Americana Episode of “Austin City Limits” Hits Right Chord

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The Civil Wars perform at The Americana Music Festival

ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival hit the right chord with PBS viewers, reaching over two million households during its Nov. 19-21 airing, making it the third highest-rated episode of Austin City Limits this year.

It is currently the most viewed ACL episode on PBS.org, see it here.

Hosted by Jim Lauderdale, the program featured an all-star band led by Buddy Miller and performances by Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Gregg Allman, Alison Krauss, Justin Townes Earle, Amos Lee, The Avett Brothers, Candi Staton, Lucinda Williams, Elizabeth Cook, The Civil Wars, Jessica Lea Mayfield, as well as Miller and Lauderdale. Sponsored by Nissan, the show was filmed live at the Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 13, 2011 during the sold-out 10th Annual Americana Music Association’s Honors and Awards show.

“We’re thrilled that the music we treasure is also loved and appreciated by the public,” said Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association. “We could not have better partners than Nashville Public Television president and CEO Beth Curley for our Middle Tennessee premiere, and Austin City Limits executive producer Terry Lickona to take this to a national audience.”

Performance Rundown:
Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Buddy Miller, Jerry Douglas and Don Was / “I’ll Fly Away,” O’ Brother Tribute Performance
The Avett Brothers / “The Once And Future Carpenter”
Lucinda Williams / “Blessed”
Amos Lee / “Cup of Sorrow”
Elizabeth Cook / “El Camino”
The Civil Wars / “Barton Hollow”
Justin Townes Earle / “Harlem River Blues”
Jessica Lea Mayfield / “For Today”
Buddy Miller / “Gasoline And Matches”
Candi Staton / “Heart On A String”
Jim Lauderdale / “Life By Numbers”
Robert Plant / “Monkey”
Gregg Allman / “Melissa

Carole King Coming To Bluebird

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(L-R): Carole King, Gary Burr, Georgia Middleman, Jim Photoglo

Carole King is scheduled for an upcoming performance at the Bluebird Cafe. The acclaimed singer-songwriter will join revered Nashville tunesmiths Gary Burr, Georgia Middleman and Jim Photoglo at the benefit for Alive Hospice.

The concert on Mon., Jan. 2 will kick off the Alive at The Bluebird concert series, a fundraiser for Alive Hospice. Showtime is 9 p.m.

Tickets are $100 and go on sale tomorrow morning (12/13) at 8 a.m. at www.bluebirdcafe.com.

Singled Out (12/12/11)

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Curb Records and Tim McGraw might be parting ways, but the label still has his last album in the can. “Better Than I Used To Be” is the first single from McGraw’s long-awaited Emotional Traffic album, due out January 17, 2012. Meanwhile, McGraw has a holiday song out called “Christmas All Over The World” and plans to release another, new single after the start of the year. He’ll also join Kenny Chesney for the stadium-conquering Brothers of the Sun Tour starting in June. Tickets are selling out rapidly, so act quickly.

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Then there’s Lady Antebellum’s “Dancin’ Away With My Heart,” which is going for immediate airplay. The third single from the group’s third album Own The Night (Capitol Records Nashville), “Dancin’” was written by group members Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Dave Haywood with their “Need You Now” co-writer Josh Kear. Own The Night also recently earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album for the upcoming February honors. Keep an eye out for them as they are scheduled to appear on Good Morning America Wed., Dec. 14 and Live! With Kelly on Thurs., Dec. 15.

 

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Arista Nashville will start the year off with amps turned to 11, thanks to the January release and add date of Ronnie Dunn’s “Let The Cowboy Rock.” A barroom stomper that walks the fertile land between ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Let The Cowboy Rock” is the third single from Dunn’s self-titled first solo album. Dunn co-wrote the song with white-hot Georgia songwriter Dallas Davidson, who can be found on the current print edition of MusicRow. (Shameless plug time: get a copy here).

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Mercury Nashville’s Canaan Smith is a new face on the scene, and the label is releasing his debut single “We Got Us” for airplay beginning in January. The song was co-written by Smith with Tommy Lee James and Stephen Barker Liles, and he’s currently working with producers Brett Beavers and Luke Wooten.

YEP To Host 90’s Night

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Tonight (12/12) the Young Entertainment Professionals Network invites Nashville to take a break from holiday parties and join them for 90’s Night. The concert at Exit/In will kick off at 6:30 p.m. with hit cover songs from the 90’s most popular artists. Tickets can be purchased here in advance.

