Monday 4 November 2013

Country Bites News snippets October 28 - November 3, 2013

Country Bites News snippets October 28 – November 3, 2013

SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED
           
UK & IRISH News

"Testube" Twins Catherine and Lizzy Ward-Thomas who are visiting Nashville stopped by West Tennessee 100.9 The Farm studio on their US promo/ radio tour for a sing and some tea with the Green Team Morning Crew Morning Show >> Video

Their dates include Ri'chard's Café (Whites Creek, TN), Belcourt Taps (Nashville), WLLX 97.5 (Lawrenceburg, TN), The Fillin' Station (Kingston Springs, TN), WDKN 1260AM        (Dickson, TN), WEIO 100.9 (The Farm Huntingdon, TN), WDKZ (Cadiz, KY), The Bull and Thistle (Gainesboro, TN), Puckett's Grocery (Leipers Fork, TN), Bobby's Idle Hour (Nashville), WOWF 102.5 (Crossville, TN), Puckett's Boat House (Franklin, TN), Antique Archeology (Nashville), Back Alley Diner (Arcade Alley) and The Coffee House at Second and Bridge (Franklin, TN - Image) – Remaining US Dates

C2C Country to Country T-shirts and hoodies are now available to buy on the official website! Check out the 'merchandise' tab for more info.

Glasgow’s Ashton Lane have a new bespoke song titled "Beautiful Way" . After returning from a gig in Germany they are planning a UK "Living Room" tour for the start of 2014. Gigging live and connecting with people is one of their favourite parts of being musicians. They will be on tour in the UK from the 18th of January with a possibility of dates up until the 30th of January. They have availability between the 1st of February to the 13th of February. If you are interested in hosting Ashton Lane in your living room, co-hosting in a friends living room, local pub or music venue just email them

UKCountryRadio.com are to launch a new UK Country Artist of the Year Award which will be presented in their Seventh Birthday Party in September 2014. The award will be given to a UK artist, judged to have excelled in country music in the previous twelve months. Regarding the methodology of the award they will initially invite anyone to nominate the artist they think is deserving of the UK Country Artist of the Year Award. The ten artists who receive the most nominations will then be voted on by our special Awards Panel. This will comprise the UKCountryRadio.com staff and presenters, and the listeners who were subscribers to UKCountryRadio.com at the start of 2014.

Annie Duggan and Rob Hines are to perform at UKCountryRadio.com's next Live Music & Food Night in York on Saturday 16th November at the Ambience Café - Booking

Join UKCountryRadio.com's team of presenters for a review of the CMA Awards from a UK perspective. It's their CMA Awards Winners Special on Friday 15th November at 7pm and Saturday 16th November at 4pm.
Read UKCountryRadio.com's Listeners' Club Newsletter for November in FULL here.

Joining Bob Harris in session were the “biggest country act in the world” at the moment - Florida Georgia LineThe “dynamic duo” (Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard) met as students at Nashville's Belmont University (where they were occasionally lectured by Bob Harris Country producer Mark Hagen) and are now celebrating their meteoric rise to stardom.
Bob Harris described it as "the most amazing session" which was "absolutely superb" and that they are responisible for the "brightening of country". Bob said that they were a "bridge to new generation of kids" and had hooked in a "new audience in an amazing way"

Thorne Hill released his brand new 5 Track EP titled TOMORROW (EmuBands) on November 3rd which is available for download from Amazon.UK and UK iTunes. It made a debut at No.61 on the iTunes UK Country Album Chart. The popular Thorne was a finalist in September at UKCountryRadio.com's Listeners Club Awards. His single “Tomorow” is included on the November Promotional Hotdisc 179.

