Luke Bryan. Photo: Steve Green/Vanderbilt .
Luke Bryan is not just arbitrarily ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year. He works hard for his money and fans. If there were any unbelievers, Saturday night’s (July 11) Kick The Dust Up Tour at the Vanderbilt Stadium settled the score.
The show put Bryan’s name down among a handful of all-genre artists who have sold-out the Nashville football field, including Dave Matthews Band, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and U2.
Truss bridges spanned the length of the field for the country show—high above the standing-room pits—transporting performers to a satellite stage in front of the sold-out crowd. Fireworks kicked off Bryan’s set and reignited during various songs throughout the evening, ending in a 10-minute-plus finale. Flame throwers also torched the already sweltering stadium.
The sun didn’t completely set over the top bleacher seats until well into the evening, resulting in Nashville News 2 reporting over 300 concert goers were treated for heat-related illness. Many had tailgated before, and enjoyed beers in the liquor-less venue.
“What is with this heat?” exclaimed Bryan, who pressed on to deliver a 90-minute set. Those titles ranged from 2007 debut single “All My Friends Say” to his string of No. 1 hits after 2010, including “Rain Is A Good Thing,” “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” “That’s My Kind of Night,” and “Play It Again.”
Photo: Steve Green/Vanderbilt
The staging peeled back to spotlight each opening act as the sun dipped into the night. Dustin Lynch sported the only cowboy hat while BBR labelmate Randy Houser belted his signature vibrato during his set, featuring a cover of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me.” BMLG labelmates Florida Georgia Line and Thomas Rhett brought the pop-country flavor. Rhett ditched his boots for some gold sneakers to show off his hip-hop dance moves, featuring his latest “Crash and Burn” and a pop cover of “Uptown Funk.”
Direct support, FGL, toured through hits from the past three years, including Big Loud Mountain EP title track It’z Just What We Do to a current string of hits including “Dirt,” “Sun Daze” and “Sippin’ On Fire.”
“Everybody on this stage moved to this town to follow a country music dream,” Bryan told the crowd as he brought all his buddies back to the stage for a shot of tequila and to cover some pop songs (theme song from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, “Style,” “Bad Blood,” “Sugar”). “This is for you making [that dream] possible.”
Bryan and his band of six proved their relevancy with additional pop incorporation with “Talk Dirty” (Jason DeRulo), “Dynamite” (Tao Cruz), “Get Lucky” (Daft Punk), and “Faithfully” (Journey). Concertgoers were thrilled.
Pictured (L-R): Randy Houser, Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan and Dustin Lynch.
And that is what makes Bryan such a stand-out. He is a 21st century sensation with an understanding of contemporary influences, and an aw-shucks, boy-next-door sex appeal.
Over the past five years, his concert experience has exponentially grown to sold-out stadium events, continuing to impress fans from multiple generations and genre affiliations. That energy and enthusiasm doesn’t seem to be cooling off anytime soon.
Bryan’s 2015 tour will continue with more stadiums throughout October. He’ll sidetrack with Farm Tour 2015 in the fall and another winter run of Crash My Playa in Mexico, in January. His fifth studio album Kill The Lights, will be in stores Friday, August 7.
More dates at lukebryan.com.
JT Hodges Celebrates ‘Opry 9.0’ Release
/by Lorie HollabaughJT Hodges performs on the Opry July 10 in support of the new project.
As a nod to its 90th Anniversary celebration, the Grand Ole Opry is releasing a series of CDs spotlighting up-and-comers for the Opry’s next generation.
JT Hodges, Drake White, and Chase Bryant are the artists featured on OPRY 9.0, Vol 1: Discoveries From the Circle, which hit stores June 30. The CD includes memorable live performances by each of the artists.
Hodges recently performed on the Opry July 10 in support of the new project.
The 9.0 project will be supplemented with other artist discovery content on opry.com throughout the Opry’s social media platforms, at live Opry performances, and with the Opry’s radio partners.
