Todd Albright EP Detroit Twelve String Blues & Rags

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Third Man Records is proud to announce the official release of Todd Albright‘s EP: DETROIT TWELVE STRING BLUES & RAGS. Available today for purchase on ThirdManStore.com, in your local record store, and on streaming services, Todd Albright’s new album is sure to delight! If you’re in the Detroit area, stop by Third Man Records Cass Corridor and pick up a Limited Edition vinyl today! Recorded by Kenny Tudrick at The Black River House in Croswell, MI., Todd Albright’s EP brings back to life the old-school Delta Blues, 12-string style of guitar playing once heard by the masters, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Sylvester Weaver, and Skip James. Featuring tunes by Blind Willie McTell, George Carter, and Leadbelly, Todd’s ability to recreate a tale told decades ago is worth every minute of your time. Check out “Kill It Kid” off his new album HERE. [bctt tweet=”Stay tuned on socials @ThirdManRecords and @ToddAlbrightMusic for updates on Todd’s spring and summer touring schedule.” username=”CMNBlog”] Upcoming Dates: 3/16 @ Luck Reunion via Third Man Records’ Rolling Record Store PA 3/18 Austin, TX @ Third Man Records Showcase at The Yeti HQ (SXSW) 4/27 – 4/30 Wilkesboro, NC @ MerleFest   ThirdManRecords.com

George Strait to Make History with Next Chapter, Beginning April 7

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30 No. 1’s Friday, April 7 and 30 No. 1’s Saturday, April 8 + fan-favorite hits including “Amarillo By Morning” and “Troubadour” for one weekend only at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. With a North American record-setting final tour stop sell-out at AT&T Stadium on his The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, 104,793 fans helped multiple ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year George Strait bring one chapter of his inimitable touring career to a close, but the book is far from over for the iconic artist who continues to rank among country music’s most-streamed artists, logging more than four billion audio streams and counting as of this week. In 2015, Strait revealed he would perform a series of exclusive worldwide engagements at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas that commenced last April and continue through 2017, including his most recent sold-out dates with Kacey Musgraves. The two Texans closed the Strait To Vegas shows by playing for a capacity crowd of more than 33,000 people between Feb. 17 and 18. During the closing weekend, Musgraves sat down with Strait to ask him fan-submitted questions via Facebook Live, where he shared things like his bucket list item of fishing in Cuba and his first memory of playing in Las Vegas. But the primary question on every fan’s mind was: “What is the future of his live concerts?” Strait answered their question: the reputable country star revealed that his exclusive performances in Las Vegas will continue — with a twist. Strait has announced that he will shake things up with an unprecedented two nights of No. 1’s beginning with his April 7-8 shows. With an unmatched 60 singles hitting the top of the charts during the span of his career and more than 283,000 fans streaming Strait’s “60 #1 Hits” playlist on Spotify every month, the King of Country wanted to share these radio hits plus several fan-favorites such as “Amarillo By Morning” and “Troubadour” that, surprisingly to many, never reached No. 1. During Strait’s upcoming 2 Nights of Number 1’s, he will play 30 No. 1 hits Friday, April 7 and 30 No. 1 hits Saturday, April 8, in addition to those “can’t miss” classics. “I think some fans would throw something at me if I didn’t play those,” Strait noted with his signature grin. “We’re going to try this out in April and change it up for those shows, then see how it goes. It’s important to me to hear what the fans think and take it from there.” Strait elaborated,”We’re going to be rehearsing, I would say 25 songs that we haven’t played in years, so this should be fun!” Speaking of hits, his Strait Out of the Box: Part 2 is available now. The impressive three-disc, 56-track collection features 36 hit singles – including 26 No. 1’s – plus two new songs co-written by Strait, along with 18 choice album cuts. Strait Out of the Box: Part 2 spans 20 years of Strait’s career from 1996 to 2016 and follows the highly successful, 8x Platinum-selling 1995 release, Strait Out of the Box. Ticketing information is available at StraitToVegas.com.

