Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee is hosting the 2021 Red Door Bash on Oct. 9 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. The annual event will feature singer-songwriters Jenny Tolman and Dave Brainard, along with celebrity guest host Demetria Kalodimos, as Gilda’s Club celebrates free cancer support for individuals and families in Middle Tennessee. Special honors for community leaders and volunteers will also be given.

“This year, we have the distinct pleasure of honoring some incredibly special contributors to the Gilda’s Club community. We will present our annual Red Door Champion Award to a Williamson County couple that has supported our non-profit through volunteerism, financial giving and advocacy for nearly two decades,” says Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee President and CEO Harriet Schiftan. “We’re also seizing this opportunity to celebrate 13 of our volunteer support group facilitators, all of whom have continued to put our mission and members first, and graciously joined us as we boldly stepped into the world of virtual cancer support at the beginning of the pandemic.”

This year’s Red Door Bash will open with a reception and silent auction, followed by a three-course dinner and an opportunity to hear from a Gilda’s Club member before closing with the awards ceremony.

“The Red Door Bash committee hasn’t let the current environment prevent them from planning another extraordinary event,” Red Door Bash Co-Chair Rae Hirsch shares. “I’m most excited about this year’s silent auction, which includes a well-curated selection of experiences, jewelry, art and more.”

“We’re thrilled to have award-winning news anchor, filmmaker and writer Demetria Kalodimos as our celebrity host for a second year,” adds Co-Chair Erica Jacobs. “And singer-songwriters Jenny Tolman and Dave Brainard are beloved by the Gilda’s Club community. Ever since participating in our annual Songwriters Night in April, people have been asking for more of the duo’s incredible music and charming wit and rapport.”

Tickets to the Red Door Bash, sponsored in part by Omni Nashville and Burr+Forman, include reception food and beverages, access to a silent auction, a three-course meal with wine service, and valet parking. For more information and to reserve a seat, click here.

Red Door Bash Honorees:
Red Door Champion Award recipients – Brian and Victoria Marger
Red Door Hero Award recipients –
David Adcock, PT
Deanna Candeloro, M. Ed, LPC-MHSP
Dana Davis, LCSW
Lynn Dunavant, MA, HSP
Pamela Duvall, MS, CCC-SLP
Larae Heil, M Ed., MS, CCC-SLP
Cynthia Johnson, LCSW, BCD
Laura Jo Leach, LMSW
Doris P. McLay
Lanier Sachs, M. Ed., NCC
Carol Sanders, RN
Warren Thompson, Ph. D
J. Dawson Wells, LMSW

After the recent rescheduling announcement, The Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam has announced the expanded lineup for the three-day festival in Panama City Beach running June 3-5, 2022. The event’s 10-year anniversary will feature Florida Georgia Line joining Brooks & Dunn and Old Dominion as headliners. Additionally, Jordan Davis, Maddie & Tae and Mitchell Tenpenny have also been added to the lineup, making this the largest bill in Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam history.

“Next year is our 10th anniversary, so we’re adding more acts to really up the excitement and make this a huge celebration,” says Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam Executive Producer Rendy Lovelady. “These times continue to be challenging for all of us, and next June is going to be a party!”

The loaded lineup currently includes Gary Allan, Chris Janson, Scotty McCreery, Randy Rogers Band, Frankie Ballard, Tracy Lawrence, Tyler Rich, Darryl Worley, Corey Smith, Ryan Griffin, Steve Moakler, Elvie Shane, Tigirlily, Nate Barnes, Confederate Railroad, Presley & Taylor, and Chandler Flint. Unfortunately, Chris Stapleton’s schedule prevented him from headlining the 2022 event.

“We hated having to move the Labor Day event, but starting fresh next June is exciting for everyone,” shares Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam COO Mark Sheldon. “The first weekend in June will be the festival’s permanent new home, and we look forward to hosting our Jammers from all over the world.”

Anyone who purchased a pass for the 2021 festival who wishes to transfer their pass to 2022 will automatically have a bonus $21 added to their registered wristband to spend at next year’s festival. Three-day Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam 2022 passes have been reset to original 2021 prices. For ticket packages and more information, click here.

Luke Bryan has racked up his 27th No. 1 single this week with “Waves,” which hits the top of the Billboard Country Airplay and Mediabase charts. The song was a two-week MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart No. 1 in June.

Penned by Zach Crowell, Ryan Hurd and Chase McGill, the song is the fifth No. 1 from Bryan’s Born Here Live Here Die Here album, which features the chart-toppers “Waves,” “Down To One,” “One Margarita,” “What She Wants Tonight,” and “Knockin’ Boots.”

“Waves” debuted at radio in April as the most added song in the country and Bryan performed it for the first time on TV on Good Morning America to promote the release of the deluxe edition of his album.

