David Nail – I’m About To Come Alive

David Nail combines southern boy charm with Mississippi mud blues in his debut album “I’m About to Come Alive”. A newcomer to the Nashville chart climbers, David Nail‘s voice is heartfelt and gentle, reminding the listener a combination between Jason Mraz and and maybe early Kenny Chesney. In fact, track 10, “Turning Home” even boasts a Kenny Chesney writing credit! When asked how he feels about this album, David responds: “I think every artist that moves to Nashville has a list of things they hope to achieve, and having a record in stores has always been near the very top for me,” explains Nail. “This has been a two-year process of highs and lows, but now being on the verge of accomplishing that, it feels as sweet as I ever imagined.” Overall “I’m About to Come Alive” is a consistent listen from the first track to the last, giving the overall impression of a singer/songwriter who has used music to wrestle with heartache and breakups. Some exceptional moments on the album include Natalie Hemby’s backing vocals on several tracks which help fill out the sound and really support David’s voice well. Also,  “This Time Around” features some clever lyrics and a glimpse at what David can accomplish with a more up-tempo song, which is quite a bit. At the end of the day, this is a solid debut album, but I think the real gold will be what comes after this so keep your eye on this boy! David’s debut album will release on August 18th just in time for the CMA Music Festival. David can also be found hosting his own series of webisodes titled “Red Light Road Trip”. For more about David Nail, visit www.davidnail.com TRACK LISTING: 1. “Mississippi” 2. “I’m About To Come Alive” 3. “Red Light” 4. “Again” 5. “Clouds” 6. “Summer Job Days” 7. “Strangers On A Train” (featuring Miranda Lambert) 8. “Looking For A Good Time” 9. “This Time Around” 10. “Turning Home” 11. “Missouri”Country Music Photo Gallery

George Strait – Twang

George Strait is showin’ off his Twang! George Strait is already seeing the fan’s reaction to his upcoming album “Twang” as the hit single “Living for the night” steadily climbs the Billboard Country charts. Now see what he has to say about the making of the album , and about including songs that he helped to pen! Twang is George’s 38th album, and pure proof that he is solid, timeless, and truly a country music legend. “Living For The Night” marks the first time Strait has penned a song he has recorded since “I Can’t See Texas From Here” from his second album Strait From The Heart. Strait co-wrote two additional songs on TWANG – “He’s Got That Something Special” and “Out Of Sight Out Of Mind.” Bubba Strait is the sole writer on “Arkansas Dave.”Track Listing for TWANG: 1. Twang – Jim Lauderdale, Kendell Marvel and Jimmy Ritchey 2. Where Have I Been All My Life – Sherrie Austin, Will Nance and Steve Williams 3. I Gotta Get To You – Jim Lauderdale, Jimmy Ritchey and Blaine Larsen 4. Easy As You Go – Steve Bogard and Rick Giles 5. Living For The Night – George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon 6. Same Kind Of Crazy – Delbert McClinton and Gary Nicholson 7. Out Of Sight Out Of Mind – George Strait and Bubba Strait 8. Arkansas Dave – Bubba Strait 9. The Breath You Take – Dean Dillon, Jessie Jo Dillon and Casey Beathard 10. He’s Got That Something Special – George Strait, Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon 11. Hot Grease And Zydeco – Gordon Bradberry and Tony Ramey 12. Beautiful Day For Goodbye – Doug Johnson and Pat Bunch 13. El Rey – Jose Alfredo Jimenez Overall the album packs quite a bit of classic Strait crooning, but then surprises you with songs like El Ray, sung entirely in spanish, and the title track “Twang” which is a true party song. Not to mention “Hot Grease and Zydeco”, which by the way, Zydeco is an evolved/ sidebranch of Louisianna French Creole blues, that makes you want to just get up and swing around the dance floor. In my opinion, this entire album will only add to the country troubadour’s long long record of well… hit records :-)Country Music Photo Gallery

