Dolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
They call her a living legend for a reason.
At a pair of weekend concerts at Ryman Auditorium, Dolly Parton enthralled sold-out crowds with her incomparable personality and showmanship. She didn’t need to fly over the stage, set off pyro, create magic effects or explode confetti. All she needed were her extraordinary songs, her enduringly expressive voice and her magnetic rapport with audiences.
Billed as “Pure and Simple,” her shows featured just three sidemen and minimal stage décor. On Saturday night, she drew a thunderous standing ovation as she came on stage singing a snippet of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” “I know these seats are hard, and your butts are gonna get tired,” she told the crowd. “But I’m gonna help you forget that.” And for nearly two hours, she did just that.
“I love coming to the Ryman Auditorium. On Jan. 4, 1969, I became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on this stage.” She told us that the show was a benefit for the Opry Trust Fund (Friday’s was for the W.O. Smith Community Music School).
“Usually, I save all my money for myself,” she quipped. “You would not believe how much it costs to look this cheap!”
Dolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
She was garbed in a glittering, fringed dress that hugged her famous figure and shimmered in silver and pastel hues. Addressing her over-the-top looks, she delivered “Backwoods Barbie.”
Parton put the crowd in an upbeat mood with “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” and “Jolene.” Then she took attendees on a journey to her Appalachian roots via “Precious Memories,” “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” “Coat of Many Colors” (which drew a long ovation), “Smoky Mountain Memories,” “Applejack,” “The Seeker,” “The Grass Is Blue,” “Blue Smoke,” the humorous “PMS Blues” and “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.”
She linked the songs with charming patter, asking for “Amen” responses when her lyrics’ emotions struck a chord. Along the way, she played guitar, banjo, dulcimer, autoharp, piano, pan flute, harmonica and tenor guitar.
This part of the concert concluded with the haunting, ancient modal tones of “Little Sparrow,” which was performed mainly a cappella and resulted in a standing ovation.
Parton strapped on an electric guitar and employed a drum machine to jolt the energy level with a mash-up of “Baby I’m Burning” with Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire.” She romped through “Two Doors Down” and got a roar of acclamation with “Here You Come Again.” “Islands in the Stream” led into a rousing, fist-thrusting audience sing-along on “9 to 5.”
“Thank you for allowing my little-girl dreams to come true,” she said. “You have no idea what an emotional feeling that is – to hear you sing my songs to me.”
She poured passion into the fervent finale, “I Will Always Love You.” As the dazzled crowd spilled out of the Ryman onto the streets, Hunter Kelly asked, “Did you feel blessed?” Well, we were in a building built as a gospel tabernacle and, yes, spending an evening with that greatest of stars was a little like rejoicing in church.
Dolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
Dolly Dazzles At Ryman Homecoming
/by Robert K OermannDolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
They call her a living legend for a reason.
At a pair of weekend concerts at Ryman Auditorium, Dolly Parton enthralled sold-out crowds with her incomparable personality and showmanship. She didn’t need to fly over the stage, set off pyro, create magic effects or explode confetti. All she needed were her extraordinary songs, her enduringly expressive voice and her magnetic rapport with audiences.
Billed as “Pure and Simple,” her shows featured just three sidemen and minimal stage décor. On Saturday night, she drew a thunderous standing ovation as she came on stage singing a snippet of “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.” “I know these seats are hard, and your butts are gonna get tired,” she told the crowd. “But I’m gonna help you forget that.” And for nearly two hours, she did just that.
“I love coming to the Ryman Auditorium. On Jan. 4, 1969, I became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on this stage.” She told us that the show was a benefit for the Opry Trust Fund (Friday’s was for the W.O. Smith Community Music School).
“Usually, I save all my money for myself,” she quipped. “You would not believe how much it costs to look this cheap!”
Dolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
She was garbed in a glittering, fringed dress that hugged her famous figure and shimmered in silver and pastel hues. Addressing her over-the-top looks, she delivered “Backwoods Barbie.”
