Singer-songwriters will fill East Tennessee with music as part of the Smoky Mountains Songwriters Festival  on Aug. 15-18 in Gatlinburg, Tenn. This year’s lineup will include songwriters Bill Labounty (“Rock My World,” Brooks and Dunn), Kim Williams (“Ain‘t Goin’ Down Till The Sun Comes Up,” Garth Brooks), Bobby Tomberlin (“One More Day,” Diamond Rio), Mark Nesler (“Just To See You Smile,” Tim McGraw), Chris Wallin (“Don’t Blink,” Kenny Chesney), Marty Dodson (“We Must Be Doing Something Right,” Billy Currington) and Clay Mills (“Beautiful Mess,” by Diamond Rio).
This year’s festival will also feature the SMSWF 2013 Band Playoff at 3 Jimmy’s, where the top 20 bands will compete and finalists for the Songwriters Competition will perform Aug. 17 at the Edgewater Hotel. Songwriter workshop sessions will also be offered during the festival. For more information, visit smswf.com.

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The First Annual Delta Country Jam, held in Tunica, Miss. on Oct. 4-5, has added Billy Currington, Kellie Pickler, Randy Houser and others to the star-packed line-up. They will join previously announced headliner Tim McGraw, plus Brantley Gilbert, Jerrod Niemann, Thompson Square and Josh Thompson. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
 

• Hot Chelle Rae, the pop/rock band comprised of several Nashville natives, is on the road with Justin Bieber this summer. The mega-star’s Believe outing will feature HCR and Mike Posner on dates that started last weekend and continue through July 20 in Boston. Following that leg, the tour heads north for a run through Canada with openers HCR and Cody Simpson in late July and early August.
• Carrie Underwood has been added to the lineup for the Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert on July 6. Due to a previously scheduled show at the Grand Ole Opry, the Oklahoma native’s performance will be aired via satellite from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville to the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla.
• Eli Young Band has another reason to celebrate. Their single “Crazy Girl” has been certified RIAA Double Platinum for more than two million copies sold. “Crazy Girl” was previously named the Academy of Country Music’s Song of the Year.
• Christian artist Matthew West will play at the Grand Ole Opry on Wednesday (June 26). This will be West’s third time on the Grand Ole Opry stage and he will appear alongside Opry members Bill Anderson, Larry Gatlin and Ricky Skaggs, as well as Keith Anderson, Sunny Sweeney, Aaron Tippin and newcomer Sara Haze.
• The new Kanye West album Yeezus includes a sample of Brenda Lee’s song “Sweet Nothin’s.” The clip is used in West’s song “Bound 2,” the last track on the album.
•  Kenny Chesney’s stadium concert at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field on Saturday (June 22) was pretty rowdy, according numerous local news reports. Among the 50,000 concertgoers, there were more than 70 arrests, mostly due to disorderly conduct, public intoxication and aggravated assault. Additionally, 43 minors were cited for underage drinking and about 200 people were treated for medical needs or transported to medical facilities. The event received rave reviews anyway.

Manuel Cuevas, renowned fashion designer who has designed for Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton and countless other celebrities and notable figures, will open a new retail space at 800 Broadway in downtown Nashville on July 15. The 3100 sq. ft. space is currently under renovation, and will accommodate the iconic designs Manuel is known for as well as a studio for designing and manufacturing the first run of products from the forthcoming “New Vision” collection.
Manuel’s current retail location at 1922 Broadway, which opened in 1988, will remain open until July 8. A final music showcase is slated for June 26 featuring musician and visual artist Amanda MCoy, who is celebrating her most recent recording The Hurt, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The boutique will close its tenure with a fashion show on July 11.
“We are excited about this move and all that it represents for the brand and the launch of the ‘New Vision’ collection,” stated Manuel. “The Nashville tourism, music and fashion communities have stood behind me for so many years and many fond memories have been shared at the boutique. I am positive just as many will be made in the new location as we open up our new home to friends and visitors who love Nashville as much as I do.”
Manuel’s “New Vision” collection will feature handmade, one-of-a-kind items that are 100 percent American made. Clothing and accessories, including leather goods, boots, dresses, pants, shirts, skirts and other creations for men and women, will sell at a price point of $50-$600.