Dolly Parton
’s
Blue Smoke will soon be wafting through Europe as well as she has just announced plans to return to Europe for a set of tour dates through June and July, hitting seven countries in 17 days. The European run will bring her back to the O2 Arena in London, where she recorded and filmed her DVD/CD set
An Evening With…Dolly that sold over half a million copies.
“Every time I come to Europe I’m just as excited as I was my very first time, which was many, many years ago. I love that part of the world and I especially love the fans,” adds Parton. “We always have such a good time and I’ve put together a lot of things for this show that I think the fans will love. We had not planned to come back so soon, but we got so much fan mail and such a great reaction that I thought ‘Well, why not. If they’re having a good time and we always do, let’s just do it’.”
She will also release a CD of all-new material,
Blue Smoke, to accompany the tour in the coming months, with a release date to be announced soon.
Blue Smoke UK & EUROPE Dates:
June 8 England, Liverpool, Echo Arena
June 10 Northern Ireland, Belfast, Odyssey Arena
June 11 Ireland, Dublin, O2 Arena
June 12 Ireland, Cork, Live At The Marquee
June 14 England, Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
June 15 Scotland, Aberdeen, GE Arena
June 17 Scotland, Glasgow, Hydro Arena
June 20 England, Leeds, First Direct Arena
June 21 England, Manchester, Phones 4U Arena
June 22 England, Birmingham, LG Arena
June 24 Wales, Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
June 27 England, London, O2 Arena
July 2 England, Nottingham, Arena
July 5 Germany, Cologne, Lanxess Arena
July 6 Germany, Berlin, O2 World
July 8 Denmark, Copenhagen, Forum
July 9 Norway, Oslo, Spektrum
Is Garth Brooks Brewing A Storm?
/by Eric T. ParkerWe do know Country music’s best-selling entertainer announced his retirement in 2000 to focus on raising his three daughters. Taylor Mayne Pearl and August Anna are reportedly out of high school, while youngest, Allie Colleen, will graduate next year.
From Memorial Day to the 4th of July this year, after spending three years acoustically performing at Steve Wynn‘s resort casino, Brooks recorded six shows at the Wynn. Last month (Sept. 21), Trisha Yearwood confirmed her husband was currently in the studio working on a new project.
Rumors have been floating around that a DVD/CD box set, including multiple new studio albums, is in the works. Additionally, a songwriter reunion with the star is rumored for next month in a Nashville club.
Knowing Brooks, we’re sure not to miss his official announcement. Stay tuned!
Brooks’ encore run will continue at the Las Vegas casino with two more sold-out shows, Nov. 8 and 9.
Dolly To Return To Europe On Upcoming "Blue Smoke" Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughDolly Parton
Dolly Parton’s Blue Smoke will soon be wafting through Europe as well as she has just announced plans to return to Europe for a set of tour dates through June and July, hitting seven countries in 17 days. The European run will bring her back to the O2 Arena in London, where she recorded and filmed her DVD/CD set An Evening With…Dolly that sold over half a million copies.
“Every time I come to Europe I’m just as excited as I was my very first time, which was many, many years ago. I love that part of the world and I especially love the fans,” adds Parton. “We always have such a good time and I’ve put together a lot of things for this show that I think the fans will love. We had not planned to come back so soon, but we got so much fan mail and such a great reaction that I thought ‘Well, why not. If they’re having a good time and we always do, let’s just do it’.”
She will also release a CD of all-new material, Blue Smoke, to accompany the tour in the coming months, with a release date to be announced soon.
Blue Smoke UK & EUROPE Dates:
June 8 England, Liverpool, Echo Arena
June 10 Northern Ireland, Belfast, Odyssey Arena
June 11 Ireland, Dublin, O2 Arena
June 12 Ireland, Cork, Live At The Marquee
June 14 England, Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
June 15 Scotland, Aberdeen, GE Arena
June 17 Scotland, Glasgow, Hydro Arena
June 20 England, Leeds, First Direct Arena
June 21 England, Manchester, Phones 4U Arena
June 22 England, Birmingham, LG Arena
June 24 Wales, Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena
June 27 England, London, O2 Arena
July 2 England, Nottingham, Arena
July 5 Germany, Cologne, Lanxess Arena
July 6 Germany, Berlin, O2 World
July 8 Denmark, Copenhagen, Forum
July 9 Norway, Oslo, Spektrum
YouTube Announces Music Awards Nominations
/by Michael_SmithThe nominations cover a variety of artists, including Country darling Taylor Swift, who received a nomination for Artist of the Year. Her song “I Knew You Were Trouble” garnered a nomination in the YouTube Phenomenon category. Actor Jason Schwartzman will host the awards show, which will feature performances by Eminem, Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire, M.I.A. and Avicii, among others.
