Avalon Announces New Album Title, Fall Tour

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AVALON is back with a new album on Red Street Records, Called, and a new tour this Fall in support of the new album. Special guest Reagan Strange, from NBC’s hit show, The Voice, will join them on the new tour, which kicks off September 20 in Tampa. The 10-city tour will feature some of Avalon’s most-loved hits including “Adonai,” “Can’t Live A Day,” “Testify to Love” along with new music from Called.

The award-winning group started in 1995 and has released 13 records to date, with six Dove Awards and an American Music Award among their industry and fan nods. In the fall of 2018, members Greg and Janna Long, Jody McBrayer and Dani Rocca announced that they signed as the flagship artist with Red Street Records, a new label launched by Rascal Flatts bass player, Jay DeMarcus.

“We’re so excited to be back after 10 years with brand new music from our upcoming release Called!” says Greg Long.  “We are truly looking forward to worshiping Jesus with our longtime friends as well as new listeners as we play some of our biggest songs over the years. Expect a fun night for everyone!”

“It is an honor to have AVALON as a part of the Red Street Records family,” states Jay DeMarcus. “Their debut Red Street Records project, Called, is an amazing body of work that we are so incredibly excited to share with the world. This music will inspire, encourage and challenge you. I know you’re going to LOVE IT! And, to see AVALON in concert is a very special experience so, don’t miss this special evening at The Called Tour!”

THE CALLED TOUR DATES:
9/20/19 – Tampa, FL –River Hills Church of God
9/21/19 – Boca Raton, FL – Spanish River Church
9/22/19 – Orlando, FL – FBC Orlando
10/17/19 – Siloam Springs, AR – The Assembly-Siloam Springs
10/18/19 – Owasso, OK – Owasso First Assembly
10/19/19 – Grapevine, TX – First Baptist Church Grapevine
10/24/19 – Muscle Shoals, AL – Highland Park Baptist Church
10/25/19 – Marietta, GA – Due West United Methodist Church
10/27/19 – Lancaster, SC – Second Baptist Lancaster

DISClaimer: The Black Keys, Keb’ Mo’ Offer Fresh Tracks

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I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed a Nashville pop/rock listening session as much as this one.

This stack of platters has it all — our reigning rock monarchs The Raconteurs and The Black Keys, a legend-among-us Peter Frampton, enchanting new pop by Amy Stroup and *repeat repeat plus blues from Whitey Johnson and Keb Mo (as well as Frampton).

Finishing in a dead heat for Disc of the Day are The Black Keys and Keb Mo. Keys drummer Patrick Carney is also present as the producer of *repeat repeat and Jessy Wilson, who finish in another tie, for the DisCovery Award.

KEB’ MO’/Oklahoma
Writers: Keb Mo/Dara Tucker; Producer: Colin Linden; Publisher: none listed; Concord
– Music City’s resident bluesman returns with this delightfully groove-soaked title tune of a new collection. The song is about hope and resilience, but makes sidelong references to Oklahoma’s troubled racial and Native American issues. The great Robert Randolph adds a delicious lap-steel solo. Other guests on the new album include Rosanne Cash (on the feminist “Put a Woman In Charge”), Taj Mahal (with whom Keb won one of his four Grammys) and Latina-Christian pop star Jaci Velasquez (on the immigrant saga “This Is My Home”). This just might be the album of his career. Unreservedly recommended.

THE CERNY BROTHERS/I Wanna Love You
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Cleveland
– The recent transplants to Nashville have a new album titled Looking For a Good Land that explores the roots-rock idiom of Mellencamp, Springsteen et al. Its lead single pumps out blue-collar rhythm and stirring, anthemic, reach-for-the-sky melody. I defy you to sit still.

