LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Sept. 22, 2015) – George Strait, the musical icon who has been reverently referred to as “The King of Country Music,” will release his new album Cold Beer Conversation this Friday, Sept. 25, as announced at a press conference from MGM Grand in Las Vegas today. The album was produced by Chuck Ainlay and Strait for George Strait Productions and features 13 songs including his latest single, “Cold Beer Conversation,” premiering at country radio tomorrow. The album is available as an exclusive digital download on iTunes, available for pre-order now at http://umgn.us/32bH and Walmart.com, and will be available Friday exclusively via Apple Music and at Walmart. 

One thing to look forward to every month is Jeff Crosby's Covers Series. This month he does a beautiful rendition of Gordon Lightfoot's "Cotton Jenny." Read what he says about the impetus to record the song here. And listen to "Cotton Jenny" below.

Crosby has a new record, Waking Days, releasing November 6th. For more information visit his official website.

Boots & BBQ Benefit Featuring Award-Winning BBQ from Pitmaster Extraordinaire Ken Wood 
with Entertainment from Nashville Hit Songwriters Mark Irwin, Bridgett Tatum, Anthony Smith and Watt Warren
Proceeds to Benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN 




Nashville, TN (September 22, 2015)-- Nashville’s top songwriters will take the stage at the beautifulNatchez Hills Winery at Fontanel on Tuesday, October 6 from 7pm-9pm as part of the Boots & BBQ Benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN.  Tickets are $50.00 and include award-winning BBQ from celebrity pitmaster Ken Wood.  Purchase tickets HERE: http://tinyurl.com/Boots-BBQ

Located south of Nashville near the historic Natchez Trace, Natchez Hills Winery at Fontanel is the ideal venue to host an intimate and once-in-a-lifetime experience.  With its breathtaking stone wall and fire place, the scene is set perfect for a memorable evening to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN. Celebrity Pitmaster Ken Wood has planned the perfect BBQ menu to include his award-winning beef brisket, smoked black pepper turkey, and Memphis style pulled pork, coupled with the satisfying sides of his specialty baked beans, green pea and corn salad, jalapeno potato salad and grilled seasonal vegetables. While guest are dining on the mouth-watering BBQ, Nashville’s hit songwriters Mark Irwin (Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton), Anthony Smith (Chris Young, Lonestar), Bridgette Tatum (Jason Aldean) and Matt Warren (Gary Allan) will perform throughout the evening. 

For a limited time, guest can receive at 50% discount using promo code: Take50 when purchasing tickets. The money raised at this unique event will change the life of a child for the better, forever. Children who were part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN program last year showed improvements in their self-confidence, grades, and attitudes towards risky behavior like starting smoking or drinking. Having that one person who is simply there for them makes all the difference, and by supporting this effort, you will help a child envision a brighter future. Mentoring really does matter!

Details: 
Event: Boots & BBQ Benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle TN 
Location:  Natchez Hills Winery at Fontanel
Address: 4125 Whites Creek Pike, Nashville, TN 37180
Date/Time: October 6, 2015 from 7:00pm- 9:00pm
BBQ Dinner Prepared by: Ken Wood
Hit Songwriters Include: Mark Irwin (Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton), Anthony Smith (Chris Young, Lonestar), Bridgette Tatum (Jason Aldean) and Matt Warren (Gary Allan).
Tickets:  $50-- For a limited time, you can get 50% off by using PROMO CODE: Take50 
Order tickets here: http://tinyurl.com/Boots-BBQ

Legendary folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie has won this year's Polaris Music Prizefor her new album Power In The Blood.  It was chosen as the Canadian "Album of the Year" beating out acts like Drake (If You're Reading This It's Too Late), Tobias Jesso Jr. (Goon), The New Pornographers (Brill Bruisers), BADBADNOTGOOD & Ghostface Killah (Sour Soul), Caribou (Our Love), and Viet Cong (Viet Cong).
 
The 74-year-old icon was selected by a jury of music journalists, broadcasters, and bloggers for the annual award that honors the best album from Canada.  Past winners include Arcade Fire, Feist, Fucked Up, Caribou, Owen Pallett, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Tanya Tagaq.
 
Power In The Blood was releases this past spring via True North Records.  The critically acclaimed album received praises across the board including NPR Music,Billboard, Mother Jones, TIME Magazine, Vogue, People Magazine, Democracy Now!, and American Songwriter.

