Smoking Country Gets Fightin' Hot

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Tracy Lawrence


The Smokin’ Country Concert (8/5,6,7) in Bloomville, Ohio got a bit hotter than promoters imagined after rain, mud and a stuck bus contributed to a fistfight between Tracy Lawrence and promoter Elmer Cole Jr. who also owns Cole Farms, the concert site.
According to the Advertiser-Tribune, “Seneca County Sheriff Bill Eckelberry said there was a misunderstanding between Elmer Cole Jr., the concert’s promoter, and Tracy Lawrence, one of the performers.”
Both Cole and Lawrence were charged with disorderly conduct, taken to Mercy Tiffin Hospital and released. According to one witness, there were problems getting Lawrence’s bus out of the mud right away which may have been what sparked the fight.
The venue is said to hold up to 30,000 people, but estimated ticket sales were pegged below 5,000. Rain forced Lawrence to cancel the last song in his set and Randy Houser, scheduled to perform after Lawrence, was canceled completely.
 

Photos: Xtreme Muzik, Nichols, Gentry, Angels

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Xtreme Muzik The Tour, starring co-headliners Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich, has seen parades, gunslingers, gamblers and outlaws in addition to their thousands of fans.
The tour was the first to play the newly opened Deadwood Mountain Grand Casino and Event Center and sold out two nights that started with a parade down Main Street. Gretchen drove her own John Deere Gator in the parade, John Rich and Big Kenny were on horseback, and special guest Cowboy Troy led the high school marching band.

(L-R): Big Kenny, Cowboy Troy, Gretchen Wilson and John Rich take a bow after their second sold-out show at Deadwood Mountain Grand.


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Joe Nichols (L) and video director Potsy Ponciroli (R) share a fist bump during a break in filming.


Joe Nichols recently took over part of downtown Nashville for a video shoot, changing the ‘business as usual’ scene to bikini clad women, a tiki bar and a swimming pool as the Show Dog – Universal Music artist encouraged everyone to “Take It Off.”
The video crew enlisted the aid of a dozen plus “business men and women.” “It was a pretty warm summer day when we shot, so I don’t think it was too hard for them to step out of those business suits, and into their bathing suits,” Nichols says. The video was directed by Potsy Ponciroli with TackleBox Films, and will begin airing this week on CMT, GAC and other music video outlets. The Top 30 and climbing song is Nichols’ lead single from his new studio album, set for release this November.
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Country music duo and USO tour veterans Montgomery Gentry delivered a foot-stomping USO concert at Louisville, Kentucky’s KFC Yum! Center on July 26. The concert coincided with the National Guard’s National Volunteer Workshop and Youth Symposium, and honored troops, military families and volunteers who support them.

The concert was broadcast live to deployed troops around the world on the Pentagon Channel. The duo performed their new single, “Where I Come From,” and gave the military crowd a sneak peak at other cuts from their upcoming album set to release in October.

Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry greet Gen. Craig McKinley, Director of the National Guard Bureau before taking stage.


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(L-R): Caroline Cutbirth, Ozzie Guillen, Jennifer Wayne and Tayla Lynn


Stealing Angels sang the national anthem recently at the Minnesota Twins vs. the Chicago White Sox game, and spent a moment with White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen.

Shelton Remakes “Footloose” For Warner Soundtrack

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Atlantic Records / Warner Music Nashville will release the movie soundtrack for the upcoming Paramount Pictures film, Footloose. Blake Shelton offers his take on the classic title song, while Victoria Justice and Hunter Hayes duet on the movie’s love theme, “Almost Paradise.” The other remakes of hits from the original soundtrack are “Holding Out For A Hero” by Ella Mae Bowen, and “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” by Jana Kramer.

Coming Sept. 27, the album includes eight new songs from Big & Rich ft. Gretchen Wilson, Cee Lo Green ft. Kenny Wayne Shepherd, The Smashing Pumpkins, David Banner, Whitney Duncan, Lissie, Zac Brown, and A Thousand Horses.

Memphis-bred writer/director Craig Brewer remade Footloose, following his success with films Hustle & Flow, and Black Snake Moan. The storyline recalls the 1984 Kevin Bacon flick, with Bacon’s part being reprised by Kenny Wormald. The new teen in the small town falls in love with Julianne Hough’s character Ariel, the daughter of Dennis Quaid’s character Reverend Shaw Moore.