Andy Grammer, Eli Young Band Join Forces For New Version of ‘Honey I’m Good’
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): EYB’s Chris Thompson, Mike Eli, Andy Grammer, EYB’s Jon Jones and James Young
Andy Grammer has reworked his current chart-topping, pop smash “Honey I’m Good” for country radio, with a little help from the guys in the Eli Young Band. The two acts have teamed up on the infectious hit and the new duet is now on iTunes and will be released to country radio July 27.
“I always felt this song was country at its core,” said Grammer about the new version of the snappy song. “Being in the studio with the Eli Young Band, I finally got to hear it come home.”
Grammer’s original version of the song topped the iTunes chart, and is a Top 10 single and rising on the Top 40 chart. It also has over 45 million YouTube views, 40 million streams on Spotify, and has been certified platinum.
“This is a great country song,” said Mike Eli about the new collaboration. “We fell in love with it before Andy ever asked us to be part of this release. Andy is an incredible singer and one heck of a songwriter so we couldn’t be happier to help expand upon what he’s already accomplished. We can’t wait for everyone to hear the new version.”
Date Set For 2015 SESAC Nashville Music Awards
/by Kelsey_GradyThe invitation-only event will honor the most popular songs of 2015 with special awards being presented to the Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year and Publisher of the Year. The awards show will also showcase performances by many hit songwriters and performers.
“It’s always our privilege to honor some of the most successful songwriters and publishers in the Country and Americana genres,” said Tim Fink, SESAC’s Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations and the host of the awards. “Kicking off CMA Week with the SESAC Nashville Music Awards is an industry tradition and we are ready to get the week started with a great awards show.”
Weekly Register: Musgraves Tops Country Album Chart
/by Sarah SkatesKacey Musgraves is sitting pretty at No. 1 on the country album chart.
Welcome to the Monday edition of Weekly Register. Due to the official music release day moving from Tuesday to Friday, sales data will be available on Mondays going forward.
As part of the change, this week’s chart is based on an 11-day transition week. Then on July 20, the new 7-day Friday to Thursday chart week will be published.
Easton Corbin moved 27K copies of About to Get Real (album only), landing at No. 2 on the country chart. But he couldn’t best UMG Nashville labelmate Kacey Musgraves, who held on to the No. 1 spot, selling 28K TW/83K RTD.
On the tracks chart, Little Big Town is No. 1 Country, with “Girl Crush” continuing to reign with sales of 93K TW/1.4 million RTD.
Looking ahead, several major label artists have albums releases scheduled this summer. See the full schedule.
July 17 Alan Jackson/Angels and Alcohol/EMI Records Nashville
August 7 Luke Bryan/Kill The Lights/Capitol Nashville
August 21 Kip Moore/Wild Ones/MCA Nashville
August 28 Maddie & Tae/Start Here/Dot
September 11 Brett Eldredge/Illinois/Warner Bros.
September 25 Thomas Rhett/Tangled Up/Valory Music Co.
*sales info according to Nielsen Soundscan
After 25 Years, 60 Million Albums, Alan Jackson Is Still Shy
/by Lorie HollabaughAlan Jackson, Lee Cowan
Alan Jackson revealed some interesting facts about being a performer on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood yesterday (July 12). The veteran entertainer tells the show’s Lee Cowan that he believes he would be just as happy behind the scenes as a writer as he is taking center stage, and chats about his discomfort with the attention even all these years into his hitmaking career.
“You know, I’m still self-conscious about going on stage, and things,” Jacksons says. “I love singing and I love sharing my songs with people, especially if it’s something that I wrote, but I still, I feel a little uncomfortable in front of people, you know?”
See the interview here.
Jackson is promoting the release of his latest UMG Nashville CD, Angels and Alcohol, with a bevy of media appearances this month.
MusicRowPics: Chris Janson
/by Eric T. ParkerThe Warner Bros. recording artist recently took a moment to visit MusicRow during a busy schedule, where he may be launching his CD before riding on the lake.
“I had the opportunity to be writing music that I didn’t know would be on an album this year,” said Janson. “It will be out on the best label in town by Thanksgiving…finally!”
