Tour Time for Country Music Stars!

Posted on by

I’m sure the prices at the gas pumps are skyrocketing travel costs for everyone, but it’s unlikely to stop country artists and fans from hitting the road to search for the ultimate concert experience this summer. It seems most country artists are focusing their tours on the warmer months this year. Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Sugarland and Toby Keith are just some of the acts already on the road, but tours are also in the works for Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson. Brad Paisley recently completed a tour and will start another one in June. And the king of the summer tours — Kenny Chesney — is back on the road for a series of shows at amphitheaters and major stadiums. Here’s a brief rundown of the tour plans of 10 of country music’s most popular acts: Kenny Chesney He’s been performing some informal shows at clubs near college campuses, but Chesney’s Poets & Pirates tour with LeAnn Rimes kicks off April 18-19 at the Mohegan Sun hotel and casino in Uncasville, Conn. Fourteen stadium dates are scheduled featuring five different talent lineups. Among those featured at selected stadiums are Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Gary Allan, Luke Bryan, Big & Rich, Sammy Hagar and Rimes. All in all, Chesney is now set to do 37 shows from coast to coast before closing his tour on Sept. 13 at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis with Urban, Rimes and Allan. More on Kenny Chesney’s 2008 concert tour… Alan Jackson Jackson returns to the road on April 11 to headline a stadium show in Tuscaloosa, Ala., as part of the Gridiron Bash at the University of Alabama. The bulk of his tour dates begin in Canada with an April 16 show in Calgary, Alberta. Three other Canadian dates follow before he begins the U.S. leg on May 1 in Laredo, Texas. His concert schedule now extends through July 25 in Kelseyville, Calif. More on Alan Jackson’s 2008 concert tour… Toby Keith Keith is busy this week in Texas with a Thursday night (March 13) appearance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He has another 20 concerts scheduled between now and a Sept. 19 show in Albuquerque, N.M. More on Toby Keith’s 2008 concert tour… Tim McGraw McGraw warms up for his summer roadwork with an April 27 performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and a May 4 appearance at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, Calif., before officially launching his tour on May 9 in Tampa, Fla. He has dates scheduled through July 6 in Pittsburgh. More on Tim McGraw’s 2008 concert tour… Brad Paisley Paisley announced at the recent Country Radio Seminar in Nashville that his 2008 tour will feature Jewel, Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough. With 42 shows currently booked, the tour begins June 11 in Albuquerque, N.M. Paisley’s schedule extends through an Oct. 18 appearance in San Antonio. More on Brad Paisley’s 2008 concert tour… Rascal Flatts With Taylor Swift opening the Continue reading Tour Time for Country Music Stars!→

Conway Twitty Musical Now Casting – Its Only Make Believe

Posted on by

The children of the late and great Conway Twitty have begun pre-production on the musical “It’s Only Make Believe” a tribute to their father’s amazing journey through country music. Auditions will be held in Las Vegas, Nashville, and Los Angeles to find the perfect performer to portray members of Conway Twitty’s family, friends, musical counterparts,  and Conway himself.  It is expected to be a major production with an excellent turnout. For detailed audition dates, requirements, and roles to be casted, please visit the official Conway Twitty website. Auditions begin March 28th, and have strict pre-registration requirements so be sure to read the fine print. Good luck!Country Music Photo Gallery

Bucky Covington – Country Artist of the Week

Posted on by

For this week’s CAW, I chose newcomer Bucky Covington. I’m not a big American Idol fan myself, but I remember seeing his audition tape as he sang “Simple Man” from Lynyrd Skynyrd and thinking “God I hope this tv show doesn’t eat that boy up and spit him out!”. He’s not pretty, he’s not full of forced politeness, and he’s not today’s typical prissy and preened radio star. Bucky gritted his teeth and toughed it out in America’s biggest dog and pony show, making it all the way to #8 before being voted out in favor of Taylor Hicks (who is now all but disappeared off the map entirely). Meanwhile Bucky Covington has got a record deal with Lyric Street, and a 2008 concert tour with Dierks Bentley. It’s no wonder why he’s singin’ “It’s Good to Be Us“! Stay tuned throughout the week for more hot facts about Bucky Covington! Bucky Covington 2008 Concert Tour                                Dierks Bentley 2008 Concert Tour  It’s Good To Be Us – Bucky Covington [youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=tIjM6SNt8Hg] Country Music Photo Gallery

Hank Williams Jr – Country Artist of the Week

Posted on by

All his rowdy friends have settled down, but Hank Jr is still tearin’ it up! The legendary Bocephus said it best… “All my rowdy friends have settled down, and they seem to be more in to laid back songs”. While the rest of country music’s stars are playing it safe, Hank Williams Jr is still raising eyebrows, whiskey bottles and raucous ruckus! Hank Jr’s rise to epic idol stature started with him continuing his father’s legacy, but it wasn’t until the mid-70’s when he broke away from the familial mold to create a sound that was all his own that country music fans really took notice. He let his southern rock influence seep out when he released his 1975 album “Hank Williams Jr and Friends“. After that point Bocephus would become the poster picture of rebel country, singing about drinking, drugs, women, and hard times. You will find no lofty attitudes or false Nashville act here. Only pure country and rock & roll. Hank Jr’s live show has been described as nothing short of “One hell of a party” and his fans have come to expect nothing less. On his current 2008 Rowdy Frynds concert tour, he takes turns closing out the night with classic rock giants Lynyrd Skynyrd in the most anticipated concert of 2008 [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqCtbEGcBBA] For Hank Williams Jr 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Alan Jackson Gets Sirius About His New Album – Good Time

