The Stray Birds have been one of the busiest in USA this summer, appearing at most of the country’s biggest outdoor events including MerleFest. It’s a pattern that is about to be repeated in Europe too as they dash over the Atlantic twice in the space of a month for a main stage appearance at Cambridge Folk Festival on Saturday, August 1 followed by a return to Denmark’s big Tønder Festival (August 28 – 30). In between, as well as a London show at Cecil Sharp House (August 19), they play Norwich Arts centre (August 20), Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford, Black Box, Belfast, have a late show lined up at The Famous Spiegeltent during Edinburgh Fringe (August 23) and also return to Glasgow’s St Andrews In The Square, scene of their sold-out Celtic Connections show last year (August 25). (Photo by Doug Seymour)

After an impressive performance on Later…with Jools Holland in September last year, Tennessee-raised, Minneapolis based soul-songstress Chastity Brown is heading back to the UK in July 2015 for a string of UK live dates and festivals. Chastity will be performing at London’s prestigious 100 Club on July 13. Chastity has been busy in the studio for the past few months working on her new album, due for UK release nearer the end of the year. Chastity will be showcasing some of new tracks, as well as live favourites throughout July. Her 2013 album BACK-ROAD HIGHWAYS received huge critical acclaim (Independent 4* / Sunday Times Culture / Maverick 5* / 4* The Daily Mirror), and was a favourite amongst reviewers’ Top 10 end of year lists. The album’s lead track, After You was featured in the BBC/HBO film, ‘Mary & Martha’ starring Hilary Swank, and Chastity was also invited to duet with Michael Kiwanuka whilst supporting him at First Ave in Minneapolis. Chastity’s style is a beautiful mix of Gospel, Roots & Soul, Jazz, Blues & Country, and it couldn’t work better. Chastity channels songs that are born deep in the American bone, the hunger, desperation and confidence that runs through our times. Saturday July 4 Suffolk, Maverick Festival Sunday 12 Chipping Norton, Cornbury Festival Monday 13 London, 100 Club Tuesday 14 Menai Bridge, Victoria Hotel Wednesday 15 Biggar, Biggar Municipal Hall Thursday 16t Selkirk, String Jam Club @ The County Hotel Saturday 18 Isle Of Lewes, Hebridean Celtic Festival

Following last year’s pilot event, the second annual London Folk & Roots Festival has been announced with a line-up of diverse acts making it to London for two weeks. The Festival will run from 30 October to 15 November 2015 across various London venues. The 2015 Festival has already signed the following: False Lights – Sebright Arms, 30 October
 CC Smugglers – The Lexington, 1 November
 Ian Siegal (Pictured, image by Sam Hare) Unplugged – Dingwalls, 2 November Eddi Reader – Union Chapel, 3 November
Ward Thomas – Lexington, 3 November The Grahams – The Borderline, 4 November Aoife O’Donovan – Bush Hall, 4 November
 Emerging Talent Night – The Islington, 4 November Andy McKee – Union Chapel, 5 November The Young’uns – Slaughtered Lamb, 6 November
 Emerging Talent Night – The Islington, 11 November Cara Dillon – Union Chapel, 12 November Sam Lee – Oslo London, 12 November One of the organisers, Dave Messer, said: “This year’s festival follows a pilot festival in 2014, which was a huge success. All shows in 2014 saw terrific attendances, plus many sellouts. Even Ed Sheeran graced the Bush Hall stage to play alongside For Vance. “London Folk & Roots Festival is the most exciting folk festival in the Capital this year and brings with it a wonderful array of emerging, new and established talent.”

The annual UK Music Video Awards returns for the eighth year, offering music video makers the chance to gain recognition for their work in areas across the filmmaking board. Now open for entries via the dedicated website at www.ukmva.com, the Awards accepts submissions from across the globe in production, direction and post-production as well as a range of technical skills. This year, there will be two brand new awards – for the Best Music Documentary and the Best Lyric Video, the latter introduced to recognise that the way music and videos are consumed is becoming increasingly important. This year’s Awards, which will take place on November 5, will be held for the first time at London’s Roundhouse. Steeped in history, this classic venue has not only played host to legendary musical performances from the likes of The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and The Clash, but in recent years has been home to some groundbreaking cultural events as well as a creative hub for young people in the capital. Now an event with global reach, last year’s UK Music Video Awards saw winners from the USA, Canada, Australia, France and Israel sitting alongside British talent. American directing duo DANIELS picked up Video of the Year and Best Dance Video – International. The big British winner of the night was Daniel Wolfe for his 8 minute epic for Paolo Nutini’s ‘Iron Sky’, which picked up the Best Pop Video title as well as the coveted Best Cinematography prize for Robbie Ryan. The UK Music Video Awards editorial director, David Knight, says, “At a time when the music video is more important than ever to the music business – as income generator as well as promoter of music – the UK Music Video Awards celebrates the artform. It’s all about the creative collaborations of artists, directors, producers, choreographers and a host of other talented people. Each year we get to marvel at music video’s greatest achievements and this year will be greater than ever.” The UK Music Video Awards 2015 is now open and accepting entries in over 30 separate categories, including genre-led awards, as well as specific technical and craft awards, and awards for individual producers, directors and commissioners. Entries can be made via the MVA website www.ukmva.com and the deadline is August 5.

