Thomas Rhett, Eric Church, Carrie Underwood and more bring their best
Rain didn’t stop the music
Jordan Davis entertains at the Chevy Riverfront Stage. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
The Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater was packed with fans at a sold-out show headlined by Brett Young. Meanwhile, Chevy Riverfront Stage was filled with capacity crowds for three back-to-back performances. These included Jordan Davis,The Voice alumni Morgan Wallen and Hunter Hayes’ set.
Elvie Shane performs at the Chevy Riverfront Stage. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
More Enthusiastic fans were cheering on Elvie Shane (BBR’s newest signee) and former American Idol alumni and country sweetheart Lauren Alaina. Fans were singing along to their favorite songs throughout the sets.
LOCASH also had the crowd singing along at the Radio Disney Country Stage and CMA KixStart Artist Scholarship recipient Travis Denning brought the energy to the Chevy Breakout Stage at Walk of Fame Park.
When the 2019 CMA Fest got under way on Thursday, June 06, country music fans were fired up and ready for almost 100 performances on eleven stages across downtown Nashville.
Jimmie Allen performs at CMA Fest. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
Now in its 48th year, the annual CMA Fest began as Fan Fair in 1972, initially staged at the Municipal Auditorium. the festival moved to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in 1982. Fan Fair became the extravaganza we know it today when it was officially renamed the CMA Music Festival in 2004 and by then it was expanding to more venues including Bridgestone Arena, Riverfront Park and what is now Nissan Stadium. The name was later shortened to CMA Fest, attracting fans from 40+ countries every year.
Trisha Yearwood show featured songwriters
On Day One of the festival, fans were treated to performances from many of their favorite artists with music from morning to night. Trisha Yearwood opened the CMA Close Up Stage for Thursday’s special Artist of the Day session at Xfinity Fan Fair X (an event named to honor the festival’s original title) with songwriters featured on her forthcoming album including Ashley McBryde, Karyn Rochelle and Lucie Silvas. The venue also featured ‘meet and greets’ and prize giveaways.
Michael Ray on stage during Day One of CMA Fest. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
Randy Houser and Chase Rice headlined the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater Presented by BBR Music Group. Also on stage were Warner Brothers artist Michael Ray and BBR Music Group’s Jimmie Allen and super guitarist and talent Lindsey Ell.
Lindsay Ell shreds during CMA Fest. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
Vince Gill, Brett Young, Garth, Chris Young and more in June column
The June edition of my column, “Inside Track on Music Row,” is now available! The column is published monthly at Nashville Music Guide’s website. You can find copies of the print edition of June’s NMG at many music venues throughout Nashville.
You can read a free PDF version of the entire print edition of the magazine here. NMG is full of music news, reviews and info. My column appears on pages 29 through 36.
Inside Track is the longest-running monthly country music column in America. The June column features dozens of news items about new releases, upcoming tours and more.
Among this month’s music news items…
New Vince Album set to drop in August
Brett Young launches Acoustic Sessions videos
John Paul White is The Hurting Kind
Zach Stone offers “Hands On” track
and much more in my seven page column of music news at Nashville Music Guide
New Vince Album set to drop in August
ALBUM NEWS: Vince Gill is set to release his new album, ‘Okie,’ on Aug. 23. The word ‘Okie’ was once a derogatory term to refer to inhabitants of Oklahoma who migrated to the west coast as a result of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Gill is an Oklahoma native and has proudly appropriated the term for the upcoming album that embraces his Oklahoma roots. Gill wrote or co-wrote all 12 tracks on the album. “I thought this was going to be a songwriter record, not a concept album,” Gill says. “It wound up being more information than I’d envisioned.” Continue reading “June ‘Inside Track’ ready to read”
Set for June 06 – 09 June in Nashville with 11 official stages
The annual CMA Fest is set for Thursday June 06 through Sunday June 09, and Nashville will welcome many country music fans from every state plus Europe and the rest of the world. Full details are available here.
Artist lineups announced
The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Now in its 48th year, the legendary festival has become the city’s signature Country Music event that hosts tens of thousands of fans from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and 36 international countries.
In 2018, CMA Fest featured 11 official stages with hundreds of artists performing—all to benefit music education. CMA Fest is a one-of-a-kind festival with artists donating their time to perform so ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music programs across the country through the CMA Foundation.
Fans enjoy last year’s CMA Fest
CMA Fest has revealed the lineups for three daytime stages that are free to the public during the four-day festival in June. Chevy Breakout Stage at Walk of Fame Park, Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza and Nashville Acoustic Corner Stage will feature over 110 performances Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9, highlighting fan favorites and rising Country stars daily. Continue reading “CMA Fest 2019 welcomes country music fans from all over the world”
Sammy Sadler was an emerging artist in the late 1980s on the brink of a successful career with a record deal at Evergreen Records. He was full of optimism and high hopes when he and his friend Kevin Hughes were walking along Music Row in Nashville on March 9, 1989.
