Tenille Townes performs at Nashville’s Basement East on Jan. 27, 2022. Photo: Tyler Conrad
Tenille Townes‘ “Villain In Me Tour” took over Nashville’s Basement East last night (Jan. 27), delivering a set full of powerful vocals, catchy covers, and impressive guitar strumming to a packed room.
Entering the stage solo, armed only with her trusty acoustic guitar, the Canadian country artist opened the show with the longing “Where You Are” before exploding into the high-energy “White Horse” as her band came out to join her.
“I’m so excited to be here with you guys. I have been looking forward to this show, I’ve been nervous all week, and you guys showed up!” Townes said in her warming welcome to the crowd. “Thank you for coming in these crazy times and being here to listen to some music tonight. Every time we’ve played Nashville it’s been a special moment getting to open up for so many of our friends and heroes, but we’ve never gotten to do our own show here so tonight feels pretty special. I really want our shows, when we come together, to be a place where people can walk in the door and just feel loved and welcomed exactly as they are.”
Tenille Townes performs at Nashville’s Basement East on Jan. 27, 2022. Photo: Tyler Conrad
Along the way, Townes stunned fans with her jaw-dropping voice and vulnerable, hard-hitting lyrics. From the inquisitive prayer in “Jersey On The Wall (I’m Just Asking)” to the tour’s dark and moody namesake, which she delivered alone with an electric guitar, the Sony recording artist captivated the room with her chilling performances.
One of the standout moments of the night, though, came impromptu as a fan request. “I wrote this song shortly after moving here… I was sitting at this coffee table thinking about my great grandmother who I was missing very much. She was the glue to our family. She would come to all the shows, rain or shine, and drink her cheap beer,” Townes shared, fighting back tears. “She was really special and I miss her a lot. This song brought me a lot of healing thinking about her.”
The talented songstress went on to give an utterly eery performance of “When I Meet My Maker.” Sitting alone on the stage, you could almost hear a pin drop in the room as she commanded every attendee’s attention.
The award-winning singer-songwriter also showcased her newest single, “When’s It Gonna Happen,” which sheds light on what she sees as her current season of life, waiting for the one.
Throughout the night, Townes gave the audience her own renditions of well-known hits, including Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are,” Joan Jett & The Blackhearts’ “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” and a perfectly sung version of Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic.” She also brought out newcomer Alex Hall, who opened up the room earlier that night, for their charming duet “Heart Shut.”
Tenille Townes performs at Nashville’s Basement East on Jan. 27, 2022. Photo: Tyler Conrad
One of MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Class of 2020, Townes also gave a sampler of her 2020 album, The Lemonade Stand, which notched her first Juno Award for Country Album of the Year at the 50th Annual Juno Awards. She wowed the crowd with snippets of “Lighthouse,” the dance-inspiring “Find You,” and the sexy “I Kept The Roses.”
“I’m never gonna forget [this night]. Thank you to each and every one of you for showing up here and making this such a wonderful thing. It feels so good to come together with you guys and we can’t wait to come play another show in Nashville here soon,” she gushed. “We’re gonna leave you guys with a song about how everyone’s got a story. Thank you for lifting up this song from the beginning. Everybody really does [have a story], so thanks for looking out for one another out there. We’ll see you soon!”
Townes closed out the set with her No. 1 debut single, “Somebody’s Daughter,” before her two-song encore. She finished out her Nashville show with a striking acoustic performance of Etta James’ smash hit “At Last,” solidifying Townes as a frontrunner for a female country crooner.
The “Villain In Me Tour” will continue tonight (Jan. 28) at The Underground in Charlotte, North Carolina, before finishing the rest of Townes’ U.S. trek.
Industry Ink: Kane Brown, Dan + Shay, Doyle Lawson
/by Lydia FarthingKane Brown Kicks Off Sony Music Nashville’s 2022 Special Olympics Campaign
Jacquie Clare and Kane Brown. Photo: Alex Alvga
Kane Brown recently met with Special Olympics Florida athlete Jacquie Clare during his Orlando show to kick off the collaboration between Westwood One and Sony Music Nashville to bring awareness and build support for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.
Luke Combs, Adam Doleac, Old Dominion, Ryan Hurd, Kameron Marlowe, Maren Morris, Jameson Rodgers, Mitchell Tenpenny, and Chris Young are among other participating Sony Music Nashville artists who will join the campaign. They will work to support the athletes and spread the word about the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games through Westwood One’s broadcast channels.
The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games is scheduled for June 5-12 in Orlando. More than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean will travel to Florida for one of the country’s most cherished sporting events. For more information on the Games and how you can get involved, click here.
