Page 254 – Maverick Country

CMA announces the list of 30 CMA award-winning acts in Forever Country, leading up to the 50th annual CMA awards

Forever Country single premieres on radio and digital partners worldwide; video to premiere Tuesday, 20 September with sneak peek on ABC’s ‘Dancing With The Stars’. After 10 days of speculation, the star-studded list of 30 former CMA Award winners in the ‘Forever Country’ music video have been announced. “The artists who stepped up to participate in this one-of-a-kind project span all five decades of the CMA Awards,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “They represent the heart of this song, the strength of our relationship with the fans, and the future of Country Music.” ‘Forever Country’ is a fresh take on three Country classics including John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads,’ Willie Nelson’s ‘On the Road Again,’ and Dolly Parton’s ‘I Will Always Love You.’ Denver, Nelson, and Parton are all former CMA Entertainers of the Year. The recording was inspired by the 2014 star-studded version of ‘God Only Knows’, created to commemorate the launch of BBC Music, the BBC’s biggest commitment to music in decades. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the CMA Awards, the biggest music video and single in Country Music history includes the following CMA Award winners: Alabama Jason Aldean Lady Antebellum Dierks Bentley Luke Bryan Eric Church Brooks & Dunn Brett Eldredge Rascal Flatts Vince Gill Faith Hill Alan Jackson Miranda Lambert Martina McBride Tim McGraw Ronnie Milsap Kacey Musgraves Willie Nelson Brad Paisley Dolly Parton Charley Pride Reba Darius Rucker Blake Shelton George Strait Little Big Town Randy Travis Carrie Underwood Keith Urban Trisha Yearwood Today, Country radio participated in a global roadblock of the ‘Forever Country’ single, which premiered on hundreds of radio stations simultaneously at 8:30 AM/ET across the United States and in several key international markets, including BBC Radio 2 in the UK. The audio single is now available for digital download and streaming. While listeners were getting their first listen across the Country radio universe, ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ announced both the full list of talent for the music video and that a portion of the video will premiere in an exclusive sneak peek during ABC’s popular, live, primetime program ‘Dancing with the Stars’ on Tuesday, Sept. 20. ‘Good Morning America’ debuted a 90 second behind-the scenes video teaser. Immediately following the sneak peek on ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ fans will be directed to Forevercountry50.com to see the full-length YouTube version of the music video. ‘Forever Country,’ the single was produced by CMA Award-winner and CMA Board member Shane McAnally and the video was directed by Grammy Award-winning director Joseph Kahn. Universal Music Group Nashville is exclusively partnering with CMA to market and distribute ‘Forever Country’ worldwide. The song will be available at all digital retail and streaming outlet partners. CMA profits from the sales and streaming of Forever Country will benefit music education causes through the CMA Foundation. ‘The 50th Annual CMA Awards’ will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 2 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

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ORFILA returned to Gibraltar to play the Gibraltar Music Festival

News / Editor

Folkestone sibling trio ORFILA returned to Gibraltar last week to play at the Gibraltar Music Festival (one of the biggest music events in Southern Europe). The band, consisting of Matt, Louise and Abi Orfila first played at annual festival in 2014 to open the festival for the headline act The Script. This year organisers asked the group to open the Main Stage again and kick off the festival for headliners Stereophonics. Other acts on the bill this year included Travis, The Vamps, All Saints, Europe, KT Tunstall, Paul Young, Jess Glynne, Zara Larson, The Fratellis, Heather Small and Bryan Ferry. During the week leading up to the event the band gave interviews to TV and Radio stations across Gibraltar including The Gibraltar Broadcasting Company (GBC) the Rock’s equivalent of the BBC and also to Gibraltar’s National Newspapers and Magazines. Matt said, “It was a great experience the first time we played there but this time it was even better. We are so grateful to the organisers for asking us back and for the people of Gibraltar for being so supportive. The highlight for us was playing on the main stage of course but also to meet such great artists. Meeting the Stereophonics was definitely great; they are really nice people”. This year has been very busy for the band having played at the O2 London in March as part of the International Country Music Festival ‘Country 2 Country’; being chosen as supported artists by Yamaha Music London and, releasing a new album which included a single that reached the top ten in the ITunes UK Country Music Charts. The band flies out to the USA in October for a 5 date tour of Texas.

