The Best Country and Roots Festivals in the United States
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Acting as if proximity to you or anyone else is irrelevant, and money is no object, what are some of the best experiences you can have listening to music in America?
Before They Sucked: Big Country Stars at the Start
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When you look back at some of the early songs, early albums, and even the early image of some of country’s biggest current stars, it can stimulate downright culture shock. Of course styles change naturally over time, but many of these artists came from small towns and had simple dreams. But the problem with money and fame is that you can always have more of it….
John Fullbright Sets a High Bar with New “Songs” Album
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As the lives of most songwriters go, John Fullbright has lived a charmed one for sure. His debut studio release, 2012’s “From The Ground Up” found its way to the very highest reaches of industry accolades when it was nominated for Best Americana Album at the 55th Grammy Awards, and he seemed to be quickly anointed as a songwriting golden boy out of the gate.
Travis Tritt Calls Out Brantley Gilbert for “Disrespect”
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On Saturday night (5-31), Valory Music Group artist Brantley Gilbert headlined the Blue Ridge Music Festival in Salem, Virginia, with Thomas Rhett, ABC Nashville actress and singer Clare Bowen, and Travis Tritt opening for him. Apparently what transpired stimulated Travis Tritt to take to Twitter to question the level of respect he and his fellow openers were treated with.
Kris Kristofferson to Play Andrew Jackson in Miniseries
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He’s been an army helicopter pilot, a Highwayman, and Hollywood A-lister, and one of the most heralded songwriters in the history of country music. And now Kris Kristofferson will be playing a historic figure in an upcoming eight-hour miniseries on The History Channel. Kristofferson has been cast in the role of Andrew Jackson.
Dolly Parton’s Song “Home” Should Be on the Radio
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“Home” is certainly not a critical cut from Blue Smoke, but one that for the life of me I can’t find one reason to think it couldn’t live quite nicely on today’s country radio. The video is silly, but it’s also sincerely Dolly. There is a lot here that is very hard not to love. It may not be a country version of “Kokomo” that champions some historic chart re-entry, but Sony should pony up the promo funds…
Luke Bryan Falls Off Stage in Charlotte, North Carolina
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The hottest commodity in country music right now was performing at the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, NC on Thursday night (5-29) when he took a step too many towards the edge of the stage and tumbled down a good five to six feet into the pit between crowd barrier and the stage. The fall resulted in an injury that Bryan elucidated to his fans resulted in “a few stitches” on his leg.
Garth Brooks Serves a Cease & Desist to “GARTH-FM”
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Over the Memorial Day weekend, Lousiville, KY classic country station 103.9 turned heads when it decided to switch from it’s traditional country format to “Garth, The Whole Garth, and Nothing But The Garth,” playing the 90’s country superstar on 24 hour rotation. GARTH-FM drew the curiosity of many, and the ire of some, including Garth’s legal team.
On Brad Paisley’s New EDM-Inspired Album “Moonshine in the Trunk”
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I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I read that comedian and country music performer Brad Paisley’s new album due out August 26th was called Moonshine in the Truck and “sees Paisley adapting the modern technology of EDM and dubstep to the classic country formula.” “The rulebook’s gone, or was there ever one?” Brad says. “They try, but I don’t play by it.”
Corb Lund’s Sun Studio “Counterfeit Blues” CD/DVD Coming
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Corb Lund, the current king of Canadian country (at least in this buckaroo’s estimation), will be releasing his latest studio incarnation called Counterfeit Blues to folks in The States on July 1st, and to those north of the border on June 17th. Counterfeit Blues will not be your average joe release though, it is a CD/DVD combo that captures Corb and his Hurtin’ Albertans…
Scott Borchetta Looking to Sign Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson & More
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During a recent conversation with Billboard Magazine’s Rich Appel, Dickey says Scott Borchetta is aggressively looking to sign many of the artists that fall between NASH Icons’ 25-year artist window, including but not limited to Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson. “I would look for Scott to make an announcement in the next 30 days,” Lew says.
Jamie Lynn Spears in “The Journey” EP
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“So, Brittney’s little sister wants to be a country music star after getting booted off Nickelodeon ’cause she got knocked up at sixteen.” This is the conclusion most high-nosed country music snobs can come to upon hearing that Jamie Lynn Spears has bent her back to the pursuit of a country music career, without even having to listen to a peep of her music.
The Split of Top 40 Country & Classic Country Is Upon Us
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The country music radio format that has resisted splintering for years could finally be cleaving into two distinct entities of “classic” and “Top 40” country, initiated at least in part over the Memorial Day weekend when a radio station based out of Louisville, KY became the first to adopt a new “classic” country format centered around a 25-year measuring stick.