Dan + Shay Look Back On Another Massive Year In 2021
3x Grammy award-winning duo Dan + Shay saw an impressive 2021 with the release of their fourth studio album, Good Things, which shattered records as the first country album in streaming history to reach RIAA Gold status upon release. Their monster hit “Tequila” also received a 7x Platinum certification, becoming the 10th most-streamed country song of all time.
Also in 2021, the pair revamped their headlining “Dan + Shay The (Arena) Tour.” The 33-date run garnered 400,000 total tickets with sold out shows at Madison Square Garden and Staples Center. Dan + Shay will move up to stadiums this April on label-mate Kenny Chesney’s “Here and Now Tour 2022,” making stops across the country.
Starting off 2022, their current Top 30 single, “Steal My Love,” is climbing the country charts and their most recent No. 1, “Glad You Exist,” is up for a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. The duo has won the category for the past three consecutive years, making them the first artist to do so since the category’s inception. The reigning ACM, AMA and BBMA Country Duo of the Year winners also received a nomination for all genre Best Duo/Group of the Year at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
The Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Bluegrass Festival Sees Name Change Ahead Of 2022 Event
The Malpass Brothers
After recently announcing his retirement, bluegrass veteran Doyle Lawson has passed the baton to The Malpass Brothers for his 41-year annual festival, held at Denton FarmPark in Denton, North Carolina. The Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Bluegrass Festival will now be named The Malpass Brothers Bluegrass and Country Festival, sponsored by Springer Mountain Farms.
Taking place May 5-7, this year’s festival will blend bluegrass, Americana, and country music. The Malpass Brothers, Deeper Shade of Blue, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Donna Ulisse, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, and more will bring a weekend of great music. For ticketing information, click here.
“For 41 years it has been an honor, pleasure, and privilege to be the host site of the Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver Bluegrass Festival,” says Karen Miller, Manager, Denton FarmPark. “We are sad to be saying goodbye to Doyle as our festival host. He is and will always be a legend in bluegrass music. At the same time, it is our honor and privilege to be the host site of The Malpass Brothers Bluegrass and Country Music Festival. We are looking forward to this next chapter of music at Denton FarmPark.”
“Doyle Lawson is one of the true legends in Bluegrass music. Just to be a small part of anything he is involved with is an honor,” shares Chris Malpass. “We have had the privilege of being at his festival for a few years now and it’s always great. Taylor [Malpass] and I are truly honored to have the opportunity to carry the torch for our hero’s music of yesterday while we showcase the music and artist of today. We look forward to hosting this legendary festival and are excited to keep the music we love alive for future fans. Congratulations to Mr. Doyle on his retirement and his future endeavors.”
“It is a complete honor to be taking over a legendary festival like Denton. It has been my favorite festival in all my years of touring,” adds Taylor Malpass. “Doyle Lawson is one of the finest men and musicians in the business and to come in after his retirement is a dream come true. We will do our best to keep this festival as traditional as we can while still giving new artists a chance to grace the stage of this legendary festival.”
Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins, Country Music Hall Of Fame Pianist, Dies At 84
/by LB CantrellHargus “Pig” Robbins. Photo: John Russell/CMA
Hargus “Pig” Robbins, a renowned pianist and Country Music Hall of Fame member who contributed to many country, rock, folk and pop hits since the late 1950s, died on Sunday (Jan. 30). He was 84.
Hargus Melvin Robbins was born on Jan. 18, 1938 in Rhea County, Tennessee. A tragic knife accident caused him to lose his sight at the age of three. He went on to study classical piano at the Tennessee School for the Blind at age seven.
While at school, Robbins developed his own unique style, influenced by pop and jazz pianists Floyd Cramer, Owen Bradley, Marvin Hughes, Ray Charles, and Poppa John Gordy. He developed the nickname “Pig” because he used to sneak in the school through a fire escape and play when he wasn’t supposed to, getting himself as dirty as a pig.
Hargus “Pig” Robbins. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Robbins soon started playing in Nashville clubs and landed his first major studio gig in 1959, playing the lively piano on George Jones’ hit “White Lightning.” After that session, Robbins was steadily booked in the Nashville recording studios, finding himself among the Nashville A-Team of session players.
Robbins played on many iconic hits coming out of Nashville over the next few decades, including for Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Connie Smith, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Roger Miller, the Statler Brothers, and dozens of other country stars. Two memorable examples of Robbins’ playing can be heard on the intros of Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors” (1974) and Crystal Gayle’s “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” (1977).
