At the Industry Award brunch husband/wife duo Pear elicited a standing ovation, using dueling fiddles to create an avante garde musical mash-up of The Beatles' “Eleanor Rigby” and Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal.”
The Canadian Country Music Association presented its 34th annual week of events (9/9-9/12), culminating in its nationally televised Awards show on Mon., Sept. 12. (Click here for awards winners.) This year’s location was Hamilton, Ontario, about a one hour drive south from Toronto. The organization’s passionate membership—artists and industry—gathered to celebrate their musical triumphs, network profusely, discover some new sounds, and oh yeah, do some dedicated partying.
“This is the first of four award ceremonies during this week,” said Don Green, the CCMA’s new Executive Director at Saturday morning’s Industry Award brunch. “We’ve upgraded the staging, sound and lights this year and hope you enjoy the difference.” In fact, the staging rivaled a TV Award show set with detailed lighting and sound. Green announced that CCMA has over 1600 members and about 47% of them participated in the award voting this year.
The brunch was hosted by Canadian stars Tara Oram and Aaron Pritchett and presented about 15 industry awards to labels, managers, retailers, radio and more. Awards were punctuated with musical performances. Standouts included Jason Blaine and husband/wife duo Pear. Pear elicited a standing ovation after using dueling fiddles to create an avante garde musical mash-up of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” and Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal.”
Marlee Scott (center) showcased with Sony Canada.
Later that afternoon many of the country artists performed at FanFest on the Jackson Square rooftop plaza for Hamilton’s country fans. The city used the opportunity to schedule two additional events—a Supercrawl and Locke Street Festival. As a result, over 40,000 people came downtown to enjoy the activities, music and beautiful sunshine-packed afternoon.
The four-day gathering was busting with seminars, guitar pulls and showcases. Nashville songplugger Sherrill Blackman and Ole’s Chad Richardson helmed one titled, “Song Spotting: Tips & Tricks for Placement & Plugging.”
Ole's "Hitsville" team. (L-R) Front: Arthur Buenahora, Gilles Godard, Chad Richardson; Back: Denny Carr, Chris Taylor, Robert Ott, Cadence Grace, Michael McCarty
“Hitsville” was another of the many panel offerings for attendees. Created and staffed by Ole Music, this hardcore, reality-TV-ready game show invited songwriters to submit a song. Based upon repeated listens, the judges would decide if it should reach first, second or third base and finally home plate where a publishing contract awaited. Nashville-based Gilles Godard and Arthur Buenahora anchored the third base judging and ole CEO Robert Ott and President Michael McCarty waited at home plate to make the call—“safe” or “out.”
Saturday evening featured parties and various showcases, but one of the highlights for this writer turned out to be a last minute pairing with Premiere Networks VP Promotions and Integrated Marketing Rick Murray, AristoMedia Chairman Jeff Walker and After Midnight’s Blair Garner. We settled in at a local neighborhood Lebanese eatery. Despite the uneven service, the food was tasty and the conversation downright hot. Discussions covered social networking, industry sales solutions, radio airplay, music discovery and how to solve a variety of industry problems. (Too bad I didn’t have a tape recorder handy for that session…)
Sunday morning featured a warm Canadian style breakfast (bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, sausage) for all the delegates, followed by a 2 1/2 hr. roundtable merry-go-round. Panelist groups rotated among the 10 delegate-packed circles every 15 minutes. Among those helping out were Ralph Murphy, Larry Wayne Clark, your Humble Scribe, Victoria Banks and Jeff Walker.
Futurist Jay Frank gave the Keynote Address.