Taylor Swift Joins Band Hero

Taylor Swift lends her likeness and sound to the game Band Hero due out this November just in time for Christmas. Taylor Swift’s smash hits ” Love Story”, “You Belong With Me” and “Picture to Burn” are all going to be included on the fall release of Band Hero. From the makers of Guitar Hero, Band Hero encourages people to pick up an instrument and play either as, or alongside their favorite artists in the game, which Taylor is a big fan of! “Anything that encourages people to pick up an instrument and play, I’m fully behind. And, I’m really excited about Band Hero, because not only are fans getting to play my songs, but I’m actually in the game,” said Swift. “There are so many awesome things that go into being in Band Hero, like getting to customize my band to look like my touring band, and it’s so cool for people to feel like they are experiencing one of my concerts. This is one of the closest things out there to going to see me perform!” Taylor spent quite a bit of time with the creators of the game having her signature moves and sound fully broken down and built into the game so players can get the full Taylor Swift experience. “Taylor Swift’s impressive rise to the top of multiple music genres, along with the broad appeal of her songs, makes her a great example of the type of experience we are bringing to music fans with Band Hero,” said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Guitar Hero. “We’re thrilled to announce her as the very first of several playable in-game artists and showcase her many talents in our game.”Other Band Hero artists include No Doubt, All American Rejects, The Jackson 5, and Lily Allen.Country Music Photo Gallery

Holly Williams Engaged!

Holly Williams receives a romantic proposal from Nashville drummer Chris Coleman. Holly Williams has been flying high as her critically acclaimed album “Here With Me” spreads like wildfire over the airwaves, but now there will be no pulling her down from cloud 9. Last week drummer Chris Coleman took Holly on a picnic and hike in Leipers Fork, TN where they searched for civil war relics.  Little did Holly know, carefully hidden was an offer she couldn’t refuse: “I dug up a beautiful wooden box with my favorite love quote on it,” Williams, 28, told PEOPLE, “and the engagement date carved in roman numerals. He wood-burned the letters onto the box! He got on one knee and I opened the box, underneath the flowers and basil were the rings.” The ring was an antique three banded diamond engagement ring circa 1923. No wedding date has been set yet. Congratulations to the beautiful couple!Country Music Photo Gallery

Reba added to CCMA Awards Lineup

Reba McEntire will perform at the 2009 Canadian Country Music Association Awards September 13th. The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has announced the addition of Reba McEntire to the all-star line-up of performers at the 2009 CCMA Awards. This year’s celebration, to be broadcast nationally on CBC TV with encore airings on CMT in Canada, will take place in Vancouver, BC on September 13th at GM Place. Other performers for this year’s awards include George Canyon, Terri Clark, Doc Walker, Jessie Farrell, Martina McBride, Aaron Pritchett, and Johnny Reid. For more information or tickets visit http://www.countrymusicvancouver.com/Country Music Photo Gallery

Mel McDaniel Benefit Performance and Auction

Mel McDaniel needs your help! Benefit auction and concert to assist Grand Ole Opry member. Friends and fellow country artists of Grand Ole Opry member Mel McDaniel have joined forces deliver a music-filled, star-laced benefit concert and auction Thursday, Aug. 13, for the ailing singer. McDaniel was hospitalized July 6 following a mid-June heart attack and placed in a medically induced coma by doctors. On July 22, an Opry spokeswoman reported that the Oklahoma-born singer, whose hits include “Stand Up,” “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On” and “Louisiana Saturday Night,” was being released to a rehabilitative center for continuing care. In a collective effort to assist McDaniel and wife Peggy with their mounting medical costs, members of the Nashville country-music community have organized a 6-10 p.m. concert and silent auction at the famed Nashville Palace, 2611 McGavock Pike, with proceeds benefiting singer-songwriter McDaniel. Broadcast veteran Keith Bilbrey reportedly is set to emcee the event, which will feature guest performances by some of McDaniel’s Opry family, including Little Jimmy Dickens, Jean Shepherd and Jim Ed Brown, as well as Rick Blaylock, Alison Clements, Jared Rogers, Tommy Cash, Buddy Jewel, David Ball, Guy Gilcrest, T-Bell, Jet Jurgensmeyer, Helen Cornelius, Ken Peletier, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Jimmy Fortune, T. Graham Brown, Billy Are, Hank Beach, Charlie Louvin, Don Wayne, Jack Greene, Jimmy C. Newman, Larry Paxton and Candi Apple Red, among others. McDaniel’s band, Oklahoma Wind, will provide backing music for the lineup. “Mel and his wife are such dear people and friends to so many,” said InLight Records artist and volunteer performer Tommy Cash. “We hope to have a great turnout for this event and make some great music along the way. Our prayers and thoughts are with the McDaniel family at this difficult time.” Benefit organizers report that thus far more than 50 items have been donated for auction, including the following: • One-week stay in Gatlinburg (three stays up for auction) • Two guitars autographed by Opry Members • One “Ole Mel” logo guitar with Mel’s likeness painted by artist Guy Gilchrist • Larry Black Family Reunion DVD sets (three sets) • Dinner at Blue Moon Lagoon ($75) • Three-day Stays at Two Rivers Campground (two stays valued at 110 each) • Golfing at Gaylord Springs Golf Links (two) • Electronic/digital fire-proof safe ($339 value) • Dewalt radio ($140 value) • Tours from Tommy’s Tours for two people (two tours for auction) • Guitar autographed by Carrie Underwood • Two-night stay at Gaylord Opryland with dinner for two at Volare (694 value) • Bob Evans gift certificates • CDs, T-shirts, pictures of many artists • Autographed Titans football TICKETS: Tickets to the Aug. 13 benefit concert/auction, available at the door only, are $10 per person. (No presale tickets available for this event.) For additional admission or ticket information, please contact the venue at 615-889-1540 or visit www.nashvillepalace.net.Country Music Photo Gallery

