Artist Updates: Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett, Jessie James Decker, Gretchen Wilson, Striking Matches

Jessie James Decker To Release Live EP

Epic Records (Sony) singer/songwriter Jessie James Decker will release her live project, Blackbird Sessions EP this Friday, June 9. Recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Blackbird Sessions features live covers of several of Decker’s favorite songs. The five-track project includes remakes of Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and Rihanna’s “Love On The Brain,” along with a stripped rendition of “Girl On The Coast” from her recently released EP, Gold.

New Gretchen Wilson Album Coming In June

Following a three-year hiatus from touring and releasing new music, Gretchen Wilson will release Ready To Get ROWDY on June 16 via Redneck Records. Wilson reunited with producer Blake Chancey, the 12-track album features Wilson’s writing credits on every song. The album is available for presale now at iTunes.

Striking Matches To Preview New Music With Nashville Shows

Two years after teaming with producer T Bone Burnett for their debut album Nothing But The Silence, and contributing nine songs to the television show Nashville, duo Striking Matches returns to Music City for two shows at The Basement, slated for June 12 and June 13, to debut new music.

This time, the duo teamed with producer Kennedy, known for work with Silver Sun Pickups, for their recently-completed sophomore album, due on Capitol Records later this year. The new album incorporates the duo’s blues and pop influences.