Tuesday 12 November 2013

Country Bites News snippets November 4 - November 10, 2013

Country Bites News snippets November 4 – November 10, 2013

SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED
           
UK & IRISH News

Eric Church, fresh from his “The Outsiders” showcase performance at the Country Music Awards, has announced Irish & UK dates in February and March in 2014. 
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 15th November priced £22.50 (£20.00 Ticket + £2.50 Fees) to £28.00 (£24.50 Ticket + £3.50 Fees) in London. 
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster UK (Pre sale begins Wednesday 13th November)
Dates: Monday 24th February 2014 (Olympia Theatre, Dublin, IE), Tuesday 25th February 2014 (Ulster Hall Belfast),  
Thursday 27th February 2014 (O2 ABC, Glasgow), Saturday 1st March, 2014 (The Ritz, Manchester), and Sunday 2nd March 2014 - O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London

The Eagles have UK dates in 2014 on their “History of the Eagles” tour. Tickets go on sale to the general public Fri Nov 15th at a mouth watering £136.70 (£125.00 Ticket + £11.70 Fees) available on Ticketmaster UK They will play at:
LG Arena Birmingham (Wed 28 May 2014), The SSE Hydro  Glasgow (Sat 31 May and Monday 2nd June), The O2. London( Monday 16th June), First Direct Arena,  Leeds (Mon 23rd June) and Phones 4u Arena, Manchester (Weds 25th June)

The Americana Music Association – UK (AMA-UK) will be organising an event at Kings Place near King's Cross (London) from February 13th to 15th, 2014. The Association has decided to call it The Americana Music Association UK Showcase and is currently programming the event The showcase will comprise of three nights of music in both the larger theatre space and one night in the smaller studio theatre.
Appearing: Laura Cantrell + Sturgill Simpson (Thurs, 13 Feb 2014; Hall One), Norwich based Police Dog Hogan + The Vagaband (Fri, 14 Feb 2014; Hall Two), Woody Guthrie: Hard Times and Hard Travellin' Multi-media show (Sat, 15 Feb 2014 - 5:30pm / St Pancras Room) and Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo + Austin Lucas + Hatful of Rain (Sat, 15 Feb 2014 / Hall One)

UK country internet station 2Country.net talked to their Red Carpet Photographer in their CMA Awards Special frography.xthefrog.com . They were also commissioned to head down to Music Row on the following two days to do some promotional press shots for next year’s Country 2 Country Festival at the O2 Arena in London, which including shooting Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts after their session with BBC Radio 2's Bob Harris at Audio Productions Recording Studio on 18th Avenue.

Photo Jeannine Barry
Bush Hall Nov 10, 2013
Nathan Adams
Jeannine Barry released her 5 Track EP Give Me Something (self release) on UK iTunes on Oct 31st. 
It currently resides at #1192 on UK iTunes Country Album Chart.

Gretchen Peters is to play the Celtic Connections Festival, Glasgow, Scotland on February 1, 2014

Rebecca Hollweg and Andy Hamill have a double bill with friends singer-songwriter Elizabeth McCall and violinist Julian Ferraretto, who are back from Australia for a month. On Monday 2nd December they will be playing Upstairs at The Betsey Trotwood, 56 Farringdon Rd, London EC1R 3BL (Tickets will be £8 on the door), a quirky and friendly old pub which hosts many
'Just a beautiful sound, great vibe', Janice Long on BBC Radio 2

Gene Watson will be back in Ireland in 2014 on the The Phil Mack Country International Country Show event, according to the TV show they were “mobbed at the Allingham Arms

The ABC of British Country Music Live listings for Artists, Bands & Clubs: What's On LINK

UK CHART NEWS
Official UK Singles Top 100 (Week Ending November 16, 2013)
Taylor Swift & Gary Lightbody with “The Last Time” (Mercury) moved 179-25 with sales of 12,916 copies on their second week receiving a boost after their X Factor results UK show appearance on Sunday November 3rd. It becomes the seventh Top 40 hit from the album.

Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week Ending November 16, 2013)
Taylor Swift’s RED jumped up 35 places from 60-25 on her 55th chart week (5,510 sales) to date it has sold 451,425 copies.

Official UK Country Album Chart  (Week Ending November 16, 2013)
Kacey Musgraves with SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARKHOODOO (Decca) stays at No.1 in her 30th week.
Derek Ryan moved up 4 places to No.4 with COUNTRY SOUL (Sharp Music)

On the Hotdisc Chart (November 10, 2013 Chart)

Ray Scott held at No.1 on the Top 40 with “Still Screamin’ My Name” for a fifth week with Michelle Wright still locked behind him at No.2 with her title cut single “Strong” .
Tracks from the new November Hotdisc 179 started to impact the chart. The highest new entry was Billy Yates with “The House That Jack Built” at No.3 co-written with Jerry Sailey, from his 2013 album ONLY ONE GEORGE JONES.

