I Draw Slow
Compass Records has signed Dublin-based roots band, I Draw Slow.
The band is fronted by siblings Dave Holden (guitar) and Louise Holden (vocals), who have been writing together for two decades. In 2008 the pair teamed up with violinist Adrian Hart, clawhammer banjo player Colin Derham, and double bassist Konrad Liddy to form I Draw Slow.
The band has played to audiences in the UK, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, and performed at North American festivals including MerleFest, Pickathon, Wintergrass, RockyGrass, Grey Fox, Red Wing, Edmonton Folk Fest, Sisters Folk Festival and Mountain Stage. It was their 2014 performance at MerleFest that first put the band on the radar for Compass co-founders Garry West and Alison Brown, who were impressed with the band’s performance and the reaction from buyers in the MerleFest merch tent.
“First, we noticed how they got the crowd involved in what they were doing. Their energy is truly infectious,” says West. “Then we noticed that their CDs and merchandise were flying off the shelves in the festival store. That kind of immediate response is always going to get our attention! But more than anything we’ve been impressed with the strength of the songwriting, the sibling harmony and the musical proficiency of the band. They are truly dedicated to their craft.”
Dave says, “We are delighted to sign with Compass Records for our new album. An Irish band that plays American folk music doesn’t always make sense to everyone, but we feel right at home on their roster. Their relationships and reputation in the industry will help us tell our story and take us to the next level.”
The band crowd-funded their latest album, Turn Your Face To The Sun, which will release April 21 on Compass Records.
Celebration Of Life Set For “Daddy’s Hands” Singer-Songwriter Holly Dunn
/by Jessica NicholsonHolly Dunn
The life and career of country singer-songwriter Holly Dunn will be celebrated with an evening of live music on March 30, 2017, at BMI’s Nashville office (10 Music Sq. E).
Dunn died in November 2016 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after a battle with ovarian cancer. “Daddy’s Hands”—Dunn’s self-written, breakthrough 1986 hit—earned recognition from ACM, BMI, CMA and the Grand Ole Opry.
The celebration of life event, which will begin at 6 p.m., will include a silent auction. A minimum donation of $25 is requested to attend. All proceeds will aid ovarian carcinosarcoma research.
Performers for the celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
The Band Perry To Preview New Album Via Pop-Up Shows In March
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Band Perry. Photo: Steven Klein
The Band Perry will give fans in select cities a first hearing of the trio’s pop album My Bad Imagination via a series of nine pop-up shows in March. The album, the trio’s first via a new deal with Interscope Records, features the single “Stay In The Dark.”
The first show in the pop-up series will be held March 5 at Atlanta’s Terminal West. Additional concert locations include New York City’s Irving Plaza (March 7), Boston’s The Sinclair (March 9), Philadelphia’s Theatre of Living Arts (March 11), Toronto’s Mod Club (March 12), Chicago’s Lincoln Hall (March 15), Denver’s Gothic Theater (March 18), Los Angeles’ El Rey (March 20) and San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall (March 22).
Each show will feature a pop-up shop with collectors-edition merchandise designed by the trio.
A pre-sale for tickets for My Bad Imagination Pop Up Shows will launch Thursday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. local time for 24 hours. Pre-sale information can be found by visiting thebandperry.com. The public ticket on sale will begin Friday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. local time.
“My Bad Imagination is an album with a ton of layers and surprises for our fans,” said Kimberly Perry. “Our fans have stuck by us over the past year while we’ve been quietly creating our new music, and now we want to get close to them as as we can to start listening and moving to these new sounds together.”
“We want our fans to see and feel as much as they hear My Bad Imagination, so we’ve created this series of pop up shows in some of our favorite small rooms around the country to give them the first look at the designs and music that have led us to this moment of growth for our band,” said Reid Perry.
“We’ll show it to the rest of the world next,” said Neil Perry. “But this moment is about the family coming together to celebrate a birthday, a new day, the future.”
Garth Brooks Added As Speaker For 2017 Country Radio Seminar
/by Jessica NicholsonGarth Brooks
Garth Brooks will return to this year’s Country Radio Seminar for a keynote presentation, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. CT. Titled “Inside Studio G,” the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year will give a behind-the-scenes look into his business and life.