Robbins contributed to Bob Dylan’s 1966 album Blonde on Blonde, opening him up to more folk, pop and rock singers. He also appears on the liner notes for many of Dolly Parton’s albums, such as 1968’s Just Because I’m a Woman, 1971’s Coat of Many Colors, 1973’s My Tennessee Mountain Home, 1974’s Jolene, and more.
Robbins also recorded his own albums, including the Grammy-winning Country Instrumentalist of the Year (1977), Pig in a Poke (1978), and Unbreakable Hearts (1979). He garnered two CMA Awards throughout his career, winning CMA’s Instrumentalist of the Year in 1976 and in 2000. Robbins was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012 alongside Garth Brooks and Connie Smith.
Following the announcement of his death, Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame, said “Like all successful session musicians, Pig Robbins was quick to adapt to any studio situation. He worked quickly, with perfection less a goal than a norm. And while he could shift styles on a dime to suit the singer and the song, his playing was always distinctive. Pig’s left hand on the piano joined with Bob Moore’s bass to create an unstoppable rhythmic force, while the fingers on his right hand flew like birds across the keys. The greatest musicians in Nashville turned to Pig for guidance and inspiration.”
Sarah Trahern, CEO of the Country Music Association, added “Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins was a defining sound for so much of the historic music out of Nashville. His talent spoke for itself through his decades-spanning career and work as a session pianist with countless artists across genres. Our hearts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time.”
Luke Bryan To Launch ‘Raised Up Right Tour’ In June
/by Lorie HollabaughLuke Bryan. Photo Jim Wright
Luke Bryan is hitting the road on his 30+ city “Raised Up Right Tour,” beginning June 9. Riley Green, Mitchell Tenpenny and DJ Rock will join Bryan on the new tour, which takes its name from the chorus of his current single, “Up.”
Bryan will make stops in Atlanta, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Chicago, and more across the country through late October.
Tickets for the dates go on sale Friday, Feb. 4 at lukebryan.com. Ticket presale for Bryan’s fan club members begins Feb. 1-3, and Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets Feb. 2-3.
“My favorite place to be is on stage performing to country music fans,” shares Bryan. “So thankful every night when I walk out on that stage and know you are there to have a blast along beside me. It never gets old!”
Throughout his career, Bryan has played sold out shows for over 12 million fans, including nearly 40 stadium concerts, his spring break shows, Farm Tours and seven sold-out Crash My Playa destination concerts.
Fans can catch him before the “Raised Up Right Tour” on his first-ever headlining residency at The Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas, which launches Feb. 11 with nine shows through Feb. 26.
Bluegrass Nights Returns To The Ryman This Summer
/by Lydia FarthingSpringer Mountain Farms Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman is returning to the historic Nashville venue, starting on Thursday, June 23 and continuing each Thursday night through July 28.
The series will kick off with The Del McCoury Band, followed by Dan Tyminski, Earls of Leiceister, Dailey & Vincent and The Steeldrivers, leading up to the final night with a performance from Grammy award-winning Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder.
All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. CT following a 6 p.m. pre-show, “Pickin’ on the Plaza,” event sponsored by Springer Mountain Farms and Farm Bureau Health Plans on the Ryman’s PNC Plaza. The pre-show will feature live music from local bluegrass artists and bands, presented by 650 AM WSM.
Season passes for all six Bluegrass Nights are available now. Single tickets will go on sale to the public on Feb. 11 at 10 a.m. CT.
Springer Mountain Farms Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman 2022 Lineup:
June 23 – The Del McCoury Band
June 30 – Dan Tyminski
July 7 – Earls of Leiceister
July 14 – Dailey & Vincent
July 21 – The Steeldrivers
July 28 – Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
The Ryman will also celebrate its 130th anniversary with a year-long celebration, marking the milestone with more concerts and residencies this year than ever before. In addition to a special Ryman Community Day in May, more pre-show and daytime events, and new tour enhancements. the venue is also giving away 130 concert tickets throughout the year.
Tenille Townes Delivers Pitch Perfect Performance At Nashville’s Basement East
/by Lydia FarthingTenille Townes performs at Nashville’s Basement East on Jan. 27, 2022. Photo: Tyler Conrad
Tenille Townes‘ “Villain In Me Tour” took over Nashville’s Basement East last night (Jan. 27), delivering a set full of powerful vocals, catchy covers, and impressive guitar strumming to a packed room.
Entering the stage solo, armed only with her trusty acoustic guitar, the Canadian country artist opened the show with the longing “Where You Are” before exploding into the high-energy “White Horse” as her band came out to join her.
