Carrie Underwood To Release Live Concert Film In November

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[Click photo to enlarge]

Last year, Carrie Underwood was the top touring country female artist, performing more than 100 concerts during her Storyteller Tour-Stories In The Round, performing to more than 1 million fans.

On Nov. 17, Underwood fans can experience the tour again, with the digital release of a live concert filmed at her sold-out Madison Square Garden show. Carrie Underwood: The Storyteller Tour – Stories In The Round, Live from Madison Square Garden will be available digitally on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Qello.

“We had the best time on ‘The Storyteller Tour’ performing for the fans last year,” said Underwood. “The amazing production and 360-degree stage let me get closer to them than ever before. I saw so many of their social media posts asking for a release of the show and we knew we had to do it. I’m so happy to get this out and relive the most fun I’ve ever had on tour!”

The tour’s massive production included 112 automation cues controlling all elements of the 150-foot-long in the round stage, including seven stage elevators, three rings of video screens, a revolving center stage and more. The tour used over 51,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, and dropped over 400 pounds of Mylar. Carrie’s wardrobe, created by Emmy-winning costume designer Marina Toybina, consisted of 32 custom made costumes and 214 pieces of jewelry, allowing for different outfit combinations. Barry Lather (Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Usher, Michael Jackson) served as Creative Director, while Butch Allen (Metallica, The Eagles, Eric Church, No Doubt) was the Production & Lighting Designer.

 

YouTube video

The Carrie Underwood: The Storyteller Tour – Stories In The Round, Live from Madison Square Garden set list includes 17 of her 26 No. 1 singles, as well as fan favorites and a collaboration with tour openers Easton Corbin and The Swon Brothers.

Renegade Runaway
Last Name/Somethin’ Bad
Undo It
Good Girl
Church Bells
Cowboy Casanova
Heartbeat
Jesus, Take the Wheel
Wasted
Blown Away
Two Black Cadillacs
Dirty Laundry
Choctaw County Affair
I Will Always Love You
What I Never Knew I Always Wanted
Mountain Music (featuring Easton Corbin and The Swon Brothers)
Clock Don’t Stop
All-American Girl
Little Toy Guns
Before He Cheats
Smoke Break
Something in the Water

Live Nation Expands Utah Presence With United Concerts Acquisition

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Live Nation Entertainment announced Thursday (Oct. 5) it has acquired United Concerts, the leading local promoter in Salt Lake City. United Concerts produces more than 170 live events per year at a wide range of venues throughout Utah, and has produced more than 6,000 events in its 50 years of business.

As a result of the move CEO/United Concerts Jim McNeil will take on the role of President, US Concerts/Salt Lake City, overseeing all local operations and reporting to Bob Roux, Co-President, North America Concerts, Live Nation.

The two companies have co-promoted shows in the region for years, and the acquisition is a natural progression as they aim to bring even more live events to the community. Earlier this year, Live Nation Entertainment’s Ticketmaster division was selected as the exclusive ticketing partner for the Vivint Smart Home Arena, home of the NBA’s Utah Jazz located in downtown Salt Lake City.

“Having partnered with United Concerts on hundreds of shows in the past we’re confident they are the right partners as Live Nation grows our presence in the market,” said Roux.

“Becoming part of Live Nation is a strategic move that will benefit our operated venues, and Utah’s live music community at large,” said McNeil. “We look forward to connecting artists with countless fans here in Salt Lake.”

Kelsea Ballerini Joins Country To Country Festival 2018 Lineup

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Kelsea Ballerini has been announced as part of the lineup for next year’s Country to Country Festival 2018 at The O2, lated for March 9-11.

She joins headliners Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on the bill, who were announced last week as the first headliners for Country to Country 2018.

Country to Country is now entering its sixth year. Last year’s festival welcomed over 80,000 fans and included performances by Reba, Zac Brown Band, Brad Paisley and many more.

The full lineup for the festival will be announced this Friday at the C2C 2018 launch event, which will take place at Bush Hall as part Country Music Week’s New Country US Night featuring Logan Brill, Temecula Road, Levi Hummon and Walker McGuire.

Jason Aldean Cancels Tour Dates Following Las Vegas Tragedy

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Jason Aldean. Photo: Jim Wright

Jason Aldean has canceled upcoming tour dates in California previously scheduled for Oct. 6 (Inglewood’s The Forum), Oct. 7 (Chula Vista’s Mattress Firm Amphitheatre), and Oct. 8 (Anaheim’s Honda Center) as part of the entertainer’s They Don’t Know Tour. The news follows the tragic shootings that occurred during Aldean’s headlining set at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas on Sunday, Oct. 1.

