Press Releases – Page 75 – Country Music News

Country Single Release – Paul Crowder – Little Steps

Posted on August 12, 2016 by admin

SINGLE RELEASE AND DOWNLOAD Paul Crowder – Little Steps Progressing to the blind auditions of Channel 9’s THE VOICE, re-lit Paul Crowder’s passion for country music after an extended break to focus on love, life and family. The EP, From The Heart, produced by well-renowned producer Simon Johnson on the Central Coast is a collection of heartfelt original songs with a strong focus on family. The First Single, Little Steps is the perfect snapshot into the EP. Little Steps was written by Paul about the steps that needed to be taken in order to maintain a healthy and lasting marriage. There is also a message for new couples within the storyline that we can’t have all that we want ‘yesterday’. That the best things in life are worth working hard and fighting for. The beautiful traditional country sound of Little Steps is a breath of fresh air in today’s musical climate. Listen to ‘Little Steps’ HERE

The Cleverlys Kick Grass With New EP, "Cash Crop"

Posted on August 12, 2016 by admin

The Cleverlys Kick Grass With New EP, “Cash Crop” Available Friday, August 12 on iTunes Rolling Stone Country Track Premiere of “By The Way,” And Bluegrass Today Video Premiere of “Loser” Now Live Comedic bluegrass band, The Cleverlys, celebrate the release of their new five-song EP, “Cash Crop,” Friday, August 12 by giving fans a sneak peak of their video, “Loser,” on BluegrassToday.com today . Fans can also check out Rolling Stone Country’s exclusive premiere of the new track, “By The Way,” here. [bctt tweet=”@thecleverlys kick grass with new EP, Cash Crop, available at iTunes Now”] Commenting on the group’s “stylized remake of Beck’s 1994, ‘Loser,’ with a bluegrass twist,” BluegrassToday.com remarked, “It’s a rip-roarin’ battle in the ring as Digger Cleverly and the boys turn Beck’s recitation into a groovin’ grass tune with tongues firmly implanted in their cheeks.” Rolling Stone Country added, “Until the Cleverlys came along, it was nearly impossible to find bluegrass bands writing songs about podophilia (that’s a fancy word for foot worship), sharing tales of milking alpacas and mixing grassed-up covers of songs from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flo Rida and Beyoncé into their vast and delightfully strange repertoire.” OneStopCountry.com remarked, “they also showcase that they are more than just a cover act and are in fact a bona fide bluegrass band …incredible harmonies, top-notch songwriting….they are able to showcase their extreme ly raw talent as they didn’t re-arrange the songs to make them fit the mold of what they do, but they rather took their style and fit it incredibly into where it by no means should fit as well as this.” For more information on The Cleverlys, visit www.thecleverlys.com; follow; twitter.com/thecleverlys; facebook.com/thecleverlys; instagram/@thecleverlys

Craig Campbell Wraps Up First-Ever USO Tour at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Posted on August 11, 2016 by admin

Craig Campbell Wraps Up First-Ever USO Tour at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Singer/songwriter spends the week visiting, performing and bringing a time-honored Grand Ole Opry tradition to military families in celebration of USO’s 75th anniversary. Continuing a long-standing country music tradition of supporting those in uniform, RED BOW Records’ Craig Campbell wrapped up his first-ever USO tour as part of the Grand Ole Opry/USO 75th Anniversary Concert Series. Having visited nearly 2,000 service members and military families stationed on both the East and West Coast, the Georgia native performed a USO concert hosted by Patrick Air Force Base in Florida Aug. 7th, then made a USO visit to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington Aug. 9. DETAILS: An avid supporter of America’s service members, Campbell converted both of his USO shows into Opry Circle Throwdown performances. That’s right, the star traveled to each base with a signature Opry/USO mic stand and threw down a replica of the famed circle of wood from center stage at the Opry House before each USO performance.In addition to making audience’s swoon with his powerful vocals, Campbell also toured military aircraft and met one-on-one with service members.One of country’s brightest stars, Campbell launched onto the country music scene in 2011 and continues to exist in a perfect sweet spot between tradition and modernity. Born in Lyons, Georgia, Campbell played piano at his mother’s Baptist church for eight years starting at the age of 10. Among his many hit songs are “Keep Them Kisses Comin’,” “Fish,” “Family Man” and his latest critically-acclaimed single, “Outskirts of Heaven.” He is currently in the studio with producer Mickey Jack Cones working on his RED BOW Records’ debut album.February 4 marked the USO’s 75th anniversary and the kick off of a yearlong celebration around the world. Campbell’s USO tour was part of that celebration.The USO’s partnership with the country music industry dates as far back as the early 1940’s, when Gene Autry, also known as “The Singing Cowboy,” traveled to the Pacific and toured with a group of USO performers. Following in his footsteps and beginning what is now a long-standing tradition, stars of The Grand Ole Opry began touring with the USO in 1949.The Grand Ole Opry, the USO and Craig Campbell encourage fans to join them in connecting our nation’s service members to family, home and country. To support the USO’s Campaign to Connect, visit uso.org/connects and help the USO reach 1 million messages of support to military families stationed around the world. QUOTE: Attributed to Craig Campbell: “I had a blast visiting and performing for our nation’s service members and their families, and can’t wait to get back out there and do it again.”

