Cyndi Lauper Kicks Off ‘Detour’ Tour In Nashville

Cyndi Lauper kicked off her Detour Tour at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Monday evening, May 9, launching her 27-city trek across the United States and Europe.

Aahhhh #Nashville! Night 1 of my tour starts tonight at the #Ryman! What songs do you want to hear live? ?

A photo posted by Cyndi Lauper (@cyndilauper) on

She began the show with “Funnel of Love,” the first track on her new album and took the audience on a musical journey through her latest project offerings intertwining both new and old material. While “detouring,” her performances of classic country standards from her latest project included “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “The End Of The World,” “Heartaches by the Number,” and “Misty Blue.”

Her performance of “Money Changes Everything” brought the crowd to their feet with the audience gladly singing along to her hit tunes that followed, including “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” and “Time After Time” before closing out the show with an encore of “True Colors.”

With this being the first stop of the tour, Lauper admitted she was still “working some of the kinks out” but the audience didn’t mind at all.

Fans have the opportunity to donate to the True Colors Fund and a chance to win exclusives, including a dinner with Cyndi Lauper backstage. Lauper is playing select dates during the DETOUR tour with Boy George, including the June 1 Vienna, Va. show, where the winning donation will have an opportunity to meet the artists backstage, have dinner with Lauper among other perks. The True Colors Fund, an organization co-founded by Lauper, works to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. To donate and enter for chances to win exclusives, click here.

Afterwards, Lauper visited with music industry members at a private reception at the Ryman.

MusicRow Publisher Sherod Robertson visits with Lauper at a private industry reception following her Ryman show.

MusicRow Publisher Sherod Robertson visits with Lauper at a private industry reception following her Ryman show.

Lauper’s country album Detour, which released May 6, includes her renditions of several classic tunes from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Detour features guest appearances from Vince GillEmmylou HarrisAlison Krauss, Jewel and Willie Nelson. Lauper recorded the album in Nashville with many of the city’s top session players.

She visited MusicRow earlier this year to discuss her new album and tour.

CyndiLauper

CYNDI LAUPER DETOUR TOUR:
*denotes shows with Boy George

May 9 Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, Tenn.
May 11 Palace Theatre – Louisville, Ky.
May 13 Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall – Pittsburgh, Pa.
May 14 Michigan Theater – Ann Arbor, Mich.
May 16 Chicago Theater – Chicago, Ill.
May 17 Hard Rock Live – Cleveland, Ohio
May 20 Mohegan Sun – Uncasville, Conn.*
May 21 Wang Theater – Boston, Mass.*
May 25 Beacon Theater – New York, Ny.*
May 28 Sands Bethlehem Event Center – Bethlehem, Pa.*
May 29 Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Atlantic City, N.J.*
June 1 Wolf Trap – Vienna, Va.*
June 2 Charleston Music Hall Charleston, S.C.
June 4 Duke Energy Center Raleigh, N.C.
June 5 Symphony Hall – Atlanta, Ga.
June 8 Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, Fla.
June 9 Dr. Phillips Center – Orlando, Fla.
June 11 Mizner Park Amphitheatre – Boca Raton, Fla.
June 12 St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, Fla.
Sept. 10 ACL Live at Moody Theater – Austin, Texas
Sept. 11 Revention Music Center – Houston, Texas
Sept. 13 Civic Center Music Hall – Oklahoma City, Okla.
Sept. 15 Uptown Theatre – Kansas City, Mo.
Sept. 18 Paramount Theatre – Denver, Colo.
Sept. 20 The Depot – Salt Lake City, Utah
Sept. 21 Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical – Boise, Idaho
Sept. 23 Thunder Valley Casino Resort – Lincoln, Calif.
Sept. 24 Agua Caliente Casino – Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Sept. 27 Vina Robles Amphitheatre – Paso Robles, Calif.
Sept. 28 Arlington Theatre – Santa Barbara, Calif.
Sept. 30 The Mountain Winery – Saratoga, Calif.
Oct. 3 Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay – San Diego, Calif.
Oct. 5 Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, Calif.
Oct. 7 Talking Stick Resort Ballroom – Scottsdale, Ariz.
Oct. 8 The Joint – Las Vegas, Nev.