Footloose Soundtrack tracklisting

1. Footloose – Blake Shelton
2. Where The River Goes – Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band
3. Little Lovin’ – Lissie
4. Holding Out For A Hero – Ella Mae Bowen
5. Let’s Hear It For The Boy – Jana Kramer
6. So Sorry Mama – Whitney Duncan
7. Fake I.D. – Big & Rich feat. Gretchen Wilson
8. Almost Paradise – Victoria Justice & Hunter Hayes
9. Walkin’ Blues – Cee Lo Green feat. Kenny Wayne Shepherd
10. Window Paine – The Smashing Pumpkins
11. Suicide Eyes – A Thousand Horses
12. Dance The Night Away – David Banner

Shelton Remakes "Footloose" For Warner Soundtrack

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Atlantic Records / Warner Music Nashville will release the movie soundtrack for the upcoming Paramount Pictures film, Footloose. Blake Shelton offers his take on the classic title song, while Victoria Justice and Hunter Hayes duet on the movie’s love theme, “Almost Paradise.” The other remakes of hits from the original soundtrack are “Holding Out For A Hero” by Ella Mae Bowen, and “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” by Jana Kramer.
Coming Sept. 27, the album includes eight new songs from Big & Rich ft. Gretchen Wilson, Cee Lo Green ft. Kenny Wayne Shepherd, The Smashing Pumpkins, David Banner, Whitney Duncan, Lissie, Zac Brown, and A Thousand Horses.

Memphis-bred writer/director Craig Brewer remade Footloose, following his success with films Hustle & Flow, and Black Snake Moan. The storyline recalls the 1984 Kevin Bacon flick, with Bacon’s part being reprised by Kenny Wormald. The new teen in the small town falls in love with Julianne Hough’s character Ariel, the daughter of Dennis Quaid’s character Reverend Shaw Moore.
Footloose Soundtrack tracklisting
1. Footloose – Blake Shelton
2. Where The River Goes – Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band
3. Little Lovin’ – Lissie
4. Holding Out For A Hero – Ella Mae Bowen
5. Let’s Hear It For The Boy – Jana Kramer
6. So Sorry Mama – Whitney Duncan
7. Fake I.D. – Big & Rich feat. Gretchen Wilson
8. Almost Paradise – Victoria Justice & Hunter Hayes
9. Walkin’ Blues – Cee Lo Green feat. Kenny Wayne Shepherd
10. Window Paine – The Smashing Pumpkins
11. Suicide Eyes – A Thousand Horses
12. Dance The Night Away – David Banner

Album News: Luke Bryan, Kevin Fowler, McClymonts

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Luke Bryan’s highly anticipated new album Tailgates & Tanlines hit stores today (8/9) and he kicked off release day by performing “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” on Live! With Regis & Kelly (pictured below). Bryan will also be performing on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! later tonight. Tomorrow (8/10), he’ll appear on the Today Show and then be featured in ABC’s special “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock” Sunday, August 14.

Photo: Michael Monaco


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Texas mainstay and Average Joe’s artist Kevin Fowler released his sixth studio album Chippin’ Away today (8/9) as his single “Hell Yeah, I Like Beer” spent a fourth week at No. 1 on the Texas Music Chart.
Fowler wrote eight of the collection’s 11 tracks and the second single, “That Girl,” will be impacting country radio later this month. A weekly web series following Fowler’s life at home and on the road, “The Good Life,” also started this week and is available for viewing here. Fowler and band are currently on the road in Texas and surrounding areas. Concert dates are available here.
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Aussie sister trio The McClymonts is set to release its new album Wrapped Up Good in the United States Tuesday, August 23.
The sisters–Sam, Mollie, and Brooke–started their own imprint BSM Music in partnership with Universal Music Group. They also recently set out on a nationwide tour of county and state fairs, having wrapped up a stint on Jason Aldean’s fall 2010 tour.
Eleven of the 12 songs on Wrapped Up Good were co-written by the sisters, and production was handled by Nathan Chapman and Adam Anders (Glee, Backstreet Boys, Nick Jonas). The Australian release of Wrapped Up Good was a Top 5 Best Selling Country Album in 2010, and its first four singles were No. 1 on the Australian country charts.

CEMB Pipeline Project Shares Findings

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Pipeline student Margaret Shehan and her adviser Grand Ole Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher.