Posted on by

Alan Jackson: Good Time Alan Jackson’s new album “Good Time” is set to hit store shelves March 4th. Good Time is the first Alan Jackson album to feature songs written entirely by him! To celebrate the release, Alan is hosting Sirius Satellite Radio’s Prime Country Channel for 5 days starting today and running through March 4th. During his time hosting the channel, Alan will introduce the world to the 17 tracks on the new release as well as play some of his all-time favorite country stars. We also expect to hear Alan Jackson share some songs and stories from throughout his amazing career. In this video catch a sneak clip of the song “Right Where I Want You” off the new album, Good Time. [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DkSRtk8q7g]  For Alan Jackson 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On Tour Country Music Photo Gallery

Alan Jackson – Country Artist of the Week

Posted on by

The man, the myth, the legend of my time; Alan Jackson. I was torn between making him my classic country artist, or my current country artist of the week simply because this man fills BOTH pairs of shoes! He’s been making records since 1989, starting with Blue Blooded Woman. Ever since then he’s been bringing us classic honky tonk with a slight modern pop country twist. Songs like “Don’t Rock The Jukebox“, “Mercury Blues“, and “Midnight in Montgomery” sold this country girl on the smooth qualities and perfect delivery of Alan Jackson’s singing. Later hits like “Designated Drinker“, “Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning” and “Like Red on a Rose” would prove his timelessness. Right now Alan’s top single, “Small Town Southern Man” is showing us just how simple life can be when you stick to what you know. Southern Man has stayed in the GAC’s top 5 for the last 5 weeks and I don’t see it dropping anytime soon! [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0wRf3GH1t4] For Alan Jackson 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On Tour Country Music Photo Gallery

Dierks Bentley: Long Trip Alone – Hot Country Music Video of the Week

Posted on by

A milestone in Dierks Bentley‘s career, “Long Trip Alone” raced to the top of the CMT and Billboard charts. In an interview with Dial-Globe he said the song started off about his wife but then became about all the people in your life. By the end, he said, it became more of a prayer. Either way, the song seems to show a more mature and serious side of Dierks that had not come out until that point in his career although he didn’t seem intent on coming across that way. “I think it just kind of happened that way. I think in my mind there is always a push ahead with the live show and push ahead to take it somewhere new. I’m not content just to put out an album that sounds like the record before. I was trying to move forward in that direction and I think with this record some stuff came out, you know, in songwriting. I’ve been on the road for the last four years straight. So when you sit on the front seat of a bus that long, you really think about a lot of heavy things at times. And a song like “Long Trip Alone” is more of a prayer than a song to me. Some stuff came out that is kind of bigger sounding and with bigger messages. We’ve kept it in line with some songs that are definitely honky-tonk, beer joint stompers. But there’s definitely some big songs on this record.” Take a listen and tell me what you think of Dierks Bentley’s Long Trip Alone. [youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=2yNXsWm-vKs] For Dierks Bentley 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Dierks Bentley – Country Artist of the Week

Posted on by

Arizona native and Nashville bound Dierks Bentley is our latest Artist of the Week. I chose Dierks because he takes a completely grass-roots approach to touring and playing. Performing live has always been his passion, and his real reason for making music. Bentley calls himself a country music missionary, and the live show is his testament. “I want to wake up every morning thinking I’ve got to make the most of this day,” he says of his open-armed embrace of the road. “If we’re playing a corn-dog fair, I get out there and check out the horses and the cows and the prizes and hang out and meet people. You get to be a country music missionary. You’re touching people’s lives every day. You’re influencing these people. So I try to make the most out of every day.” When asked about his influences, many of them gained from his time as an intern at The Nashville Network, Dierks Bentley has this to say: “I’ve stolen from the best, man, for sure. Waylon Jennings’ grit and that attitude, we try to toss it into our show a little bit. Johnny Cash, sometimes you can’t tell if it’s a love song or a spiritual song. I think that’s really cool.” “It’s not your dad’s country music,” he said. “It’s youthful, it’s runnin’ around, it’s people jumping off stage, it’s a wild show. I think it’s still country music, but I definitely incorporate some other genres in there as far as the feel of the live show goes.” Dierks Bentley kicked off the latest edition of his live show last week. The Throttle Wide Open Tour features opening acts Bucky Covington and Luke Bryan. For Dierks Bentley 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Kenny Chesney May Cancel Keg Tour

Posted on by

Every year for the past 5 years Kenny Chesney has held what he calls the “Keg in the Closet” pre-tour, but this year he may scrap the whole thing thanks to some nosey net nerds. The tour consists of surprise shows announced only hours ahead of time at bars in smaller college towns prior to each stadium show on his Poets and Pirates tour. His first appearance on this year’s bar run was planned for the Jupiter Bar and Grill in Tuscaloosa Alabama, however someone “hacked” into the bar’s website and somehow found plans to the show. They announced these plans in a comment on the Kenny Chesney website, causing Kenny to re-think the whole idea. “The spirit of this has always been for me and the guys to get out, get a little sloppy, play a bunch of songs we love and have a good time,” Kenny explains. “It’s supposed to be loose, easy and in the moment. But if this kind of craziness is already happening, it means we may have hit the point where we can’t do it anymore. I’d hate that, but these clubs can’t handle that kind of crowding, and I don’t wanna put them through it. It’s a shame. It’s a lot of fun for everybody, and it’s always seemed like the people who didn’t get in were good sports about it.” This would be a terrible shame since the opportunity to see such a big-named artist in such an intimate venue is hard to come by. For Kenny Chesney 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On Tour Country Music Photo Gallery