SARA EVANS JOINS LIST OF JUDGES FOR THE 2016

Posted on August 10, 2016 by admin

Hot off the press at CountryMusicNewsBlog.com!

MUSIC LEGENDS AND TODAY’S STARS TO JUDGE THE 2016 INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION Chris Cornell, Lorde, Tom Waits, Sara Evans, Bastille, Hardwell, India Arie, Joe Bonamassa, Ziggy Marley, Ricki Lee Jones, Donovan, And More To Judge ISC The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) today announced its panel of judges for the 2016 competition. Included on the panel are many iconic, high-profile recording artists as well as Presidents, CEOs and A&R reps from Atlantic, Warner Bros., Sire, RCA, Glassnote, Island, Razor & Tie, Sony Music Latin, Interscope, Concord Label Group, Warner Music Nashville, Alligator, Wind-Up, Provident, Capitol, Black River, New West, Virgin/EMI, Word, and many more. Entries are open now via ISC’s online platform or through the mail. ISC is open to both amateur and professional songwriters and offers 23 categories for artists to enter. A total of 71 winners share in more than $150,000 in cash and prizes including an overall Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 (US) cash and much more in merchandise and services. Entering ISC offers the opportunity for an artist or songwriter’s music to be heard by an elite panel of recording artists and music executives who are the decision makers that can influence and launch careers. Monty Lipman, CEO and Chairman of Universal Music Group, says that “We’re always been impressed with the talented songwriters who participate in the ISC. This is a great A&R source to find new artists.” This year ISC has added a new category aptly called Unpublished. Music publishing is a major source of revenue for songwriters, so ISC is taking steps to open the doors for songwriters by having established, high-profile publisher listen to the finalists’ songs and select the winners in that category. “We all know how difficult it is to access music publishers, so we are really excited about offering this opportunity to our entrants,” says Candace Avery, ISC Founder and Director. Winning ISC is a distinction that has propelled many artists to achieve greater success, including getting record and publishing deals, licensing agreements, gigs, and much more. Past winners have included: Vance Joy; Bastille; Gotye; Lindsey Stirling; Kimbra; The Band Perry; Andrew Bird; Passenger; Gin Wigmore; Missy Higgins; King Charles; For King And Country; and many more. The complete list of 2016 judges includes: Recording Artists Chris Cornell; Tom Waits; American Authors; Lorde; Sara Evans; Ziggy Marley; Donovan; Joe Bonamassa; India Arie; Bastille; Keane; Hardwell; Danilo Perez; Afro Celt Sound System; Gerald Casale (Devo); Ryan Bingham; Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); Joy Williams (The Civil Wars); Matt Maher; Jesse & Joy; Martie Maguire (Dixie Chicks and Courtyard Hounds); Kaskade; Mike Stern; Carlos Vives; Rickie Lee Jones; Vijay Iyer; Ana Barbara; Fat Joe; John Mayall; Luis Fonsi; Salif Keita; Mariana Vega; Jay Farrar (Son Volt / Uncle Tupelo); Art Alexakis (Everclear); Ray Benson (Asleep At The Wheel); Nicholas Gunn; Jordan Feliz; Far East Movement; Femi Kuti; and more. Industry Executives: Craig Kallman (Chairman/CEO, Atlantic Records); Dan McCarroll (President, Warner Bros. Records); Seymour Stein (Chairman/CEO, Sire Records); Daniel Glass (President, Glassnote Records); John Continue reading SARA EVANS JOINS LIST OF JUDGES FOR THE 2016→

The Tin Man Shows His Heart In Music Video For “Already Gone”