The Hayley Oliver Band debut with “The Hand That Rocked The Cradle” (written by Bryan D Way and Rena Gaile) at No.4 to once again go No.1 on the Hotdisc British & Irish Chart for a 10th time improving on their already record breaking No.1 tally. This is the fourth single they have promoted from their July released album ABINGER GROVE, all of which have been leaders on the British & Irish chart.
Dave Sherriff made his bow at No.7 (#2 British & Irish Chart) with his self penned “My Friend Jack Daniels”.
The other highest new entries were US artist David Wood with “I’ll Bet My Life On Love (#14), Lawrence John’s self penned “Bluegrass, Bourbon and Barbecues” (#15), Britain’s Kickin’ Country with “Rock It Megamix” landed at #18 and Erica Sunshine’s own track “Drinking And Driving Me Crazy” rounded out the Top 20.

UKCountryRadio.com’s 2013 Listeners Club finalist Thorne Hill made an entry lower down the Top 40 regions at No.35 with his newly released EP title cut “Tomorrow” but fell short of making the Top 10 British placings on his first chart week. 

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

(11 Nov 2013) Daniel O'Donnell - A Picture of You (Demon Music Group)
16 Tracks/ Time: 49:23 CD - MP3 - 'A Picture Of You' is Daniel's brand new album and includes his own selection of some true evergreens, along with several brand new songs.

(11 Nov 2013) Derek Ryan - Country Soul (Sharpe Music)
14 Tracks CD - UK iTunes  
This is Carlow’s singer-songwriter’s fourth album. Derek has has reached No.4 in the UK country iTunes charts (currently #14), surpassing veterans like Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and C2C 2014 headliner The Zac Brown Band.


(11 Nov 2013) Lady Antebellum - Golden (Deluxe Edition) [Import]
 (18 tracks) - CD  smartchoicemusic.com (£14.99) This Deluxe Edition of Golden released in 2013 includes six bonus tracks.

(11 Nov 2013) Lady Antebellum: Live - On This Winter's Night [DVD] [NTSC]/Region 2 (Europe) Time: 70 mins DVD - sainsburysentertainment.co.uk - Amazon.com 
This live concert film brings those songs to life with the help of more than 40 symphony orchestra musicians at Nashville's famed Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The program includes seasonal favourites like "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow", alongside the self-penned title track "One This Winter's Night". The collection includes 11 live performances along with personal Christmas stories, memories, and traditions that Lady Antebellum are sharing with their fans for the first time.

(11 Nov 2013) Sammy Kershaw - BIG HITS: VOLUME 1 (Big Hit Records)
12 Tracks/ Time: 40:05 CD - MP3 - Amazon.com

(11 Nov 2013) Kellie Pickler - The Woman I Am (Black River Ent.)
12 Tracks/ Time: 41:20 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

NEWS

Snapshot Country news: 





CMT announced Big Machine Records artist Danielle Bradbery would be the newest addition to its NEXT WOMEN OF COUNTRY franchise (photo ), joining 15 other females (image) whom CMT promotes on-air and online throughout the year. The network will grow the franchise to include more than a dozen taped performances with Next Women artists throughout the year.
Members include Cassadee Pope, Jana Kramer, Kacey Musgraves, Kelleigh Bannen, Kristen Kelly, Lauren Alaina, Angaleena Presley, Rachel Farley, Rose Falcon and Sarah Darling. CMT’s current video playlist is nearly half female, with a handful of emerging artists (??! laughs) from the NEXT WOMEN franchise including Ashley Monroe, Brandy Clark and Holly Williams.
Taylor Swift's song "I Knew You Were Trouble" won the Phenomenon Award (11/3) on the first-ever YouTube Music Awards. The honor is given for inspiring the most fan videos.

If it's amazing to you that Taylor Swift's new movie The Giver will find her acting alongside Oscar-winning Hollywood legends like Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges, well, that's OK --
because Taylor can't believe it either. Speaking to Access Hollywood about her experience making the film, Taylor said, "I couldn’t believe it was happening to me. I still can’t believe I shot in South Africa and shot all my scenes with Jeff Bridges. It was unreal.  Seriously, I couldn’t believe I got to be a part of the experience."
As for how she prepared for sharing the screen with such high-caliber actors when she's a relative newbie to acting, Taylor explained, "I just tried to work as hard as I could and just throw myself into that environment as much as I possibly could and it was really long hours and it was a lot of preparation and getting into character and all that."  And though Taylor says that she's actually taken acting classes, hands-on experience just can't be beat.

