Grascals Strike Black Gold

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busThe IBMA’s World of Bluegrass opened today in Nashville with events including a special media luncheon to announce The Grascals securing sponsorship by Mobil Delvac heavy duty diesel engine oil. Band member Jamie Johnson said it best when he proclaimed, “We’re the new Jed Clampett of bluegrass—we struck oil in our backyard!”

Following the luncheon, the team unveiled the Mobil Delvac/The Grascals-branded tour bus the band will call home for the next 12 months. The tour bus will be filled with Mobil Delvac 1300 Super 15w-40, a heavy duty diesel engine oil which will also be tested periodically by the Mobil team. As part of the sponsorship, the band will also make several appearances at industry events and retail locations over the next 12 months.

The Grascals are nominated at this week’s IBMA Awards, including nods Entertainer of the Year, and Album of the Year.

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Country Stars Croon With Patty Griffin

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PattyGriffinNewPatty Griffin has long been a respected part of the Americana/folk community, but recent collaborations with mainstream artists Dierks Bentley and Jack Ingram should raise her profile among country fans.

Bentley is offering a free download of “Beautiful World,” his song featuring Griffin on CMT.com beginning today (9/28). “This is definitely one of my favorite songs, not just from the last album, but probably that I’ve ever written and recorded,” he says. “The whole premise is that if you watch the news or read the headlines, there is a lot of really negative stuff happening out there that can pull you down, but if you choose to follow the good and believe in something better, then it is a ‘Beautiful World.’”

dierks-necktieThe free download is to raise awareness about his nationwide “Miles & Music For Kids” fundraiser, which is sponsored by CMT One Country and benefits local hospitals in the Children’s Miracle Network. The fundraiser hits Nashville on Sun., Oct. 11 with a motorcycle ride and performances by Bentley, Darius Rucker, Eric Church, Wynonna, Heidi Newfield and Michelle Branch. Other cities set to host “Miles & Music For Kids” events are Bentley’s hometown of Phoenix, Seattle, Atlanta, Dallas, and Chicago.

jack-ingramMeanwhile, Jack Ingram is introducing the ballad “Seeing Stars,” featuring Griffin, to radio this week. It is off his latest album Big Dreams & High Hopes.

“The relationship with God or with Jesus or with anybody that you follow religiously—it seems like we’re all guilty of only keeping that relationship up when we’re really in need,” Ingram recently explained to CMT. “This song is admitting guilt to that.” It was written by Ingram and Grammy winner Chris Tompkins. Click here to preview “Seeing Stars.”

Ingram heads to Los Angeles this week to tape the television debut of the single on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, airing Mon., Oct. 5.

Lifenotes: CRS Founder Tom McEntee

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crs-41Tom McEntee, a longtime music businessman best know as founder of Country Radio Seminar, passed away in Florida on Sept. 24, 2009. After starting CRS, now in its 41st year, McEntee spent a decade as the organization’s Executive Chairman/President.

McEntee started the radio tip sheet Country Music Survey, and spent time as country chart editor of Cashbox Magazine. His career also included radio promotion gigs, stints in publicity, bio writing, artist management, and songwriting.

He played a role in the careers of Jimmy Buffet, Alabama, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Eddie Rabbit, Earl Thomas Conley, Jimmy Dean, The Kendalls, Hank Williams Jr., Ronnie McDowell, Susan Marshall, and Lefty Frizzell. He helped Alabama get its first record deal, and wrote the liner notes for Frizzell’s last album.

An award winner several times over, McEntee’s plaques included the Country Radio Broadcasters President’s Award, the Nashville Mayor’s Award, and the BMI Commendation of Excellence.

Miranda Revs Up Her “Revolution”

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Lambert began last week by performing a "Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Star" as a salute to Merle Haggard at the 2009 ACM Honors Awards.

Photo: Rick Diamond, Getty Images

Miranda Lambert’s third album Revolution comes out tomorrow (9/29) and the release is already garnering raves from Rolling Stone (4 stars) and Entertainment Weekly (A). She performed the album in its entirety last Thursday night (9/24) to a sold-out mix of industry and fans at the Ryman Auditorium. In addition to the 15 new tracks, she threw a few country classics and songs from her previous albums into the mix. Following the show, a VIP reception was held at The Stage (pictured below).

Earlier last week Lambert performed “Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Star” as a salute to Merle Haggard at the 2009 ACM Honors Awards (see right).

This week, she continues the Revolution with live performances on Good Morning America (9/29), Late Show with David Letterman (9/29), Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (10/1),  Ellen (10/5) and The Bonnie Hunt Show (10/7).

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(L-R): Director Robert Deaton; Sony Nashville Chairman Joe Galante; Lambert; RAC Clark, ACM Awards Show Exec. Producer; and Sony Nashville Exec. VP Butch Waugh

Underwood To Receive Symphony’s Harmony Award

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carrie-newCarrie Underwood will be honored with the prestigious Harmony Award at the white-tie Nashville Symphony Ball on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The Harmony Award is presented annually to individuals who support the varied kinds of music that exist in Nashville, and contribute to the development of the city’s musical culture.

Previous recipients of the Harmony Award include last year’s honoree Martina McBride, as well as Amy Grant, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, Tony Brown, Mike & Linda Curb, Lyle Lovett, Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton, The Judds, Steve Winwood, Vince Gill, Chet Atkins, and Rascal Flatts.