The video site asked viewers to vote on nominations, which include six categories: Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Response of the Year, YouTube Phenomenon, YouTube Breakthrough and Innovation of the Year.
View all of the nominations below.
Video of the Year: Nominees represent the videos with the most fan engagement on YouTube over the last year.
Artist of the Year: Focused on acts YouTube fans have made stars, nominees represent the most watched, shared, liked, and subscribed to artists.
Response of the Year: Best fan remix, parody or response video, these nominees represent the top “unofficial” fan videos on YouTube based on views, shares and other social activity.
YouTube Phenomenon: Nominees are based on the phenomena that generated the most fan videos.
YouTube Breakthrough: Focusing on breakout new acts, nominees represent the artists who experienced the biggest growth in views and subscribers.
Innovation of the Year: Most creative and innovative music videos on YouTube.
CMA Broadcast Awards Winners Revealed
/by Jessica NicholsonNational – Personality of the Year
Kix Brooks, “American Country Countdown” – Cumulus Media Networks
Major-Market Personality Of The Year
“THE DOC & ANDIE SHOW” – WXTU/PHILADELPHIA
Large-Market Personality Of The Year
“Q MORNING CREW” – WQDR/RALEIGH, NC
Medium-Market Personality Of The Year
“ANDY & ALISON & THE MORNING CREW” – WIVK/KNOXVILLE, TN
Small-Market Personality Of The Year
“THE GOOD MORNING GUYS” – KUAD/FT. COLLINS, CO
Major-Market Station Of The Year
KUPL/PORTLAND, OR
Large-Market Station Of The Year
WCTK/PROVIDENCE, RI
Medium-Market Station Of The Year
KSSN/LITTLE ROCK, AR
Small-Market Station Of The Year
WLLR/QUAD CITIES, IA-IL
Winners will be honored at The 47th Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
GrassRoots Promotion Adds Allen
/by Jessica NicholsonBonita Allen
GrassRoots Promotion has hired Bonita Allen as Director of Client Services. In her new role, Allen will help artist and label clients create promotion and marketing strategies, and maximize the radio and digital exposure created by GrassRoots’ promotion and marketing staff.
Allen’s previous career stops include time at Asylum Records, Bluewater Music, Westwood One, WSM-AM and most recently Flying Island Entertainment.
GrassRoots Promotion co-owner and Managing Partner Nancy Tunick said, “Bonita brings not only tremendous experience and knowledge to our company but also a unique ability to work with people to reach their highest potential.”
Allen can be reached at bonita@grassrootspromotion.com or 615-689-2982.
Big Loud Mountain and BMLG Welcome Newcomer
/by contributorDallas Smith
Canadian singer, Dallas Smith has signed with Big Loud Mountain, according to a press release. Republic Nashville has begun promoting Smith’s breakout single, “Tippin Point,” which is currently available on iTunes.
Smith’s single first premiered on SiriusXM’s The Highway, Oct 8. Written by Florida Georgia Line’s (FGL) Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard along with Jaren Johnston, “Tippin Point” is the first release from Smith’s forthcoming full-length U.S. project.
Producer Joey Moi will continue working with Smith following the newcomer’s Canadian Country debut, Jumped Right In, which netted five 2013 CCMA award nominations. The CMW Radio Awards winner is currently out with FGL’s Here’s To The Good Times Tour.
Artist Updates (10/21/13)
/by Lorie HollabaughLuke Bryan. Photo: Joseph Llanes
• It will be all Luke Bryan, all the time on Nov. 6 when he kicks off country’s big day with a performance on ABC’s Good Morning America and then opens the 47th Annual CMA Awards later that night at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena as well. GMA co-anchor Robin Roberts will also be on hand for all the country festivities, reporting live from Bridgestone that morning and presenting a CMA Award that night during the show’s broadcast.