 

Garth Brooks Plots First Country Concert At New Yankee Stadium

Pictured (L-R): Kelly Ford, America's Morning Show; Garth Brooks; Blair Garner and Chuck Wicks, America's Morning Show

Pictured (L-R): Kelly Ford, America’s Morning Show; Garth Brooks; Blair Garner and Chuck Wicks, America’s Morning Show

Garth Brooks will play his first New York City concert in 19 years on July 9 at Yankee Stadium. He made the announcement on Wednesday morning (May 11) on the NASH radio program, America’s Morning Show.

Brooks’ show will be the first country music concert to be held in the new Yankee Stadium. Trisha Yearwood will open the show. Tickets go on sale on May 20.

According to its official website, Yankee Stadium has a seating capacity of 50,287. It opened in 2009.

This is Brooks’ first concert in the city since 1997, when he played for nearly a million people in Central Park. That concert was filmed for an HBO special.

There will be an eight-ticket limit per purchase for the Yankee Stadium concert. Tickets will cost $69.23 plus a $4.50 facility fee and a $6.25 service charge for a total of $79.98.

Tickets can only be purchased at ticketmaster.com or ticketmaster.com/garthbrooks or either Ticketmaster Express 1-866-448-7849 or 1-800-745-3000. There will be no ticket sales at the venue box office or Ticketmaster outlets on May 20.

Brooks’ next scheduled shows begin Thursday (May 12) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for six shows across four days.

Pictured (L to R): John Shomby, Director of Programming, NASH Network; Leslie Slender, Vice President, Brand Partnerships & Events, Cumulus/Westwood One; Garth Brooks; Tommy Page, SVP, Brand Partnerships, Cumulus Media; Charlie Cook Vice President, Country, Cumulus Media, Operations Manager, Cumulus Nashville, Program Director, 95.5 NASH ICON WSM-FM and NASH FM 103-3 WKDF.

Pictured (L to R): John Shomby, Director of Programming, NASH Network; Leslie Slender, Vice President, Brand Partnerships & Events, Cumulus/Westwood One; Garth Brooks; Tommy Page, SVP, Brand Partnerships, Cumulus Media; Charlie Cook Vice President, Country, Cumulus Media, Operations Manager, Cumulus Nashville, Program Director, 95.5 NASH ICON WSM-FM and NASH FM 103-3 WKDF.

Reba, Brooks & Dunn Extend Las Vegas Residency Into 2017

Reba and Brooks & Dunn 2015

Reba and Brooks & Dunn have added 12 shows to their residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Six of the shows will take place in 2016: Nov. 30, and Dec. 2, 3, 7, 9 and 10. The remainder will be for shows in 2017: Feb. 22, 24, and 25; and March 1, 3, and 4.

Tickets for these shows will go on sale Friday (May 13).

Previously announced dates already on-sale are: May 10, 13, 14; and July 12, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 26, 29, and 30.

The collaboration is a culmination of the friendship and musical admiration Reba and Brooks & Dunn have shared since first touring together in 1993. Presented jointly by Caesars Entertainment and AEG Live, the two-hour production features more than 30 hits backed by a band of 10 players from both of their touring bands. The set includes solo and joint performances of their signature tracks including “Fancy,” “My Maria” and “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.”

Live Nation Drops Tickets To $20 For Select Summer Shows

Live Nation Entertainment logo. (PRNewsFoto/Live Nation Entertainment)

Live Nation has revealed the 150 artists involved in a special Kickoff to Summer offer, which gives fans access to select Live Nation concerts for $20 per ticket. The promotion begins Friday, May 13 and runs through May 20 at livenation.com.