Old Dominion releases new song “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart” today

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FIRST SINGLE FROM FORTHCOMING SOPHOMORE ALBUM HITS COUNTRY RADIO AIRWAVES RCA Nashville’s hitmakers and reigning ACM New Group of the Year, Old Dominion, releases new music today, March 10. The new single from 2017 ACM Group of the Year nominees, “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart,” arrives at Country radio, digital retail and streaming services today. Written by Old Dominion band members Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen and Brad Tursi, as well as Jesse Frasure, the band again enlists GRAMMY Award-winner Shane McAnally, who produced Old Dominion’s debut album in 2015, the GOLD certified Meat and Candy, to produce “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart.” The new song is the first taste of new music from the band’s highly-anticipated forthcoming sophomore album. “No matter who you are, where you live or your current status, people both old and young face more challenges than ever,” says Old Dominion’s front man Matthew Ramsey. “It’s in the face of those challenges and standing at the edge of fear that we have to remain positive. Focus on the light that comes from positivity instead of being swallowed up. Work hard at doing what you feel is right.  Don’t be scared!! Live life like there’s no such thing as a broken heart.” “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart” Lyrics I wonder if Jack and Diane ever made it After the drums and the guitars all faded  Was the best they could do good enough Or did the heartland just swallow them up How did my mom and my dad ever do it If there were struggles then we never knew it I guess they had each other and that was enough CHORUS You know you can’t keep the ground from shaking No matter how hard you try You can’t keep the sunsets from fading Gotta treat your life like you’re jumping off a rope swing Cause the whole thing’s really just a shot in the dark Gotta love like there’s no such thing as a broken heart Yeah you gotta love like there’s no such thing as a broken heart What am I gonna tell my kids when they see All of this bullshit that goes down on TV When the whole world is down on it’s luck I gotta make sure they keep their chin up Cry when it hurts Laugh when its funny Chase after the dream Don’t chase after the money Know we got each other and that’s what’s up CHORUS Cause you can’t keep the ground from shaking No matter how hard you try You can’t keep the sunsets from fading Gotta treat your life like you’re jumping off a rope swing Cause the whole thing’s really just a shot in the dark Gotta love like there’s no such thing as a broken heart Yeah you gotta love like there’s no such thing as a broken heart Gotta love like there’s no such thing as a broken heart

Nu-Blu Announces Upcoming Album Vagabonds Set for Release April 28

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Bluegrass/Americana breakout stars Nu-Blu are gearing up for the release of their upcoming project, Vagabonds. The album will serve as the award winning band’s sixth studio album, and is set for release on April 28. The album is fueled by the latest lead single, “Still Small Voice” featuring Country Music Hall of Fame Statler Brothers member Jimmy Fortune. The project will be released via Voxhall Records, and made available on iTunes, Amazon and wherever music is sold. “Vagabonds has been an emotional endeavor from the beginning. For seven years now, having spent over 200 days each on tour, the road has become our home,” says Nu-Blu’s Carolyn Routh. “We have seen a lot, done a lot, and embraced life not only through our own experiences, but also through the lives of those we have met. This project reflects the collective heart and soul of them, and of ourselves along the way.” Vagabonds first single is “Still Small Voice,” featuring Jimmy Fortune, who also co-wrote the song alongside Tony Lopacinski and Devin Belle. Accompanying lead singer Carolyn Routh and Fortune on harmonies is Dove Award winning singer Ben Isaacs. The song has already begun to generate traction since being released earlier this year, recently climbing its way to No. 3 this week on Roots Music Report’s Top 50 Contemporary Bluegrass Song Chart, which counts down the top songs in the genre. Standout songs on the album include the feel-good track, “A Lot More Love,” which has universal appeal with its inspiring sing-along message. Key lyrics on the song include the line, “we could all use a little less hate, and a lot more love,” with other lines through the song tackling the problems of the world. The song “Gypsies on Parade” is the inspiration behind the album title, which touches on the struggles of being on the road touring. Like previous albums, powerhouse lead-vocalist Carolyn Routh hits the high notes on ballads like the heartbreaking “640 Battlefield Drive” and the warm “Surround Me With Love.” Nu-Blu also takes on some of country and rock music’s biggest hits, with a new approach. The rock anthem “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” was remade with a fresh, bluegrass approach. The song was originally released by Bob Dylan in 1973, while also being re-recorded by singers like Eric Clapton and Guns N’ Roses. The band also recorded a version of “Good Hearted Woman,” a record made famous by country music icons Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, where it hit the top of the charts in 1976. Vagabonds Track Listing: 1. The Bridges That You’ve Burned 2. A Lot More Love 3. Still Small Voice (featuring Jimmy Fortune & Ben Isaacs) 4. 640 Battlefield Drive 5. How Many Rivers 6. Troublemaker 7. Gypsies on Parade 8. A Fool and Her Heart 9. Surround Me With Love 10. Good Hearted Woman 11. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door You can learn more at nu-blu.com About Nu-Blu: Hailing from Siler City, NC, the textbook definition of a picturesque small southern town, Continue reading Nu-Blu Announces Upcoming Album Vagabonds Set for Release April 28→

