Lee Brice Talks ACM Nomination, Touring, Writing and More

Lee Brice Fills HaleighT In On His ACM Award Nomination, Being On Tour, Writing Music and More! The CMNB Team was lucky enough to check in with the talented Lee Brice recently, and he had a lot of interesting stuff to tell us! He discussed his current ACM Award Nomination (vote here through Feb. 4th!), his current single, “I Drive Your Truck” that he is doing great on the charts, working on new music, and hitting the road with the awesome Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert on their upcoming Locked and Reloaded Tour! I have to say that Lee was a super nice guy, and he put on one heck of a show! If you haven’t checked him out yet, be sure to do so soon! You can find his music on iTunes and upcoming tour dates below! Watch: HaleighT Interviews Lee Brice In Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Current Lee Brice Tour Dates and Tickets!

New Sarah Darling Home To Me EP Available Now

Sarah Darling Offers Up Four Track EP Home To Me, Available On iTunes Now. Today (Tuesday, January 29th), country songstress Sarah Darling released a new four track EP titled, Home To Me. The new project is the follow-up to her 2011 full release and second album, Angels & Devils. The four songs (four full plus an acoustic version of the title track) on this album are low key and unassuming, but each has a depth to them musically and lyrically that sticks with you even after they finish. The stripped down (and by that I mean not overly produced or pop-ish) quality allows Darling’s voice and talent to ring clear. In that, this EP has really done it’s job well…left you wanting to hear more. If you haven’t yet, look it up on iTunes, and stay tuned for more Sarah Darling news by following us on Facebook and Twitter! Catch Sarah when she guests on the #CMchat #Twangout on February 4th at 8:00pm CT! Go to Twangout.com for more! Home To Me EP, Track Listing: 1. Home To Me 2. How Dare You 3. You Don’t Have To Be Lonely Tonight 4. Home To Me (Acoustic Version)

Luke Bryan Releases Spring Break Here To Party In March

Luke Bryan Releases New Album Spring Break Here To Party March 2013. Country fans get ready because Luke Bryan is ready to throw more Spring break and summertime party anthems your way! In keeping with the his previous Spring break themed EP installments, Bryan will be releasing an album of party ready tunes titled Spring Break…Here To Party that will be available in stores and digitally on March 5th. There are a few of the usual suspects from past releases plus two new original tracks. Additionally, Luke has scheduled his annual Spring Break Concerts for March 12th and 13th at Spinnakers in Panama City Beach, FL. On March 14th, fans can also catch the “Red Dirt Diaries” tour stop which will be hitting up the Amphitheatre at the Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama. I don’t know about you, but just writing that made me ready for some sand, sun and fun! Spring Break…Here To Party Track Listing 1. Suntan City 2. Just A Sip 3. Buzzkill 4. If You Ain’t Here To Party 5. Little Bit Later On 6. In Love With The Girl 7. Shore Thing 8. Sorority Girl 9. Shake The Sand 10. Love In A College Town 11. Wild Weekend 12. Cold Beer Drinker 13. Spring Break-Up 14. Take My Drunk A** Home Current Luke Bryan Tours and Tickets

10 Random Questions with Sunny Sweeney

Sunny Sweeney Answers Our 10 Random Questions! She hails from good ol Texas and never goes anywhere without her guitar, Sunny Sweeney is about as country as they come. She signed with Republic Nashville in 2009, and by 2010 her single”From A Table Away” had hit radio stations across the U.S. In 2011, her second single debuted, and it’s one of my favorites! “Staying’s Worse Than Leaving” sends a great message to women everywhere who are in bad relationships. This year has already brought big things Sunny’s way as she is currently nominated for an ACM Award for “New Female Vocalist Of The Year“! Fans can vote up until Feb 4th (get the info here!). So, I decided to catch up with Sunny for my 10 random questions, check it out! 1. At what age did you know you wanted to pursue music? During college 2. What artists did you listen to growing up? I listened to old school country – Merle, Loretta and Jessi Colter 3. What artists do you currently listen to? These days I listen to Randy Houser, Miranda Lambert, Tom Petty and Merle, Lorretta & Jessi. I guess you could say I’ve branched out a little. 4. One thing you can’t live without? My pillow 5. Favorite animal at the zoo? Giraffe or the monkeys at central park zoo with glow in the dark butts 6. Candy or ice cream? Junior Mints 7. Beer or whiskey? Beer. I get crazy when whiskey is in my veins. 8. Do you have a life motto? My past made me what I am today. Proud? Not of everything. Regrets? No. 9. What can we expect in 2013? Any big plans? Lots of writing, touring and meeting new fans! 10. What would you like to tell the world about Sunny Sweeney? I’m supposed to be doing this music thing. It’s hard. I’ve devoted my life to it and I am here to stay! You can follow Sunny on twitter @GettinSweenered, and be sure to vote! Brittany is a guest contributor! You can find more from her via Twitter.

