Steve Earle. Photo: Jay Blakesberg

After taking a hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Roots Music Festival will be held as a free, virtual, live streamed event.

Held Oct. 1-3, the upcoming festival will feature 15 live-broadcast and 12 pre-recorded performances from a lineup that includes Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Mavis Staples and Belá Fleck as well as first timers The Tallest Man On Earth and Las Cafeteras.

This year’s festival will feature pre-recorded sets and interviews from artists in New Orleans & San Francisco alongside live performances happening in real time from a COVID-careful location in the Bay Area.

“We did not come to the decision to withdraw our plans for Golden Gate Park lightly, but with the current information we have about the severity of the Delta variant, and given the history and mission of HSB as a free event open to all, we are taking these steps to protect our fans, artists and crew,” says Hardly Strictly Bluegrass’ Producer Sheri Sternberg. “We are thrilled with the line-up and excited that we are still able to offer fantastic sets from some of the greatest musicians in the world, available for everyone to watch no matter where they are!”

This hybrid plan allows for viewers to safely enjoy the performances of Lake Street Dive, Andy Shauf, Valerie June and others, in real time while also experiencing specially-taped sets from the likes of Bob Mould with Fred Armisen as well as Seratones with Alynda Segarra.

For more information on how to watch this year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, click here.

Breland. Photo: Mikai Karl

Dierks Bentley has invited rising country artist Breland to join his “Beers On Me” tour, which kicked off last weekend and also features special guests Riley Green and Parker McCollum on the opening lineup. Breland will crash Bentley’s set in select markets beginning this weekend in Mountain View, California (Aug. 21) and Stateline, Nevada (Aug. 22).

The two first joined forces on Bentley’s latest single, “Beers On Me” along with Hardy, which is currently climbing the charts. The collaboration finds “all three vocalists exuding personality, friendliness and warmth” as they trade verses about brushing off a long week with good company.

“Breland shines out there and the fans are really loving what he brings to the party,” Bentley says. “I’ve had him open a few shows the last few weeks, and I just really didn’t want him to leave. I love watching him convert people who may not be familiar with him into big fans. Of course, I want to help him build his career however I can, but he’s also helping me! His energy is joyful and contagious.”

Breland will also be hitting the road on his own debut headlining “Cross Country Tour.” Kicking off on Sep. 5 with an appearance at Bonnaroo, Breland will perform coast-to-coast in major markets including Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Nashville and L.A. through Oct. 27.

2021 “Beers On Me” Tour Dates:
8/20/21 Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
8/21/21 Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre ^
8/22/21 Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s*** ^
8/26/21 San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/27/21 Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
8/28/21 Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater^
9/16/21 Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
9/17/21 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
9/18/21 Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
9/23/21 Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
9/24/21 Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
9/25/21 Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
10/07/21 Detroit, MI – DTE Energy Music Theatre*^
10/08/21 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center*
10/09/21 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live*
10/15/21 Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center**
10/16/21 Pittsburgh, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake**
10/21/21 St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*
10/22/21 Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP*
^Featuring Breland
*Riley Green and TBD
**Mitchel Tennpenny and TBD
***Riley Green Only

Allie Colleen visits MusicRow. Photo: Haley Crow

Singer-songwriter Allie Colleen has had her fair share of industry and stage experience over the years.

She has grown up a witness to the music industry, as she’s the daughter of Garth Brooks, but Colleen is determined to make a name for herself on her own. The 2018 Belmont graduate earned a degree in songwriting and music business, and quickly took to the road performing.

In April of 2021, she released the physical copy of her debut album, Stones, available exclusively on her website. Since then, she has also been releasing one of the digital tracks about every six weeks on streaming platforms. The full project is slated to be available digitally on Black Friday (Nov. 26).

Among the tracks that Colleen has digitally released to the masses is “Only Oklahoma,” which places the Oklahoma native in a position of questioning what her life might be like if she’d have never left home. Written with Matt McKinney, the chorus offers the relatable internal dialogue, “Sometimes I wonder If I’d chose the other / If I was right in front of what I left behind / I could’ve got a job, could’ve raised a family, but could I make a living loving life way out there / in only Oklahoma?”

However, a completely different story is told through another one of her digitally available songs, “Pink Lemonade.” The only outside cut found on Stones, the seemingly innocent named yet innuendo-filled song provides a breezy melody paired with Colleen’s strong vocal that commands listeners attention.