The lead single was initially released independently, and led to his Warner Bros. Nashville deal.
After writing “Buy Me A Boat” with Chris DuBois at the Sea Gayle offices a few months ago, Janson cut the song at the tail end of a demo session. After upgrading the recording to a master, Janson uploaded the song online in his kitchen one night after a songwriter friend showed him how. Bobby Bones‘ iHeartRadio show then played the tune and kick-started the craze, leading to Janson becoming the first independent artist featured on iHeart’s On The Verge program, and ultimately his current record deal.
“These fans have been waiting for music forever,” said wife and manager, Kelly Lynn Janson. “The fans don’t understand you have to have a record label to put music out. So [with the release of ‘Buy Me A Boat’] he could at least talk about the new music when he played the Opry or was out on tour.”
Janson has waited 10 years to release an album after being previously signed to Sony Nashville, and the now defunct Bigger Picture Group.
Janson will co-produce the upcoming Warner Bros. Nashville full-length project with DuBois and Brent Anderson, and the remainder will be done with his publisher, Byron Gallimore.
During the visit, Janson also shared a new track “That’s What Love Will Do.” He expects to record the self-written title when he’s not on the road with Toby Keith this summer. He also treated MusicRow to the “oldest song” expected to be on the forthcoming record, titled “Back In My Drinkin’ Days.”
As a songwriter, Janson said his “most prized cuts” are on Hank Williams Jr.’s upcoming Nash Icon album. “He’s my No. 1 artist,” said Janson. “Just that he would ask for songs that I wrote is a big deal for me.” Janson also recorded harmonica on a re-make of William’s “Born To Boogie,” which is expected to be on the icon’s forthcoming record.
‘Good Morning America’ Visits Chesney’s Record Breaking Revival in Philly
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Chesney. Photo: Jill Trunnell
Robin Roberts and the Good Morning America crew will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into putting on a show the size of Kenny Chesney’s. The TV crew visited him at Lincoln Financial Fields, the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, over the weekend.
The show set up a time lapse camera last Monday to capture the Big Revival build from the ground up, and Roberts was there to see the lights go up, hear the sound check tweaks, and visit with the man who is the only country act to make Billboard’s list of the Top 10 Touring Acts of the Last 25 Years.
Chesney has been playing Lincoln Financial Field almost as long as he’s been headlining summer stadium tours. It was his eighth appearance there, and he broke his own record for a single night country music show, selling 55,131 tickets to his Big Revival 2015 Tour.
The tour will visit 23 stadiums over the summer, with upcoming stops including Minneapolis’ Target Field for two nights (July 18-19). Then Chesney will become the first country act to play Pasadena’s Rose Bowl July 25.
Kenny Chesney with 55,000 fans in Philly.
Kenny Rogers Recruits Special Guests For Christmas Project
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Rogers
When December rolls around you can count on colorful decorations, brightly-wrapped presents, sparkling Christmas trees, candy canes, and, a Kenny Rogers tour. Rogers hits the road every year around that time on his annual Christmas & Hits Tour, which is in its 34th straight year, and this holiday season he will have his first Christmas album in 17 years out to accompany it. The CD, titled Once Again It’s Christmas, will hit retailers this fall, and is Rogers’ first holiday release since 1998.
Rogers collaborates with several special guests on the new CD, including Jennifer Nettles, Alison Krauss, Home Free, Jim Brickman, and Winfield’s Locket.
“I can’t tell you how much fun it was recording a Christmas record again,” Rogers said. “I’m excited for people to hear it. I feel like this is a special group of songs—both old and new—and I was particularly lucky to be joined by many talented guest artists and musicians who each have something unique to say.”
Rogers kicks off this year’s Once Again It’s Christmas Tour featuring Linda Davis in late November. The tour will include both holiday favorites and Rogers’ hits, and will hit cities across the U.S. and Canada. A final schedule of dates will be announced soon.
Luke Bryan Kicks The Heat Up At Vanderbilt
/by Eric T. ParkerLuke Bryan. Photo: Steve Green/Vanderbilt .