Jason Aldean: Live Video DVD

Jason Aldean has completed production and is set for release on his first-ever live DVD “Wide Open Live & More!” Jason Aldean joins the ranks of those country music superstars releasing live DVD’s this August with the launch of “Wide Open Live & More!” due out August  25th from Eagle Rock Entertainment. The footage was filmed at the Knoxville Coliseum this spring and features performances from his first three chart-topping albums. For a sneak peek, enjoy this video of “Big Green Tractor” which was just released on Friday! Big Green Tractor Official Press Release: New York, NY (July 24, 2009)–Country music fans swarmed the Knoxville Coliseum in March for a sold-out live concert DVD taping with platinum-selling country rocker Jason Aldean. Fans across the country will soon be able to find the Eagle Vision set titled Wide Open Live & More! in stores on Aug. 25 (Pre-book order date August 5, MSRP $14.98 for DVD, $24.98 for Blu-ray). The 15-song hi-definition special, available on DVD and Blu-ray, directed by Ivan Dudynsky, captures Aldean’s high-octane stage show and includes his biggest radio hits, as well as fan-favorite album cuts from his first three albums; Jason Aldean, Relentless and the already GOLD certified Wide Open. Bonus interview footage with the Georgia-native rounds out the 86-minute collection. “This is the coolest thing we’ve ever done together as a band,” said Aldean from Los Angeles, where he is taping The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. “We aren’t quite at the point yet that we can afford to have all the toys on stage that some of the bigger guys out there have, so we have to work a little harder to get the crowd going. The energy in Knoxville was off the charts, and it’s just really special for us to have that night recorded. Now, people who might not be able to make it to one of the shows, but are curious to know what we do, can check it out too.” A tease of the live DVD debuted as the new music video for Aldean’s current smash country love song “Big Green Tractor” on Fri., July 24 through MySpace Music. The clip will also begin airing on all video networks in the coming weeks. Fans can catch Aldean headlining his Wide Open tour through the fall, as well as opening a handful of dates for superstar Keith Urban in the coming weeks. He will also tape an episode of E!’s highly rated late night talk show Chelsea Lately on Tues., July 28 and will perform on ABC’s CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock on Aug. 31. For additional tour dates and more on the upcoming live DVD, visit www.jasonaldean.com Eagle Rock Entertainment is an international media production and distribution company operating across audiovisual entertainment programming. Eagle Rock Entertainment works directly alongside talent to produce the highest quality programming output covering film, general entertainment and musical performance. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices based in London, New York, Germany, France & Toronto. Track Continue reading Jason Aldean: Live Video DVD

Sugarland World Movie Premiere!