Waylon Jennings & Jessi Colter Memoir – Outlaw and a Lady

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The memoir, An Outlaw and a Lady: A Memoir of Music, Life with Waylon, and the Faith That Brought Me Home, will be released April 11th, 2017. Written with David Ritz—whose known for his collaborative biographies with folks like Willie Nelson and Ray Charles, the book covers Colter’s innovative musical career from singing in church to performing beside Waylon, Willie, and Johnny Cash as part of the Wanted: The Outlaws phenomenon. Jessi was the first woman ever to receive the Album of the Year Award from the CMA (Country Music Association) and played a critical role in the formulation of women in country in the 70s, and was an integral part of the “outlaw” country movement that included her husband Waylon, as well as Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Along with Wanted: The Outlaws becoming the first ever platinum-selling record in country music history, Jessi Colter achieved success beyond the shadow of the big male-dominated Outlaw names with #1 and top 10 hits. It’s public knowledge that Waylon struggled with heavy drug and alcohol addiction throughout his life. An Outlaw and a Lady tackles the tumultuous condition of their marriage at times, and how their faith and music weaved within that. Colter still lives in Arizona where Waylon eventually got clean, and where he was laid to rest in 2002. The daughter of a Pentecostal evangelist and a race-car driver, the book also chronicles Jessi’s return to faith, and how Waylon shared that faith with her in the latter stages of his life. This is a special memoir because no one has ever heard their story. She has a new album releasing this month as well to coincide with the book.

Billy Dean Officially Inducted Into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame

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Country music hitmaker Billy Dean has been officially inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.  On February 23 in Gainesville, Dean entered this year’s class alongside former Eagles member Don Felder, country legend Jim Stafford, and poet/anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins. About Billy Dean In his music career spanning more than 25 years, Dean has claimed eleven top ten Billboard country singles, including five #1 hits: “I Miss Billy The Kid,” “Somewhere In My Broken Heart,” “If There Hadn’t Been You,” “You Don’t Count The Cost” and “It’s What I Do.” Dean recorded eight major label studio albums, three of which have been certified gold by the RIAA, as well as a greatest hits album which is also certified gold. Earlier in his career, the Academy of Country Music named Dean Top New Male Vocalist and also awarded him Song of the Year for “Somewhere In My Broken Heart.” In 2000, Dean sang harmony vocals alongside Alison Krauss on Kenny Rogers‘ rendition of “Buy Me A Rose,” which earned a GRAMMY®. In addition to his successful recording career, Dean has also acted in several movies and appeared in numerous television shows.

