Dierks Bentley Releasing New EP

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Dierks Bentley is toasting the end of summer with the release of a four-song EP titled Country & Cold Cans, available Aug. 21 on iTunes.

The collection was produced by Jaren Johnston (The Cadillac Black) and will be promoted during tailgating season at SEC campuses on Bentley’s Back To College Tour with guest The Cadillac Black. The tour visits The University of Georgia (8/20); The University of South Carolina (8/21); and culminates in The Grove at The University of Mississippi (8/22).

“We thought we’d celebrate the end of summer and back to school with an EP of new material that’s about cutting loose,” said Bentley. “I’ve written a lot with Jaren, and we thought it would be fun to get the guys in my band and a couple of cases of beer and go see what happens in the studio.”

Tickets to the college shows are available to fan club members beginning today  (7/26) and the general public on Friday (7/27) beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET. For information visit Dierks.com.

Bentley’s current sixth studio album Home has already spawned three No. 1s, totaling 10 No. 1 hits for the artist.

EP Track List:
1. Country & Cold Cans
2. Grab A Beer
3. Back Porch
4. Summer On Fire

Watch a preview of the new music below:

Wade Bowen Adds Acoustic Tour Dates

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Wade Bowen continues his summer touring schedule with the addition of two northeast acoustic shows next month. Bowen will join fellow Texas native and Red Sox baseball star Josh Beckett at Boston’s House of Blues for The Beckett Bowl 10 Man Jam on Aug. 20. All proceeds will benefit The Josh Beckett Foundation.

Bowen will then head to New York City where he is slated to perform a full acoustic set at Joe’s Pub on Aug. 22. “I love throwing down with the band each night on tour, but I jump at the chance to play acoustic shows…especially when Josh Beckett calls you up to help,” said Bowen. “I look forward to heading northeast to see some familiar faces and hope to meet some new fans.”

Produced by Justin Niebank, Bowen’s recent release The Given includes nine songs penned by the artist, and a cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “To Live Is To Fly” featuring guest vocals by Guy Clark.

Fans can now purchase tickets to both shows by visiting www.wadebowen.com.

Colt Ford Debuts Video From Upcoming Album

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Colt Ford with "Lizard Lick Towing" cast.

Colt Ford recently released a new music video for “Back,” the lead single from his fourth studio album, Declaration of Independence, due out Aug. 7. The video was shot in his hometown Athens, Ga. and directed by Potsy Ponciroli and produced by Shannon Houchins.

“Back” was co-written by Ford, Houchins and Noah Gordan, and features guest Jake Owen.

Available for pre-order on iTunes, the album also includes collaborations with Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker, Kix Brooks, Montgomery Gentry and more.

In more news from Ford, he appeared on a recent episode of truTV’s, Lizard Lick Towing. The docu-series follows the Shirleys, a family that repossesses vehicles and machinery.

Ford was forced to postpone an acoustic show in Charlestown, MD for local station WXCY earlier this week (7/23). Public safety officials became concerned due to the overwhelming number of fan phone calls to the station and venue. Ford explains the postponement and promises to return in a short video.

In career album sales, the Average Joes artist has passed the 900k mark and is heading for one million. He has sold over 3.1 million digital singles since his 2008 debut. Other Ford ventures include his brand of Goodtime Vodka and Moonshine, and a partnership with Santa Fe Cattle Co. for his “Mr. Goodtime” burger.

2012 Railroad Revival Announces Fall Tour

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Willie Nelson & Family, Band of Horses, Jamey Johnson and John Reilly & Friends have enlisted in the 2012 Railroad Revival Tour. The second annual tour will travel from town to town on 16 vintage 1940s rail cars to set up open air, pop-up concert venues near the tracks. Performances will include spontaneous and unique collaborations on stage.

A documentary from last year’s outing with Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show is available today (7/24) on DVD and at iTunes. Watch a clip of the film below.

This year, the route kicks off at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, GA surrounded by the historical steam locomotives and railcars.

Early bird tickets go on sale for a discounted price, Fri., July 27 at 10 a.m. CT. For more information, click here.

Railroad Revival Tour: 

OCT. 20—Duluth, GA: Southeastern Railway Museum
OCT. 21—TBA
OCT. 22—Memphis, TN: Memphis Central Train Station
OCT 23—Oklahoma City, OK: Downtown Airpark
OCT. 24—Old Town Spring, TX
OCT. 26—Tempe, AZ: Downtown
OCT. 27—San Pedro, CA: Ports O’ Call
OCT. 28—Oakland, CA: Middle Harbor Shoreline Park

Big Easy Express Official Trailer from S2BN Films on Vimeo.

Summer Beats Concert Series Comes to Nashville

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Pepsi and Billboard bring the Summer Beats Concert Series to Nashville on Monday, July 30. Easton Corbin, Randy Houser, Jana Kramer, Jerrod Niemann and Gloriana will perform at the Cannery Ballroom at 8 p.m.

The event will be live streamed on Pepsi’s Twitter page and on Pepsi.com and fans watching from home will be able to influence elements of the performance in real-time. The concerts will also be promoted on Billboard.com and will be available on-demand after the show.

