Page 125 – Maverick Country

Review: ‘People in Cars’ – Curse of Lono

Leave a Comment / Top Picks / Rochelle Mills

As a mainstream country music fan, I was surprised I enjoyed this album as much as I did. This latest record comes after a difficult couple of years for Felix but he’s channeled his trials and tribulations into his songwriting, taking this record to some dark places at times. With the theme of driving, he recalls ghosts and coping mechanisms of the past as he tries to deal with losing his Dad. With cinematic and hypnotic soundscapes as a backdrop, the album plays host to thought-provoking lyrics and inspiring melodies, focus song ‘Let Your Love Rain Down On Me’ is an example of this. Another favourite comes in the form of ‘Think I’m Alright Now’, featuring laid-back percussion, the song focuses on the emergence of hope – a light in the dark, so to speak. Felix’s baritone voice is the centrepiece of the whole record. There is a clear evolution for Curse of Lono on this third album but the trajectory of the band looks promising.

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CMA Awards reveals presenters for 55th annual awards ceremony

Leave a Comment / News / Rochelle Mills

Country Music’s Biggest Night™ is getting even bigger as the Country Music Association has announced presenters for “The 55th Annual CMA Awards.” Hosted by Country Music superstar and “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan, “The 55th Annual CMA Awards” will broadcast LIVE from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC. This year’s CMA Awards presenters include Trace Adkins, Ingrid Andress, Kelsea Ballerini, Deana Carter, Lauren Daigle, Russell Dickerson, Faith Fennidy, Florida Georgia Line, Freddie Freeman, Amy Grant, Dulé Hill, Alan Jackson, Elle King, Lady A, Zachary Levi, Scotty McCreery, Hayley Orrantia, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Darius Rucker, Susan Sarandon, Saycon Sengbloh, Kurt Warner, Lainey Wilson, and Trisha Yearwood. With 20 unforgettable performances from some of the biggest names in music, “The 55th Annual CMA Awards” is not to be missed. Artists taking the CMA Awards stage include Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley feat. BRELAND and HARDY, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton feat. Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards, Jennifer Hudson, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Chris Young and Kane Brown, and Zac Brown Band. “The 55th Annual CMA Awards” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Alan Carter is the Director and David Wild is the Head Writer.

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EXCLUSIVE: Check out the new video from Taylor Rae!

Leave a Comment / News / Rochelle Mills

Taylor Rae has shared her brand new video for ‘Taking Space’ exclusively on Maverick! Originally from Santa Cruz, California where she won the region’s NEXTies Musician of the Year award, Taylor currently resides in Austin, Texas. The singer/songwriter’s eclectic style traverses many genres. Influenced by diverse artists including Grace Potter, Janis Joplin, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Jewel, Simon & Garfunkel and Steely Dan, Taylor has created a compelling performance style that is distinctly her own. In pre-pandemic times, she averaged 200 gigs annually, including the second stage at the legendary Stubb’s in Austin, Hotel Café in Hollywood and Santa Cruz’s Moe’s Alley, Kuumbwa Jazz and the Catalyst. She has also played several popular Northern California festivals and opened for artists including Brandy Clark, Kristian Bush, Reggae musician Mike Love and The Stone Foxes. The video release follows the successful release of her album ‘Mad Twenties’, which you can read all about here! To stay up to date on the latest country music news, please register to receive our newsletter here. Media contact Zoe Hodges, Editor, Maverick Magazine Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823920 Email: [email protected]

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Brad Paisley to Launch ‘American Highway’ Bourbon