ASHEVILLE, NC --  Magnolia Fest is thrilled to announce the addition of Doyle Bramhall II to the 2015 lineup. Doyle is an American blues musician known for his work with Eric Clapton, Roger Waters, Sheryl Crow, and his own band Arc Angels. He stands as one of the most distinctive vocalists, guitarists, composers and producers in contemporary music, with Clapton citing him as one of the most gifted players he has ever encountered. There is a slight schedule change for the festival and Doyle will be performing on Friday right before Tedeschi Trucks Band on the Meadow Stage and The Travelin McCourys with Roosevelt Collier will now be on the Amphitheatre Stage at 8:30-9:30pm.

The festival is also happy to unveil the poster art for 2015! It was co-created by famed Florida painter, Bean Spence, along with Mag Fest's lead designer, Grant Nielsen! You can get one at the merchandise booth on site at the fest. Get tickets and find out more here --www.magnoliafest.com/tickets/

Magnolia Fest is celebrating its 19th year at the magnificent Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL on October 15-18, 2015. On this fall’s lineup are Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Avett Brothers, The Del McCoury Band, Keller Williams Grateful Gospel, Lake Street Dive, Jeff Austin Band, Roosevelt Collier & The Travelin McCourys, Steep Canyon Rangers, Rebirth Brass Band, Donna the Buffalo, Jim Lauderdale, The Motet, New Orleans Suspects, Col Bruce Hampton, Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons, Lost Bayou Ramblers, CeDell Davis, The Lee Boys, The Congress, Band of Heathens, The London Souls, Nikki Talley and more! 

For more information: www.MagnoliaFest.com, www.facebook.com/MagnoliaFestfl,www.twitter.com/MagnoliaFest, and www.instagram.com/magnoliafest.

NEW BUILDING THE SONG VIDEO
RELEASED FEATURING THE MAKING OF
“SOMETHING MORE THAN FREE

NASHVILLE, TN – Jason Isbell has announced 2016 winter tour dates in support of his highly acclaimed latest release Something More Than Free (Southeastern Records/Thirty Tigers).  The tour will kick off on February 11with two performances at ACL Live at Moody Theater in Austin with stops in Chicago, Boston and New York City (See All Tour Dates Below). Isbell will be backed by his fantastic longtime band The 400 Unit, featuring Derry DeBorja (keys) Chad Gamble (drums), Jimbo Hart (bass), and Sadler Vaden (guitar). Isbell and company will be bringing the celebrated duo Shovels & Rope out with them in support of the new dates.

Isbell has released his second Building The Song video, which features in studio footage of the creative process in action as he and his bandmates created and recorded each song on Something More Than Free. The new video features the building of the album’s title track (VIEW HERE). The first Building The Song video featured the single “24 Frames” and premiered at NPR Music in June.

Something More Than Free resonated with critics and fans alike, selling over 94,000 copies to date following itsJuly 17 release, when it debuted at #1 on the Rock, Country, Folk charts. Something More Than Free has received an even wider range of press support than its celebrated predecessor, 2013’s breakthrough,Southeastern.

Ashley Monroe’s second Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville album, The Blade, which shot to No. 1 on the iTunes Country Chart upon release, is available now on vinyl.
 
Monroe’s highly praised effort was featured on NPR’s “First Listen” and has been met with acclaim from outlets including The New York Times, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. Rolling Stone called it “destined to be one of the year’s top albums,” while Time Magazine applauded “[Monroe’s] confident, assured turn on The Blade [that] not only provides a crucial reminder that country’s women are often the ones pushing the genre forward but [also] offers a prime soundtrack for open-road adventures and whiskey-filled nights.” In celebration of The Blade, she has also recently performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The View and CONAN.
 
Yahoo Music also hailed Monroe’s album by naming her September’s “Spotlight Artist of the Month” on Ram Country. The spotlight series showcases exclusive performances and interviews each Friday of the month on Yahoo.com. Be sure to check out her exclusive live performances of “Bombshell” and “I Buried Your Love Alive.”  
 
Before its release, Monroe recorded a “live-to-acetate” vinyl of The Blade at Third Man Records, which was then copied, pressed and sent to everyone in attendance. A limited edition vinyl of this performance will be available coming soon. In addition to performing on online platforms and broadcast television, Monroe has been showcasing The Blade to fans across the country on select dates with Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts and Miranda Lambert throughout the fall, while getting ready to embark on her headlining tour to close out the year. The Blade Tour begins on October 1 at Macon, GA’s Cox Capitol Theatre, and will include stops at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom onOctober 27 and Nashville’s City Winery on November 20 before wrapping up on November 21 at Birmingham, AL’s Workplay Theatre.

