City Winery, Newport Folk Presents® and the Americana Music Association have partnered to promote a series of concerts titled State of the Union, which will take place at City Winery venues in Chicago, Napa, Nashville, and New York City. One night per month in each city, State of the Union will highlight artists whose musicianship set the standard for live performance.

“Newport Folk Presents® and the Americana Music Association are torchbearers in presenting not only some of the best music today but also in discovering amazing new talent,” said City Winery’s Shlomo Lipetz, adding, “we are thrilled to present this series with these prestigious music loving organizations.”

“Building partnerships is paramount for the continued success of Newport Festivals Foundation™,” commented Newport Producer Jay Sweet, adding “working with the Americana Music Association and City Winery, who share our taste in great music, makes perfect sense.”

“I love this partnership with Newport Folk and City Winery,” added Americana’s Jed Hilly. “From the historical significance of the Newport Folk Festival to City Winery’s strategically situated venues and appreciation for the artistry, I can’t think of better partners to spread our mission to support the authentic voice of American Roots Music. ”

State of the Union concert dates will launch in January. Show dates are as follows:

CHICAGO
Jan. 19 | Joe Henry
Feb. 18-19 |Shawn Colvin
March 3-4 |Buckwheat Zydeco

NAPA
Jan. 20 | Willie Watson
Feb. 28 |Steep Canyon Rangers
April 3 |North Mississippi Allstars

NASHVILLE
Jan. 19 | Jackie Greene
Feb. 24 |Booker T. Jones
March 8 | Aaron Neville

NYC
Jan. 22-24 | Alejandro Escovedo
Feb. 11 | Jay Farrar
March 29  | Mary Gauthier & David Wilcox

Last night (Jan. 13), the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival announced its 2015 lineup via telephone hotline where artists were revealed for callers to share on social media.

Slated for June 11-14 the Manchester, Tenn., the festival revealed top acts including Billy Joel, Mumford & Sons, Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters, Alabama Shakes, Ben Folds and Sturgill Simpson. More announcements are expected.

Tickets will go on sale Saturday, Jan. 17 at 12 p.m. ET. Payment plans are available for VIP ($1500 per pair) and general admission (opens at 299.50 before graduating to $325). Camping equipment and even tour busses are available for rent. Single day packages and shuttle schedules will be announced and go on-sale later in the spring.

The four-day festival hosts multiple stages for crowds in excess of 90,000.

Viacom Media Network’s CMT has elevated Margaret Comeaux, Lucia Folk and Anne Oakley each from senior director to vice president; it was announced today by Brian Philips, President, CMT. Comeaux, Folk and Oakley will continue to operate out of the cable channel’s Nashville headquarters.

As Vice President of Music and Events Production for CMT, Margaret Comeaux will continue to oversee the creation, development and production of music and live event specials for the network. She serves as executive producer in charge of such top-rated shows as the annual CMT Music Awards, CMT Crossroads, CMT Artists of the Year and the recent CMT Ultimate Kickoff Party Live From The College Football Playoff National Championship. Comeaux joined CMT in 2000 and  has 20 years’ experience in TV.

Lucia Folk was elevated to Vice President of Public Affairs at CMT, where she will continue to oversee corporate social responsibility and government affairs for the network. She launched CMT’s public affairs division and created the channel’s national call to volunteerism, CMT One Country, which promotes civic participation to the network’s 92 million viewers. Folk leads CMT’s involvement with the Academies of Nashville in Metro Nashville Public Schools, and promotes education to a national audience through CMT Empowering Education. Folk joined CMT in 2002 and holds leadership roles with the Hands on Nashville, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville and the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville.

As Vice President of Radio and Ancillary Business, Anne Oakley is charged with day-to-day oversight of CMT Radio and additional revenue-generating projects for the network. Oakley has been instrumental in the growth of CMT Radio Networks, which includes three syndicated shows hosted by Cody Alan, reaching over 250 stations and nearly three million listeners. She spearheaded the network’s partnership with iHeart Radio, expanding CMT’s footprint and making CMT host and radio personality Cody Alan as the voice of the long-running syndicated show, After MidNite. She joined the network in 2005.

Sony Music Nashville has signed California native, singer/songwriter Cam, who joins the label group’s Arista Nashville artist roster. As a writer, her cuts have spanned pop and country, including Miley Cyrus’ 2013 platinum album Bangerz. Cam is currently recording her Arista Nashville debut album with producer Jeff Bhasker (Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, FUN., The Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift) and Tyler Johnson (Ed Sheeran, OneRepublic, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Mikky Ekko).

Cam’s debut single, “My Mistake,” written by Cam and producer Tyler Johnson, ships to country radio on Feb. 3.

See below for more on Arista Nashville’s newest artist.