you can weigh in here. The 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 7th, 2013 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS. Current Lee Brice Tour Dates and Tickets!

Dustin Lynch: Live Show Review

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Dustin Lynch Proves He’s The Real Deal with Live Performance at George’s Majestic Lounge In Fayetteville, AR. When I first heard Dustin Lynch‘s debut album, I knew I just had to see him live. I was primarily curious to see if he would be as good live as he is on his record. After seeing his recent performance in front of a packed crowd at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, AR, I can honestly tell you that Lynch is even better in person! This talented young man has charisma coming out of his ears, and he really knows how to work a crowd. The audience that night came for a good time, and boy did they get it! Well-Rounded Set of Great Music! Of course it really doesn’t hurt that straight out of the gate, Dustin has an album of fourteen tracks that are sure to please a crowd. Playing upbeat tunes like his current feisty single, “She Cranks My Tractor,” and the sassy “Wild In Your Smile,” and then slowing it down with songs like the bittersweet “Hurricane” and the subtly sexy “Sittin’ Pretty,” Lynch had a song for everybody. Besides playing his own music though, he had a few covers to offer up like a great rendition Garth Brooks’ classic “Friends In Low Places.” He kept the energy in the high straight through the end, and finished things up with his hit “Cowboys and Angels” that had everyone singing along, and all the young women in the room swooning (though to be fair, they were pretty smitten during the entire concert!). Concert Had a Great Energy! Besides having a well rounded set though, Lynch didn’t hold back on interacting with audience members which added to the energy of the show. Whether he was handing out cold beer from the stage or pulling guys and gals from the audience on stage for an impromptu dance contest of sorts, Dustin made sure the whole concert felt like a party! From beginning to end, things never lagged and it was a night that fans were sure to remember. As a matter of fact, I was in line at George’s just this past weekend for another show, and folks were still talking about Lynch’s show. I’d say he left some kind of a good impression! All Signs Point to a Great Guy! Besides all that, even after the concert had finished up Dustin was still willing to give his time to his fans. Guys and girls lined up to take pictures and greet their new favorite country artist, and he took the time to meet each and everyone of them. I’m talking over an hour of taking photos and shaking hands after giving such an energetic show, and this country newbie was just as warm and friendly to the last as he was to the first. I can’t promise that fans will get similar chances after every show, but it’s clear the Lynch cares about his fans and is willing to repay Continue reading Dustin Lynch: Live Show Review→

Parmalee Headline 2013 Country Gone Wild Tour

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Country Rockers Parmalee Headline 2013 Country Gone Wild Tour. New on the scene country rockers, Parmalee have been tapped to headline the 2013 Country Gone Wild Tour which will kick off February 15th in Ladson, SC! The family group, Matt and Scott Thomas (Lead Vocals/Guitar and Drums, respectively), cousin Barry Knox (Bass) and life-long best friend Josh McSwain (Guitar), has been together since 2001, but just began gaining traction with the recent single, “Musta Had a Good Time.” They’ll be joined on the road by Bush Hawg. Find more on Parmalee here. Get tour dates below! Watch: Parmalee “Musta Had A Good Time” Official Music Video. 2013 Country Gone Wild Tour Dates: Feb. 15 Ocean Restaurant & Events/Ladson, SC Feb. 16 Bucked Up Super Saloon/Kernersville, NC Feb. 21 The Altar Bar/Pittsburgh, PA Feb. 22 The Bluestone/Columbus, OH Feb. 23 Dusty Armadillo/Rootstown, OH Mar. 2 Phase 2/Lynchburg, VA Mar. 15 Joe’s on Weed St./ Chicago, IL Mar. 16 The Rave/Milwaukee, WI

Tim McGraw Two Lanes of Freedom Sweepstakes

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Two Lanes of Freedom Sweepstakes: You Could Win A Trip To See Tim McGraw Perform Live! As we announced earlier this week, Tim McGraw is launching his brand new 2013 Two Lanes of Freedom tour in May! The tour sponsor, Penzoil, is teaming up with McGraw to offer fans the chance to win a really awesome prize. Fans could win a trip to see Tim perform live on the historical USS Midway Aircraft Carrier in San Diego, CA on Tuesday February 5th, the day of his album release (also titled Two Lanes of Freedom)! The prize will also include two passes to meet the country star! Get full details below! Tim McGraw Two Lanes of Freedom Sweepstakes Details. Enter by going here! Trip Dates: 2/04-2/06/2013 Trip includes round-trip coach airfare, two-night double-occupancy accommodations in San Diego, ground transportation to/from hotel/airport and to/from USS Midway event Winner must be at least 18 Once winner name is submitted to Big Machine Records, trip is non-transferable Online contest ends 11:59pm (EST) on Sunday, January 21st

Rascal Flatts Cancel Shows Due to Illness

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Rascal Flatts Forced to Cancel and Reschedule Weekend Shows Due to Illness. Rascal Flatts who just kicked off the 2013 dates for their Changed Tour have been forced to cancel and reschedule shows slated for this weekend. Fans tickets will be good for the reschedule dates, and the new dates will still feature opening act, The Band Perry. Ticket holders who can’t attend the rescheduled concerts will be able to receive a refund.The following shows are impacted: Rascal Flatts Rescheduled Dates Friday, January 18th (Tulsa, OK) moved to —> Saturday, August 10th Saturday, January 19th (Wichita, KS) moved to —> Friday, August 9th We wish Rascal Flatts a speedy recovery, and hope that all the fans can attend the rescheduled dates without too much conflict!