Eli Young Band Preps For Winter Tour

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Valory Music Co Artist Eli Young Band will headline a winter tour presented by Live Nation, beginning Nov. 11 in Philadelphia.

On select dates, EYB will be joined by special guests LOCASH, LANco, Blackjack Billy, CAM, Dallas Smith, Luke Combs and Kevin Fowler.

With a trio of platinum and multi-platinum #1 hits like “Drunk Last Night,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” and “Crazy Girl” under their belts, their last album 10,000 TOWNS ranked No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 1 on the iTunes Country Albums Chart. EYB has been awarded Billboard’s #1 Country Song of the Year, ACM Song of the Year and garnered numerous nominations from GRAMMY, CMA, CMT, ACA and Teen Choice Awards.

Tickets for all shows go on sale this Friday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. at www.livenation.com.   Pre-sale for Citi Bank card holders begins in select cities on Tuesday, Sept. 22, HERE.

Tour dates include:

11/11-Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore with LOCASH and LANco
11/12-Westbury, NY @Theatre at Westbury with Blackjack Billy and LANco
11/13-Asbury Park, NJ @The Stone Pony with Blackjack Billy and LANco
11/19-Orlando, FL @ House of Blues with CAM
11/20-Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle with Blackjack Billy and Dallas Smith
11/21-Raleigh, NC  @ The Ritz with Blackjack Billy and Dallas Smith
12/3-Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room with Blackjack Billy and Luke Combs
12/4-Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore with LOCASH and Luke Combs
12/5-St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant with LOCASH and LANco
12/10-Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues with Special Guest and LANco
12/11-San Diego, CA @ House of Blues with Kevin Fowler and LANco
12/12-Anaheim, CA @ House of Blue with Kevin Fowler and LANco
12/30-Pharr, TX @ Pharr Events Center
1/2-San Antonio, TX @ Cowboy’s Dance Hall
1/20-College Station, TX @ Hurricane Harry’s
1/21-Abilene, TX @ Abilene Civic Center
1/29-Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
2/18-Washington, DC @ The Fillmore with Russell Dickerson
2/20-Greensboro, NC @ Cone Denim with Russell Dickerson

IEBA Announces 2015 Hall of Fame Inductees and Honorees

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Clint Black

IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association) has announced its 2015 Hall of Fame inductees and achievement honorees to be recognized at the close of its 45th Annual Conference on Oct. 13.

This year, IEBA will induct four-time Grammy winner Pat Benatar and guitarist/songwriter/producer Neil Giraldo. IEBA will also honor Clint Black with a Career Achievement Award and Country Concert in Fort Loramie, Ohio with an Industry Achievement Award.

Patrick Neil

Pictured (L-R): Neil Giraldo and Pat Benetar

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Mike and Mary Jo Barhorst of Country Concert

Nominations for the 2015 IEBA Awards were announced on Sept. 1, and include:

Casino of the Year
Agua Caliente Casino – Rancho Mirage, CA
Chumash Casino – Santa Ynez, CA
Fallsview Casino Resort – Niagara Falls, ON
Mohegan Sun – Uncasville, CT
Peppermill Wendover – Wendover, NV
Potawatomi Hotel & Casino – Milwaukee, WI

Casino Buyer of the Year
Frank Deal – Choctaw Casino Resort
Laura Ishum – Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
Terry Jenkins – Boyd Gaming
Nicci Lehto – Four Winds Entertainment, Inc.
Lori Otelsberg – Signature Entertainment
Joe Soper – Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun

Club Buyer of the Year
Johnny Beach – The Bowery Presents
Tom Loudermilk – Live Nation Inc.
Alan Presley – Kaleidoscope Promotions, Inc.
Chad Rodgers – Doc Roc Productions
Ed Warm – Joe’s Bar and Bub City
Jay Wilson – Red Mountain Entertainment

Corporate Buyer of the Year
Steve Einzig – Booking Entertainment
Mark Felix – Drury Design
Scott Gartner – AEG Live
Gary Osier – Gary Osier Presents
Fred Suss – Talent Source
Barry Weisblatt – Whiteleaf Entertainment

Fair of the Year
Great Jones County Fair – Monticello, IA
Kansas State Fair – Hutchinson, KS
Orange County Fair – Costa Mesa, CA
San Diego County Fair – Del Mar, CA
Washington State Fair – Puyallup, WA
Wisconsin State Fair – West Allis, WI

Fair Buyer of the Year
Renee Alexander – Minnesota State Fair
Todd Boltin – Variety Attractions, Inc.
Pat Powelson – Jayson Promotions
Michelle Romeo – Romeo Entertainment Group
Dave Snowden – Triangle Talent, Inc.
Suzanne Wilson – Wilson Events, Inc.

