The SteelDrivers Announce New Dates For Bonafide U.S. Tour

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The SteelDrivers have announced some new dates for their Bonafide U.S. Tour 2018. The band will hit markets like Roanoke, Raleigh, Dallas and Phoenix on the new tour, which runs through November. The band is celebrating 10 years this year since the release of their first album, and fans can can look forward to new music from them in the coming months. 

“Our dedication and determination remain intact,” says singer, songwriter and fiddler Tammy Rogers.  “I liken us to what the Rolling Stones would sound like if they played banjos, fiddles and mandolins — it’s that rock-n-roll edge played on traditional instruments and our shows continue to reflect that high-level energy and fun.”

Ticket information for the new tour dates can be found here.

SteelDrivers Tour Dates:
April 5: Lawrence, KY-Liberty Hall
April 6:    Stillwater, OK-Seretean Center Performing Arts
April 13:   Lexington, KY-Manchester Music Hall
April 14:   Lexington, KY-Manchester Music Hall
April 27:   Roanoke, VA-Jefferson Center
April 28:  Baltimore, MD-Charm City Bluegrass Festival
May 17:   Raleigh, NC-Lincoln Theatre
May 18:   Jacksonville, FL-Prohibition Kitchen
June 1:    Syria, VA-Graves Mountain Festival of Music
June 2:    Preston City, CT-Strawberry Park Bluegrass Festival
June 8:     Kalamazoo, MI-Bells Garden
June 9:    W. Lafayette, LA-Tippacanoe Ampitheatre
June 14:  Marinette, WI-Porterfield Country Music Festival
June 15:    Eau Claire, WI-Blue Ox Music Festival
July 1:    New Martinsville, WV- Back Home Appalachian Festival
Aug. 3:    Princeton, WV-Chuck Mathena Center
Aug. 4:      Parsons, WV-Pickin’ In Parsons
Aug. 17:    Pelham, TN-The Caverns
Aug. 23:  Asheville, NC-Orange Peel
Aug. 24:  Asheville, NC-Orange Peel
Sept. 21:  High Point, NC-High Point Theatre
Sept. 26:  Sellersville, PA-Sellersville Theatre
Sept. 27:  Wilmington, DE-The Queen
Oct. 4:   Alexandria, VA-Birchmere
Oct. 5:  Alexandria, VA-Birchmere
Oct. 6:    Manteo, NC-Bluegrass Island
Oct. 11:  Austin, TX-One World Theatre
Oct. 12:  Dallas, TX-Kessler Theatre
Oct. 13: Oklahoma City, OK-Tower Theatre
Oct. 14:  Houston, TX-The Heights Theatre
Oct. 25:  Park City, UT-Egyptian Theatre
Oct. 26:  Park City, UT-Egyptian Theatre
Oct. 27:  Park City, UT-Egyptian Theatre
Nov. 2:  Modesto, CA-Gallo Center for the Arts
Nov. 3:  Phoenix, AZ-The Van Buren

Tin Pan South 2018: Night 1

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Pictured (L-R): Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley listen, as Morgan Evans performs at 3rd & Lindsley. Photo: Cooper Smith

The 26th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank kicked off this week, as more than 80 songwriters hit the stages of 10 of Nashville’s top music venues. The “you never know who might show up at Tin Pan” rule held true, as several country stars joined in for special renditions of their hits.

The “special guest” at the early 3rd & Lindsley show featuring hit writers Ashley Gorley and Chris DeStefano turned out to be Brett Young. Also appearing to perform his hit song “Kiss Somebody” was country newcomer Morgan Evans.

Produced by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the 26th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank runs from April 3-7, 2018.

Brett Young performs at 3rd & Lindsley. Photo: Cooper Smith

Chris Young (l.) and Corey Crowder (r.) closed out the Tin Pan South Songwriting Seminar on Tuesday before the festival kicked off that evening. Photo: Cooper Smith

Pictured (L-R): Aaron Eshuis, Ryan Beaver, Matt McGinn, Josh Jenkins at the Hard Rock early show stage sponsored by Mid-South Ford. Photo: Cooper Smith

Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless and Rob Crosby at Douglas Corner
Photo: NSAI

Gabe Dixon performs on the Hard Rock late show stage sponsored by Mid-South Ford. Photo: Cooper Smith

Pictured (L-R): Special guest JT Harding joined Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion and Josh Osborne on the Listening Room late show stage sponsored by Nashville Music City – Nash 103.

