Brothers Osborne Nashville Date Shows They’re Next Level

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Brothers Osborne surprised with Platinum plaques for No. 1 hit “Stay A Little Longer” before Nashville show. Pictured (L-R): John Osborne, UMG Nashville Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan and TJ Osborne. Photo: Reid Long

A well-seasoned Brothers Osborne took to the stage before a sold-out crowd at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works on Wednesday, Jan. 18 as the third to final show, wrapping their headlining Dirt Rich Tour.

If you consider Nashville their hometown, the last time the Maryland-native John and TJ Osborne played a full show in Music City was four years ago. That was said to be prior to their signing with EMI Records Nashville, which almost a year ago to date spawned the duo’s full-length Pawn Shop album.

Since that time, the biological brothers have advanced their performance swagger tremendously and have gone on to become the reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year, garner two nominations the past two years for Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the Grammy Awards, and make their Grand Ole Opry debut.

At Marathon Music Works, the audience remained on their feet throughout the evening to witness the duo hit home run performances of every song from Pawn Shop. Highlights included the phenomenally nostalgic “21 Summer” and their Platinum-certified “Stay A Little Longer,” both of which have received Grammy nominations.

John, TJ Osborne. Photo: Eric T. Parker

It has long been known the brothers are guitar virtuosos, but that sound has morphed into a telling narrative. With a handful of radio singles, the two have also developed an unabashed social stance. Their platform has elevated same-sex couples in music videos, their live show highlights historical nods to the assassination of President Kennedy and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during various songs, in addition to a bold-for-country-music cover of the long ostracized blue party-supporters Dixie Chicks (“Goodbye Earl”).

Further covers were tastefully made of Willie Nelson’s “Whiskey River,” John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and a bluegrass version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City.” With ease, the two played through their more unknown debut single “Let’s Go There,” and its more well-known follow-up, “Rum.”

Lucie Silvas, John and TJ Osborne. Photo: Eric T. Parker

Show opener—the soul infused sparkling bride of John Osborne—Lucie Silvas joined them onstage for “Loving Me Back” (Lee Ann Womack provided the harmony vocal on the album version). Silvas was one of two openers throughout the tour since October, trading off with the youthfully exuberant five-member group LANco.

Taking the punches as they come on the road, the brothers literally brought the house down at the Fox Theatre in Hanford, California when the venue’s roof collapsed minutes before they were scheduled to take the stage. The duo’s alternate plan was to perform on the roof of their tour bus outside.

Safe inside the Marathon complex prior to their Nashville encore, the brothers played their latest stomper single, “It Ain’t My Fault.” The title has debuted as the No. 1 most added song at country radio this week (Jan. 17), further proving the duo not only can fill concert venues but can climb the ladder of the charts. It’s sure to be a storied ride from here on out.

John, TJ Osborne. Photo: Eric T. Parker

Music City Roots Set For Big Band Performance At Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium

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Americana and roots music weekly broadcast Music City Roots is set to partner with the War Memorial Auditorium for a Valentine’s Day-themed Big Band performance on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m.

DJs Reno Bo and Jacob Jones of the Electric Western Dance Party start the night with a pre-show dance hour at 7 p.m. Then, Jim Lauderdale and Peter Cooper will co-host the special edition of Music City Roots, taking the audience on a trip to the 1940s, with appearances by Darrell Scott, Elizabeth Cook, John Cowan, and The McCrary Sisters accompanied by the full 20-piece Nashville Jazz Orchestra, Music City’s finest Big Band.

Tickets starting at $35 are on sale now at WMArocks.com, by phone at 615-782-4030, and at the TPAC Box Office, 505 Deaderick St., in downtown Nashville.

“As a child, even before there were my beloved Beatles singles, I had my parents’ 45 rpm Big Band singles as my earliest musical diet. Miller, Dorsey, Ellington … my first concert was Count Basie. While it’s not ‘Americana’ by definition, it is a wonderful part of the ‘roots’ of American popular music history,” said John Walker, executive producer of Music City Roots. “My hope is to find yet another point of unification between generations as younger music fans discover the sheer analog power and rich harmonic texture that only a large ensemble can provide. I thought the best way to do that would be to feature iconic artists in our community that you wouldn’t normally hear in this context.”