Festival of the Year
Austin City Limits – Austin, TX
Big Valley Jamboree – Camrose, AB
Coachella – Indio, CA
Firefly – Dover, DE
Stagecoach – Indio, CA
Watershed – George, WA

Festival Buyer of the Year
Bob Babisch – Milwaukee Summerfest
Amy Corbin – C3 Presents
Gil Cunningham – Neste Event Marketing
Anne Hankins – Country Music Concerts
Stacy Vee – Goldenvoice
Jonathan Wayland – Integrity Events

International Buyer of the Year
Steve Homer – Live Nation (UK)
Oliver Hoppe – Wizard Promotions (Germany)
Rob Potts – Entertainment Edge (Australia)
Judy Seale – Judy Seale International
Anna Sjölund – Live Nation (Sweden)
Chris York – SJM Concerts Ltd. (UK)

Venue of the Year
Allstate Arena – Rosemont, IL
BOK Center – Tulsa, OK
Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
The Forum – Los Angeles, CA
Philips Arena – Atlanta, GA
Talking Stick Resort Arena (formerly US Airways Center) – Phoenix, AZ

Venue Executive of the Year
David Farrar – Santander Arena
Gunnar Fox – PPL Center
Jeff Nickler – BOK Center
Bobby Rossi – Ruth Eckerd Hall
Rena Wasserman – Greek Theatre
Sally Williams – Ryman Auditorium

Promoter of the Year
Ben Farrell – Varnell Enterprises
Arthur Fogel – Live Nation
Brian O’Connell – Live Nation
Darin Lashinsky – NS2
Louis Messina – Messina Touring Group
Jerry Mickelson – JAM Productions

Talent Agent of the Year
Marc Geiger – WME
Adam Kornfeld – AGI
Jonathan Levine – Paradigm
Brian Manning – CAA
Nick Meinema – UTA
Darin Murphy – CAA
Kevin Neal – WME
Craig Newman – APA

Rookie of the Year
Boone Carter – NS2
Steve Gaches – WME
Michael Owens – BOK Center
Nate Ritches – Morris Higham Management / Dale Morris & Associates
Kylen Sharpe – CAA

Music City Food + Wine Super Sizes Third Year

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Food + Wine finale with Michael McDonald, Sam Moore, Jewel, Kings of Leon and many more.

Food + Wine finale with Michael McDonald, Sam Moore, Jewel, Kings of Leon and many more.

In its third year, the Music City Food + Wine Festival has grown to sizable proportions. Hosted by Kings of Leon, Vector Management’s Ken Levitan and Andy Mendelsohn, chef Jonathan Waxman, and C3 Presents, of which Live Nation recently acquired a controlling stake.

Evening music churned out a few songs from each performer in the theme of soul and R&B songs. Although attendees ran through every wine bottle on the Walk of Fame Park premises before the music started, additional spirit offerings included Patron tequila, Titos vodka, Hendrick’s Gin, and Wild Turkey whiskey.

Backing band, The Long Players, cranked out tunes for Kings of Leon with Ruby Amanfu (“Private Number”) before the songstress stepped out with “It’s Your Thing.” A cloud blew through for only about five minutes, leaving behind some sprinkles to which America’s Got Talent finalist Emily West joked her performance of “I Can’t Stand The Rain,” was a most appropriate selection. Additional performers included Tom Morello, Robert Randolph (“Land of 1000 Dances”), Jamie N Commons (“How Can You Mend A Broken Heart”), Hamilton Leithauser (“Walking The Dog”), Anthony Hamilton (“When A Man Loves A Woman”), Jewel (“I Can’t Get Next To You”), Jesse Baylon (“Let’s Stay Together”), Madisen Ward & The Mama Bear (“Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay,” “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me”), Andy Hull (“Georgia On My Mind”), Parker Gispert spontaneously joined by chef Carla Hall (“Hold On I’m Comin’”), Michelle Branch (“I Just Want To Make Love To You”), and Michael McDonald joined by Sam Moore for (“Mr. Pitiful,” “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby”). The whole cast joined for “Soul Man” to close the night by 11 p.m.