Among those artists are Alabama Shakes, Brad Paisley, Brantley Gilbert, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton, Don Henley, Dwight Yoakam, Gregg Allman Band, Hillsong Worship, Jason Aldean, Josh Turner, Journey/Doobie Brothers, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Kenny Rogers, Lee Brice, Lynyrd Skynyrd, mercyme, Miranda Lambert, Needtobreathe, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band, and more.

The promotion was first offered last year, and aided Live Nation to reach a sales volume in amphitheaters of 14.4 million tickets.

The vast majority of the $20 promotional tickets are offered for Live Nation’s lawn inventory in its amphitheaters. In a review of last year’s promotion, Live Nation reported seeing increased sales for full-priced reserved seat sales in its amphitheaters during the week of the promotion and in the weeks following.

For a full list of participating artists, visit livenation.com.

Tire Manufacturer Signs On As Florida Georgia Line Tour Sponsor

Florida Georgia Line 2016

Florida Georgia Line has added Nitto Tire as the presenting sponsor of their upcoming Dig Your Roots Tour.

Nitto Tire is a leading manufacturer of off-road and street performance tires. The brand will be launching an all-new tire in its Grappler line of truck and SUV tires this summer. Florida Georgia Line fans will get a first look at this new tire at CMA Fest in Nashville on June 11.

In addition, this new tire will be featured on a Florida Georgia Line-inspired truck (F150) built by Nitto. The truck will be given away to a fan at the conclusion of the tour. In addition, Nitto Tire will be activating on-site at select shows this summer while giving fans the opportunity to engage with the brand and win prizes.

“Being car enthusiasts ourselves, we are thrilled to partner with Nitto Tire for our tour,” says the duo’s Tyler Hubbard.

Brian Kelley continued, “Getting our own FGL inspired car is incredible! We are honored and can’t wait for one of our fans to drive away in it.”

Florida Georgia Line performed on NBC’s The Voice and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday (May 9). The duo’s next concert will take place Thursday in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Toby Keith Prepares Tour, Charity Event, New Album

Toby Keith

Toby Keith

Toby Keith will launch his Interstates & Tailgates Tour on Tuesday (May 10) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Presented by Ford Trucks, the tour is scheduled through Oct. 16 in Austin, Texas. Eric Paslay has been added to the tour on select dates.

Next month, Keith will host the 13th Annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic, in Norman, Oklahoma. The event raises money for the Toby Keith Foundation and its work supporting seriously ill children and their families through the OK Kids Korral. A gala dinner, performance and auction will take place June 3, followed the next day by a shotgun golf tournament. Approximately 750 attendees are expected at the event, which has raised millions since its inception.

Keith is currently in the studio working on a new album, following his 2015 project, 35 mph Town.

Ringo Starr Adds Ryman Show After North Carolina Cancellation

Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band. Photo: Scott Robert Ritchie

Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band. Photo: Scott Robert Ritchie

Ringo Starr has added a second night at the Ryman Auditorium after dropping his North Carolina show in protest.

Starr was previously scheduled to perform in Cary, North Carolina, on June 18 with his All Starr Band — featuring Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie, Steve Lukather, Richard Page, Warren Ham and Gregg Bissonette. However, he cancelled the show last month in opposition to the passing of HB2, the controversial transgender bathroom law. Bruce Springsteen also canceled his North Carolina show in April.

Tickets for the newly-added Ryman show on June 18 show will go on sale Friday (May 13). The group will also perform there on June 19. The tour wraps July 2 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles.

Eric Church Confirmed For Carolina Kickoff Stadium Concert

Eric Church. Photo: Jill Trunell

Eric Church. Photo: Jill Trunell

Eric Church will headline a new event called Carolina Kickoff at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina, on August 20. It will be Church’s only 2016 performance in his home state of North Carolina. At least two other artists will be added to the bill, according to local station WNCT.