“Nora [Collins] actually put [the song] out in 2018, but I was at a writers retreat that Eric Dodd had put on and I got to meet her there. At the very end of the night, everyone usually starts playing their wonky stuff that they couldn’t have played at a show and Nora played ‘Pink Lemonade.’ I just remember me and the four other dudes in the room looked at this sweet, little blonde girl and thought, ‘Sweetheart, I don’t know if you know what you’re singing about but that’s my favorite song,’” Colleen jokes. “‘Pink Lemonade’ is cool and sexy, and I don’t think other females in country music have gotten to sing about stuff like it, so I knew I just had to have it. And it’s fun because 50% of people think it’s actually about pink lemonade,” she shares cheekily.

Pictured (L-R): Sarah Skates (MusicRow), Lydia Farthing (MusicRow), LB Cantrell (MusicRow), Allie Colleen, Sherod Robertson (MusicRow), Alex Parry (MusicRow), Haley Crow (MusicRow)

One of the older tracks found on Stones is the powerful anthem “Wildflower,” providing encouragement to embrace one’s uniqueness. Penned by Colleen, Billy Dawson, De’leah Shane, and Sara Brice, the song boasts of never being “meant to fit in with the roses and a bouquet,” but rather to “grow, baby, grow wildflower.”

While currently operating as a DIY artist, Colleen shares that she finds a level of freedom especially with the ever-present COVID-19 pandemic still surging in much of the world.

“The pandemic put everything in a really interesting perspective. If the world shuts down again and I’m not DIY, I have no control over this whole vortex year of shit that we’re all wading in,” she explains. “Even if I stay with my 45,000 followers and that’s all I ever have, that’s fine because they care way more about my stuff than whatever the masses are that are listening to four seconds of a Tik Tok.”

Mac Powell Announces Solo Debut, ‘New Creation’

Mac Powell

Mac Powell, former frontman of Third Day, is set to release his debut solo Christian album, New Creation, on Oct. 15 on his new label home Capitol Christian Music Group. Two new songs from the project, “Love Is The Reason” and “The Center Of It All,” are available now.

New Creation features tracks by writers Ethan Hulse, Jonathan Smith, Jeff Pardo, Brenton Brown, Hank Bentley, Matt Maher, Seth Mosely, Benji Cowart, Casey Beathard, and Tommy Iceland. The full-length project was produced by Smith, Bentley, Pardo, Mosely, Colby Wedgeworth, and Ed Cash.

“After the Third Day farewell tour, I took some time to pursue being an independent artist, and I think it was really helpful in getting me to this moment,” shares Powell. “I truly can say that I’m not only excited about announcing my debut solo Christian album, but I am inspired and grateful to be re-connecting with my friends at radio and fans on the road these last few months. I believe this collection of songs have come from God and I can’t wait to hear stories of how they connect with and help people through the days we’re in living in.”

Ellie Holcomb Offers Up Some ‘Fighting Words’

Ellie Holcomb

Christian singer-songwriter and author Ellie Holcomb will release her first devotional book: Fighting Words – 100 Days of Speaking Truth into the Darkness on Oct. 15. This marks her first book for adults after previously releasing two best-selling children’s books–Don’t Forget to Remember (2020) and Who Sang the First Song (2018).

“Fighting Words is more like an invitation than a book,” explains Holcomb. “It’s an invitation to come as you are and lie down in the green pastures of God’s Word. It’s an invitation to bury some treasure in your heart as we memorize God’s Word together, and my hope is that this book will feel like a companion who will meet you where you are, come alongside you, and help you know that you’re not alone. I think the main content of this book is God’s Word and your heart!”

Named after one of her hit songs, Fighting Words is a journaling devotional book filled with encouraging, honest reflections and questions to help process scripture. The book serves as a place to wrestle, respond to, and take hold of precious truths in God’s Word.

Wisdom Moon Launches Lula Street Records

Wisdom Moon

Wisdom Moon, founder and CEO of the multi-faceted agency Marketing with Wisdom, has launched Lula Street Records. The boutique label, designed to help mission-driven artists maximize their potential while retaining full ownership and creative control of their work, will be distributed by Integrity Music.

Lula Street Records launches with six flagship artists: acclaimed worship leader, author and speaker Stephen McWhirter; Hispanic-American worship leader Alisha Quinonez; folk-rockers Dawson Hollow; Hawaii-based singer/songwriter Maria Hilman; and singer/songwriters/worship leaders Todd McVicker and Shaylee Simeone.

“Through the years I’ve worked with hundreds of artists and have seen firsthand many who are uniquely talented and just need the right label partnership to propel them to the next level,” shares Moon, whose background includes tenures at Centricity Music and Integrity Music. “I’m excited to launch Lula Street Records because I believe it’s the right time, and I also believe we can offer a much-needed specialized approach to label services for many artists.”