Moving this year to the Bicentennial Park lawn, the daytime events consisted mostly of local vendors providing noshes alongside alcohol offerings. Vintners, distilleries, distributors and breweries filled glasses from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sizable crowds were had on Saturday, enjoying DJ Mel who pumped tunes from a center podium. For the first time in the festival’s three year run, the afternoon session turned into a daytime dance party albeit cut short by the time restraint.

Saturday and Sunday's Grand Taste at Nashville's Bicentennial Lawn.

Saturday and Sunday’s Grand Taste at Nashville’s Bicentennial Lawn.

Event sponsor Infiniti and Uber offered complementary rides from the festival’s three events in 2015-model SUVs.

Lunch highlights included: Martins BBQ, Watermark Restaurant, Bajo Sexto Taco, Capitol Grille, City House, Porter Road Butcher, Sinema, Lockeland Table

Dinner highlights included: Aaron Sanchez’ Smoked Tuna Tostada, Andrew Zimmern’s Canteen Dog

Drink highlights included: Silver Oak Cellars, Champagne Taittinger, Santa Christina Winery

Chefs Tim Love (R), Aaron Sanchez (C) and Jonathan Waxman (L).

Chefs Tim Love (R), Aaron Sanchez (C) and Jonathan Waxman (L).

Andrew Zimmern's BBQ near Martin's BBQ daytime setup.

Andrew Zimmern’s BBQ near Martin’s BBQ daytime setup.

Chef Carla Hall spontaneously joins

Chef Carla Hall spontaneously joins Parker Gispert’s cover of “Hold On I’m Comin’”

[Updated]: Blake Shelton To Perform Free Nashville Concert at WMN’s “Pickin’ On The Patio”

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Blake Shelton

[Update]: Additional logistics information has been announced for Blake Shelton‘s upcoming Pickin’ On The Patio performance. Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. for the concert. Additionally, Music Square East will be closed between Roy Acuff Place and Music Circle N from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.

 

[Original post]: Blake Shelton will hold a free concert in Nashville next week, when he performs Wednesday, Sept. 23 as part of Warner Music Nashville’s “Pickin’ On The Patio” series. The concert will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the roundabout in front of Warner Music Nashville on 16th Ave. S.

Fans will have access to a beer garden – “The Voice” star’s favorite kind of garden – and food trucks. Shelton will also be selling commemorative T-shirts with proceeds going to WMN’s For The Linds Fund, dedicated to wiping out cancer in the memory of former Chicago-based Regional Promotion Manager Lindsay Walleman, who passed away of sarcoma at 28.

Bud Light and Aramark are sponsoring the event. Organizers suggest fans take taxis, Uber and Lyft rides to the concert due to congestion, parking and traffic alterations.

Shelton made the announcement in a series of Twitter posts earlier today.

The entertainer will release a greatest hits album Reloaded: 20 #1 Hits on Oct. 23. His first greatest hits album, Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton, released in 2010. Shelton will return to the big red chair on NBC’s The Voice on Sept. 21.

House Judiciary Committee To Host Copyright Roundtable Discussion in Nashville

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House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.) will take part in the House Judiciary Committee’s listening tour, as part of the Committee’s comprehensive copyright review. The House Judiciary Committee will launch the copyright review listening tour with a roundtable discussion in Nashville on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at Belmont University. The roundtable is expected to include a wide range of professionals from the music industry.

Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Conyers issued the following statement on the upcoming copyright review listening tour.

“America’s copyright industries – movies, television programming, music, books, video games and computer software – and technology sector are vitally important to our national economy. The House Judiciary Committee’s copyright review is focused on determining whether our copyright laws are still working in the digital age to reward creativity and innovation in order to ensure these crucial industries can thrive.

“In the coming weeks the House Judiciary Committee will conduct several roundtable discussions to hear directly from the creators and innovators about the challenges they face in their creative field and what changes are needed to ensure U.S. copyright law keeps pace with technological advances.”

Carrie Underwood, Cam Performances To Be Streamed Live From Apple Music Festival

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Pictured (L-R): Cam and Carrie Underwood

Pictured (L-R): Cam and Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood and Cam are set for performances today (Sept. 21) in London as part of the Apple Music Festival. Underwood’s headlining slot marks the first time a country performer has headlined the festival.

