Tenille Townes. Photo: Robert Chavers

Tenille Townes showcased her duality at Nashville’s Exit/In as she celebrated the release of her new Masquerades EP earlier this week. Originally slated to take place on May 3, the show was rescheduled after a member of Townes’ band contracted COVID-19.

Proceeds from the show benefitted local Nashville shelter Room In The Inn, which strives to emphasize human development and recovery through education, self-help and work.

Tenille Townes. Photo: Robert Chavers

After an opening set from one of Warner Music Nashville’s newest artists, Avery Anna, Townes took the stage decked out in an all white outfit, jumping straight into to the electric “White Horse” before energizing the crowd with “Same Road Home,” a tune from her new EP.

“Oh my goodness. It is so good to be here with you guys. I’m so grateful to each and every single one of you who came,” she gushed over the packed room. “This is our first time playing Exit/In, but I’ve been to so many shows here so it’s an honor to get to play here.”

She continued, “We’re going to play the new songs from Masquerades, which I’m so happy is out there, and we’re actually going to play a couple of songs that we haven’t ever played before. I just hope that all of these songs are a way for me to show you both sides of who I am. That’s the goal here tonight.”

The Sony Music Nashville recording artist ripped into a string of tunes, including “Light In Your Eyes” off of the new EP, a magnetic cover of Sheryl Crow‘s “If It Makes You Happy,” and a chilling rendition of her breakout hit “Jersey On The Wall – I’m Just Asking” which she explained has taken on a whole new life since she wrote it.

Tenille Townes & Breland. Photo: Robert Chavers

Townes also gave impressive performances of her ode to waiting for love on “When’s It Gonna Happen” and yearning “Where You Are,” while also welcoming surprise guest Breland to the stage for their new collaboration “Shared Walls.”

“I wrote this with a couple friends of mine in our respective apartments through a screen. We were talking about apartment living, our neighbors, and how much closer we felt to our neighbors down the hallway and also across the entire world over the past few years,” she explained. “We’ve all been through so much so we wrote a song about it.”

Though a big smile rarely left the singer-songwriter’s face, she also gave the audience a healthy helping of emotions with songs like “When You Need It,” which originally features pop singer Wrabel lending his vocals; as well as an acoustic, solo version of “When I Meet My Maker;” and a version of “Villain In Me” that had the crowd’s skin crawling with anticipation as she left the stage.

Returning in a moody, all-black ensemble the Canadian entertainer made her way through the rest of the stacked set list, including the haunting “The Sound of Being Alone,” to which she controlled the room’s attention with ease; the ever-bluesy “I Kept the Roses;” and the nostalgic, dream-inspiring “Girl Who Didn’t Care.”

Tenille Townes. Photo: Robert Chavers

“I have had the best time with you guys tonight. Nashville, thank you for these moments. I promise I’m just going to hold onto this Exit/In night forever,” Townes beamed as she fought back tears. “Thank you for showing up and singing these songs. It’s such a dream to be able to do this and to be a part of an amazing community like Nashville.

“We’re going to leave you with one more song about how everyone has a story,” she said. “Thanks for looking out for one another. Be kind to each other. I love you guys so much. Thank you so much for spending the night with us.”

Townes closed out the night with her debut single “Somebody’s Daughter,” which earned a roar of applause from the Nashville crowd.

This weekend, she will open up for Brooks & Dunn on their “Reboot 2022 Tour,” making stops in Charleston West Virginia; Toledo, Ohio; and Detroit, Michigan.

Otter Creek Entertainment Team

Haley McLemore, Van Haze and JT Pratt have launched a new management and strategic partnerships company, Otter Creek Entertainment.

With over 20 years of collective management experience, the trio will continue to oversee the careers of their award-winning roster, including Brett Young, Maddie & Tae, and newcomer Roman Alexander.

The three have decades of experience in the industry. Previously at Red Light since 2014, McLemore also spent time with 377 Management, Mercury and CMA.

Haze has been with Red Light since 2015 following stints as MCA VP/National Promotion and stops at Capitol, Universal South and WMSI/Jackson, Mississippi.

Pratt joins Otter following more than four years at Red Light and a year with L3 Entertainment.

“We are so fortunate to work with some of the most talented artists in music today,” McLemore and Haze note. “Helping them reach their personal and professional goals is the most rewarding part of our jobs and we look forward to continuing their many successes in the future.”

Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Kip Moore has announced his multi-city “Fire On Wheels Tour.” The trek will kick off in Salt Lake City, Utah on Sept. 8 and run across the U.S. and a handful of stops in Canada through Nov. 12.

Along the way, Moore will be accompanied by Boy Named Banjo as direct support. Tickets will go on sale beginning July 1 at 10 a.m. local time.

To celebrate, Moore also released some new music with his new track “Fire On Wheels.” The song was co-written and co-produced by Moore and Jaren Johnston of the The Cadillac Three.

“Fire On Wheels Tour” Dates:
9/8/22 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex
9/9/22 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory Concert House
9/11/22 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre
9/15/22 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
9/16/22 – Omaha, NE – The Admiral
9/17/22 – Salina, KS – Tony’s Pizza Events Center
9/23/22 – Morgantown, WV – Ruby Amphitheater
9/24/22 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head LIVE
10/6/22 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva
10/7/22 – Charlotte, NC – Coyote Joe’s
10/8/22 – Greenville, SC – The Blind Horse Saloon
10/20/22 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
10/21/22 – Tallahassee, FL – The Moon
10/27/22 – Albany, NY – Empire LIVE
10/28/22 – Burlington, VT – Flynn Performing Arts Center
10/29/22 – Rutland, VT – Paramount Theatre
11/3/22 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall*
11/6/22 – London, ON – London Music Hall*
11/10/22 – New York, NY – Terminal 5
11/11/22 – Hershey, PA – Hershey Theater
11/12/22 – Cleveland, OH – The Masonic Temple

*Jess Moskaluke will be special guest

ACM Music Campers with Filmore at the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Courtesy of ACM

ACM Lifting Lives hosted its 13th Annual Music Camp with Vanderbilt Kennedy Center from June 13-17, with 23 campers participating from all over the U.S. and Canada.

The week-long residential program is for individuals with Williams syndrome who are passionate about music. Campers participated in a week of in-person activities for the first time since 2019, starting with the writing of an original song, and culminating with performing the song on the Grand Ole Opry.

Walker Hayes attends a songwriting session with ACM Lifting Lives Music Campers. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM Lifting Lives

Stars who joined the campers throughout the week include singer/vocal coach Jason Catron, Lindsay Ell, Hannah Ellis, Filmore, Walker Hayes, singer-songwriter Josh Jenkins, Restless Road, Rod + Rose, Runaway June, Dylan Schneider, and musician/guitar teacher Marty Schwartz.

This year, campers started the week by co-writing a song called “Reunion” with Ross Copperman, Walker Hayes, and Josh Jenkins to mark the occasion of seeing each other in person for the first time since before COVID. After the campers rehearsed the song with the help of Hannah Ellis and had their vocal cords warmed up by Jason Catron, they recorded the song with Runaway June, and performed the song on the Friday night Opry with Filmore.

ACM Lifting Lives Music Campers visit the Bluebird Cafe on June 14, 2022. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM Lifting Lives

Throughout the week, campers were able to explore parts of Nashville and get an inside look at the music industry. They helped celebrate the Bluebird Cafe’s 40th birthday, gathering at the venue, and with the help of Lindsay Ell singing happy birthday to the venue. Ell then answered questions from the campers and performed songs for them from the Bluebird stage.

Other highlights include media training with Restless Road and Dylan Schneider with the help of Seacrest Studios at The Listening Room, karaoke with Rod + Rose at Winners Bar and Grill, and a behind-the-scenes look at how Gibson guitars are made at the Gibson Garage with a guitar lesson from Marty Schwartz.

“To have all of our campers back in the same room celebrating their love for music and each other was an inspiring experience,” shares Lyndsay Cruz, ACM Lifting Lives Executive Director. “The song they wrote, recorded, and performed called ‘Reunion’ perfectly captured the feeling of this year’s camp. Their positive energy and excitement of being together again rubbed off on all of the special guests that joined Music Camp. We are so thankful to each artist and the country music community who helped make this camp so special after a two year in-person hiatus.”

Zach Beeken, Garrett Nichols and Colton Pack of Restless Road and Dylan Schneider perform and answer questions from ACM Lifting Lives Music Campers at The Listening Room. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for ACM Lifting Lives