TIN PAN SOUTH 2017 PERFORMERS & SCHEDULE RELEASED

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25th Anniversary Features Over 400 Writers #TINPANSOUTH25 Organizers of The 25th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank pulled out all stops for the Silver Anniversary, and the 100 shows and more than 400 writers have been announced and are now available at TinPanSouth.com. Set for March 28-April 1, 2017, writers representing virtually every genre will perform at 10 of Nashville’s top music venues. CMA Vocal Duo of the Year winners Brothers Osborne will entertain at 3rd & Lindsley, and “Nashville” television show stars Charles Esten, Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen will appear at the Hard Rock Cafe and The Listening Room Cafe, respectively. Grammy Award-winner Keb’ Mo’ will bring his unique Blues style to The Country, and Rock legend Jim Peterik returns to perform at Whiskey Rhythm. Country hitmakers Jake Owen, Craig Campbell, Maddie & Tae, Danielle Bradbery, Mo Pitney, Kristian Bush, Love and Theft, Mickey Guyton, Luke Combs and others will hit various stages, and legends like Larry Gatlin, Lee Roy Parnell and Mac Davis will tell fascinating stories behind their biggest hits. After a two-year absence, BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year, producer, music publisher, author, Broadway performer and TV personality Kara DioGuardi is set to perform. Dove and Emmy Award winner Brandon Heath will delight with his story telling, and former Sixpence leader Leigh Nash returns to Tin Pan. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on April 1, 1967, the museum is offering Fast Access Pass holders free admission on Saturday, April 1. 2017. The Tin Pan South Fast Access Passes permit patrons to bypass the cover charge at the door and allow advance entrance, space permitting. Most venues offer cash admission for individual shows not already at the posted capacity, and single show tickets will be available at the door and range from $­10 – 20. The free Tin Pan South Festival App is now available for IOS and Android devices and features: The ability to add individual events to a personal schedule; News and social media feeds to stay informed of festival happenings; Real-time notifications on the status of show changes; Festival map and venue information; Explore Music City with a list of landmark recommendations. Tin Pan South is set to run March 28-April 1, 2017 at 10 of Nashville’s top music venues.Produced by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Regions Bank returns for the tenth year as the presenting partner of the Festival. For up-to-date lineups, tickets, venues, schedules and other festival information, download the Festival App or visit tinpansouth.com. Updates can also be found on the Tin Pan South Facebookpage, Twitterand Instagram. The Tin Pan South program will be published in the March 22, 2017 issue of the “Nashville Scene.” Organizers of the 25th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival would like to thank the following Platinum and Gold Corporate Partners: Regions Bank – Presenting Partner Southwest Airlines – Official Airline Partner News Channel 5 – Official Broadcast Partner Vident Continue reading TIN PAN SOUTH 2017 PERFORMERS & SCHEDULE RELEASED→

Zac Brown’s Camp Southern Ground Unveils New Expansion

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Zac Brown Band on Country Music News Blog

Sitting atop a knoll of rolling pastureland, Camp Southern Ground’s Peterson Dining Hall has been described as “an open-armed gesture of welcome to those arriving at camp”. Offering breathtaking views of the campus’s dense greenery, the completion of the Dining Hall marks a major milestone for Camp Southern Ground. With its opening, we can offer a transformational experience not just to our campers, but anyone looking for a unique venue in a beautiful, natural setting. A Note From Zac Brown As a former camp counselor, I know how a positive camp experience can transform a child’s life. My dream is that children of all abilities will have an opportunity to experience the magic of the outdoors. Thank you for helping us create an amazing place for kids to learn and grow. – See more at: http://www.campsouthernground.org/#sthash.F0cFz6c0.dpuf THE VISION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE A two-story, state-of-the-art design, Zac Brown’s vision for the Peterson Dining Hall was brought to life by world renowned architectural firm Perkins + Will, along with the construction teams at DPR and Structor Group. This one-of-a-kind, 100-year build features materials sourced locally, including a natural zinc exoskeleton with a terraced boulder waterfall feature, as well as an interior ceiling made with sustainably harvested sapele mahogany donated by Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars. Acting as the interior focal point is a 26-foot-high brick fireplace flanked on either side by large windows – allowing for an overabundance of natural light to flood the room. FAMILY-STYLE DINING For our campers, the dining hall offers an additional space to connect with new friends, as they dine family-style on nutritious and gluten-free meals prepared using the produce harvested from our organic garden.  The food will be served from the lower level kitchen utilizing ultra-modern dumbwaiters. The dining hall is an extension of our Programs of Purpose: Nutrition, in which our campers will experience a meal created from start to finish – understand where their food is coming from, as well as the nutritional value behind it – all while dining in an unparalleled space. COOKING UP NEW IDEAS The dining hall will also serve as Camp Southern Ground’s culinary headquarters. Our talented chefs will work in the hi-tech kitchen to grow the camp menu to reflect our gluten-free nutrition plan for entrées, side dishes, and baked goods as well. When camp officially opens, the dining hall will be able to serve up to 300 campers plus 150 counselors, staff and volunteers. PLAYING HOST In 2016, the Peterson Dining Hall hosted two major events at the new venue: The 2016 Cattle Barons Ball to benefit the American Cancer Society and the Indian Motorcycle Riders Group. American Cancer Society’s Cattle Barons Ball The American Cancer Society proudly hosted the very first event in the Peterson Dining Hall on the campus of Camp Southern Ground. On November 5th, more than 360 guests and 40 volunteers donned their favorite western attire to dance the night away at the Cattle Baron’s Ball.  Guests enjoyed live music, dancing, bidding Continue reading Zac Brown’s Camp Southern Ground Unveils New Expansion→

