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.”

Little Big Town performs at the opening night of The Amp at Dant Crossing on Aug. 6, 2021.

Just a few hours from Music City, a new 2,000-seat outdoor music venue has officially opened in the heart of Kentucky’s bourbon country. The Amp at Dant Crossing venue celebrated its opening with a sold-out Little Big Town show on Aug. 6.

The Amp is the newest addition to Dant Crossing, a 300-plus-acre destination in Gethsemane, Kentucky, that is anchored by Log Still Distillery. The new music venue has announced an extensive opening lineup of artists set to grace the stage throughout the 2021 season.

“Dant Crossing is all about bringing people together, and there’s nothing that can bring people together the way live music can,” says J.W. “Wally” Dant, III, president of Dant Crossing and Log Still Distillery. “Guests who visit The Amp get to listen to good music, sip on good bourbon, and enjoy the beauty of the Kentucky countryside. It’s a pretty special place.”

The Amp at Dant Crossing 2021 Season Lineup:
Little River Band – Aug. 20
Cheap Trick – Aug. 21
Mitchell Tenpenny – Aug. 27
The Steeldrivers – Aug. 28
Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder – Sept. 3
Clay Walker – Sept. 5
Kansas – Sept. 10
Darryl Worley – Sept. 24
Sara Evans – Sept. 25
Summerland Tour (Feat. Everclear, Living Colour, Hoobastank, Wheatus) – Oct. 1
Wynonna with The Big Noise – Oct. 2
Mark Wills – Oct. 8
Better Than Ezra – Oct. 9
Phil Vassar – Oct. 15
Gin Blossoms – Oct. 22

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats. Photo: Rett Rogers

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats are preparing for the release of their third studio album, The Future, set for Nov. 5 via Stax Records. The Future’s lead single, “Survivor,” is available everywhere now.

For the recording, the band escaped to Rateliff’s new Colorado Broken Creek studio to write an album’s worth of songs. The Future looks to shed light on their unique observations while reflecting on our current times. The group is composed of Rateliff (vocals, guitar), Joseph Pope III (bass), Patrick Meese (drums, percussion, keys), Luke Mossman (guitar), Mark Shusterman (organ, keys), Andreas Wild (saxophone), Daniel Hardaway (trumpet) and Jeff Dazey (saxophone).

“I look at the album overall as a big question,” notes Rateliff. “When I was writing the record we were in the middle of a pandemic and our future looked pretty bleak. I just continue to try to write from a place of hope. Then my own neurosis, and maybe being a libra gets in the way, and I can’t make up my mind. There is this constant back and forth battle in me personally and I am sure that comes out in my writing.”

The band’s self-titled debut album is now certified Gold in the U.S. and has sold over a million records worldwide. Their sophomore album, Tearing at the Seams, debuted in March 2018 to widespread critical acclaim and included three singles which hit No. 1 at Triple A radio.

Last year, Rateliff released his first solo album in seven years, And It’s Still Alright, which peaked at No. 3 on iTunes’ Top Albums chart, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk chart, landed at No. 2 on their Current Rock chart, and resided at No. 1 on the Americana Albums Chart for eight consecutive weeks.

The Future Track List: 
1. The Future
2. Survivor
3. Face Down In The Moment
4. Something Ain’t Right
5. Love Me Till I’m Gone
6. Baby I Got Your Number
7. What If I
8. I’m On Your Side
9. So Put Out
10. Oh, I
11. Love Don’t