Sugarland to premiere “Live on the Inside” in 35 theaters across the US! Sugarland will be debuting the upcoming DVD from their CD/DVD release Live On The Inside in 35 theatres across the country on Thursday, August 6th. This is a cinematic treat for all music lovers and will feature the powerhouse duo in high definition digital cinema performing 16 songs from their nationwide tour. For a preview and tickets, follow this link! Cities: Auburn, AL – Wynnsong 16 Huntsville, AL – Monaco Pictures Mobile, AL – Wynnsong 16 Troy, AL – Continental Cinema 5 Surprise, AZ – UltraStar Surprise Pointe 14 Lake Havasu, AZ – UltraStar Lake Havasu 10 Apple Valley, CA – UltraStar Apple Valley 14 Oceanside, CA – UltraStar Mission Marketplace Riverside, CA – UltraStar University Village 10 San Diego, CA – UltraStar Poway Creekside Plaza Coral Springs, FL – Coral Square 8 Gainesville, FL – Gator Cinemas Columbus, GA – Carmike 15 Savannah, GA – Victory Square Stadium 9 Iowa City, IA – Coral Ridge 10 Chicago, IL – Orland Park Cinemas Woodhaven, MI – Emagine Woodhaven Detroit, MI – Emagine Canton St. Paul, MN – Marcus Ultra Cinema at Oakdale Fayetteville, NC – Market Fair 15 Jacksonville, NC – Carmike 16 Fargo, ND – Century-Fargo Omaha, NE – Twin Creek Cinema Buffalo, NY – McKinley 6 Theatres Buffalo, NY – Lakewood Cinema 8 Columbus, OH – Pickerington UltraScreen Chattanooga, TN – Northgate 14 Murfreesboro, TN – Wynnsong 16 Cookeville, TN – Highland 12 Nashville, TN – Thoroughbred 20 Edinburg, TX – Carmike 20 Tyler, TX – Carmike 14 El Paso, TX – Carmike 16 Madison, WI – Point UltraScreen Cinema Milwaukee, WI – Ridge Cinemas The concert footage, which was shot at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY by director Shaun Silva captures Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush in their most comfortable and adored setting…on stage. This one-time event will give fans an inside look at their upcoming CD/DVD set, Live On The Inside, available exclusively at Walmart August 4th.Country Music Photo Gallery

Country Stars of Twitter

Reach your favorite country stars direct thanks to Twitter! Twitter has quickly become the fastest and easiest way to chat one-on-one with your favorite country music stars. The service has helped us get an inside look into how these performers live their day to day lives, letting them share updates with us as small as the shoes Kellie Pickler buys or the news of when Brad Paisley’s newest son was born. Get connected today! Here is a list of all the country stars (so far) that we’ve found on Twitter! Newest Twitter Members: Eli Young Band Chris Young Brantley Gilbert Scotty McCreery A-Z Adam Gregory Alison Krauss Big&Rich Big Kenny Billy Currington Billy Ray Cyrus Blake Shelton Bomshel Brad Paisley Bucky Covington Carrie Underwood Carter Twins Chely Wright Chris Young Chuck Wicks Cowboy Troy Craig Morgan Country Weekly Danielle Peck Darius Rucker Darryl Singletary Darryl Worley David Nail Dierks Bentley Dolly Parton Due West Emerson Drive Emily West Eric Church Eric Durrance EzraJane Faith Hill Gary Allan Gary Levox George Strait Gloriana Grand Ole Opry Gretchen Wilson Heidi Newfield Jack Ingram Jake Owen James Dupre James Otto Jason Aldean Jay DeMarcus Jessica Harp Jessica Simpson Jewel Jimmy Wayne Jo Dee Messina Joe Don Rooney Joe Nichols John Rich Josh Carter Josh Turner Julianne Hough Justin Moore Keith Anderson Keith Urban Kellie Pickler Kenny Chesney King Billy Lady Antebellum LeAnn Rimes Lee Ann Womack Little Big Town Love and Theft Luke Bryan Martina McBride Matt Stillwell Michelle Branch Miranda Lambert Montgomery Gentry Oak Ridge Boys Randy Houser Randy Travis Rascal Flatts Reba Rodney Atkins Sara Evans SHeDAISY Sugarland Taylor Swift The Road Hammers The Ryman Tim McGraw Toby Keith Trailer Choir Trent Tomlinson Vince Gill Whitney Duncan Willie Nelson Zac Brown Zac Brown Band Zach Carter Find an artist on twitter that we missed? Leave it in the comments below!

New Release from Tim McGraw: Southern Voice

Tim McGraw to release first studio album in over two years this coming fall. Tim McGraw has been out of the limelight for a while but now he’s back! Tim’s latest labor of love, the new album “Southern Voice” is due out this fall from Curb Records. The album was produced by Bryan Gallimore who is also credited with Tim’s last chart-topping release “Let It Go”. Tim McGraw is planning a nationwide tour in 2010 in support of the album. The first single, “It’s a pleasure doing business with you”, was released to radio this month.Country Music Photo Gallery