KCA Artists Signs Maybe April To Booking Roster

Maybe April

KCA Artists has added country americana trio Maybe April to its booking roster.

The trio is made of Katy Bishop, Kristen Castro, and Alaina Stacey. The trio met in 2012 at a music industry camp in Nashville, and formed the trio in 2013. Since then, they have performed at IBMA’s Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, Pilgrimage Music Festival and more.

KCA Artists’ roster also includes Radney Foster, Dan Tyminski, Farewell Drifters, Fairfield Four and more.

Three Hounds Music Signs David Tolliver

Pictured (L-R): Tom Harrison, David Tolliver, and Tyler Bell.

Three Hounds Music has entered into an exclusive publishing agreement with singer/songwriter David Tolliver. A Music City fixture for nearly a decade, Tolliver is best known as half of the critically acclaimed country/rock duo Halfway to Hazard. He has co-written the majority of Halfway to Hazard’s three albums, and has had cuts by Tim McGraw, Jarrod Niemann, Brantley Gilbert, Wynonna Judd, Neal McCoy and numerous others.

“I’m really excited about beginning this new page in my life and I’m so happy to be doing it with Three Hounds Music,” says Tolliver. “Tom Harrison (CEO/Founder) and Tyler Bell (General Manager) are good people and I’m looking forward to a great future with them.”

In addition to Tolliver, the Three Hounds family includes songwriters Bobby Terry (Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Gretchen Wilson), Chris Cavanaugh (Kip Moore, Lonestar, Steve Holy), Sarah Beth Terry (Craig Morgan), Kevin Brandt (Montgomery Gentry, Travis Tritt, Randy Travis), and new Americana duo Fleener.

John Berry Signs Booking Deal with The Kinkead Entertainment Agency

Pictured (L-R): Brian Smith (Leadership Artists), John Berry, Bob Kinkead (Kinkead Entertainment Agency), Don Murry Grubbs (Absolute Publicity)

The Kinkead Entertainment Agency has signed John Berry for exclusive live bookings.

“We are looking forward to representing John Berry during this exciting time in his career, with the launch of his Songs & Stories TV show, his infamous Christmas tour and next year’s 25th anniversary celebration,” says Kinkead Entertainment Agency CEO, Bob Kinkead. “John Berry continues to make his mark in the entertainment industry as one of the most talented singers and performers in our business.”

For John Berry live booking inquiries, contact The Kinkead Entertainment Agency at bkinkead@kinkeadentertainment.com or 615-499-5115.

Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton To Perform At Next Week’s ACM Honors In Nashville

Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton

The Academy of Country Music (ACM) has announced Alan Jackson and Chris Stapleton will perform at its 11th Annual ACM Honors event, taping Aug. 23 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and airing Sept. 15 (9-11 p.m., ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. It has also just been announced Jason Aldean, Bobby Bones, Ross Copperman, Lady Antebellum and Jimmy Webb will present.

Previously announced performers include Vince Gill, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Brad Paisley, Hillary Scott, Kelsea Ballerini, Vince Gill, Toby Keith, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Brad Paisley, Thomas Rhett, Hillary Scott, and George Strait. Clare Bowen, Charles Esten, Cassadee Pope, and Brett Young will participate in special off-camera moments in the ceremony.

The two-hour special is dedicated to celebrating the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards. Those include Ballerini (Gene Weed Milestone Award), Keith (Poet’s Award), Bob Kingsley (Mae Boren Axton Service Award), Reba McEntire (Mae Boren Axton Service Award), Nashville (Tex Ritter Film Award), Dolly Parton (Gary Haber Lifting Lives Award), Shel Silverstein (Poet’s Award, awarded posthumously), Strait (Cliffie Stone Icon Award) and Lori McKenna (Songwriter of the Year). The evening will also honor winners of the Industry and Studio Recording Awards.

Tickets are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com and the Ryman Auditorium box office for $60 and $100.

Drennan & Associates Launches New Tax Firm On Music Row

Drennan & Associates PLLC has launched its new tax accounting firm, located at 1222 16th Ave. S., Ste. 10, in the heart of Music Row. The firm is helmed by Melinda Drennan, CPA, former partner at Dodd, Drennan & Associates, who has nearly 25 years of experience in tax accounting and related financial services.