Belmont University’s Pipeline project shared its findings with the entertainment industry last evening at a reception held at Regions Bank (8/8). The Pipeline project, an initiative of the Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business (CEMB), was created as a think tank. Some of the school’s best and brightest students were chosen to participate and charged with developing cutting edge concepts and solutions aimed at helping the entertainment industry.
The nine Pipeline students are:
Chase Geiser, a sophomore Audio Engineering Technology and Philosophy double major.
Kevin Grosch, a senior Songwriting major
Eric Guroff, a junior Entrepreneurship major and Music Business, Production minor
Ross Hill, a junior Music Business and Entrepreneurship double major
Jessica Pangrazio, a sophomore Public Relations major and Music Business minor
Kyara Rafferty, a senior Music Business major and Mass Communications minor
Lisa Sekscinski, a sophomore Political Science major and Music Business minor
Margaret Shehan, a recently graduated Music Business major
Gia Vangieri, a recently graduated Entertainment Industry Studies major and English Writing minor

(L-R) Belmont Sr. Director CEMB Initiatives Sarah Cates; Regions Bank Sr. VP Entertainment & Sports Lisa Harless; and Regions Branch Officer Ann Brock.


CEMB Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Sarah Cates, who was responsible for helping to move Pipeline from concept to reality was one of several Belmont faculty on hand. “We believe that Belmont students can be at the heart of creative solutions for the entertainment industry,” Cates said. “We are excited to encourage the next generation of innovators.”
Also instrumental in the project’s success was Assistant Professor of Entertainment Industry Studies Sarita Stewart, who is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Mass Communication with a specialization in Entertainment Media and Statistics. Stewart was the project point person and worked closely with the students. Also in attendance at the event was Belmont University President Bob Fisher and CEMB Dean Wesley A. Bulla.
Industry mentors included Jay Frank, CMT; Pete Fisher, Opry; Tim Fink, SESAC; Beth Mason Laird, BMI; Barry Jeffrey, WME; Mark Montgomery; George Flanigen, Deaton Flanigen; Joe Galante; and Wendell Moore, The Capitol Group.
 
Photos: BossRoss

Bluegrass News—IBMA Noms Coming Soon

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Nominees for the 2011 International Bluegrass Music Awards and this year’s inductees into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame will be announced on Wed., Aug. 17 at a press event hosted by Doyle Lawson, Russell Moore, Josh Williams and Sierra Hull.
Following the announcement, these artists are on that night’s line-up for a special bluegrass edition of Music City Roots at the Loveless Barn. Tickets and details at www.musiccityroots.com.
Th 2011 IBMA Awards will be presented Thurs., Sept. 29 at the Ryman Auditorium. The show is the highpoint of the IBMA’s “World of Bluegrass” week, running Sept. 26- Oct. 2, and featuring the IBMA Business Conference and Bluegrass Fan Fest. Details at ibma.org.
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Rhonda Vincent onstage at Craponne


Rhonda Vincent & The Rage have been on a successful tour in Europe, including two back-to-back sold out shows in Laufen Switzerland on July 27-28. In addition to the Swiss performances, Vincent played France’s Craponne Country Music Festival. Next week Rhonda & The Rage will give their first performance in Honolulu, Hawaii, followed by an Aug. 15 show at Pearl Harbor Memorial for the United States Military. The band returns stateside Aug. 17 at the Missouri State Fair.
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Reigning IBMA Entertainer of the Year Dailey & Vincent have added fiddle player B.J. Cherryholmes to the band. He was previously part of the Grammy-nominated group the Cherryholmes, which disbanded earlier this year.
Per doctor’s orders, former Dailey & Vincent fiddle player Jesse Stockman recently departed the band after suffering a wrist injury.
Rounding out Dailey & Vincent’s lineup are Jeff Parker on mandolin and vocals; Joe Dean, Jr. on banjo, guitar and vocals; and Christian Davis on guitar and bass vocals.

B.J. Cherryholmes

Live On The Green Returns For Third Season

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Live On the Green’s third season, presented by Lightning 100, will open Sept. 8 with a unique collaboration between Nashville-based artist K.S. Rhoads and the Nashville Symphony. The performance is the first in a free, six-week concert series taking place Thursday nights through Oct. 13 at Nashville’s Public Square Park downtown. The show kicks-off at 6 p.m. with a performance by Will Hoge.
The Nashville Symphony works with a diverse array of artists each season, but this is one of the first times it has collaborated with an emerging local singer-songwriter. Rhoads will write and chart the music for his performance, where he will play piano, guitar and harmonica. NSO Associate Conductor Kelly Corcoran will conduct the 60-piece ensemble. The performance will feature Rhoads’ original music including new songs from an EP that will be released that night.
The remaining series lineup:
Sept. 15—Los Lonely Boys; Rumba
Sept. 22—Robert Randolph & The Family Band; The Dirty Guv’nahs; Moon Taxi
Sept. 29—Ten Out of Tenn; Edwin McCain
Oct. 6—Brett Dennen; Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
Oct. 13—Here Come the Mummies
More artists will be announced as they are confirmed.

