Dierks Bentley To Launch New Seven Peaks Music Festival In Colorado

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Dierks Bentley is gathering some of his friends and heading to the mountains over Labor Day for his new Seven Peaks Music Festival, which he announced today. Set in Buena Vista, Colorado, the new festival will converge over three days with multiple stages and a campground set in front of the awe-inspiring collegiate peaks mountain range in Buena Vista on Labor Day Weekend (Aug, 31-Sept. 2). 

Bentley will take the stage several times over the course of the weekend, and has invited friends and collaborators including Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne, Elle King, LANCO, Del McCoury, Sam Bush and The Cadillac Three as the first announced artists to play, with more set to be revealed in the coming weeks. Seven Peaks was inspired from Bentley’s love of the West, and fans can expect late-night jams, surprise guests, and activity-filled excursions during the day. The natural beauty of the site provides a perfect backdrop for a Labor Day weekend campout under the stars, and festival-goers will have multiple camping options from tents to full-sized RV accommodations.

“This is a dream come true for me. It’s no secret that I love everything about Colorado…the fans, the venues we’ve played and of course, the landscape,” Bentley said.  “We are bringing it all together with this festival. It’s our own ‘field of dreams,’ where we are putting everything we have into it, with no details overlooked, in hopes it is the ultimate festival experience. I personally will be right in there with our fans listening to best musicians, taking advantage of the unlimited outdoor opportunities including hiking, biking and playing in the river and lake…or maybe just sitting with a cold one all day in the Colorado sunshine and under the Rocky Mountain stars.”

“Seven Peaks Music Festival is something Dierks and I, along with our teams have been cooking up for a while,” said Brian O’Connell, President of Country Touring at Live Nation. “We wanted to continue to make everything about this project unique in the festival landscape, from the lineup to the setting to what fans will be able to do onsite. As soon as we stepped on the grounds in Buena Vista, we were just blown away, it feels other-worldly out there and I can’t wait for more people to get to experience that. The site is absolutely breathtaking, and we feel that we will only add to Colorado’s rich history of unreal music settings. A true country music and camping festival, developed in collaboration with Dierks, one of the most respected artists in our community, is far and away the most innovative festival projects ever taken on, and I am honored to be involved in this project!”

Three-day passes for the festival will go on-sale beginning April 20 on sevenpeaksfestival.com. Citi is the official pre-sale credit card of the Seven Peaks Music Festival, and Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, April 17 until Thursday, April 19 through Citi’s Private Pass program.

Keith Urban Reveals Track Listing, Release Date For ‘Graffiti U’

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Keith Urban will return with his new album, Graffiti U, on April 27. The 13-track album marks Urban’s ninth studio project, which includes his current single “Coming Home,” featuring Julia Michaels. The album also includes Urban’s recent hit, “Female,” which he debuted at the 2017 CMA Awards.

See the track listing for Graffiti U below:

Coming Home
Never Comin Down
Same Heart
My Wave
Parallel Line
Drop Top
Way Too Long
Horses
Gemini
Texas Time
Love The Way It Hurts (So Good)
Female
Steal My Thunder

The 58-city “GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR 2018,” kicks off on June 15th at St. Louis’s Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre.

The SteelDrivers Announce New Dates For Bonafide U.S. Tour

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The SteelDrivers have announced some new dates for their Bonafide U.S. Tour 2018. The band will hit markets like Roanoke, Raleigh, Dallas and Phoenix on the new tour, which runs through November. The band is celebrating 10 years this year since the release of their first album, and fans can can look forward to new music from them in the coming months. 

“Our dedication and determination remain intact,” says singer, songwriter and fiddler Tammy Rogers.  “I liken us to what the Rolling Stones would sound like if they played banjos, fiddles and mandolins — it’s that rock-n-roll edge played on traditional instruments and our shows continue to reflect that high-level energy and fun.”

Ticket information for the new tour dates can be found here.