Both performances will be streamed live this afternoon, with Cam’s 20-minute set beginning at 1:20 p.m. CT. Underwood’s headlining, 70-minute set will begin at 3 p.m. CT.

To watch each performance, visit applemusic.com/festival

Weekly Register: Brett Eldredge Debuts at No. 1

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Brett performed his current single “Lose My Mind” this week on Good Morning America. Pictured left to right: George Stephanopoulos, 2016 Miss America Betty Cantrell, Brett Eldredge, Amy Robach, Lara Spencer, Ginger Zee.

Brett Eldredge performed his current single “Lose My Mind” last week on Good Morning America. Pictured (L-R): George Stephanopoulos, 2016 Miss America Betty Cantrell, Brett Eldredge, Amy Robach, Lara Spencer, Ginger Zee.

Brett Eldredge sings his way to the No. 1 country album spot this week, debuting with sales of 51K (44K album only). His sophomore album, Illinois, lands at No. 3 on the overall chart. Eldredge celebrated the Warner Music Nashville release with an album preview event recently at Ocean Way studios in Nashville.

Rounding out the top 5 country albums are: Luke Bryan (27K), Sam Hunt (9K), Zac Brown Band (6.6K) and Eric Church (5.4K)

Bryan and Hunt also have tracks in the country top 5: Bryan’s “Strip It Down” is at No. 1 with 42K TW, and Hunt’s “House Party” is at No. 5 with 26K.

Compared to 2014, the number of downloads being sold by the top country track is down significantly. During the same week last year, Jason Aldean was moving 78K of “Burnin’ It Down.”

In 2015, Cam is the one on fire. Her “Burning House” sold 33K this week, landing at No. 2 country, followed by Chris Janson “Buy Me A Boat” (28K) and Keith Urban “John Cougar, John Deere…” (27K).

Toby Keith’s “Rum Is The Reason” is the top country debut track, coming in at No. 24 with 8.4K downloads.

On the overall charts, The Weeknd has the top album with 99K total activity (48K album only), and Justin Bieber has the top track, selling 128K of “What Do You Mean?”

YTD Albums
Overall -4%
Overall digital -.3%
Country -3.2%
Country digital +4.2%

YTD Tracks
Overall -10.5%
Country -16%

Womack Woos Americana Crowd in Nashville

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Lee Ann Womack performs during the 2015 Americana Music Fest. Photo: Eric Parker

Lee Ann Womack performs during the 2015 Americana Music Fest. Photo: Eric Parker

Lee Ann Womack whisked to the stage of Nashville’s 3rd and Lindsley on Friday night (Sept. 18) as part of the Americana Music Festival.

Sandwiched between Los Angeles cowboy Sam Outlaw and Michigan honky tonker Whitey Morgan, Womack drew a standing-room-only crowd for a set of signature tunes. The Sugar Hill Records star has been promoting her Americana-leaning album The Way I’m Livin’ since its release last year, including stops overseas.

Her slimmed touring band of four delivered her “Never Again, Again,” “Ashes By Now,” and “Does My Ring Burn Your Finger” with Womack even picking up a guitar of her own at times. With the absence of a steel guitar, triple fiddles were a welcomed flair during her cover of George Jones’ “You’re Still On My Mind,” and then for her own “I May Hate Myself In The Morning.”

“How country do you like it? Or should I say, ‘How country can you take it?’” Womack provoked the lively crowd, noticing a woman tearing up in the front. “She’s crying! Well, my job is done…Aren’t I a sick person? I love to make people cry. I love crying, too.”

With the ability to record the art she finds compelling, Womack proves she is in her element. She briefly mentioned she always envied the Buddy Miller[s] of the Americana world, where she hoped to fit in one day. For her, that day is now, with the new material she performed including “Chances Are,” “Send It On Down,” and her latest album’s title track “The Way I’m Livin’.”

After a rendition of her 2008 MCA Nashville track, “The Bees,” Womack left the stage as dignified as she arrived. The audience got a taste for more traditional material with Jim Lauderdale, who was also on the night’s bill.

Vince Gill And Lyle Lovett To Reunite For 2016 Tour

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Vince Gill

Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett

After a series of successful concerts earlier this year, Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett will reunite for a 13-city tour that will take place in February and March of 2016.

Each show will be a series of intimate solo and duo performances, during which the artists will serve as their own accompanists.

