Tommy Prine has dropped his heartfelt new single “Purple Paint,” from his upcoming new EP Love Circle, due out on Aug. 20.

The new track is inspired by the steadfast support of his wife throughout his musical journey, and is a moving reflection on partnership, devotion and the quiet strength that carries artists through both the chaos and beauty of a life in music.

“My wife is the real reason I am who I am today, if not for her unwavering support and guidance I would have never taken the leap,” admits Prine. “Here’s to making me paint my bathroom purple, and for showing me that things can be built in a day that last forever.”

The new single arrives ahead of his new EP this summer, which finds Prine building on the momentum of his acclaimed 2023 debut This Far South. Fans recently got a first listen to “Purple Paint” through PBS Wisconsin’s Mile of Music Special, where Prine performed a set from the Lawrence University Memorial Chapel during the 2024 Mile of Music festival. The televised performance featured standout tracks including “Purple Paint,” “Fire and Fuel,” “This Far South,” “By the Way,” “Mirror and a Kitchen Sink” and “Ships in the Harbor.”

Love Circle Track List:
1. “Purple Paint”
2. “Standing in the Middle”
3. “Love Circle”
4. “Candybar”
5. “Caught in the Wake”
6. “Space”
7. “Mysteries of Man”

Alison Brown will be honored by The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at its 17th Annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum on Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater.

The annual forum, which began in 2007, recognizes music industry leaders who continue the legacy of trailblazer Louise Scruggs, a formidable businesswoman who set new professional standards in artist management. The program will explore Brown’s more than 35 years as a musician, producer, songwriter and record label executive and will be led by Museum Writer-Editor Allison Moorer.

Brown began playing banjo as a teen while growing up in Southern California. She attended Harvard University, earned an MBA from UCLA, and worked in investment banking until she realized she missed making music. After an offer from Alison Krauss to play banjo in her band Union Station, Brown gave up her corporate career to play music full time. She released her Grammy-nominated debut album Simple Pleasures in 1990, and became the first woman to win the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Banjo Player of the Year award in 1991.

Known for her innovative blend of diverse musical styles, Brown has recorded 12 solo albums and has produced projects for Claire Lynch, Bobby Osborne and Peter Rowan, among others. Brown won a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance in 2001 for “Leaving Cottondale,” a collaboration with Béla Fleck from her album Fairweather, and was inducted into the American Banjo Hall of Fame in 2019. In 1995, she co-founded Compass Records with her husband, Garry West, and over the last 30 years, the label has amassed a catalog of more than 1,000 releases across multiple imprints.

The program is free and open to the public and tickets can be reserved here.

Grant Gilbert will release his new LP West of Fort Worth tomorrow (June 27) via River House Artists.

The singer-songwriter recently released a new single from the project, “Where Do Dreams Go”, a bittersweet track about trying to make ends meet in an unforgiving world. On the new album, Gilbert teamed with producer Lukas Scott and songwriters Dan Alley, Brent Anderson, Joey Hendricks and more.

The new collection finds Gilbert leaning even deeper into his Texas roots, combining his love of the Lone Star country music he was raised on with the rock of Springsteen and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Gilbert has already released several singles from the new album, including “Bad Reputation,” his collaboration with tourmate and fellow Texan Hudson Westbrook which has racked up nearly a million streams on Spotify, the anthemic title track that pays homage to his Texas heritage, and last year’s “Drunk Since Dallas,” which marked his third consecutive No. 1 at Texas regional radio.

Teetering between rollicking bar anthems, tender love songs and story songs about the everyday American, West of Fort Worth further solidifies Gilbert’s soulful rock-influenced country sound, and follows 2023’s Between the Highways EP, which was produced by Jonathan Singleton.

West of Fort Worth Track List:
1. “West of Fort Worth” (Grant Gilbert, Barrett Baber, Korey Hunt, Dan Alley)
2. “This Ain’t That Song” (Grant Gilbert, Beau Bailey, Daniel Agee)
3. “Here For The Party” (Gretchen Wilson, John Rich, Big Kenny)
4. “Bad Reputation” (Grant Gilbert, Hudson Westbrook, Lukas Scott, Beau Bailey)
5. “Forever In This Fire” (Grant Gilbert, Beau Bailey, Jason Massey)
6. “Where Do Dreams Go” (Grant Gilbert, Brent Anderson, Joey Hendricks)
7. “Drunk Since Dallas” (Grant Gilbert, Forrest Finn, Joe Whelan)
8. “In Loving Memory” (Grant Gilbert, Matthew Morrisey)

Cameron Duddy. Photo: Harper Smith

Painted Horse Pictures, out of the Nashville division of Range Media Partners has revealed its first film, Cowboy. Already in production, the film is a contemporary western rodeo drama and will be directed by Midland‘s Cameron Duddy in his feature directorial debut.

The main cast includes Ben Foster (Hell or High Water), Rudy Pankow (Outer Banks) and Gabriel Basso (The Night Agent). Supporting roles will be held by Taylor Lewan (Bussin With The Boys podcast) and Midland’s Mark Wystrach (The Eyes of Tammy Faye).

The script, written by Adair Cole, is based on a story by Duddy and fellow band member Jess Carson. The film shows the story of bull riders, barrel racers and pickup men in the traveling rodeo circuit scene.

“This is a personal story for me. It’s a film about what it takes to grind it out on the road chasing your dreams, and the emotional and physical toll it takes on all of us, most of all the people we love,” says Duddy. “Cowboy is a raw and honest look at the Rodeo world built from the dust up- it’s about grit, humility, integrity, freedom… 1,800 pounds of rough stock at a time.”

Based out of Nashville, Painted Horse Productions will have access to the full infrastructure of Range Media Partners, including film financing and sales and access to talent. Range’s Matt Graham and William Lowery will oversee the banner, with Duddy, Harper Smith and Sydney Allen rounding out the Painted Horse team.

Lucas Smith, Graham, Lowery and Ian Bryce will serve as the film’s Producers. The team of Executive Producers includes Foster, David Keinath, Jordan Yospe, Shawn Williamson, James D. Stern and Allen. UTA Independent Film Group and Range Select are co-representing global rights.