““I genuinely enjoy working with my clients,” said Drennan. “I love getting to work with them, getting to know them and their families, and watching their kids grow up. I have worked with some of my clients for almost 25 years. I’ve watched their kids grow up and have kids of their own. Now, some of those kids are clients, too. I love what I do, and I love helping clients with tax saving strategies when working on their returns or helping with tax, retirement and estate planning, I look forward to continuing to serve my clients and building the business and meeting new clients that I can help.”

 

Lilly Hiatt Finds Strength And Solace In Isolation On New CD

Lilly Hiatt is releasing a new album, Trinity Lane, on New West Records on Aug. 25. The 12-song set was produced by Michael Trent of Shovels & Rope and in addition to her backing band, Trent is a featured musician throughout, and is joined by his wife/Shovels & Rope partner Cary Ann Hearst for backing vocals on the tune “Everything I Had.”

The daughter of John Hiatt, Lilly lays her soul bare on the new collection, which is streaming now on NPR’s First Listen.

“Love will take you to the darkest places but also the most honest places if you let it,” she admits. “Learning how to love myself is something I’ve always been lousy with, and I spent some time on that. I thought about my sobriety, what that means to me, the struggles I’d had throughout the years, since I was a 27-year-old and hung up my toxic drinking habit. I thought about my mother, who took her own life when I was a baby, not far from my age at 30 years old, and I related to her more than ever. As you can see, there was plenty of time spent on my own. I didn’t talk to that many folks, albeit a few close friends, and leaned into my family. I found power in being by myself. After a while, I had all these songs to play, and wanted to share them. I think we all understood what it’s like to question home, intention, demons, love…I think most people understand that.”

Trinity Lane will be available digitally, on CD, as well as LP and can be pre-ordered now via PledgeMusic. Hiatt will celebrate the album at a Nashville release party at Fond Object on Aug. 25, and will also participate in the WEA/ADA Nashville Record Store Crawl on August 26th with an in-store performance at Grimey’s New & Preloved Music. She will also perform at the 18th annual Americanafest, and has announced additional Fall dates in support of the Old 97’s.

Trinity Lane Track Listing: 
1. All Kinds Of People
2. The Night David Bowie Died
3. Trinity Lane
4. Everything I Had
5. I Wanna Go Home
6. Imposter
7. Records
8. Different, I Guess
9. Rotterdam
10. Sucker
11. So Much You Don’t Know
12. See Ya Later

Alan Jackson Signs With WME

Alan Jackson has signed with WME for booking representation, MusicRow has confirmed. The UMG Nashville artist was previously with CAA for booking.

Jackson is currently on the road as part of his Honky Tonk Highway Tour, which runs through the fall and features Lee Ann Womack.

Later this year, Jackson will be inducted as part of the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017.

Scooter Brown Band Teams With Charlie Daniels For “American Son”

The Scooter Brown Band is releasing a new album, American Son, on Red River/BFD/Sony Orchard on Friday, Sept. 8. The title track of the project features Charlie Daniels, a music icon that Brown has looked up to his entire life and sought advice from often in recent years. Scooter Brown Band is managed by Daniels’ longtime manager David Corlew and booked by APA Nashville.

“This album sets the tone for what fans can expect from us on the road and on their radios. True country and southern rock music, what we were born and raised on,” said lead singer Scooter Brown.

The Nashville-based southern-rock revivalists have been on the road for the past few years, playing 100 plus shows per year and opening for acts like the Charlie Daniels Band, Travis Tritt, and the Marshall Tucker Band.

American Son Track Listing:
1. American Son (feat. Charlie Daniels)
2. This Town
3. Won’t Back Down
4. Never Met a Heart I Wouldn’t Break
5. Pistols and Pearls
6. Broken Arrow
7. Georgia
8. Story of My Life
9. Guitars, Gun and Whiskey
10. Time is Money
11. Rise Up
12. New York City King Size Rosewood Bed
13. Huntsville

Kip Moore And Tony Hawk To Present Music City Skate Jam

Kip Moore has teamed up with international skateboarding champion Tony Hawk to host the first ever “Music City Skate Jam Presented By Harley-Davidson, which will take place at Music City Walk Of Fame Park in Nashville on Sept. 10.  The fun-filled family event will help raise funds for Moore’s Kip’s Kids Fund and the Tony Hawk Foundation, both of which share a goal of benefiting and empowering youth.

Hawk will demo some of the skating prowess that made him a legend during the event, which will also include a performance by newcomer Jordan Davis, spins by Dee Jay Silver, and a set by Moore. Tickets are on sale now here.

