Dolly's "Better Day" Still To Come

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Dolly Parton is making plans to release her new studio album Better Day (Dolly Records) this summer, followed by an extensive worldwide tour. The iconic star will perform the album’s first single “Together You & I” live May 26 on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The album’s exact release date is yet to be announced, but is expected in June or July.
“I wanted to do an album that would be very uplifting and positive, as well as inspirational,” says Parton. “Times are hard all over. I think people need to feel better and I thought Better Day was a perfect title because it says ‘hope.’”
The Better Day world tour kicks off July 17 in Knoxville, including two shows at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. On August 20, the trek moves overseas and features two shows at the O2 Arena in London. Full dates included below.
Dolly’s 2008 album Backwoods Barbie produced singles like “Better Get To Livin’” and “Shinola” and the ensuing European tour played for over 170k fans.
Better Day tour dates:
Sun 17 Jul – Knoxville, TN – University of Tennessee – Thompson Boling Arena
Tue 19 Jul – Dallas, TX – Verizon Theatre Grand Prairie
Wed 20 Jul – Albuquerque, NM – Sandia Casino
Fri 22 Jul – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Sat 23 Jul – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Sun 24 Jul – Concord, CA – Concord Pavilion
Wed 27 Jul – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino
Thu 28 Jul – Chicago, IL – Rosemont Theater
Sat 30 Jul – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre
Sun 31 Jul – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
Tue 02 Aug – Durham NC – Durham Performing Arts Center
Wed 03 Aug – Alpharetta, GA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater @ Encore Park
Sat 20 Aug – Glasgow – Glasgow SECC
Sun 21 Aug – Glasgow – Glasgow SECC
Mon 22 Aug – Nottingham – Nottingham Arena
Thur 25 Aug – Copenhagen – Copenhagen Forum
Sat 27 Aug – Stockholm – Globe Arena
Sun 28 Aug – Göteborg, Sweden – Gothenburg Scandinavium
Wed 31 Aug – Liverpool – Echo Arena
Fri 2 Sept – Birmingham – LG Arena
Sat 3 Sept – Cardiff – CIA Arena
Sun 4 Sept – Cardiff – CIA Arena
Tue 6 Sept – Bournemouth – Bournemouth BIC
Wed 7 Sept – London – O2 Arena
Thur 8 Sept – London – O2 Arena
Sat 10 Sept – Newcastle – Metro Radio Arena
Sun 11 Sept – Manchester – Evening News Arena
Mon 12 Sept – Sheffield – Motorpoint Arena
Wed 14 Sept – Dublin – 02 Arena
Thur 15 Sept – Belfast – Odyssey Arena

Flatts Fest Tour Starts June 18

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Rascal Flatts


Rascal Flatts will join with opening acts Sara Evans, Easton Corbin and Justin Moore on a 24-show tour that starts June 18 in Bristow, VA and ends Sept. 18 in san Diego, CA.
Included will be an interactive, high-energy stage design plus a unique pre-show festival atmosphere and tailgating experience. Activities will be spread throughout the plaza and parking areas for all fans who want to make the show an afternoon/evening event.
Flatts Fest attendees will also enjoy a mobile karaoke vehicle, carnival games, photo booths, putt putt golf, food vendors, and plenty of exciting contests.

Sara Evans


Rascal Flatts – Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney – debuted their first album on Big Machine Records, Nothing Like This, last November at #1 on the country album sales chart and became one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at #1.  Since their musical debut in 2000, the band has sold 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads and delivered 12 #1 singles to the top of the chart.
For additional information on Rascal Flatts and their tour go to www.rascalflatts.com or www.livenation.com
2011 “FLATTS FEST” dates
6-18                  Bristow, VA                             Jiffy Lube Live
6-19                  Virginia Beach, VA                   Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
6-24                  Oshkosh, WI**                         Country Festival USA
6-25                  Chicago, IL                               First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
6-26                  Maryland Heights, MO              Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7-8                   Cuyahoga Falls, OH                  Blossom Music Center
7-9                   Camden, NJ                              Susquehanna Bank Center
7-17                  Craven, SK**                           Craven Country Jamboree
7-22                  Cincinnati, OH                          Riverbend Music Center
7-23                  Noblesville, IN                          Verizon Wireless Music Center
7-24                  Twin Lakes, WI**                     Country Thunder Festival
7-28                  Atlanta, GA                              Lakewood
7-29                  Charlotte, NC                            Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7-30                  Raleigh, NC                              TWC Music Pavilion
8-4                   Detroit, MI                                DTE Energy Music Theatre
8-6                   Detroit Lakes, MN**                 WE Fest
8-11                  Hartford, CT                             Comcast Theatre
8-12                  Darien Lake, MN                      Darien Lakes PAC
8-13                  Ottawa, ONT**                        Rideau Carelton Raceway-OLG Slots Casino
8-19                  Tampa, FL                                1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre
8-20                  West Palm Beach, FL               Cruzan Amphitheatre
8-27                  Oro Station, ONT**                  Burls Creek Family Event Park
9-9                   Salt Lake City, UT                    USANA Amphitheatre
9-10                  Denver, CO                              Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
9-11                  Albuquerque, NM                      Hard Rock Casino Albuquerque Presents The Pavilion
9-15                  Sacramento, CA                        Sleep Train Amphitheatre
9-16                  Mountain View, CA                  Shoreline Amphitheatre
9-17                  San Bernardino, CA                  San Manuel Amphitheatre
9-18                  San Diego, CA                          Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
**Not a “Flatts Fest” date

