Category Archives: New Music

Swearingen And Kelli Release “The Marrying Kind” July 21st

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Swearingen and Kelli Country Music News

Americana husband-and-wife duo Swearingen and Kelli are set to release their sophomore album, The Marrying Kind, on July 21, 2017.  Unafraid of spilling their guts in their music, the Florida-based twosome of AJ Swearingen and Jayne Kelli presents 12 songs that challenge the listener to explore life’s hard questions while embracing what you have in the moment. The Marrying Kind is an album steeped in the sounds of Americana and country-folk with rich harmonies and character voices that are a modern echo of the singer-songwriters of the ’60s and ’70s. Organic, honest, and real, their music springs from a connected, closely shared life. “The creative process is very vulnerable and we trust each other completely,” says Swearingen. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTvY4qz9Xv0[/embedyt] Drawing from influences and inspiration unique and shared, they trade off lead vocals, showcasing the strengths of both members.  Says Swearingen: “We really dialed in our Americana country sound on this album. I used lap-steel on many of the songs. I was very inspired by the sounds of David Lindley (Jackson Browne) and Jerry Douglas (Alison Krauss). I even used a 1936 Rickenbacker to replicate some of those early sounds from the ’70s.” Kelli gave up a pull towards perfection for the sake of genuine, emotional performances. The lead-off, title track highlights the power of Kelli’s vocal, while telling the story of someone accustomed to her freedom and life on her own terms who second-guesses her aversion to settling down.  “Annalise” uses a haunting, Appalachian feel to bring to life a tale of a man holding onto a memory of his true love that will never die.  Tracks such as “Trying to Try,” “Survival,” and “Why Wait” are both contemplative and encouraging and promote taking risks, while not discounting the uncertainties that face us all.  Kelli’s vocals perhaps do not shine brighter than on “Leaving Yourself,” a song that is part Norah Jones, part Paul Simon and offers an interesting perspective on the story of love.  All the way to the final notes of the closing track, “Satellite Friends,” a song that confronts the struggle of truly connecting with others, the artistic benchmark has been set high with The Marrying Kind. AJ Swearingen, born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, grew up in a house where the classic country records of Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson were always spinning. “I love that music, but the folk records of the early ’70s like Gordon Lightfoot and Simon & Garfunkel are what really fueled my desire to pursue a life in music.” He began playing at 13 and started performing professionally in his late teens. His acoustic guitar finger style echoes his influences – James Taylor, Paul Simon and Lindsey Buckingham – but his silky, soulful baritone voice is definitely his own. Jayne Kelli’s voice is both husky and sweet, tender and bluesy. Kelli was born in the small country town of Lapeer, Michigan. She grew up listening to her parents perform songs by John Denver, Jim Croce, and Glen Campbell around Continue reading Swearingen And Kelli Release “The Marrying Kind” July 21st→

Brandy Clark releases outtake from BIG DAY IN A SMALL TOWN, “You’re Drunk”

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Brandy Clark on Country Music News Blog

Session that garnered two-of-six GRAMMY nominations for Clark, unreleased track now at digital retail and streaming; click here to stream“You’re Drunk” It’s been just over a year since critically-acclaimed touring artist Brandy Clark released her sophomore album Big Day in a Small Town, which garnered two 2017 GRAMMY nominations for Best Country Album and Best Country Solo Performance (“Love Can Go To Hell”). As reported today by Rolling Stone Country, the songstress who has been heralded as “country music’s most reliable character witness” (The Washington Post) returns with new music in a digital release of the sharply witty “You’re Drunk,” available now. Written with her longtime collaborators Josh Osborne and Shane McAnally while in a West Hollywood hotel room writing for Big Day, Clark shares its origin: “It’s funny, I never took this song seriously if that makes sense. However, when we went in to cut it, it immediately became a favorite—it just came to life—but, at the time, it just didn’t fit overall vibe on Big Day… I remember thinking even then we’d have to find a way to get it out.” Clark soon took a band on the road with her, bridging beyond the singer/songwriter moniker that launched her career, and that change also expanded what she could perform live with such a strong musician in upright bass player Vanessa McGowan. “It’s such a different song than say ‘Three Kids No Husband,’ but like that song, I didn’t realize how much the audience loved it until I played ‘You’re Drunk’ live. Their response is so exciting; I’m happy to now have it available for the fans asking ‘where can I hear this?’” Dubbed by Garden & Gun as “the best songwriter in Nashville,” Clark has established herself as one of country music’s greatest storytellers. Last year marked several successful acoustic tours and the release of Big Day in a Small Town, which was produced by Jay Joyce and has been revered as “gritty and visceral” (Associated Press), “aggressive and big-grinned” (SPIN) and also “made her one of country’s driving forces” (TIME). Rolling Stone praised, “it’s music tooled alternately for stadiums and songwriting circles, commercial and public radio, line-dance bars and coffee shops…Clark is good at bending country boilerplate.” Big Day in a Small Town is self-proclaimed “cousin” to Clark’s critically acclaimed debut album, 12 Stories, which was featured on “Best of” lists from New York Magazine, NPR, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, New York Post and The Boston Globe in 2013. That same year, Los Angeles Times called it “the country debut of the year.” ABOUT BRANDY CLARK The Morton, Washington-native received her first of six career GRAMMY nominations in 2013 in the Best Country Song category for co-writing the Miranda Lambert No. 1 hit “Mama’s Broken Heart.” Her talent as a storyteller had quickly propelled her into critical acclaim as one of Nashville’s best tunesmiths when she quietly released her debut album 12 Stories, which went on to be named “best album of 2013” by The Boston Continue reading Brandy Clark releases outtake from BIG DAY IN A SMALL TOWN, “You’re Drunk”→

