DISClaimer: Love and Theft, The Rifters Lead Country Variety Pack

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Love-and-Theft-Whiskey-on-my-breath-CountryMusicRocks.net_We have a variety-pack of country styles today.

Keith Urban rocks. The Rifters are folky. Chris Janson has a country love ballad. Michael Martin Murphey has a cowboy song. Bonnie Bishop brings blue-eyed soul. Ray Scott portrays a smoldering outlaw. Tom Huddleston tries to channel The Hillbilly Shakespeare with an old-school sound.

Our contenders for Disc of the Day are Urban, Janson, Scott and our winners, Love and Theft.

The DisCovery Award goes to The Rifters. This New Mexico acoustic trio describes its sound as “blue-gramma-grass,” but it sounds like gently strummed contemporary country-folk to me.

THE RIFTERS/The Architecture of a Fire
Writers: D. Richmond/C. Pyle; Producer: The Rifters, Don Richmond; Publisher: none listed; Howlin’ Dog (track)
– The title tune of this trio’s current CD is a languid, hushed folk ode characterized by soft acoustic guitar/fiddle/steel/mandolin accompaniment and gentle vocal harmonies. It’s quite entrancing. Stay tuned for the even more hooky following track, “A Hundred Miles.”

Screen Shot 2016-04-21 at 9.37.04 AMEASTON CORBIN/Are You With Me
Writers: Tommy Lee James/Terry McBride/Shane McAnally; Producer: Carson Chamberlain; Publishers: Pretty Woman/Super Phonic/BMG Chyrsalis/Orbison/Turn Me On/Crazy Water/Little Blue Egg/Kobalt, BMI/ASCAP; Mercury (CDX)
-He dreams of freedom and days of joy. And he wants to know if she’s game to come along. This mid tempo outing has a juicy melody and a beefy production. Corbin’s vocal pleads, but lacks fire and desire.

KEITH URBAN/Wasted Time
Writers: Greg Wells/J. Hart/Keith Urban; Producers: Greg Wells/Keith Urban; Publishers: Firehouse Cat/BMG Gold/360/Ray Daniels/Jayded Ink/Songs of Universal/Mary Rose, ASCAP/SESAC/BMI; Capitol (CDX)
– Electronic throbbing and rocking percussion underscore Keith’s soaring tenor vocal performance. The best days of his life, he says, are summer wasted time. I get it. Sing on.

LOVE AND THEFT/Whiskey On My Breath
Writers: Stephen Barker-Liles/Adam Craig/Russell Dickerson/Mark McGuinn/Tyler Reeve/Trent Tomlinson; Producers: Josh Leo/Love and Theft; Publishers: Hate and Purchase/EMI April/Rockapop/Sony-ATV Tree/Internal Combustion/Atlas/Warner-Tamerlane/Kirbfinder’s Mucho Love/Brown Hound/Big Spaces/BootHeel/Big Mosquito/Amplified, ASCAP/BMI; Curb (CDX)
-Fabulous, stacked vocal harmonies. The stately ballad faces all the sins he’s committed. He knows he’s going to heaven anyway, but he needs to pull himself together because he doesn’t want to meet Jesus with whiskey on his breath. A terrific song, and an equally terrific performance. By all means, play this.

RAY SCOTT/High Road
Writer: Ray Scott; Producer: Dave Brainard; Publishers: Cherry Heart/Songs of Universal, BMI; DeciBel (CDX)
– As always, his ultra-masculine singing is infused with conviction and emotion. The “outlaw” lyric admits that he burns beer joints down and he’s headed straight to perdition. As a songwriter, he sure knows how to get the job done. As a recorded presence, he’s charisma on the hoof.

TOM HUDDLESTON & THE SADDLE SPRING BOYS/Hey Good Lookin’
Writer: Hank Williams; Producers: Rodney Crowell, G. Marq Roswell, Carter Little & Ray Kennedy; Publishers: none listed; Legacy (track)
– The new I Saw the Light bio flick is getting lukewarm reviews. But everyone seems to agree that Huddleston’s acting nails Hank Williams’ personality. As a singer, he lacks the pinched-nerve hillbilly soul of Hank. But The Saddle Spring Boys have The Drifting Cowboys’ sound down to a T.

Bonnie BishopBONNIE BISHOP/Not Cause I Wanted To
Writers: Al Anderson/Bonnie Bishop; Producer: Dave Cobb; Publishers: none listed; BB/Thirty Tigers
-This longtime Music Row favorite has teamed up with red-hot producer Dave Cobb for her latest CD, Ain’t Who I Was. It includes a version of her song that won a Grammy for Bonnie Raitt in 2012. I love her slightly sandpapery style and aching phrasing. Jimmy Wallace’s organ sighs mournfully in the background.