The Summer Beats Concert Series kicked off in June and will culminate with a finale event in New York City in late August.

Country Gals Plan Christmas Shows

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Wynonna Judd will set out with her band, The Big Noise, for Wynonna’s Rockin’ Christmas Tour performing a blend of classic Christmas favorites, as well as her own holiday songs and biggest hits in early December.

“Expect this Christmas tour to be different than the previous years. We’ll still have the classics, but this year I’m ready to rock,” said Wynonna.

Premium seats and pre-show meet & greet passes are available for five current ticket holders as part of her Tweet Your Seat campaign.

Dates for Rockin’ Christmas Tour
Thurs 12/6 – Newark, OH
Sat 12/8-9 Riverside, IA
Fri 12/14 – St. Michael, ND
Sat 12/15 – Larchwood, IA
Sun 12/16 – Fayetteville, AR
Tues 12/18 – Ft. Worth, TX
Fri 12/21 – St. Petersburg, FL
Sat 12/22 – Sarasota, FL

• • • •

Lorrie Morgan will bring a festive Enchanted Christmas Dinner & Show to Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort beginning Nov. 16 through Christmas Day (12/25).

As part of Gaylord Opryland’s 29th Annual A Country Christmas celebration, the show will feature Christmas classics, selections from her Merry Christmas from London album, and hits from her 16-album career. In addition, each evening will begin with a traditional holiday meal with trimmings.

“There is something about the snow and the lights and the sparkle in children’s eyes during the Holiday season that is absolutely magical,” said Morgan. “I remember coming to Opryland and the Grand Ole Opry with my father as a child; year, after year, the experience was like a whimsical storybook.”

Tickets are available online priced at $69 for adults and $39 for children ages 4-11 (children under 4 are free but must have ticket for seating assignment).

Morgan is currently in the studio with touring companion Pam Tillis working a new project entitled Grits & Glamour.

The Farm Celebrates Debut Release, Plans Tour

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Pictured (L-R): WMN's Peter Strickland; The Farm's Damien Horne, Krista Marie, and Nick Hoffman; WMN's Chris Stacey, Bob Mitchell (Dale Morris Management), Rob Dalton (New Revolution), Marc Oswald (Dale Morris Management)

Nashville trio The Farm released its self-titled debut this week (7/17) via All In Records and Elektra Nashville. The album release party took place Monday evening (7/16) at Nashville’s Fontanel Mansion in a party hosted by Warner/Elektra.

The 11-track album features the single “Home Sweet Home” written by the band’s Nick Hoffman, Damien Horne, and Krista Marie, with co-producer Danny Myrick. Hoffman also co-produced the project.

The country trio will be on the road through the fall, including a stop at Chicago’s Wrigley Field to sing the national anthem.

The Farm’s upcoming tour dates:

Date                City                              Venue
July 19 – Twin Lakes, WI                   Country Thunder
July 20 – Davenport, IA                      Centennial Park *Heartland Jam Festival
July 21 – West Valley City, UT           Maverik Center
July 22 – Wichita, KS                         Richard A. DeVore South YMCA *2012 Strong Kids Concert
July 24 – Ionia, MI                              Ionia Free Fair
July 26 – Charlevoix, MI                     East Park *Charlevoix Venetian Festival
July 28 – Lakeside, CA                       Lakeside Rodeo Grounds *KSON Country Fest 2012
August 2 – Uncasville, CT                  Mohegan Sun
August 4 – Englishtown, NJ                Raceway Park *Shake The Lake Rockin’ Country Festival
August 6 – 11 Deadwood, SD            Deadwood Mountain Grand
August 13 – Napoleon, OH                 Henry County Fair
August 17 – Springfield, MO              KTTS PFI *Party in the Parking Lot
August 17 – Springfield, MO              Midnight Rodeo
August 25 – Berea, OH                      Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds *WGAR Country Jam
August 27 – Chicago, IL                     Wrigley Field
August 27 – Chicago, IL                     Joe’s on Weed Street
August 31 – South Park Twp, PA       Allegheny County South Park Fairgrounds
September 2 – Orlando, FL                Hard Rock Live Orlando * K92.3 All Star Acoustic Jam
September 3 – Newton, NC               Hickory American Legion Fair
September 8 – Bowling Green, KY    Balloons, Tunes & BBQ
September 13 – Madisonville, KY      Glema Mahr Center for the Arts
October 6 – Kansas City, MO            Kemper Arena
October 7 – Sparta, IL                        Southern Illinois Country Fest
October 12 – Dallas, TX                     Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar
October 14 – Maryville, TN                Foothills Fall Festival

Industry Ink (7/19/12)

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Chase Rice signs with CAA. Pictured (L-R): CAA's Meredith Jones, Chase Rice, CAA's Brandon Frankel, CAA's Jim Butler, and Chase’s Tour Manager John Lessard

• Chase Rice recently signed with CAA for exclusive representation. Jim Butler and Meredith Jones will be his Responsible Agents. Chase’s debut album Dirt Road Communion, featuring lead single “How She Rolls,” was released March 20 and climbed to No. 6 on the iTunes Top Country Album Charts and No. 48 on the Billboard Top Country Album Chart. Rice is also a co-writer on “Cruise,” the debut single from Republic Nashville duo Florida Georgia Line. Rice’s interesting background includes CBS Survivor: Nicaragua, time as a UNC Chapel Hill football player, and work on the Hendrick Motorsports pit crew for Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson.

