Page 257 – Maverick Country

The new EP from multi-award winning Gary Quinn out tomorrow!

– 3 time British Country Award winner – 3 time British Country Award winner 2016 – Has performed with everyone from Kristian Bush to Clint Black – On tour in September with Luke & Mel Nashville Over Here today unveiled a first listen stream of acclaimed country singer-songwriter Gary Quinn’s EP, I REMEMBER , which is due for release on September 2.   Having received praise and an array of awards for his eponymous debut album, Gary teased the release of his new body of work with the single Shame. A mid-tempo, traditional-sounding track with a prominent drum beat, Shame sets the tone for the most personally insightful release from the multi-award winner. A native of Northern Ireland, Quinn cites U.S. country artists such as Brad Paisley, Hal Ketchum and more as influences, while he has shared the stage with acts such as Kristian Bush, Clint Black and songwriter Bob DiPiero. Having garnered support international praise for Shame, Gary is excited to finally unveil his long-awaited EP. Of the project he states, “I’ve gone for the EP title of I REMEMBER as I feel that it wraps up the feel of the EP pretty well. It’s a very personal project and the tracks cover different times in my own life though to now, so it’s almost a reflective piece of work. I REMEMBER also comes from a line in Each Night You Lie which features on the EP.” “It’s an EP that I’m really proud of, both to have had the experiences to write about and the quality that producer Thomm Jutz and my co-writers David C Banning and Nick Nichols have brought to the songs. One of my favourites on the EP is Body Language as it’s just a little bit fun but equally I love The Best Man Won, but folk will just have to listen to find out why.”  As heads out on the road next week with Luke & Mel, fans have a chance to hear the EP first hand and learn more about the story behind the songs. Upcoming Shows: 5 September – Cluny 2, Newcastle (with Luke & Mel and Outlander) 6 September – Broadcast, Glasgow  (with Luke & Mel, Lisa T and Sean C Kennedy) 7 September – Gullivers, Manchester  (with Luke & Mel, Thorne Hill and Robbie Cavanagh) 8 September – The Islington, London  (with Luke & Mel and The Southern Companion) 26 September – Butlin’s Country Music Festival, Skegness 12 November – Vaqueros Country Music Weekend, Filey

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Michael Messer's Mitra / Terry Clarke

Top Picks / Editor

Michael Messer’s Mitra CALL OF THE BLUES **** Terry Clarke ATOMIC 10 AND OTHER SINATRA DREAMS **** Innovative pair take Americana in very different directions A couple of extraordinarily different (and beautiful) albums by Brits with Texas in their hearts. Messer’s the king of the National steel guitar and Clarke is a singer-songwriter with the air of an Americana Van Morrison. Together they teamed up with the Joe Ely Band’s breathtaking guitarist Jesse Taylor for one of the finest Americana albums of all time, 1993’s RHYTHM OIL, of which one Johnny Cash said in his sleevenotes “Here is the real thing – bare bones blues gut-bucket rural rock.” Messer, never one to tread an obvious path, here teams up with Indian slide guitar virtuoso Manish Pingle from Mumbai and London’s Gurdain Rayatt, master of the tabla, both renowned in Indian classical music. The result is hypnotic and stirring with Messer on slide, lap steel and vocals, JJ Cale and Mississippi Fred McDowell played as if they inhabited the world of TV hit Indian Summers, possibly slipping across into Bollywood. There’s a traditional raga number, Messer and Terry Clarke’s old rootsy favourite Lucky Charms and even Muddy Waters’ I Can’t Be Satisfied, which featured on RHYTHM OIL. Clarke’s is even curiouser. He’s always immersed himself in an imaginary world of rock ‘n’ roll and country and here creates a mean, moody string-laden Americana tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes. There’s the piano-accompanied crooner Hoboken, the fabulous Mexicana sound of Trini Lopez Said, the hot, dark Take Me To The Desert, the 50s rocker It’s All Life and the pomp of The Last Italian Vampire. An album that positively reeks of whiskey, casinos, pencil-thin ties – and the spine-tingling mix of triumph and terror that surrounded Sinatra and his entourage. NICK DALTON michaelmesser.co.uk; terryclarke.com