Posted on August 10, 2016 by admin

The Tin Man Shows His Heart In Music Video For “Already Gone” Alternative-Folk singer/songwriter The Tin Man, aka Marshall Seese Jr., illustrates a darkening love story with his new lyric video for Already Gone, directed by David Joseph. This song from his debut EP, Too Many Lines, is a tale about love, loss and the struggles that accompany it all. The lyric video made its world debut on DittyTV’s The Curve on Wednesday, August 10th at 10:00 p.m. CST www.dittytv.com The video, filmed in his hometown of Atlanta, GA, is a beautiful interpretation of the heartfelt, honest words. From the vintage clothing to the ruins of the decaying empty pool, the video makes you feel like you are in a distant memory. He writes the lyrics on an old-fashioned typewriter to further that rustic feel. “One thing is certain — Seese has worked at his craft, molded it and shaped it into a style that works for him. From these tunes I think he has found his motherlode. The phrasing, the vocal tone, the warmth — all wonderfully more traditional.” – No Depression In a world with so much self-destruction, distraction and hate, The Tin Man brings a refreshing soulful-southern sound that reveals truth and vulnerability. Unashamed of showing honest emotions that we all feel; he wears his heart on his sleeve. Being a piano player first, Marshall developed a unique method when learning guitar – He held his grandfather’s right-hande d bass ukulele as a lefty and played it backwards, upside-down. Playing rhythms with his left hand and melodies with his right seemed logical to a piano-trained boy. This technique embodies the signature sound that puts him in the same boat as Paul McCartney, Albert King and Doyle Bramhall II. As the original story goes, The Tin Man, at first, had a brain but not a heart. Following his roller coaster experience as an entrepreneur, Marshall realized that he let his brain take control over his heart. In need of some perspective, he embarked on his yellow brick road, the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain. Immediately after returning from Spain, he sought out Grammy-nominated producer Billy Hume. By pushing Marshall in the studio to dig deeper, Hume gave him the heart behind his music, making Hume the Wizard in this story. For more information visit www.thetinmanmusic.com. The link for the video below will go public after the DittyTV debut on 8/10 at 10:00 pm CST.

10th ACM Honors Performers + TV Airdate Announced – Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan & more!

Posted on August 10, 2016 by admin

The Academy of Country Music announced the first round of performers for the 10th Annual ACM Honors taking place on Tuesday, August 30th at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Artists including Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Cam, Maren Morris, Cole Swindell, Keith Urban and hosts Lady Antebellum will take the stage to give tribute performances to the event’s previously announced honorees. [bctt tweet=”Performers announced for the @ACMawards 10th #ACMHonors airing Fri, 9/9 at 9pm ET/PT on @CBS!”] For the first time ever, ACM Honors will be televised, and will make its television debut Friday, September 9th at 9pm PT/ET on the CBS Television Network. Tickets for the event will be available to the general public beginning today, August 10th at 8am PT/11am ET on Ticketmaster.com. JASON ALDEAN, KELSEA BALLERINI, DIERKS BENTLEY, LUKE BRYAN, CAM, MAREN MORRIS, COLE SWINDELL, KEITH URBAN AND HOSTS LADY ANTEBELLUM TO PERFORM AT THE 10TH ANNUAL ACM HONORS™ ALDEAN TO ACCEPT PRESTIGIOUS ACM TRIPLE CROWN AWARD ACM HONORS TO MAKE ITS TELEVISION DEBUT FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 AT 9PM PT/ET ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK Hosted by Multi-ACM Award®-Winning Group Lady Antebellum, Two-Hour Special to be Taped at Nashville’s Historic Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday, August 30 Tickets Available Beginning August 10 at 8AM PT/11AM ET at Ticketmaster.com The Academy of Country Music® (ACM) announced today that music superstars Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Cam, Maren Morris, Cole Swindell, honoree Keith Urban and hosts Lady Antebellum will take the stage to perform at the 10TH ANNUAL ACM HONORS™, an evening dedicated to celebrating the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards. Hosted by multi-ACM Award-winning group Lady Antebellum, the two-hour special will tape on Tuesday, August 30 at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, and make its television debut on Friday, September 9 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Tickets for the special taping are available for purchase to the general public beginning Wednesday, August 10 at 10:00am CT on Ticketmaster.com. The Academy also announced that Jason Aldean, reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year, will be honored with the Academy’s prestigious Triple Crown Award. This award is given to those who have won New Male/Female Vocalist of the Year, Male/Female Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. Aldean’s Entertainer of the Year win this year made him eligible for this honor, as he was previously honored with the New Male Vocalist of the Year (2005) and Male Vocalist of the Year (2012-2014). The Triple Crown Award has been awarded to only six artists, including: Brooks & Dunn (2005), Kenny Chesney (2005), Mickey Gilley (2005), Merle Haggard (2005), Barbara Mandrell (2005) and Carrie Underwood (2009). As previously announced, the 10TH ACM Honors will honor Special Awards recipients Glen Campbell (Career Achievement Award), Crystal Gayle (Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award), Eddie Rabbitt (Poet’s Award, awarded posthumously), Tanya Tucker (Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award), Carrie Underwood (ACM Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award), Keith Urban (Mae Continue reading 10th ACM Honors Performers + TV Airdate Announced – Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan & more!→