• Shaun Silva has a new venture in the works. Currently known as Forward, the project has been in development for about 18 months. The new company will be a standalone venture, separate from his decade old Tacklebox Films, which will remain in its current location with current staff. Details on Forward are coming soon, in the meantime get a preview at weareforward.com. 

Flynnville Train

• Flynnville Train’s latest single, “The One You Love,” was the most streamed and third most downloaded on Play MPE its first week of release. Written by Kentucky HeadHunters members Richard Young, Fred Young and Doug Phelps, the track is the first release from the band’s album due out in early 2013. The single is available via Whiskey Bent Records/Flying Island Entertainment. Flynnville Train’s upcoming appearances include shows with Tracy Lawrence, The Kentucky HeadHunters and Gretchen Wilson.

• Nashville publicist Ed James is rejoining marketing company Cornerstone, with clients including Microsoft and Pepsi. He will resume his role as president and co-founder of the agency’s public relations division. James recently served as VP of Global Public Relations for Gibson Guitar. Prior to that he co-founded the Cornerstone Public Relations agency in 2006 as an extension of the New York based lifestyle marketing company. During his time as president, he signed numerous accounts for the firm and handled campaign strategy and execution for clients including HBO, Bushmills Irish Whiskey, Pepsi, Nike, Reader’s Digest, Converse, Guitar Center and Levi’s.

• First-call studio keyboardist Gordon Mote has released his own album. Songs I Grew Up Singing is available on New Haven Records in association with RSI Music Group.

• The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. (HFA) has announced the renewal of a lyrics licensing agreement with LyricFind. Since its launch in 2004, LyricFind has entered into lyrics distribution agreements with major and many independent music publishers. In addition, LyricFind provides licensed lyrics to various digital service providers and has developed successful mobile applications for the iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry Playbook. Using its bulk licensing process, HFA will continue to provide licenses for songs in LyricFind’s extensive database ensuring that music publishers and songwriters are accurately compensated for use of their lyrics.

• Porfirio Piña has been elected President of the Board of Directors of the BMI Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to encouraging the creation, performance and study of music. Piña is currently Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations for BMI.

Chesney Tops “Pollstar” Country Rankings

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Pollstar’s mid year tour rankings list Kenny Chesney as country music’s top grossing touring act. With $33.9 million grossed in 2012, Chesney, who is on the Brothers of the Sun tour with Tim McGraw, ranks No. 4 on the all genre list of Top 100 North American tours. Lady A comes in close behind with $30.9 million.

Scoring the top 3 spots on the list are Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson ($78.5 million), Roger Waters (61.9) and Van Halen (44.9).

Pollstar’s Top Country Tours of the Year 

No. 4 Kenny Chesney, 33.9 million
No. 5 Lady Antebellum, 30.9
No. 15 Brad Paisley, 20.5
No. 22 Miranda Lambert, 17.6
No. 25 Jason Aldean, 13.8
No. 27 Eric Church, 12.8
No. 31 Zac Brown Band, 11.9
No. 33 Rascal Flatts, 11.3
No. 34 Blake Shelton, 10.6
No. 35 George Strait, 10.4

Others Nashville related acts charting in the Top 100 include Willie Nelson, Casting Crowns, Sugarland, Glen Campbell, Alison Krauss and Union Station and MercyMe.

Pollstar reports that the Top 100 Tours in North America generated a combined gross of $1,125.9 billion, up 1.2 percent over last year. This increase came despite a 9.4 percent drop in ticket prices, which currently average $58.61 per ticket. Artists made up the difference by playing more shows. More here.

For the full list on North American tours and details including average ticket price, average gross, and number of shows click here. The top Worldwide Tours list is here.

 

BLA Launches Talent Competition

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Buddy Lee Attractions is launching a country and southern rock talent competition, Bands, Bourbon & B.A.S.S. in association with Evan Williams Bourbon and Bassmaster.

The talent search includes solo artists and bands from across the nation. Five finalists will perform Sept. 6 at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon and will be judged on showmanship, musicianship and vocal abilities by a committee of music and entertainment industry executives.

The grand prize is $1,000 cash, a professional photo shoot in Nashville and the opportunity to open for RCA/Sony recording artists Bush Hawg. Second and third place winners will receive cash prizes of $500 and $250, respectively.

“We see extraordinary talent come and go on Music Row, and this talent search was created to give artist hopefuls the chance to be seen and heard…and treated like an ‘artist for a day,’” explains Donna Lee, Vice President & General Manager/Buddy Lee Attractions.

The entry fee is $75.00 and must be received by Aug., 22. Click here for details.