Lady Antebellum will take over After MidNite hosting duties the week of Thanksgiving, Nov. 22–26. In addition to giving Blair Garner a few days off to enjoy the holiday, Lady A will co-host the annual After MidNite Thanksgiving Day special with Garner.
“As we kick off the holiday season, I am so glad that Lady A, with a new holiday album out, will be sitting in for me so I can start my shopping early and spend some extra time with my family,” said Garner. “Lady A has taken time out of the studio to join us, and the entire After MidNite crew is so grateful to these superstars of country!”
• • • •
Capitol Records Nashville recording artist and newest Grand Ole Opry member, Darius Rucker is featured on Ram Country on Yahoo! Music which started Wed., Nov. 14. The program follows Rucker as he returned to his alma mater, The University of South Carolina (USC), for a Gamecocks football game and a surprise performance during a tailgate event. Rucker met fellow Hootie & the Blowfish band mates while attending USC and his love for the school and their sports program has remained strong.
Rucker will release his third country studio album, True Believers, on Jan. 22, 2013. Darius wrote ten of the twelve tracks on True Believers including the title track and debut single which is currently Top 20 and climbing.
• • • •
Sirius XM Radio recently announced that music icon Willie Nelson will sit down for a rare Q&A session with a select group of listeners at the SiriusXM studios in New York City.
It will air live on Willie Nelson’s Willie’s Roadhouse, channel 56, on Tuesday, November 20 at 2:00 pm ET. SiriusXM’s Town Hall with Willie Nelson will be rebroadcast on Willie’s Roadhouse and Outlaw Country, channel 60, throughout the week. For rebroadcast times, please visit www.siriusxm.com/townhall.
• • • •
CBS prime-time crime drama Criminal Minds featured music written and performed by songwriter/entertainer Rockie Lynne. The original composition, “Home,” was used in the latest episode of the hit, prime time show which world premiered on Wednesday (11/14). If you missed it, you can watch it by clicking here.
Lynne first met Criminal Minds star Mantegna last May in D.C. and recently stopped by the set of the show.
MusicRowPics: Blue Sky Riders Artist Visit
/by Caitlin RantalaBlue Sky Riders stopped by MusicRow headquarters Friday (11/16). The trio is made up of Gary Burr, Kenny Loggins, and Georgia Middleman. With their debut album, Finally Home, dropping Jan. 29, 2013, Blue Sky Riders gave MusicRow a taste of what they have in store.
Their acoustic set included “I’m a Rider,” “Just Say Yes,” “Little Victories,” “Feeling Brave,” and “Dream.”
“Just Say Yes” was a last minute addition, written when the group was trying to come up with several bonus tracks. They quickly realized that the song was album worthy and made a quick change to the track line up. Meanwhile, “Little Victories,” a song about finding the strength to recover from loss, is a tried and true fan favorite.
“We get the most responses to that song,” Middleman said. “Whatever people are going through, ‘Little Victories’ seems to help them heal.”
For more information on Blue Sky Riders, visit blueskyridersband.com.
[slide]
Kenny Rogers Plans ‘Christmas & Hits Tour’
/by Caitlin RantalaRogers is known for creating an inviting atmosphere with his Christmas & Hits Tour, which consistently receives rave reviews and has become a holiday tradition in its own right. The “Christmas” portion of this year’s set will include performances of traditional songs such as “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Joy To The World,” and “Mary, Did You Know.” Local choirs and children will have an opportunity to showcase their talents by performing with Rogers in each city.
Rogers’ recently released his first autobiography titled Luck Or Something Like It, which immediately became a New York Times Best Seller. In addition, Gaither Music Group has released two albums by Rogers in time for the holidays: Amazing Grace and Christmas Live! – the latter features performances captured on his Christmas & Hits Tour.
Artist Action (11/19/12)
/by Caitlin Rantala“As we kick off the holiday season, I am so glad that Lady A, with a new holiday album out, will be sitting in for me so I can start my shopping early and spend some extra time with my family,” said Garner. “Lady A has taken time out of the studio to join us, and the entire After MidNite crew is so grateful to these superstars of country!”
• • • •
Rucker will release his third country studio album, True Believers, on Jan. 22, 2013. Darius wrote ten of the twelve tracks on True Believers including the title track and debut single which is currently Top 20 and climbing.