“I’m so excited to be here with you guys. I have been looking forward to this show, I’ve been nervous all week, and you guys showed up!” Townes said in her warming welcome to the crowd. “Thank you for coming in these crazy times and being here to listen to some music tonight. Every time we’ve played Nashville it’s been a special moment getting to open up for so many of our friends and heroes, but we’ve never gotten to do our own show here so tonight feels pretty special. I really want our shows, when we come together, to be a place where people can walk in the door and just feel loved and welcomed exactly as they are.”
Tenille Townes performs at Nashville’s Basement East on Jan. 27, 2022. Photo: Tyler Conrad
Along the way, Townes stunned fans with her jaw-dropping voice and vulnerable, hard-hitting lyrics. From the inquisitive prayer in “Jersey On The Wall (I’m Just Asking)” to the tour’s dark and moody namesake, which she delivered alone with an electric guitar, the Sony recording artist captivated the room with her chilling performances.
One of the standout moments of the night, though, came impromptu as a fan request. “I wrote this song shortly after moving here… I was sitting at this coffee table thinking about my great grandmother who I was missing very much. She was the glue to our family. She would come to all the shows, rain or shine, and drink her cheap beer,” Townes shared, fighting back tears. “She was really special and I miss her a lot. This song brought me a lot of healing thinking about her.”
The talented songstress went on to give an utterly eery performance of “When I Meet My Maker.” Sitting alone on the stage, you could almost hear a pin drop in the room as she commanded every attendee’s attention.
The award-winning singer-songwriter also showcased her newest single, “When’s It Gonna Happen,” which sheds light on what she sees as her current season of life, waiting for the one.
Throughout the night, Townes gave the audience her own renditions of well-known hits, including Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are,” Joan Jett & The Blackhearts’ “I Hate Myself For Loving You,” and a perfectly sung version of Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic.” She also brought out newcomer Alex Hall, who opened up the room earlier that night, for their charming duet “Heart Shut.”
Tenille Townes performs at Nashville’s Basement East on Jan. 27, 2022. Photo: Tyler Conrad
One of MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Class of 2020, Townes also gave a sampler of her 2020 album, The Lemonade Stand, which notched her first Juno Award for Country Album of the Year at the 50th Annual Juno Awards. She wowed the crowd with snippets of “Lighthouse,” the dance-inspiring “Find You,” and the sexy “I Kept The Roses.”
“I’m never gonna forget [this night]. Thank you to each and every one of you for showing up here and making this such a wonderful thing. It feels so good to come together with you guys and we can’t wait to come play another show in Nashville here soon,” she gushed. “We’re gonna leave you guys with a song about how everyone’s got a story. Thank you for lifting up this song from the beginning. Everybody really does [have a story], so thanks for looking out for one another out there. We’ll see you soon!”
Townes closed out the set with her No. 1 debut single, “Somebody’s Daughter,” before her two-song encore. She finished out her Nashville show with a striking acoustic performance of Etta James’ smash hit “At Last,” solidifying Townes as a frontrunner for a female country crooner.
The “Villain In Me Tour” will continue tonight (Jan. 28) at The Underground in Charlotte, North Carolina, before finishing the rest of Townes’ U.S. trek.
Amazon Music To Present ‘Kane Brown Live From The El Rey Theatre’ Global Event
/by Lorie HollabaughKane Brown will perform live for the first time ever at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles for an Amazon Music livestream on Feb. 4.
“Kane Brown Live from the El Rey Theatre” will begin at 9 p.m. CT and feature a one-of-a-kind, intimate club performance from Brown with his fans. The award-winning entertainer will perform a medley of his hits from his albums Kane Brown, Experiment, Mixtape Vol. 1, and more during the special show.
The show will be available to watch on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, on Prime Video, and within the Amazon Music mobile app via Twitch. It will also be available for a limited time on Prime Video following the livestream.
Brown is currently on his “Blessed & Free” arena tour, where he is the first country artist to visit every NBA Arena in one tour. His current top 10 and climbing hit, “One Mississippi,” released on the heels of his multi-week No. 1 with Chris Young, “Famous Friends.”
Nashville Symphony To Receive $150,000 American Rescue Plan Grant From NEA
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Nashville Symphony
The Nashville Symphony will receive an American Rescue Plan grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to help the arts and cultural sector recover from the pandemic.
The Symphony is set to receive a $150,000 grant intended to save jobs and to fund operations, facilities, health and safety supplies, and marketing and promotional efforts to encourage attendance and participation.
