BACKSTAGE At The Grand Ole Opry, a new hardcover release, will give fans an all-access look backstage at country music’s most famous show. The book includes stories and recollections from the Opry’s most beloved stars. It also contains 250 exclusive photos from the show’s archives. Among the stories included are Carrie Underwood’s tale of meeting Loretta Lynn for the first time, Josh Turner’s Opry debut, and life lessons from Marty Stuart, Vince Gill, and more. There are exclusive intimate portraits of Little Jimmy Dickens, Rascal Flatts, and more plus candid backstage moments shared by Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, and Brad Paisley. The book is available for purchase here. 

Kip Moore, Justin Moore and Brett Eldredge are the final nominees for New Artist Of The Year at the 49th Annual ACM Awards. Fans voted to narrow the field from eight nominees to three. Fans will also vote to determine the final winner. The second round of voting starting March 24. The award show airs live on CBS April 6 from Las Vegas. For more information visit here. Watch nominee Brett Eldredge's music video for "Beat of the Music" below.

The man known as the “Gentle Giant,” country music’s Don Williams, will release a new album, Reflections, on March 11 via Sugar Hill Records. The Country Music Hall of Fame member dominated the music scene for decades as a country hit maker. He earned the name “the Gentle Giant” because of his unique blend of commanding presence and laid back style. Reflections is the follow up to 2012's And So It Goes.


    
   Track Listing:
   1. I'll Be Here In The Morning
   2.Talk Is Cheap
   3.I Won't Give Up On You
   4.Sing Me Back Home
   5.Working Man's Song
   6.Healing Hands
   7.If I Were Free
   8.Stronger Back
   9.Back To The Simple Things
   10.The Answer
 
   For more information visit here.
    
   

The last week in February and the first week of March are shaping up to be chock full of great live music in our area. Drake White plays in Freehold New Jersey on the 26th then comes up to the Wolf Den for a free show on the 27th. He's one of the best live acts we have seen. You would do yourself a disservice if you don't see him at least once. Watch his powerful acoustic performance of "Always Want What You Can't Have" below.

The Outsiders is easily the most anticipated album of February. Eric Church stopped by Jimmy Kimmel on Monday to perform the latest single from the record, "Give Me Back My Hometown." You can watch the performance below.
The Outsiders is now available everywhere.

One of our favorites, Dallas Smith will release his new EP Tippin Point across the US and Canada on Tuesday, March 4th. The EP was produced by Joey Moi (FGL, Jake Owen) for his debut release on Big Loud Mountain/Republic Nashville. The six-song project features his current single "Tippin' Point," which set the record for the fastest Canadian country single to go gold and is currently No. 1 on Sirius XM's The Highway Hot 45 Countdown. You can read our interview with Dallas here. For more information visit www.dallassmithmusic.com

The track list for the EP includes:
1. Tippin' Point
2. Slow Rollin'
3. This Town Ain't A Town
4. Wrong About That
5. A Girl Like You
                                                                           6. Nothin' But Summer

It was announced today that the 2014 CMT Music Awards will be held Wednesday, June 4. The awards show will air on CMT and will take place one day prior to CMA Music Festival which occurs June 5-8th. Performers, presenters and nominees are yet to be announced.

We have already told you that the Four On The Floor Tour will hit Terminal 5 on March 1st. The day prior, February 28th, Terminal 5 will host the Texas Tailgate. Texas favorites Casey Donahew Band, Reckless Kelly and Kevin Fowler will bring their music to the NYC masses and show everyone a good time. Doors are at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. Get your tickets and information here. Check out "Double Wide Dream" below.

The 6th Annual Salute to Texas Independence Day is coming to NYC on Saturday, March 1st. Randy Rogers Band, Josh Abbott Band, Wade Bowen and Stoney LaRue bring their Four On The Floor Tour to Terminal 5. It is going to be a night full of great music and musicianship. Randy Rogers Band latest album, Trouble, features "Fuzzy" and "Speak of The Devil" and was one of the albums on our Best of 2013 list. 
The all ages show starts at 7pm.
For tickets visit here.
Bonus! Any patron with a TX related tattoo or wearing the logo of a TX college will receive one complimentary drink (21+).

Bart Crow is regarded as one of Texas's premier artists. His fourth album, Dandelion, was released in 2012 and contains twelve tracks written or co-written by Bart himself. It also includes two covers. There are ballads, break up songs and good ol' dancehall music. It's an album that you can listen to from start to finish without skipping a track.
We will finally be able to see him live in NYC when he comes to Hill Country Live on March 8th. For information and tickets click here. 
You can watch the video for one of the tracks "Loving You's A Crime," below.
For more information visit his website.
You can also follow Bart on Twitter @BartCrow