Pete Kennedy the Clareen, Leinster, County Offaly, Republic of Ireland native had an article published by Music News Nashville website titled: Releases ‘Love Like That’ Following International Success
Pete Kennedy released his new single ‘Love Like That’ taken from his Sept 15, 2012 released EP ‘The Nashville Sessions: Volume 2’ (Kemc Records) available on iTunes . It reached No.3 on the Hotdisc Top 40 chart and enjoyed a 3-week No.1 run on the British & Irish Hotdisc Chart.
Kennedy had a role in the ABC Nashville TV show with 5 screen shots (in background wearing blue chequered shirt) in scene on Season 2 Episode 2 - Image - Image -
Read this UP Country Article on Pete's support for Neil Sedaka at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall earlier this year. 
Pete accepted 5 British Country Music Awards Nominations (Male Vocalist ,Song of the Year "Love Like That" & "Without You", Album of the Year (The Nashville Sessions: Volume 2’) and European Act of the Year (up against Hicks (Sweden), Didier Beaumont (France), The Bosshoss (Germany), Steff Nevers (Norway)) >> See video
Pete who currently spends him time between New York, Nashville, London and Ireland has some UK dates on Thursday, Nov. 21st (Jagz, Ascot), Songwriter's show (with Billy Yates, Beau Fuller and Gary Quinn) on Saturday, Nov 23rd at the Berkoff Performing Arts Centre (Alton,  Hant GU34 2LX) and will appear at the British Country Music Awards on Sunday, Nov 24th (Concorde Suite, Crane Lodge Road, Heathrow TW5 9PQ) .

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week Ending November 2, 2013)
Taylor Swift’s RED moved up from 78-60 on her 54th chart week.

Official UK Country Album Chart  (Week Ending November 2, 2013)
Kacey Musgraves with SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARKHOODOO (Decca) stays at No.1 in her 29th week.
New debuts include Toby Keith with DRINKS AFTER WORK at No.2, Gloriana’s A THOUSAND MILES LEFT BEHIND at No.3 and Derek Ryan made a bow at No.7 with COUNTRY SOUL

On the Hotdisc Chart (November 3, 2013 Chart)

There was very little change on the Top 10 as Ray Scott held at No.1 with “Still Screamin’ My Name” for a fourth week with Michelle Wright locked at No.2 with her title cut single “Strong” .
Stu Stevens’Remember Me At Sunrise” moved up 4-3 to go No.1 on the Hotdisc British & Irish Chart overhauling the 3-week run of Pete Kennedy with “Love Like That”, which fell 3-4 (#2 British & Irish Chart).
Former #1 Chris Higbee with “Living The Dream” stayed at No.5. Chip Taylor with “Ukrainian Girls” at #6, Andy Griggs’Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” (#7) , The Stickers “Separate Lives” (#8) and Ally Haron’s Marian’s Rose(#9) were all non movers
 “Hooked On Country” from the Tennessee Country Orchestra rounded out the Top 10 after its 12-10 hop
Sweden’s Hicks with “Unreachable Dream” climbed to a new peak from 13-11.
Next week will see the arrival of lots of new tracks on the chart from the new November Hotdisc 178 which has landed on the doormats of  100’s of Radio presenters and media folk “DJ’s are pouring all over it and already rating it as one of the best Hotdiscs ever” according to the man behind Rush Released, MD Stuart Cameron, presenting his Sunday Hotdisc Show (12-2pm) on CMR Nashville

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES
(Oct 29) Jim Lauderdale  - Old Time Angels (Sky Crunch Records) 11 Tracks/  Time: 33:09
(4 Nov 2013) Leona Williams - Yes, Ma'm, He Found Me In A Honky Tonk (Bear Family)
(3-CD Box set) 82 tracks/ Time: 217 mins Inlay - YouTube
Contains 82 classic country tracks, including her top ten hit duet with Merle Haggard, The Bull And The Beaver! Includes many previously unreleased recordings and a 'lost' album produced by Tompall Glaser! Contains a biography based on extensive personal interviews! 48-page booklet with many rare photos from Leona Williams' personal collection and a detailed discography.. Bear Family News 

(4 Nov 2013) Jess Klein - Behind A Veil (Blue Rose Records) Genres: Indie & Alt/Americana/ Acoustic Rock 10 Tracks/ Total Length: 43:14 CD - MP3 
Rochester, New York native Jess Klein will tell you; she's moved to Texas and she's not going back. Since relocating to Austin in 2007, Klein has been embraced by the quirky yet robust Texas music scene, and it shows in her latest release,  a deep collection of americana-tinged musings on love, loss and redemption.