The International Country Music Festival, Country Gold, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary event. The Japanese festival has gained a reputation as the biggest Country music festival in the Far East. Organized by Charlie Nagatani, the event took place Oct. 20 and included performances by Aaron Tippin, Daryle Singletary, Anita Cochran, Robyn Young, and Charlie Nagatani and The Cannonballs. Over the years, many great Country acts have performed at the annual Country Gold event, including Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Alison Krauss and the Charlie Daniel’s Band. The performances took place at the Aspecta amphitheater, which is regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful outdoor venues. Set at the base of Mt. Aso, an active volcano in Kumamoto, Prefecture, Country Gold drew more than 10,000  attendees, a 25% increase from the 2012 numbers. During the festival, Nagatani (PHOTO) was honored for his dedication to Country music over the years. He was given three certificates of appreciation from the Mayor of Nashville, the Country Music Association and the Grand Ole Opry.

Barbara Mandrell has been selected for induction into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville. She is among 12 musicians who will be honored during a Jan. 28 induction ceremony at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium.

Prolific songwriter Dean Dillon joined an elite group of writers, when he was named this year's BMI Icon at last night's 61st Annual BMI Country Awards in Nashville. Broadcast Music, Inc.bestows the honour on those who have had "a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." An all-star tribute from some of country's biggest stars, included Luke Bryan performing Dillon's BMI award-winning hit "Unwound." Lee Ann Womack gave an emotional rendition of "An Empty Glass," and Kenny Chesney performed the country classic "Holed Up In Some Honky Tonk." George Strait, who alone has recorded 54 of Dillon's songs, paid homage with a medley of three of his most notable Dillon-penned hits, including "The Chair," "Marina Del Rey" and "Here for a Good Time."

Jennifer Nettles spent Friday night (Nov 8th) playing host while filming CMA Country Christmas at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. The two-hour program airs Dec.2 on ABC-TV and will feature Jake Owen singing "Mele Kalikimaka," Lucy Hale's rendition of "Christmas Baby (Please Come Home)" and Luke Bryan joining Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson for "Hairy Christmas." Other performances on the show include Trace Adkins, Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Lady Antebellum, Nettles,
Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Michael W. Smith and Peanuts characters Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus Van Pelt.

Comic Relief:  The life of Carrie Underwood will be illustrated in the upcoming comic titled Fame: Carrie Underwood
Available in print and digital (released by Bluewater Productions Nov. 13), it tells the story of Underwood’s trials and tribulations as a small town girl on her rise to fame. From Oklahoma to American Idol, Underwood’s story is told in 32 illustrated pages. The book is written by Loyd Gant and illustrated by Manuel Diaz. Cover art is by Nelson Hernandez.

To order the book: US iTunes for $1.99 or on UK iTunes where its available for download with iBooks on your Mac or iOS device and Kindle. Other titles include FAME: Tim McGraw and FAME: Taylor Swift [Kindle Edition]. Advice: Read the reviews first.


COUNTRY AWARDS

The 47th Annual CMA Awards
George Strait earned his third Entertainer of the Year honor, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton became the first married couple in CMA history to win Female and Male Vocalists 
four years in a row and Taylor Swift received the Pinnacle Award at Wednesday night's (11/6) 47th Annual CMA Awards. 
Shelton also took home Album, Kacey Musgraves was named New Artist, Florida Georgia Line won Vocal Duo and "Cruise" took Single. Vocal Group went to Little Big Town and Lee Brice's "I Drive Your Truck" won Song for writers Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary.

Quotes:
I was really happy to be up there performing with my band and just being a part of this. Last year I had really crappy seats ... with my roommate just as a fan. And now here I am holding this thing. It's really fun." – New Artist Kacey Musgraves.
"This song was written about a young man named Jared Monti. And Jared Monti gave his life in Afghanistan for his battalion. Jared gave his life for his country. And his dad, today, still drives his truck. We wrote this song about him. Thank you so much, Jared, for what you did for this country." – Jimmy Yeary, co-writer of Song honoree "I Drive Your Truck."
"I was standing with Faith Hill with our arms around each other crying. We were so happy because both of us have opened for him." – Taylor Swift on Strait's Entertainer win.