“The venue itself is one of the night’s stars, embodying the best of the old and the now. War Memorial Auditorium was dedicated in 1925, the same year WSM radio went on the air from the fifth floor of the National Life & Accident Insurance Co. across the street,” said Craig Havighurst, producer and co-host for Music City Roots . “WSM aired concerts from the auditorium, including those of the Nashville Symphony, and hard core country music fans will remember the auditorium was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1939-1943, just before it moved down the hill. Today, its elegance and extraordinary acoustics make it the perfect setting for this one-of-a-kind show.”

Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town Take Home People’s Choice Honors

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Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, and Little Big Town were Nashville’s big winners during last night’s (Jan. 18) People’s Choice Awards.

Blake Shelton made history when he became the first country artist ever to win a People’s Choice award for Favorite Album with If I’m Honest. The win was a big coup for the singer, who beat out Rihanna, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, and Drake for the trophy. Shelton also performed his new single, “Every Time I Hear That Song,” during the telecast, and took home his second consecutive award for Favorite Male Country Artist during the evening as well.

“It’s so cool to be recognized by the people who are spending the money and taking time out of their day to vote,” Shelton said. “I could not be more thankful. All I’ve ever wanted to do is sing country music, so to win Favorite Male Country Artist is incredible. And to be the first country artist to ever win Favorite Album is beyond words. I’m so proud of If I’m Honest and to know that it’s resonating with fans is why I make music.”

Other country artists were also big winners during the evening including Carrie Underwood (Favorite Female Country Artist), and Little Big Town (Favorite Country Group).

The Voice star has had plenty to celebrate lately — just this week he earned his 23rd chart-topping single with “A Guy With A Girl.” He kicks off his Doing It To Country Songs tour in Bakersfield, California with Sundance Head and RaeLynn on Feb. 16. 

Lady A Announces New Album, Single, Tour After Hiatus

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Lady Antebellum is back in a big way with a new single, album and world tour after their hiatus to pursue separate solo projects over the past year. The trio returns to radio with the new single “You Look Good” today, and has announced their new album Heart Break will be out this summer on June 9. In celebration of the new music, Lady A’s Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood will host a Facebook Live fan event premiering the new music tonight at 8 p.m. CST here.

“We knew right away that we had to name this album after a track that is a play on the word ‘heartbreak,’” shared Scott. ”It’s all about those personal growths everyone goes through and it was liberating to get back in the studio with Charles and Dave to intertwine those feelings into the recording process. I feel like we’ve reemerged stronger than ever and I can’t wait to share more music!”

The new single was produced by busbee.

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“We’ve always loved experimenting with different instruments and sounds in the studio, but we’ve never used horns before,” said Haywood. “The energy they brought to this song is really fun and was validation for all three of us that it had to be our first single back.”

The three are also returning to the road as they launch their You Look Good World Tour May 26 in Bakersfield, California, with special guests Kelsea Ballerini and Brett Young. The tour will include a stop in Nashville.

Presented by Nabisco, the tour will hit more than 65 cities around the world including a first-time trip to South Africa and several European stops as well. Fans can purchase tickets beginning Jan. 27 for select cities as part of Live Nation’s Country Megaticket at www.Megaticket.com and on www.ladyantebellum.com beginning Feb. 17. Brancott Estate is the exclusive wine sponsor for the tour, and Hilton serves as the official hotel sponsor and will give its HHonors members access to original content and once in a lifetime experiences throughout the tour.

YOU LOOK GOOD WORLD TOUR North American Markets:
Bakersfield, CA
Mountain View, CA
Sacramento, CA
Albuquerque, NM
Phoenix, AZ
Los Angeles, CA
Chula Vista, CA
Charlotte, NC
Raleigh, NC
VA Beach, VA
Philadelphia, PA
Washington DC
Cincinnati, OH
Toronto, CAN
Detroit, MI
Indianapolis, IN
New York, NY
Cleveland, OH
Hartford, CT
Gilford, NH
Jacksonville, FL
Tampa, FL
West Palm Beach, FL
Detroit Lakes, MN
Omaha, NE
Rogers, AR
Darien Center, NY
Holmdel, NJ
Boston, MA
Columbia, MD
Kansas City, MO
St. Louis, MO
Chicago, IL
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Salt Lake City, UT
Boise, ID
Puyallup, WA
Portland, OR
Atlanta, GA
Nashville, TN

 

DISClaimer: Natalie Hemby’s Dazzling ‘Puxico’

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Today’s survey of current Americana sounds has both old friends and fresh faces.