(5 Nov 2013) Divided & United: The Songs of the Civil War  Import (Ato Records)
Divided & United' album pairs Civil War songs, Nashville artists Inspired by the Civil War's 150th anniversary, a Hollywood music supervisor joined forces with some of Nashville's most recognizable stars to create an album meant to honor the legacies of Music City and of the nation's defining war. It's an album made as far outside the conventional Music Row formula as it gets.
At 32 songs, "Divided & United" is approximately triple the length of the typical album, and it represents music from several different genres: country, bluegrass, folk, Americana, blues and gospel.....Read More

(4 Nov 2013) Karla Bonoff - Karla Bonoff / Restless Nights / Wild Heart Of The Young 
(BGO Records)  3 albums on 2 CD's  Karla originally came to attention as an acclaimed Sony writer, and these three terrific albums (released in 1977, 79 and 82) all made the Billboard Top 100 Albums chart. Due to the respect with which she is held, amongst the many musicians accompanying her on these recordings are Glen Frey, Linda Ronstadt, Andrew Gold, Don Henley, Garth Hudson, David Sanborn, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit, Russ Kunkel – et al! Digitally remastered and slipcased with new notes.

BLUEGRASS NEWS
  • Bluegrass brother / sister duo The Roys made their Grand Ole Opry debut on November 1, when they joined Little Big Town, Josh Turner, The Marshall Tucker Band, Chris Janson, Sara Haze, Jeannie Seely, Jesse McReynolds, Jim Lauderdale and others for the Opry At The Ryman show. (via Press Release)
  • Update: A Night To Remember: The Roys' Opry Debut a Dream Come True (Press Release)
  • Banjo player Steve Dilling is leaving Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out after two decades with the band.
 CANADIAN NEWS
Shania Twain is getting the stamp of approval from her native country of Canada. The singer will have a Canadian postage stamp next year bearing her image, along with several other country music icons, including Tommy Hunter, k.d. lang, Renee Martel and Hank Snow. Twain’s stamps, along with those of the other music celebrities, will be released in July.

NEWS

  • Snapshot Country Aircheck Insider News: November 1, 2013 and November 5, 2013
  • Music City Minute - Monday, November 4, 2013
  • The legendary Loretta Lynn has postponed a show planned in Iowa due to exhaustion. At 81, the country music icon is well past the typical age of retirement, yet she continues to dutifully entertain her loyal fans. Lynn just completed a tour of Canada and is in desperate need of rest, so she has postponed a concert in Iowa.
  • Willie Nelson has a 2013 Calendar out 
  • Willie Nelson’s family holiday movie ‘Angels Sing’ opens in America this weekend in limited release. It stars Harry Connick Jr. with cameos by Kris Kristofferson and November ist birthday boy Lyle Lovett >> Video
  • Rascal Flatts member Gary LeVox is selling his nearly 13,000 sq ft gated home in Nashville for $3.3 million. It comes with a sunken trampoline in the yard, a windowless master bedroom and neighbors Mr & Mrs Tim Graw. Ready for a viewing? - Image - Image
  • Taylor Swift madea special appearance at Ed Sheeran's Friday night concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City (image). According to E! News, Ed reached out to Taylor about the show when he found out she would be in the city promoting her Keds shoe line. Ever wonder what a day in Taylor Swift shoes is like? Follow Keds on Instagram and Twitter for a behind-the-scenes #taylorforkeds
  • Ronnie Dunn recently took to his Facebook page to share what he feels is the real reason for the breakup of Brooks & Dunn. The duo, who said at the time they announced their split in 2009 that the “differences, over the long run, are what make it work,” wound up in an online debate over the matter. Dunn posted on Oct. 20: Will you do some trivia research for me ? 1. The LAST Brooks and Dunn #1 was what song and what year ? 2. What year did Kix take over American Country Countdown ?...To answer Dunn’s questions, their last chart-topping hit as a duo was ‘Play Something Country’ in 2005, although their following nine singles each landed in the Top 20. Brooks took over American Country Countdown in 2006. Brooks, who was recently named National Broadcast Personality of the Year by the CMA, fired off his own response to his former partner’s cryptic post.
  • Rodney Atkins and “If Love Had A Heart”singer-songwriter Rose Falcon who are getting ready to say I do  next month. In June 2013, they became engaged. The couple is planning to tie the knot in Florida.
    Rodney was excited to talk about fiance and their upcoming nuptials to Country Weekly saying, “Rose is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. . . . She’s completely talented and beautiful,” Rodney told Country Weekly with a smile. While the ceremony will be intimate, with just immediate family, Rodney and Rose are planning on having a big blowout after becoming husband and wife. They will continue touring together on the More Hits for Your Money Tour, also featuring Frankie Ballard. “If You're Going Through Hell” Atkins married Tammy Jo McDonald in 1998, the two had a son named Elijah. He also had two stepdaughters, Lindsey and Morgan, from McDonald's previous marriage. Atkins was arrested in November 2011 for allegedly trying to smother his wife with a pillow. He was released on $2,500 bail three hours after the arrest. Atkins filed for divorce within 24 hours of the alleged assault. The divorce was final September 2012.
COUNTRY AWARDS

