Garth Brooks surprises the crowd at Nissan Stadium during 2017 CMA Music Festival. Photo: Garth Brooks/Twitter
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 564
The big surprise at Nissan Stadium during the Thursday CMA Fest debut evening concert (June 8) was the appearance of Garth Brooks.
Even the music-biz attendees in the CMA Hospitality Suite stopped schmoozing in amazement. Garth dashed off a celebratory medley of hits, including “The Thunder Rolls,” “Calling Baton Rouge,” “The Dance” and “Friends in Low Places.” Everyone sang along on the last-named, and Garth left the stage with his arms raised in triumph.
The evening began with Phil Vassar performing The National Anthem, then “American Soul” with the USO Choir and the USCBP. Those initials stand for the U.S. Customs & Border Patrol. Wait. They have their own chorus?!
Emcee Bobby Bones brought on Kenny Rogers, to whom the audience gave lots of love. In truth, Kenny looked frail and infirm. He suffers from hepatitis C and skin cancer and has been recovering from throat surgery, a knee replacement and a rotator-cuff operation. He was seated during most of his performance.
I didn’t hear him tell the fans this, but his tour earlier this year was billed as his farewell. I don’t believe we’ll see him at the Fest again.
The audience sang all of his familiar hits along with him. Kenny brought out Linda Davis to sing with him on “We’ve Got Tonight” and “Blaze of Glory.” He hobbled off on her arm to a big, affectionate ovation.
Pictured (L-R): Matt Signore, COO, WMN; Rob Baker, Longshot Management; Kerri Edwards, KP Entertainment; Swindell, John Esposito, Chairman & CEO, WMN; Eldredge and Scott Hendricks, EVP A&R, WMN.
Hosts Lorianne Crook & Charlie Chase introduced Brett Eldredge, who stalked the stage with loads of energy and personality. His oversized, joyous presentation was that of a superstar in the making. Ya gotta love the guy.
Cole Swindell had the unfortunate scheduling of following Garth. He came out with guns blazing. Still, the crowd was waiting for the evening’s headliners, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan.
The CMA Suite overlooking the stadium was populated by such fabulons as Dale Bobo, Debbie Linn, Joe Galante, Laura Heatherly, Dennis Banka, Michael Knox, Brandi Simms, Sherod Robertson, Nathan Pyle, JoAnn Berry, Marie Ratzman and Melissa Maynard.
Singer Michael Tyler was talking about his debut single “They Can’t See.” It turns out that he is related to Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music. Hardcore traditionalist Joe Hott was bearing copies of his debut CD, The Last Thing on My Mind. It features stellar guests such as Jamey Johnson and The Whites.
Gazing out over it all was Jo Walker-Meador, the woman who founded Fan Fair back in 1972, when she was head of the CMA. Now 93 years old, she is as sharp as a tack. She recalled that only 1,000 people signed up for the Fest in its inaugural year, so she “papered the house” with free passes given out to soldiers from nearby Ft. Campbell, KY. “We had to do whatever it took,” she quipped.
Five decades later, a look at a 50,000+ cheering throng must be quite an overwhelming feeling for her. It certainly is for me.
For a recap of 2017 CMA Music Festival’s daytime activities on Thursday (June 8), click here.
Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood To Return As Hosts For CMA Awards
/by Jessica NicholsonThis year’s CMA Awards will take place Nov. 8, airing live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC Television Network.
Paisley and Underwood’s 10-year run is second only to Vince Gill’s 12-year run as host of the awards show, from 1992-2003.
The 2017 CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by more than 7,600 professional members of CMA, which is the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958.
Matthew West Sets All In Tour With Jordan Feliz, Leanna Crawford
/by Jessica NicholsonThe tour’s inaugural show will hit Houston on Sept. 21, with shows following in Des Moines, Iowa; Lincoln, Nebraska; San Antonio, Texas; Lakeland, Florida, and more.
He will bring Dove Award-winning newcomer Jordan Feliz and singer-songwriter Leanna Crawford as opening acts. West says he hopes to introduce fans to new music during the tour, as well as feature collaborations with his tourmates. West’s previous album, Live Forever, released in 2015. His current single is “Broken Things,” from his forthcoming album.