THE PETER FRAMPTON BAND/I Just Wanna Make Love To You
Writers: none listed; Producers: Frampton/Chuck Ainlay; Publishers: none listed; UMe
– He’s on his farewell tour because of health issues, but the star is also breaking new ground with his first blues album and a six-week “The Peter Frampton Show” on Sirius/XM. The collection, titled All Blues, is on blue vinyl (via his website) and contains all covers. Some are quite familiar (”The Thrill Is Gone,” “Georgia on My Mind,” “Can’t Judge a Book by the Cover”). Others not so much. This lead track and single features Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds on a sweaty, searing, slow-grind workout with, no surprise, plenty of stinging electric guitar.

DOUBLECAMP/Feel Like Me
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Doublecamp
– Consisting of Joe Neary and Jordan Burmeister, this Nashville indie-pop duo has issued this bopping, atmospheric, electro track as its first single. It’s a sunny, shiny, feel-good, upbeat, dizzy and ultimately positive love ditty. The guys were previously in a Milwaukee outfit called The Middle Ground. A promising debut.

THE BLACK KEYS/Go
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Nonesuch
– Members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have reunited after five years apart pursuing individual projects and producing others. Their new collaboration, Let’s Rock, releases on June 28. Its first advance single, “Lo/Hi,” topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs, Adult Alternative Songs, Rock Airplay and Alternative Songs charts. Now comes this as the second single and debut video. The ridiculously catchy track has loads of snap, crackle and pop. The video is laugh-out-loud hilarious, featuring the sourpuss boys attending the “Happy Trails Intentional Community and Spiritual Retreat” to get over the issue that they hate each other and aren’t speaking. They rock the robed hippies, but still aren’t speaking at the rural facility that advertises “Mediation, Spiritual Growth and Validated Parking.” I am told that The Black Keys will be touring again in September, with or without dialogue.

AMY STROUP/Made
Writers: none listed; Producer: Supercookies; Publishers: none listed; Milkglass (track)
– This 2019 Bonnaroo performer decided to vacation from Nashville and record in L.A. last year. The resulting Helen of Memphis album, her third, is the singer-songwriter’s pop, pop, poppiest. This drum-loopy, burbling, hooky, trance-y single appeared on the soundtrack of the recent Jennifer Lopez movie Second Act. Which is not unusual for Stroup. To date, her voice has been heard in 467 movie/TV placements, including This Is Us, Grey’s Anatomy and Despicable Me 3. Honey-dipped beats and charming vocals like this are why she gets to open for such esteemed acts as Kings of Leon, Kacey Musgraves and Ingrid Michaelson.

THE RACONTEURS/Bored and Razed
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Third Man
– The band issues its new CD, Help Us Stranger, tomorrow (6/21). Members Jack White, Brenden Benson, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler will celebrate it with an epic world tour starting next month. Back here at home, we can bob our heads to this steamrolling rocker from the new collection. The furious drumming, screaming vocals and ferocious electric guitar are all classic elements of this group’s sound. For those of you yearning for honest-to-goodness ROCK, here is the for-real deal.

WHITEY JOHNSON/If It’s Really Gotta Be This Way
Writers: Gary Nicholson/Arthur Alexander/Donnie Fritts; Producer: Gary Nicholson; Publisher: none listed; Blue Corn (track)
– Whitey Johnson is the blues-playing alter ego of Nashville mega songwriter Gary Nicholson. His new More Days Like This collection finds him collaborating with the likes of Delbert McClinton, Colin Linden and The McCrary Sisters. This melodic, stately, lonely-sounding, heartsick tune has already been recorded by Robert Plant, among others. It features Nicholson cowriting with the late, legendary soul man Arthur Alexander (”You Better Move On,” “Anna,” “Soldier of Love”) and Muscle Shoals legend Donnie Fritts (”Breakfast In Bed,” “You’re Gonna Love Yourself in the Morning,” “We Had It All”). Moody and mellow.

*repeat repeat/Hi, I’m Waiting
Writers: none listed; Producer: Patrick Carney; Publisher: none listed; Dangerbird
– This Nashville power-pop trio has a new album titled Glazed. As you can clearly see in the music video for this fizzy, fuzzy, fine lead single, Patrick Carney of The Black Keys is drumming, as well as producing. A delectable synth/guitar/vocal combo with touches of surf, punk and new wave.