The They Don’t Know Tour will resume on Oct. 12 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Refunds to the shows in Los Angeles, San Diego and Anaheim are available at point of purchase.

Aldean also released the following statement:

As a result of what happened in Las Vegas this week, we have decided to cancel this coming weekend’s shows. I feel like out of respect for the victims, their families and our fans, it is the right thing to do. It has been an emotional time for everyone involved this week, so we plan to take some time to mourn the ones we have lost and be close with our family and friends. Our plan is to resume the tour the following week in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our first time back onstage will be a very tough and emotional thing for us, but we will all get through it together and honor the people we lost by doing the only thing we know how to do – play our songs for them. I hope everyone understands why we can’t play this weekend and I’m sorry if anyone is disappointed.

I want to say thank you for the outpouring of love from my friends and fans we have received over the last couple days. You guys have no idea how much you have helped get us through this tough time.

Thank You and God Bless.
JA

Country To Country 2018 Announced Headliners Faith Hill And Tim McGraw

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Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have been announced as the first headliners for Country to Country 2018 bringing their highly acclaimed and record setting Soul2Soul tour to this year’s event. Dates and times for the Soul2Soul tour have not been announced.

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have been dominating the music charts since the early ‘90s. They began touring together in 1996 on McGraw’s Spontaneous Combustion tour. In 2000 they created the Soul2Soul franchise with their record-breaking “Soul2Soul” tour, becoming that year’s top grossing and most successful U.S. tour. Their success continued in 2006-2007 when “Soul2Soul II” returned to the road, which was the most attended tour of the year in any musical genre and remains the highest grossing multi-year North American tour in country music history.

C2C will be held March 9-11 in London, Dublin, and Glasgow. The full line-up for C2C will be announced at the launch event on Friday Oct. 6 at London Bush Hall hosted by BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris. For tickets and more information visit c2c-countrytocountry.com.

Cam To Launch ‘Best Coast Tour’ In November

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Cam has announced she will hit the road this Fall on her headlining Best Coast Tour beginning Nov. 28. The West Coast tour features opening act Logan Mize and will hit Bakersfield, San Diego, West Hollywood, Seattle and Portland among its stops.

Audiences at the shows will also see an original commissioned LED structure onstage crafted by the Bay Area company, Sheet Metal Alchemist. Tickets for the tour, which wraps December 16, go on sale today and are available at CamCountry.com.

“I’m coming home to tour the West Coast!!”, says Cam. “I’ve picked some of the cutest and quirkiest venues, I’ve built a crazy visual set, and I even get to play new music from the upcoming album! Obviously I’m going all out for the VIP experience too, to take care of the Best Coast that raised me. I’m so proud to come home and show off what I’ve created.”

Cam has also been opening for the legendary George Strait‘s residency concert series throughout the year in Las Vegas, “Strait to Vegas”, at the T-Mobile Arena which includes two remaining dates, Dec. 8-9.

Tour Dates:
Nov. 28: San Luis Obispo, CA;  Madonna Inn
Nov. 29: San Francisco, CA;  Bimbo’s 365 Club
Nov. 30: Bakersfield, CA;  Buck Owens Crystal Palace
Dec. 1: San Diego, CA;  Moonshine Beach
Dec. 5: West Hollywood, CA;  The Troubadour
Dec. 7: Pioneertown, CA; Pappy and Harriet’s
Dec. 14: Vancouver, BC; The Commodore Ballroom
Dec. 15: Seattle; The Crocodile
Dec. 16:  Portland, OR; Hawthorne Theater

Canaan Smith Launches New Fall Tour

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Canaan Smith is launching a new tour, the Long Way From The Freeway Tour, beginning Oct. 19. Presented by Budweiser, the 20-date tour will hit Bakersfield, Indianapolis, Myrtle Beach, Knoxville, and more before wrapping Dec. 2 in New York.

Newcomers Jackie Lee, Chris Bandi and Eric Van Houten will join Smith for select dates on the tour. Fans can purchase tickets beginning today at canaansmith.com.

The Virginia native has spent the past few years playing extensively throughout the US, Canada, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland and has previously toured with Dierks Bentley, Brantley Gilbert and Kip Moore. He launched his first UK Headlining Tour earlier this year after opening shows for breakout UK country duo The Shires, and just released a new digital-only track, “This Night Back.”