“For a night like this, there is no plan,” Gill said. “I know Lyle won’t have a plan, and I won’t either. What he plays will inspire me, and probably vice-versa. It’ll be like playing ping-pong. Whatever song he chooses to sing will inspire the next song that comes out of me.”

“I enjoy shows that are not planned out,” Lovett adds. “This will be two songwriters in the round. It’s informal, so there will be lots of ad-libbing. It will be like little snapshots of our experiences.”

Dates and locations for Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett:
Feb. 17 — Montgomery, AL — Montgomery Performing Arts Centre
Feb. 18 — Huntsville, AL — Von Braun Center Concert Hall
Feb. 19 — Birmingham, AL — Alabama Theatre
Feb. 20 — Atlanta, GA — Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Feb. 21 — Asheville, NC — Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Feb. 23 — Daytona Beach, FL — Peabody Auditorium
Feb. 24 — Clearwater, FL — Ruth Eckerd Hall
Feb. 25 — Jacksonville, FL — Florida Theatre
Feb. 26 — Sarasota, FL — Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Feb. 27 — Key West, FL — Tennessee Williams Theatre
Feb. 28 — Melbourne, FL — King Center for the Performing Arts
Feb. 29 — Fort Myers, FL — Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall
March 1 — Coral Springs, FL — Coral Springs Center for the Arts

LifeNotes: Local Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer Richard Williams Passes

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Richard Williams

Richard Williams

Pianist-singer Richard Williams, who co-founded Nashville’s first rock ‘n’ roll band, has died at age 75 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Williams was a high-school student in Music City when he formed The Casuals with singer-songwriter Buzz Cason in 1956. Nashville’s pioneering rock group toured for many years with Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Brenda Lee.

Born in Nashville in 1939, Richard Williams was raised by his grandparents and graduated from East High. He formed The Richard Williams Trio in 1955. When Cason joined the group, the name was changed to The Casuals and the repertoire shifted to rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll.

The group’s debut performance was at Lebanon High School in March 1956. Its high-energy stage act made it a popular attraction at Vanderbilt frat parties, local TV teen shows, skating rinks, drive-in movie theaters and high-school dances.

Williams and Cason co-wrote “My Love Song for You,” which became a regional hit for The Casuals in 1957 on Dot Records. It put the group on the road with such early rockers as Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Eddie Cochran as well as country stars such as Mel Tillis, Minnie Pearl and Kitty Wells.

In 1958, The Casuals were hired to join Brenda Lee’s road show. The largest selling female recording artist of the 1960s, Lee sang both rockabilly tunes and torchy ballads. The Casuals backed her in both styles and hit the road with her and such other teen stars as Fabian, Duane Eddy, Fats Domino, Roy Orbison, The Big Bopper, Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen, Bobby Darin and Chubby Checker.
They starred at The Brooklyn Paramount Theater at a legendary 1960 Christmas extravaganza with The Drifters, The Shirelles, The Coasters, Dion, Little Anthony & The Imperials, Bo Diddley, Neil Sedaka, Freddy Cannon and Bobby Vee.

Richard Williams and Buzz Cason joined Hugh Jarrett to form a studio-only vocal trio called The Statues, who made the charts with “Blue Velvet” in 1960 on Liberty Records. But they continued to be Casuals members as well.

In 1961 at Alan Freed’s Spectacular at The Hollywood Bowl, they headlined with The Ventures, B.B. King, Gene McDaniels, The Fleetwoods, Etta James and more. Cason left the group in 1962 and eventually became a successful Nashville producer, songwriter, publisher and recording artist. Williams assumed leadership of The Casuals. As Brenda Lee graduated from teen stardom to headlining supper clubs and Las Vegas showrooms, the band evolved with her.

The Casuals continued to record, as well, notably “Mustang 2+2” in 1964 on Sound Stage 7 Records and several songs for the Monument label in 1966. They also toured as a top “show band” when not on the road with Brenda Lee.

When Richard Williams departed the group in 1975, the Casuals name was retired. He subsequently moved to Ft. Lauderdale and became one of that city’s most popular solo nightclub entertainers.
Richard Williams died on Sept. 8. He is survived by his wife Vanessa, daughter Angela McCoy of Louisville, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren of Louisville and by aunt Jean Carroll of Madison, TN.

There will be a celebration of Richard Williams’ life on Sunday, Oct. 11 at Chef’s Market in Goodlettsville, TN, 4-7 p.m.