Sunday’s big event was the Gala Awards Dinner (see winners here). Canadian superstar Johnny Reid was honored with the Humanitarian Award. A moving video montage showed some of the artist’s charitable activities. Reid, who was present with new manager Jim Morey, said, “It’s been an enriching experience to work with so many organizations over the years. The word ‘humanitarian’ is a complex word. We hear it all the time. But it’s not just the big concept, it’s also the small things we all do to help others one day at a time. I’m so grateful to be able to do music every day, but I realize that without the love and support of those around me and my fans I’d never find myself here tonight. So I’d like to dedicate this to everyone that offers a ‘wee bit of love to those that need it the most…”
The awards list also included Hall of Fame inductions for Michelle Wright and Bill Langstroth. Longtime Wright manager Brian Ferriman inducted Michelle. “I first heard Michelle 26 years ago at Gladstone Tavern here in Hamilton,” said Ferriman, also a Hall of Fame member.
Performances of note included The Band Perry, a Michelle Wright tribute with Terri Clark, Victoria Banks and Katie Love Hess, and a spellbinding new song from Carolyn Dawn Johnson. Backstage CDJ and I reminisced about getting stranded in Calagary ten years ago at CCMA in the aftermath of 9/11. Together with Scott Siman and Mike Kraski we drove in a van over the border to Cut Bank, Montana where we got picked up by Tim McGraw’s jet and thankfully flown home. I remember Kraski kissing the ground in Nashville after getting off the plane. We were all so happy to get home and be with loved ones during that terrible time.
(L-R) Katie Love Hess, Hall of Fame inductee Michelle Wright, manager Brian Ferriman, Victoria Banks and Terri Clark.
Monday morning’s big draw was the hard hitting Keynote address featuring Nashville futurist Jay Frank and his recent book, Futurehit.DNA. “You must grab the listener within 7 seconds or your chances for success drop exponentially,” Frank warned. “Don’t construct your songs as you would have 10 years ago. Every single play online starts at zero seconds.” Frank noted that country music fans now listen to multiple formats so they are all competition. “Don’t bore us, get to the chorus,” he joked. Frank also argued that all outlets need to be aggressively pursued. “Revenue streams will be greatly fragmented. Record companies are looking more like the publishing business every day. Administrators must be ready to collect small amounts from many sources to be in the new record biz.” Frank also advised new artists, “Radio has abdicated the responsibility of breaking songs to the Internet. Therefore, artists should build a story elsewhere before going to radio.”
Other Nashvillians seen and heard in Hamilton were songwriters Bob Regan and Marty Dodson who performed at the CCMA Great Guitar Pull, Byron Hill who produces hit Canadian artist Gord Bamford, SESAC’s Tim Fink, TBP manager Bob Doyle, Award show performers Luke Bryan plus Ronnie Dunn with manager Clarence Spalding, and Capitol label head Mike Dungan.
If you’ve already attended CCMA, then you know how the hospitality, passion and talent translates into a great experience. If not, next year’s CCMA event will take place in Saskatoon, Sept. 6-9, 2012. Participate! For more information visit www.ccma.org. All photos by Grant Martin except where noted.
CCMA artists performed on the Jackson Square rooftop plaza for Hamilton’s country fans on Saturday afternoon at FanFest. Photo: David Ross
Wade Mainer Dies At Age 104
/by Robert K OermannWade Mainer, photo by Flint Journal
America’s oldest country star has died at age 104.
Wade Mainer died Monday, September 12, at his home in Flint Township, Michigan. As a member of Mainer’s Mountaineers, he recorded “Maple on the Hill” in 1935. It became one of the most massive country hits of the Great Depression.
“Take Me in the Lifeboat” was another popular Mainer number from this era. The group is regarded as one that paved the way for the development of bluegrass music. Mainer invented a two-finger style of five-string banjo playing that was widely influential.
He was the subject of Dick Spottswood’s 2010 book Banjo on the Mountain: The First 100 Years of Wade Mainer.
Wade Mainer was born April 21, 1907 in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. He formed his band with his fiddling brother J.E. (Joseph Emmett) Mainer (1898-1971). After rising to fame on WBT radio in Charlotte, the group recorded prolifically for RCA’s Bluebird Records label in 1935-39. He also recorded as a duo with Zeke Morris during the same time period.