Nashville, TN --- September 21, 2015 --- Chart topping Valory Music Co Artist Eli Young Band to headline winter tour presented by Live Nation.  The GRAMMY nominated foursome will kick off the tour on November 11 in Philadelphia and will be making stops in twenty cities including Las Vegas, Atlanta, Asbury Park and San Diego before the tour wraps in Greensboro on February 20. On select dates, EYB will be joined by special guests LOCASH, LANco, Blackjack Billy, CAM, Dallas Smith, Luke Combs and Kevin Fowler.

After spending the summer touring the nation with Toby Keith, performing in amphitheaters and arenas, EYB is looking forward to hitting the road again as a headliner. 

The band’s new single, “Honey, I’m Good” is a collaboration with Andy Grammer and is currently impacting radio stations nationwide. The video for the song is scheduled to premiere on People.com later this month.  With a trio of platinum and multi-platinum #1 hits like “Drunk Last Night,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” and “Crazy Girl” under their belts, their last album 10,000 TOWNS ranked #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and #1 on the iTunes Country Albums Chart.  EYB has been awarded Billboard’s #1 Country Song of the Year, ACM Song of the Year and garnered numerous nominations from GRAMMY, CMA, CMT, ACA and Teen Choice Awards.

Tickets for all shows go on sale this Friday, September 25 at 10AM at www.livenation.com.   Pre-sale for Citi Bank card holders begins in select cities, tomorrow, Tuesday, September 22 at: https://www.citiprivatepass.com/landing/eli_young_band.html.  

For more information about the tour, log onto: www.eliyoungband.com.

Nashville, Tenn. – (Nov. 18, 2015) – The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted an intimate reception of family, music industry friends, and media VIPs last night to celebrate the opening of its latest cameo exhibition, “Eric Church: Inside the Outsider.”  The exhibit features stage clothing, song manuscripts, photos, awards, a hand-written note from George Strait, and more memorabilia that was personally selected by this year’s top CMA Awards nominee for the display.  “Eric Church: Inside the Outsider” will run through February 2016 and is part of the normal admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
 
During the reception, Church said, “I revere country music. I grew up a fan in North Carolina. I remember a distinct memory when I was 23, walking by the Country Music Hall of Fame just having a moment you know, as a songwriter that had been told ‘no’ a bunch. If I had the chance, had a time machine to go back and tell that guy what would happen over the next 10-15 years (laughs)...neither one of us would believe it.  I just walked through an exhibit that had my name all over it, and here’s what I learned. It doesn’t matter how great your songs are, how great a singer and player you are...I know this now, that it’s about the people that are in this room. It’s about everybody from songwriters, it’s about management, it’s about the band and crew that give it to ‘em every night. It’s about my family, it’s about the people at our house. It’s not about me, because it’s not possible for one person to make that happen.”

Photo: Carolyn Tate (Vice President, Museum Services, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), Eric Church, John Peets (Church's manager, Q Prime), and Mike Dungan (Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Nashville Entertainment)
Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Nashville, TN (September 18, 2015)~ After two consecutive multi-week #1 hits for RED BOW RECORDS (“Sunny and 75” and “Yeah”), Joe Nichols is back and waving his freak flag high today with the release of his self-defining new single, “Freaks Like Me.”  The upbeat, straight-talker -- sure to become an anthem for traditional country music lovers -- is available now at all digital retailers and is set to impact U.S. Country radio this Monday, September 21.

“Freaks Like Me” pairs Nichols’ rich baritone vocals with classic country guitar riffs and an undeniably catchy hook. The song bridges the gap between the star’s signature traditional country sound and a contemporary energy that resonates with today’s country music fans. "Freaks Like Me" lyrically captures Nichols’ traditional, simplistic values that continue to cement his brand of storytelling in an ever-changing musical landscape.

"'Freaks Like Me’ is about being unapologetically proud of who you are and not worrying about being cool or what the other people think of you,” explains Nichols. “I’m a traditional guy and some people don’t think that’s necessarily cool, but that’s all right. I’m a freak to some people, but that’s who I am, and I’m proud of that.”

Fans can purchase “Freaks Like Me” now at: http://geni.us/freakslikeme

The official lyric video for “Freaks Like Me” premiered today across all digital streaming partners. Watch it here: http://geni.us/FLMlyricvideo

Additionally, fans can wave their own freak flags by visiting www.freakslikeme.com and uploading a photo to the official “Freaks Like Me” digital photo booth to share across their social media platforms. (#FreaksLikeMe)

Produced by Mickey Jack Cones (Dustin Lynch) and written by songwriters Monty Criswell, Josh Thompson and Lynn Hutton, the up-tempo “Freaks Like Me” serves as the lead single from Nichols’ upcoming RED BOW RECORDS’ project (the ninth studio album of the country star’s career), due out early next year.

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