October
19—Des Moines IA—Wooly’s *
20—Champagne IL—The City Center *
21—Geneva IL—Grunt Fest
26—Darlington SC—Carolina Nightlife
27—Myrtle Beach SC—The Boathouse
28—Raleigh NC—Lincoln Theater (w/ Gary Allan and LANco)

November
2—Knoxville TN—Cotton Eyed Joe *
3—Rootstown OH—The Dusty Armadillo
4—Mt Laurel NJ—Prospector’s
9—Bakersfield CA—Crystal Palace
10—San Jose CA—Rodeo Club
11–TBA
12—Dana Point CA—Driftwood Festival
17—Shelby Township NJ—Coyote Joe’s **
18—Indianapolis IN—8 Seconds Saloon **
30—Warrendale PA—Jergel’s ***

December
1—Buffalo NY—VENU Buffalo ***
2—Jordan NY—Keg’s Canalside ***

* with Chris Bandi
** with Jackie Lee
***with Jackie Lee and Eric Van Houten

Live Nation Adds Lesley Olenik As VP, Touring

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Lesley Olenik

Live Nation Entertainment has appointed Lesley Olenik as a VP of Touring for its US Concerts division. Based in Los Angeles, Olenik will report to Omar Al-Joulani, SVP of Touring.

“With a deep knowledge of the industry and an innate ability to connect with artists, Lesley is the perfect addition to help lead our touring group as we continue to meet the growing demand for concerts,” said Al-Joulani. “We’re extremely happy she decided to make the jump to Live Nation and can’t wait to see what she accomplishes as part of the world’s leading live entertainment team.”

Olenik most recently served as Senior Vice President of Talent Buying for Goldenvoice, where she booked and produced concerts throughout Southern California, including Adele’s eight-show run at The Staples Center, four performances by Flume at Shrine Expo Hall, and two editions of Radiohead at Shrine Auditorium. She regularly handled concerts at all these venues as well as Microsoft Theater, The Greek Theatre, and The Theatre at The Ace Hotel. Olenik also helped drive festivals at Goldenvoice.

She was instrumental in launching Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival in 2011, and helped grow the fest from a single-day event for 2,500 attendees in The Staples Center parking lot to a full-fledged festival taking over all 160-acre Exposition Park. Olenik also curated talent, oversaw marketing strategies and managed production expenses for festivals including Festival Supreme, The L.A. Bluegrass Situation, Fool’s Gold Day Off and Low End Theory. Earlier in her career, Olenik held posts as the Director of Talent Buying for Nederlander Concerts, and Talent Buyer for Viejas Entertainment.

Olenik received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.

Darius Rucker Headlines The Apollo Theater For October Album Release

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Darius Rucker is set to perform at New York’s Apollo Theater on Oct. 19, the same day his upcoming fifth studio country album, When Was The Last Time, hits stores.

“I have so much respect and awe for the history and traditions this stage represents,” explains Rucker. “To perform at the Apollo as I prepare to release this album which means so much tome, feels like the perfect way to commemorate this album.”

Seeing their name on the Harlem concert hall’s iconic marquee has been a milestone for generations of African-American music legends, from Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington to Gladys Knight, James Brown and Lauryn Hill.  Rucker joins their ranks as one of only a handful of country artists to ever grace the historic stage.

The milestone is one of many Rucker has attained in his career, including becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry, earning both country and pop Grammy honors, and touring with sold-out shows at the O2 and Red Rocks.

Tickets to Darius Rucker at the Apollo Theater go on sale Friday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. ET.

Brett Young Adds Caliville Tour Dates

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Brett Young has added seven new cities to his debut headlining Caliville Tour, which kicks off Oct. 14 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The tour, which also features rising singer/songwriter Carly Pearce, will include a stop at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works on Nov. 17.

Young has earned a gold-selling album with his self-titled debut on BMLG Records, as well as a 2x platinum single with “In Case You Didn’t Know,” and a platinum-selling single with “Sleep Without You.” Young was recently on Lady Antebellum’s You Look Good World Tour.

CALIVILLE TOUR
10/14 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater
10/21 – Kansas City, MO – The Truman
10/28 – Sarasota, FL – White Buffalo Saloon
11/2 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
11/3 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
11/4 – Charlotte, NC – Coyote Joe’s
11/5 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva *
11/11 – Knoxville, TN – Cotton Eyed Joe’s
11/16 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues *
11/17 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works *
11/18 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
11/29 – Oxford, OH – Brick Street Bar-Miami U
11/30 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection *
12/1 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
12/2 – Madison, WI – Orpheum Theater
12/7 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues *
12/9 – Baton Rouge, LA – Texas Club
12/13 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
12/14 – Chicago, IL – Joe’s Sports Bar *
12/15 – Rosemont, IL – Joe’s Live *
12/16 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
*Newly announced dates