JESSY WILSON/Love & Sophistication
Writers: none listed; Producer: Patrick Carney; Publishers: none listed; Thirty Tigers
– Phase is Wilson’s debut album. But you might remember this Nashvillian from her work in the bi-racial country/rock duo The Muddy Magnolias. This haunting, dreamy, neo-soul single from the new solo CD casts an audio spell that’s hard to resist. Her soft, seductive vocal is set in an echo chamber while rhythm patterns swirl around her. Beautifully pleasing.

Spirit Music Nashville Appoints Derek Wells To A&R Role, Establishes Joint Venture

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Derek Wells

Spirit Music Group has appointed Derek Wells to Senior Director A&R/Production, Spirit Music Nashville. Wells will report to Spirit Music Group Nashville CEO Frank Rogers. Additionally, Spirit Music Group has established a joint venture with Derek Wells for his 2 Mix Music company.

“Derek Wells is one of the most talented people in music – period. His resume as a musician and producer speaks for itself, but that is just scratching the surface,” Rogers said.  “He is a magnet for great people and great music. I speak for the entire Spirit Music Nashville family in saying we are thrilled to partner with Derek in this next phase of his career. Here we go…”

“I’m thrilled to join the Spirit Music Nashville team in this new A&R role and also as a partner in 2 Mix Music,” Wells said. “Jon, Joe, Rak and everyone at Spirit Music have built an amazing company offering boutique service with global reach. Naming Frank Rogers CEO of Spirit Music Nashville — someone who I have a long history with and tremendous respect for — shows their commitment to strengthening the Nashville headquarters and building upon an already impressive list of writers and catalogs. I’m excited to be a part of this next chapter!”

As a prominent Nashville session musician Wells, who in 2018 took home his first MusicRow All-Star Musician Award in the guitar category, has performed on several No. 1 hits for Kid Rock, Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney, Shakira, Midland, Kane Brown, Blake Shelton, Florida Georgia Line, Corey Hart, Ian Gillian of Deep Purple, Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood. His work on the Maren Morris album, HERO earned him a Grammy nomination.

In 2016, Wells was the youngest person in history to win The Academy of Country Music’s Guitar Player of the Year award and also the youngest person to ever be nominated for the CMA Musician of the Year Award. In 2019, he was awarded his second ACM award, again for Guitar Player of the Year.

As a producer Wells has worked on albums for Maddie & Tae, Granger Smith, and Scotty McCreery (including McCreery’s No. 1, platinum-certified single “This Is It”). Wells currently serves on the Country Music Association’s Board of Directors as well as on committees for the Academy Of Country Music and The Grammys.

Christian Band Building 429 To Launch Fear No More Tour 

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Building 429, pictured (L-R): Aaron Branch, Jason Roy, Steven Stewart, Michael Anderson and Jesse Garcia.

Christian band Building 429 will launch a 20-city Fear No More Tour this fall, while hitting festivals, parks, fairs and more nationally this summer.

Named for the band’s current hit single, the tour will feature special guest Britt Nicole and exclusively partner with Christian-focused Nashville-based Premier Productions.

“Fear No More” is the first release from the band’s third Wave Music with The Fuel Music distribution, available at digital retailers. The single hits top 20 this week on multiple radio charts.

“I wrote ‘Fear No More’ following a year of fear, feeling like I was under siege,” confesses Building 429 frontman Jason Roy. “It was a tough, tough year. We had health scares, we had bus wrecks; you couldn’t write a script for a year that was more brutal than 2018. I just felt like I needed to sit down and kind of acknowledge that this place I was in the middle of is not what I would ever choose, and yet at the same time, God somehow used it. While 2018 was a year of fear for me, I’m declaring 2019 is the year of fear no more!”

The Fear No More Tour fall dates will be announced soon but upcoming summer events will include Kings Fest (6/22), Elevate 2019 (6/23) and OneFest (7/27). All the latest tour dates can be found at building429.com/tour.

ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp Celebrates 10 Years

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The 10th Annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp was held this week in Nashville, with campers from around the country participating in activities and excursions around Music City.

On Monday, Tenille Townes and Chris Young visited the campers during a recording session at Belmont University’s Ocean Way Nashville Studios, where the campers did a Q&A with Townes and Young and recorded their original song, “The Way You Love,” with songwriter/producer Ross Copperman and singer/songwriter Joy Williams.

On Tuesday, ACM Lifting Lives® Music Camp concluded with a final touching performance at the Grand Ole Opry with Michael Ray, who joined the campers to sing their original song “The Way You Love,” which the campers wrote just days ago with Ross Copperman, Lady Antebellum and Joy Williams.

The residential camp has the dual purpose of studying Williams syndrome while providing the campers with music enrichment through performance and education. In addition to the songwriting session that kicked off Camp last week, campers enjoyed a fun-filled karaoke night at Winner’s Bar & Grill with Frankie Ballard, a trip to the Seacrest Studios with Caylee Hammack, a meet and greet at Wildhorse Saloon with Hunter Hayes, and a visit and performance by Jessie James Decker at The Bluebird Cafe.

The camp is a partnership between ACM Lifting Lives and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

Industry Pics: SESAC, Tucker Beathard, Bobby Bones

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SESAC Hosts Reception for Industry Friends and Affiliates

On Tuesday, June 11, SESAC hosted a cocktail reception, sponsored by SunTrust Bank, to celebrate its songwriters and publishers at The NoMad Hotel in New York City. The event was held during a week of festivities surrounding the annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala and Induction Ceremony. 

Pictured (L-R): SESAC songwriter Steve Bogard, SESAC VP of Creative Services Shannan Hatch, SunTrust Bank’s Dustin Miller and NSAI’s Jennifer Turnbow. Photo: David Scott Holloway

 

Tucker Beathard Premieres New Music Video & Music In Nashville

Warner Music Nashville’s Tucker Beathard premiered the music video for his current single “Better Than Me” for friends, radio, media and industry members in Nashville on Tuesday (June 18.) Guests donned “Jumbo House” hats, as a nod to the role Tucker plays in the video at a burger joint.

 

The Bobby Bones Show Helps Raise $165K For Building Homes For Heroes

Pictured (L-R): The Bobby Bones Show’s Morgan Massengill, Ray Slater, Eddie Garcia, Morgan Huelsman, Bobby Bones, Amy Brown, Hillary Borden, Lunchbox (Dan Chappell), Christina Buswell, Mike Deestro. Photo: Zack Massey

The Bobby Bones Show, along with The Shop Forward, launched a limited edition patriotic PIMPINJOY clothing line with an aim to raise funds to help build an ADA certified home for Army Specialist Scotty West, who lost both legs while deployed. After just three days, over $165,000 was raised to go toward Building Homes for Heroes in their effort to build a home for West and his family.

West, who joined the military in 2003 and later on suffered a tragic accident during duty, now resides in Arkansas with his two children and has been heavily awarded for his military service in receiving the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Parachutist Badge. Hear more about West’s story, here.

Steve Schweidel, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Join Vector

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Vector Management has added Steve Schweidel as a full-time manager, bringing with him the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to the Vector roster.

Schweidel’s early career stops included The Hit Factory as a recording engineer. In 2008, he founded Clearview Artist Management, where he began working with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, as well as artists including Bucky Covington, James Otto, Steve Wariner, Will Hoge, and Jo Dee Messina, among others. In 2017, Clearview partnered with Oswald Entertainment Group in a co-management agreement for singer Jewel.

“I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Ken Levitan and the amazing team of folks at Vector. It’s an exciting time for me and my artists,” says Schweidel.

Schweidel can be reached at steve@vectormgmt.com.