Gethen Jenkins Releases New EP ‘Where The Honkytonk Belongs’

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Gethen Jenkins on Country Music News Blog

RELEASES 6-SONG EP WHERE THE HONKYTONK BELONGS TODAY, Scores Brand Partnership with Firestone Walker’s 805 Beer LISTEN HERE   Gethen Jenkins releases his 6-song EP, Where The Honkytonk Belongs, via Five Music today. The album reflects Gethen’s personal journey as both an Iraqi War Veteran and an artist – highlighting his authentic songwriting and storytelling. As a follow-up to Where The Honkytonk Belongs, Gethen is currently in the studio crafting his full-length album to come in Spring 2018. The timing of the release of his current EP is in conjunction with a lifestyle endorsement partnership with Firestone Walker’s 805 Beer, which kicked off with a billboard campaign this summer spanning from California to Texas. On his new EP, Gethen says, “I couldn’t be more excited about sharing this album with the world! These songs  reflect some of my life experiences, both good and bad. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to get this album into the hands of people that love Country Music as much as I do. After all, that’s truly “Where the Honkytonk Belongs”. An award-winning singer-songwriter born in Huntington, West Virginia, raised in a rural Indian Village in Alaska, Gethen was brought up on American music, from the purest of Bluegrass to whiskey soaked Honkytonk. Gethen has played over 1,000 live shows sharing the stage with prominent Country Music acts such as The Marshall Tucker Band, Billy Joe Shaver, Wanda Jackson, David Allan Coe, Asleep at the Wheel, Shooter Jennings, Dale Watson, Junior Brown, and Whitey Morgan and many more. Recognizing Gethen Jenkins as a promising talent in Country Music, Five Music and RED MUSIC approached him in 2016 to join the label. With a restless creative spirit and natural born drive to connect with people, it looks like the best is yet to come – stay tuned for more from Gethen Jenkins! Stream/purchase: Spotify | AMAZON | ItUNES | APPLE MUSIC  

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers “The Long-Awaited Album” on 9/22

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Steve Martin on Country Music News Blog

Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers Release “The Long-Awaited Album” on Rounder Records on September 22 Listen To New Track “Caroline” Here: http://bit.ly/2tgyErY Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers will release “The Long-Awaited Album” on Rounder Records on September 22. “The Long-Awaited Album,”  Martin’s newest collaboration with the Grammy-winning North Carolina – based  band the Steep Canyon Rangers, is full of stories that mix humor and melancholy, whimsy and realism, rich characters and concrete details. And lots of banjos. To pre-order the album, please click here: http://found.ee/SteveMartin_AmazonLP-l http://found.ee/SteveMartin_AmazonCD-l That instrument-so dexterously, even acrobatically picked and strummed-is just as crucial to relating these new tales as the lyrics themselves, each chord and riff revealing new depths to Martin’s narrators and to his musical talent.  Produced by Grammy-winning producer Peter Asher, the new album is a collection of 14 stunning new songs including the boisterous and humorous new track “Caroline,” the deeply romantic tune “All Night Long,” and the fantastical song “Santa Fe,” which showcases the lively dynamic between Martin and the Rangers. Steve Martin’s musical career is an extension of the storytelling impulse that drove his work as a comedian, an actor, a screenwriter, a playwright, an essayist, and a novelist. The Grammy® Award winning musician found his love for the banjo at the age of 17 and originally used the instrument as part of his standup comedy routine. But in 2010, Martin released his first album, The Crow: New Songs for the 5-Strong Banjo, and since then, Martin has played many prestigious stages including Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, Stagecoach, Bonnaroo, New Orleans’ Jazzfest and The Newport Folk Festival,Royal Festival Hall in London, and the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. Martin released his second full-length bluegrass album Rare Bird Alert in 2011. The album featured 13 Martin-penned tracks as well as special guest vocal appearances by Paul McCartney and The Dixie Chicks. Additionally, Martin co-wrote two of the CD’s songs with the Steep Canyon Rangers. That year, Martin also won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award. Martin also collaborated with Edie Brickell on the critically acclaimed album Love Has Come For You, which combines Martin’s five-string banjo work with Brickell’s vivid vocals. Martin and Brickell took home the Grammy® Award for “Best American Roots Song” for the album’s title track.  Martin and Brickell’s second collaboration “So Familiar” earned widespread critical acclaim and also inspired their Broadway musical Bright Star, which was nominated for five Tony Awards. The Steep Canyon Rangers and Steve Martin will host their album release celebration on Saturday, September 30 2017 at The IBMA World of Bluegrass –  in the state where it all began for them.

