Industry Ink: Conway Launches Show Me Festival

Tony Conway, President of CEG Live Concert Events, produced the first annual Show Me Music And Arts Festival in Springfield, Mo. last weekend (June 17-19). Among the top-name performers were Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, Train, Big & Rich, One Republic, Little Big Town, and Kellie Pickler.
• • • •
Gibson Summer Jam 2011 will take place July 23 at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville (1612 Elm Hill Pk.). Set to perform are Bachman & Turner, Gary Clark Jr., Johnny A. with Dixie Peach, The Kicks, 3 Pill Morning and A Friend Called Fire. Attendees can check out Gibson’s latest instruments and products. The event runs 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., and coincides with Summer NAMM in Nashville. Details at www.gibson.com/summerjam11.
• • • •
Songwriter Paul Overstreet received a trail marker on the Mississippi Country Music Trail earlier this month in Jackson County. Among other musical pioneers who have been honored with trail markers are Conway Twitty, Faith Hill, Jimmie Rodgers and Marty Stuart.
• • • •
Country newcomer Justin Haigh is building a team. He has signed with Jim Della Croce’s Pathfinder Management, The Bobby Roberts Company for booking, The Press Office for public relations, Ken Landry and Jason Landry at Apache Ranch Records, and Sam Cerami and Jerry Duncan for radio promotion. Haigh’s new album People Like Me was produced by Lew Curatolo, and features the single and video, “All My Best Friends (are Behind Bars),” directed by Jim Shea.

• • • •

Jake Simon

Jake Simon has joined BMI’s New York office as Associate Director, Writer/Publisher Relations. He will report to Charlie Feldman, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, New York, and Samantha Cox, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, New York. Simon joins BMI from Universal Music Publishing where he was an Administrative Assistant.
• • • •
Bluewater Music has signed Ross Wariner and Cody Uhler of Nashville’s Uncle Skeleton to a worldwide administration agreement. Uncle Skeleton, a 12-plus member outfit that includes a string and horn sections, recently performed at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Wariner and Uhler established themselves locally as innovative songwriters, musicians and producers behind popular rock bands including Kindercastle and Nahnee Bori.