Given Music Publishing’s American Songwriter Show at Commodore Grille featured Gary Baker, Cassidy Lynn, Naima Adedapo, Quinn Loggins and Post Monroe.
Photo: NSAI

Pictured (L-R): Brett Jones, Angela Kaset, Mac Davis, Regions Bank’s Lisa Harless, Rob Crosby and James Dean Hicks at Douglas Corner

Kip Moore, Jason Isbell, Judah & The Lion Added To Summerfest 2018

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Numerous performers have been added to the lineup for Summerfest 2018, slated for June 27-July 1, and July 3-8 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Among the newly-announced performers are Steven Tyler, Kesha, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Billy Currington, Janelle Monae, Kip Moore, Kane Brown, Brett Young, Judah & The Lion, Trace Adkins, Hunter Hayes, Anderson East, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, High Valley, Hurray for the Riff Raff, The Wild Feathers, Phil Vassar, Devin Dawson, Walker Hayes, Chris Lane, Jimmie Allen, Little Feather, and more.

Featuring entertainment 12 hours a day for 11 days on 12 stages, with over 800 acts, Summerfest continues to earn its reputation as The World’s Largest Music Festival.

Previously-announced 2018 American Family Insurance Amphitheater headliners include Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, and Luke Combs. Dates, times and stage locations as well as additional headliners will be announced in the coming weeks.

General admission tickets are only $21 and $14 for weekday tickets (valid prior to 4:00 p.m.).

Kane Brown Earns Two RIAA Platinum Certifications

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Pictured (L-R):Producer Dann Huff, Kane Brown, Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO
Randy Goodman and EFG Management’s Martha Earls.

The Recording Industry Association of America recently honored Kane Brown with two new awards: Brown’s self-titled debut album and hit single “Heaven” both have earned official Platinum certification for reaching the one million unit threshold of total physical sales, downloads and on-demand audio and/or video stream equivalents.

“Heaven” is Brown’s third track to achieve Platinum or Multi-Platinum certification. “What Ifs” featuring Lauren Alaina became Double-Platinum in January and “Used to Love You Sober” became Platinum in February. Brown was recently awarded a Guinness World Record for becoming the first act to top five U.S. country charts simultaneously.

Brown will perform during the upcoming 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards airing live on CBS on April 15, 8/7 p.m. CT. He is also a double ACM nominee this year, up for ACM’s New Male Vocalist and Vocal Event of the Year for “What Ifs” featuring Lauren Alaina.

Thomas Rhett, Jon Pardi, Dustin Lynch Surprise At BMI Tin Pan South Show

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Pictured (L-R): Dustin Lynch, Rhett Akins, BMI’s Leslie Roberts and Jon Pardi gather backstage at 3rd and Lindsley. Photo: Erika Goldring/BMI

BMI packed out Nashville venue 3rd & Lindsley on Tuesday (April 3) for their annual Tin Pan South show. Curated by two-time BMI Songwriter of the Year Rhett Akins and 2017 BMI Icon Bob DiPiero, the show kicked off with a surprise performance from Akins and Thomas Rhett.

Akins, DiPiero, and the Warren Brothers then took the stage for a round and storytelling. Other performances from the evening included surprise guests LOCASH, Dustin Lynch, and Jon Pardi. Also making appearances were hitmaker and 2016 BMI Songwriter of the Year Rodney Clawson as well as newcomer Parker Welling, who just celebrated her first No. 1 single.

BMI’s Leslie Roberts hosted the evening, stating from stage that the performers that evening had a combined total of 45 No. 1 singles.

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Leslie Roberts, The Warren Brothers, Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Bob DiPiero and Parker Welling pose for a photo during BMI’s Tin Pan South show. Photo: Erika Goldring/BMI

LOCASH performs with Rhett Akins at 3rd and Lindsley Photo: Erika Goldring/BMI

Rhett Akins performs with hit songwriter Rodney Clawson. Photo: Erika Goldring/BMI

Glen Phillips Signs With Compass Records Group

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Compass Records Group, home of Colin Hay, the Infamous Stringdusters, Nicki Bluhm and others, has signed Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket) to their roster. On May 4, Compass will deliver the commercial release of Phillips’ 2016 solo album, Swallowed By The New, with the addition of a bonus track, “Nobody’s Going to Get Hurt.” Co-written with Lori McKenna, “Nobody’s Going to Get Hurt” features backing vocals from Amber Rubarth.

“Lori McKenna and I wrote ‘Nobody’s Going to Get Hurt’ at her home just outside of Boston,” Phillips says. “I’d been reading and listening to a lot of David Whyte and was taken by his assertion that heartache is the inevitable byproduct of loving anything deeply, a sign of a life well lived instead of something to be avoided. I came in with the title and an idea that the song should be entirely lies. Lori jumped in and we finished it all in under two hours. That was a good day.”