Parton put the crowd in an upbeat mood with “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” and “Jolene.” Then she took attendees on a journey to her Appalachian roots via “Precious Memories,” “My Tennessee Mountain Home,” “Coat of Many Colors” (which drew a long ovation), “Smoky Mountain Memories,” “Applejack,” “The Seeker,” “The Grass Is Blue,” “Blue Smoke,” the humorous “PMS Blues” and “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.”
She linked the songs with charming patter, asking for “Amen” responses when her lyrics’ emotions struck a chord. Along the way, she played guitar, banjo, dulcimer, autoharp, piano, pan flute, harmonica and tenor guitar.
This part of the concert concluded with the haunting, ancient modal tones of “Little Sparrow,” which was performed mainly a cappella and resulted in a standing ovation.
Parton strapped on an electric guitar and employed a drum machine to jolt the energy level with a mash-up of “Baby I’m Burning” with Alicia Keys’ “Girl On Fire.” She romped through “Two Doors Down” and got a roar of acclamation with “Here You Come Again.” “Islands in the Stream” led into a rousing, fist-thrusting audience sing-along on “9 to 5.”
“Thank you for allowing my little-girl dreams to come true,” she said. “You have no idea what an emotional feeling that is – to hear you sing my songs to me.”
She poured passion into the fervent finale, “I Will Always Love You.” As the dazzled crowd spilled out of the Ryman onto the streets, Hunter Kelly asked, “Did you feel blessed?” Well, we were in a building built as a gospel tabernacle and, yes, spending an evening with that greatest of stars was a little like rejoicing in church.
Dolly Parton at the Ryman, July 31, 2015. Photo: Stacie Huckeba
Artist Visit: MusicRow Gets “Countrified” With Leslie Cours Mather
/by Troy_Stephenson(L-R): MusicRow’s Kelsey Grady, Troy Stephenson, Sarah Skates, Cours Mather, MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson, Eric Parker
Leslie Cours Mather visited MusicRow recently to perform songs for the staff including her debut single “Countrified.” The song’s theme comes from a combination of her mom growing up on a Wisconsin Dairy farm, her dad being from Texas, and Mather living in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.
During the visit, she also performed “Just Let Me Think Of You” and the next single “Hell Hath No Fury,” which is available on Play MPE.
Mather makes the commute from Los Angeles to Nashville quite frequently as she is preparing for an upcoming album. She made her debut at CMA Fest this year performing on the Chevy Roadhouse stage.
She recently completed a radio tour in support of her new single and was also a part of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles last month.
Leslie Cours Mather performs for MusicRow
Kip Moore To Headline ‘Wild Ones’ Tour
/by Troy_Stephenson“My favorite part of this crazy life we have is playing live,” said Moore. “We’ve been playing so many of these new songs in the live show because we road-tested them night after night before recording what became the final album. They were a huge part in helping me formulate what Wild Ones became…we are a tribe. I’m excited to get back out there and headline and put a show together that is all about them.”
Moore will perform songs from his upcoming album, Wild Ones, including his recent MusicRow No. 1, “I’m To Blame.” Special guest, Michael Ray, will be the opening act for each date. Ray’s debut single “Kiss You In The Morning” was No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart on July 16. Chris Cavanaugh, Joey Hyde and DeeJay Silver to join the tour on select dates.
Wild Ones Tour Dates:
10/8 Bethlehem, PA*
10/9 Pittsburgh, PA*
10/16 London, ON*
10/17 Toronto, ON*
10/22 Chicago, IL**
10/23 Chicago, IL**
10/30 Boston, MA**
10/31 Baltimore, MD**
11/5 Knoxville, TN***
11/7 Cleveland, OH***
11/13 Orlando, FL***
11/14 Ft Myers, FL***
11/19 Nacogdoches, TX*
11/27 N Myrtle Beach, SC*
11/28 Charlotte, NC*
12/3 New York, NY*
12/4 Sayreville, NJ*
12/5 Richmond, VA*
*With Chris Cavanaugh
**With Joey Hyde
***With DeeJay Silver
Provident and CNI Ink Partnership Agreement
/by Lorie HollabaughThrough the new agreement, CNI will fulfill orders for Provident, and the full transition of all order fulfillment is slated to be complete by next spring. Provident’s sales, credit, and marketing functions will all still be handled in-house.