Joey+Rory, Charlie Daniels Already Hearing Jingle Bells

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It’s only August, but Joey + Rory, and Charlie Daniels are already in the holiday spirit.
Joey+Rory are prepping the Oct. 11 release of A Farmhouse Christmas, featuring 10 new holiday songs, as well as the standards “Away In A Manger” and “Blue Christmas.”
The Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records album also contains the Garth Brooks/Kent Blazy-penned “I Know What Santa’s Getting for Christmas,” the irreverent “What the Hell, It’s the Holidays,” and Rory’s beautiful original album opener “It’s Christmas Time.”
Christmas at the beach sounds appealing on “Let It Snow (Somewhere Else),” and fittingly Joey+Rory wrote it with James Slater and Tim Johnson at the Key West Songwriters Festival. The husband-wife duo also cut Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December” and recruited the Hag for guest vocals.
A Farmhouse Christmas was produced by Gary Paczosa and Carl Jackson, and an accompanying tour is in the works.
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Charlie Daniels has tapped Phil Vasser and Sawyer Brown to join him at his 10th annual Christmas 4 Kids benefit concert. The show is set for Monday, Nov. 21 at the Ryman Auditorium.
The funds generated by the concert, and a separate Tour Bus Show/Artist Meet and Greet event, are used to give over 400 children a special holiday shopping excursion. On the trip, the kids enjoy a tour bus ride, a Walmart shopping spree, new coat, and a party hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Tickets for the concert will be available Sept. 15 at www.Christmas4kids.org.

Celebrating Writer/Publisher Highlights

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The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) has established a Nashville chapter that will operate in tandem with existing bases in Los Angeles and New York. “We are very excited to have Nashville become a valuable part of our organization,” said AIMP President Richard Feldman, in making the announcement. “With encouragement from publishers here in Nashville, and the overwhelming success of our recent panel on licensing songs for film and TV, there has never been a better time to bring the AIMP to Music City. We believe that the large and diverse music community here will find value and benefits in the AIMP’s programs and advocacy initiatives.”
The Nashville chapter will be led by a steering committee until a board of directors is elected. Committee members include veteran music industry executive Jill Napier, Randy Wachtler (President, 615 Music), Walter Campbell (President, Big Garage Music Publishing), Eli Ball (CEO, Lyric Financial), Marc Driskill (VP/GM, ASCAP) and Kevin Lamb (VP, Peer Music), Ross Asher (Creative, Razor and Tie), Josh Collum (Sorted Noise Productions), Jewel Coburn (Co-president Ten Ten Music), Tim Fink (Assoc. VP Writer/Publisher Relations, Sesac), David Preston (Director Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI), Diana Maher (Owner, Moraine Music Group). Membership dues are $74 per year. For more information on AIMP or to become a member, please visit www.aimp.org

>>Songwriter Tim Nichols recently was honored with a BMI Million-Air Award for more than one million performances of “The Man I Want To Be” recorded by Chris Young. This and other Nichols compositions including “Live Like You Were Dying,” and “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” bring his airplay total to more than 30 million spins.

(L-R) BMI’s Clay Bradley, Tim Nichols, This Music’s Connie Harrington and Rusty Gaston, and BMI’s Bradley Collins. Photo: Drew Maynard


 
Dallas Davidson is likely getting used to the view from the top of the charts. Recently he celebrated Justin Moore’s “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” and scant weeks later he’s now parked again in the top spot with his eighth No. 1, Lady Antebellum’s “Just A Kiss.” Davidson is the 2010 Billboard Hot Country Songwriter of the Year and writes for EMI Music.
 
 
 
Big Machine Records and ASCAP celebrated Rascal Flatts’ latest No. 1, “I Won’t Let Go.” The song was written by Jason Sellers and Steve Robson. Also honored were publishers BMG Chrysalis and Sony/ATV. It’s Seller’s second No. 1 this year after “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” Rascal Flatts producer Dann Huff was also recognized along with the band with the announcement that the new album Nothing Like This had been certified Platinum.

(L-R): Jason Sellers, Jay DeMarcus, ASCAP's Ryan Beuschel, BMG Chrysalis' Darrell Franklin, Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney, Big Machine's Scott Borchetta, Sony/ATV's Troy Tomlinson. Photo: Ed Rode