Brooks earned his fifth CMA Entertainer of the Year honor in November 2016, and became the first artist to earn seven Diamond awards, recognizing seven albums certified by the RIAA as selling over 10 million units each. Brooks has sold more than 138 million albums, and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame (NY), the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Musicians Hall of Fame. Brooks is currently on the three-year Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood.
For more, visit countryradioseminar.com.
‘Nashville’ Stars to Tour UK in June
/by Lorie HollabaughThe stars of Nashville are launching a second overseas tour this summer set for England, Scotland, and Ireland. Cast members Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Charles Esten and Jonathan Jackson will play the shows, along with Sam Palladio on select dates.
Launching June 9 in Birmingham, England, the tour will feature songs from the series as well as artists’ original material and will hit cities including Brighton, Nottingham, Glasgow, Manchester, Dublin, Belfast, as well as two nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
“Our first international tour proved how tremendously popular ‘Nashville’ and its cast are beyond the U.S.,” said Steve Buchanan, President, Opry Entertainment. “We look forward to more sell-out shows this summer featuring cast members who are not only amazing actors, performers, and songwriters, but who have also become incredible ambassadors for our home state of Tennessee.”
All shows go on sale this Friday, Feb. 17. This marks the second time the cast will tour abroad: Nashville staged a sold-out tour in the UK and Ireland in 2016. Nashville airs on six continents and in more than 100 territories, including the United Kingdom.
“Nashville” International Tour Dates:
6/9 Birmingham Barclaycard Arena
6/10 London Royal Albert Hall
6/11 London Royal Albert Hall
6/13 Brighton Brighton Dome
6/14 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall
6/16 Glasgow The SSE Hydro
6/17 Manchester Manchester Arena
6/19 Dublin 3 Arena
6/20 Belfast SSE Arena
Blackbird Academy Student Honored at MusiCares Annual Gala
/by Lorie HollabaughMusic student/artist David Francisco was honored at MusiCares’ Annual Gala benefitting the MusiCares Foundation on Friday, Feb. 10, for his bravery in battling his way back from a horrible accident to make music once again. The MusiCares Annual Gala, held in Los Angeles two nights before the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, also honored Tom Petty as the 2017 MusiCares Person of the Year.
Francisco’s life was altered last April when a driver ran a red light and hit him while he was riding his bike home from Nashville’s Blackbird Academy where he was studying music production. The accident landed the 24-year old singer/songwriter at The Shepherd Center in Atlanta fighting to regain his ability to walk.
After 10 months and now walking with assistive devices, Francisco has returned to Blackbird and is realizing his dream of making music. The music community has rallied around him led by Blackbird owner John McBride, and he was honored by Dave Pensado and Herb Trawick at the annual 2016 Pensado Awards in Los Angeles. MusiCares also stepped up to help the Francisco family with the mountain of medical expenses incurred since Francisco’s injury.
“David is an extraordinary young man,” said Debbie Carroll, Senior Executive Director of MusiCares. “He has faced one of the biggest challenges one could ever face: The loss of one’s mobility. It has been our honor to walk through this with him.”
To celebrate his triumphant return to Blackbird, Francisco is releasing a 7-song EP Colors written and recorded before his accident. A short documentary detailing Francisco’s powerful story, Back to Blackbird, is being shot which includes “It Isn’t Easy,” a song on the new EP, as its theme song.
“This EP is a celebration of my versatility as an artist and producer,” said Francisco. “I paint with many different colors, hence the name. Most of the instruments you hear were played by me. I am so grateful to be alive and be able to share my music with the world and all the wonderful people who have helped me get to this point,” he says of his EP, Colors. “Music is the best way I know to communicate. So, I hope everyone enjoys this and the grateful spirit in which it was created.”
Music Biz Announces Full Agenda for Indie Music Forum
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Indie Music Forum will include a Keynote Conversation with Richard James Burgess, Ph.D., CEO of the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), a trade organization representing over 400 independently-owned record labels. Burgess will share how his experiences as an artist, musician, producer, composer, manager, educator, inventor, and label executive inform his advocacy for independent labels and artists.
Other sessions include Authentic Artist Branding Bootcamp, led by Kevin Breuner, VP of Marketing, CD Baby, and Chris Robley, Editor, CD Baby’s DIY Musician Blog; and What’s Your Deal? Understanding Recording Agreements in 2017, moderated by Jamie Starling, Director of Business & Legal Affairs, Entertainment One and including Molly Shehan, Associate, Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley, PLC and Chris Taylor, President, Entertainment One Music.