First things first. Drop whatever you are doing today. Go find the new album by Natalie Hemby. Give it a spin and prepare to be dazzled. It is absolutely brilliant. It is also the Disc of the Day.

We had plenty of first timers to choose from. Next to Natalie, my favorite was the new Nashville male-female duo Terra Bella. Give those kids a DisCovery Award.

HUGH PRESTWOOD/I Used To Be The Real Me
Writer: Hugh Prestwood; Producer: Hugh Prestwood; Publishers: Hugh Prestwood/Judy Collins, no performance rights listed; Wildflower/Cleopatra (track)
– The latest album by this Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member is on Judy Collins’s label. That’s sort of a “full circle” thing, since she was the first person to have a hit with one of his songs (1979’s “Hard Times for Lovers”). Judy sings with Hugh on two of the new CD’s tracks. Its compelling title tune is a rhythmic story song about a broken man who ruefully remembers better days. Also included is his own version of his celebrated “The Song Remembers When.”
 

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ME AND MOLLY/Old Friend
Writers: Molly Stevens/Declan McGarry; Producers: Jeff Crawford/Molly Stevens/Declan McGarry; Publishers: Me and Molly, no performance rights listed; Tiny Human (track)
– This Nashville songwriting duo has a strummy, folkie sound. Both are strong singers. Amid this title track’s gently rhythmic track are their note-perfect harmony vocals. He carries the lead. She soars above.

THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND & JACKSON BROWNE/These Days
Writers: Jackson Browne; Producers: Michael Davis/Jeff Hanna; Publisher: Open Window/no performance rights listed; NGDB (track)
– The soundtrack to this band’s 50th-anniversary PBS TV celebration has now been released. Guests include John Prine, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Jerry Jeff Walker and Rodney Crowell. The inclusion of Jackson Browne is apt, since he was briefly a NGDB member in the band’s early days. The band evocatively backs him with echoey licks on performance of his signature 1973 song. On the track, he reveals that he actually wrote it way back when he was in the group. Recommended, as is the whole package.

TERRA BELLA/Road To Forever
Writers: Joseph Costa/Dave Gibson; Producer: Johnny Garcia; Publishers: none listed; TB (track)
– This couple made the move from California to Music City and got married. They are staging their disc debut with a six-song EP. Its title tune is a tough little country rocker with many hooky pleasures. Producer Johnny Garcia has been Trisha Yearwood’s guitar accompanist for years, and it sounds like he has a future behind studio boards.
 

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JENNY GILL/Lonely Lost Me
Writers: none listed; Producer: Vince Gill; Publishers: none listed; JG (track)
– Vinnie’s daughter sings with a confident pop lilt. Her dad’s accompanying track has an irresistible groove embellished with guitar and organ accent notes. Very listenable. Very sweet.

SAINTS ELEVEN/Coming Back Around
Writer: Jeff Grossman; Producer: Walt Wilkins/Ron Flynt; Publisher: none listed; ASCAP; JG (track)
– These three are evidently a big deal on the live scene in Texas. Their third CD’s title tune moans the blues with plenty of twang and heart. There’s a raw, authentic edge to frontman Jeff Grossman’s honky-tonk drawl.

JIM LAUDERDALE/This Changes Everything
Writers: Jim Lauderdale/Bruce Robison; Producer: Tommy Detamore; Publishers: Laudersongs/Mighty Nice/Tiltawhirl/Bluewater, BMI; Sky Church (track)
– This prolific Americana record maker enters the new year with a solid 11-song collection that kicks off with this smoothly shuffling title tune. The band cruises like a finely tuned car, while Lauderdale’s vocal hangs back ever so slightly. This behind-the-beat phrasing keeps you hanging on with anticipation, note for note. As always, Lauderdale is reliably country throughout the album.