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John Rich to appear on Phil Vassar's 'Songs From The Cellar' TV Show tonight

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Following the fantastic response to the UK/Ireland series premiere of Nashville hit songwriter Phil Vassar’s TV show ‘Songs From The Cellar’ on Keep it Country (Sky) featuring Sarah Darling, it has been revealed that country star John Rich (Big & Rich) will appear on the second episode tonight (September 16th 2016) at 9pm. ABOUT PHIL VASSAR Phil Vassar is a piano-pounding powerhouse and an acclaimed entertainer. His career includes eight albums, two ASCAP Songwriter of the Year trophies, Billboard Country Songwriter of the Year, and countless hits as a singer and songwriter. Phil’s reign of signature songs include ten #1 singles and twenty-six Top 40 hits, including Carlene, Just Another Day in Paradise, Six-Pack Summer, That’s When I Love You and many more. His songs other artists have taken to #1 include My Next Thirty Years by Tim McGraw, She’s Right On The Money by Alan Jackson, and Jo Dee Messina’s Bye, Bye’ and ‘I’m Alright.

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Shakin' Stevens ECHOES OF OUR TIMES out today

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Platinum-selling Shakin’ Stevens releases his 12th studio album ECHOES OF OUR TIMES today. Known as an entertainer and performer, with 33 hit singles and 4 UK no. 1s to his name, this new record clearly marks Shakin’ Stevens out as an artist, songwriter and storyteller. ECHOES OF OUR TIMES grew from Shaky’s realisation that, like most of us, he knew so very little about the background of his family – the stories of his ancestors’ loves and lives lost, and their struggles to survive. Research revealed tales of poverty and strife in the Cornish copper mines, of bravery and loss in war, of philanthropic preachers and stoic Salvationists, of children suffering and of family secrets and feuds. These uncovered stories became the inspiration for many of the songs that make up this collection. Having touched on most styles of music during his career (including blues, rhythm & blues, country and Cajun), the new songs were in fact a big departure for Shaky. “I have never before written a song that is so personal. Some of the tracks directly relate to stories and situations about my family past, while others are more of a social comment relating to the world that my ancestors, and we, live in” he explains. The album gave Shaky the opportunity to experiment and use instruments that he has previously used on stage but never before on a recording. Each story set the scene for the music and dictated which instruments were used. Down in The Hole features harmonica, Dobro guitar and harmonium to capture the feel and provide the atmosphere – hence it has elements of folk, rock and swampy blues. Keeping the harmonica and adding banjo, flute and military snare, gave a sound that was reminiscent of the past, helping to paint a picture for the title track ECHOES OF OUR TIMES, by joining folk rock with delta blues. The song Behind Those Secrets And Lies was no exception: every family has at least one secret, or more, somewhere, and by its very nature this song dictated the need for a very dark and mysterious feel. The cello and bottleneck guitar, coupled with the acoustic guitar figure, in a minor key, provides that haunting backdrop to guide the listener through the sadness of the lyrics. By contrast the anthemic rock of Last Man Alive, with its rousing mix of guitars, brass and piano – an infectious blend of instruments – provides a welcome lift to close the album.

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Country/pop artist Abi to open for Pentatonix & Us the duo on the Pentatonix world tour

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Nashville-based country/pop artist ABI will be supporting Pentatonix and Us The Duo on the upcoming 2nd leg of the Pentatonix world tour. The 22 date tour will kick off on October 17th in San Jose, CA, and will wrap up in Houston, TX on November 22nd, 2016. Abi spent her summer performing at Nascar events all over the country. She also played at the 30th Annual Country Fest in Cadott, WI, opening for Mo Pitney, Phil Vassar, Chase Rice and Sam Hunt. Summer of 2015, before she began her freshman year at Belmont University, Abi spent 70+ days on the road opening up for Kelly Clarkson on her Piece by Piece Tour, alongside Pentatonix and Eric Hutchison, where she received rave reviews from press. Abi spent the latter part of 2015 opening for Texas country group Eli Young Band alongside LOCASH, LANCo, Black Jack Billy, Dallas Smith, CAM and Luke Combs.

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Carrie Rodriguez announces UK tour