Australian Country Music Festival, CMC Rocks Queensland, Sells Out 10th Anniversary Event

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CMC Rocks

While celebrating its 10th Anniversary, CMC Rocks Queensland has sold out for its second consecutive year. The Australia-based Country music festival will host more than 15,000 music lovers across three days at Willowbank, with headline performances from Dixie Chicks, Little Big Town, Kip Moore and local stars Lee Kernaghan and Morgan Evans, and will feature MCs Storme Warren and Mike Carr & Grizzly Adams. The festival is set for Friday, March 24, 2017 to Sunday, March 26. With expanded camping areas, an extended camper’s entertainment program, and more of the best food and beverage suppliers, CMC Rocks QLD has increased its capacity by 2,000, up from last year’s 13,000 maximum capacity crowd, and is the only country music festival to ever sell out in Australia. “It is very exciting to see the growth of Country Music around the world, and for us to have an event in Australia that truly reflects this with chart topping artists from USA, UK, Canada, NZ and Australia all performing at this year’s 10th Anniversary CMC Rocks QLD Festival”, said promoter Rob Potts. “Aussie country music fans from each State and Territory will be joined by visiting country fans from around the world; North America, UK, Europe, South East Asia, New Zealand and more, as they all come together to celebrate the best of country music at the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest international country and roots festival. Sold out for the second year in a row, Chuggi and I look forward to presenting and evolving the next ten years of CMC Rocks!” Foxtel Arts & Music Channels Manager, Fraser Stark said, “Foxtel and CMC (Country Music Channel), congratulates Rob Potts Entertainment Edge and Chugg Entertainment in securing an extraordinary line up of local and international country music artists which sees the festival go from strength to strength. We are proud of our strong partnership with CMC Rocks as it heads into its tenth successful year with Foxtel’s 7th Annual CMC Music Awards pre-empting the festival.  It is a relationship with a long standing commitment and tremendous vision to broaden this genre of music in Australia and bring the best of country music to both these live events as well as on Foxtel screens.” Music lovers will turn out in force to watch some of the biggest names in country music hit the stage. With 16 international acts playing alongside a plethora of established and up-and-coming local artists, 2017 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet. Joining Dixie Chicks (USA), Little Big Town (USA), Kip Moore (USA) and Lee Kernaghan (Australia) on 2017’s A-List international roster are Tyler Farr (USA), Craig Campbell (USA), Charles Esten (USA), Michael Ray (USA), Eric Paslay (USA), Granger Smith (USA), Drew Baldridge (USA), The Shires (UK), Ward Thomas (UK), Gord Bamford (Canada), Chris DeStefano (USA) and Brett James (USA). Local legends and rising stars round out the lineup: Morgan Evans, Adam Harvey, The McClymonts, The Wolfe Brothers, Jasmine Rae, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Brothers 3, Christie Lamb, Col Finley, Doug Bruce & Continue reading Australian Country Music Festival, CMC Rocks Queensland, Sells Out 10th Anniversary Event→

Luke Bryan’s Official Video for “Fast”

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ACM Entertainer of the Year nominee and four-time show co-host Luke Bryan released a poignant music video for single “Fast” today. The video features an acoustic performance by Luke on a bare stage as photos of his early childhood, career and family flow through as the music plays. “Fast” was the tenth Luke video directed by Michael Monaco and was written by Luke, Rodney Clawson and Luke Laird and is the sixth single off his Platinum selling KILL THE LIGHTS album. Watch it here: “Nothing makes me happier than knowing my family is safe and content,” says Luke. “Life does go too fast so we have to remind ourselves to stop and take in what is happening around us in our careers and our families lives.” Earlier this week, Luke performed “Fast” for radio programmers in Nashville for Country Radio Seminar, revealed his wax figure at Madame Tussauds in New York City, played a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden and performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. This weekend, Luke continues the final leg of the “Kill The Lights Tour” with shows in Manchester, New Hampshire and Providence, Rhode Island.