Album Review – Joshua Hedley’s “All Hat”
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Soliciting Western Swing legend Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel as producer, Joshua Hedley pens a love letter to Western Swing, and sings its virtues. It might be the 2025 instrumental album to beat.
New Josh Turner Tribute Record to Feature Randy Travis
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You may ask yourself why we need even more new versions of old country classics. The answer is that Josh Turner is singing them. From well-known standards to some deeper album cuts, Turner is ready to grace them with his signature bass tone, and will be joined by Randy Travis for his first studio work since 2013.
Country Artist Adam Wakefield Faces Rape Allegation
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Country artist Adam Wakefield—who rose to popularity through the NBC singing competition The Voice, and also performed in the bluegrass band The SteelDrivers—is facing accusations of rape from a woman stemming from an incident in October 2017.
Album Review – Kyle Nix’s “Lightning On The Mountain”
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Envisioned as a concept record with interludes and elements inspired by the Spaghetti Western sounds of Ennio Morricone, ‘Lightning On The Mountain’ and Other Short Stories is an ambitious, adventurous, varied, and diverse effort that keeps you on your toes for 17 tracks.
The Chicks Drop “Dixie” & Drop Out of Country on “March March”
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Similar to the recent move by Lady Antebellum to change their name to Lady A, the concern with The Chicks is not the name change specifically, but the slippery slope it presents toward what language can and will be deemed as problematic.
Song Review – Eric Church’s “Stick That In Your Country Song”
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With “Stick That In Your Country Song,” Eric Church has once again proven himself to be one of the most bold and ballsy members of the mainstream country class, emboldened by the artistic freedom he’s earned, and willing to do something with it as a platform, and a podium.
Colter Wall Joins Vincent Neil Emerson for “Road Runner”
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Amid all the excitement last week of Cowboy & Western artist Colter Wall announcing he has a new album called ‘Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs’ coming out in August, it was glossed over that Colter was also part of a new song with tour partner and Texas country songwriter Vincent Neil Emerson.
Album Review – Bryan James “Politics or Religion”
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The Southern accent is thick, many of the songs are gruff, attitudinal, and unapologetic, and the music is stone cold country. But if all the bluster from these modern day country music Outlaws really isn’t your thing, you might be surprised at just how much quality songwriting is showcased on this record.
The Future of Country Music Is Safe with Triston Marez
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If you’re worried about the future of country music, just take a spin through the gaggle of singles and EPs the stunning 22-year-old Triston Marez has assembled, and be assured the genre is in good hands moving forward. It’s the kind of shot of youth traditional country needs, while for once, not compromising on the country side of the equation.
Yellowstone Season 3 Renews Commitment to Cool Music
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For the last two summers, The Paramount Network’s Western series Yellowstone starring Kevin Costner has become the hottest show on television, pulling in huge ratings, and finding favor with critics. It’s also become a big bonanza for many independent country and roots artists.
Daniel Donato Readies Anticipated “A Young Man’s Country”
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Already a much-deserved nominee for the Americana Music Association’s Instrumentalist of the Year in 2018 (the kid can downright blaze Tele licks), and having played some 2,000 shows, don’t let the fresh face fool you. Daniel Donato’s more seasoned than some 40-year-olds.
Clint Black is Fine with the Same on “Out of Sane”
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In many respects, it’s never been a better time to be an aging mainstream artist in country music. Where before once your career lost radio relevance, you were relegated to the pasture pretty quickly, perhaps performing at theaters in Branson, or on the county fair circuit if you could, now Americana has become a second home.
Willie Nelson & Snoop Dogg Collaborating on New Song
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Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg will have a new collaboration coming out in a couple of weeks, and this time it may not just be about the favorite pastime of the two superstars of puffing on pipes, but about something deeper. “Man we got a song coming out in a couple of weeks, how ’bout it? How ’bout it!” Snoop says.