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Roadhouse – CITY OF DECAY

Top Picks / Editor

The roadhouse goes ever on… Roadhouse travel a mythical, mystical highway through the lands of Americana. The British band have been finding their own direction – a colourful mix of rock, country and blues – for 25 years. Their novel approach – two female singers alternately offering harmonies to leader Gary Boner and serving up their own lead vocals, sometimes in harmony, sometimes solo – has always made them different. That and their penchant for epic, crashing numbers with Boner’s jangling guitar at their heart. The seven-minute title track, an epitaph for Detroit, ebbs and flows with a potent energy. They revisit the 14-year album title track Blues Highway, turning it into a soulful 10-minute gem and the package ends with the impressive Turn Your Face Into The Wind, which starts off acoustically before turning into a power balled (in the best possible way, of course). Incredibly, Boner has been backed by the same rhythm section (bassist Bill Hobley and drummer Roger Hunt) while the lead guitar slot rotated for a long time, Danny Gwilym is now settled in the role, offering stylish licks. Even singer Mandie G now qualifies as a veteran. The result is something that’s never quite southern rock, nor heavy blues but which has elements of both. And at times the country jangle of the Byrds meets the twin guitar elegance of Wishbone Ash. Intriguing and powerful. Nick Dalton roadhousegb.co.uk

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'Larry's country diner' to feature guest stars Lorrie Morgan, John Berry, Bill Anderson 45 RPM, and Wilson Fairchild

News / Editor

Hit television series, “Larry’s Country Diner,” will continue to entertain audiences nationwide on RFD-TV with all NEW episodes! In September, the series will feature guest stars Lorrie Morgan, John Berry, Bill Anderson, 45 RPM, and Wilson Fairchild. With a stellar lineup of some of country music’s greatest artists and entertainers, along with stories and family-friendly entertainment, it will be an exciting month on “Larry’s Country Diner” that fans won’t want to miss. Tune in on Thursdays at 8 pm / 7 pm CST and Saturdays at 11 pm / 10 pm CST to RFD-TV. Upcoming Episodes of “Larry’s Country Diner”: *All episodes repeat on Saturdays at 11 pm / 10 pm CST Thursday, September 1 – Lorrie Morgan (Re-Airing) Thursday, September 8 – John Berry Thursday, September 15 – Bill Anderson Thursday, September 22 – 45 RPM Thursday, September 29 – Wilson Fairchild To inquire about how to attend an upcoming taping, where you can have a front row seat at “Larry’s Country Diner” and be part of the on-camera studio audience, please call Gabriel Communications at 800-820-5405. Fans can also participate in Renae The Waitress’s weekly Diner Chat via phone where she shares behind-the-scenes secrets of the show, answers viewers’ personal questions and features exclusive interviews with celebrity guest stars on Thursdays at 2 p.m. CST.

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Announcing the release of Phil Doublet’s first single from his new album ENDLESS HIGHWAY

News / Editor

Capturing the energy and positivity of new love…. Keep You Hanging’ Round is a catchy country anthem setting the scene for a summer to remember. This rocky, toe-tapping tune has commercial value and a catchy chorus hook that will have you singing ‘Boom’. Phil interprets the euphoria of discovering new love and being hooked in every way. With catchy guitar work Phil’s new feel-good song will certainly be beside you while driving down the highway of life…After the 2013 release of his first album STONE & WOOD which earned him the 2014 NZCMA male artist of the year title, Christchurch singer/songwriter Phil Doublet is set to excite listeners with his second full-length release, ENDLESS HIGHWAY. This album encompasses a broad spectrum of genres, from folk to rock, demonstrating that versatility comes easy to this accomplished artist. Each track is carefully crafted, telling stories based on real subjects, true stories and events that are easily relatable to the audience. If Phil looks familiar that’s because he is a very accomplished backing musician. One of New Zealand and Australia’s most respected instrumentalists. Well known in Australia as a member of Luke O’Shea’s Medicine Wheel, he has performed for many year’s with Luke including at the Gold Guitars in 2014 in the winning performance of the Drovers Wife. Phil is also a member of the Ranchsliders a much loved Christchurch band. Above all he is also an amazing writer and outstanding artist in his own right and the quality of both his album STONE & WOOD and now his sophomore album ENDLESS HIGHWAY shows what this greatly talented artist can present in a stunning body of work.

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James House is back performing in the UK with new tour dates!

Live Events, News / Editor

James House is back in the UK with his stellar band for three shows only September 29th October 1st and 2nd. Performing his own hits plus the #1 hits he’s written for The Mavericks, Dwight Yoakum, Martina McBride, Sara Evans and more. Since it’s release here 2 years ago his Epic Records Release “This Is Me Missing You” continues to be the #1 UK country dance track. “I love playing the UK, the fans are the best” says James on his return to the UK.