Leave a Comment / News / Rochelle Mills

Global country music superstar Brad Paisley will launch “American Highway” Bourbon this month, a whiskey aged in barrels stored in a 53-foot semi-trailer that followed his 2019 nation-wide tour for 7,314 miles across 25 states, from coast to coast. “Bourbon is like songwriting, it’s a blend of things coming together to make something incredible,” said Paisley. “These are really special barrels that saw more of the United States than most people I know.” The fluctuating climate of the barrels’ journey expanded and contracted their staves, imparting oak and char that cultivate the characteristics flavors of America’s native spirit. This well-traveled batch was then blended with three-year, 13-year and 15-year-old Kentucky bourbons to create the final product. The next batch, to be released in 2022, was aged on the Rolling Rickhouse during Paisley’s 2021 tour. Paisley sums up the creative process that derived his bourbon: “It’s so similar to what goes into a great guitar. The right woods, the right craftsmanship, the right alchemy that makes this intangible, magical thing, and that’s what makes this so great to me.” “American Highway’s” literal path-to-market wasn’t the only unique aspect of its creation: Rather than just sourcing whiskey and lending a celebrity name to it, Paisley worked closely with award-winning bourbon distiller Bardstown Bourbon Company to create the final blend. Located in Bardstown, Kentucky the “Bourbon Capitol of the World,” this modern bourbon distiller creates custom whiskey, bourbon and rye for more than 30 different brand-owners worldwide and has won critical acclaim for its releases. Paisley collaborated with a team of experts at Bardstown, including VP of New Product Development Dan Callaway. “You don’t get to see many celebrities that have such a technical palate,” shared Callaway. “It was a super collaboration that resulted in a travelled bourbon in an exemplary expression.” Callaway describes the bourbon as “A blend of four rye-forward bourbons ranging in age from 3 to 15 years. The flavor profile is incredibly unique. Subtle, complex, spicy, well-traveled. As we like to say, it was, ‘born in Kentucky, aged across America’.” With just 30,000 bottles of the initial release produced, the 96-proof blend has a suggested retail price of $99.99.

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Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde debut female-directed music video

Leave a Comment / News / Rochelle Mills

Already a force with their songwriting prowess and vocal capabilities, CARLY PEARCE and ASHLEY McBRYDE today debut an intense music video for “Never Wanted To Be That Girl.” The pair joined female and first-time director Alexa Campbell to film scenes of their parallel lives out of sync with the wrong guy. Each unassuming woman finds herself in a place she never wanted to be – both suspecting and discovering the truth about a liar. The clips captured just outside of Nashville find the two women visually reflecting as they consider their own blind spots in a painfully sobering moment. Combining forces with co-producer Shane McAnally, they reignited the ravaged Country tradition of a hard truth cheating song. “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” is sung from the perspective of two women – the single girl thanking the guy who helped change her flat tire and the wife at home – who learn their partner is involved with someone else. “What’s interesting about this song is we could have gone to a place of blame on the others in the love triangle, but we turned it inward. It’s unique that two women who never meet are getting burned by the same man and having the exact same feelings. We intentionally kept the chorus the same to reflect that neither wanted to be in this position,” shares Carly. Ashley continues, “so many of us know how it is when you go back and start putting all of those pieces together. That moment when you realize the gut punch of the situation. This song isn’t really about being the other woman or even being messed around on as much as it’s about these two people who are exhibiting behaviors they normally wouldn’t – checking text messages, making excuses for why their dates are only on Tuesdays – and realizing it’s all because of the same person.”

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The Country Music Association announces even more performers for the 55th awards ceremony

Leave a Comment / News / Rochelle Mills

The Country Music Association has announced even more performers for “The 55th Annual CMA Awards.” Country Music’s Biggest Night™ will see Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley feat. BRELAND and HARDY, Luke Bryan, Jennifer Hudson, Thomas Rhett, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band front and center on the CMA Awards stage. Hosted by Country Music superstar and “American Idol” judge Bryan, “The 55th Annual CMA Awards” will broadcast LIVE from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC. Four-time CMA Awards nominee this year Barrett performs her chart-topping hit “The Good Ones.” Three-time CMA Awards winner and two-time nominee this year, Bentley welcomes collaborators; tour mate and Platinum artist/songwriter BRELAND and CMA New Artist of the Year nominee this year HARDY for their laidback single “Beers On Me.” Two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year winner and nominee this year in the CMA Musical Event of the Year category, Bryan performs his new single “Up.” Singer, actress and star of the acclaimed Aretha Franklin biographical musical drama “Respect,” Hudson will perform on the CMA Awards stage for the first time. Two-time CMA Awards winner and a nominee this year in the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year category, Thomas Rhett performs his chart-topping single “Country Again.” Twelve-time CMA Awards winner Urban performs his new single “Wild Hearts,” and CMA Award-winning group Zac Brown Band, nominated this year in the CMA Vocal Group of the Year category, takes the CMA Awards stage to perform their unifying song “Same Boat.” Barrett, Bentley feat. BRELAND and HARDY, Bryan, Hudson, Thomas Rhett, Urban, and Zac Brown Band join previously announced performers Jason Aldean and Carrie Underwood, Jimmie Allen, Brothers Osborne, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton feat. Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton, and Chris Young and Kane Brown for this year’s show.