Live Events, News / Editor

Carrie Rodriguez, acclaimed singer-songwriter from Austin, Texas, announces a headline November UK tour, following her recent project, the celebrated Spanish/English album LOLA , released in the UK earlier this year. Carrie will perform at the Old Queens Head in London on 9th November, promoted by the Green Note. A passionate performer, Carrie effortlessly melds fiery fiddle playing, electrifying vocals and a fresh interpretation of new and classic songs with an “Ameri-Chicana” attitude. Lola is both a return to her musical roots and something of a departure where she delivers her own twangy, Texas-bred twist on Mexican Ranchera songs, creating culturally blended music for a culturally blended world. Inspired by the 1940’s-era recordings of Carrie’s great aunt, Chicana singing sensation Eva Garza, the album is a mixture of new and old songs. It features Spanish songs written by some of Carrie’s favorite Mexican composers, as well as her own Ranchera-inspired original songs written in English, Spanish and “Spanglish.” Produced by Lee Townsend, the album is supported by an all-star band, The Sacred Hearts, assembled especially for this project. The band features internationally acclaimed composer/ guitarist Bill Frisell, Viktor Krauss on bass, Luke Jacobs on pedal steel and guitars, David Pulkingham on nylon string guitar and electric guitar and Brannen Temple on drums and percussion. The crowdfunded project, supported entirely by friends and fans, was released on Feb. 19, 2016 by Carrie’s own label, Luz Records. Carrie, an Austin native, began playing violin at age five. Her training quickly became the passion and focus of her childhood, and by age 10, she had performed at Carnegie Hall. She continued the classical track in her first year at Oberlin Conservatory, then shifted gears to pursue her true love affair with the fiddle—staying true to her Texas roots—at the Berklee College of Music. Early in her career, a collaboration with singer-songwriter Chip Taylor resulted in four highly acclaimed duet albums. Her subsequent solo albums highlight the diversity of her musical identity, from her debut SEVEN ANGELS ON A BICYCLE to 2013’s GIVE ME ALL YOU GOT, which reached no. 1 on the Americana Music Charts. Carrie has toured, recorded and co-written songs with legendary artists such as Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Bill Frisell, Rickie Lee Jones, Mary Gauthier, Los Lobos, Alejandro Escovedo and Los Lonely Boys, among others. She has made numerous television and radio appearances, including Austin City Limits, The Tonight Show and A Prairie Home Companion. She has been profiled in many publications, including Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Times of London, The New Yorker, the Washington Post and many more.

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The Goat Roper Rodeo Band announce new album COSMIC COUNTRY BLUE out October 7

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Tucked away amongst the wild hillside pines of North Wales, sits an old weather beaten, rust eaten showman’s wagon, gently swaying and creaking with the warm, low hum of sweet dreams and two four blues. The Goat Roper Rodeo Band are preparing to take their show on the road with their brand new LP ‘COSMIC COUNTRY BLUE’ released on October 7, 2016, through Aveline Records. The bands impressive second album was produced by Romeo Stodart (Magic Numbers) at Doghouse Studios in London and mastered at Abbey Road Studios.With just two old guitars, an upright bass and a bucket full of rich, aching harmony, the band preach foot-stomping country blues like you’ve never heard before. There’s a hint of Hank, a twist of Waylon and a little sprinkling of demanded country-blues trios around. Gram in there too… it’s up and down, soft and loud and it swings that big ol’ country snake. Just three young bucks doing their own thing … the only way they know how. The band are renowned for their energetic and passionate live shows have become festival favourites around the UK, having performed at the Maverick Festival, as well as performing on Country to Country’s Saloon Stage, hosted by BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris, Cambridge Folk Festival, and Boomtown’s District Wild West, to name a few. The band were also nominated for the Best UK Live Act Award by Spiral Earth, as well as receiving critical acclaim from Ian Dunlop himself. The Goat Roper Rodeo Band are young guys with old souls, writing real people songs; Old Heart- ache sees them lamenting about hurt, lies, and self-doubt with no happy ending in sight – shot with a ‘Morricone’ cinematic backdrop of lonesome weeping lines by a man called ‘Horse’ back there on the Pedal-Steel. Then there’s the uplifting soul blues of Don’t Believe In You; feeling Bell-bottom broke and sipping from an empty basement glass, the blues keeps the tyres in the groove and the show on the road, trucking the day-dreams past skyscrapers and deep rivers of fixation, shooting dice and flipping tales in search of that next mile to salvation.

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Terra Lightfoot Announces UK Tour Dates

Live Events, News / Editor

With her recently released new album EVERY TIME MY MIND RUNS WILD being well received in the UK media, Hamilton’s Terra Lightfoot is pleased to announce her return to the UK this September /October, with a string of live dates. Whether you’re talking about her as a songwriter, guitarist or vocalist, one thing is Indisputable: Hamilton’s Terra Lightfoot is a ferocious talent. Her songs tap into the raw emotion of hearts supercharged by love, lust, loneliness and temptation. Her playing melds expert finger-picking and distorted, hook-heavy melodies. And her elemental voice commands attention and awe, whether on slow-burning soul ballads or hard charging rock numbers. On stages in France, the UK and across Canada, Lightfoot has performed alongside the likes of Emmylou Harris, Gordon Lightfoot, Ron Sexsmith, Built to Spill, The Both, Albert Lee, James Burton, Grace Potter, Blue Rodeo, The Sadies, and Daniel Lanois. She also stays busy as part of country band Dinner Belles. In writing and performing her new material, Lightfoot set out to push her limits as a performer and challenge herself creatively. Where her debut was given to slower, softer songs and a subdued vibe, Lightfoot’s new album crackles with immediacy and demands attention. From the moment you put it on, the album announces Lightfoot’s arrival as a confident and natural lead performer. Terra Lightfoot Live Performances in the UK Monday 19th September The Slaughtered Lamb (w/ Saint Sister), London Sunday 2nd October Notting Hill Arts Club (Communion Club Night), London Monday 3rd October Oporto, Leeds Tuesday 4th October Cafe No. 9, Sheffield Friday 7th October Green Hotel, Perthshire Sunday 9th October The Bluebird Cafe, Edinburgh Monday 10th October Topdog, Leicester Tuesday 11th October Leaf, Liverpool