Bryan is nominated for three CMAs this year, including Entertainer of the Year. He is also nominated for Male Vocalist and Musical Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know” with Jason Aldean and Eric Church.
Craig Campbell is surprised with a check for $3,000 during a private performance in Long Island.
• Craig Campbell raised over $15,000 for the T.J. Martell Foundation‘s colon cancer research with his inaugural Celebrity Cornhole Challenge in June. During the event, he auctioned off a private backyard barbeque to the highest bidder, and earlier this month he traveled to Long Island to perform at the home of winners Bill and Anita Marie Robitsek.
The couple surprised Campbell at the event with limo transportation, a hotel, catering, and also handed him a $3,000 check of funds raised by friends and family who attended the special show.
Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis
• Elvis manager Colonel Tom Parker‘s former Nashville office at 1215 Gallatin Road is up for sale. Parker maintained the offices even after Elvis became a massive star, and also managed artists like Eddy Arnold and Hank Snow from the building. The home has been well preserved over the years and will be marketed by Rockology’s Stephen Shutts. The property is being showcased on ebay with strict bidding criteria, and private tours will be available to a select qualified few during the duration of the sale. The property is zoned for multiple use.
“The property is easily one of the five most significant music-based properties in greater Nashville, if not the single most significant,” Shutts said. “This is a vault of music energy when you consider Elvis monumental career was strategically built, negotiated and managed from within these walls from 1955 to well past Elvis’s passing in 1977. Colonel Tom Parker captured musical lightening in this very building that eventually influenced the world as we know today”.
Hatch Show Print To Celebrate Opening at New Location
/by Jessica NicholsonHatch Show Print
On Nov. 2-3, Hatch Show Print, an iconic letterpress print shop owned and operated by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, will celebrate the Grand Opening of its new location at 224 5th Ave. S.
The new Hatch Show Print location includes four spaces: the 5,800-square-foot Hatch Show Print Production Shop which features an 80-foot glass wall; the 1,400-square-foot Hatch Show Print Store, which offers original posters, custom clothing and gifts; the Hatch Show Print Haley Gallery, a 1,200-square-foot art gallery that features re-strikes of historical prints made using wood blocks from the Hatch archive; and the Print Space for Design, a classroom and workshop area that offers demonstrations, hands-on learning and programming.
Events planned for the two-day Grand Opening include a printing demonstration, an art crawl, a book signing with Hatch Show Print Master Printer Jim Sherraden, a letterpress family learning program for children ages 5 and up, a puppeteer performance of String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry, and more. All programs are free and open to the public.
Hatch Show Print was founded by C.R. and H.H. Hatch in 1879. Gaylord Entertainment Co. purchased the print shop in 1986 and the following year asked the museum to curate the shop. In 1992, Gaylord donated the shop to the museum.
For more information, visit countrymusichalloffame.org.
Date Set for ACM Radio Categories Open Submissions
/by Jessica NicholsonNominees in the following categories will be announced in Spring 2014:
On-Air Personality of the Year – National
On-Air Personality of the Year – Major (Markets 1-25)
On-Air Personality of the Year – Large (Markets 26-50)
On-Air Personality of the Year – Medium (Markets 51-100)
On-Air Personality of the Year – Small (Markets 101+)
Radio Station of the Year – Major (Markets 1-25)
Radio Station of the Year – Large (Markets 26-50)
Radio Station of the Year – Medium (Markets 51-100)
Radio Station of the Year – Small (Markets 101+)
Nominations may be submitted at acmcountry.com. The 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air LIVE on CBS Television next spring, date to be announced soon.
MusicRowLife: Brandon Blackstock Weds Kelly Clarkson
/by Eric T. ParkerBrandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson. Photo: Archetypestudioinc.com
Wedding bells have officially rung for Kelly Clarkson and Nashville manager Brandon Blackstock. Clarkson took to Twitter on Monday (Oct. 21) to announce the happening, which took place over the weekend at Blackberry Farms in Tennessee. Clarkson wore a Temperley gown with a Jim Verraros & Maria Elena headpiece.
The couple was engaged in December 2012 with a yellow canary Johnathon Arndt diamond ring.
Blackstock, who manages the career of Blake Shelton for Starstruck Management, has two children – Savannah and Seth – from a previous marriage.
Clarkson’s Columbia/RCA Christmas album, Wrapped In Red, will be released Oct. 29.