SteelDrivers Tour Dates:
April 5: Lawrence, KY-Liberty Hall
April 6:    Stillwater, OK-Seretean Center Performing Arts
April 13:   Lexington, KY-Manchester Music Hall
April 14:   Lexington, KY-Manchester Music Hall
April 27:   Roanoke, VA-Jefferson Center
April 28:  Baltimore, MD-Charm City Bluegrass Festival
May 17:   Raleigh, NC-Lincoln Theatre
May 18:   Jacksonville, FL-Prohibition Kitchen
June 1:    Syria, VA-Graves Mountain Festival of Music
June 2:    Preston City, CT-Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival
June 8:     Kalamazoo, MI-Bells Garden
June 9:    W. Lafayette, LA-Tippacanoe Ampitheatre
June 14:  Marinette, WI-Porterfield Country Music Festival
June 15:    Eau Claire, WI-Blue Ox Music Festival
July 1:    New Martinsville, WV- Back Home Appalachian Festival
Aug. 3:    Princeton, WV-Chuck Mathena Center
Aug. 4:      Parsons, WV-Pickin’ In Parsons
Aug. 17:    Pelham, TN-The Caverns
Aug. 23:  Asheville, NC-Orange Peel
Aug. 24:  Asheville, NC-Orange Peel
Sept. 21:  High Point, NC-High Point Theatre
Sept. 26:  Sellersville, PA-Sellersville Theatre
Sept. 27:  Wilmington, DE-The Queen
Oct. 4:   Alexandria, VA-Birchmere
Oct. 5:  Alexandria, VA-Birchmere
Oct. 6:    Manteo, NC-Bluegrass Island
Oct. 11:  Austin, TX-One World Theatre
Oct. 12:  Dallas, TX-Kessler Theatre
Oct. 13: Oklahoma City, OK-Tower Theatre
Oct. 14:  Houston, TX-The Heights Theatre
Oct. 25:  Park City, UT-Egyptian Theatre
Oct. 26:  Park City, UT-Egyptian Theatre
Oct. 27:  Park City, UT-Egyptian Theatre
Nov. 2:  Modesto, CA-Gallo Center for the Arts
Nov. 3:  Phoenix, AZ-The Van Buren

Tin Pan South 2018: Night 1

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Pictured (L-R): Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley listen, as Morgan Evans performs at 3rd & Lindsley. Photo: Cooper Smith

The 26th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank kicked off this week, as more than 80 songwriters hit the stages of 10 of Nashville’s top music venues. The “you never know who might show up at Tin Pan” rule held true, as several country stars joined in for special renditions of their hits.

The “special guest” at the early 3rd & Lindsley show featuring hit writers Ashley Gorley and Chris DeStefano turned out to be Brett Young. Also appearing to perform his hit song “Kiss Somebody” was country newcomer Morgan Evans.

Produced by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the 26th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank runs from April 3-7, 2018.

Brett Young performs at 3rd & Lindsley. Photo: Cooper Smith

Chris Young (l.) and Corey Crowder (r.) closed out the Tin Pan South Songwriting Seminar on Tuesday before the festival kicked off that evening. Photo: Cooper Smith

Pictured (L-R): Aaron Eshuis, Ryan Beaver, Matt McGinn, Josh Jenkins at the Hard Rock early show stage sponsored by Mid-South Ford. Photo: Cooper Smith

Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless and Rob Crosby at Douglas Corner
Photo: NSAI

Gabe Dixon performs on the Hard Rock late show stage sponsored by Mid-South Ford. Photo: Cooper Smith

Pictured (L-R): Special guest JT Harding joined Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion and Josh Osborne on the Listening Room late show stage sponsored by Nashville Music City – Nash 103.

Given Music Publishing’s American Songwriter Show at Commodore Grille featured Gary Baker, Cassidy Lynn, Naima Adedapo, Quinn Loggins and Post Monroe.
Photo: NSAI

Pictured (L-R): Brett Jones, Angela Kaset, Mac Davis, Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless, Rob Crosby and James Dean Hicks at Douglas Corner

Kip Moore, Jason Isbell, Judah & The Lion Added To Summerfest 2018

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Numerous performers have been added to the lineup for Summerfest 2018, slated for June 27-July 1, and July 3-8 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Among the newly-announced performers are Steven Tyler, Kesha, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Billy Currington, Janelle Monae, Kip Moore, Kane Brown, Brett Young, Judah & The Lion, Trace Adkins, Hunter Hayes, Anderson East, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, High Valley, Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Wild Feathers, Phil Vassar, Devin Dawson, Walker Hayes, Chris Lane, Jimmie Allen, Little Feather, and more.

Featuring entertainment 12 hours a day for 11 days on 12 stages, with over 800 acts, Summerfest continues to earn its reputation as The World’s Largest Music Festival.

