Indiana State Fair Victims File Comprehensive Suit

Sugarland returned to Indianapolis Oct. 28 for a free concert at Conseco Fieldhouse to raise money for victims of the state fair tragedy.

Sugarland, show producers, and stage riggers are among those named in the most comprehensive lawsuit yet stemming from the Indiana State Fair tragedy, according to the AP. Bringing suit are forty-four survivors and the family members of four people who died during the Aug. 13 disaster. The report states:

Attorneys representing at least 20 law firms across Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky filed the complaint alleging breach of reasonable care to the victims in Marion Superior Court in Indianapolis….Sugarland’s contract specified the act had the final say on whether to cancel the concert due to weather, plaintiff’s attorney Mario Massillamany said in a news release.

Other lawsuits and legal actions are ongoing, some of which name the state of Indiana. According to the AP, a state administered fund has paid about $564,000 to 28 people, and has about $400,000 more to pay. Indiana law puts a $5 million cap on the state’s liability for damages from the stage collapse.

A Skaggs Family Christmas Comes To Nashville

(L-R): Sharon White Skaggs, Buck White, Rachel Leftwich, Ricky Skaggs, Cheryl White, Luke Skaggs and Molly Skaggs. Photo: Erick Anderson

A Skaggs Family Christmas will bring the holiday spirit to Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Thursday, December 22 at 7 pm. Members of the Skaggs and White families will combine for an ensemble performance of bluegrass-inspired holiday favorites and originals backed by Jim Gray and the Nashville Session Players.

The 15-member group will feature Skaggs, his wife Sharon, their children Luke and Molly, Buck and Cheryl White with Cheryl’s daughter Rachel, plus Kentucky Thunder and guests. This is the ninth year for A Skaggs Family Christmas to tour during the holiday season, and this year’s itinerary includes Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, The Paramount Theater, Music Center at Strathmore, Tennessee Theatre, Honeywell Center, Niswonger Performing Arts Center of NW Ohio, Smokey Mountain Performing Arts Center and wraps with the Nashville performance at the Schermerhorn. Get tickets here.

“We started singing these songs in our living room ages ago,” explains Sharon. “We had no idea that we would ever take this show to so many different places.”

Additionally, Ricky Skaggs and the Whites will sign autographs at the Country Music Hall of Fame store this Saturday, Nov. 26 at 2 pm as part of the museum’s “Deck The Hall” program.

Lukey Bryan Wraps Successful CMT Tour

Bryan and crew close CMT ON TOUR. Photo: Nate Dreger

Luke Bryan wrapped his first major headlining tour over the weekend. CMT ON TOUR: Luke Bryan Tailgates & Tanlines performed in 22 cities with opening acts Lee Brice, Josh Thompson and CMT’s New Superstar winner Matt Mason.

“This year, we witnessed one of the most successful tours in the now 10-year history of CMT ON TOUR, with Luke playing to packed houses every night,” said Leslie Fram, senior vice president of music strategy, CMT.

To get a glimpse of behind the scenes action on the tour as well as Bryan performing his current hit “I Don’t Want This Night To End” from his Capitol Records Nashville album tailgates& tanlines click here.

During a two-week break from the CMT tour, Bryan’s Farm Tour played in six cities for over 42,000 fans, raising funds for local college scholarships in each city.

Dierks Bentley Wraps Fall Tour, Plays The White House

Dierks Bentley with Eli Young Band

Dierks Bentley wrapped the first leg of his 2011 Country & Cold Cans Tour this weekend with sold out shows in Boise, Bozeman, and Denver. The tour featured Eli Young Band and Jerrod Neimann and will resume in February 2012 with first dates scheduled internationally in Canada and Australia.

“It has been a great run…the fans came ready to party. The crowd in Boise set a record for beer sales!” laughs Bentley. “I’d say that’s a pretty good way to wrap up this leg of the tour.”

Dierks was recently at the White House with Lauren Alaina, The Band Perry, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Darius Rucker, James Taylor and Mickey for a live-stream taping of PBS’ sixty-minute special, Country Music: In Performance at the White House, which will formally air on PBS Wednesday (11/23), at 7 PM/CT as previously posted by MusicRow.

“No matter who you vote for or what you believe, [The White House] is one of the greatest symbols of our country. It is our nation’s ‘Home,’” says Bentley. “I’m honored to have been asked to perform there, and when I sing this song, I will definitely be thinking about all of the men and women in the military.”

Bentley will also engage fans by releasing a customizable version of the official music video for “Home,” the title track from his upcoming album due February 7. Fans will have the ability to upload photos into the video and download or share virally from his official website. Customized videos can be created here.

