Mumford & Sons’ Ben Lovett Announces Timeline For New Huntsville Venue Opening

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David M. Schwarz Architects

Venue Group, the global entertainment and hospitality group founded and led by Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons and his partners, has revealed its timeline for the spring 2022 opening of Huntsville, Alabama’s new Amphitheater.

Construction is now underway for the state-of-the-art Amphitheater, and the doors of the venue are slated to open in April 2022. Huntsville’s Amphitheater boasts a capacity of approximately 8,000 fans, and reinvents the concept of a major event space expanding it to a 365-day experience that will, in addition to hosting live music, provide daily community building opportunities for local groups, businesses and government organizations for both large-scale and small gatherings.

Adjacent to the Amphitheater, Venue Group is in talks with regional chefs and local vendors for the food village that will operate year-round and provide food and beverage options not only to patrons of the Amphitheater, but also serve as an additional amenity and social space for Mid-City (the fast-growing neighborhood to the west of Downtown Huntsville).

“One of the biggest trends in the past 10 years has been an elevation of the quality and variety of food offerings, especially around music,” says Lovett. “We believe there is a huge amount of opportunity in the hospitality side of entertainment to deliver food and drinks of such excellence that they stand on their own two feet as an offering not simply as a way to “tide you over,” quench the thirst or satiate the hunger temporarily. We have to aspire for higher standards than that. One of the reasons that Huntsville is so appealing to me and the team is it feels like going the extra mile is in the DNA of this city and we intend to go the extra mile when it comes to not just the concert experience but the restaurants and bars that lay adjacent and that will serve customers year-round.”

“More than an amphitheater, this facility will help us grow our music and culture economy,” said Tommy Battle, Mayor of Huntsville. “It will allow us to become a community of curators, where we can develop our own creative content that is unique to Huntsville that we can share globally. In addition to arts festivals, markets, and world-famous musicians, we’ll be able to incubate our own talent, showing that our next great entrepreneurs don’t all have to be in space and missile defense.”

Blackberry Smoke Marks 20 Years As A Band With New Album ‘You Hear Georgia’

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Blackberry Smoke is celebrating their 20th anniversary of making music as a band with a brand new album, You Hear Georgia, due out on May 28 via Thirty Tigers.

In addition to the band members Charlie Starr (vocals, guitar), Richard Turner (bass, vocals), Brit Turner (drums), Paul Jackson (guitar, vocals) and Brandon Still (keyboards), the new album also features special guests Jamey Johnson on the track “Lonesome For A Livin’” and Warren Haynes on “All Rise Again,” as well as backing vocals from The Black Bettys.

Across the album’s ten new songs Blackberry Smoke continues to embody Georgia’s rich musical legacy as they have for the past two decades, honoring the people, places and sounds of their home state. With the addition of producer Dave Cobb, a fellow Georgian, the new album pays homage to the band’s deep respect for their roots.

Of the title track, lead singer Starr says: “Lyrically, the song is about the South being misunderstood. It’s obviously a rough and tumble world, and there’s a lot of bad people. But there’s a lot of good people too. It started with the idea of how people might have a preconceived opinion of you because of a thick Southern accent, then expanded into the reality of how some people just seem to have such a hard time getting along, thanks to political or religious views, or simply what part of the country you come from.”

You Hear Georgia follows the release of 2018’s Find A Light, which entered at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and No. 2 on the Billboard Americana/Folk Albums chart. Following Find A Light, the band shared three additional projects—a live album and concert film, Homecoming: Live In Atlanta, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Album Sales chart; a six-song acoustic EP, The Southern Ground Sessions; and Live From Capricorn Sound Studios, an EP of six covers that have special ties to the historic studio.

You Hear Georgia Track List:
1. Live It Down
2. You Hear Georgia
3. Hey Delilah
4. Ain’t The Same
5. Lonesome For A Livin’ (feat. Jamey Johnson)
6. All Rise Again (feat. Warren Haynes)
7. Old Enough To Know
8. Morningside
9. All Over The Road
10. Old Scarecrow

Travis Tritt Announces First Full-Length Studio Album In Over A Decade

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Travis Tritt. Photo: David Abbott

Travis Tritt will release a new album, Set In Stone, on May 7 via Big Noise Label Group. Tritt revisits his traditional country roots on “Smoke In A Bar,” which will release weeks ahead of the album (March 5).