“I think what’s always driven me at my core, throughout my career, was to one day have the capability to make a major impact in inner cities around the country,” said Moore. “I was never a true skater, but always admired the brotherhood of the skating community. Having a chance to team up with a guy like Tony, who’s so respected for all he does, is beyond what I could’ve imagined. I’m super stoked to combine what we do, as we both share similar visions.”

“The Music City Skate Jam is the first event of its kind, bringing skateboarding and country music together,” said Hawk. “I’m excited to show Nashville an unprecedented display of talent, including some of the world’s best skaters and Kip Moore himself.”

DISClaimer: April Kry, Dave McElroy Top Independent Releases

Pictured: April Kry, Dave McElroy

It’s independents’ day.

The major country music record labels all seem to be missing in action this week. That means today’s column gives independent labels a time to shine.

Stepping into the spotlight and center stage is April Kry. This Connecticut-bred Nashvillian has vocal pipes to spare, a solid song and a stupendous production. Oh, and also a Disc of the Day award.

Also, April shares the DisCovery Award with Dave McElroy. He’s evidently been around for a couple of years, but this is his first appearance in DisClaimer.

JEFF LEWIS & NORM CADY/Land of Dreams
Writers: Norm Cady; Producers: Anthony Brown; Publishers: none listed, BMI; Constituting America (CDX)
– Patriotic slogans strung together like beads on a string. It’s like somebody jotted down every sign they saw held up at a Fourth of July parade.

DUSTIN COLLINS/Pieces
Writer: Lincoln Parish; Producers: Dustin Collins/Bill McDermott; Publishers: none listed, BMI/ASCAP; Big Risk (CDX)
– A crunchy country rocker with a definite blue-collar slant. It’s got some cool lines that make it worth a few spins.

APRIL KRY/While We’re Young
Writers: April Kry/Jennifer Pappas/Micah Wilshire/Stephanie Bentley; Producer: Micah Wilshire; Publishers: none listed, BMI; M (CDX)
– I dig this. She sings with powerhouse conviction. The song is as hooky as all get out. The production slaps, bounces and pushes emotional buttons in all the right places. This is as good or better than anything you’ll hear on any major label in the business. Listen and believe. Who are you? Send more.

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DOMINGO & ESTEBAN HIRACHETA/Free to Believe
Writers: Domingo Hiracheta/Esteban Hiracheta; Producers: Janine Turner/Brandon Vanderford; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP; Constituting America (CDX)
-The freedom-of-religion sentiments are admirable. A competent lead singer would have been nice. There’s a good reason this switches into rapping in the middle.

LORI SMITH/Tumblin’ Paradise
Writers: Keith Follese/Tom McHugh; Producers: Larry Butler/Jack G. Kirby; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP; 615 (CDX)
– She warbles all around the melody, clinging to pitch for dear life.

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GEORGE ALLEN TRUAX/My Hometown
Writers: George Allen Truax; Producers: Zac Maroof/Gene Higgins; Publishers: none listed, BMI; SMG (CDX)
– There already is a Montgomery Gentry. And they sing better than this.

DAVE McELROY/Without You
Writers: Dave McElroy/Michael Flanders/Scott Buchanan/Derik Holtquist; Producer: Michael Flanders; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP/SESAC; DM (CDX)
– His husky, whispery vocal style doesn’t have much range. But there’s something extremely appealing about his almost-spoken delivery. His conversational intimacy makes you want to know him.

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JUSTIN DUKES/Warning Sign
Writers: Justin Dukes/Daniel Johnson; Producer: Chris Goff; Publishers: none listed, SESAC/BMI; Duke’s Entertainment (CDX)
– “Love at your own risk.” His youthful tenor sounds properly bruised.

RUSTY RIERSON/Upon This Rock
Writers: Stephen Amos/Rusty Rierson; Producers: Carster Green/Rusty Rierson; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP/BMI; RR (CDX)
– When he gets confused in a romance, he goes to a mountaintop where he can think straighter. Then she heads up there, too. Guess what? They wind up married and happy. Nicely done.

ALAN TURNER/Windows and Mirrors
Writers: Cole Swindell/Lynn Hutton/Jon Henderson; Producer: Alan Turner; Publishers: none listed, BMI/SESAC; SMG (CDX)
– Anguish and heartache with glass metaphors. He sings it with fierce force.

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