Miranda Lambert On Raging Tour, Redbook Cover

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Miranda Lambert is in the middle of a successful tour, including a sold-out show at the Houston Rodeo last night (3/16).
With almost 74,000 in attendance, it was the rodeo’s largest crowd this year, and the third largest in its 79-year history.
Lambert’s Revolution Continues tour opened earlier this year at famed Billy Bob’s Texas, where she became the first artist to sell out back-to-back shows in the history of the venue.
Fans can read more about the singer and her fiancee Blake Shelton, in her cover story for the April issue of Redbook (on newsstands now). Under the headline “Country Glamour and True Grit,” Redbook talks to Lambert about her pending nuptials, performing onstage, exercise, and getting advice from Reba. Shelton also participated in the exclusive interview, sharing his insight about their careers and romance.
Lambert is up for seven ACMs at the April 3 awards show.

Photos from the April issue of Redbook. (R): Publisher Ree Guyer-Buchanan admires Lambert's ring.

Cody Entertainment Group Opens Nashville Office

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Winchester, VA based Cody Entertainment Group has opened its new Nashville office. The address is 1300 Division St., Ste. 207, Nashville, TN 37203 and the phone number is 615-750-5399.

Cody Entertainment Group has been in business 35 years, providing full production services and staging for fairs, festivals and other events nationwide. The company also acts as the exclusive booking agency for vocal group Ricochet. Company President Phil Smallwood ([email protected]) is the group’s agent.

Miss Willie Brown Debuts EP Today

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The major label debut EP from rising country duo Miss Willie Brown is out today (3/15). Comprised of Amanda Watkins and Kasey Buckley, the band is also gearing up for its first major tour, an outing opening for Dierks Bentley. Miss Willie Brown is the first country act signed to New York based A&M/Octone Records, the UMG label which is also home to star act Maroon5.
For the four-song project, Miss Willie teamed with top producer Keith Stegall, who has worked with Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson and George Strait. “Keith really jumped into our heads in terms of knowing what we like,” explains West Virginia native Watkins. She and Texas native Buckley share lead vocals on the tracks, which they co-wrote. Check out the fast-paced rocker “Sick of Me.”
“Amanda can write music that sounds like what I’m saying,” adds Buckley, “and I can write words that sound like her music. We definitely believe that we were brought together for a reason.” The two women met while waiting tables at a BBQ joint and instantly bonded over a love of songwriting and country music.
Miss Willie Brown will celebrate the EP’s release and the tour kick-off with a show tonight at the Rutledge in Nashville at 6 P.M. Immediately following the performance, the duo will head out for a 30-date run on the Jagermeister Country Tour Featuring Dierks Bentley, going through mid-May with special guest Josh Thompson.

Signing News From Ray Stevens, Amber Hayes

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Ray Stevens


The Bobby Roberts Company Inc. has signed Ray Stevens for exclusive booking representation.
Thanks to hits like “The Streak,” and “Everything is Beautiful,” Stevens has career sales totaling more than 25 million albums. He is a two-time Grammy winner and 11-time Grammy nominee.
Stevens has recently released a new album, titled One For The Road. See a video recap of Stevens’ career. BRC can be reached at 615-859-8899 or www.bobbyroberts.com.
• • • • •
FUNL Music recording artist Amber Hayes has entered into an exclusive booking agreement with Nashville-based talent agency and marketing firm, Brand N Music Partnerships. Brand N Music VP/Operations Greg Burns is representing Hayes as well as her FUNL labelmate Ty Hernodon.
Hayes’ current single, “Wait,” continues to gain momentum at Country radio.  It is the second release from the Oklahoma native’s 2010 EP, C’mon, which produced a Top 40 hit on the MusicRow Country Breakout chart with its title-track single.

