Russell Dickerson’s Blue Tacoma has become the talented artist’s second consecutive US Country Radio #1 single, with the RIAA gold certificated track reaching the milestone just ahead of his trip to the UK in late October. The track was inspired by a road-trip with Dickerson’s wife along the Pacific Coast Highway in Southern California, and features on his debut album, ‘Yours’. Speaking about the song, Dickerson spoke of his pride that it had done so well in the charts, and expressed his gratitude toward his fans and country radio stations for promoting his music. “Blue Tacoma has been such a crazy fun ride,” the Nashville-based singer-songwriter said. “It has been amazing to see it catch fire and go all the way to the top! And not only a No. 1 single but now an RIAA certified GOLD single as well. “Now having two number ones in a single year is a dream come true for me! I’m so thankful for all my country radio family and my fans aka the RD Fam for such a huge year”, said the Nashville-based singer/ songwriter.” Dickerson has very much made 2018 his own, as alongside the chart success of ‘Yours’, Dickerson also made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live back in February, while he also claimed an ACM nomination for ‘New Male Vocalist of the Year’ and a CMT nomination for ‘Breakthrough Video of the Year’. Russell Dickerson returns to the UK this month to support Rucker’s six-date national tour, in addition to playing his own headline show at The Borderline, London (27 October) as part of Country Music Week. Full dates below: 21 October – Birmingham, Symphony Hall 22 October – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall 23 October – Gateshead, The Sage 25 October – Bristol, O2 Academy 26 October – Manchester, Albert Hall 27 October – London, Borderline (headline show) 28 October – London, Royal Albert Hall – sold out

Kimmie Rhodes (with Bob Harris) The Forge, Basingstoke 5 October 2018   When the people at Maverick approached Kimmie Rhodes with a view to including an article in a forthcoming magazine, she persuaded them it would be great if she could write the piece herself. Her good friend Bob Harris read the article in the July/August 2015 edition and was so impressed, he suggested she write an autobiography. And so, ‘Radio Dreams’ was born. With his own work ‘Still Whispering After All These Years’ already on the bookshelves, the inevitable outcome was a tour featuring intimate and spontaneous conversation with music. Having written the book, Kimmie realised she needed a song to go with it and so kicked things off with the appropriately titled Radio Dreams, a great country number written with her song writing compatriot Gary Nicholson. Hailing originally from Lubbock, Texas, but for many years a part of the vibrant Austin, Texas music scene, she is an enthusiastic supporter of The Buddy Holly Educational Foundation and paid homage with her rendition of Raining in My Heart. Bob Harris was keen to learn of the artist’s early career and Kimmie gave us The Old Rugged Cross, the first song she had sung for a very impressed Willie Nelson. Much chatter meant things were starting to get behind time so Kimmie speeded into the break with I Just Drove Byand from the very early days, Just One Love. Harris paid tribute to Kimmie’s son Gabe Rhodes who assumed production responsibilities after the untimely passing of husband Joe Gracey in 2011 and after Love Me Like a Song, Gabe took centre stage with Further to Fall. Donovan’sCatch the Windreminded Bob Harris that Kimmie had taught his son, budding guitarist Miles, chords to the song, but highlight of what was an amazing evening was Rodney Crowell’s Til I Gain Control Again, a magical duet with son Gabe. Kimmie has for years lived in awe of Emmylou Harris, now another close friend, and no show would be complete without Love and Happiness, her duet with Emmylou raising Kimmie’s musical profile even further. Fearful that some in the audience might have nodded off through all the conversation, she upped the tempo with Bells of Joya number written for an Austin gospel choir, before she closed with her song of positivity, Yes from the latest album ‘Cowgirl Boudoir’. Kimmie of course has the voice of an angel and highly talented son Gabe must now be in the premier league of acoustic/slide guitarists. Bob Harris O.B.E. has been a household name to music lovers for some five decades and his legendary ‘whispering’ is simply infectious. Clearly enjoying his ‘master of ceremonies’ role, Bob spent the evening totally engrossed in the music. Anyone in the audience not familiar with Kimmie Rhodes cannot fail to have been impressed. John Roffey www.kimmierhodes.com  

Beth Nielsen Chapman Festival of Sound – Hammersmith, London, England 29/9/18 Those who love country music will almost certainly be aware of Beth Nielsen Chapman’s talents, and the artist delivered an exceptional performance at the Festival of Sound in London. After being introduced by the iconic presenter Whispering Bob Harris, Chapman – taking to the stage with solo artist Ruth Trimble and Gregor Philp from Deacon Blue – opened up with Enough for Me from her latest album, ‘Hearts of Glass’ and laid down a marker as to how the next hour would go with a stellar showing. Chapman was very engaging with her audience, and in-between songs went out of her way to give the crowd an anecdote or a story that was relevant to the song she was getting ready to play, or her life. One such story was about her song Nothing I Can Do About it Now with Willie Nelson, which she said he loved the album it featured on so much, that before it was released, he was going round a golf course on a buggy with a ghetto blaster playing it out. As with most of her tracks, there is huge emotional pull towards them, and before she put in a blistering display of Epitaph of Love, Chapman explained that the song took her 18 years to write, and came to her after a notable argument with her husband. Sticking with the theme of partners, All I Have was next, and Chapman introduced the song by saying “This is played at a lot of weddings, and has a very low divorce rate! Thank you to the lovely Bob Harris and Radio 2.” There was a very powerful rendition of Sand and Water, which Chapman revealed was written a month after her first husband died, and was one of the standout moments of the set. Closing on This Kiss, Chapman performed that song as she had performed her set – brilliantly and with lots of energy, leaving the audience walking away knowing they had been treated that evening.