Set In Stone features 11 new songs, 8 of which were co-written by Tritt. The album is Tritt’s first original full-length studio album in over a decade, and was produced by Dave Cobb.

Grand Ole Opry member Tritt has released eleven studio albums, amassed more than 30 million in career album sales, and been awarded two Grammy Awards, four CMA Awards, and more throughout his career. Among his albums and numerous charted singles are five number ones and 20 Top 10 hits, including “Help Me Hold On,” “Anymore,” “Can I Trust You with My Heart,” “Foolish Pride,” “Best of Intentions,” “I’m Gonna Be Somebody,” “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde,” “Here’s A Quarter,” “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive,” and more.

Set In Stone Track List:
“Stand Your Ground” (Travis Tritt, Wayne B. Durrett III, Channing Wilson)
“Set In Stone” (Travis Tritt, Brent Cobb, Adam Hood)
“Ghost Town Nation”(Aaron Raitiere, JB Strauss)
“Smoke In A Bar” (Jeremy Bussey, Derek George, Tim Montana)
“Leave This World” (Travis Tritt, Ashley Monroe)
“They Don’t Make Em’ Like That No More (Travis Tritt, Matthew Dillon Carmichael)
“Better Off Dead” (Travis Tritt, Adam Hood)
“Southern Man” (Travis Tritt, Channing Wilson)
“Open Line” (Travis Tritt, Brent Cobb)
“Ain’t Who I Was” (Brent Cobb, Adam Hood)
“Way Down In Georgia” (Travis Tritt, Dennis Anthony Robbins, Troy Seals)

Payton Smith To Play Virtual Benefit Show For East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

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Payton Smith is hosting a free virtual concert for VOLthon to benefit East Tennessee Children’s Hospital on February 27.

During his free performance, Smith will match up to $1,000 in donations and Big Machine Label Group’s Music Has Value will make a $1,000 contribution. To give, simply text ‘Payton’ to 51555 to receive a link to donate. All donations made to VOLthon will stay in the community, benefiting patients receiving care at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

A student-run organization at the University of Tennessee, VOLthon raises money for their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. Last year, VOLthon raised more than $152,000 for Children’s Hospital, ending the fundraising campaign in February 2020 with a live dance party. This is the first time VOLthon will host their main event virtually, allowing for students to participate while complying with COVID-19 restrictions.

“Raising money for Children’s Hospital means more to me than most people realize,” expresses Payton. “Children’s Hospital of New Orleans saved my younger brother Zachary’s life. His illness led to quadruple amputations and that meant many trips to the Children’s Hospital as a kid. The impact that had helped me understand how much this place saves lives and changes lives. Any opportunity to give, support and highlight what this place means to children and families, I’m all in.”

Smith is releasing his new single, “This Ain’t That Song” on February 26 via Big Machine Records.

Lily Rose Signs With Fusion Music

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Lily Rose. Photo: Anthony Stone

Lily Rose has signed with Fusion Music for management. Fusion is partnering with Rakiyah Marshall’s Back Blocks Music to manage Rose.

The Big Loud/Republic/Back Blocks Music artist’s song “Villain” recently made a meteoric rise to No. 1 on the iTunes all-genre list and has earned more than 18 million global streams. The track is set to impact at country radio on March 8.

Rose grew up in Atlanta and made her way from the college bars of Athens, Georgia to sold-out shows throughout the Southeast. After arriving in Nashville just three years ago, she quickly immersed herself in the songwriting community. Her independent release of “Villain” in December 2020 caught the attention of Nashville labels, and she found her home with Big Loud/Republic in January 2021.

“Lily is a superstar in the making,” said Fusion Music’s Managing Partner, Daniel Miller. “She has put in more than a decade developing her craft and charting her course. Between part-time jobs she learned to route her own tour dates and build a global fan base. We’re excited to join Rakiyah and the rest of the team for an incredible journey.”

Fusion Music, in association with Red Light Management, also represents country artists Martina McBride, Riley Green, Cassadee Pope and Laine Hardy, among others.

CMA Partners With Touring Professionals Alliance Kitchen

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The Country Music Association is partnering with the Touring Professionals Alliance to fund the expansion of its kitchen program, which offers chef-driven meals to live music professionals.

Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 24, the Touring Professionals Alliance Kitchen will operate once a week through Wednesday, March 24 in Nashville. Participating restaurants include Audrey, helmed by chef Sean Brock, and Chaatable, helmed by chef Maneet Chauhan.

This is the latest step in CMA’s ongoing Music Industry COVID Support (MICS) initiative. CMA’s $3 million long-term COVID-19 commitment began in early 2020 and has supported Music Health Alliance, Musically Fed, MusiCares, Notes for Notes, Porter’s Call and The Store.

“Live music touring professionals are like family members to us, and we are honored to partner with the Touring Professionals Alliance to contribute to their efforts,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “The aid provided through the Touring Professionals Alliance Kitchen goes so much deeper than simply offering meals to industry professionals in need—TPA has created an environment for our friends to come together for a brief moment of relief in what has been an incredibly difficult year.”

For more information on the relief efforts and for specifics on dates and locations for meal distribution, visit TouringProfessionals.com.

Music industry professionals interested in receiving a meal through the program must register in advance.

On The Row: Dallas Remington Has Kept Busy During Pandemic

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Dallas Remington. Photo: Brad Rankin

Independent singer-songwriter Dallas Remington is a fifth generation farming family member from Kentucky who moved to Nashville to pursue music at the age of 15. Since then she’s opened for artists including Montgomery Gentry, Buddy Jewell, Dillon Carmichael, and more, and charted a few singles on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

Her last single, “Unncommon Man,” made its way to No. 24 on the MusicRow Chart. Remington co-wrote the song with Courtney Bumbacher, it was produced by Eric Torres (Jimmie Allen) at The Couch Room, and is dedicated to her father as well as essential workers working in the COVID-19 pandemic.

YouTube video

Remington is gearing up for new music soon. In the meantime, she is working on a lot of different projects, including flipping homes in Nashville.”We’ve been in a pandemic, no one can blame us for taking our time,” Remington joked in a recent virtual visit with MusicRow.

“We’ve had a lot of fun with that. That kept me busy,” Remington said of her home renovation projects. “I love being on the road and not being able to travel this year, if we hadn’t flipped the houses, I don’t think I’d be sane right now.”

Her and her mother and manager, Sonya Jean, are promoting their renovation projects under the name Phoenix Homes.

Remington has also been posting cooking videos on Instagram every Tuesday in a segment called Pickin and Cookin. Through the segment she has made pasta, cupcakes, pizza, wings, donuts, stuffed peppers and more. “We spent the first month of quarantine back in Kentucky and I was cooking for my family all the time, to keep myself busy.”

She has also been writing frequently over Zoom and doing social media takeovers with MusicRow CountryBreakout reporting stations.

“I’ve created so many great friendships with DJs through the [MusicRow] chart, every time I talk to someone I’m like, ‘Can you believe the last time we saw each other, every radio person in the country was all in one room together [at CRS]?'”

Remington will release new music this spring.

Pictured (L-R, top row): MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, LB Cantrell, and Alex Parry; (L-R, middle row): MusicRow’s Haley Crow; Dallas Remington; Manager, Sonya Jean; Publisher, Nancy Deckant; (L-R, bottom row): B! Noticed Public Relations, Bev Moser; Jennifer Blair Promotions, Jennifer Blair

Nashville Music Equality To Feature The Black CMA On Panel Tonight

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As part of its Black History Month series, Nashville Music Equality is holding an in-depth Zoom discussion with the founders of the Black Country Music Association tonight (Feb. 23) at 5:30 p.m. CT.

Ms. Frankie Staton, Dr. Cleve Francis, and Ms. Valierie Ellis Hawkins will be joining Nashville Music Equality to discuss the history of their organization and take a look through their eyes at how Nashville was then and if/what differences they see in Nashville now.

Francis convened a group of 14 artists, journalists, college administrators, marketing experts, and music industry professionals for one of the first meetings of the Black Country Music Association back in 1995, and set the group’s mission then to educate the public about the role Black artists have played in country’s history and provide a space for Black artists in the genre to come together.

Those wishing to attend the discussion can register here. MTheory, CMT, Quinton Digital and the Academy of Country Music has sponsored tonight’s panel.