47th Annual CMA Awards
  • CMA Awards 360 is your exclusive, all-access pass to Country Music’s Biggest Night, visit cmaworld.com
  • Check out the Performers and Presenters who will be appearing at cmaworld.com , Predict The Winners at spotify-cma.com - 47th CMA Awards Nominees Listing - www.opry.com
  • Taylor Swift will be presented with the Pinnacle Award during “The 47th Annual CMA Awards” . It recognizes an artist who has achieved both national and international prominence through concert performances and record sales at levels unique in Country Music. The artist has also attained the highest degree of recognition within the broad expanse of music worldwide. The artist’s talent and presence will have a long-term positive impact on the appreciation of Country Music for generations to come. Swift has career record sales in excess of 26 million albums and 75 million song downloads worldwide; and her two most recent albums are two of only 18 albums in the entire history of music to sell more than 1 million copies in a single week.
  • Great American Country is set to bring you all the glitz and glam from “Country Music’s Biggest Night.”
    CMA Awards Red Carpet Live will air live on Wednesday, November 6 at 7/6c, an hour before the 47th Annual CMA Awards airs live on ABC. Suzanne Alexander, Nan Kelley and Storme Warren will chat with country’s biggest stars about their nominations, performances, pre-show rituals and favorite CMA Awards moments as well as highlight the night’s fashion.
  • GAC will be uniting viewers coast to coast with exclusive online coverage, commentary and dialogue via social media. Viewers can join and discuss the night's Red Carpet Live & festivities via social on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the official event hashtag #CMARedCarpet.
  • Watch the CMA red carpet at gactv.com
** Note country fans in the UK: 7/6c means 7'O'Clock Eastern [EST], 6'O'Clock Central [CST]. Nashville (CST) is 6 hours behind the UK (UTC/GMT -6 hours) so you need to tune in at midnight on Wednesday to 01:00 am Thursday to watch it.
Setting up the red carpet >> Video CMA Awards 2013 Countdown Clock -

Again in 2013 Country Music fans in Canada (CITY TV) and Australia (CMC TV) can watch the CMA Awards as it gets simulcast on channels in those countries.
For country fans (in AMERICA only / iHeartRadio APP required ) 96.3 Star Country is your official CMA Awards station! They are bringing the entire awards broadcast LIVE all night! Read more: www.wmad.com
Some how can UK country fans listen to the 2013 CMA Awards Live?
Answer: KNUE (KNUE Studio 3810 Brookside Drive Tyler, TX 75701) will broadcast the 47th Annual CMA Awards show LIVE on Wednesday, Nov.6, 2013! 101.5 KNUE is the No. 1 country music station in East Texas, bringing you the best in new country and your all-time favorites.
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will again do the honors and host the show. Two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift will take the stage with Vince Gill and Alison Krauss. Other collaborations include CMA Awards nominees Zac Brown Band performing with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, and  reigning CMA New Artist of the Year Hunter Hayes performing with Jason Mraz. East Texas will be well-represented with nominees Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves. Both of the ladies are nominated for Single of the Year — Miranda for  “Mama’s Broken Heart” (written by Kacey Musgraves) and Kacey for “Merry Go Round.”
Listen to KNUE Live here and you can give thanks on their Facebook

Live from Nashville BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris presents highlights of the 47th Annual CMA Awards which were held in the city on Wednesday evening. It will broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Saturday 9th Nov 2013 18:00 - 20:00 - bbc.co.uk