Church To Convert Audiences on Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour

In what may be an early contender for rowdiest country tour of 2012, Eric Church has announced his headlining The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour hitting 50 cities starting in January. Church’s third album Chief has drawn heaps of critical praise, and originally sold 145k copies in its first week of release. His current single “Drink In My Hand” is sitting pretty at No. 3 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart.

Joining Church on the trek is the equally rowdy Brantley Gilbert, who recently hit No. 1 with his first single for Valory Music Co., “Country Must Be Country Wide.” Additional guests on select dates include The Cadillac Black, Blackberry Smoke, Sonia Leigh, Jon Pardi, and Drake White.

“We have been building our entire career for this tour. It is truly the culmination of a lot of blood, sweat and beer that has brought us to this point in our career,” says Church. “I have always trusted our fans to deliver with their dedication and passion, they have always exceeded my expectations. I have never been more excited to begin a tour than this one. The band and I are committed to emptying the tank every night and delivering the best show we can.”

Announced dates for The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour are included below. Additional dates will be scheduled in Portland, ME; Lowell, MA; Indiana, PA; Oklahoma City, OK; Jonesboro, AR; Orange Beach, AL; New York, NY; Binghamton, NY; Reading, PA; Atlantic City, NJ; Estero, FL; Orlando, FL; Tallahassee, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Tupelo, MS; Bossier City, LA; Auburn, AL; Evansville, IN; St. Louis, MO; Pikeville, KY; Columbus, OH; Lexington, KY; Bloomington, IL; Springfield, MO; Birmingham, AL; Nashville, TN; Toledo, OH; Chicago, IL; Youngstown, OH; Minneapolis, MN; Topeka, KS; and Morrison, CO.

Eric Church—The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour
January 19       Fort Smith, AR            Fort Smith Convention Center
January 20       Cape Girardeau, MO   Show Me Center
January 21       Southaven, MS            Desoto Civic Center
January 26       Madison, WI               The Alliant Energy Center
January 27       Saginaw, MI                The Dow Event Center
January 28       Terre Haute, IN           The ISU Hulman Center
February 2       Savannah, GA             Savannah Civic Center
February 3       Knoxville, TN              Thompson Boling Arena
February 4       Norfolk, VA                Ted Constant Center
February 16     Greenville, SC              Bi-Lo Center
February 17     Salisbury, MD              Wicomico Civic Center
February 18     Greensboro, NC           Greensboro Coliseum
February 23     Battle Creek, MI           Kellogg Arena
February 24     Cleveland, OH              Wolstein Center @ CSU
February 25     Ft. Wayne, IN               Allen County War Memorial Col.
March 1           Portland, ME                Cumberland County Civic Center
March 2           Lowell, MA                  Tsongas Center at UMASS Lowell
March 3           Indiana, PA                   Kovalchick Center
March 8           Oklahoma City, OK      Chesapeake Energy Center
March 10         Orange Beach, AL        Amphitheater at The Wharf

Billy Currington Heading Out On First Headlining Tour

Billy Currington is set to kick 2012 off with his first headlining tour across the country and has invited UMGN labelmates David Nail and Kip Moore to join him.

Currington appeared throughout 2011 on Kenny Chesney’s Goin Coastal tour and most recently, performed a Veterans Day concert attended by President Barack Obama on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson which aired live on ESPN.

Grammy-nominated artist David Nail just released his sophomore album The Sound Of A Million Dreams, and Kip Moore’s debut release, Drive Me Crazy will be out on MCA in 2012.

Exact dates for the tour have not been announced, but details will be posted as they are confirmed on www.billycurrington.com.

Currington has accumulated seven No. 1s since his debut in 2003, sold over 11 million units, earned multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications, two Grammy nominations and multiple CMA and ACM Awards.

Lady Antebellum Sells Out Opening Night

Lady Antebellum performing at the Knoxville Coliseum.

CMA Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum kicked off the headlining Own The Night 2011 Tour sponsored by GAC this weekend with a sold out concert at the Knoxville Coliseum.

“Lady A has taken their tour to the next level,” said WIVK/Knoxville PD Mike Hammond. “Their energy, enthusiasm, stage presence, big screens, the music, the stage, etc. This is definitely on the must see list this fall.”

Lady A is currently nominated for Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group for the 2011 American Music Awards and will be honored as one CMT’s five Artists of the Year December 13.

The Own The Night 2011 Tour continues this week in El Paso, TX (11/16), Phoenix, AZ (11/17) and Las Vegas, NV (11/18).

