Release Radar & Most Anticipated Country Albums for 2025
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Welcome to 2025! Hopefully it will be a prosperous year in country music. As usual, the amount of releases coming out early in the year is a little light, but that doesn’t mean it won’t include some heavy hitters.
Jack White’s “Record In Space” Certified as the Whitest Thing Ever
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When Jack White assembled a few hundred patrons at his Third Man Records headquarters in Nashville on Saturday (7-30) to celebrate the seventh anniversary of his label and shoot a record player into space, they knew they would be making history. They just didn’t know the day’s festivities would result in the achievement of now one, but two “record” setting events.
1 Dead, 4 Injured in Shooting on Austin’s 6th Street Music District
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One woman is dead, and four others are injured after a shooter opened fire in Austin, TX’s popular 6th Street district—the heart of the Live Music Capital of the World. The suspect is still at large. The suspect opened fire at approximately 2:17 a.m. Sunday morning, right after Austin’s bars close and 6th Street is usually at its most crowded.
George Strait to Present Jim Lauderdale with Americana Honor
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It has been announced that “King” George Strait will make a rare public appearance after his official touring retirement to present Jim Lauderdale with the Wagonmaster Award named for country music icon Porter Wagoner during the September 21st awards at the Ryman Auditorium.
Finally: Mo Pitney’s Debut Album “Behind This Guitar” Coming
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Finally we get some forward movement on one of the most anticipated mainstream traditional albums in a good while. Curb Records-signed singer and songwriter Mo Pitney will release his debut album ‘Behind This Guitar’ featuring 10 of 12 co-written songs by Pitney himself, and contributions from folks we though the rest of Nashville had forgotten.
The Timing is Right for Lori McKenna’s “The Bird & The Rifle”
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Lori McKenna couldn’t have anticipated that her song “Humble and Kind,” recorded by Tim McGraw would become the first solo-written #1 song to top the country charts in four years right as she was getting ready to release an album produced by Dave Cobb—one of the hottest names in Nashville.
Beloved Bass Player & Producer George Reiff Diagnosed w/ Stage 4 Cancer
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Long-time and well-known bass player, producer, engineer, and guitarist George Reiff has been diagnosed with stage 4 Cancer in his brain, liver, adrenal gland and right lung. He was scheduled to have surgery Thursday (7-28) or Friday to have a tumor removed from his brain.
The Josh Abbot Band Had a Rough Week
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Things could be worse in your life. You could be in the Josh Abbott Band at the moment, which means you’ve probably experienced some massive calamity recently. Despite their continued success as one of the very top acts in Texas country, they’ve gone through a string of unfortunate incidents over the last week or so.
Own a Piece of the Bill Monroe Estate
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The estate of the Father of Bluegrass will be liquidated in Gallatin, TN beginning on Thursday (7-28), giving Bill Monroe fans a chance to own one of the 1,000-plus items from the country and bluegrass legend, including musical instruments and equipment, furniture, clothing, stage suits, jewelry, and other interesting items.
IBMA Announces 2016 International Bluegrass Music Awards Nominations
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Flatt Lonesome, The Earls of Leicester, Balsam Range, The SteelDrivers, and Sam Bush emerged Wednesday (7-27) as the leading nominee getters for the 2016 installment of the International Bluegrass Music Awards, or IBMA’s, while Clarence White was announced as the latest inductee into the Hall of Fame.
Inaugural Outlaw Music Festival Announced
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Scranton, Pennsylvania will be the host of the inaugural Outlaw Music Festival to be held at the Pavilion on Montage Mountain on Sunday, September 18th, with headliners Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and Willie’s son Lukas Nelson’s band Promise of the Real backing up Neil Young on stage.
Willie Nelson to Pay Tribute to Ray Price In “For The Good Times”
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If you’re looking for more Willie Nelson and Ray Price in your life, you can knock out two birds with one stone, and get a heaping helping of The Time Jumpers at the same time on a new tribute album on the way. For The Good Times: A Tribute To Ray Price is set for release via Legacy Recordings on September 16th.
Brantley Gilbert’s “The Weekend” Can’t Give Up on Bro-Country
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Can someone start up a Go Fund Me campaign to help Brantley Gilbert surgically remove the marbles out of his damn mouth? By golly I can’t understand a word this dude says. Brantley’s about the best case I’ve ever seen for someone’s self-absorbed, too-cool-for-school attitude translating into a debilitating speech impediment.