American Music Awards
Luke Bryan will perform at the 2013. Bryan will join Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, along with previously announced performers Florida Georgia Line, One Direction, Miley Cyrus and Imagine Dragons. The show airs live from the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles Nov. 24 on ABC-TV
You can vote online at http://ama.votenow.tv/ but you have to log onto your Facebook account. Voting is open until Tuesday, Nov. 12


American Country Awards
Nominations have been announced for the fourth annual American Country Awards, hosted by multi-Platinum recording artist Trace Adkins and NASCAR superstar Danica Patrick. The special will air live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Tuesday, Dec. 10 on FOX.
Taylor Swift leads the nominees with eight nominations; Florida Georgia Line and Blake Shelton each earned seven nominations. The nominees for each award category have been determined by four media measurement companies: BigChampagne (record sales and media consumption); Great American Country (video airplay); Mediabase (radio airplay); Pollstar...The Concert Hotwire (touring data); and Nashville Songwriters Association International (song).
Visit www.theacas.com for more details.
Brandy Clark who has received 2 nominations for Song Of The Year ("Better Dig Two" and “Mama's Broken Heart") has a busy week ahead: Sunday Nov 3rd she played with Jennifer Nettles (Sugarland) at a show for Spotify (image) performing "Hold My Hand", then Monday she will perform at the ASCAP Awards. Tuesday Nov 5th she attends the CMA Songwriters Series show and then the CMA nominee heads off to the CMA Awards on Wednesday night (Nov 6th)!

BABY NEWS
Zac Brown Band front man Zac Brown and his wife, Shelly, are expecting their fifth child in early 2014. They broke the news Friday via Twitter. Zac and Shelly have four daughters ranging in age from two to six.

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS

  • Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is producing new music for Zac Brown Band multiple sources have confirmed to Hitfix. That’s a dream come true for Brown. Earlier this year, Brown told The Country Vibe that “I want to work with Dave Grohl. Dave Grohl is one of our musical heroes as a band and he said that he would be interested in doing that too.”
  • Texas Spitfire, SaraBeth, introduced herself to country music this year with a bang. Her debut single, “Kickin’ and Screamin,” quickly raced up the charts while she made her home on CMT.com as the only independent trending artist featured. With all-star producer Dean Sams, member of the Grammy award-winning group Lonestar, Circle S Records releases her debut album ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, featuring 13 brand new tracks. The album is available digitally on iTunes HERE - Cover Art  
  • “Fast-rising country stars” Parmalee revealed the release date, cover art and final track listing of the band’s highly anticipated debut album. FEELS LIKE CAROLINA, an album inspired by the band’s rollercoaster journey to Nashville and to the top of the charts, will be released on Stoney Creek Records on Tuesday, December 10th. It features 12 songs, including the smash hit “Carolina” which soared into the Top 10 on both the Billboard Country Airplay and Country Aircheck/ Mediabase charts this week. “Carolina” also leapt into the Top 10 on the iTunes Country Singles Chart this week. To date it has sold 367,000 copies (#9 Billboard Country Digital Songs Chart)as the song nears GOLD sales status.
  • Lady Antebellum following the primetime television debut of their new single “Compass” on Wednesday’s Country Music Awards, will head to New York City for the release of GOLDEN DELUXE, available in stores Nov. 11. It includes previously released tracks off their No.1 album in addition to six bonus tracks special for the new release.
  • Suzy Bogguss will release LUCKY, a Merle Haggard tribute record, on February 4, 2014. She didn’t set out to record a tribute to the country legend, but as she and her husband and co-producer Doug Crider combed through songs for her next project, they kept returning to tracks found in Merle’s catalog. “He really is the poet of the common man,” Suzy said. “Not every artist has music that is as universal as Merle’s. It’s pretty heavy-duty stuff, and I think that’s why to so many of us who sing and write songs, he’s such a king among us.” The project is a full circle of sorts for Suzy. Her debut album, 1989’s Somewhere Between, was named after one of Merle’s early songs.
  • More than 40 years after he first came to Nashville, Ronnie Milsap, the award-winning country and R&B singer will release a new album, "SUMMER #17," on January 28. He's sharing the lead single and title track exclusively with The Tennessean.
  • Jon Pardi, country newcomer will release his debut album, WRITE YOU A SONG, on January 14, 2014 featuring his hit singles "Up All Night" and "Missin' You Crazy."
PRESS RELEASES