Rosanne Cash, daughter of legend Johnny Cash, is to perform at an exclusive one night only concert. The performance will take place on 23 July at the Union Chapel, London. Rosanne’s new album, THE RIVER & THE THREAD picked up three GRAMMY’s in February this year for Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song. THE RIVER & THE THREAD features appearances by Cory Chisel, Rodney Crowell, Amy Helm, Kris Kristofferson, Allison Moorer, John Prine, Derek Trucks, John Paul White (The Civil Wars), Tony Joe White and Gabe Witcher (The Punch Brothers).

Having debuted at #6 in the Official Country Charts with their debut album Here We Go Again (private stream), 1/5 Texan and 4/5 British country rockers Jess and the Bandits are currently gearing up for their debut UK headline tour this October, which follows on from their sold out London shows earlier this year. Having received critical acclaim for Here We Go Again alongside support from BBC Radio 2 for the album’s lead singles, ‘Single Tonight’ and ‘You Can’t Stop Me’, the band are thrilled to announce that the new music video for their single ‘Nitty Gritty’ will be filmed in association with High Street plus size fashion retailer Evans. To celebrate the video collaboration Jessica has launched a social media, body confidence competition to find 10 stars to feature in her video. Revealing her own body confidence mantra as ‘We’re all incredible, be you and focus on that’, Jessica wants entrants to share their own personal body confidence mantra by writing it on a piece of paper, taking a snap of themselves with it and sharing at evans.co.uk/stylemantra OR using the hashtag #EvansStyleMantra @evansclothing @JessTheBandits on Twitter or Instagram. As the ambassador for their #STYLEHASNOSIZE campaign, Jessica advises, ‘love the skin you’re in at each size. Let us support each other as women!’ With the band about the hit the festivals around the UK for the summer, Jessica admits there is nothing she loves more than summer fashions. Her personal style tip, ‘The thing I love best about summer is putting on a cute floral dress and rocking my curves. I feel great in my own skin. Let’s have some fun!’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 17, 2015) – Another week, another reason to celebrate for breakout Country rockers A Thousand Horses. And it seems like it’s been a non-stop celebration for months now. Just seven days after their debut album SOUTHERNALITY was released, their first single “Smoke” has officially been RIAA-certified GOLD. SOUTHERNALITY also debuts at No. 3 this week on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The Dave Cobb-produced album is available now at iTunes and all other major retailers. Michael Hobby, Bill Satcher, Graham DeLoach and Zach Brown also learned this week they will be making their late-night television debut when they play ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live on June 24 where they will perform their next single, “(This Ain’t No) Drunk Dial.” Watch the new video for the song here. Fans have been rallying around A Thousand Horses since the release of first single “Smoke,” which set a record for highest debut on the Mediabase Country songs chart and reached No. 1 the first week of June, making A Thousand Horses the first Country band of more than three members to reach No. 1 with its debut single since December 2008. It’s been a scorching run for a band Rolling Stone, USA Today and other tastemakers have hailed as ones to watch in 2015. Early listeners have embraced A Thousand Horses and SOUTHERNALITY – a mix of the words Southern and personality – for a number of reasons, including its Southern rock vibe and undeniable energy. The band celebrated release week with a number of impactful performances at the CMT Awards (followed by a standing room only after-party at the Tin Roof honky-tonk in downtown Nashville), the CMA Music Festival and the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. A Thousand Horses is a sight to behold live, as millions of viewers found out when the group made its television debut on TODAY and FOX & Friends recently. Check out A Thousand Horses’ live show on Darius Rucker’s Southern Style Tour all summer. For more information about the band or to purchase tickets, visit www.AThousandHorses.com and follow @athousandhorses on Twitter and Instagram.

Randy Howard, 65, was mortally wounded in the shootout at his home according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Howard was a member of the ‘Outlaw’ country movement that rejected Nashville’s polished music in favour of a more raw sound. He had shared the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr and has written songs for Hank Williams III. This was Howard’s fourth offence of driving under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a firearm while intoxicated and driving on a revoked licence, said TBI spokesman Josh DeVine. Howard refused to attend his court date and reportedly told a friend that ‘he wasn’t going back to jail’ On Tuesday night, bounty hunter Jackie Shell arrived at his home to take him into custody and Howard opened fire. When Mr Shell fired back, Howard was killed. Mr Shell is believed to have been injured during the fight and has undergone surgery. Howard made seven records, including All American Redneck in 1983 and the self-titled Randy Howard in 1988.

Country singer Jim Ed Brown’s funeral took place at the Ryman Auditorium on Monday. He was remembered by his friends and fellow musicians as a friendly, kind and helpful man. Brown died on Thursday after being diagnosed with lung cancer last year. The service for Brown featured several musical performances. The Oak Ridge Boys sang an a cappella rendition of Life’s Railway to Heaven, while Crystal Gayle performed her hit When I Dream, recalling that Brown enjoyed performing the song during some of his concerts. During his performance of Amazing Grace, Craig Morgan turned his back to the audience so he could wipe away tears. Lady Antebellum sang Never Alone, and the group’s Hillary Scott also sang Sweet Beulah Land with her parents, Lang Scott and Linda Davis. On a stage set with flowers, photos and a red stage jacket with black embroidery that was often worn by Brown, fellow Opry member Jeannie Seely read remembrances from Brown’s daughter, Kim. Brenda Lee, who hosted the press conference in March announcing the election of Brown and his sisters, Bonnie and Maxine, to the Country Music Hall of Fame, called him “a tall and elegantly soft-spoken Southern gentleman.” Lee toured with the Browns early in her career and called them her “road family” who watched “over me like a big sister.” Brown’s recording career spanned more than 55 years and included such hits as 1959’s The Three Bells and 1967’s solo smash Pop a Top. In January, Brown released IN STYLE AGAIN, his first album for 35 years.