NATALIE HEMBY/This Town Still Talks About You
Writers: Natalie Hemby/Kelly Archer/Jnan Schott; Producer: Mike Wrucke; Publishers: none listed; GetWrucke (track)
– She’s been cowriting hits for Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban and other top stars for years. Now a CD titled Puxico introduces her as a record maker. Her expressive, languid vocal on this track is matched with a dreamy, atmospheric production by her hubby, Mike Wrucke. It goes without saying that it is brilliantly written. Definitely don’t stop with this tune; hang around for the whole collection and get bathed in beauty.

 

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RENEE WAHL/See You On The Way Down
Writers: Renee Wahl/Bill Maler; Producer: Patterson Barrett; Publisher: Renee Wahl/Ten Gallon Fat, BMI/ASCAP; Double R (track)
– Like many of our community’s Americana record makers, this gal is an East Nashvillian. Her six-song EP kicks off with this plaintively sung roots bopper. She’s not the strongest vocalist in the world, but the chugging production and hearty harmony vocals give her the oomph she needs.

BILL COOLEY/In Search of Home
Writer: Bill Cooley; Producer: Paul Martin/Bill Cooley; Publishers: Nancy Lee, ASCAP; NLM (track)
– Cooley has been Kathy Mattea’s accompanist for decades. He periodically issues instrumental guitar collections, and this is the title tune of his latest. It’s an acoustic tone poem with lovely filligreed picking that’s so inventive and involving that you forget you’re listening to just one instrument. Mattea drops by to offer a vocal on the Jesse Winchester song “That’s What Makes You Strong.” Enchanting listening.

Little Big Town Reveals Track Listing, Album Art For ‘The Breaker’

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Little Big Town has released the album art and track listing for their upcoming eighth studio album, The Breaker, set to release Feb. 24 via Capitol Nashville. Taylor Swift penned the group’s current single, “Better Man.”

The 2017 project follows Little Big Town’s pop-infused Wanderlust, which released in June 2016 and found the group collaborating with Pharrell Williams.

The Breaker Track Listing

“Happy People”
“Night On Our Side”
“Lost In California”
“Free”
“Drivin’ Around”
“We Went To The Beach”
“Better Man”
“Rollin'”
“Don’t Die Young, Don’t Get Old”
“Beat Up Bible”
“When Someone Stops Loving You”
“The Breaker”

IBMA Announces Leadership Bluegrass Class Of 2017

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The International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) has announced the 2017 class of Leadership Bluegrass. In its 17th year, Leadership Bluegrass is an intensive three-day program of advanced-level interactive learning experiences designed to build commitment, motivate talents and instill enthusiasm for addressing the future of the bluegrass music industry.

Leadership Bluegrass boasts more than 400 alums and each year approximately 25 individuals are invited to take part.

The class of 2017 includes: (name/association/hometown)

Erik Alvar – Jim Hurst Trio, Gainesville, FL
Lee Bidgood – East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
Jeff Burke – Music Educator, Nashville, TN
Adam Engelhardt – SonyATV Music Publishing, Nashville, TN
Anna Frick – Airshow Mastering, Boulder, CO
Barb Heller – North Country Public Radio-NCPR, Canton, NY
Justin Hiltner – Artist, Nashville, TN
Kathryn Jenkins – Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music, Sevierville, TN
Bronwyn Keith-Hynes – Mile Twelve, Jamaica Plains, MA
Irene Kelley – Artist, Nashville, TN
Uri Kohen – Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Westport, County Mayo, Ireland
Brennen Leigh – High Plains Jamboree, Austin, TX
CJ Lewandowski – The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Sevierville, TN
Corrina Rose Logston – Artist, Whites Creek, TN
Laura Mainer – Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers, Johnson City, TN
John Meyer – Museum of Appalachia, Tennessee Fall Homecoming, Clinton, TN
Ashley Moyer – Rounder Label Group, Nashville, TN
Joe Newberry – Artist, Raleigh, NC
Akira Otsuka – Bluegrass 45, Gaithersburg, MD
Ricky Gene Powell – Artist, Wintergrass, Burien, WA
Craig Reed – Downtown Raleigh Alliance, Younger Brother Productions, Raleigh, NC
Bobby Rymer – Writers Den Music Group, Nashville, TN
John Smith – Free Dirt Records & Service Co., Washington, DC
Bill Thibodeau – Rhode Island Bluegrass Alliance, Cumberland, RI
Kris Truelsen – Radio Bristol, Birthplace of Country Music, Bristol, VA
Rachel Whitney – Pandora Media, Nashville, TN

Leadership Bluegrass 2017 takes place March 20-22 at BMI in Nashville. The course will be facilitated by Trisha Tubbs for the seventh consecutive year. Leadership Bluegrass is made possible through the support of its Platinum Sponsors including BMI, the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation and the Wintergrass Music Festival (Acoustic Sound).

