This Is Big: Jason Carter Leaves the Del McCoury Band
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In as titanic of a move as you will ever hear about in the world of bluegrass, fiddle player Jason Carter is leaving the Del McCoury Band to pursue a solo career after 33 years by Del McCoury’s side.
Lori McKenna to Release New Album “The Tree”
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If there’s any hope for the future of mainstream country music, it lies in songwriters like Lori McKenna. Whenever you see a quality song from a major label country artist, it’s uncanny how often Lori McKenna’s name comes up in the songwriting credits. True country fans know that if you want to find the best music, you have to go straight to the source.
Album Review – Parker Millsap’s “Other Arrangements”
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It doesn’t matter if you’re playing your music with an acoustic or electric guitar. Are you testifying? Is it washed in the blood? Are you conveying your true emotions in all their ugliness? If the answer is “yes,” then it’s still roots, and righteous. And Other Arrangements is downright righteous, whatever you want to call it.
Single Review – Jason Aldean “feat.” Miranda Lambert in “Drowns The Whiskey”
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Country music in 2018: “Man Artist feat. Woman Artist.” Wash, rinse, repeat. This is one way to get Miranda Lambert back on the radio I guess, releasing Jason Aldean’s “Drowns The Whiskey” as a single. Too bad Jason Aldean has to be involved, and the only way virtually any woman gets on country radio these days is being “feat.”
Wild Hare Countryfest Helps Continue Texas Music’s Expansion
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Texas music and independent country continue to gain market share and offer a better, and more healthy alternative to the mainstream, and we’re continuing to see this reflected in the ever-expanding festival space. A new festival in Oregon is gearing up to offer the Pacific Northwest their first taste of the Texas festival experience.
Taylor Swift Is Not Going Country. Country Is Going Pop
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We’re supposed to be avoiding discussion of Taylor Swift in country music. That wasn’t just the hope of traditional country fans who were glad to see her finally come out a few years ago and say that she wanted to be considered pop and pop only henceforth. That was the wish of Taylor Swift herself and the entire point of her “I’ve gone pop” declaration.
Album Review – Trampled By Turtles’ “Life Is Good On The Open Road”
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The best bands don’t begin as business ventures. They begin as groups of friends who get together to play a little music, and end up melding so well there’s no other choice but to start playing that music for others. Similarly, their success is organic, almost accidental. Even they may not know know it all happened exactly.
Newest Additions to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#20)
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There’s just something about certain artists and songs where it only takes a few seconds into a track before a smile cracks across your face, and you immediately know, “This is what I mean when I say country music.” Many had that feeling when they feasted their ears on the self-titled, full-length debut from Texas country artist Randall King.
Ray Wylie Hubbard’s Son Lucas Defends Father from Redneck During “Redneck Mother”
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At a show on Friday, May the 4th at Love and War in Lindale, TX, Ray Wylie Hubbard was singing his iconic, signature song “Redneck Mother.” Right as Ray Wylie was spelling out “mother,” and extending the ‘R’ for “Rrrredneck,” a real life redneck decided it was the perfect time to crash the stage.
Album Review – Keith Urban’s “Graffiti U”
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If you’re 17-years-old, can’t wait to get out from under the repressive regime of your parents house, and generally hate country music, Keith Urban’s new album ‘Graffiti U’ is right for you. It’s almost as if in a maniacal obsession, Keith and his legion of SIXTEEN producers set out on a purposeful mission to make the worst country album they could.
Kayla Ray Talks New Jason Eady-Produced Album “Yesterday and Me”
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Kayla Ray has deep Texas roots and comes by her classic country music sensibilities honestly. On Friday (5-4) she releases her sophomore album entitled ‘Yesterday and Me.’ Jason Eady is back as co-producer with Pat Manske. Kayla was kind enough to spare a little time to talk about her new project.
Parker McCollum Signs to Warner/Chappell Nashville
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Parker is the latest signee to the publishing concern Warner/Chappell Nashville. This puts the 25-year-old in one of the biggest publishing houses in the business, and should open him up to significantly more opportunities. “I have envisioned this moment for years, so it’s literally a dream come true.”
How Sweden Became A Surprising Enclave for Country and Roots Music
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We’ve known for years that per capita, Europe is a better support center for independent country and roots music compared to the United States. But something is brewing in Sweden specifically that is helping to give rise to one of the strongest, most vibrant enclaves for country music outside of North America.