Pictured (L-R): Maren Morris with Ed Warm, ACM Lifting Lives Chairman and Joe’s Bar Owner

Upcoming club dates from Kane Brown and Chase Bryant will help give back by donating a portion of the night’s proceeds to the Academy of Country Music’s Lifting Lives program. Participating clubs are donating a portion of each ticket sold to ACM’s Lifting Lives program, and proceeds raised will help fund organizations that are improving lives through the healing power of music.

Bryant’s upcoming Bluestone club date on March 23 in Columbus, Ohio, and Kane Brown’s Billy Bob’s show on April 21 in Fort Worth, Texas, will donate to the Lifting Lives program. Maren Morris headlined a date earlier this year at Joe’s Bar in Chicago that raised $3,600 for the Academy’s charitable arm.

While many record enthusiasts are known to spend the better part of a day browsing through stacks of vinyl at various record stores in their cities, the second annual Record Store Crawl series elevates audiophiles’ and record enthusiasts’ favorite pastime, with artist performances, food, drinks and other amenities.

This year’s series will take place from April through August, in cities including Nashville, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more.

Among the artists taking part in the series in various cities are Ryan Kinder (Warner Music Nashville), Savoire Adore (Nettwerk Records); Craig Brown Band (Third Man Records); Four By Fate (The End Records); The Sweeplings (Nettwerk Records), Angelica Garcia (Warner Bros. Records), Steff and the Articles (independent), and more to be announced.

The Nashville Record Store Crawl, slated for Aug. 26, will include a Record Store Crawl bus, giveaways, lunch at Two Boots Pizza, and discounts at Nashville vinyl stores including The Groove, Grimey’s and Grimey’s Too, Vinyl Tap, and more. Tickets are $49.95 and can be purchased at recordstorecrawl.com.

The full Record Store Crawl itinerary will be revealed the week of each journey. Record Store Crawl is presented in partnership with Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Record Store Crawl Schedule:

April 22 – New York, NY
June 10 – Minneapolis, MN
June 17 – Phoenix, AZ
June 24 – Chicago, IL
June 24 – Rochester, NY
July 8 – Seattle, WA
July 22 – Los Angeles, CA
July 29 – Birmingham, AL
July 29 – Washington, DC
Aug. 6 – Austin, TX
Aug. 12 – Portland, OR
Aug. 26 – Nashville, TN

The Band Perry will perform the post-race concert following this year’s St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon on Saturday, April 29 at Ascend Amphitheater. The Toyota Rock ‘n’ Roll concert series event is open exclusively to runners and their friends and family, and will start at 7 p.m.

The musically-themed race attracts more than 30,000 runners who will take on the 26.2, 13.1-mile and 5K courses, while many of Nashville’s best live bands perform along the route. In addition, 3,500 junior racers will participate in KiDS ROCK Nashville, a one mile race taking place on Sunday, April 30. The St. Jude marathon weekend kicks off April 27 with a free, two-day Health & Fitness Expo at the Nashville Music City Center. Race participants will visit the expo to pick up their numbers and browse over 100 exhibitors featuring free samples, the latest in running gear and sports apparel, and interactive clinics.

New for 2017 is a one mile race on Thursday night, warming runners up for the main event. Participants can earn a third, bonus medal for taking on two days of running over the weekend, completing the inaugural ‘Remix Challenge’. Thursday’s (April 27) mile race ends at Ascend Amphitheater where Jake Owen will play a ticketed performance, open to the public.

“St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Marathon & ½ Marathon, is a marquee event in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series,” said Katie Holmes, Event Manager. “We are thrilled that The Band Perry will headline this year’s post-race concert at the new Ascend Amphitheater celebrating the many musical genres that Nashville is known for. Their country roots and new pop sound are sure to keep the party rocking for runners and spectators after the race.”

Carly Pearce visits MusicRow.

Big Machine Records newcomer Carly Pearce recently stopped by the MusicRow offices to share new music, including her radio debut, “Every Little Thing,” which began adding at stations this week.

The Kentucky native moved to Tennessee at the age of 16 to work full time at a Dollywood country show. Now, 10 years and a few heartbreaks later, Pearce is ready to speak out with her own material.

“When I was living in Pigeon Forge I messaged Jeremy Spillman over MySpace because he had written a couple of my favorite Eric Church and Lee Ann Womack songs,” Pearce told MusicRow. “He and his wife Melissa came to see me perform, so I kind of got the fast track to the Nashville industry, but eight years later [here I am].”

After taking out a loan to record an EP with no Nashville takers, Pearce caught the attention of Pretty Little Liars’ actress and singer Lucy Hale. The invitation to join Hale’s country tour as a background vocalist came after appearing in Hale’s music video.

Pearce then fiercely broke out on her own, landing as one of CMT’s Next Women of Country (2016), a deal with busbee and BMG, a management deal with Vector and a record contract with Scott Borchetta‘s empire, announced in January. Earlier this month, along with the rest of BMLG Records’ artists, Pearce was transitioned to Big Machine Records.

“busbee signed me two and a half years ago to a production deal,” said Pearce of her deal with BMG. “I was the first artist in Nashville. We’ve been working together for a long time.”

Carly Pearce with MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson.

With the support of her power-player team, Pearce has garnered additional appearances at the Opry and on Sirius XM. A duet with Josh Abbott Band, “Wasn’t That Drunk,” has already charted while she has toured with Hunter Hayes, Eli Young Band and Kelsea Ballerini.

“My Kentucky people are loving me too,” Pearce says of her hometown support. “They know I have the state of Kentucky tattooed on my wrist. A lot of my family live in Louisville and are so surprised to hear my song on the radio!”

Pearce wrote “Every Little Thing” with Emily Shackelton and busbee and has spent time in the writing room for additional debut tracks with Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Laura Veltz and Allison Veltz.

Pearce additionaly treated MusicRow to “Ride Home,” a tribute to her family and hometown she says she may not have appreciated as well as she could have while growing up. She also delivered the whimsical “Hide The Wine,” cleverly advising against pouring alcohol on an old flame.

Pearce is currently in the studio finalizing her debut project.

Carly Pearce with MusicRow staffers.

Dierks Bentley, Cam, Brandy Clark and Dean Dillon will take part in the ACM Party For A Cause Songwriter Showcase. The event, hosted by Storme Warren, will take place Friday, March 31 at Las Vegas’ The Pearl, Palms Casino Resort. The event is presented by AIMP, as well as Combustion Music, Creative Nation and SMACKSongs.

Additional performers include Ross Copperman, Luke Dick, Ashley Gorley, Matthew Jenkins, Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Josh Osborne with Matthew Ramsey and Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion.

All proceeds from the event will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the philanthropic arm of the ACM, dedicated to improving lives through the power of music.