Ballhooter Festival Offers Beefy New Lineup for 2026
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Out in the mountains of West Virginia sits Cheat Mountain and the Snowshoe Ski Resort. This picturesque setting in the heart of Appalachia will be the site for the 2026 Ballhooter Festival set to happen on Labor Day Weekend.
Eric Church Plans Free Makeup Show for San Antonio
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Eric Church cancelled his sold-out show at San Antonio’s AT&T Center for Saturday, April 2nd earlier this week so he could personally attend the Duke Blue Devils taking on Church’s North Carolina Tar Heels in the NCAA Basketball Final Four game on the same day.
Billy Strings & Bluegrass Poised for a Big 2022 Grammy Awards
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Unlike country music’s big award shows like the CMAs and ACMs, The Grammys actually take the time to recognize artists in the bluegrass, Americana, folk, and blues realms, along with pulling from a more expanded list of nominees in the country categories.
Lyle Lovett Prepares First Album in 10 Years, “12th of June”
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It was 10 years ago last month that Lyle Lovett finally emerged out from under the oppressive thumb of Curb Records who’d he’d labored under for the duration of his career, and finally fulfilled his contract with in the 2012 album “Release Me.”
Album Review – Alma Russ’s “Fool’s Gold”
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Alma Russ has the stuff to be considered a serious contributor to the country music roots resurgence emanating from Appalachia and elsewhere, and ‘Fool’s Gold’ is fair to characterize as one of the best albums to be released in 2022 so far.
Zach Bryan Readies 34-Song Album, “American Heartbreak”
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Apparently when Zach Bryan started recording for this album, he couldn’t stop. Not too surprising since during his short career that started with 2019’s “DeAnn,” the former Navy enlistee has been insanely prolific, along with impactful on his wildly fervent fans.
Brantley Gilbert’s “Rolex® On A Redneck” w/ Jason Aldean (A Rant)
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Larping as a ode to hard working rural folks, “Rolex® On A Redneck” is really just a laundry list of product endorsements from Gilbert for stuff actual farmers would never be caught dead with. Dusty Bumpkins on a sorghum patch outside of OshKosh isn’t sporting a Rolex.
On Eric Church Canceling Concert to Attend NCAA Basketball Game
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In an unprecedented move—and from a guy who is otherwise known for hard touring, electrifying performances, and taking care of his fans above everything else—Eric Church has chosen to cancel a show scheduled for April 2nd to attend a basketball game.
Last Country Radio Station in San Francisco Area Sold, to Sign Off
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Another major market in the United States will no longer have a major country music radio station. New York City lost its final station in October of 2021 when WNSH 94.7 Nash FM switched formats. Now the San Jose-based Country 95.3 KRTY has been sold.
Album Review – Ian Noe’s “River Fools & Mountain Saints”
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Ian Noe is a master craftsman of character and setting, manifesting men and women that feel as real as rain in the mind’s eye, and casting them in scenarios that make you materially and emotionally invested in them, all within a three minute interval.
How The Ernest Tubb Record Shop’s Future Was Put in Peril
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It seemed just about perfect. In hindsight, perhaps it was a little too perfect. The owner of Robert’s Western World on Lower Broadway—JesseLee Jones—would purchase one of the oldest operating businesses in Nashville, housed in one of the oldest buildings.
90’s Country Star Jeff Carson Dies at 58
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For a while, it looked like the fate of Jeff Carson was to be a side player for the duration of his career. But when he finally got his opportunity, Jeff Carson made the most of it and rocketed to the top of the country charts.
Music Hall to Be Renamed After Linda Ronstadt
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The Tucson Music Hall in downtown Tucson on Church Street will be renamed for Linda Ronstadt on May 7th. Built in 1971, the 2,289-capacity venue is part of the great Convention Center complex, and is in the National Register of Historic Places.