“I absolutely love writing songs, and I love watching those songs come to life in the recording studio,” West says. “But it’s getting on the bus, hopping on stage in city after city and carrying that music to a live audience night after night that completes the creative circle. That’s why I do this tour or any other—in hopes that people who are hurting will find a much-needed musical reminder that God loves changing lives. We’re going ‘ALL IN’ with that message this fall and I can’t wait!
“I’m also excited to tour with my friend Jordan Feliz,” West continues. “He and I wrote a song together for my new record and a friendship was forged. In addition, I’ve discovered an amazingly talented newcomer, Leanna Crawford. She’s going to join me onstage each night and will no doubt blow people away.”
Tickets for the All In Fall Tour go on sale Tuesday, June 13. For a complete list of cities and dates, visit matthewwest.com.
Radio Disney Country Launches On 99.1 FM In Los Angeles
/by Jessica NicholsonKelsea Ballerini, Hunter Hayes, Bailey Bryan, Scotty McCreery, and more joined Radio Disney Country host Betsy Spina on the stage in Nashville to celebrate the announcement.
Radio Disney Country is also available on iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Apple Music, and Spotify.
Guerini said, “As country music continues to deliver some of the biggest artists in music today, we are broadening the reach of Radio Disney Country through both terrestrial and digital extensions of its brand.”
Will Hoge Releases Debut Single From New Album ‘Anchors’
/by Lorie HollabaughWill Hoge is set to release the debut single, “Little Bit Of Rust,” from his 11 studio album Anchors, due out Aug. 11 via Thirty Tigers. The new song finds Hoge, a Franklin, Tennessee native, pairing with guest vocalist Sheryl Crow on the track, along with Fats Kaplin (Jack White, Beck) on mandolin.
“I’d always wanted a female vocal for this song because I felt like the ‘we’ in the chorus is important,” says Hoge. “Nobody fixes a relationship on their own. I felt like it deserved this strong female presence, and Sheryl’s just one of the greatest singers I’ve ever heard. Having her on the track breathed a whole new life into the song, and it’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever done.”
Hoge is gearing up for an overseas tour in Spain and the U.K. in July before the release of Anchors. The album follows 2015’s Small Town Dreams.
Eventbrite To Acquire Ticketfly
/by Jessica NicholsonAdditionally, Eventbrite and Pandora plan to enter into a future distribution agreement to extend the benefits already proven out with the Pandora and Ticketfly integration.
Ticketfly’s co-founder and CEO Andrew Dreskin will lead Eventbrite’s music efforts. “We are happy to be joining forces with our friends at Eventbrite,” said Dreskin.
“The combination of Ticketfly and Pandora proved our thesis that listeners want easy access to live events, and that we have the ability to promote and sell tickets at scale in a highly targeted way,” said Tim Westergren, CEO and founder of Pandora. “We look forward to expanding the opportunity to bring fans and artists together through our continued partnership with Eventbrite and Ticketfly.”
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and we see immense alignment and opportunity with this union, especially as we continue to expand Eventbrite’s global footprint in music,” said Julia Hartz, CEO and co-founder of Eventbrite.“Together with Ticketfly, we will focus our collective energy on further developing our unparalleled solution and superior services for indie music venues and promoters around the world.”
Eventbrite is set to process approximately 200 million tickets, worth $3 billion in gross sales in 180 countries, in 2017. Ticketfly works with over 1,800 music promoters and venues across North America, supporting 100,000 events per year which generate $600 million in gross ticket sales.
The acquisition announcement follows Eventbrite’s acquisition earlier this year of European ticketing company Ticketscript, and builds upon the traction the company has experienced in music since the launch of Eventbrite Venue, the first fully integrated booking, operations and ticketing solution for live music venues.
CMA Music Fest Kicks Off With Music, Music, And More Music
/by Lorie HollabaughChris Janson Rocks The Riverfront
(L-R): Kristen Williams, SVP, Radio & Streaming; Matt Signore, COO; John Esposito, Chairman & CEO; Chris Janson; Chris Palmer, VP, Radio & Streaming; Lisa Ray, VP, Head of Brand Management; Cris Lacy, VP, A&R; Megan Joyce, SVP, Business & Legal Affairs; Scott Hendricks, EVP, A&R
Chris Janson performed a full-throttle set for fans at CMA Music Fest at the Riverfront Stage Thursday afternoon, performing songs including his No. 1 smash “Buy Me A Boat” and his new single “Fix A Drink.” The song is the title track from his Fix A Drink EP, which is out today.