For more information or to register for Music Biz 2017, visit www.musicbiz2017.com. A special rate of $249 is available for first-time artists, songwriters, managers, and independent labels.
Chris Waters Joins Pearl Promotion Team
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“Chris is a seasoned promotion executive whose creativity, work ethic and relationships make him the perfect fit for our team. We are thrilled to have him on board,” said Lesly Simon, General Manager.
“I’m humbled and grateful to Mandy, Lesly and Garth for trusting me with the responsibility of representing the greatest artist of all time,” said Chris Waters. “Garth Brooks has an aggressive vision and his energy is contagious. I’m very excited to join the Pearl team!”
LifeNotes: Lynda Ann Duncan, Wife of Promoter Jerry Duncan, Dies
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Lynda Ann Duncan, Jerry Duncan
Wife to Duncan Promotions’ Jerry Duncan and and mother to Lisa Smoot, Lynda Ann Duncan, peacefully passed away at her home in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017.
In addition to her husband and daughter, Duncan is survived by son Mark Davis and grandchildren Laura Prestige, Kendall Davis, and Waylon Tolliver.
The visitation and funeral service will be held at South End United Methodist Church, located at 5042 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, Tennessee. Visitation will take place at noon with the service following at 3 p.m. CT. Burial will take place at Christ Church Memorial Gardens, located at 15354 Old Hickory Blvd in Nashville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Mountain Outreach (operated by the University of the Cumberlands), South End Methodist Church or any other charity of choice. For more information, please contact Rick Kelly at 615-269-7071 ext. 134 or email rkelly@marcopromo.com.
Weekly Register: Reba McEntire Tops Country, Christian/Gospel Albums Charts
/by Jessica NicholsonReba McEntire tops the Country Albums chart (and lands at No. 4 on the overall albums chart) this week with Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope, moving 52K (album only). Sing It Now: Songs of Faith and Hope also tops the Christian/Gospel charts, with 54,426 in total consumption.
Brantley Gilbert‘s The Devil Don’t Sleep lands at No. 2, with 19K. Garth Brooks‘ The Ultimate Collection lands at No. 3 with 11K. Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller is at No. 4, with 7.2K, while Keith Urban‘s Ripcord rounds out the Top 5 with 6.8K.
Sam Hunt
On the Country Tracks rankings, Sam Hunt‘s “Body Like A Backroad” lands at No. 1, with 72K. The track’s two-week total is 125K.
Zac Brown Band‘s “My Old Man” takes the No. 2 position with 37K. Little Big Town‘s “Better Man” takes the No. 3 spot with 24K. Jon Pardi‘s “Dirt On My Boots” lands at No. 4, with 19K. Keith Urban‘s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” is at No. 5, with 19K.
Information courtesy of Nielsen Soundscan.
Compass Records Signs Dublin-Based Band I Draw Slow
/by Jessica NicholsonI Draw Slow
Compass Records has signed Dublin-based roots band, I Draw Slow.
The band is fronted by siblings Dave Holden (guitar) and Louise Holden (vocals), who have been writing together for two decades. In 2008 the pair teamed up with violinist Adrian Hart, clawhammer banjo player Colin Derham, and double bassist Konrad Liddy to form I Draw Slow.
The band has played to audiences in the UK, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, and performed at North American festivals including MerleFest, Pickathon, Wintergrass, RockyGrass, Grey Fox, Red Wing, Edmonton Folk Fest, Sisters Folk Festival and Mountain Stage. It was their 2014 performance at MerleFest that first put the band on the radar for Compass co-founders Garry West and Alison Brown, who were impressed with the band’s performance and the reaction from buyers in the MerleFest merch tent.
“First, we noticed how they got the crowd involved in what they were doing. Their energy is truly infectious,” says West. “Then we noticed that their CDs and merchandise were flying off the shelves in the festival store. That kind of immediate response is always going to get our attention! But more than anything we’ve been impressed with the strength of the songwriting, the sibling harmony and the musical proficiency of the band. They are truly dedicated to their craft.”
Dave says, “We are delighted to sign with Compass Records for our new album. An Irish band that plays American folk music doesn’t always make sense to everyone, but we feel right at home on their roster. Their relationships and reputation in the industry will help us tell our story and take us to the next level.”
The band crowd-funded their latest album, Turn Your Face To The Sun, which will release April 21 on Compass Records.