The Rising tease new single ‘Last First Love’ ahead of The Boot premiere on August 16

Posted on August 10, 2016 by admin

THE RISING RETURN WITH LAST FIRST LOVE Video to be premiered by The Boot on August 16 2016 Preview Stream “A glorious amalgamation of Rock, Country and Folk” – Jim Gellatly (XFM/Amazing Radio) “If you’re after big songs with big choruses then you could do little better” – R2 Magazine “Choruses and tunes which aim for anthem status.. The Rising are definitely a band to watch.” – Golden Plec “Anthemic choruses and a sound that fans of Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum will love” – Hotpress Magazine The Rising are a Country Rock/Country Pop band with a Pop/Rock influence from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Currently, the band are finishing off work on their sophomore album (due winter 2016), with recording sessions taking place between the band’s home base of Northern Ireland and also Nashville, TN (USA). The debut single from the upcoming album is “Last First Love” and will be premiered by The Boot on August 16 2016. Written by the band’s principle songwriters Chris Logan/Chantelle McAteer, it was recorded in Ireland/Nashville. Mixed by Grammy Nominated Mills Logan (Taylor Swift, Eric Pasley, Luke Bryan, Toby Keith, Kristian Bush) and Mixed by Pete Maher (U2, The Rolling Stones, Katy Perry, Damien Rice). The song recounts how everyone wants the feeling of their first love to last forever and the joy when it does. Of course, this can be a relationship or indeed apply to whatever your first love may be, for some that could be the love of music. This single marks the start of a whole new chapter for the band. Firstly, the band continues to grow musically from its debut album, building upon the ground laid down from the album with a glossier production and growth in the songwriting. Most notably however, are the changes in the bands line up with the addition of Chantelle McAteer on lead vocals. This change was a natural progression to the band with the wheels of this change being set in motion over a year earlier. Guitarist Chris Logan encountered Chantelle singing at a singer-songwriter night showcasing her own material. Soon after the two songwriters started working together with Chris producing Chantelle’s debut EP. However, the two continued to write songs non-stop simply for the joy of writing songs. It was while on a UK/Ireland tour with Jess & The Bandits (October 2015) that things were beginning to change. Cracks were starting to show and midway through this tour Chris sent Chantelle a text message asking her if she wanted to join the band. As soon as the band came off tour the two songwriters set about recording the next album for The Rising. The new lineup was introduced during two shows at this years Country 2 Country Festival at London’s O2 where the band played two showcase shows (Big Entrance Stage & Brooklyn Bowl). The rem aining lineup of the band is concreted with fellow founding member and Chris’ cousin Shane Watters on Drums, Brian Mellors (Bass) and Carla Crawford (Piano/Keyboards/Synths). The band’s Continue reading The Rising tease new single ‘Last First Love’ ahead of The Boot premiere on August 16→

Levi Austin Makes Major Moves In His Career

Posted on August 9, 2016 by admin

LEVI AUSTIN MAKES MAJOR MOVES IN HIS CAREER Levi Austin is making some critical, evolutionary decisions in the direction and growth of his career. We are pleased to announce that he has made the decision to move to Nashville. Levi played his last show with his band Nu-Blu that he had been with for 10 years; it was not an easy decision for him. Levi wishes nothing but the best for his friends in their career. It was a sad moment in his life, but it is time for Levi to take advantage of the multiple career opportunities available to him at this time. Levi recently signed a Career Development Deal with AirPlay Direct’s Collective Evolution. There are several exciting new “opportunities” and deals for Levi that we will be announcing soon…more to follow. “Being with Nu-Blu for the last decade has been the experience of a lifetime. Growing up watching the band grow from a regional band to a national brand has given me a long list of memories I will cherish forever. I anticipate great things from Nu-Blu, and I am ecstatic to begin building upon my career with Collective Evolution.” – Levi Austin, Independent Artist “Levi is an ‘exceptional’ young man and a fantastic musician,” says Lynda Weingartz, CEO – AirPlay Direct. “We are proud to be working with him and look forward to the exciting new adventure he is embarking upon.” “Levi is an ‘exceptional’ young man and a fantastic musician,” says Lynda Weingartz, CEO – AirPlay Direct. “We are proud to be working with him and look forward to the exciting new adventure he is embarking upon.”