Kane Brown Performs For Music Fest Fans
(L-R): Braeden Rountree, WME; John Zarling, EVP, Marketing & New Business, Sony Music Nashville; Tom Mackay, President, Sony Music Film & Television A&R; Kane Brown; Jim Catino, SVP, A&R, Sony Music Nashville; Martha Earls, EFG Management; Kent Earls, EVP/GM Universal Music Publishing Group; and Randy Goodman, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville. Photo credit: Alejandro Alvarez Garcia
Kane Brown performed before a huge crowd of eager fans at CMA Music Fest’s Riverfront Stage. Among the crowd watching his anticipated Music Fest performance were label staffers including Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Randy Goodman.
Levon Plays The Gildan Broadway Stage
(L-R): Levon member Jake Singleton; producer Jamie Houston, GB Productions; Tracy Baskette-Fleaner, VP, Creative Services, Sony Music Nashville; Levon member Ryan Holladay; John Zarling, EVP, Marketing & New Business, Sony Music Nashville; EVP/COO, Sony Music Nashville; Tom Mackay, President, Sony Music Film & TV A&R; Levon member Michael David Hall; and Shawn McSpadden, Red Light Management
New country group Levon performed a rousing set at CMA Music Fest’s Gildan Broadway Stage at the Hard Rock Café Thursday, making their debut at the festival.
CMA Songwriters Series Kicks Off CMA Music Fest
Barry Dean, Brett James, Jon Nite, and Don Schlitz perform at CMA Songwriters Series during the 2017 CMA Music Festival in downtown Nashville.
Barry Dean, Brett James, Jon Nite, and 2017 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Don Schlitz shared the stories behind their hit songs to get festivities in full swing during a special performance at the CMA Theater leading into CMA Music Festival. The show was part of the CMA Songwriters Series, which since 2005 has presented more than 100 shows in 17 cities.
Jon Nite, Barry Dean, Don Schlitz and Brett James at CMA Songwriters Series.
Blake Shelton To Play Surprise CMA Music Fest Pop-Up Show Today
/by Jessica NicholsonTop Nashville artists are keeping fans guessing with pop-up shows during the 2017 CMA Music Fest. Blake Shelton is the latest artist to take part, announcing a pop-up concert for today (Friday, June 9) at 2 p.m. at the Wildhorse Saloon.
Shelton has been around Nashville all week, celebrating his partnership with Smithworks Vodka earlier this week, and headlining the Stars for Second Harvest at the Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday, June 6. He also took part in the CMT Music Awards, held at Nashville’s Music City Center on Wednesday, June 7.
The Cadillac Three Set For Headlining Ryman Show, Release ‘Legacy’ Track Listing
/by Jessica NicholsonThe guys in The Cadillac Three know how to celebrate an album release. The trio will honor the Aug. 25 release of their upcoming BMLG album, Legacy, with a headlining show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Aug. 31.
Though trio of Jaren Johnston, Kelby Ray and Neil Mason bring plenty of their own songwriting muscle to the project, they worked with several top writers for the new album, with Lori McKenna contributing both vocals and writing credits to “Love Me Like Liquor.”
Legacy marks the follow up to the trio’s 2016 debut Bury Me In My Boots.
Legacy Track Listing
1. “Cadillacin'” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason)
2. “Tennessee” (Jaren Johnston)
3. “Hank & Jesus” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Angelo Petraglia)
4. “Dang If We Didn’t” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Jonathan Singleton)
5. “Ain’t That Country” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, James Slater)
6. “American Slang” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Lori McKenna)
7. “Take Me to the Bottom” (Jaren Johnston)
8. “Long Hair Don’t Care” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Angelo Petraglia)
9. “Love Me Like Liquor” (featuring Lori McKenna) (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Lori McKenna)
10. “Demolition Man” (Jaren Johnston, Neil Mason, Angelo Petraglia)
11. “Legacy” (Jaren Johnston, Ben Burgess, Laura Veltz)
Nashville Symphony Director To Lead Wroclaw Philharmonic In Poland
/by Lorie Hollabaughphoto by Tony Matula
Nashville Symphony music director Giancarlo Guerrero has been named music director of the Wrocław Philharmonic in Poland, and will begin his tenure there on a part-time basis beginning with the upcoming 2017/18 season. A five-time Grammy winner, Guerrero will continue to serve as the Nashville Symphony’s music director as well, a post he’s held since 2009 and has committed to through the 2024-25 season.
