“Miss Country Soul” and Opry Legend Jeannie Seely Has Died
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One of the most revered women to ever grace the genre, one of the most accomplished voices of the Grand Ole Opry for the better part of a century, “Miss Country Soul,” and the modern era’s mother of the Opry has passed on.
Hayes Carll Signs with Thirty Tigers / New Album Coming
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Distribution and publishing company Thirty Tigers has signed critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter Hayes Carll to work on a new album this fall, with hopes for an early 2015 release. Carll is now considered one of the mainstays of country/Americana touring channels, playing an average of 200 shows a year.
Cumulus & Big Machine Partner for “Classic” Nash Icons Venture
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Announced late Tuesday, NASH Icons, a takeoff on Cumulus’ already-established nationally-syndicated NASH brand, is a partnership with the Big Machine Label Group for the purpose of taking old and new music from artists “of the past 25 years” and giving its own place to live. Though no specific artists to be featured have been detailed yet, the idea seems to encompass music….
Leroy Virgil of Hellbound Glory Talks “LV” EP & More
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Reno’s Hellbound Glory has just released a new 5-song EP called LV, named for the initials of lead singer and songwriter Leroy Virgil. The album was recorded in and partially inspired by Leroy’s hometown of Aberdeen, Washington, and marks the first new music from Leroy and Hellbound Glory in nearly three years. On the occasion of the new release I gave Leroy a call…
Scott Borchetta Adds “Mega Pop Muscle” with New Big Machine Hire
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Announced yesterday, Republic Records Senior Vice President for Promotion and Artist Development David Nathan is transitioning from a position at one of Big Machine’s partnered subsidiaries to Big Machine proper to serves as the label groups Senior Vice President for “Pop Promotions.” The move is effective immediately. The move once again reinforces Big Machine’s focus on the pop world.
Sturgill Simpson’s “Metamodern Sounds in Country Music”
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I hate writing reviews like this. So I’m supposed to sit here and peck out a bunch of words to convince you to buy this damn thing? … an album many people are calling a “masterpiece” and the “best album in years”? The only person’s opinion about Metamodern Sounds in Country Music that truly matters is Sturgill Simpson’s papaw. And by all accounts, he’s beaming about it.
Jett Williams Arrested for Second DUI Charge In 3 Months
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For the second time in three months, one of country music’s most famous daughters has been arrested for DUI in Wilson County, TN, east of Nashville. She was stopped Friday May 9th at 11 PM, and was arrested for both DUI and for Violation of Implied Consent, meaning she refused to submit to a sobriety test. She was released Saturday morning on a $1,500 bond.
2014 Americana Music Awards Nominees Announced
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On Monday April 12th, The Americana Music Association announced the nominees for their 2014 Americana Music Awards to be held September 17th at the Ryman Auditorium as part of their annual Americana Music Conference. The ceremony was emceed by performer and Sirius XM DJ Elizabeth Cook, and was simulcast on Sirius XM and streamed on Music City Roots.
Country Music Entering A New Remix Era
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Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the remix era of country music, where the worst “country” songs get regurgitated with an overlayed rapper or EDM twist, repackaged to terrorize the eardrums of the masses for another eight weeks after the song should normally fade from the charts. Please find a group of your favorite male country stars crying for relevancy and attention to your right…
Mike & The Moonpies Van & Gear Stolen in Dallas
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Mike and the Moonpies, a staple of the Austin Honky Tonk circuit, had their van , trailer, instruments, and gear all stolen sometime Sunday morning, May 11th in Dallas. Folks are being asked to keep a lookout for the gear (list & pictures below), and a fund has been set up for folks who want to help the band get back on their feet.
What Todd Snider Really Thinks About Garth Brooks
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Anyone who considers themselves a good storyteller has to be an admirer of songwriter and performer Todd Snider. Over his career, it can be argued his stories have gone on to bolster his troubadour status just as much as his songs. And anyone who’s seen Todd Snider perform a few times or more knows that Garth Brooks has been a familiar punching bag for Todd.
Review – Willie Watson’s “Folk Singer Vol. 1”
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On paper, nothing about this album should work. You can’t take one guy, and one guy only, no overdubs or band, just acoustic instruments and a cued mic and call it good. Not to mention that this is an album entirely consisting of covers and traditionals. So yeah, this isn’t Billy Bragg or Charlie Parr. I’m sorry, but that’s just not enough to hold the listener’s ear for an entire album. Or is it?
ABC’s “Nashville” Renewed for 3rd Season
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Talk at one point had the show moving to Texas or Los Angeles to continue production, if the show continued at all. As the week drew on and the announcements came down for other shows, the fate of Nashville remained in limbo. Finally late Friday night, right after midnight Eastern Time, at tweet from ABC Music Lounge confirmed, “It’s official! @Nashville_ABC renewed for Season 3!!!”