Celebrating its 25th year, Nashville’s Symphony Ball is an invitation-only evening benefiting the Nashville Symphony and its music outreach programs. Chairing the 2009 event are Dara Dickson and Perian Strang.

Underwood is a four-time Grammy winner and the three-time, reigning ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year. On November 3, she will release a new album, Play On, on 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville.

Artist Photos

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joeJoe Nichols was surrounded by WIVK Believers when he performed at the Cotton Eyed Joe in Knoxville. The Universal Records South artist will release his first album in almost two years on Oct. 27. Old Things New, features his hit single “Believers.” Pictured (L-R) are:  WIVK air personalities Josh Blanchard and Ashley King; WIVK Promotions Cindy Arnold; Nichols; air personality Jack Ryan and WIVK OM/PD Mike Hammond.

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fastryde2Universal Republic’s Fast Ryde is currently out on its national radio tour and had a chance to visit KATC/Colorado Springs. Fast Ryde’s new single “Make It Rain” goes for adds Oct. 19. Pictured (L-R) are: FR’s James Harrison, KATC PD Jim West, FR’s Jody Stevens.

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houcountyAlso making the radio tour rounds is new Stroudavarious Records group Houston County. The group recently paid a visit to WGGY Froggy 101 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to promote its debut single titled “I Can’t Make It Rain,” which is likely just coincidence and not an answer song to Fast Ryde’s upcoming single. Pictured (L-R): HC’s Adam Hooper, WGGY MD Tanya Burko, HC’s John Milldrum and Zack Hooper.

Stars For Second Harvest & Music Row Rally

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Luke Bryan, Joey & Rory, Jeffrey Steele, Tony Mullins and comedian Gary Mule Deer have been added to the lineup for the 5th annual Stars For Second Harvest benefit on Tues., Sept. 29 at the Ryman Auditorium. Hosted by Craig Wiseman, the concert will also feature Rodney Atkins, Phil Vassar and Heidi Newfield in an unplugged acoustic style show. Event tickets, $35, are available at ticketmaster.com. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee in their efforts to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in our community.

As previously reported in the Sept. 23 issue of @MusicRow, available only to Music Row subscribers, Craig Wiseman, the Big Loud Shirt gang, the Second Harvest staff and others will be stationed at the Row roundabout and the 17th St./Wedgewood intersection from 4-6 p.m. today (9/25) to collect monetary and canned food donations from cars driving by for the 1st annual Music Row Rally.

Delilah Showcases Art in Nashville

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delilahNational radio personality and author Delilah will showcase her artistic talents Friday, October 9 with a charity event exhibiting 25 original paintings and photographs at Nashville’s Rymer Gallery. The exhibit starts at 7 pm, and proceeds from sales of her works will go to Point Hope, a non-profit founded by Delilah in 2004 that aims to be a voice for forgotten children.

Limited tickets are available for $45 from www.mix929.com. Scheduled to attend are Wynonna, Amy Grant, Big Kenny, Joe Dee Messina, Ty Herndon, Jamie O’Neal, Plumb, Abigail Zsiga, Jim Brickman, Dan Hill, and more.

Delilah is the most-listened-to-woman on radio in the US and can be heard locally on Nashville’s Mix 92.9 (WJXA) 7-12mid, Monday through Sunday. Her latest book, Love Matters, was released in October of 2008.

Gill and Harris Take LA; Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will get some love next Thursday (10/1) at its All For The Hall Los Angeles fundraiser featuring Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakam, Melissa Etheridge and friends at LA’s Club Nokia. This one-of-a-kind event will be preceded with a special performance the evening before (9/30) when Gill and Harris duet on the Jay Leno Show.

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Harris is also one of the many acts tapped to perform at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival October 2-4 in San Francisco. The free weekend of music takes place at SF’s Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park and features Nashville talents like Gillian Welch, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, and Todd Snider as well as faves like Neko Case, Aimee Mann, Galactic, The Flatlanders, and Buddy Miller.

Next Big Nashville Offers Array of Talent

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nbncropNext Big Nashville, Music City’s quickly growing festival and music conference, is now less than two weeks away. The four-day extravaganza gets underway Wednesday, October 7, and runs through Saturday, October 10 with performances in numerous Nashville venues.

The lineup of over 150 musical performers includes an eclectic mix of locals and out-of-towners such as Lucero, The Black Angels, “Ten Out of Tenn,” Lord T & Eloise, Jemina Pearl, Nico Vega, “NBN Honky Tonk Takeover,” “Next Warped Nashville,” David Vandervelde, Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Dexateens, Cortney Tidwell, Venus Hum and many more.

The conference, which will take place between the Martha Rivers Ingram Center for the Performing Arts at Vanderbilt Universty and the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theatre, includes panels such as “How Nashville Became Music City” with Robert K. Oermann, “Direct-to-Consumer: Buy Direct?” and “Everyone’s an A&R Person.”

Founded in 2006 by Jason Moon Wilkins and Ethan Opelt to showcase the diversity of Nashville’s music community, Next Big Nashville has grown into a premiere destination for musicians and music industry workers alike. Schedule and information on how to purchase wristbands at http://www.nextbignashville.net/