“We look forward to this great concert with tremendous anticipation, bringing Eric Church to Greenville and fans all across eastern North Carolina. With its 50,000-seat capacity, Dowdy-Ficklen stadium is an ideal entertainment venue for top-tier musical artists. Fans have wanted this for years and we’re hopeful this is the first of many opportunities we have to bring such talent for everyone to enjoy in our city and region,” said Allen Thomas, Mayor, City of Greenville.

The festival was announced Thursday (May 5) by the East Carolina University Department of Athletics and made possible through their partnership with IMG and Basis Entertainment.

Iowa-based Basis Entertainment executive Gary DeWaard said he sees great potential for such an event for the university as well as area residents.

“We here at Basis Entertainment are thrilled and honored to be working with a fine institution like East Carolina University for the Carolina Kickoff,” DeWaard said. “We can’t wait to bring Eric Church and a host of other fantastic musical artists to the Pirate faithful and help kickoff what I am sure is going to be a memorable 2016 football season.”

Tickets for the event will go on sale May 17 to ECU students and football season ticket holders before being available to the general public on May 24. Other performing acts and ticket prices will be announced in the coming weeks.

”Our entire hospitality community is excited that East Carolina is bringing such a high profile artist to Greenville and Pitt County. These high-caliber events not only create a positive economic impact locally, but help to solidify the city of Greenville as a top destination within our state,” said Andrew Schmidt, CHME, MPA Executive Director Greenville-Pitt County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“We are excited to welcome Eric Church to our stadium for this unique event,” East Carolina Athletics Director Jeff Compher said. “Born in North Carolina, he titled his sophomore album Carolina in 2009. The Carolina Kickoff is a homecoming of sorts for this talented artist. It is with great enthusiasm that we look forward to having him in Greenville and Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, especially to precede our season opener.”

Live Nation Teams With NextVR For Virtual Reality Concert Series

Live Nation Entertainment logo. (PRNewsFoto/Live Nation Entertainment)

Live Nation has partnered with NextVR for a series of virtual reality concerts featuring hundreds of performances from Live Nation artists.

The virtual reality experience will allow access to every nuance of a show, from backstage access, to front-row and on-stage views during the performances. NextVR’s proprietary 3D VR audio program will be utilized for the performances.

Live Nation and NextVR are currently working on the lineup of artists that will be involved, though they have stated that all Live Nation events are possible candidates for inclusion in the virtual reality series. The first music experience will take place this summer, with a schedule of events due later this year.

A NextVR rep tells MusicRow that initially all programming will be free, but that pay-for-view programs will follow. Fans can download the free NextVR app for Gear VR to view the live music events, with additional viewing platforms to follow.

“We are excited to bring music fans a new and completely immersive way to see their favorite artists perform in places they may not have access to,” said Jordan Zachary, chief strategy officer at Live Nation. “It’s an exciting opportunity for Live Nation to have a partner with such a strong foundation in live, virtual-reality broadcast technology helping us redefine how we deliver content and terrific experiences on behalf of the world’s most exciting performers.”

 

 

CAA Signs Singer-Songwriter Brandon Ray

Pictured (L-R): Brett Saliba, CAA; Jared Evans, Red Light Management; Brandon Ray; Justin Cahill, CAA; Brian Hill, CAA

Pictured (L-R): Brett Saliba, CAA; Jared Evans, Red Light Management; Brandon Ray; Justin Cahill, CAA; Brian Hill, CAA

CAA has signed Nashville-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Brandon Ray.

Ray, who is represented by Red Light Management, has had touring gigs with Taylor Swift and Brett Eldredge. As a songwriter, he is signed with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. This week he is participating in the Key West Songwriters Festival in Key West, Florida.

Ray is working on a solo EP with producer/writer/engineer Nick Brophy (Kip Moore, Big & Rich). He is a native of Big Spring, Texas.