Gretchen Wilson New Single and Albums for 2013

Gretchen Wilson Releases An Avalanche of New Music In 2013! It’s always good news when we hear our “Redneck Woman” is working on new music! Just getting off the road after the Gang of Outlaws Tour with ZZ Top and 3 Doors Down last year, Gretchen Wilson has a brand new single, “Still Rollin,’” ready for airplay and will be releasing a whopping three albums in the upcoming months! “I am very excited to have so much new music coming out this year. We are already touring, and are looking forward to an incredible year with old friends, and new beginnings!“- Gretchen Wilson Besides the new single, Wilson is releasing new album Right On Time, a collection of 12 new songs, on April 2. This will be followed by two other releases, Under The Covers, featuring 12 of Classic Rock hits from the 70s on May 28, and Gretchen’s first full-length Christmas album in October. Like Wilson said, this is gonna be an incredible year for her! So, mark your calendars and be on the look out for the new records!

Josh Turner Find Me A Baby Video

Josh Turner Releases Adorable Video for Find Me A Baby! Josh Turner just released his new video for single “Find Me A Baby” just a couple of days ago, and it is absolutely adorable. Featuring “candid” shots of what appears to be real families posing for the camera, happy as can be, the video just makes you smile. At the end (spoiler alert), we even get what looks like a couple photos of Josh and his babies! This is such an optimistic, cheery song, and I’m really glad I started my day with it! Watch for yourself below! Watch Josh Turner’s Find Me A Baby Video.

Jana Kramer Whiskey Video Review

Jana Kramer Releases Official Video for Whiskey: Worth the Wait? Jana Kramer’s second official single from her self-titled debut album, “Whiskey” has been heard over the airwaves for quite some time without any real video. There was a video posted a couple of months ago to her channel, called ‘Kickin’ It With @Kramergirl’, and many websites and blogs assumed THAT was the video for ‘Whiskey’. And, while it’s a nice video, it is rather simple (in fact it’s just one camera shot with nothing much going on in the scene), so I’m glad Jana has released this video too, to let us get to know the song on a deeper level. And that has happened, I think. I was a little surprised by the nature of the video – I just expected it to be about your slightly runaway small-town heart breaker, but instead the video shows scenes of something entirely different. From Jana meeting the guy in a bar, their eyes doing that “I want to sleep with you” thing, and then the guy being ‘called’ (ha, clever play on the lyrics) by another man, only to start punching this other man and getting into a brawl, the rowdy and passionate nature of the relationship is clear. Jana obviously looks shocked at first, but as soon as her love interest returns to her after his brawl, back comes the flirty smile and they go off together. Err, huh? Just an interjection, but I don’t care how cute a guy is, if he starts fights I’m not going to go home with him. Seems like sound advice, as the video ends with said lover being arrested in the middle of the night from the trailer where he and Jana are sleeping. Jana looks betrayed and slams the trailer door as her lover gets put into the police car. Finally, she gets it. Between this start and end scenes we get a lot of Jana looking gorgeous, yet sad and dramatic in various scenes, lying down in her trailer, sitting in the woods with a shawl wrapped round her, it’s standard music video stuff, and I wouldn’t have expected anything less from someone who is also partly selling her sex appeal alongside her music (we have to admit it’s a marketing tactic for many). There are some very obvious interpretations of the lyrics, such as the lover drinking copious amounts of Jack Daniels straight from the bottle, in front of a campfire, symbolizing the fire of the relationship. Something interesting to note about this video is the amount of time it focuses on the passionate kiss between Jana and her on-screen lover. Country music is still a rather traditional medium, so to have this and a brief showing of them taking each others’ clothes off, is quite risqué, especially considering the criticism Shania Twain received in the nineties for showing her midriff. You could say country music has moved on, but there’s still a lack of openly sexual visuals in country Continue reading Jana Kramer Whiskey Video Review

Backroad Anthem Live at Georges Majestic Lounge

Backroad Anthem Explodes Onto The Country Scene with Performance at Georges Majestic Lounge, Headed Somewhere Fast! I have a feeling that sometime soon, I’ll be telling everyone how I met the boys from Backroad Anthem before they made it big. I first stumbled across this group of local talent when they opened for Dustin Lynch at Georges Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, AR at the beginning of January. I didn’t even know they were on the night’s bill until I got to the show, and I was immediately blown away by the energy in their performance, their original sound, and how they had the fans on their feet and grooving in a matter of seconds. I thought maybe Dustin’s fans were just particularly exuberant, but I caught Backroad again just a little over a week ago when they headlined at George‘s and sold out the venue. For the second time, I was taken aback by these guys, especially considering that, as I later learned, they’ve only been together a short time (less than six months!). No matter the short time frame, these talented young men have hit just the right note, and they’re headed in the right direction. The Energy The first thing you’ll notice about Backroad Anthem is the raw, no holds barred energy that they put into their performances. according to lead vocalist frontman  Craig Strickland this is exactly what they’re aiming for. “We want to offer people somewhat of a country power band, where everyone is incredibly talented at their instrument. When people walk out the door from a live show we want them saying ‘That band had something that other bands don’t have. Their crazy energy on stage is addictive.’” – Craig Strickland For his part, Strickland never stays in one spot for long as he’s constantly jumping, running around on stage, dancing on an amp or interacting with the crowd. At the same time the extraordinarily talented fiddle player, Eric Dysart, isn’t taking any breaks either and keeps things upbeat and sizzling with his superb skills. Meanwhile, Isaac Senty kills it on the drums, Toby Freeman‘s smooth vocals balance out Craig’s more rocker vibe while adding to the overall sound with his rhythm electric, and Josh Bryant keeps a cool demeanor without holding back as he fires away as lead guitarist.  Every single one of them is constantly giving it their all, and the result is a loud, well-performed, high energy show that has the audience on their feet, dancing, singing along, and cheering for more the entire time. Bottom line, one thing is for sure, the crowd won’t leave without having a great time. The Sound Besides the high energy of their shows, Backroad Anthem has an interesting and original sound, and is sure to draw folks back for more. Granted, at this early stage, they are still filling their set with a lot of covers of popular country hits, but even still, they demonstrate a pretty wide range in the process. They cover classics Continue reading Backroad Anthem Live at Georges Majestic Lounge