  • George Jones will be honoured
    on November 22nd, Nashville and beyond  with an all-star tribute, the date that George was to perform the final show of his illustrious career. 
    Check out Playin' Possum! The Final NO SHOW talent list: (in alphabetical order based on first name, not order of performance)
  • MTV launches impactful new video  From Country Artist, Morgan Frazier which tackles the reality of bullying.
  • Ronnie Dunn’s impromptu performance rallies West Virginia community
  • Big Kenny, one-half of multi-platinum country duo Big & Rich, is headed to New York City in support of “The 47th Annual CMA Awards,”  Big & Rich are nominees in the Vocal Duo of the Year category.
  • Premieres of two Americana music specials, the performance-filled documentary “NASHVILLE 2.0: The Rise of Americana” and “ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2013,” will anchor the “PBS Americana Music Weekend,” Friday and Saturday, November 22 and 23, 2013. Read Press Release for full list of performers.
  • Florida Georgia Line donated $10,000 to MusiCares.
  • Check out the brand new LadyAntebellum.com, they are promoting their 2014 Tour
  • Travis Tritt’s high-energy song, “High Time For Gettin’ Down” has been released by Nashville-based venue marketing company, Marco Club Connection, to country dance clubs across the United States. Released to nearly 240 venues and dance instructors across the country, the song has already proven to be a success with DJs adding the song into rotation on their playlists and instructors taking the dance to educate venue patrons on how to ‘get down’ to “High Time For Gettin’ Down.
  • The Swon Brothers, The Voice Season 4 finalists have been signed by Sony Music Nashville to its Arista Nashville roster.  Zach and Colton Swon, the brother duo from Oklahoma whose signature sibling harmony and spirited personalities solidified them as a fan favorite as part of The Voice’s Team Blake – are currently writing and securing songs for their major label debut album, with a first single due in the spring of 2014.
  • Larry’s Country Diner” offers a feast of talent in November (Episodes available on demand at the Website)
  • Darius Rucker has revealed details of his 2014 True Believers US Tour featuring Eli Young Band with special guest David Nail. It commences January 29, 2014 in Champaign, Ill. to March 9, 2014 in Loveland, Colo.
  • Dolly Parton (Nine to Five, Steel Magnolias), is to star along with Megyn Price (Rules of Engagement), Brian McKnight (American Dreams), newcomer Desiree Ross (Crossing the River) in the upcoming Lifetime Original Movie A Country Christmas Story, Saturday, November 9.
ARTICLES
  • CMA Close Up: New Artist Spotlight: Cassadee Pope.....You’ve got to hand it to Blake Shelton: He knows how to pick winners. When he recruited Cassadee Pope for Team Blake on 2012’s The Voice, he found an artist with that rarest of assets: outstanding chops tempered by interpretive sensitivity….
  • CMA Close Up: New Artist Spotlight – Tyler Farr
  • Slate.com:
    Can Brandy Clark Save Country Music? ...Her great new album—the year’s best—just might. And she has help.
  • Country Weekly Brandy Clark’s “12 Stories” Plays Like Dark Comedy…The music world has been buzzing about Brandy Clark's excellent new album, 12 Stories, since before it arrived in stores on Oct. 29. True to its title, 12 Stories is full of detailed sketches of the gritty little moments in life, tackling everything from prescription addiction to cheating to getting high. Her material covers tough subject matter on the angry “Stripes” or the conflicted cheating song “What’ll Keep Me Out of Heaven,” but she likes to find the humor underneath.“My favorite genre of film or TV is dark comedy,” explains Brandy. “I think of this record in a lot of ways as dark comedies. The truth is funny when it’s so outlandish.”....
  • The Tennessean: Peter Cooper On Music: Country’s misfit ....Poor Brandy Clark should know this won’t work. After all, she’s been told time and again.....Country music decision-makers and label bosses have explained it all: They love her songs — which trade on dark humor, layered intelligence, real-life moral conundrums and grown-up problems — but she’s a square peg trying to fit into a country music terrain filled with round holes…..
  • Billboard The Band Perry Hitches Its Wagon to Europe
  • Billboard 615: Joey + Rory Blaze Their Own Path on 'Made To Last'
  • Riverfront Times: For Touring Musicians, the Ease of Living-Room Concerts Prove There is No Place Like Someone Else's Home
  • CMT Edge : Logan Brill Believes in Chris Stapleton’s “Ghosts”