Josh Abbott Band Ready to Take on The World With New Album!

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Josh Abbott Band on Country Music News

JOSH ABBOTT BAND TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM UNTIL MY VOICE GOES OUT ON AUGUST 18TH Listen to the first song “Texas Women, Tennessee Whiskey” HERE Josh Abbott Band will release their new album, Until My Voice Goes Out, on August 18th.  Produced by Dwight Baker, Until My Voice Goes Out is a hopeful look into the future, a roll-up-the-sleeves-and-move-forward embrace of life and its potential. “This album is about appreciating the moment and your family and your friends, and living life the right way,” Abbott says. “It’s really all about finding clarity and focusing on what’s important.” As Josh Abbott Band moved into the final stages of work on Until My Voice Goes Out, lead singer Josh Abbott’s personal life took a couple significant twists that underscored where JAB finds itself professionally. Abbott’s father suffered a stroke while the album was being recorded, and Josh split his time between the studio and the hospital bedside, finishing all the lead vocals shortly before his dad passed away. Two months later, Josh welcomed his first child into the world. Those developments in the spring of 2017 nutshelled the circle of life, and in a way, that’s how Until My Voice Goes Out operates. As the band observes 10 years since recording its first single, “Taste,” Voice finds the seven-piece Texas ensemble ending one chapter and beginning another. Experiencing life at its fullest includes taking risks, and Josh Abbott Band does that successfully on the new album incorporating strings and a horn section for the first time. Arranger Rob Mathes – noted for his work with Tony Bennett, Sting and Bruce Springsteen – worked up a handful of mood-setting string preludes and added to JAB’s range.  Mathes’ preludes became an important emotional glue for the project, and the titles that bookend the project – “An Appreciation of Life” and “Farewell Father” – helped bring a cohesiveness to the album and its back story. “Until My Voice Gives Out” is, after all, a song about embracing life lessons learned and using them to make a better future. Josh Abbott intends to do that in a way that supports his daughter, who arrived as JAB completed the album. The band is making a statement through the entire risk-taking album – about its continued growth and evolution as it moves forward, a decade after that first single gave Texas a taste of JAB’s brand of country. JAB’s last album ‘Front Row Seat’ debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart and garnered high praise across the board. The band performed singles from the album on national television on both Jimmy Kimmel Live and Conan.   Hailed as one of the top Texas country acts, Josh Abbott Band is renowned for heartfelt songwriting and traditional instrumentation.  The independent band has accumulated over 68 million total streams, 15 million YouTube/VEVO views has over 1.5 million single sales and 200,000 album sales.  Additionally, the band has sold over 1.2 million concert tickets the last two years.  Josh Abbott Band is Continue reading Josh Abbott Band Ready to Take on The World With New Album!→

Bobby Bare Gets Sirius XM Special Celebrating Him As One Of Country Music’s Top 100 Artists of All Time!

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Bobby Bare on Country Music News!