• • • •
It will air live on Willie Nelson’s Willie’s Roadhouse, channel 56, on Tuesday, November 20 at 2:00 pm ET. SiriusXM’s Town Hall with Willie Nelson will be rebroadcast on Willie’s Roadhouse and Outlaw Country, channel 60, throughout the week. For rebroadcast times, please visit www.siriusxm.com/townhall.
• • • •
Lynne first met Criminal Minds star Mantegna last May in D.C. and recently stopped by the set of the show.
Red Bow Taps Promo Staffers
/by Sarah SkatesDanielle DeMott joins as Southest Director of Promotion. She has spent the last 13 years as a real estate and mortgage executive in Seattle and Nashville. She can be reached at Danielle@redbowrecords.com or 615-497-4393.
Bethany Dean joins RED BOW Records as Promotion Coordinator. She has spent the last three years with Bethar Music Publishing. She can be reached at Bethany@redbowrecords.com or 615-260-3794.
RED BOW VP of Promotion Renee’ Leymon commented, “We chose Danielle for her sales background and her excitement about being in our format…her stations will love her passion. Bethany was a natural fit, transitioning from the publishing world to promotion. We’re excited to have them both and will be announcing the Northeast position very soon!”
Benefit News: Turkey Fry Tomorrow
/by Michelle• • •
Non-profit organization Poverty is Real (PIR) is hosting Brite Revolution Presents Poverty is Real: A Benefit for Open Table Nashville, which will be held Friday, November 30 at The Bluebird Café and Saturday, December 1 at the Exit/In. The shows will benefit Open Table Nashville, a group that helps the homeless find housing and works to disrupt the cycle of poverty.
The Bluebird Café will host two shows on November 30 featuring Peter Cooper, Eric Brace, Kate Campbell, and Kevin Gordon (early show) and Will Kimbrough, Hannah Miller, Jesse Lafser, and Brigitte DeMeyer (late show). The early show is $12 and will begin at 6:30 pm. The late show is $15 and will start at 9:30 pm. Tickets will be available at www.bluebirdcafe.com beginning November 26.
The Saturday night Exit/In show will feature Wild Cub, Vinyl Thief, Foreign Fields, Casa Castile, Afterlife Parade, and DJ Donny Rest. The show is 18+ and costs $5. Tickets are available at www.exitin.com.
• • •
Nashville singer/songwriter Will Hoge will be preforming a benefit concert on Nov. 23 at 3rd and Lindsley to benefit the VUMC Trauma Center with Josh Hoge. Will Hoge was gravely injured in a scooter accident in 2008. Rushed to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center with multiple life threatening inuries, Hoge was in a coma for three days and was sidelined for almost ten months of recovery. Hoge credits the VUMC Trauma team for saving his life. Portions of the proceeds from the first night of his two night stand at the venue will go to benefit the VUMC Trauma Center and Trauma Survivors Network. For more information click here.
• • •
CAA (Creative Artist Agency) won SOLID’s Annual Turkey Bowl recently at Ted Rhodes Park in Metrocenter. They also brought in the most food with almost 3500 pounds. Total food donations from the Turkey Bowl weighed in at over 7,000 pounds.
• • •
Brantley Gilbert recently took a break from his Hell on Wheels Tour to join forces with GAC and Second Harvest Food Bank in an effort to secure meals for the 1 in 6 Americans struggling with hunger. Continuing with the Outnumber Hunger initiative that launched last April, Gilbert visited the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee to package food with other volunteers for the BackPack Program, which is used by many local schools. GAC was on-site to lend a hand and tape a special Top 20 Country Countdown, which aired November 16.
Brantley Gilbert and GAC Top 20 Country Countdown Host Nan Kelly Photo: GAC
Music Row Coffeehouse to Offer Live Music
/by Eric T. ParkerSinger-songwriter, Benton Stokes, will reveal his newly revamped Music Row coffee shop, now featuring live music, during a private ceremony Monday, Nov. 26.
Live at Benton’s will be located inside the coffee shop, Benton’s Cafe, on the Roundabout Plaza’s first floor. The family friendly space will feature artist showcases, songwriter’s nights, and other live industry events Wednesday through Saturday evenings beginning in December.
“Adding the live entertainment element gives people a great alternative to the evening bar scene, with a smoke and alcohol free setting to listen to live music,” said Stokes, who has run the cafe since January 2012.
The 6:30-8:30 pm opening event will feature music from Stokes, Izzie Schubert, Island Wren, Russell Martin, and Ryan Kenney.