Amber Hayes


“I was absolutely thrilled when Brand N Music was given the opportunity to work with Amber Hayes,” says Burns. “Amber’s recent success with her debut single and the early reaction from radio to her new song, ‘Wait,’ is creating a lot of positive attention. I’m also finding that there’s a substantial interest in Amber that dates back to her days starring in the Conway Twitty musical.”
For booking requests on Amber Hayes or Ty Herndon, contact Burns at [email protected], 615-562-3726, or visit www.BrandNMusic.com. More on Hayes here.

JT Hodges Signs With Paradigm

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Celebrating the signing are (L-R): Manager TK Kimbrell, Paradigm’s Curt Motley, Paradigm’s Mike Snider, JT Hodges, manager Alex Bridges, and Paradigm’s Bob Kinkead.

Rising country singer JT Hodges has signed with the Paradigm Talent Agency for exclusive booking. The Ft. Worth, Texas native is a singer, songwriter, and guitar-slinger who is working on his debut album for Show Dog-Universal Music. The project is due out later this year.

Paradigm’s Mike Snider announced the latest addition to the company’s roster. Among the other acts signed to the agency are Jeff Foxworthy, Eli Young Band, Brantley Gilbert, Carter’s Chord, Bucky Covington, Jack Ingram, Radney Foster, Ricky Skaggs, Shooter Jennings, and many more.

Led by chairman Sam Gores, Paradigm has more than 100 agents working out of offices in Nashville, Los Angeles, New York City, and Monterey, CA.

Jason Aldean Extends Tour

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Jason Aldean is adding a summer leg to his 2011 My Kinda Party Tour. Special guests Chris Young and Thompson Square will join him for the new dates, which kick off July 8 in Milwaukee, WI. More shows will be announced over the coming weeks.
The first leg of the tour has sold over 154,000 tickets for 14 dates.
Click here for a short video clip from the tour.

Jason Aldean


Newly announced dates
7/8      Milwaukee, WI
7/9      Ft. Loramie, OH
7/14    Orange Beach, AL
7/15    Tampa, FL
7/16    West Palm Beach, FL
7/21    Monticello, IA
7/22    Omaha, NB
7/23    Cheyenne, WY*
7/26    Paso Robles, CA*
7/27    Mountain View, CA*
7/30    Camrose, Alberta Canada
8/12    Des Moines, IA
8/13    Sedalia, MO
8/14    Springfield, IL
8/20    Louisville, KY
8/25    Scranton, PA
8/26    Pittsburgh, PA
8/27    Chicago, IL
*Indicates shows without Chris Young

The Woods Amphitheater Gearing Up For First Full Season

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The Woods Amphitheater at Fontanel has several big-name artists on the line-up for its first full season, which opens Sat., April 23 with Chicago and Los Lonely Boys.
The outdoor venue fills a void in Nashville’s live music landscape. Middle Tennessee had been lacking an amphitheater since Starwood closed in 2006. With a capacity of 4,500, The Woods Amphitheater is on the grounds of Barbara Mandrell’s former residence Fontanel. The property was opened to the public in recent years as a tourist and event destination.
Also on the books for this summer are The Stone Temple Pilots (May 1), Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers (May 27), Willie Nelson’s Country Throwdown Tour in time for the CMA Music Festival (June 3), Yes and Styx (July 16), Steely Dan (Aug. 19), and Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich and Cowboy Troy (Sept. 2).
The concert series at The Woods Amphitheater is being produced Gary Weinberger of Red Mountain, and John Ruffino and Russell Doussan of Blue Deuce Entertainment. The property is managed by Fontanel Attractions, made up of music execs Dale Morris and Marc Oswald, world-class developer Alex Marks, and TomKats, Inc. owner Tom Morales, as the operating partner.
Ticket details including info about VIP box seats and the four-show Mega Ticket are available at www.WoodsAmphitheater.com.

Swift Announces Opening Acts

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Taylor Swift today revealed the artists who will open the North American leg of her world tour. When the tour launches its stateside run on May 27 in Omaha, joining her for select dates will be Frankie Ballard, Danny Gokey, Hunter Hayes, Josh Kelley, Randy Montana, James Wesley and Charlie Worsham.
There will be two opening acts at Swift’s stadium dates, in addition to her previously announced tourmate NEEDTOBREATHE.
Swift celebrated her seventh charttopping single this week with “Back To December.” It is her second consecutive No. 1 from her triple platinum Speak Now album.
Also this week, Swift’s 2006 self-titled debut CD was certified 5x-Platinum. Her Fearless album is 6x-Platinum.
Swift just wrapped the sold-out Asian leg of her Speak Now World Tour, and the European tour kicks off March 6 in Brussels, Belgium. This year, she will play 90 shows in 19 countries spanning four continents.