Previously-announced 2018 American Family Insurance Amphitheater headliners include Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, and Luke Combs. Dates, times and stage locations as well as additional headliners will be announced in the coming weeks.

General admission tickets are only $21 and $14 for weekday tickets (valid prior to 4:00 p.m.).

Kane Brown Earns Two RIAA Platinum Certifications

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Pictured (L-R):Producer Dann Huff, Kane Brown, Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO
Randy Goodman and EFG Management’s Martha Earls.

The Recording Industry Association of America recently honored Kane Brown with two new awards: Brown’s self-titled debut album and hit single “Heaven” both have earned official Platinum certification for reaching the one million unit threshold of total physical sales, downloads and on-demand audio and/or video stream equivalents.

“Heaven” is Brown’s third track to achieve Platinum or Multi-Platinum certification. “What Ifs” featuring Lauren Alaina became Double-Platinum in January and “Used to Love You Sober” became Platinum in February. Brown was recently awarded a Guinness World Record for becoming the first act to top five U.S. country charts simultaneously.

Brown will perform during the upcoming 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards airing live on CBS on April 15, 8/7 p.m. CT. He is also a double ACM nominee this year, up for ACM’s New Male Vocalist and Vocal Event of the Year for “What Ifs” featuring Lauren Alaina.

Thomas Rhett, Jon Pardi, Dustin Lynch Surprise At BMI Tin Pan South Show

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Pictured (L-R): Dustin Lynch, Rhett Akins, BMI’s Leslie Roberts and Jon Pardi gather backstage at 3rd and Lindsley. Photo: Erika Goldring/BMI

BMI packed out Nashville venue 3rd & Lindsley on Tuesday (April 3) for their annual Tin Pan South show. Curated by two-time BMI Songwriter of the Year Rhett Akins and 2017 BMI Icon Bob DiPiero, the show kicked off with a surprise performance from Akins and Thomas Rhett.

Akins, DiPiero, and the Warren Brothers then took the stage for a round and storytelling. Other performances from the evening included surprise guests LOCASH, Dustin Lynch, and Jon Pardi. Also making appearances were hitmaker and 2016 BMI Songwriter of the Year Rodney Clawson as well as newcomer Parker Welling, who just celebrated her first No. 1 single.

BMI’s Leslie Roberts hosted the evening, stating from stage that the performers that evening had a combined total of 45 No. 1 singles.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts, The Warren Brothers, Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Bob DiPiero and Parker Welling pose for a photo during BMI’s Tin Pan South show. Photo: Erika Goldring/BMI

LOCASH performs with Rhett Akins at 3rd and Lindsley Photo: Erika Goldring/BMI

Rhett Akins performs with hit songwriter Rodney Clawson. Photo: Erika Goldring/BMI

Glen Phillips Signs With Compass Records Group

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Compass Records Group, home of Colin Hay, the Infamous Stringdusters, Nicki Bluhm and others, has signed Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket) to their roster. On May 4, Compass will deliver the commercial release of Phillips’ 2016 solo album, Swallowed By The New, with the addition of a bonus track, “Nobody’s Going to Get Hurt.” Co-written with Lori McKenna, “Nobody’s Going to Get Hurt” features backing vocals from Amber Rubarth.

“Lori McKenna and I wrote ‘Nobody’s Going to Get Hurt’ at her home just outside of Boston,” Phillips says. “I’d been reading and listening to a lot of David Whyte and was taken by his assertion that heartache is the inevitable byproduct of loving anything deeply, a sign of a life well lived instead of something to be avoided. I came in with the title and an idea that the song should be entirely lies. Lori jumped in and we finished it all in under two hours. That was a good day.”

Phillips has been making music for over two decades, starting as the 14-year-old frontman of Toad the Wet Sprocket. Since then, he’s released eight albums with Toad (which collectively have sold close to 4 million units) and three as a solo artist.