REVIEWS
NY Times: Julie Roberts Debuts New Album at Joe’s Pub...A Bluesy Voice for Country, Heavy on Experience

LISTEN
  • NPR: Brandy Clark Tells The 'Stories' That Are Tough To Hear....Pray to Jesus" leads off 12 Stories, Brandy Clark's modestly amazing new album. It isn't a conventionally religious song, instead opting to set up what will be a recurring theme throughout this collection: a quick, precise sketch of specific people, mostly rural, many of them working-class, who don't see a heck of a lot going right in their lives, now or in the foreseeable future. So, as Clark sings, "We pray to Jesus and we play the Lotto / 'cause there ain't but two ways we can change tomorrow." Clark is working in a time-honored tradition, yet managing to articulate it in a fresh way……..
  • NPR:  Ashley Monroe: Country Music Has Always 'Sliced Me In The Heart' + Watch: Ashley's Tiny Desk Concert
  • Julie RobertsKeep Me Up All Night” (lyric video)
  • Divided and United, out from ATO Records on November 5, is a collection of thirty-two Civil War–era compositions performed by contemporary country and bluegrass musicians who span generations, from Ralph Stanley and Dolly Parton to Jamey Johnson and Shovels & Rope. >> First Listen: Divided & United
SPOTIFY COUNTRY
For users of this online music streaming service here are some of the more recent additions and recommendations.
When its free and easy on Spotify who needs music piracy?
  • Jim Lauderdale – Old Time Angels
  • Listen to Country Music People’s favourite Chuck Cusimano
  • Thorne Hill – Tomorrow – Brand new EP from the UKCountryRadio.com Finalist
  • Listen to
    Gary Quinn’s new
    self titled fan Pledgemusic funded album (45 Pledges were received which reached 114% of the goal). Described as having a cool modern sound with echoes of the past, Gary Quinn is a singer-songwriter that knows how to pull on the heartstrings of his audiences. Creating beautifully crafted lyrics he draws you in with his acoustic driven performances of rock infused country balanced with the traditional. Quinn’s heart-filled songs cover contrasting subjects from the up-tempo ‘Live Each Day’ to the moody love song ‘He Don’t Show Her Anymore’. Gary's songwriting talents have been recognised with a nomination in the 'Song of the Year' category for 'He Don't Show Her Anymore' which features on this self titled debut album
WATCH
  • Fan video put to “Crazy Women” by Brandy Clark 
  • LeAnn Rimes "What Have I Done" Live at the Grand Ole Opry
  • Sam Riggs and The Night People “When The Lights Go Out
  • Aussie country artist Adam Brand "Freedom Rebels" (Official Video) the vid was shot at ABC Studios, Ultimo.
  • Aussie Luke O'Shea "Lady of the Land", dedicated to Joy McKean a daughter, sister, wife, mother, multi-instrumentalist, singer songwriter extraordinaire, gypsy powerhouse and life long companion to the Australian icon Slim Dusty.
  • Shelby Lynne performs her single "Call Me Up" off her new EP album Thanks (Out Dec. 10th 2013)
  • Rachel Potter's first Final 12 performance on USA X Factor singing Lee Ann Womack's "I Hope You Dance". Simon Cowell said the song was "perfect" for her after a "horrible" performance last time out.
COUNTRY FASHION
Taylor Swift took to the red carpet at the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards, hosted Sunday (Nov 3rd) at Wembley Arena in London, England. As one of the presenters, she channeled her sweeter style side, skipping the sultry gown route.
Zed Jameson / FameFlyne View Gallery Photos at www.mirror.co.uk
























The Pop/Country singer almost suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction, similar to that endured by Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall at the same event, as the wind sent her dress flying all over the place as she arrived on the red carpet.
Taylor looked stunning and effortlessly stylish in a deep teal-green Jenny Packham Fall 2013 cocktail frock which was was a rather festive number, speckled with metallic embellishment. The star paired it with gold Christian Louboutin shoes and dainty Neil Lane jewelry. Taylor showed off a healthy glow with a fresh-faced look, wearing her signature bangs and loose barrel waves and a light-pink pout.
Tweeting ahead of her X Factor performance the same day, she wrote: "So excited to be debuting 'the last time' with @garysnowpatrol on X Factor UK tonight! It's good to be back in London :)"