‘The Songwriters’ Second Season Kicks Off June 21

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The Songwriters, a weekly TV series spotlighting members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, will return to Nashville Public Television starting this Friday, June 21. The half-hour interview show will feature behind-the-scenes conversations with a dozen members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as rare performances of some of the most-revered songs in the history of Music City.

This year’s episodes will star Rodney Crowell, K.T. Oslin, Jeffrey Steele, Bobby Braddock, Mark D. Sanders, Aaron Barker, Randy Goodrum, Matraca Berg, Tony Arata, Byron Hill, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Craig Wiseman.

The Songwriters is hosted by Ken Paulson, Dean of the College of Media and Entertainment at Middle Tennessee State University. Previously, he served as the editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today, and as president of the First Amendment Center, Paulson was the host of the Emmy-honored television program “Speaking Freely,” which was seen in more than 60 PBS markets nationwide over five seasons.

“We’re very pleased to share these rich conversations with some of the world’s greatest songwriters,” says Paulson. “Their insights about their art and inspiration make for truly compelling television.”

Jenny Tolman Joins Kinkead Agency Roster

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Jenny Tolman has signed with The Kinkead Agency for booking representation.

Tolman was raised in Nashville and learned to explore herself through her sharp-witted songwriting. She has performed across the country, opening for acts like Alabama, Michael Ray, Brandy Clark, Cole Swindell and others.

Her debut album There Goes The Neighborhood, is due July 19, 2019.

Songwriter Ethan Hulse, Be Essential Songs Top 2019 BMI Christian Awards

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(L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, Be Essential Songs’ Holly Zabka and Terry Hemmings, BMI’s Leslie Roberts, 2019 Song of the Year songwriter Ran Jackson, 2019 Songwriter of the Year Ethan Hulse, 2019 BMI Compass Award honoree Elwyn Raymer, Be Essential Songs’ Jamie Rodgers and BMI’s MaryAnn Keen (Photo: Steve Lowry)

It’s a great moment when any songwriter picks up their first BMI Award, but for Ethan Hulse, Tuesday evening’s (June 18) BMI Christian Awards ceremony brought not only his first, but his second, third and fourth BMI honors. The newcomer songwriter also earned the evening’s top award, Songwriter of the Year.

Hulse co-wrote songs including the gold-certified “Old Church Choir” (Zach Williams), “When We Pray” (Tauren Wells), “Whole Heart” (Brandon Heath) and “Word of Life” (Jeremy Camp).

BMI’s Jody Williams, Leslie Roberts and MaryAnn Keen hosted the evening to celebrate the top 25 songs played on U.S. Christian radio over the past year.

“I love celebrating the writers, publishers, and artists at this awards dinner,” said Roberts, Executive Director, Creative. “Every year I am blown away by our performances, and as always, I am honored to present awards to the writers and publishers of this genre.”

Comedian John Crist started the evening, poking good-natured fun at everything from the music industry to Christian weddings.

Mallary Hope, who has penned songs for Danny Gokey and Lauren Alaina among others, performed a song titled “Me,” inspired by her own journey to accept her musical identity. Hope penned “Me” alongside Jeff Pardo and Molly Reed.

Grammy winner Zach Williams has been on a hot streak since his debut single “Chain Breaker” released back in 2016. The song was certified gold and spent 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Christian chart, setting a record for the longest time a debut song from a Christian artist has spent at the chart’s pinnacle. He then expanded that chart streak with the followup single “Old Church Choir,” which spent 20 weeks at No. 1. During the BMI event, he offered his gold-certified “Fear Is A Liar.”

Koryn Hawthorne stunned the crowd with her powerful, soulful rendering of “Speak The Name.” Her single “Won’t He Do It” spent 41 weeks atop the Hot Gospel Songs chart. The song earned Hawthorne a Dove Award last year for Contemporary Gospel/Urban Recorded Song of the Year and a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance/Song.

Longtime CCM industry member Elwyn Raymer was honored with the BMI Compass Award for his contributions in the industry.