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Shantell Ogden to release 5th studio album THE ROAD THAT DRIVES ME September 13th

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Award-winning country/Americana artist and songwriter Shantell Ogden will release her highly anticipated, 5th studio album THE ROAD THAT DRIVES ME on September 13th, and has released a single Devil Comes Knockin to stream via Soundcloud. The album is an eight-song collection that follows on the heels of Shantell’s successful GHOSTS IN THE FIELD. The album is her debut as a producer, and has a live, open sound, with warm and authentic tones. “Already an award-winning artist, Shantell Ogden has just raised her own bar,” says Judy Rodman, writer/producer (LeAnn Rimes, Loretta Lynn). “Her vocals on her newest project have more subtlety and control than ever; the cool tracks perfectly carry her voice and her brilliantly crafted songs straight to the heart.” In her own words: “I grew up on a farm in Utah and one of the lessons I learned is that the cows would always push on certain parts of the fence until it broke down. Even if we’d fix that part of the fence, they would continue to push on those parts of the fence until it was again broken. Devil Comes Knockin is a haunting story about how the devil pushes on us, our weaknesses and failures, hoping that we’ll break. It’s about being followed by your demons, and a voice of warning not to ‘open the door.’ A gritty song about the dark side in all of us. The message here is ‘don’t open the door when the devil comes knockin’. It has a deep rootsy feel, and I wrote it with Riley Anglen.” ABOUT SHANTELL OGDEN Shantell’s songs have received airplay on more than 800 country and Americana radio stations and shows internationally, reaching Top 2 chart positions both in the U.S. and Europe. Her songs have also appeared on the CW’s TV series ‘Hart of Dixie’ and in several feature films. She’s won honors for Songwriter of the Year and Americana Song of the Year for ‘Ghosts in the Field’ in the 2015 IMEA Awards, and Americana Album of the Year for Better At Goodbye in the 2014 IMEA Awards. This year Shantell has toured the UK & US and enjoyed extensive media appearances including Coffee, Country & Cody (WSM) and Good Day Utah (Fox).

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The new album from Smokey Fingers PROMISED LAND out now

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PROMISED LAND is the much anticipated follow up to COLUMBUS WAY which was released five years ago. An album which brings to life the hopes and dreams on a larger and more realistic scale deriving from many personal experiences giving the album a more brighter and fresher sound in respect to their previous works. Many songs on the album were written from Italy to the USA based on an experience of backpacking and travelling so as to live the American reality. Once again, the band collaborated with their good friend and producer Mario Percudani, owner of the Tanzan Studio where the album was recorded. Special guests on the album include Anchise Bolchi, Paolo Apollo Negri, Marcella Casciaro e Sara Matera. The hard work of writing and putting the songs together demonstrate what an incredibly talented band Smokey Fingers are, showing their love and sound for Southern Rock and delivering riffs and vocals that will not disappoint. Smokey Fingers were founded in 2008 by Daniele Vacchini (drums), Gianluca Paterniti (vocals), Fabrizio Costa (bass guitar) and Diego Dragoni (guitar), brought together by their passion for ’60s and ’70s Southern and Classic Rock. After a self-produced EP, their debut album COLUMBUS WAY – produced by Mario Percudani (Hungryheart, Mitch Malloy, Axe, Lionville) for Tanzan Music – was released in 2011 and made the band widely known throughout Europe and America. COLUMBUS WAY was voted best debut album of 2011 by the site Rocknytt (Sweden), and it’s considered one of the best Southern Rock albums of 2011. This allowed the band to achieve popularity in Europe in a live perspective too, by playing some well-known festivals, such as the 20th anniversary edition of the great Show Bike Aquitaine (2014) – attended by almost 20 thousand bikers and enthusiasts over two days – and the Southern Rock & Blues Festival in Kolin in the Czech Republic. In 2012 Smokey Fingers won the first edition of the Next Rock Festival in Siena (Italy) with their song Crazy Woman. The new single The Road Is My Home has been released on June 2016 by Tanzan Music and programmed by Virgin Radio. The new album “Promised Land” is due to be released in September 2016 by Tanzan Music.

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