“Our nation’s arts sector has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Endowment for the Arts’ American Rescue Plan funding will help arts organizations, such as the Nashville Symphony, rebuild and reopen,” explains Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the NEA. “The arts are crucial in helping America’s communities heal, unite, and inspire, as well as essential to our nation’s economic recovery.”
“The Nashville Symphony will utilize this generous NEA funding to help support the artistic salaries of our resident musicians, which is vital to ensuring that the Symphony is here to help the community heal, to serve future generations, and to preserve the artistic legacy of our 75-year-old institution,” adds Alan D. Valentine, President & CEO of the Nashville Symphony.
In addition to their performance schedules at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, musicians teach at local universities, volunteer for community-based projects, perform with other local ensembles, and participate in recording sessions.
In total, the NEA will award $57,750,000 in grant awards to 567 arts organizations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, DC.
Chart Action: Ernest Buds At Country Radio
/by Alex ParryErnest‘s new single “Flower Shops,” which features Morgan Wallen, is the most added single at country radio with 110 total stations spinning the record across the Billboard, Mediabase, and MusicRow CountryBreakout radio charts.
The Big Loud Records singer-songwriter surprise dropped the fan-favorite track on New Year’s Eve, quickly catapulting to No. 1 at Apple Music Country, Spotify Country, and iTunes overall upon release. The ode was written by Ernest with Ben Burgess and Mark Holman, and produced by Joey Moi.
“I’m so grateful for the fans and country radio for getting behind this song so early on,” says Ernest. “It isn’t every day that a record gets this kind of response and I couldn’t be happier that ‘Flower Shops’ is getting so much love.”
The hit-maker recently wrapped Season Three of his Just Being Ernest podcast where he hosted chats alongside trailblazers such as Bobby Bones, John Crist, Craig Wiseman, Wallen, Chris Lane and more. He was recently spotlighted as “The Charmer” in MusicRow’s 2021 Publisher print issue for having penned four No. 1 singles for artists Sam Hunt, Chris Lane, Morgan Wallen, and Florida Georgia Line.
For more chart data, view the latest edition of The MusicRow Weekly.
Ben Rector Plots ‘The Joy Of Music: Live Tour’ For May
/by Lorie HollabaughBen Rector. Photo: Ethan Gulley
Ben Rector is returning to the road this spring with his “The Joy Of Music: Live Tour.” Special guests on the dates include JP Saxe, Jake Scott, Jordy Searcy and Stephen Day.
The new tour kicks off on May 5 in Madison, Wisconsin, and wraps with a Nashville date at Ascend Amphitheater June 25. Produced by Live Nation, the trek will feature music from Rector’s upcoming album, The Joy Of Music, as well as fan favorites, including “Brand New,” “Love Like This,” and more.
“I think this album is my best work and I’m so excited to perform it live,” shares Rector.
Fans can sign up for access to presale tickets at BenRectorMusic.com/tour. Presale will begin Feb. 1 and general public on-sale will begin on Friday, Feb. 4.
Rector rang in the new year with an early release of the three tracks, “Dream On,” “Supernatural” featuring Dave Koz, and “Living My Best Life,” to share a taste of what’s to come on his upcoming album,, set for release March 11. The album will include additional collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Kenny G, Taylor Goldsmith from folk-rock band Dawes, and the YouTube sensation One Voice Children’s Choir.
Jordan Fletcher Shares His Life Through Debut EP, ‘True Stories’
/by Lydia FarthingJordan Fletcher
Singer-songwriter Jordan Fletcher has released his autobiographical Triple Tigers debut EP, True Stories, available everywhere now.
The four-song collection looks at Fletcher’s life as a songwriter, dad, husband, surfer, and believer. Produced by Dave Cobb, the EP is an honest reflection of Fletcher’s story so far.
“It’s an incredible blessing the way this project came out,” offers Fletcher, who recently made his Grand Ole Opry debut. “We pulled straight from the veins on these songs and working with Cobb has brought out every bit of what they’re supposed to be.” He continues, “All of my songs are autobiographical. If I’m singing it, it will be true about me. If you watched a childhood video of me on VHS, this is what you would see. I’m not making this shit up or shying away from what I believe.”
Jacksonville-born and Nashville-based, Fletcher signed to Triple 8 Management and became a Triple Tigers recording artist in September of 2021. He first came on to the scene with a strong crop of demos, including “Firebird,” “Still Those Kids,” “I Know You Are, But What Am I,” and “Rather Be Broke,” which came out in late 2021 and was quickly added to Sirius XMs Highway Finds.