Hughes was a chart researcher at Cash Box magazine. While still a student at Belmont University, he had worked as an unpaid intern before being put on the magazine’s payroll by Richard “Tony” D’Antonio, Cash Box’s director of Nashville operations.
Hughes had become suspicious that money was changing hands in order to push certain records up the charts. He had voiced his concerns to friends and family and was considering leaving Music City and returning home to Illinois.
Kyndon Oakes, Mark Vikingstad and Michael Boris make up the trio known as Lockeland. They were drawn to Nashville by their mutual love of music and have been writing and performing together now for several years.
Lockeland
Each brings a unique music vibe that blends them together as a trio. Kyndon began singing alongside family members before moving to Nashville in 2009, originally to pursue a solo career. Mark says he joined his high school band “because chicks dig it.” He moved to Music City just days after receiving his BA diploma in Music Business from SUNY Fredonia. Michael grew up in Apalachin, NY, but moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University, graduating with a degree in Commercial Music Percussion.
Til The Cows Come Home
Together they create a three-part harmony that gives them a unique edge in the world of contemporary country music.
They are about to break out with their infectious debut single, “Til The Cows Come Home,” released March 8, 2019. Check out their website here.
A couple of days before Country Radio Seminar (CRS) hit town, we met up to talk about their new single and how they make music together.
Trio ‘locked in the land’
How did you come up with the group name Lockeland?
Kyndon: When we came together to form the group, we were trying to come up with a name and we kept texting each other with all these different names that we thought would work best. We fell on Lockeland just by chance. Mark and Michael are from New York and I’m from Kansas, and we ‘locked the land’ in between and met in Nashville. Plus it helps that Nashville is landlocked, so we settled on Lockeland.
Looking at your set list, it seems you’re open to playing music from a lot of different genres. What do you think of as your musical influences?
Michael: That’s one of the very cool things I love about this band because we all come from very diverse musical backgrounds. I started playing drums when I was eleven. I played a lot of ‘fife and drum core’ stuff. Then I moved into classical music, then I started listening to hard rock and a lot of punk, stuff like that. When I moved to Nashville, I simply hadn’t listened to a whole lot of Country. But when I moved here eleven years ago, I gave it a try and I was like, “You know what? There’s a lot of really great music here.” So there’s honestly not a music genre that I, personally, don’t like. I love R&B, rock, funk, country. I think that’s kind of the same for all of us.
“When people come up to you after the show and they’re talking to you and giving you that feedback, that’s when you know you’ve had a good show. You can feel that. You can feel the energy. They’re singing along, they’re clapping along, they’re in it.” – Kyndon Oakes
When Blake Shelton likes you, he shows his love with a kiss.
L to R: Unidentified, Blake Shelton, Eddie Haskell, Unidentified. Can you help I.D. these guys? Photo: Preshias HarrisDierks presents award to Blake. Photo: Catrina Engleby / Nashville Music Guide
During the Warner Music Nashville “Warner Wednesday” luncheon, part of this year’s Country Radio Seminar (CRS), Blake was presented with the CRS Artist Humanitarian Award. He received the award from last year’s recipient, Dierks Bentley.
“I scratched my name off,” said Dierks as he handed over the Award. “It’s all yours.”
Accepting the award, Blake pulled Dierks in close and planted a big kiss on his forehead.
Who ARE those radio guys?
But this wasn’t the first time Blake has surprised someone at CRS with a kiss. Back in 2003, I caught up with Blake at that year’s CRS. It was then held at Nashville’s Renaissance Hotel and the ‘old’ Convention Center. As we talked, three country radio air personalities joined us. The guys all moved in close for the photo, and that’s when Blake planted one on the guy next to him!
So I know that Blake is the kisser. But who is the kissee? Take a look at the photo above. I have lost my notes from that day and I need your help!
I know that the curly-haired gent to Blake’s left is Eddie Haskell, now Senior VP / Programming for iHeartMedia, Ft Collins, CO. Eddie was previously Program Director at KYGO-FM 98.5 Denver, CO.
But who are the other two fellers, both the ‘kissee’ far left, and the fourth man, far right?
C’mon, air personalities and radio biz people; help me out here and I’ll send you a little ‘thank you’ gift and post the correct photo I.D. (and your name) in a post at www.nashvillemusicline.com
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
Cole Swindell recently celebrated his eighth No.1 single as an artist. “Break Up In The End” was written by Chase McGill, Jessie Jo Dillon and Jon Nite, and produced by Michael Carter. The No. 1 party was hosted by ASCAP and BMI at The Topgolf in Nashville.