BOBBY BARE CELEBRATED AS ONE OF ‘100 GREATEST COUNTRY ARTISTS OF ALL TIME’ BY ROLLING STONE, FEATURED WITH MAJOR SIRIUS XM SPECIAL NEW ALBUM, THINGS CHANGE, SPOTLIGHTED ON POPULAR SPOTIFY PLAYLIST AND CMT.COM SXM Willie’s Roadhouse, SXM Outlaw Country, Spotify’s New Traditions – Country Heroes and CMT’s Tim Ghianni Celebrate the Music of Bare’s “Things Change” NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 26, 2017) – Influencers and critics agree, “Bobby Bare’s Outlaw Spirit Remains Undiminished” (Tim Ghianni, CMT.com) with the release of his newest album, Things Change. This past weekend saw a Bare takeover on Sirius XM with a subscriber-special airing numerous times on both Willie’s Roadhouse and Outlaw Country featuring performances by the legend and hosted by the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Peter Cooper from the SiriusXM Music City Theatre. Streaming giant Spotify added album cut “Ain’t No Sure Thing” to the popular New Traditions – Country Heroes playlist. Fans can hear the new music and add it to their own playlists on Bare’s Spotify page HERE. Rolling Stone honored Bobby Bare as one of the ‘100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time’ recently. The Country Music Hall of Famer and GRAMMY® winner was ranked number 43 on the list which also included many friends and collaborators including Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Things Change features 10 tracks written by Bare and a slew of talented songwriters including Hoyt Axton, Mary Gauthier, Guy Clark and the producer of the project, hit singer/songwriter Max T. Barnes. The album features a collaboration on Bare’s iconic hit, “Detroit City,” with Chris Stapleton. The song was written by Mel Tillis and Danny Dill and was originally released by Bare in 1963 and would become one of his most highly requested songs at live shows to this day. “Detroit City” won a GRAMMY® in 1964 for Best Country/Western Recording and is one of many Grammy nods for the country legend. Things Change can be purchased at digital retailers and on BobbyBare.com. “In a career that has been marked with recordings from writers such as the afore-mentioned [Tom T.] Hall, Mel Tillis (‘Detroit City’) and the late Shel Silverstein (‘Marie Laveau,’ among many from the late tunesmith), Bare has always had a knack for finding a great song.” – Chuck Dauphin, Billboard Magazine “Bobby Bare has been one of country music’s most consistent – and most respected – singer/songwriters for over 50 years.” – Adrian Peel, Digital Journal About Bobby Bare Country Music Hall of Famer, Bobby Bare is one of the most iconic country artists of our time, with chart-topping songs like “Detroit City,” “500 Miles,” “Shame On Me” and many more. Artists from Little Jimmy Dickens and Hank Williams to big band acts like Phil Harris and the Dominoes all influenced his unique style leading to nearly five dozen top 40 hits from 1962 to 1983. The often referred to “Bruce Springsteen of Country” went on to earn multiple Grammy nominations and wins along with induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013 among many other awards and Continue reading Bobby Bare Gets Sirius XM Special Celebrating Him As One Of Country Music’s Top 100 Artists of All Time!→

Shania Twain Reveals New “NOW” Album Cover

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Shania Twain album art on Country Music News!

Canadian country songstress Shania Twain took to twitter to debut the cover art for her upcoming album. The record, simply titled “NOW” is set to release on September 29th, 2017, while the first single from the album is expected to impact country radio nationwide tomorrow, June 16th. Take a look at the cover art below and let us know what you think!

Charlie Daniels To Release New Version Of “Ragged Old Flag” On July 4th

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Few musical performers epitomize the American spirit with more passion and fervor than Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie Daniels. The singer, who has sung of his unabashed patriotism time in and time out during his career, is showcasing his love of the Red, White, and Blue once again in his latest recording that will be available for sale digitally on July 4th via iTunes, Amazon, Google Play among other digital platforms. Daniels has recorded a stirring version of the Johnny Cash standard “Ragged Old Flag.” Written and recorded by “The Man In Black,” the song hit No. 31 on the Billboard Country Singles chart in 1974. The song still garners airplay during the summer months on Classic Country stations nationwide, particularly around the Fourth of July. Recording this song allowed Charlie to combine two of his biggest passions – his country and his love of Johnny Cash. Charlie is joined on this track by Mark “Oz” Geist, Benghazi Warrior/Survivor and co-author of “13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi.” “These lyrics are just as timely today as they were when Johnny originally recorded them over four decades ago,” said the Grand Ole Opry star. “The song demonstrates the passion and the love that we all should have for this country – and the freedoms that we enjoy with it,” he said. “Of course, it is always a joy to record a song written by the great Johnny Cash. He was an American original, and someone that I consider myself humbled and honored to call friend. Good songs, such as his, continue to remain in style.” Having just turned 80 last fall – just a few weeks after his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Daniels is not slowing down in the slightest. He continues to tour across the country, and will release a new book, Never Look At The Empty Seats on October 24. The book will document his legendary career, as well as several of his many trips abroad in support of the United States Military.