Bryan’s original five-part docuseries Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary, on IMDb TV is currently airing now. The series features a new song Bryan co-wrote with Luke Laird and Josh Osborne, “Songs You Never Heard,” in honor of his late brother Chris, who was always Bryan’s biggest supporter of chasing his musical dreams.

Michael Ray Earns First Platinum Certification For ‘Think A Little Less’

Singer-songwriter Michael Ray recently celebrated his first RIAA Platinum-certified single, “Think A Little Less,” which has been certified for U.S. digital single sales of over 1 million units. Bobby Bones presented Ray with a commemorative plaque Saturday night (Aug. 28) following his 58th performance at the Grand Ole Opry.

Ray has also received four Gold certifications throughout his career for his chart-topping songs “Kiss You in the Morning” and “One That Got Away,” as well as fan favorites “Get To You” and “Her World Or Mine.”

His current single, “Whiskey And Rain,” is climbing the country radio charts and has accumulated nearly 50 million streams since its release. Ray also released his new EP, Higher Education, last Friday (Aug. 27) which was produced by Ross Copperman.

 

Big Loud Adds Duane Hobson As Director Of Promotion (Southeast)

Big Loud Records has added Duane Hobson as its Director of Promotion (Southeast). Supporting the label’s roster in the Southeast region, Hobson brings two decades of expertise to his new role and will report to SVP of Promotion, Stacy Blythe.

After graduating from Nashville State Community College, he went on to serve in various A&R capacities with RCA Records, Sony/BMG, and Sony Music Nashville. Since then, he’s spent time handling A&R Industry Consultant duties for the University of Georgia’s Music Business Department, as well as Kennesaw State University’s Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business Program. Most recently, Hobson worked as A&R Collaborative Manager/Tour Manager at Edge Artist Management, and has also consulted for Intercept Music, as well as numerous independent artists and producers.

“I’ve been waiting quite some time to have a spot on this team for Duane [Hobson]. He’s already beloved in our industry and we are honored that he chose Big Loud Records as the home for his return,” shares Blythe. “Duane’s passion and positivity are abounding, and I know our radio friends in the Southeast are going to love him.”

“It’s an honor to join a company that invests heavily in the individuals and in the culture that they have come to be known for,” shares Hobson. “I’m looking forward to being on the front lines daily in the Southeast representing this amazing artist roster with Big Loud Records.”

Hobson can be reached here.

 

Morgan Brasfield Upped To Creative Manager At Kobalt

Morgan Brasfield has been promoted to Creative Manager at Kobalt Music.

Brasfield has spent her career dedicated to both amatuer and professional songwriters. After graduating from Belmont University, she worked her way from receptionist to writer representative at NSAI. She has worked on the creative team at Kobalt Music since 2017.

In her new role, she will work creatively with writer and publishing company clients while also overseeing calendar management, co-writing opportunities, and pitching songs.

Multi-Platinum selling recording artist Josh Turner is releasing his debut Christmas record, King Size Manger, on Oct. 8 through MCA Nashville. In support of the album, Turner will embark on a 16-city “Holiday & The Hits Tour” that will wrap at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.

The record, produced by Kenny Greenberg, will include Christmas classic as well as four originals, three of which were co-written by Turner who also arranged five of the 11 tracks on the project. 

The four original songs include the solo penned “Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana” featuring world renowned ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and Grammy-nominated Hawaiian trio Ho’okena. Turner also wrote “What He’s Given Me” with Pat McLaughlin, as well as the title track “King Size Manger” with Mark Narmore. The album also includes the Travis Hill and Tom Douglas track “Soldier’s Gift.” Christmas music fans will also find the beloved classics “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” which features Turner’s wife Jennifer and his four children, as well as “Joy To The World” featuring Rhonda Vincent. 

“Making a Christmas record can be a mighty daunting task for an artist,” says Turner. “There are so many songs to choose from and there’ve been so many versions of those songs throughout history. It can be intimidating to know whether you’ll be able to measure up to what’s already been done and when I get to that point, I step back and remind myself that I have to do what I hear in my heart. You may be surprised to hear my arrangement on some of these songs that you know so well.  We had a lot of fun throwing out all the preconceived notions of what a Christmas record should sound like. In my opinion, it’s about the words and the heart and soul of how a song sounds. You don’t need jingle bells on a song to make it a Christmas song.”

King Size Manger Track List:
1. Angels We Have Heard On High
2. What He’s Given Me (Featuring Pat McLaughlin)
3. King Size Manger
4. Joy To The World (Featuring Rhonda Vincent)
5. Soldier’s Gift
6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Featuring The Turner Family)
7. Go Tell It On The Mountain
8. Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana (Featuring Jake Shimabukuro and Ho’okena)*
9. The First Nowell
10. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town
11. Silent Night, Holy Night