(L to R): Chase McGill, Jessie Jo Dillon, Cole Swindell, Jon Nite. Photo credit: Steve Lowry
Both McGill and Nite have had successful, award-winning careers as songwriters, but “Break Up In The End” was the first No. 1 for Dillon, who was presented with a Taylor guitar to mark the accomplishment. The presentation was made by BMI’s Leslie Roberts.
This No. 1 was an ‘outside song’
Swindell was commended for going with an ‘outside’ song; that is, a song that he did not write or co-write himself, although he is known as a successful songwriter. Named MusicRow Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year in 2014, he has also received the CMA Triple Play Award for writing three No. 1 hits within a twelve-month period. But in the case of “Break Up In The End,” Swindell and his label chose to release a song that came from outside writers. (As it happens, Swindell has written previously with Jessie Jo Dillon, but did not know she was one of the writers of “Break Up” when he heard the demo.)
During the presentation, Warner Nashville’s John Esposito noted that Swindell is the only artist to have ever topped Country Aircheck’s chart with his first seven singles, prior to this his eighth No. 1. Esposito presented Swindell with an RIAA Gold plaque, adding that the Platinum plaque “is on the way.”
On February 11, it was time for Mitchell Tenpenny to celebrate at a No. 1 party for “Drunk Me.” The song was written by Tenpenny with Jordan Schmidt and Justin Wilson. The party, co-hosted by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC was held at the Tin Roof in Nashville.
“Drunk Me” is Tenpenny’s debut single from his debut album, “Telling All My Secrets,” released in February 2018. Tenpenny was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in music business. Continue reading “Cole Swindell, Mitchell Tenpenny celebrate Number One hits”
February ‘Inside Track on Music Row’ ready to read now
Nashville Music Guide, February 2019
Just in time for Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2019, the February issue of Nashville Music Guide is now available with a special print edition in addition to the online version.
Click here, then click on the picture of the February cover. You can then read the entire magazine on any device. My column, ‘Inside Track on Music Row,’ appears on pages 25 through 35, with plenty of full-color photos.
You can also pick up a print copy at Nashville music venues and at CRS, taking place at the Omni Hotel, Nashville, February 13 through 15.
Meanwhile here are just a few of the items in my February column. Read the full column at NMG!
Randy Houser’s new album ‘Magnolia’ marks new era
Bluebird Café’s 37thyear as Nashville icon
Marshall Tucker Band: no sign of slowing down
Marty Brown signs with Plowboy Records
TG Sheppard: “I Wanna Live Like Elvis”
Scroll down to read these brief excerpts, then check out the entire column at Nashville Music Guide.
ALBUM NEWS
Randy Houser’s highly anticipated new album, ‘Magnolia’, is now available to stream in its entirety via NPR Music’s First Listen. Houser performed his favorite song from the album, “No Stone Unturned” on Good Morning America in January, and has been making appearances in Nashville, Los Angeles, New York City, Dallas, Houston, New York City (again) and Baltimore in support of the new album including performances on Sirius XM Play, iHeart Radio Theater and NASH FM.
This album marks a new era for Randy. Feeling impassionate, Houser opted to slow things down and set up camp in his good buddy and co-producer Gattis’ studio in East Nashville to recalibrate and rediscover his passion for creating music. He spent nearly two years fully invested in his songwriting which resulted in ‘Magnolia’ and a new sound that is un-polished yet authentically Houser. Continue reading “Nashville Music Guide Special CRS edition”
‘Inside Track on Music Row,’ my monthly music news column appears in Nashville Music Guide. The February edition will drop any day soon – a special edition for Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2019. Here are some Country news items that just missed the NMG print deadline. Check back here later for an excerpt from the February column and a link to it at NMG.
Garth Brooks’ new album: a FUN project
Ray Stevens: 60 years in music
John Berry asks for prayers, God’s healing
Maxine Brown passes
Scroll down to read these news items
Garth Brooks’ new album: a FUN project
Garth Brooks Inside Studio G
Garth Brooks revealed the title of his upcoming studio album is FUN. Garth divulged the information during “Inside Studio G,” a weekly Facebook Live series airing every Monday on Garth’s Facebook page at 7:00 PM EST. Garth fans have been given a teaser of what to expect from his anticipated studio album, with Garth releasing “All Day Long.” The much-awaited record is available to preorder now.
“The title of the album was sparked because making it has been such a fun process to go through,” explained Garth. “Being able to go in and out of the studio while being on the tour, working with the same guys, it’s been amazing. The album will be available this spring and I want the fans to just have fun with this, because that’s what this has been.” More at Garth’s website and Facebook page.