Read the 5 Blog Posts on the CMA Awards coverage or select from the links below
CMA Awards 2013: CMA 360 All Access Listen to backstage CMA 360 interviews and more
CMA Awards 2013: Timeline, Running order: Listen to ALL the Award presentations and performances and selective videos
CMA Awards 2013: Nominees, Winners & Report: George Strait, Blake Shelton and Florida Georgia Line are victorious
2013 CMA International Awards: Radio 2's Bob Harris is a winner again!
47th Annual CMA Awards 2013 Build Up: SESAC, ASCAP Awards, CMA 2013 pre-show thoughts and artist interviews

Sony Music Nashville celebrated at a gathering at The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum following Wednesday’s 47th Annual CMA Awards, co-hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. Miranda Lambert took home her fourth consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year honor….Read more Sony Press Release.

BABY NEWS
Last week, Zac Brown announced via his band's Twitter site that he and his lovely wife Shelly had yet another baby on the way -- baby No. 5, to be exact! Well after four girls, Zac and Shelly are thrilled by the news that the newest little arrival is going to be a boy. The band revealed the gender of "Baby Brown" on Twitter Thursday evening (Nov. 7). Their 1st baby BOY is due this spring!"

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS

Kellie Pickler released her fourth studio album, THE WOMAN I AM, on Monday, November 11, 2013. The album, produced by Luke Wooten and Frank Liddell, contains 12 new songs including her current single “Little Bit Gypsy.” Pickler co-wrote three of the songs, including the title cut which she wrote with her husband Kyle Jacobs. The Woman I Am is her first album for her new label home, Black River Entertainment, and her follow up to 100 Proof, which Rolling Stone named as the No. 1 Country Album of 2012.

Jennifer Nettles’ Rick Rubin-produced solo album, THAT GIRL, will be released January 14. Nettles says that this record is the “most intimate and personal” project she’s done. Jennifer Nettles is setting on a 2014 headlining US tour to support her debut 14. The trek will start February 13 with more than 30 dates scheduled for Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C. Atlanta, Las Vegas and more.

Suzy Bogguss has jumped on The Kickstarter band wagon. Her new album, LUCKY will be a fan funded project. The Kickstarter page for Suzy’s album of Merle Haggard songs features a six-minute sampler . So far 396 backers have contributed $23,671 of the $50,000 goal with 27days remaining.

Garth Brooks is to release a Limited Edition new Box Set, just in time for the US Thanksgiving Day holidays.
Titled Blame It All on My Roots: Five Decades of Influences, a compilation album featuring a variety of cover songs, will be released November 28 exclusively at Walmart ($24.96). According to a new Black Friday catalog, “8 disc set! 6 CDs & 2 DVDs including 77 songs & 33 music videos. 
Hear new recordings of Garth singing the songs that influenced him and see Garth’s Live Las Vegas Performance.”

JT Hodges released a Christmas single "Joy To the World” (Show Dog Universal) on Nov 05, 2013. Its available to download on US iTunes and Amazon.com

PRESS RELEASES

  • Dierks Bentley’s event “Miles & Music For Kids” hosted its biggest crowd to date yesterday in Nashville, TN. Thousands of bikers road into downtown where fans joined Dierks for the post-ride concert to help make the event’s biggest donation to date of over $307,000 to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Eric Close, who plays Teddy Conrad on ABC's Nashville, and American Pickers host Mike Wolfe also joined Dierks for the Sunday bike ride.
  • Russell Moore reflected on 20 years with Steve Dilling
  • Halloween may be a memory but Craig Campbell has a special treat in store for his fans! Following the tremendous success of his 54-week infectious smash, “Outta My Head,” Campbell collaborated with nationally syndicated radio personality Bobby Bones and The Raging Idiots to release a country version of the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Royals”.
  • so much MOORE media celebrated its 25th Year.
  • Grammy-nominated Rock / Folk singer-songwriter Peter Himmelman has a new album in his crosshairs and is asking friends and fans for a little help launching his first Kickstarter campaign.  
  • Eric Church revealed “The Outsiders” Album Art and release date.
  • Ride into Debt?: Quicken Loans Inc., the nation’s largest online mortgage lender, announced it will be the presenting sponsor for the final leg of George Strait’s The Cowboy Rides Away Tour 2014.
  • Sarah Darling is poised to release a brand-new Christmas E.P., Have A Merry Little Christmas Darling, on Tuesday, November 19.
  • Chris Stapleton was set to perform with Luke Bryan on The 47th Annual CMA Awards
  • Craig Morgan joins Kidde and Fire Service Leaders to promote steps to safety
  • The Oak Ridge Boys are set to celebrate the 24th Anniversary of their annual Christmas Tour in 2013 with a festive show featuring live performances of holiday classics and their biggest hits.
  • Country Superstars Stampede into Manhattan, Kansas June 26-29, 2014 - Luke Bryan and Eric Church headline.
  • Rodney Atkins tied the knot with fellow singer-songwriter Rose Falcon during an intimate beachside ceremony Sunday, November 10 on Captiva Island, Fla. Twenty guests were in attendance as the couple exchanged vows, including Atkins’ son Elijah, who acted as best man.
  • Hank Williams Jr. set to be honored with 'Patriot Award' from Operation Troop Aid.
  • Mandy Barnett with Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced the release of "I Can’t Stop Loving You: The Songs of Don Gibson", Barnett’s newest CD, which will be available on November 11 at all Cracker Barrel Old Country Store locations, online at crackerbarrel.com and select digital retailers. The release, produced by Barnett, features 12 songs written by Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Don Gibson. The album’s debut coincides with the 10th anniversary of Gibson’s death on November 17, 2003, and fulfills a promise that Barnett made to the legendary singer/songwriter. 
>> Listen to Mandy Barnett's  “Blue Blue Day” (track 6) which features harmony vocals by Alison Krauss.