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Eric Church, Maren Morris and Chris Stapleton lead the list of finalists for the 'The 50th annual CMA awards' with five nominations each

News / Editor

Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, the 2016 CMA Awards Airs Live From the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 2 on the ABC Television Network. Eric Church, Maren Morris, and Chris Stapleton top the list of final nominees for “The 50th Annual CMA Awards” with five nominations each. This year’s finalists represent the depth and range of Country Music over the past five decades from soulful traditionalists to contemporary groundbreakers. “I am very excited about this year’s list of nominees,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “We have artists who received their first CMA Awards nominations decades ago alongside first-timers; we have critically-acclaimed songwriters and artists who have reset the bar for Country Music. This is going to be an exciting year in addition to celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the CMA Awards.” Dierks Bentley, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban received four nominations and Tim McGraw received three nominations for trophies that will be handed out on Country Music’s Biggest Night™. “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. For the first time on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” the announcement of the final nominees in six of the 12 CMA Awards categories was made live from the historic stage of the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, which was home to the annual CMA Awards broadcast from 1974 to 2004. The announcement was made by Bentley, Cam, and Urban. Following “Good Morning America” the six remaining categories were announced by the nominated trio of artists on GoodMorningAmerica.com on Yahoo! as well as the “Good Morning America” Facebook page through Facebook Live – making the announcements a complete ABC takeover for the second year. Church’s nominations include Male Vocalist; Album of the Year for MR.MISUNDERSTOOD, which was produced by Jay Joyce and Arturo Buenahora, Jr.; Single of the Year for Record Year, which was produced by Joyce and mix engineered by Joyce and Jason Hall; Song of the Year for Record Year, which was written by Church and Jeff Hyde; and Music Video of the Year for Record Year, which was directed by Reid Long and John Peets. Church is a top nominee for the second year in a row, matching the five nominations he received in 2015. He now has a total of 22 nominations since his first in 2011 for New Artist of the Year. Morris didn’t just score her first nomination this year; she scored five, which ties her with Deana Carter (1997), K.T. Oslin (1988), and Gretchen Wilson (2004) for five nods in a debut year by a female artist. Only Kacey Musgraves has more, having received six nominations in 2013. Morris received nominations for Female Vocalist; Album of the Year for HERO, which was produced by busbee, Brad Hill, and Morris; Single of the Year for My Church, which was produced by busbee and Morris and mix engineered by busbee and Dave Clauss; Song of the Year for My Church, which was written by Morris and busbee; and New Artist of the Year. Morris only receives one nomination each for Album and Single of the Year, but can receive additional trophies as producer. After Stapleton’s breakout year in 2015 when he had three nominations and went home with four trophies for Album (including producer), Male Vocalist, and New Artist of the Year, he is back in 2016 with five nominations, including his first for Entertainer of the Year. His list of nods this year also includes Male Vocalist; Single of the Year for Nobody To Blame, which was produced by Stapleton and Dave Cobb and mix engineered by Vance Powell; Music Video of the Year for Fire Away, which was directed by Tim Mattia; and Musical Event of the Year with life and stage partner Morgane Stapleton (her first nomination) for You Are My Sunshine. Stapleton only receives one nomination for Single of the Year, but can receive an additional trophy as producer. Bentley, a 20-time nominee and two-time winner including the Horizon Award in 2005 (now New Artist of the Year) and Music Video of the Year in 2014 for Drunk On A Plane, will vie for Male Vocalist; Album for BLACK, which was produced by Ross Copperman and Buenahora; Music Video for Somewhere On A Beach, which was directed by Wes Edwards; and Musical Event of the Year for Different for Girls with Elle King (her first CMA Awards nomination). Underwood is a first-time nominee in the Entertainer of the Year category. She also received nominations in Album of the Year for STORYTELLER, which was produced by Joyce, Mark Bright, and Zach Crowell; and Musical Event of the Year for The Fighter with Urban. She is also nominated for Female Vocalist, which she has won three times (2006-2008). Urban, who has been a nominee every year since 2004, received four CMA Awards nominations in 2016 including Entertainer of the Year, which he won in 2005. Urban’s other nominations include Male Vocalist; Album of the Year for RIPCORD, which was produced by Urban, Dann Huff,Jeff Bhasker, Tyler Johnson, Greg Wills, Nile Rodgers, busbee, K-Kov, Nathan Chapman, and Jonny Price; and Musical Event of the Year for The Fighter, featuring Underwood. Urban only receives one nomination for Album of the Year, but can receive an additional trophy as producer. Urban has won the Musical Event category four times including Start A Band with Paisley (2009); Highway Don’t Care with McGraw and Taylor Swift (2013); We Were Us with Miranda Lambert (2014); and Raise ‘Em Up, featuring Church (2015). McGraw, a 38-time CMA Awards nominee, received three nominations including Male Vocalist (his last nomination in the category was 2003); Single of the Year for Humble and Kind, which was produced by McGraw and Byron Gallimore (Gallimore also mix engineered the song); and Music Video of the Year for Humble and Kind, which was directed by Edwards. He last won the Music Video category in 2013 for Highway Don’t Care with Swift and Urban. McGraw only receives one nomination for Single of the Year, but can receive an additional trophy as producer. Artists receiving two nominations include Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Cam, Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, and Thomas Rhett. Ballerini, who received her