Luke Bryan is not just arbitrarily ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year. He works hard for his money and fans. If there were any unbelievers, Saturday night’s (July 11) Kick The Dust Up Tour at the Vanderbilt Stadium settled the score.
The show put Bryan’s name down among a handful of all-genre artists who have sold-out the Nashville football field, including Dave Matthews Band, Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and U2.
Truss bridges spanned the length of the field for the country show—high above the standing-room pits—transporting performers to a satellite stage in front of the sold-out crowd. Fireworks kicked off Bryan’s set and reignited during various songs throughout the evening, ending in a 10-minute-plus finale. Flame throwers also torched the already sweltering stadium.
The sun didn’t completely set over the top bleacher seats until well into the evening, resulting in Nashville News 2 reporting over 300 concert goers were treated for heat-related illness. Many had tailgated before, and enjoyed beers in the liquor-less venue.
“What is with this heat?” exclaimed Bryan, who pressed on to deliver a 90-minute set. Those titles ranged from 2007 debut single “All My Friends Say” to his string of No. 1 hits after 2010, including “Rain Is A Good Thing,” “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” “That’s My Kind of Night,” and “Play It Again.”
Photo: Steve Green/Vanderbilt
The staging peeled back to spotlight each opening act as the sun dipped into the night. Dustin Lynch sported the only cowboy hat while BBR labelmate Randy Houser belted his signature vibrato during his set, featuring a cover of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me.” BMLG labelmates Florida Georgia Line and Thomas Rhett brought the pop-country flavor. Rhett ditched his boots for some gold sneakers to show off his hip-hop dance moves, featuring his latest “Crash and Burn” and a pop cover of “Uptown Funk.”
Direct support, FGL, toured through hits from the past three years, including Big Loud Mountain EP title track It’z Just What We Do to a current string of hits including “Dirt,” “Sun Daze” and “Sippin’ On Fire.”
“Everybody on this stage moved to this town to follow a country music dream,” Bryan told the crowd as he brought all his buddies back to the stage for a shot of tequila and to cover some pop songs (theme song from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, “Style,” “Bad Blood,” “Sugar”). “This is for you making [that dream] possible.”
Bryan and his band of six proved their relevancy with additional pop incorporation with “Talk Dirty” (Jason DeRulo), “Dynamite” (Tao Cruz), “Get Lucky” (Daft Punk), and “Faithfully” (Journey). Concertgoers were thrilled.
Pictured (L-R): Randy Houser, Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan and Dustin Lynch.
And that is what makes Bryan such a stand-out. He is a 21st century sensation with an understanding of contemporary influences, and an aw-shucks, boy-next-door sex appeal.
Over the past five years, his concert experience has exponentially grown to sold-out stadium events, continuing to impress fans from multiple generations and genre affiliations. That energy and enthusiasm doesn’t seem to be cooling off anytime soon.
Bryan’s 2015 tour will continue with more stadiums throughout October. He’ll sidetrack with Farm Tour 2015 in the fall and another winter run of Crash My Playa in Mexico, in January. His fifth studio album Kill The Lights, will be in stores Friday, August 7.
More dates at lukebryan.com.
Americana Music Association Presents AmericanaFest NYC
/by Lorie HollabaughThe Fairfield Four and The McCrary Sisters bring their soulful sounds to the Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park Bandshell stage Aug. 7 along with Junior Mambazo, and the Saturday two-stage lineup will include performances by Sam Outlaw, the Quebe Sisters, Kasey Chambers, Justin Townes Earle, the Watkins Family Hour, Fiona Apple, Don Heffington, and Sebastian Steinburg. An eclectic tribute to Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited album is also planned, featuring Aimee Mann, Ted Leo, Shawn Colvin, Rodney Crowell, and Pokey LaFarge, with the Watkins Family Hour backing as the house band.
Sunday will include a special late afternoon show by Iris DeMent, followed by closer Lyle Lovett, who will round out the weekend’s performances.
All shows are free and require no tickets, and a full calendar of events can be found at www.americanamusic.org.