The event is a benefit for the Be The Match Bone Marrow Registry.

The Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) Network is an organization for up and comers in the entertainment industry, which plans mixers, showcases and educational events throughout the year.

90‘s Night performers include Thomas Rhett, Charlie Worsham, Jessica Cayne, Brinn Black, Ward Guenther, Lindsay Brandt, Josh Grider, Morgan Myles, Brinley Addington, Shea Raye, Kelly Paige, Landon Austin, Joshua Eric Wright, Melany Watson, Robert Kelly, Chase Foster, Joey Hyde and Brent Cobb.

Memorial Services Set For Dobie Gray

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Dobie Gray

Arrangements for artist and songwriter Dobie Gray have been announced. As previously reported Gray, age 71 of Nashville, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011.

Visitation will be at Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home from 3 p.m – 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, and noon until 2 p.m. at Brentwood Baptist Church on Thursday, Dec. 15. The funeral will follow at 2 p.m. Dec. 15, with interment to take place at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Brentwood Baptist is located at 7777 Concord Road, Brentwood, TN 37027.

In lieu of customary floral tributes, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or the Tennessee School for the Blind.

Gray was born on July 26, 1940, in Simonton, TX. He is survived by sisters Vivian Jean Outley (H.L.-deceased), Arthurine Brown Williams (James) and Naomi Mason (Earl-deceased); brother, Lee Clifton Brown; a host of nieces and nephews, and many others.

Christmas 4 Kids’ Tour Bus Show Tonight

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Christmas 4 Kids will spread holiday cheer to hundreds of underprivileged children throughout middle Tennessee with tonight’s (12/12) Annual Tour Bus Show and Artist Meet & Greet. The event will be held at the Hendersonville WalMart from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

For a small donation, fans can visit the tour buses of more than fifty artists and celebrities and many artists will be present to sign autographs. All proceeds from the event will go to Christmas 4 Kids to provide underprivileged children with the funds to purchase Christmas gifts for family and loved ones.

Proceeds generated by this year’s concert featuring Charlie Daniels, and the Tour Bus Show event will provide over 400 children from 29 different schools a day-long shopping excursion. The special day consists of a chauffeured trip from their schools aboard an entertainer’s luxury tour bus, lunch and a party hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus. To wrap up the day, these children will receive a brand new winter coat and $150 of Christmas spending money.

Next spring, Christmas 4 Kids will also host their 1st Celebrity Golf Tournament presented by Prevost. The tournament will be on Apr. 10 at the Pine Creek Golf Course in Mt. Juliet, TN. The annual event will be hosted by the newly-awarded ICM Bluegrass Artist of the Year recipients,  brother and sister duo The Roys.

For more information on Christmas 4 Kids, please visit, www.Christmas4kids.org.

Artists and Celebrities Expected at the Tour Bus Show:
10th Ave. North
Brandon Heath
Rob Bironas
The Roys
Jeff Bates
Burns & Poe
Daryle Singletary
Lynn Anderson
Riders In the Sky
Jessica Frech
Jeremy Parsons
Robert Burgeis
Bo Bice
Nathan Douglas
Barry Michael
Adam Fisher
Aaron Kelly
Dustin Wilkes
Mason Douglas
Brasher/Bogue
Shane Thomas
Eric Lee Beddingfield
Wayne Mills Ban
Phoenix Drive
Lucus Hoge
Ty Brown
Jesse Keith Whitley
Crystal Rose
Johnny Gates
Randy Montana
Paul Stout

Bassist “Bee” Spears Passes

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Bee Spears

Dan “Bee” Spears, the longtime bass player for Willie Nelson, died on Dec. 8 due to accidental exposure after a fall outside his Nashville home. He was 62.

The Texas native joined Nelson’s band in 1968, leading to more than 40 years of work together. Spears played with Nelson on the road and in the studio. His work can be heard on Nelson’s classic albums including Red Headed Stranger, Stardust and Always on My Mind. He also played on recordings by Waylon Jennings, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, and the Highwaymen, comprised of Nelson, Jennnings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.

Visitation will be today (12/ 12) from 4-8 p.m., as well as tomorrow (12/13) from 10 a.m.- 12 noon, prior to the noon funeral service at Williamson Memorial. (615) 794-2289.

