Artist Updates (3-5-13)

The Band Perry’s single, “Better Dig Two,” has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The song is the first single from the trio’s Pioneer album, to be released April 2.

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George Strait‘s The Cowboy Rides Away Tour debuted at No. 1 atop Pollstar’s Concert Pulse, besting artists including Justin Bieber, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Dave Matthews Band and The Who. Martina McBride has joined Strait for the tour, which has already sold out 15 venues.

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Little Big Town and Hunter Hayes will headline the Blue Ridge Music Festival, to be held June 1 in Salem, Va. Additional performers will include Gloriana, Nashville star Charles Esten (Deacon Claybourne), Colt Ford, Greg Bates and more.

The Blue Ridge Music Festival will be held at the Salem Stadium. General admission tickets are available for $35 at the Salem Civic Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations, or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000. There are also a limited number of VIP tickets available for $99.50.

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Alan Jackson will release Precious Memories Volume II on March 26. The album is a follow-up to his 2006 album Precious Memories. Songs featured on Volume II include “Amazing Grace,” “He Lives,” “Just As I Am,” “O How I Love Jesus,” “There Is Power In The Blood” and “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” among others.

“Denise and I had made a list of 30 to 40 songs to do for that first album,” Jackson says. “We had so many that we didn’t get to, I thought we’d go in and do a few more just the same way – heartfelt and simple.”

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Ashley Monroe and new Nashville-based group Striking Matches will perform for a South by Southwest (SXSW) showcase in Austin on March 11. The event, presented by CMT, VH1 and MTV, will be held at the Control Room in Austin. Also performing on the bill are Guards, ZZ WArd, Elle King and Youngblood Hawke.

General admission tickets will be available for the show, though SXSW badge holders will be admitted free of charge.