“Provident Distribution remains committed to the physical retail environment and to serving the individual needs of artists, songwriters, filmmakers and distributed labels,” states Terry Hemmings, President/CEO of Provident Music Group. “For more than 20 years, our partners have been accustomed to a very high-quality experience thanks to the outstanding work of our distribution center. CNI’s well-established reputation specifically within Christian retail, churches and direct-to-consumer avenues ensures that our tradition of excellence in fulfillment services will continue into this next chapter.”
Provident Distribution’s clients include Provident Label Group, Provident Films, Essential Music Publishing, Gotee Records, StowTown Records, RCA Inspiration, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, and others.
CNI Distribution is part of Christian Network International, one of the largest independent Christian product fulfillment and distribution companies in the world, and exclusively represents clients Dave Ramsey’s Financial Solutions, Vision Video and Gateway Films, The United Pentecostal Publishing House, Cloud Ten Pictures, Crossroads Entertainment, Prism Music, and more.
“It is truly a privilege to partner with an organization of the quality and respect of Provident Music Group,” said Ed Clydesdale, CNI’s President & CEO. “We look forward to providing our enhanced services to accompany the great quality of music and entertainment that Provident offers.”
Lance Carpenter Releases New EP ‘Hay Days’
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“I’m honored to have the opportunity to share this new project with everyone,” says Lance. “I’ve had the privilege of working with some great songwriters in town and the EP turned out better that I ever could have expected.”
“Lance is a talented songwriter and vocalist,” says Tim Hunze, Partner of Parallel Music Publishing. “His authentic country sound is reminiscent of legends in the past.”
Tickets On Sale For Loretta Lynn And Friends During Americana Fest
/by Troy_StephensonLoretta Lynn
Tickets are on sale now to see Loretta Lynn, Steve Earle, Gillian Welch, Valerie June, Nikki Lane, Tift Merritt, Eric Heywood, Emmy Rose Russell, and more at Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater on Saturday, September 19. This is a separate, ticketed event from the Americana Music Festival & Conference. However, Americana Music Festival & Conference registrants have received a code via e-mail for $5 off general admission lawn tickets to this event.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Wristbands are also for sale and can be purchased here.
The 16th annual Americana Music Festival & Conference will take place September 15-20, 2015. For more information, click here.
Patty Griffin Schedules Ryman Date For ‘Servant Of Love’ Tour
/by Lorie HollabaughPatty Griffin
Patty Griffin gave a glimpse of her new album, Servant Of Love, on NPR last week when she shared the first new track, “Rider Of Days,” on the network. The new CD is due out September 25 and is the first release on her own label in conjunction with Thirty Tigers. She once again collaborated with producer Craig Ross on the new album, which is her tenth career record.
Griffin will hit the road beginning September 22 in support of the new CD with a slew of U.S. dates in Austin, New York, Seattle, and a Ryman Auditorium show October 14 before the tour concludes November 14. For more information on the tour or the new music, go to www.pattygriffin.com.