Hirings: Mullins, DeSalvo, Brown

Shelly Mullins

Shelly Mullins has joined Webster & Assoc. Public Relations as Sr. Director/Media & Marketing, where she will oversee corporate brand management, publicity and marketing. Most recently Marketing Director for Cumulus Nashville, Mullins previously worked with Webster & Associates in 1999 before leaving to work with Shop At Home television in 2003. She later moved on to work as a publicist for Kaleidoscope Media before she joining Cumulus. Congratulate her here.

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Nashville School of Law (NSL) has added music industry veteran Ramona P. DeSalvo to its faculty as an intellectual property law instructor. Most recently, her varied experience includes running a private practice, operating her own Vision Management, working for firm King & Ballow, and teaching law at Middle Tennessee State. She is a graduate of UC-Berkeley and obtained her doctor of jurisprudence from the University of Cincinnnati College of Law.

“Nashville School of Law is delighted to welcome such a dynamic attorney to our faculty,” said Judge Joe Loser, Jr., Dean of Nashville School of Law. “Ms. DeSalvo’s vast expertise in intellectual property and entertainment law, along with her diverse roles in the music business, will bring invaluable insight to our students.”

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Darin Lashinsky, CEO of National Shows 2 (NS2), has announced the addition of Tahnee Brown to the team’s marketing department, where she will promote NS2 shows. Her previous work experience includes time with AEG Live, Knitting Factory Entertainment and House of Blues.

“I am very excited to have Tahnee working with us. Tahnee is bringing a wealth of marketing experience that covers all genres and crosses the entire US,” says Lashinsky.

A Washington native, Brown graduated from Central Washington University in 2005 with a degree in Business Administration. Reach her here.

Chesney and McGraw Reunite For Tour

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw will hit the road together in 2012 for their Brothers of the Sun Tour. The 19-date stadium tour includes stops at Nashville’s LP Field, Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, Dallas’ Cowboys Stadium, Detroit’s Ford Field and New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

Brothers of the Sun will be the first time in 10 years that Chesney and McGraw have toured together. The reunion will kick off June 2 in Tampa, FL and will feature stadium shows on weekend dates at venues across the country. Brothers of the Sun will also feature special guests Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and Jake Owen.

“Tim and I have been great friends since we first toured together, and I can’t wait to get back on the road with him,” Chesney said. “He’s one of my closest friends in music and in life, and I know this tour is going to be something special.”

“Our friendship was forged on the road, so it’s going to be a blast heading out with Kenny again,” said McGraw. “We’ll be having as much fun on stage as the fans will be having in the audience.”

Tickets for the Dallas, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, East Rutherford, Detroit and Foxboro shows will go on sale Saturday, Dec. 3 through Ticketmaster. On-sale info for the remaining dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

2012 Brothers of the Sun Tour Dates:

Sat. June 2 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium
Sun. June 3 – Atlanta, GA – Georgia Dome
Sat. June 9 – Dallas, TX – Cowboys Stadium
Sun. June 10 – Kansas City, MO – Arrowhead Stadium
Sat. June 16 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field
Sat. June 23 – Nashville, TN – LP Field
Sun. June 24 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium
Sat. June 30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Field
Sun. July 1 – Cincinnati, OH – Paul Brown Stadium
Sat. July 7 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
Sun. July 8 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field
Sat. July 14 – Anaheim, CA – Angel Stadium
Sat. July 21 – Denver, CO – Sports Authority Field at Mile High
TBA – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium
TBA – Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Browns Stadium
Sat. August 11 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
Sun. August 12 – Washington, DC – FedExField
Sat. August 18 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field
Sat. August 25 – Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium

Grant And Gill Announce Christmas Tour

With the impending holiday season, Amy Grant and Vince Gill will embark on their sixth Christmas tour, which spans twelve dates. The Twelve Days Of Christmas – Amy Grant & Vince Gill kicks off Dec. 7 in Baltimore, MD and wraps with two shows in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium.

In their two hour program, the Grammy-winning husband-and-wife team will present cherished standards and as well as newer seasonal fare.

“Christmas audiences are special,” explains Grant. “They tend to involve the whole family, and their emotions are a wonderful mix of anticipation and reverence. It’s a thrilling experience for both of us.”

Complete list of dates:
December 7 – Baltimore, MD – Lyric Opera House
December 8 – Norfolk, VA – Constant Convocation Center
December 9 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Landmark Theater
December 10 – Augusta, GA – Bell Auditorium
December 11 – Savannah, GA – Johnny Mercer Theater
December 12 – Roanoke, VA – Roanoke Civic Center
December 15 – Louisville, KY – Palace Theatre
December 16 – Evansville, IN – The Centre
December 17 – Muncie, IN – Emens Auditorium – Ball State
December 19  – Atlanta, GA – Fox Theatre
December 20-21 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium