The 4th Annual Ameripolitan Awards will transpire at the Paramount Theatre in Austin TX on February 15th, 2017, and Tuesday morning the organization that looks to shine a spotlight on American music with a heavy roots influence announced the nominees for the 2017 awards. Awards are handed out in four primary categories.
In the mid 80’s, it was Randy Travis and his neotraditional sound that led country music out of the great abyss of the earlier decade and returned country to its rightful place as a powerful voice for rural people in popular culture. With over 20 million records sold and his recent induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame…
You only have to pay mild attention to Miranda Lambert’s music career to know her support of true American songwriters is far from skin deep. Her latest record The Weight of These Wings has a monster list of contributing songwriters, and she’s been known to get a wild hair and drive for miles to see someone like John Moreland play a dive bar.
Though Stapleton may fall short of the touring numbers of names like Luke Bryan, or may not have the airplay of Florida Georgia Line, the incredible performance of his debut album ‘Traveller’ has put him in unprecedented territory, while still putting up a decent showing in touring and track sales too.
Chalk it up to a win for the little guy. In a shocking development, Live Nation—the biggest concert promoter in the United States—caved to public pressure after making massive changes to the 41-year-old Jamboree in the Hills event in Ohio, a.k.a. “The Super Bowl of Country Music,” and is re-implementing the original name, logo, traditions, […]
When the fiercely-independent, renegade music journalist and publisher John Conquest passed away on September 30th, it left the fate of numerous important institutions Conquest had both founded and operated up in the air. Conquest was a dogged champion of independent artists, as well as independent music journalism.
Sturgill Simpson shocked the world Tuesday morning when it was announced his third solo record A Sailor’s Guide to Earth was nominated for the Grammy Awards’ Album of the Year right beside records from Adele, Drake, Justin Bieber, and Beyoncé. Sturgill Simpson fans are still trying to digest the nomination.
On Tuesday morning (12-6) the nominees for the 2017 Grammy Awards were announced, and Sturgill Simpson’s ‘A Sailors Guide to Earth’ is right up there with Adele, Beyonce, Drake, and Justin Bieber competing for the Album of the Year. And he just might win it. The album is also up for Best Country Album
“‘Vaquero,’ which means the ‘original cowboy,’ is an intensely reflective and personal set of songs filled with compelling narratives,” says the Aaron Watson team in an announcement. “Throughout, he depicts stories of a rugged people, humble but hardworking, like himself. He puts a playful spin on an insider’s view on the Texan way of life.
Granger Smith, also known as Earl Dibbles Jr., suffered a tragic stage fall Friday evening (12-2) at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, N.J. while standing on a stage monitor during the mostly acoustic performance. Smith suffered two broken ribs and a collapsed lung in the incident, but miraculously got back up stage after the fall to finish the concert.
Dolly Parton’s made for TV movies continue to be ratings hogs. Her latest installment, Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love won Wednesday night’s (11-30) ratings for NBC, beating out the vaunted FOX music series Empire by nearly 3 1/2 million viewers, and winning the night overall.
Unfortunately, the actions of Luke Bryan have sullied Charlie Daniels’ 2016 Volunteer Jam after numerous videos and eyewitness accounts of Luke Bryan stopping down one of his songs to accost a front row fan and punching him in the face have surfaced.
“It has frustrated me for years … that for every pop performance or R&B performance or any other type of genre performance that you have on the CMA Awards, that takes time away from somebody who is a country music artist, doing country music songs, releasing country music singles to radio, selling country music under that moniker.”
There is nothing like a Chris Knight album and a Chris Knight song. The consummate songwriter’s songwriter, Chris Knight is one of the most revered in the craft, and all you have to do is look at the list of artists who’ve covered his songs over the years, from Randy Travis to Lee Ann Womack.
he Grammy Awards have selected 25 songs to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in their latest class, and this year’s inductees are offered with a heavy heart since it includes selections from many notable artists who have passed away in 2016, including Prince’s “Sign ‘O’ The Times,” David Bowie’s “Changes,” and Merle Haggard’s “Okie From Muskogee.”
Over 100 structures have been destroyed, and over 1,400 residents have been evacuated from downtown Gattlinburg and surrounding areas in eastern Tennessee as massive wildfires threaten the area, including Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain resort Dollywood in nearby Pigeon Forge. A small fire started on Chimney Top Mountain quickly grew…
Recycled clothing fashionista and country music neotraditionalist Nikki Lane has a new record coming out February 17th, 2017 called ‘Highway Queen,’ and when it hits the streets she will be heading out on tour with some other cool names on her way to a performance at Southern California’s Stagecoach Festival.
Not all music awards have to go to the worst artists of an industry like we’re used to, or be ushered in with “high school pageantry” (to quote Sturgill Simpson). For 15 years now, the Independent Music Awards have labored to highlight the artists that slip through the cracks in all the major genres of music.
Folks were left wondering what the fate of the 46,000 square foot, multi-story facility would be after the manager of the museum and a close financial partner to George Jones’ widow Nancy Jones plead guilty to fraud charges in October. On Wednesday, November 23rd, it was announced that the George Jones Museum has been sold to a Nashville-based investment group.
Americana music isn’t just for Americans, and even though this may confuse an already much-argued etymology for one of America’s (and the world’s) most fastest-growing genres, significant efforts continue to be undertaken to make the Americana movement transatlantic and international.
Al Batten, master banjo player and bandleader of the beloved North Carolina-based bluegrass band Al Batten and the Bluegrass Reunion, died on Sunday, 11-20 after a long illness. First formed in February of 1972 with David Turnage, Al Batten and the Bluegrass Reunion have been a staple of bluegrass in their home of Selma, North Carolina and beyond for nearly 45 years.
Two Austin, Texas country music heavyweights are coming together for the very first time come January 6th, 2017 when Dale Watson and Ray Benson release ‘Dale and Ray’—a duets album featuring the two traditional country artists dueling it out over original tracks and a handful of covers.
Any time health news comes down for an 83-year-old country performer, concern goes up. For most 83-year-olds, Willie Nelson is the picture of health. But an undisclosed illness has sidelined him for some recent shows, leaving many concerned for the country legend.
Crystal Gayle will be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. This is the news out of Tuesday night’s (11-15) Opry presentation where Carrie Underwood surprised the crowd by walking out and inviting Gayle to the legendary country music institution while Gayle was performing her signature song, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.”