ARTICLES 
Washington Post : Shane McAnally writes ‘real’ country songs with major commercial appeal
Washington Post: Brandy Clark’s debut album is a stunner. But will anybody hear it?...

REVIEWS 
MAGAZINES

  • Check out the 78-page Fall/Winter online sampler of Cowgirls in Style which includes features on Susie McEntire (Reba's sister talks fitness, fashion, music) and Chenae Shiner (Miss Rodeo America 2013)
  • Of seasonal interest Handmade Christmas
LISTEN

 NPR: Matraca Berg performs live on Mountain Stage with her husband, Jeff Hanna of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. 

FREE DOWNLOADS
  • Glasgow trio Aston Lane (Esther O'Connor, Timothy O'Connor, James Duffin) offer 7 free songs and then a sneaky extra 3 for subscribers. Click link for all 10 songs. Esther O'Connor is the lead singer of her 3-piece band that includes her husband and brother. If you like the free stuff and want to check out more? Check out Ashton Lane albums here
  • Back in September, the Americana Music Festival rocked Nashville, and the Redeye Residency hosted its first session in the Music City. Perched atop of the downtown Sheraton hotel, Americana greats from Tift Merritt to Aoife O’Donovan to Shonna Tucker, Darling Clementine and more recorded beautiful acoustic sessions. Now, these sessions are available in The Best of the Americana Music Festival 2013 from NoiseTrade for an email share.  
  • Music For Heroes, The Ultimate Military Tribute Album is out, Free 320kbps MP3
WATCH

COUNTRY FASHION
Is dad Billy Ray Cyrus loving his daughter’s new thug persona? Following her MTV Music Video Awards performance Miley Cyrus took to the red carpet at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam for the MTV EMA’s 2013.The singer arrived wearing a Biggie and Tupac ‘Please Stop The Violence’ graphic dress from the NY Vintage archives. Tom Ford boots and a selection of jewels completed her look - Photo

COUNTRY GOSSIP
When Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley sang, ‘Why Can’t We Be Friends’ Zac Brown and Luke Bryan were in the audience hugging each other and Luke even kissed Zac on the cheek - Image. Back in September Zac Brown expressed his distaste for Contemporary Country  Music. “I love Luke Bryan and he’s had some great songs, but this new song is the worst song I’ve ever heard. I know Luke, he’s a friend. ['That's] My Kinda Night’ is one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard.

TWEETS
kellie pickler @kelliepickler  @TheBrandyClark Hey darling! Love this!! :) pic.twitter.com/5OqNeHejqH
Entertainment Weekly @EW We love @TheBrandyClark! Get her album '12 Stories' right now! pic.twitter.com/7erupjOysg 

BIRTHDAYS
November 11: Narvel Felts (1938)
November 12: Barbara Fairchild (1950)
November 13: Raymond Froggatt  (1941)  
November 14: Gretchen Peters (1957)
November 15: C W McCall (1929), Hank Wangford (1940) 
November 17: Gordon Lightfoot (1938)

R.I.P
Betsy Smittle (photo), musician, vocalist, and half-sister of Garth Brooks, died on Saturday (11/2), reports KWTV. Smittle, who was 60 years old at the time of her death, was also a member of Brooks’ band for several years. Her solo album, Rough Around the Edges, was released in 1994. Smittle was also a gay rights activist who performed and participated at several gay pride events in and around Oklahoma. In an interview back in 1992 with Oklahoma Today (see page 4 PDF), Garth and his mother, Colleen, talked fondly about Betsy, who was a bass player in Garth's band.  

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