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Keith Urban adds second London date due to popular demand!

Leave a Comment / News / Rochelle Mills

Due to incredible ticket demand, Keith Urban has announced a second London date to the run of his ‘THE SPEED OF NOW WORLD TOUR 2022’ next year. The UK leg of the tour kicks off on April 28 in Birmingham and will make stops in 5 cities around the UK including two London shows at the Eventim Apollo on 6 & 7 May 2022. Tickets will go on general sale for the new date at 10am on this Friday 5 November. They can be purchased at TICKETMASTER.CO.UK or AXS.COM or AEGPRESENTS.CO.UK. Critics around the globe have hailed Urban’s concerts as ‘ones not to be missed,’ as unpredictable as they are explosive, with no two shows ever alike and ‘THE SPEED OF NOW WORLD TOUR’ promises to be no different. Combine hits from his career, including his global smash hit duet with P!NK, One Too Many, which has amassed over 400 million streams worldwide, Parallel Line, Blue Ain’t Your Color, The Fighter, Polaroid and Superman, with his infectious personality, virtuoso guitar playing, showmanship and seemingly effortless spontaneity and together they make for one truly unforgettable night of music. Keith commented: “I am so looking forward to returning to London next year, this city holds so many wonderful memories for me and I can’t wait to get back there and see my fans again.” With ten full-length studio records, four GRAMMY® Awards, and millions of albums, songs, and tickets sold worldwide, Keith has wowed fans all over the world with his exhilarating live shows. One of the most well respected artists in the world, Keith has scored 24 career number ones and has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide as well as collaborating with a diverse group of artists that include Post Malone, Taylor Swift, P!NK and Nile Rodgers, SPEED OF NOW UK Dates: April 28 Birmingham, O2 Academy May 1 Newcastle, O2 City Hall May 3 Manchester, O2 Apollo May 6 London, Eventim Apollo May 7 London, Eventim Apollo – General sale on November 5th, 10am May 9 Edinburgh, Playhouse European Dates: May 17 Düsseldorf, Mitsubishi Electric Halle May 18 Munich, Zenith München May 19 Frankfurt, myticket Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt May 21 Berlin, Verti Music Hall May 22 Rotterdam, RTM Stage May 24 Hamburg, Barclays Arena

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Exclusive: Audra McLaughlin of ‘Team Blake Shelton’ to release new single ‘Headed For The Fall’ on December 8th

Leave a Comment / News / Rochelle Mills

In contrast to the fun summer anthem ‘(Can’t Buy) Fun Like This’ which was released back in July 2021 – Audra’s next single ‘Headed For The Fall’, which was written by McLaughlin, Johnny Garcia and Jimmy Mattingly, showcases her phenomenal vocal range and gives us a real taste of the edgier side of this Queen of Country Soul. With an infectious chorus and the magical blend of guitars, you’ll want to enjoy listening to this song with the volume cranked up! The single will be available to pre-save in November and will be announced across Audra’s socials when the link is live! “It’s a song about knowing that you love this person but you know your not good for each other. I dove back into my feelings from a past relationship. I knew deep down I loved him but I knew it would never work in the long run. I think sometimes it’s hard to realize that when you have built a life with someone. Sometimes you can love someone but it’s just not enough if you don’t see eye to eye” Audra says. McLaughlin grew to national fame in the USA as a member of Team Blake on season 6 of NBC’s “The Voice” where she reached the live shows and finished in the Top 6 Artists. Following her time on the show and after touring with the NASCAR band for two years, the Pennsylvania native moved to Nashville after needing vocal surgery and rehabilitation stemming from a cyst on her vocal chord. During her recovery process, she began working with leading vocal coach Kati Hendricks, who would later connect her with industry veteran Jimmy Mattingly in 2019. Audra inked a co-publishing deal with Jimmy Mattingly and Johnny Garcia. Both of whom worked with Audra on this latest single – co-writing, producing and also featuring as musicians. Speaking of the song, Mattingly, who has played for Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks said, “Headed for The Fall is a song that from the first downbeat it screams Country Soul music with an Edge. Audra gets to show her amazing soulful chops on this song! We loved it the minute we started writing Headed for the Fall. Johnny’s awesome slide guitar mixed with resonator guitar brings that cross roads vibe! I just Love It!” The single will be available everywhere from December 8th!