10 Random Questions with Phoenix Stone

Guest Writer Brittany Vance Asks Phoenix Stone 10 Random Questions! Is it just me or is Phoenix Stone such a kick ass name? His name really does match his music, unique. Stone is a true southern boy from Tampa, FL who discovered the spotlight as a teen. He was signed to Warner/Chappell record label, and worked with folks like The Backstreet Boys. However, I believe his pop days are probably long gone. His current single “100 Proof Moonshine,” which he wrote and produced on his own, has been getting a lot of attention, and he was also named one of the “25 Most Beautiful People Of Nashville 2012.” All I have to say is, any friend of moonshine is a friend of mine! Plus, he was brave enough to take on my 10 random questions… so, consider me a fan. 1. How does it feel to be one of the “25 Most Beautiful People Of Nashville 2012?” I was honored and flattered but I’ve never really considered myself beautiful haha 2. What artists do you currently listen to? Eric Church – any classic rock like guns N roses and Fleetwood Mac recently 3. If you could duet with any female artist who would you team up with? Kelly Clarkson or Sheryl Crow 4. How many tattoos do you have? 5 5. Beer or Wine? whiskey or moonshine for me 6. Do you have a favorite sport? White water rafting, UFC or baseball 7. Favorite Restaurant? Roosters BBQ in Nashville 8. Do you have any bad habits? Probably 🙂 9. What can we expect from you in 2013? Full length album and continuing to tour. 10. Is there anything you want the world to know about Phoenix Stone? That it takes a long time and it’s a long road to being an “overnight sensation” work hard and let your passion for music lead you…all the rest will fall into place. You can follow Phoenix on Twitter @phoenixstone1! Watch: Phoenix Stone “100 Proof Moonshine” Official Video. Brittany is a guest contributor! You can find more from her via Twitter.

Rose Falcon Talks Upcoming EP 19th Avenue Vol 2

Interview: Singer Songwriter Rose Falcon Talks Upcoming Release 19th Avenue Vol 2 EP! Up and coming country singer songwriter Rose Falcon has a new EP, 19th Avenue Vol. 2, releasing next week and she took a couple minutes to chat with me and discuss the upcoming project, her influences, and more! The single aspect that stands out the most in Falcon’s music is the honesty in her well-written lyrics. There is a very feminine and simultaneously strong quality in the quiet songs featured on the upcoming EP. She claims influences like Tammy Wynette, Patty Lovelace and Reba McEntire, and it’s easy to connect the dots between these iconic artists and this rising star. Rose’s songs are lyrically raw and personal, and musically have hints of roots and Americana. She had this to say of the tracks and her personal “sound” featured on the upcoming EP, “It’s fairly organic, not a lot of fancy production and lyrically driven. The instruments are meant to paint around, highlight the song the best they can without taking away or distracting from the lyrical content.“ This is not surprising to hear from someone who grew up around songwriters (her father is legendary singer – songwriter Billy Falcon), spends four days a week co-writing songs and who loves living Nashville, TN which she suggests is home to best singers and songwriters in the whole world! Falcon is authentic, and in a way the simplicity of her songs is what gives them staying power. There are lots and lots of talented folks in country music these days, but not everyone can cut it as a writer. So, I was curious about her particular process and style. “I co-write a lot. It’s a process of giving and receiving what I call ‘gifts’. Someone you write with might have a gift to give you, an idea and you have to be open to that. Or one day I might have a great idea to offer. You end up with something you wouldn’t of had if you hadn’t been working with that person on that day. It’s a really magical process, and I think that God is a part of it in every step.“ In the tracks featured on Falcon’s 19th Avenue, you can hear how invested she is in the words and the stories they tell. I have no doubt that as her star continues to rise, country fans who get to listen to her music will find it relatable and this will draw them in and keep them listening. I also have a feeling that Falcon would be a wonderful singer to catch live…hope I get the chance soon! Be sure to check out the new EP when it releases Tuesday, January 29th, and stay tuned for more from Rose in the next year! Find her on Twitter and iTunes!