Cooper Moves To Morris; Meacham Promoted At Columbia/BNA

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Buffy Cooper

Morris Artist Management has named Columbia/BNA Dir./National Promotion Buffy Cooper to the brand new post of VP Radio & Marketing. In her new role, she will be working with the company’s entire roster including Kenny Chesney, Jake Owen, and Martina McBride. Cooper has been working with Sony Music for 14 years, and begins her new adventure at the start of 2012. Congratulate her here.

RJ Meacham

Meanwhile over at Sony Music Nashville, RJ Meacham has been named as Cooper’s successor in the Dir./National Promotion position for Columbia/BNA. Meacham was most recently Manager, Northeast Regional Promotion for the imprint, and joined the Sony Music Nashville team in 2007. He will continue to be based in Nashville, and report directly to Columbia/BNA VP Promo Norbert Nix.

Meacham’s 15 years promotion experience also include time with Monument Records and Curb/Asylum. Congratulate him here.

The Columbia/BNA promotion team is responsible for artists on both imprints, which includes Wade Bowen, Kenny Chesney, Casey James, The Lunabelles, Kellie Pickler, Tyler Farr, Bradley Gaskin, Jordyn Shellhart, and Joanna Smith.

The Boom Labs Opens for Business

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The Boom Labs Control Room

Industry vets Pino Squillace and Jerry Navarro have announced the development and grand opening of The Boom Labs, a Nashville-based artist development and production ‘boot camp’ company.

The Boom Labs have trained a diverse staff providing individual attention towards developing writing skills, finding the unique sound, or producing and perfecting stage performance.

“With our collective experience, we can put a plan on paper and make it happen,” says Navarro. “We know what works. We are not just a recording studio, we are a full-service artist development studio. With our network of resources we can record any style of music and compete at any level.”

In addition to artist development and production, The Boom Labs provide another resource for indie artists to build brand awareness with film and television placements in association with Anastasia Brown. Current film credits include an upcoming Justin Timberlake DVD and motion picture with Matthew McConaughey.

Guests are invited to attend The Boom Labs’ Grand Opening reception at the 56 Music Square W., starting 4:30 pm on Monday, December 12.

Friday Photos (12/9/11)

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WMBA Tunes for Tots

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) held its annual “Tunes for Tots” benefit Dec. 6 at the Listening Room Cafe. The benefit supporting the Toys for Tots Foundation, featured in-the-round performances by ’80s pop icon gone country Tiffany, R&J recording artist Margaret Durante and hit songwriter Bobby Pinson. The United States Marines collected loads of toys in addition to $254 in cash donations for the Toys for Tots Foundation on behalf of WMBA. (L-R): Betsy Walker, WMBA Membership Chair; Amery Fridenstine, WMBA Treasurer; Amanda Fletcher, WMBA Social Co-Chair; Durante; Holly Ashby, WMBA VP; Josee Deschenes, WMBA Social-Co-Chair; Tiffany; Pinson; Trina Lloyd-Weidner, WMBA Secretary; Brandi Simms, WMBA Pres.; and Kama Upton, WMBA President-elect.

Photo: Thomas Newton

 

Cory Wagar Visits MusicRow

Cory Wagar visited MusicRow’s headquarters on Dec. 7 and sang her song “Huricane” as well as her current single “I Hate My Boyfriend,” which is at No. 55 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart. (L-R): MR’s Christie King, Sarah Skates and Sherod Robertson; Wagar; and MR’s Jon Freeman and Eric Parker.

Lady A’s Tacky Christmas Sweater Contest

Lady Antebellum is urging fans to bring some tacky Christmas spirit to December Own The Night Tour dates, thanks to KKWF/Seattle morning host Fitz.

When Lady A appeared with Fitz’ show, the conversation quickly turned to Charles Kelley’s fondness for ugly Christmas sweaters. Fitz suggested Lady A do an ugly sweater contest at their concerts and now it’s actually happening.

Fans are encouraged to wear their tackiest holiday sweater to the show they will be attending and tweet @ladyantebellum photos of their outfits with the #OwnTheNightTour and #TackySweater hashtags, so they can be put on the concert screen and brought into the Inner Circle for the show, and receive a Twitter shout out from Lady A!

At the end of December all photos received will be posted to an album on Lady A’s Facebook page. One lucky winner will be chosen to be featured on Lady A’s 365 blog and receive a prize.

Upcoming Own The Night dates include Sioux City, IA (12/9); Springfield, MO (12/10); and Murray, KY (12/11).