Exclusive: Audra McLaughlin of ‘Team Blake Shelton’ to release new single ‘Headed For The Fall’ on December 8th Read More »

CMA reveals first round of performers for Awards show

Leave a Comment / News / Rochelle Mills

The Country Music Association has announced the first round of performers for “The 55th Annual CMA Awards.” Featuring first-time nominees taking the CMA Awards stage, as well as reigning CMA Awards winners, this year’s performances will include Jimmie Allen, Brothers Osborne, Eric Church, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton featuring Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, and Blake Shelton. Hosted by Country Music superstar and “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan, Country Music’s Biggest Night™ broadcasts LIVE from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC. CMA New Artist of the Year nominee and current “Dancing With The Stars” contestant Allen will perform his hit “Freedom Was A Highway.” Three-time CMA Awards nominated group this year Brothers Osborne will deliver a deeply personal performance from their CMA Album of the Year-nominated Skeletons. Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year and five-time nominee this year including Entertainer of the Year again, Church will perform his song “Heart on Fire” from his CMA Album of the Year-nominated Heart. Reigning and two-time consecutive CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Dan + Shay, nominated again in the same category this year, will perform their hit “I Should Probably Go To Bed.” CMA New Artist of the Year nominee Guyton will welcome rising artists Spencer and Edwards for a collaboration not to be missed from Guyton’s debut album, Remember Her Name. Two-time nominee this year Pearce and three-time nominee this year McBryde will perform their heart-wrenching duet “Never Wanted to Be That Girl.” And 10-time CMA Awards winner Shelton will bring his “Come Back as a Country Boy” to the CMA Awards stage. Additional performers and presenters for “The 55th Annual CMA Awards” will be revealed in the coming weeks.

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Luke Bryan to host the CMA Awards

Leave a Comment / News / Rochelle Mills

The Country Music Association and ABC have announced Country Music superstar and “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan will host “The 55th Annual CMA Awards.” Country Music’s Biggest Night broadcasts LIVE from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on ABC. “The CMA Awards is one of the biggest nights of the year for Country Music,” says Bryan. “Being asked to host the CMA Awards was definitely something I put a lot of thought into before answering. The pressure that comes along with that can be overwhelming, but knowing I get to help honor and celebrate so many of my friends, I knew it was something I couldn’t turn down. I mean, growing up in Georgia, I remember watching Vince Gill, Reba, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Rogers, Barbara Mandrell, to name a few. They were so good. And then becoming a part of this amazing Country Music family and sitting on the front row while Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Darius Rucker took the reins, all of these artists are heroes and friends, and I am honored to have my name included in this group. I’m looking forward to making it fun and memorable and using this platform to continue to make Country Music shine.” Bryan, a two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, will make his CMA Awards hosting debut on this year’s stage. “We are so thrilled to have Luke join us as this year’s CMA Awards host,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “His fun and playful energy is something television viewers have welcomed into their homes week after week as a judge on ‘American Idol,’ and I know he has something exciting up his sleeve for the CMA Awards. We cannot wait to bring music fans a magical night of performances and truly some of the most special moments our show has ever delivered, in just a few weeks.” “We are so grateful Luke will host the biggest event in Country Music. That’s my kind of night and it will be yours too,” says Rob Mills, Walt Disney Television Executive Vice President, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment. “I am excited for Luke to bring the same humor, energy and emotion as host of the CMA Awards that he has for the last five years on ‘American Idol.’”

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