GRETCHEN WILSON RELEASES NEW SINGLE

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Gretchen Wilson‘s new album Ready To Get ROWDY goes on sale this Friday, June 16, and today her Redneck Records label distributed her new single “Summertime Town” to Country radio via PlayMPE. “Sometimes a song idea is as simple as a great title,” said Gretchen about the single she wrote with Rob Hatch and Bridgette Tatum. “When you picture a summertime town in your head, you begin to imagine the romance and the heartache that could be attached to a place like that.” Gretchen wrote or co-wrote all 12 songs on Ready To Get ROWDY with some of Nashville’s best and most seasoned songwriters, and she produced the album with Blake Chancey (Dixie Chicks, Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler.) Presale of the new album is available now at iTunes. About Gretchen Wilson: Gretchen Wilson exploded onto the country music scene with her smash hit “Redneck Woman” and has since scored three #1 albums. The critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter has won virtually every award for which she’s been nominated, including trophies from the Grammys, ACM, CMA, AMA and more. Her first book, the autobiographical “Redneck Woman: Stories from My Life,” landed her on the prestigious New York Times Best Seller List. She formed her own record company, Redneck Records, in 2009, and her I Got Your Country Right Here CD received two Grammy nominations. She released three albums in 2013: a new Country album entitled Right On Time, a 13-song Rock covers record Under The Covers, and her Christmas In My Heart holiday collection. After an almost three-year hiatus, she is back with her new album Ready to Get ROWDY, and her nationwide tour kicked off in Las Vegas last night. For more information, tour dates and more, visit www.GretchenWilson.com. Keep up with Gretchen at: www.Facebook.com/GretchenWilson https://twitter.com/gw27

Wynonna Judd Releases First Music Video in 14 Years ‘Keeps Me Alive’

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Wynonna Judd on Country Music News Blog

In a day full of hot news, it doesn’t get any hotter than this for me! As a lifelong nearly obsessive fan of The Judds, finding out about Wynonna‘s first new music video in 14 years in the same moment you hear that The Judds are releasing their All-Time Greatest Hits on June 30th, my head and heart are both in a whirl. The mother-daughter duo has been hands-down one of the most sensational acts in country music for decades and there’s no reason why their music should live on in today’s Nashville landscape. Let’s dig in deeper as we take a closer listen to Wynonna’s sultry, bluesy “Keeps Me Alive” which just sends chills down my spine. From Wynonna’s press team: Wynonna Judd releases her first music video in 14 years, “Keeps Me Alive.” Along with her band, The Big Noise, this special project also features American guitarist Derek Trucks. The visually captivating video was shot at the historic Oaklands Mansion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and directed by Todd Cassetty of HiFi Fusion. Over the weekend (June 3), the video premiered on AMC’s after The Son which stars Pierce Brosnan. More about The Judds All-Time Greatest Hits: Together, Country Music icons Wynonna and Naomi Judd made musical history throughout their career receiving eight Gold and eight Platinum records, selling over 20 million albums and scoring twenty Top 10 hits between 1984-1990. Now, Curb Records is excited to bring fans the ultimate collection of those years together. The Judds – All-Time Greatest Hits will be released on Friday, June 30 – and will feature each of the classic hits that helped to make them a household name on Country Radio in the 1980s and 1990s. “Some things continue to get better with time, like fine wine and the Judds music,” says Naomi Judd. “I’m so proud that our music has stood the test of time. It makes my heart smile when I turn on Country Radio and I can sing along with our hits.” The twenty-one song set will feature each of the duo’s top ten hits, as well as “You Can’t Go Home Again (Flies On The Butter),” a recording from 2011. Beginning with the classic #1 hit “Mama, He’s Crazy” in 1984, and continuing through 1991’s “One Hundred and Two,” the duo established a career that will stand with one of the top duets in Country Music history. Fourteen times the duo topped the Billboard Country Singles chart, and each of their five studio albums were certified Gold or Platinum. Along with their sales and airplay success, The Judds also dominated the awards shows like no artist before their time. Starting in 1984, the duo netted nine CMA Awards, including a run from 1985-1991 as either Vocal Duo or Vocal Group of the Year. Their trophies also include the 1985 Single of the Year “Why Not Me,” which is also included on The Judds – All Time Greatest Hits. They also won seven straight trophies from the Academy of Continue reading Wynonna Judd Releases First Music Video in 14 Years ‘Keeps Me Alive’→