CHRIS JANSON/Holdin’ Her
Writers: Chris Janson/James Otto; Producer: Byron Gallimore; Publishers: Red Vinyl/Buckkilla/Words & Music/Songs of Universal, BMI; Warner Bros.
-A rounder is on the wrong path. But he’s saved by a good woman’s love. This country ballad has a slow-burn vibe that heats up into a bonfire of passion. What a performance.

LILI BELLE/Angel
Writer: Lili Belle; Producer: none listed; Publisher: lili Belle, BMI; LB (track)
– The title song of this artist’s debut EP is a sweet, lilting gospel tune. She sings with an excellent clarity, and at just age 22, she is clearly already on the right path as a writer. The steel-laced production is nicely soft and subtle. For a taste of how she fares on a country tempo tune, check out “A Guy Like That.”

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY/Campfire on the Road
Writers: John Robert Williamson; Producer: Bobby Blazier; Publisher: none listed, APRA/Emusic PTY LLD; Murphey Kinship
-Murphey’s seventh Western-song collection is titled High Stakes. It includes this lovely Australian cowboy ballad that echoes the style of the late John Denver. The beauty of the great outdoors is something I never tire of hearing poets and songwriters convey. This one’s a keeper.

Michael Martin Murphey

Michael Martin Murphey

Merle Haggard Gets ACCA Salute From Toby Keith, Matthew McConaughey

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merle

Toby Keith will perform a tribute to Merle Haggard following an introduction by Matthew McConaughey on the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards.

The ceremony will air live from The Forum in Inglewood, California, on May 1 on FOX.

Haggard’s longtime back-up band, The Strangers, will join Keith as part of this performance. In addition, Haggard’s widow, Theresa, will be in attendance along with other members of the Haggard family, including son Ben, who also will perform with The Strangers.

Keith joins previously-announced performers Kelsea Ballerini, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Cam, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Martina McBride, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell and Carrie Underwood.

Rounder Announces Albums By The Earls Of Leicester, The Lonely Heartstring Band

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The Earls of Leicester
Rounder Records will release new albums by Grammy-winning bluegrass band The Earls of Leicester and Boston bluegrass ensemble The Lonely Heartstring Band this summer.

Scheduled for July 15, Rattle & Roar is the follow-up to the Earls’ self-titled debut, which inspired critical accolades and earned a Grammy award for Best Bluegrass Album. The band also went on to win six International Bluegrass Music Association awards, including the coveted Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year honors.

With Rattle & Roar, the Earls — Barry Bales, Shawn Camp, Charlie Cushman, Jerry Douglas, Johnny Warren, and Jeff White — have conjured up a fresh batch of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs songs, including “The Train That Carried My Girl From Town” and “All I Want Is You.” The project was produced by Douglas. The band will perform at MerleFest, Stagecoach, DelFest and many other festivals this year.

The Lonely Heartstring Band

The Lonely Heartstring Band is set to release their debut album, Deep Waters, on June 3. It was co-produced by The Lonely Heartstring Band and David Travers-Smith, with co-production by Gary Paczosa on the tracks “Graceland” and “The Road’s Salvation.”

Four of the five band members of The Lonely Heartstring Band met while students at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. They are the winners of the 2015 International Bluegrass Music Association’s Momentum Award, and feature Charles Clements (bass & vocals), George Clements (guitar & lead vocals), Gabe Hirshfeld (banjo), Patrick M’Gonigle (fiddle, vocals), and Matt Witler (mandolin).

The band unites traditional bluegrass with contemporary songwriting, and has already earned praise from respected members of the bluegrass community. Banjo legend Tony Trischka says, “These Heartstring Boys have carved out a fresh niche in modern bluegrass. They adhere to the traditional format but take everything two steps forward. Their roots are clear and so is their path to the future. They’re in a class by themselves.”

National Music Council To Honor Opry, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris

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National Music Council LogoThe National Music Council will bring its American Eagle Awards presentation to Nashville for a second year on Saturday, June 25. This year, Emmylou Harris and Vince Gill will be honored, along with the Grand Ole Opry.

The Eagle Awards are presented each year in national celebration of an individual’s or an organization’s long-term contribution to America’s musical culture and heritage. This year’s event will mark the 33rd year of formal presentations of the awards.

Past American Eagle Award recipients include Kris Kristofferson, Roy Clark, The Oak Ridge Boys, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Clive Davis, Van Cliburn, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, Morton Gould, Dave Brubeck, Marian Anderson, Jim Halsey, Lena Horne, Elliott Carter, Roberta Peters, Odetta, Sherman Halsey, Stephen Sondheim, Sesame Street, Hard Rock Cafe, Music Makes Us, and VH-1 Save the Music Foundation.