CHRIS LANE CONTINUES HOT STREAK AS STEAMY STUNNER “FIX” TOPS COUNTRY RADIO CHARTS

Posted on August 9, 2016 by admin

CHRIS LANE’S HOT STREAK CONTINUES AS STEAMY STUNNER “FIX” TOPS BOTH COUNTRY RADIO CHARTS #1 Smash Leads Debut Album GIRL PROBLEMS Available Now Rising Star Makes Major League Appearance Throwing Out The First Pitch At The Chicago White Sox Game Yesterday (8/7) Courtesy of Big Loud Records/Photo By: Delaney Royer NASHVILLE, TN (August 8, 2016) – There’s no denying that everyone is getting their “Fix” of Big Loud Records’ genre-defying recording artist Chris Lane as his breakthrough single takes the #1 spot on both Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase charts this week. Marking Lane’s first #1 at country radio, the irresistible track has surpassed an impressive 22 million streams on Spotify and 4.5 million views on Vevo. Adding to the excitement, Big Loud Records proves it’s big-league with their first-ever single going straight to the top, an unheard-of start for a brand-new label. “My first #1 … doesn’t even feel real,” exclaims Lane. “Thank you country radio for giving me a chance, for playing this song, for believing in me, and making all of this possible. And, I can’t thank my Big Loud Records team and family enough for their hard work day in and day out. Here’s to hopefully many more to come!” “Fix” (written by Sarah Buxton, Jesse Frasure and Abe Stoklasa) is the lead single from Lane’s just-released debut album GIRL PROBLEMS, featuring jaw-dropping falsetto vocals with a modern R&B-meets-country twist. Named after the distinct thread of romantic obsession throughout the project, GIRL PROBLEMS was produced by studio ace Joey Moi (Florida Georgia Line, Jake Owen). Continuing his hot streak, Lane threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Chicago White Sox home game yesterday (8/7) before taking the stage to open for Rascal Flatts’ tour stop at Tinley Park in the Windy City. A competitive college baseball player, Lane was right at home on the field to kick off the game versus the Baltimore Orioles. Originally from Kernersville, North Carolina, Lane’s career began with the DIY album Let’s Ride, which charted on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in 2012. He made his debut with the single “Broken Windshield View” in 2014, and has since earned rave reviews from ROLLING STONE’s “10 New Country Artists You Need To Know,” YOUNG HOLLYWOOD’s “Artist To Watch” list, HELLO! Magazine’s “People You Will Be Talking About” and GLAMOUR’s “Music We Love.” Early believers and tour partners include Florida Georgia Line and Dustin Lynch, and Lane’s Fix EP was released in late 2015, debuting in the Top 25 of Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and at No. 4 among Heatseeker albums. He’ll be opening shows for Rascal Flatts on the RHYTHM & ROOTS tour with Kelsea Ballerini all summer. For more information on Chris Lane, visit www.iamchrislane.com Reach out to him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube GIRL PROBLEMS is available for digital download here: http://smarturl.it/CL_GirlProblems Save

Listen to country newcomer Zach Seabaugh’s self-titled EP, available now!

Posted on August 8, 2016 by admin

Get to know Zach Seabaugh Self-Titled EP Available Now “Nothing Good Happens After Midnight ” Writers: Bruce Burch/Wally Montgomery; Producers: Zach Seabaugh, Jason Pendley & Bruce Burch; Publisher: none listed “His solid baritone carries this uptempo romantic number with confidence and aplomb. The thumping rhythm track is especially cool. A contender, for sure.” – R.K. Oermann, Music Row Magazine Zach Seabaugh made his national debut on “Team Blake” on Season 9 of NBC’s hit show The Voice. He released his self-titled EP in June 2016 and held the No. 3 spot on the iTunes Country Album Chart, sandwiched between his mentor Blake Shelton and country music heavyweight Chris Stapleton.