Guerrero will conduct four weeks during his first season in Wroclaw and will then spend eight weeks per season with the orchestra, in addition to touring and recording activities, beginning in 2018.
“Wrocław takes great pride in its orchestra, and the new hall reflects the vibrant community around it, revitalizing the city in a way that is reminiscent of what Schermerhorn Symphony Center helped to do for downtown Nashville when it opened 10 years ago,” Guerrero said. “As with my first encounters with the Nashville Symphony, I felt a connection with the musicians of the Wrocław Philharmonic from the moment I started working with them, when I came to fill a last-minute cancelation in October 2016. My initial impressions of the musicians, the quality of the new hall and this lively city were confirmed when I returned in December.”
Bobby Karl Works The Room: Garth Brooks Surprises At CMA Music Fest’s Star-Studded Thursday Night Show
/by Bobby KarlGarth Brooks surprises the crowd at Nissan Stadium during 2017 CMA Music Festival. Photo: Garth Brooks/Twitter
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 564
The big surprise at Nissan Stadium during the Thursday CMA Fest debut evening concert (June 8) was the appearance of Garth Brooks.
Even the music-biz attendees in the CMA Hospitality Suite stopped schmoozing in amazement. Garth dashed off a celebratory medley of hits, including “The Thunder Rolls,” “Calling Baton Rouge,” “The Dance” and “Friends in Low Places.” Everyone sang along on the last-named, and Garth left the stage with his arms raised in triumph.
The evening began with Phil Vassar performing The National Anthem, then “American Soul” with the USO Choir and the USCBP. Those initials stand for the U.S. Customs & Border Patrol. Wait. They have their own chorus?!
Emcee Bobby Bones brought on Kenny Rogers, to whom the audience gave lots of love. In truth, Kenny looked frail and infirm. He suffers from hepatitis C and skin cancer and has been recovering from throat surgery, a knee replacement and a rotator-cuff operation. He was seated during most of his performance.
I didn’t hear him tell the fans this, but his tour earlier this year was billed as his farewell. I don’t believe we’ll see him at the Fest again.
The audience sang all of his familiar hits along with him. Kenny brought out Linda Davis to sing with him on “We’ve Got Tonight” and “Blaze of Glory.” He hobbled off on her arm to a big, affectionate ovation.
Pictured (L-R): Matt Signore, COO, WMN; Rob Baker, Longshot Management; Kerri Edwards, KP Entertainment; Swindell, John Esposito, Chairman & CEO, WMN; Eldredge and Scott Hendricks, EVP A&R, WMN.
Hosts Lorianne Crook & Charlie Chase introduced Brett Eldredge, who stalked the stage with loads of energy and personality. His oversized, joyous presentation was that of a superstar in the making. Ya gotta love the guy.
Cole Swindell had the unfortunate scheduling of following Garth. He came out with guns blazing. Still, the crowd was waiting for the evening’s headliners, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan.
The CMA Suite overlooking the stadium was populated by such fabulons as Dale Bobo, Debbie Linn, Joe Galante, Laura Heatherly, Dennis Banka, Michael Knox, Brandi Simms, Sherod Robertson, Nathan Pyle, JoAnn Berry, Marie Ratzman and Melissa Maynard.
Singer Michael Tyler was talking about his debut single “They Can’t See.” It turns out that he is related to Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music. Hardcore traditionalist Joe Hott was bearing copies of his debut CD, The Last Thing on My Mind. It features stellar guests such as Jamey Johnson and The Whites.
Gazing out over it all was Jo Walker-Meador, the woman who founded Fan Fair back in 1972, when she was head of the CMA. Now 93 years old, she is as sharp as a tack. She recalled that only 1,000 people signed up for the Fest in its inaugural year, so she “papered the house” with free passes given out to soldiers from nearby Ft. Campbell, KY. “We had to do whatever it took,” she quipped.
Five decades later, a look at a 50,000+ cheering throng must be quite an overwhelming feeling for her. It certainly is for me.
For a recap of 2017 CMA Music Festival’s daytime activities on Thursday (June 8), click here.