The National Music Council was founded in 1940. Its initial membership of 13 has grown to almost 50 national music organizations, encompassing every important form of professional and commercial musical activity.

The Eagle Awards will be presented on June 25 at 1 p.m. at the Nashville Music City Center’s Davidson Ballroom, as part of the Summer NAMM show.

Brothers Osborne Make Grand Ole Opry Debut

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Pictured (L-R): Steve Buchanan, Opry Entertainment Group President; TJ Osborne; John Osborne; Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry VP/GM. Photo: Rachael Black for the Grand Ole Opry

Pictured (L-R): Steve Buchanan, Opry Entertainment Group President; TJ Osborne; John Osborne; Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry VP/GM. Photo: Rachael Black for the Grand Ole Opry

EMI Nashville’s Brothers Osborne made their debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night (April 19).

They performed their brand new single, “21 Summer,” and the gold-certified, Grammy-nominated No.1 hit, “Stay A Little Longer,” both from their debut album, Pawn Shop.

“We fulfilled a lifelong dream last night,” TJ Osborne said. “Standing in that circle as many have done before was one of the highest honors we’ve ever been given.” John Osborne noted, “You could almost feel the ghosts resonating out of the oak. We will never take that night for granted.”

The Maryland natives will next perform at Jazzfest in New Orleans before hitting the road as part of Miranda Lambert’s Keeper Of The Flame Tour.

Upcoming appearances include Florida Country Superfest in Daytona and Dylan Fest at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

SESAC Pop Awards Draw Nashville Interest

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Ellen Truley and Marcie Allen

Ellen Truley and Marcie Allen

Nashville music executives were front and center at SESAC’s Pop Awards on Monday evening, April 18, at New York’s historic Cipriani.

Marcie Allen, President of music sponsorship and activation agency, MAC Presents, joined SESAC Senior Vice President Ellen Truley on the red carpet prior to the awards dinner. SESAC Executive Vice President Dennis Lord also attended the gala function.

The awards honored the top songwriters and publishers in the pop, urban and rock music genres and drew over 450 writers, publishers and other music industry tastemakers.

Jimmy Napes accepted awards for Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year (“I’m Not the Only One”). Universal Tunes was named Publisher of the Year.

The awards featured performances from American Idol winner Nick Fradiani, who sang his hit, “Beautiful Life,” and Academy Award-nominated actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld who performed “Love Myself.”

SESAC's Linda Lorence Critelli and Jamie Dominguez, SESAC Songwriter of the Year Jimmy Napes, SESAC's Dennis Lord and Trevor Gale.

SESAC’s Linda Lorence Critelli and Jamie Dominguez, SESAC Songwriter of the Year Jimmy Napes, SESAC’s Dennis Lord and Trevor Gale.

James Robert Webb Releases ‘Pictures’ On Bison Creek Records

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James Robert Webb album

Country singer/songwriter James Robert Webb has released the Bison Creek Records project Pictures, featuring the single, “How That Feels.” The 11-track album was co-produced by Webb and songwriter/musician Daniel Kleindienst.

“When I started making this album two years ago, I had a couple of goals. I wanted to make this a full-length album with enough songs about real life so that fans can really hear who I am as an artist and writer. Above all else, I wanted the soul of this album to be and to sound country,” Webb explains.

He adds, “It has been an inspiring journey and I have to thank God, my fans and my family for it. I’m thunderstruck to think that as an indie artist, I have already debuted on Billboard and had a top 40 hit at MusicRow [CountryBreakout Chart]. To me that’s pretty astonishing. If it wasn’t for the radio stations playing and fans requesting the songs, I wouldn’t have the amazing success we’ve already been blessed with.”

The Tulsa-based singer is also a physician. He established MusicCan, a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation designed to support music education among children and strengthen his longtime commitment of giving back.

Track Listing for Pictures:

1. “Party In The Barn”
2. “Makin’ Love Tonight”
3. “Absotively Posilutely”
4. “1865”
5. “Pictures”
6. “Put It In Drive”
7. “Book Of Me”
8. “All I See”
9. “Daddy Made A Million”
10. ” Know You”
11. “How That Feels”

Dan + Shay To Release Sophomore Album On June 3

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Dan+Shay

Dan+Shay

Duo Dan + Shay will released their sophomore album, Obsessed, on June 3 via Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville.

“The idea for the album title, Obsessed, came directly from our fans,” shares Dan Smyers.

“Our fans know we live on social media both when we’re in and out of the studio, and we started noticing that hashtag ‘#obsessed’ being tagged in all our fans’ posts when we first revealed our single, ‘From The Ground Up,’” Shay Mooney adds. “So when it came time to pick a title for this album, it seemed pretty appropriate that we’re even more obsessed with making music for our fans than they are to hear it.”