Phillips has been making music for over two decades, starting as the 14-year-old frontman of Toad the Wet Sprocket. Since then, he’s released eight albums with Toad (which collectively have sold close to 4 million units) and three as a solo artist.

Phillips will be doing an acoustic duo tour this year in support of Swallowed By The New.

Upcoming Tour Dates:
4/13 Boca Raton, FL – Private
4/14 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Broward Center
4/15 Lake Park, FL – Kelsey Theater
4/17 St. Petersburg, FL- The Hideaway Cafe
4/18 St. Augustine, FL – Original Cafe Eleven
4/20 Duluth, GA – Red Clay Music Foundry
4/21 Athens, GA – Hendershot’s
4/22 Morganton, GA – Balch Residence
4/25 Fort Collins, CO – The Armory
4/26 Boulder, CO – eTown Hall
4/28 Denver, CO – Swallow Hill
4/29 Colorado Springs, CO – Friend’s HC
5/4 Kalamazoo, MI – Bell’s Eccentric Ave
5/5 Indianapolis, IN – Private
5/6 Dayton, OH – Yellow Cab Tavern
5/7 Pittsburgh, PA – Club Cafe
5/9 Cleveland, OH – Music Box Supper Club
5/10 Ann Arbor. MI – The Ark
5/11 Cincinnati, OH – Ludlow Garage
5/12 Milwaukee, WI – Back Room @ Colectivo
5/13 Chicago, IL – City Winery
6/2 Novato, CA – HopMonk Tavern
6/3 Novato, CA – HopMonk Tavern

Report: Heather Luke To Join BMLG In Promo Role

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Heather Luke

Former Warner Bros. Rock Promotion Sr. VP Heather Luke is heading to Nashville to join Big Machine Label Group, according to a report from hitsdailydouble.com.

Luke will join Big Machine/John Varvatos Records as Sr. VP/Head of Promotion. Luke previously spent 16 years with Warner Brothers Records, before exiting in March.

Fashion designer John Varvatos and BMLG’s Scott Borchetta launched the rock music-oriented joint venture in 2017. The first artist announced for the imprint in 2017 was California-based rock band badflower.

In Pictures: Thompson Square, Blackhawk, Mickey Gilley

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Thompson Square Reveals Masterpiece At WME Preview

Pictured (L-R): Greg Oswald (WME), Shawna Thompson, John Marks (Spotify), Keifer Thompson and Shawn Pennington (Manager / Pennington Entertainment)

Country duo Thompson Square shared several tracks from their forthcoming album, Masterpiece, with friends and members of the music community on The Steps at WME on Tuesday night (April 3).

Guests were treated to just released tunes “Millionaires,” “A Love Like This,” “Let’s Do Something Stupid,” “Up in Smoke” and “Masterpiece,” with a sneak peek at “Good Day” and a performance of signature hit “Are You Gone Kiss Me Or Not,” to top off the night.

The husband-wife duo will release their first album in more than five years and third studio project, Masterpiece, on June 1.

Pictured (L-R): Greg Oswald (WME), Shawna Thompson, Christian Easterling (Tour Manager), Elton Charles (band), Shaun Spillers (monitors), R.J. Ronquillo (band), Victor Borden (band), Dale Drinkard, Anthony Rankin (band), Keifer Thompson, Abby Wells Baas (WME), Shawn Pennington (Pennington Entertainment) and Alex Sera (WME)

 

Blackhawk, The Outlaws Present Donations To Vanderbilt, MusiCares

Pictured (L-R): Stuart Dill (VUMC Director of Engagement), Dave Robbins (BlackHawk/The Outlaws), Holly Crandall (VUMC), Henry Paul (BlackHawk/The Outlaws), Dr. Douglas Johnson (VUMC), Lori Stefanski (Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund Director of Charity)

Last week in Nashville, Henry Paul and Dave Robbins, members of country group BlackHawk, as well as southern rock band The Outlaws, paid visits to the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and MusiCares to deliver donations raised for each organization.

Paul and Robbins presented a $40,000 check to Vanderbilt (on behalf of BlackHawk’s “Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund”) and a $20,000 check to MusiCares (on behalf of The Outlaws’ “Fallen Outlaw Fund”).

Pictured (L-R): Debbie Carroll (MusiCares Sr. Executive Director), Henry Paul (BlackHawk/The Outlaws)

 

 Mickey Gilley Presented With Calgary White Hat

Mickey Gilley Receives Calgary White Hat

Mickey Gilley was presented the Calgary White Hat Saturday night (March 31) at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Calgary White Hat recognizes the recipient as an honorary citizen of Calgary and is a symbol of friendship and hospitality that has been bestowed upon celebrities and government officials alike since 1948. Other notable recipients include former U.S. Presidents Clinton and Bush, the Dalai Lama, Oprah and the Rolling Stones.