FGL’s Amazon Global Livestream Event Set For Thursday

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Florida Georgia Line’s exclusive global livestream event “Life Rolls On From The FGL House” will take place this Thursday (Feb. 25), due to being rescheduled following the winter weather in Nashville.

FGL raises a glass to their fifth studio album, Life Rolls On, alongside Amazon Music and CMT for a full-band concert during the event, live from their own venue. Hosted by CMT’s Cody Alan, the livestream kicks off at 7 p.m. CT on the Amazon Music Twitch channel and within the Amazon Music mobile app. The performance will also be available to watch on the Amazon Music Twitch channel for three days afterwards.

FGL House is located in downtown Nashville, near the site of the Christmas Day bombing. Amazon Music, FGL, CMT, and Big Machine Label Group have each donated to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s Nashville Neighbors Fund to support local merchants affected by the bombing. Grants from the fund are made available to nonprofits providing services for both immediate and long-term needs for those impacted from the explosion. Fans can learn more by visiting cfmt.org/NashvilleNeighbors and will have the opportunity to donate during the livestream via Tiltify.

Industry Ink: Outback Presents, Warner Music Nashville, MusiCares

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Outback Presents Adds Danny Eaton as Sr. Vice President

Danny Eaton

Outback Presents has tapped Dallas-based concert promoter Danny Eaton as Sr. Vice President, bringing decades of experience to his new role.

Eaton started out producing concerts in Dallas and Austin, Texas including dates with ZZ Top, Kris Kristofferson, ELO, and Black Sabbath. He became integrally involved with the management team for ZZ Top in the ‘70s, followed by time with Eaton Page Productions, and 462 Concerts, a dominate force in Dallas for two decades. In 2004 he joined AEG and successfully rebuilt the once bankrupt Nokia Live Theater in Grand Prairie, Texas. In 2010 he was named Sr. VP for Live Nation in Dallas.

“Danny is a longtime friend who I admire and trust,” said Outback Presents President Mike Smardack. “His accomplishments as a promoter I have always looked up to. We are very excited to have Danny join our team.”

“I am honored and happy to join forces with Mike Smardak, Vaughn Millette, Brian Dorfman, and the rest of the Outback team,” said Eaton. “I have known Mike for many years and I have always admired his concert promotion strategies and skills. My plan is to help the company grow its already prolific business and help expand the Outback brand. I am beyond excited about this new adventure with Outback.”

Contact Eaton at danny.eaton@outbackpresents.com or 469-372-1100.

 

Warner Music Nashville Commits To Offset Emissions

Spanning 36,000 acres, the WMN-sponsored Crow Lake Wind project resides east of Chamberlain, SD. Photo Courtesy: South Pole

Warner Music Nashville is offsetting a portion of its carbon emissions through a partnership with South Pole, a leading provider of global climate action solutions. They are working together on the Crow Lake Wind project near Chamberlain, South Dakota which harnesses wind power to provide homes with clean energy. At full capacity, the project could serve 129,000 homes.

The Crow Lake Wind project has a unique cooperative ownership structure, which has been good for the community, resulting in jobs, tax income, payments to landowners where the project takes place, and wind turbine experience for local college students.

“I have had a lifelong passion for the environment, but it was our internal WMGreen team that took the initiative to identify and adopt a project of this scale,” said Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito. “I am especially proud to support the Crow Lake Wind project because it highlights the intersection of environmental, social and economic issues. Saving the planet is also saving its people.”

 

New Candle Line Benefits MusiCares

Bethany and Erik Leighty crafted a special MusiCares candle as part of the partnership, with $5 from each sale of this scent going to the organization.

Members of the music industry Bethany and Erik Leighty have started Wooded Creek Candle Co., with a $1 of every candle sold being donated to MusiCares. Erik works as a touring production manager and Bethany is a graphic designer for a live music booking agency, and when the pandemic struck last year they felt compelled to give back.

Since then, their candles have been used in corporate gifts baskets by the CMA and Sterling Entertainment, as well as the upcoming MusiCares’ Music on a Mission, a virtual event to honor the resiliency of the music community during the pandemic. Set for Friday, March 12, the event will feature performances by HAIM, H.E.R., Jhene Aiko and  John Legend.