She channeled Audrey Hepburn while performing on The X Factor when she cut a striking silhouette in an all-black outfit.
Singing her track “The Last Time” with Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody, the 23-year-old looked classy and alluring in her understated outfit.  Recalling Hepburn’s role in Funny Face, the singer wore a tight black turtle-neck top, which she teamed with black skinny trousers and boots. Some comments on Twitter included: “Taylor Swift been raiding Gail Platt's wardrobe.”

COUNTRY GOSSIP
  • 'Private Lives of Nashville Wives' trailer: Catfights and guitar strings galore - Exclusive Video. Betty Malo, wife of Mavericks singer Raul Malo will star in the Reality show set to premiere Feb. 24 on TNT. Malo joins the reality show cast with Cassie Piersol-Chapman (married to Christian artist Gary Chapman), Bryan White's lady Erika Page, Jenny Terrell, and songwriter Dallas Davidson's wife Sarah.
  • According to The Enquirer Randy Travis is in a wheelchair, paralyzed on his right side so he can't walk and can barely speak.
  • Rumour has it the Pistol Annies are no more. In June, they cancelled all upcoming concerts due to quote “unforeseen circumstances” and they haven’t performed since.
  • Leann Rimes' invasion of privacy lawsuit has been dismissed. The Rimes had accused California school teacher Kimberly Smiley and her daughter Alexa of allegedly recording their telephone conversation in 2012 without the singer's permission, excerpts from which were later leaked to the public, requested that a judge throw out the case on Monday (28.10.13), and it cannot be re-filed. A lawyer for the defendants said that both sides had resolved their differences and reached a settlement, and would not be commenting further, according to RadarOnline.com
  • Florida Georgia Line's music may not save your soul, but the duo's Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley admit they learned how to engage with a crowd growing up leading worship at their respective churches. Brian told CMT.com, "There's a huge correlation in leading worship and leading 10,000 people in an arena. I would say that's exactly where we got our feet wet in how to lead people, how to interact with people and how to get them connecting with us."
 TWEETS
Reba McEntire: Kelly's new Christmas CD, "Wrapped In Red"!! Go get it!!!! Let me know your favorite track.

PHOTO
  • Jennifer Nettles enjoys some Halloween fun with her baby boy, Magnus .......to the Dragon Mother Daenerys. I love my little fiery dragon! Instagram Image
  • Apparently Jennifer Nettles looks and sounds amazing! She's previewed her new solo music...get ready to be blown away! #SpotifyCMA
  • Nashville NBC affiliate WSMV-TV enlisted eOne Music's Bucky Covington (The Mad Hatter), Valory's RaeLynn (vintage Blake Shelton), Bigger Picture's Craig Campbell (Cher) and 'SMV host Adam Wurtzel (gussied-up member of the Blue Man Group?) for a Halloween costume contest at Nashville's Performance Studios costume shop.
  • Boo! Valory's Brantley Gilbert channels his inner pumpkin. (Sinister laugh.)  
BIRTHDAYS
November 4: Delbert McClinton (1940), Kim Forester (Forester Sisters)
November 5: Joni Harms (1959), Heather & Jennifer Kinley (Kinleys), Ryan Adams (1974)
November 6: Guy Clark  (1941), Glen Frey (Eagles) (1946), Stonewall Jackson (1932)
November 8: Patti Page (1927), Bonnie Raitt (1949), Susie McEntire (1957), Bucky Covington (1977) 
November 10: Dave Loggins (1947), Donna Fargo (1945), Chris Cagle (1968), Miranda Lambert (1983)

R.I.P
Sherman Halsey an Award-winning music video director and producer was found dead Tuesday (Oct 29th) at a Nashville home where he had been staying (foul play isn't suspected). He was 56. Halsey helmed video projects from Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift and others. He won an ACM and a CMT Music Award for his respective work on McGraw and Faith Hill's "It's Your Love" and McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" videos.

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