“From The Ground Up,” the first single off of Obsessed, is Top 30 on country radio and climbing. Written by the pair along with Chris DeStefano and co-produced by Smyers and Scott Hendricks, the track has already accumulated more than 8 million streams.

Earlier this month, the duo earned American Country Countdown Award nominations for Group/Duo of the Year and Breakthrough Group/Duo of the Year, as well as a nod from the Radio Disney Music Awards for their No. 1 hit single, “Nothin’ Like You.” With their debut album, Where It All Began, producing three Top 40 singles, Dan + Shay have sold an excess of 1.6 million tracks, over 400,000 album equivalents and racked up more 140 million streams in addition to their 30 million YouTube views. They also earned platinum certification from the RIAA for their debut single, “19 You + Me.”

MusicRow magazine, which named the pair one of their Next Big Thing artists of 2016, declared, “Dan + Shay are equipped to be superstars, possessing the unbeatable combination of musical talent, good looks and outgoing charm.”

Dan + Shay are currently on the road and will join Darius Rucker on his Good for a Good Time Tour this summer, kicking off on June 3 in Tampa, Florida.

CMA Music Festival Reveals Lineup For Free Concerts

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2016-CMAMusicFestival-Logo-Badge-4CThe lineup of performers for the series of free concerts at The Park Stage at Nashville’s Walk of Fame Park during CMA Music Festival has been revealed. More than 40 artists will perform during the free concerts on June 9-12, beginning Thursday, June 9 at 10:30 a.m. and running each day until approximately 5 p.m.

Confirmed artists include: Lauren Alaina, Keith Anderson, Drew Baldridge, Tucker Beathard, Big Smo, Kristian Bush, Ashley Campbell, Chris Carmack, Jason Michael Carroll, Russell Dickerson, Drake White and the Big Fire, Clare Dunn, Lindsay Ell, Emerson Drive, Andy Griggs, Halfway to Hazard, Ty Herndon, JT Hodges, Jack Ingram, Ryan Kinder, Natalie Stovall and The Drive, Native Run, Mo Pitney, RaeLynn, Julie Roberts, Maggie Rose, Lucie Silvas, Jamie Lynn Spears, The Swon Brothers, Josh Thompson, Tara Thompson, Chuck Wicks, Mark Wills, and Brett Young.

Also joining the lineup with their debut performances at CMA Fest are Luke Combs, Crowder, Mickey Guyton, Aubrie Sellers, and The Sheepdogs.

This year, video screens will return as part of The Park Stage experience, allowing fans a closer view of the performers.

“We consistently seek to improve the experience for fans at CMA Music Festival. This year The Park Stage will feature a new configuration to accompany the video walls and state of the art production,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “The Park Stage has always been a fan favorite and with this year’s lineup we are taking it to the next level.”

Cast Of ABC’s ‘Nashville’ Now Touring U.S.

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The cast of ABC's Nashville performs in concert. Photo: Chris Hollo

The cast of ABC’s Nashville performs in concert. Photo: Chris Hollo

Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack and Charles Esten of ABC’s Nashville are currently touring the U.S., with fellow cast members Will Chase, Jonathan Jackson and Aubrey Peeples joining the tour in select cities.

The tour is produced by Opry Entertainment. Although no Nashville dates are on the tour, the schedule will run through May 7 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The tour will head overseas for its first-ever international run in mid-June. Due to demand, additional London dates were added to its sold-out schedule. The international shows feature cast members Bowen, Carmack, Esten and Sam Palladio. Jackson joins for the show in Dublin.

The cast of ABC's 'Nashville' performs. Photo: Chris Hollo

The cast of ABC’s ‘Nashville’ performs. Photo: Chris Hollo

Nashville In Concert Tour Dates:

April 21: Tulsa, Okla.; Brady Theater
April 23: Grand Prairie, Texas; Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
April 24: Austin, Texas; The Moody Theater
April 25: Houston; Revention Music Center
April 27: Atlanta; Fox Theatre
April 28: Clearwater, Fla.; Ruth Eckerd Hall
April 30: Rosemont, Ill.; Rosemont Theatre

May 1: Detroit; Fox Theatre
May 3: Washington; DAR Constitution Hall
May 5: New York; The Theater at MSG
May 6: Boston; Wang Theatre
May 7: Uncasville, Conn.; Mohegan Sun Arena

June 13: Manchester; Bridgewater Hall
June 14: Birmingham; Birmingham Symphony
June 16: Glasgow; Glasgow Clyde Auditorium
June 17: Bristol; Bristol Colston Hall
June 18: London; London Eventim Apollo Hammersmith (matinee)
June 18: London; London Eventim Apollo Hammersmith
June 19: London; London Eventim Apollo Hammersmith
June 20: Dublin; 3Arena