Patty Griffin Tour Dates
Sept 22 – Waco, TX – Common Grounds*
Sept 23 – Austin, TX – Paramount Theater*
Sept 25 – Louisville, KY – Headliners#
Sept 26 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre#
Sept 27 – Pittsburgh, PA – Byham Theater#
Sept 29 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
Oct 1 – New York, NY – Town Hall
Oct 2 – Boston, MA – Somerville Theater
Oct 3 – Orono, ME – Collins Center#
Oct 4 – Montreal, QUE – L’Astral
Oct 6 – Northampton, MA – Academy of Music
Oct 7 – Philadelphia, PA – Keswick Theater^
Oct 9 – Ithaca, NY – State Theater^
Oct 10 – Ann Arbor, MI – Power Center^
Oct 11 – Columbus, OH – Lincoln Theater^
Oct 13 – Chicago, IL – The Vic^
Oct 14 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium^
Oct 15 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse^
Oct 17 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel^
Oct 28 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater^
Oct 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room^
Oct 30 – Missoula, MT – Wilma Theatre^
Nov 1 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre^
Nov 2 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom^
Nov 3 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom^
Nov 5 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore^
Nov 6 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre^
Nov 7 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy and Harriets Pioneertown Palace^
Nov 8 – Mesa, AZ – Piper Repertory Theater at Mesa Arts Center^
Nov 10 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre^
Nov 11 – Albuquerque, NM – Kimo Theatre^
Nov 13 – Lubbock, TX – Cactus Theatre^
Nov 14 – Norman, OK – Sooner Theatre^
* – John Moreland opens
# – Sam Lee opens
^ – Darlingside opens
Church Ascends at Sold-Out Amphitheater Shows
/by Lorie Hollabaugh(L-R): Eric Church, Lee Hendricks, and Craig Wright
Photo: Rick Diamond
Eric Church christened Nashville’s new Ascend Amphitheater last Thursday and Friday night (7/30 and 7/31) under a gorgeous full moon to sold-out crowds, and threw out the playbook for the special set of Music City shows. Performing acoustically, Church pulled out deep cuts and even tunes he’d never played live before during the two shows, which were the first concerts held at the brand new outdoor venue downtown.
“The thing about tonight is you get to see something you’ll never see again. Because after tonight we’re never doing this (bleep) again,” Church told the packed house during Thursday evening’s show before proceeding to perform songs like “Three Year Old,” a tune he’d never played live about the amusing challenges of fatherhood. The song got its inspiration from a fishing trip where his son threw his rod, reel, and tackle box into the water. “I’m 38, and I never knew a fishing rod sinks faster than a tackle box,” Church joked.
Staging for the shows included “The Outsider’s Joint,” an on-set bar with bartenders, friends, and band members seated beside his playing space and a couch where band members were invited up one by one to accompany Church on his many hits and favorite album tracks throughout the special evening.
Church’s pop-up store, The Outsider’s Joint, opened for two days through Saturday in East Nashville in conjunction with the two concerts and helped raise money for his Chief Cares fund, which supports people in need around the world.
Johnny Cash Museum To Host Writers Nights
/by Lorie Hollabaugh“I’ve always found my most memorable concert experiences were when I got to see the artist or writer in an intimate setting,” says Bill Miller, founder of the Johnny Cash Museum. “That setting is what we will be presenting in the Johnny Cash Museum Café and we couldn’t be more excited to launch it with Melanie Safka.”
The event is free to the public. More information on this and future shows can be found here.
Stuart Dill Named VUMC Entertainment Industry Liaison
/by Sherod RobertsonStuart Dill
Stuart Dill, a 30-year veteran as an artist manager, has been named Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s liaison with the entertainment industry.
Dill will continue to develop and strengthen the strategic partnership between VUMC and the entertainment industry, which includes professionals in music, athletics and performing arts, and will communicate the strength and recent advances of the Medical Center’s health care services and build upon philanthropic interests and involvement with Vanderbilt.
Dill began his career penning comic material for Minnie Pearl, Ray Stevens and Jerry Clower. Over the years Dill has managed artists including Minnie Pearl, Freddy Fender, Dwight Yoakam, Jo Dee Messina, Rodney Crowell, The Wreckers, Sister Hazel, Laura Bell Bundy, Point of Grace, Billy Ray Cyrus, and many others. He also authored the novel, Murder on Music Row, that won the Independent Book Publishers (IPPY) Award’s Gold Medal in 2012.
“Artist management is a ‘contact sport,’” Dill said. “It is about building relationships, growing trust and showing that you really care about the artists you represent. The same holds for the work done in the medical community. It is ultimately about giving excellent care and building relationships and trust with each patient. Basically an artist manager’s work and physician’s work are similar in that sense — we’re in the business of ‘care.’ Working as VUMC’s liaison to the music and entertainment industry is simply an extension of the work I’ve been doing my entire career.”
Dill said that both VUMC and Music Row touch millions of lives, in Nashville, across the country and globally adding, “They are both internationally recognized brands that ‘grew up’ in the same neighborhood together. By definition, a true community is a group of people that care for one another.”