Album Review – Jesse Daniel’s “Son of the San Lorenzo”
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“Son of the San Lorenzo” feels like Jesse Daniel’s most complete, involved, and thoughtful work overall, and adds to a growing catalog of high caliber country.
Country & Roots Artists Coming Together to Celebrate Bob Dylan’s 75th
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Iconic American songwriter Bob Dylan will be celebrating his 75th birthday on May 24th, and country and roots artist, including many songwriters who cite Dylan as a primary influence on their music, will be coming together to pay tribute to the man in numerous events across the country.
Curb Records is Trying to Mount a Comeback
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When LeAnn Rimes and Hank Williams III fought very public battles with the label, people chalked it up to a couple of artists with declining careers who couldn’t handle being professional. But after high profile and nasty exits by Hank Williams Jr. and then superstar Tim McGraw, the word was out on the streets about Curb Records’ unfair business practices.
A Merle Haggard Biopic Movie Called “Done It All” Is In The Works
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Merle Haggard is gone, but he won’t be forgotten. A week after his death, word has come down that a motion picture about his life is in the works. GMH Productions has optioned a script about the life of Merle Haggard called “Done It All,” written by screenwriter Cliff Hollingsworth who is best known for writing the critically-acclaimed motion picture “Cinderella Man.”
Randy Houser Compares Luke Bryan to Willie, Waylon, and Johnny Cash
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Randy Houser may want to spend more time perfecting his faux hawk instead of speaking his mind after he put his foot in his mouth in a recent interview with radio.com (see below). The co-writer of “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and the close friend of Bro-Country Godfather Dallas Davidson decided to go on the offensive against Bro-Country haters.
Leave Music & Musicians Out of Your Boycotts Against Religious Freedom Laws
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New religious freedom laws in North Carolina and Mississippi, and pending legislation in Tennessee, has the South and the United States in an uproar over religious and civil liberties in an already contentious political season. And all of a sudden, music, and country music specifically, is getting caught in the crossfire.
Song Review – Dierks Bentley w/ Maren Morris “I’ll Be The Moon”
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If you were worried what direction Dierks Bentley’s new Black album would take after hearing “Somewhere on a Beach,” all you had to do was wait. Dierks (or really, his label) sure don’t make it easy on his fans, but those who’ve stuck with Dierks through “Drunk on a Plane” and others know he’ll always come back around to releasing music that sets the bar for substance in the mainstream.
“I Saw The Light” Biopic Flops at the Box Office
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The final chapter has been written on the highly-anticipated and much maligned movie on the life of country music icon Hank Williams, at least until the DVD is released. “I Saw The Light”—starring Tom Hiddleston as Hank, written and directed by Marc Abraham, and based off of the Hank biography written by Colin Escott—is a commercial flop. This is on top of receiving terrible reviews…
Album Review – Robbie Fulks’ “Upland Stories”
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As Robbie’s career arc has continued into his fifties, he’s favored more and more the bluegrass style of his Virginia and North Carolina roots compared to more traditional country and folk. Add on top of that his acute sense of dynamics and an unexpected adeptness at showmanship, and Robbie Fulks makes the case for himself as our generation’s John Hartford.
300 to 400 Unreleased Merle Haggard Songs Remain in an Archive
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Though Merle Haggard is no longer around to record and release new music, that doesn’t mean there isn’t unheard, unreleased recordings waiting to be unearthed for the public in the future. As is often the case with music artists who pass away, unreleased Merle Haggard music remains vaulted away, either as leftovers and outtakes from previous recording sessions, or in Merle’s case, purposely stashed away…
Album Review – Hayes Carll’s “Lovers and Leavers”
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Every album constitutes a herculean undertaking by all the parties involved, from the amount of decisions to be made, the various directions the production and arrangement can go, let alone writing and selecting the right songs, finding the right players and studio, and then trying to hunt down a label that’s willing to release it. But the road to Hayes Carll’s Lovers and Leavers feels especially long and winding.
Netflix Series “The Ranch” Showcases Worthy Country & Roots Artists
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Reviews have been mixed for the show so far, but country music listeners may have an extra incentive to watch the program. Featured on the 10-episode series has been a slew of independent country artists who will hopefully see decent paydays and a bump in exposure. There are also ample country music references and jokes in the series.
The Last Concert Merle Haggard Ever Gave
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The story from W. Earl Brown about Toby Keith and Merle has now been shared on Facebook nearly 100,000 times, and websites like Taste of Country and others have picked it up. But despite it being a touching tribute to Merle and a great story, the Mandalay Bay concert with Toby Keith was not the final concert Merle Haggard ever played as is being reported.