Phillips will be doing an acoustic duo tour this year in support of Swallowed By The New.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
4/13 Boca Raton, FL – Private
4/14 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Broward Center
4/15 Lake Park, FL – Kelsey Theater
4/17 St. Petersburg, FL- The Hideaway Cafe
4/18 St. Augustine, FL – Original Cafe Eleven
4/20 Duluth, GA – Red Clay Music Foundry
4/21 Athens, GA – Hendershot’s
4/22 Morganton, GA – Balch Residence
4/25 Fort Collins, CO – The Armory
4/26 Boulder, CO – eTown Hall
4/28 Denver, CO – Swallow Hill
4/29 Colorado Springs, CO – Friend’s HC
5/4 Kalamazoo, MI – Bell’s Eccentric Ave
5/5 Indianapolis, IN – Private
5/6 Dayton, OH – Yellow Cab Tavern
5/7 Pittsburgh, PA – Club Cafe
5/9 Cleveland, OH – Music Box Supper Club
5/10 Ann Arbor. MI – The Ark
5/11 Cincinnati, OH – Ludlow Garage
5/12 Milwaukee, WI – Back Room @ Colectivo
5/13 Chicago, IL – City Winery
6/2 Novato, CA – HopMonk Tavern
6/3 Novato, CA – HopMonk Tavern

Report: Heather Luke To Join BMLG In Promo Role

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Heather Luke

Former Warner Bros. Rock Promotion Sr. VP Heather Luke is heading to Nashville to join Big Machine Label Group, according to a report from hitsdailydouble.com.

Luke will join Big Machine/John Varvatos Records as Sr. VP/Head of Promotion. Luke previously spent 16 years with Warner Brothers Records, before exiting in March.

Fashion designer John Varvatos and BMLG’s Scott Borchetta launched the rock music-oriented joint venture in 2017. The first artist announced for the imprint in 2017 was California-based rock band badflower.

In Pictures: Thompson Square, Blackhawk, Mickey Gilley

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Thompson Square Reveals Masterpiece At WME Preview

Pictured (L-R): Greg Oswald (WME), Shawna Thompson, John Marks (Spotify), Keifer Thompson and Shawn Pennington (Manager / Pennington Entertainment)

Country duo Thompson Square shared several tracks from their forthcoming album, Masterpiece, with friends and members of the music community on The Steps at WME on Tuesday night (April 3).

Guests were treated to just released tunes “Millionaires,” “A Love Like This,” “Let’s Do Something Stupid,” “Up in Smoke” and “Masterpiece,” with a sneak peek at “Good Day” and a performance of signature hit “Are You Gone Kiss Me Or Not,” to top off the night.

The husband-wife duo will release their first album in more than five years and third studio project, Masterpiece, on June 1.

Pictured (L-R): Greg Oswald (WME), Shawna Thompson, Christian Easterling (Tour Manager), Elton Charles (band), Shaun Spillers (monitors), R.J. Ronquillo (band), Victor Borden (band), Dale Drinkard, Anthony Rankin (band), Keifer Thompson, Abby Wells Baas (WME), Shawn Pennington (Pennington Entertainment) and Alex Sera (WME)

 

Blackhawk, The Outlaws Present Donations To Vanderbilt, MusiCares

Pictured (L-R): Stuart Dill (VUMC Director of Engagement), Dave Robbins (BlackHawk/The Outlaws), Holly Crandall (VUMC), Henry Paul (BlackHawk/The Outlaws), Dr. Douglas Johnson (VUMC), Lori Stefanski (Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund Director of Charity)

Last week in Nashville, Henry Paul and Dave Robbins, members of country group BlackHawk, as well as southern rock band The Outlaws, paid visits to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and MusiCares to deliver donations raised for each organization.

Paul and Robbins presented a $40,000 check to Vanderbilt (on behalf of BlackHawk’s “Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund”) and a $20,000 check to MusiCares (on behalf of The Outlaws’ “Fallen Outlaw Fund”).

Pictured (L-R): Debbie Carroll (MusiCares Sr. Executive Director), Henry Paul (BlackHawk/The Outlaws)

 

 Mickey Gilley Presented With Calgary White Hat

Mickey Gilley Receives Calgary White Hat

Mickey Gilley was presented the Calgary White Hat Saturday night (March 31) at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Calgary White Hat recognizes the recipient as an honorary citizen of Calgary and is a symbol of friendship and hospitality that has been bestowed upon celebrities and government officials alike since 1948. Other notable recipients include former U.S. Presidents Clinton and Bush, the Dalai Lama, Oprah and the Rolling Stones.

“It was a great honor receiving the White Hat in Calgary, just about like when I got the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it was awesome!” said Gilley.