Visit www.facebook.com/BentonsCafe for more information.
Josh Williams Joins Rhonda & The Rage
/by Michelle“We love Ben so very much, he will be missed,” Rhonda stated. “This is a bitter sweet time, as I am thrilled at the return of Josh Williams to The Rage. Josh is one of the most talented musicians I’ve ever heard. We are excited to begin a new chapter of The Rage, and mark a historical reunion. Our first performance featuring the new assemblage will be televised. Rehearsals begin right away to share ideas and create the absolute best show ever for our 2013 appearances.”
Williams is a multi-instrumentalist, and will be a featured member of The Rage on guitar, harmony and lead vocals, and other instruments. He will join veteran members of The Rage, including: 11-year member, award winning fiddler Hunter Berry from Elizabethton, TN; 10-year member Mickey Harris on upright bass, lead and harmony vocals, from Murfreesboro, TN; four-year member, banjo player Aaron McDaris from Hartville, MO; and one-year member, Brent Burke from Pell City, AL.
Appearances begin January 3, 2013 in Livermore, California, 1/4 Bakersfield, CA, 1/5 Wickenburg, AZ. Click here for more information.
Black River Adds to Promo Department
/by Eric T. ParkerJane O'Malia
Black River Entertainment’s VP of Promotion Bill Macky announces the addition of Jane O’Malia as the new Director of Promotion-Northeast.
“I’m very excited to have Jane join the Black River family,” says Macky. “Her years as an award-winning Promotions Director at WDSY/Pittsburgh give her an advantage. She’s already a proven winner and I look forward to seeing her excel as a part of our team.”
O’Malia will be based out of Pittsburgh, Pa. promoting the careers of Craig Morgan, Kellie Pickler, Sarah Darling, Due West and Glen Templeton. She has over fifteen years of experience as an on-air personality and Promotions Director at radio, and as a Director of Promotion at Nine North Records.
O’Malia officially assumes duties on Nov. 26. She can be reached at jane@blackriverent.com or at (412) 480-4871.
Shaun Silva Opens Post Production Company
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Silva, former UT football player Condredge Holloway and Kenny Chesney. Photo: Erin Thacker Goad
Shaun Silva officially opened the doors to Forward, a new post-production facility in Nashville’s Marathon Village, at an event in the space last Friday (11/16). The multi-room facility hopes to compete for ad agency work outside Nashville’s borders from Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and Austin, which is normally diverted to major markets in New York or LA.
“I believe Forward fills a gap missing in this town,” said Silva. “It doesn’t make sense to me to come here and shoot a commercial about a local company and turn around and take it out of this town. It is time for people to change their perception of what this town is. We’re as competitive, if not more so than anybody when it comes to prices and we’ve got the talent–now we’ve got the facility.”
In the center of the office space lies an impressive glass-enclosed conference room with floating staircase leading to upstairs editing rooms, all designed by Silva and Nashville Designer Chris Gill. Reclaimed wood, refinished floors, and a basket-woven whiskey barrel wall establishes a compelling vibe inside the space. Chic furniture and old film equipment accents, provided in part by Marathon Village neighbors American Pickers, creates an impactful and pleasant aesthetic.
“In 2003, I started Tacklebox Films production company, which is located right down the hall,” said Silva. “About three years ago, we started doing post-production work internally and realized we could make a real business. We will have a staff of 10-11, most of which are from Nashville. It was important to me to offer a facility that showcased their true talents. I feel like Marathon Village is one of the most creative nucleus we have in Nashville. What Music Row is for the music business, this is for the film/TV community.”
Mike Wolfe of American Pickers, Kenny Chesney, former UT football player Condredge Holloway, and Mayor Karl Dean were among guests making appearances at the ribbon-cutting event, which served up beverages and offered a full menu from the Grilled Cheeserie food truck, parked outside.
Producer Anne Popper and Sales Director Marisa Munoz can be reached by email or phone 615-320-3269. Visit Forward’s official website here.
Rascal Flatts Promotes DVD Release
/by Eric T. ParkerThe cinematic feature debuted in theaters during a one-night event in association with the band’s Changed album release last April. The DVD includes exclusive footage of new material, signature hits, and road and studio interviews.
For 2013, the band will extend the Changed Tour for a winter leg, kicking off January 10 with special guests The Band Perry. In addition, Rascal Flatts will make an international run later next year.