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Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to Release Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends – Circlin’ Back: Celebrating 50 Years

News / Editor

For five decades, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has remained one of the most iconic names in American roots music. With one foot planted in the traditions of country-folk and the other pointing toward something new and unexpected, the group continues to tour and release music, influencing multiple generations of audiences and artists along the way. Nearly a dozen of those artists join the group on this year’s Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends – Circlin’ Back: Celebrating 50 Years concert album, available as a CD or as a CD/DVD combo, due out September 30th on the band’s own NGDB Records, LLC, distributed by Warner Music Nashville. Recorded live at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends captures a group of longtime road warriors who’ve yet to lose their grit, joined onstage by John Prine, Sam Bush, Vince Gill, Jerry Jeff Walker, Alison Krauss, Rodney Crowell, Byron House, and Jerry Douglas. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (and early Dirt Band member) Jackson Browne joined in, along with longtime member Jimmy Ibbotson, while a sold-out crowd sings along in the background. From country classics to deep cuts, the tracklist finds bandmates Jeff Hanna (guitars/vocals), Jimmie Fadden (drums/harmonica/vocals), Bob Carpenter (keyboards/accordion/vocals) and John McEuen (banjo/fiddle/guitar/mandolin) swapping harmonies, trading solos, and shining new light on a catalog of vital, vibrant music. Long before Americana music had a name, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band helped lead the charge, mixing elements of country, bluegrass, folk, mountain music, and rock & roll into a sound that celebrated the full range of American music. The guys were traditionalists and trendsetters, performing songs that nodded to the past while still pushing toward the future. Released in 1972 — just six years after the group formed in Southern California — Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Will the Circle Be Unbroken still stands as one of the most beloved albums in the country catalog, pairing the young band with legends like Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, and Mother Maybelle Carter. Many decades have passed since that milestone album’s release, with the members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band now enjoying their own legendary status. They continue to blur lines between genres, however, and the upcoming Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Friends accomplishes something very similar to the classic Will the Circle Be Unbroken, pairing the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with the hit-makers, rule-breakers, and iconic figures of today’s roots music community. This time, Hanna, Fadden, Carpenter, and McEuen are the elder statesmen, passing down their influence and inspiration to a younger class without giving up the torch just yet. There’s more music to be made, after all. More shows to play. Another half-century to chase down. The circle rolls on.

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MARK CHESNUTT EXTENDS TRADITION LIVES TOUR INTO 2017

News / Editor

Traditional country music fans, rejoice! Due to high demand, sold out shows and the success of his brand new album, platinum-selling country hitmaker Mark Chesnutt is extending his Tradition Lives Tour into next year. In celebration of his first album of all-new material in eight years, Tradition Lives, Chesnutt has hit the road to share songs from the new release, as well as his biggest hits, with concert-goers around the U.S. Tradition Lives is available on iTunes, Amazon and at MarkChesnutt.com. Since rising to fame in 1990 with “Too Cold At Home,” Chesnutt has continuously cemented himself as one of the hardest-working performers in the genre, with nearly 150 tour dates booked each year. With 14 No. 1 hits, 23 Top 10s and four platinum albums, it comes as no surprise that fans continue to pile into clubs and honky-tonks night after night to see the traditional-minded country sensation perform live. “There won’t be any hip-hop, bro-country, dancing around. It’s going to be fun. A lot of country songs, a lot of shuffle songs and Texas honky-tonk. It could get rowdy, but the music will always be there for you, right in your face,” says Chesnutt of the Tradition Lives Tour. Fans will enjoy singing along to chart toppers like, “A Little Too Late,” “Gonna Get A Life,” “I’ll Think Of Something,” “Goin’ Through The Big D,” “It Sure Is Monday,” “Brother Jukebox” and “I Just Wanted You To Know.” Mark Chesnutt sticks to his roots on his latest project, featuring 12 new songs, all of which possess the classic country sound Chesnutt has been known for throughout the last three decades. To purchase tickets to an upcoming show on the Tradition Lives Tour, please visit MarkChesnutt.com.

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Join whispering Bob at his first ever festival on September 10th!

News / Editor

Whispering Bob Harris’ inaugural Under The Apple Tree Roots Festival at Cadogan Hall will be a beautiful, intimate event featuring all of Bob’s favourite artists, held in the prestigious Cadogan Hall. This first festival will bring together all of the things Bob’s career has been built on – authentic, wonderful music in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

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