Jesse Rice Sets Sail With New ‘Pirate Sessions’ January 27

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Jesse Rice, a writer on the Florida Georgia Line debut smash “Cruise,” mixes a concoction of trop-rock and country on his new The Pirate Sessions III CD available on iTunes Jan. 27. Much like the predecessors Sessions I and II, Rice takes listeners on a journey to a paradise filled with copper-tone beach goers sharing umbrella drinks on the new collection.

The project includes tunes co-written by Rice and Trent Summar, Stephen B. Liles, Eric Gunderson, Chase Rice, and Clayton Anderson among others, and a song featuring special guest Michael Ray, “88 In The Shade.”

“The Pirate Sessions is an album series that serves as an escape to a carefree, beachfront good-time for fans,” says Jesse. “I really enjoy not only performing these songs live, but also getting to record them with my friends here in Nashville. Our previous sessions featured Florida Georgia Line and Chase Rice and this one has surprise guests as well.”

To kick off the CD’s release Rice is hosting an album release show on Jan. 27 at the Port Theater in Port St. Joe, Florida.

Rosanne Cash, Steve Wariner, Frank Rogers, Sonny Curtis To Lead 2017 ‘The First And The Worst’ Event

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The third annual “The First And The Worst” event is slated for March 1, 2017 at Nashville’s City Winery. The event benefits Nashville non-profit Music Health Alliance, which provides free support to songwriters, artists, musicians and music industry professionals at every stage of their career in finding affordable healthcare solutions and financial resources.

Rosanne Cash (“I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me,” “Seven Year Ache”), Sonny Curtis (“I Fought The Law,” “I’m No Stranger To The Rain”), Frank Rogers (“I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” “Alright”) and Steve Wariner (“Long Necked Bottle,” “Holes In The Floor Of Heaven”) will headline 2017’s “The First And The Worst.”

Hosted by Grammy-nominated producer/songwriter/music critic Peter Cooper the event allows the audience to peek inside the brilliant minds of hit songwriters long before they had ever written a chart-topper or had songs recorded by superstar artists. Additional performers for this year’s event will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Sponsor tables start at $1,500 and can be purchased by contacting Music Health Alliance’s Shelia Shipley Biddy at shelia@musichealthalliance.com. In addition, a silent auction will be held at the March 1.

Individual tickets go on-sale beginning Thursday (Jan. 19) at 3 p.m. CT. Tickets are priced at $50 for balcony seats and $75 for floor seats.

CRS, Edison Research Panel to Explore Country Fans’ Mobile Use

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The Country Radio Seminar and Edison Research will present new research data on mobile music options for listeners in “The Mobilization of Country Radio” panel on February 23rd. Presented by Edison’s Larry Rosin, Tom Webster and Megan Lazovick, as well as mobile expert Tim Hayden, co-author of “The Mobile Commerce Revolution,” the panel will explore the diversity of radio usage, streaming behaviors, and online music consumption of today’s fans.

To obtain the research data, Edison conducted one-on-one interviews with 1,500 participants to investigate their mobile-usage habits as well as observed a day-in-the-life to fully understand a typical day’s mobile usage and to “put a face with the phone.” With mobile devices playing a central role in so many lives, Edison wanted to explore how country listeners compare to those of other formats, how the smartphone is changing the way users listen to radio and consume music, what other types of things they are using those devices for, and just how radio can capitalize on those behaviors.

More information on this and other CRS panels can be found at www.CountryRadioSeminar.com or on the CRS mobile app, which provides attendees with an expanded agenda, panel descriptions, speaker bios, live performances, CRS after-hour activities and more.