Song of the Year went to “Reckless Love,” recorded by Bethel Music, penned by Ran Jackson and published by Be Essential Songs and Richmond Park Publishing. The song hit number one on Billboard’s U.S. Hot Christian Songs chart and remained there for 18 weeks. The song spent 68 weeks in total on the chart, with 53 weeks in the Top 10.

Be Essential Songs, publisher home for Hulse and “Reckless Love” writer Ran Jackson, also earned Publisher of the Year, for earning the highest percentage of copyright ownership among the year’s most-performed songs.

Among the company’s published hits are “Different,” “Do It Again,” “Fear Is A Liar,” “God Of All My Days,” “Old Church Choir,” “O’Lord,” “Reckless Love” “When We Pray,” “Whole Heart,” “Word of LIfe,” “Your Love Defends Me,” and more.

A full list of songs honored during the evening are below:

ALL MY HOPE
Ed Cash
Alletrop Music
Map Catalogs

CLEAR SKIES
Ernie Haase
Wayne Haun
Joel Lindsey
Curb Dayspring Music
Ernie Sig Sound Music
Sea Smoke Music
Songs From The Inside
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

COME TO THE TABLE
Dave Frey
Ben McDonald
Curb Dayspring Music
Pencil Prophet Publishing
Run Run Milo
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

DIFFERENT
Micah Tyler
Be Essential Songs
Fair Trade Global Songs

DO IT AGAIN
Mack Brock
Chris Brown
Steven Furtick
Be Essential Songs
Music By Elevation Worship Publishing

FEAR IS A LIAR
Jonathan Smith
Zach Williams
Anthems of Hope
Be Essential Songs
Wisteria Drive Music

GOD OF ALL MY DAYS
Mark Hall
Be Essential Songs
My Refuge Music
Sparrow Song

GOD OF THE STORMS
Gerald Crabb
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefit
Gerald Crabb’s Songs

GRACE GOT YOU
Solomon Jerome Olds
Moon and Musky Music
Soul Glow Activator Music

HERE HE COMES
Joseph Habedank
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefit

I JUST NEED U.
Toby McKeehan
Blake NeeSmith
Achtober Songs
Harper and Hudson
House of Emack Music
Map Catalogs
River Oaks Music Company

JOY IN THE HOUSE
Marcia Henry
Barbara Ann Huffman
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefit
Sunset Gallery Music

OLD CHURCH CHOIR
Ethan Hulse
Zach Williams
Anthems of Hope
Be Essential Songs
EGH Music Publishing
Wisteria Drive Music

O’LORD
Joe Williams
Be Essential Songs
Sound District

POINT TO YOU
Darren Mulligan
Curb Dayspring Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

RECKLESS LOVE
Ran Jackson
Be Essential Songs
Richmond Park Publishing

RESURRECTION POWER
Tony Brown
Ed Cash
Alletrop Music
Bethel Worship Publishing
Capitol CMG Paragon
Map Catalogs
S.D.G. Publishing

SO WILL I (100 BILLION X)
Michael Fatkin (APRA)
Ben Hastings (APRA)
Joel Houston (APRA)
Capitol CMG Paragon

THANKFUL, SO THANKFUL
Lee Black
Scott Inman
Christian Taylor Music
Clearbox Benefit
Sunset Gallery Music

THE COMEBACK
Danny Gokey
Cameron James
BMG Platinum Songs
Creative Heart Publishing
Hello Darling Music

THE GOSPEL
Toby McKeehan
Achtober Songs
River Oaks Music Company

WHEN WE PRAY
Ethan Hulse
Tauren Wells
Be Essential Songs
Crucial Music Entertainment
EGH Music Publishing

WHOLE HEART
Brandon Heath
Ethan Hulse
Be Essential Songs
EGH Music Publishing
Haidaway Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Inc.

WORD OF LIFE
Ethan Hulse
Be Essential Songs
EGH Music Publishing

YOUR LOVE DEFENDS ME
Matt Maher
Be Essential Songs
I am a Pilgrim Songs