“It was a great honor receiving the White Hat in Calgary, just about like when I got the star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it was awesome!” said Gilley.

 

Clio Music Awards Jury Selected

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The Clio Awards have announced the jury selection for Music Marketing and Use Of Music at the upcoming Clio Music Awards to be held this Oct. 3 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom during Advertising Week in NYC. Nashville-based Wayne Leeloy of G7 Entertainment and Donna McQueen with Red Light Management are both on the 2018 Jury.

Launched five years ago and created in partnership with Billboard, Clio Music underscores the visceral power of music to connect consumers and brands. It lives as a section within the annual Clio Awards event dedicated to honoring work that spans artist self-promotion, music marketing, brand collaborations, and the use of music in advertising.

Key dates, fees, and a full list of mediums and categories can be found at clios.com/music.

Clio Music 2018 Jury:
Music Marketing:
Jessica Beutler Abel, Executive Vice President, Client Services, MAC Presents
Alisann Blood, SVP of Brand Partnerships, Maverick Management
Jennifer Breithaupt, Global Consumer Chief Marketing Officer, Citi
Scott Carter, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Epic Records
Ian Daly, Head of Brand Strategy, Live Nation
Nathan Gregory, Music Brand Partnerships Executive, CAA
Joy Howard, CMO, Sonos
Manuel Hubault, VP Brand Partnerships, UMGB
Chad Issaq, EVP, Business Development & Partnerships, Superfly
Jackie Jantos, VP Brand and Creative, Spotify
Davor Krvavac, Executive Creative Director, B-Reel
Wayne Leeloy, Head of Strategy & Innovation, G7 Entertainment
Donna McQueen, VP Brand Partnerships, Red Light Management
Joe Mulvihill, Entertainment Manager, LiveWire Entertainment
Emma Quigley, Head of Music & Entertainment, PepsiCo
Katie Robinson Addis, Global Head of Marketing, Red Bull Records
Alexis Rodriguez, Head of Global Marketing Solutions, Shazam
Jim Roppo, EVP & General Manager, Republic Records
Carolyn Williams, Senior Vice President, Marketing, RCA Records

Use of Music:
Ed Alexander, Global Head of Music Marketing, Beats by Dr. Dre
Ed Bailie, Director/ Music Supervisor, Leland Music/ Leland Originals
Kelly Bayett, Creative Director/ Partner, Barking Owl
Bob Bowen, Head of Music, Amazon Studios
Ben Dorenfeld, Senior Music Producer, Anomaly
Maura Duval Griffin, Director of Business Development and Music Licensing, Audiomachine
Jennifer Frommer, SVP, Creative Content & Licensing, Columbia Records
Alex Hackford, Senior Artist & Repertoire/ Music Affairs, Sony Interactive Entertainment America
Nick Keenan, Head of Music, VML
Liz Lewis, VP of Sync for Advertising and Video Games, Warner Bros. Records
Greg Moore, Joint Music Director, Adelphoi Music
Brad Rains, Senior Vice-President, Brand Partnerships & Commercial Licensing, Atlantic Records
Rebecca Rienks, Music Supervisor, NBC Entertainment
Marco Zermeño, Executive Production Manager & Latin America Head of Integrated Production, P&G

Nashville’s Creative Community Comes Together For Pop Unsigned Writer Camp

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Photo Credit: Leah McEachern

Last week, 24 unsigned pop artists, writers, and producers came together to form the first Nashville Underground Pop Camp and Showcase. The purpose of this camp was to give the pop focused artists, writers, and producers in Nashville a chance to collaborate and network.

Each participant had one co-write every day for three days. At the end of each day they would play their songs from that day for industry professionals and receive feedback. After everyone’s songs were played, the floor was then opened to questions and discussion between the writers and the industry speakers.

This sparked discussion about the prevalence of pop music within Nashville and gave writers relevant tips and advice on how to navigate their careers from here rather than LA. The three days of the camp came to a close with a showcase at The Back Corner (including 300 guests in attendance) where Liv Miraldi, Iolite, Estef, James Droll, Chelsea Lankes, and Jordan Pruitt performed – all of whom were writers in the camp.

Photo Credit: Ryan Nolan

Jordan Pruitt performs. Photo Credit: Ryan Nolan

Photo Credit: Ryan Nolan

Photo Credit: Leah McEachern