He formed Wade Mainer & The Sons of the Mountaineers and continued recording for Bluebird in the 1940s. This group was responsible for his other major hit, 1939’s “Sparking Brown Eyes.” The Stanley Brothers later re-recorded several of the band’s songs.
He was performing at WNOX in Knoxville when he was invited to join the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in 1940. He declined the invitation, because it meant breaking his contract.
Mainer in the 1940s.
Wade Mainer entertained Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House in 1941. In 1943, Alan Lomax booked him on BBC radio alongside Woody Guthrie, Burl Ives, The Coon Creek Girls and others. He recorded for King Records in 1947 and 1951.
When honky-tonk music swamped old-time string band sounds in the 1950s, Mainer quit music and moved to Flint, Michigan to work for General Motors, 1953-1972.
As a born-again Christian, he began performing and recording again in the 1970s, frequently with wife Julia Brown Mainer. Performing as “Hillbilly Lilly,” she was also a North Carolina country radio entertainment veteran. During this “second” career, he recorded LPs for Old Homestead Records, June Appal Records and other labels, and the couple toured on the folk and bluegrass festival circuits.
Wade Mainer staged his debut on the Grand Ole Opry in 1995. In 1997, he and Julia were featured guests at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. President Reagan conferred a National Heritage Fellowship on him on that occasion.
He was the grand marshal and Heritage Award honoree at Uncle Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro in 2002, when he again appeared on the Opry.
His annual birthday celebrations in Michigan have become big news in recent years. He was considered to be the last survivor of country music’s “golden age,” the days of Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family and Uncle Dave Macon.
Morris, Oswald Add Team Member
/by Sarah SkatesTitans fan Bob Mitchell.
Dale Morris and Marc Oswald of Morris Artist Management have added longtime industry exec Bob Mitchell as a management partner.
Mitchell has been associated with the Morris Management team in recent years through his work with their client Gretchen Wilson. He relocated to Nashville in 2009 to help launch Wilson’s Redneck Records following 15 years in record promotion for Sony Music, DreamWorks and the Smith Music Group, as well as time in radio and talent buying.
Mitchell’s office number (615-327-3400 ext. 118), and cell phone number (615-720-7467) remain the same. His new e-mail address is bob@oswaldentertainment.com.
The Dirt Drifters Celebrate Album Release
/by FreemanArmed with electrified instruments and a full drum kit, The Dirt Drifters’ (Matt and Ryan Fleener, Jeff Middleton, Jeremy Little, and Nick Diamond) excelled in this environment. Their tales of blue collar struggle, like “Always A Reason” and “Something Better,” sounded large and vibrant, a potent mixture of country grit and heartland rock ‘n’ roll. Singer/guitarist Matt Fleener charmed the crowd with his sly humor, even inadvertently taking an “outlaw” stance when he recalled how his grandmother’s two favorite albums were Willie Nelson’s Stardust and Red Headed Stranger. “What the hell happened to us?” he joked before launching into the blistering “I’ll Shut Up Now,” which features a brief interpolation of Willie’s “On The Road Again.” The album version from This Is My Blood actually features a cameo by Willie.
As for 3rd & Lindsley, the southside musical venue been remodeled and (seemingly) expanded. Performers no longer have to share the cramped stage in the corner, as they now have a large stage on the wall opposite the entrance that should make many of the Broadway honky-tonks jealous.
Produced by Justin Niebank, This Is My Blood features 11 tracks, 10 of which were written or co-written by members of The Dirt Drifters.
(L-R): Ryan Fleener, Ben Schmitt (The Dirt Drifters Tour Manager), Nick Diamond, Steve Daly (The Dirt Drifters Steel Player), Matt Fleener, Jeremy Little and Jeff Middleton
CCMA Wins With Canadian Hospitality And Talent
/by adminAt the Industry Award brunch husband/wife duo Pear elicited a standing ovation, using dueling fiddles to create an avante garde musical mash-up of The Beatles' “Eleanor Rigby” and Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal.”
The Canadian Country Music Association presented its 34th annual week of events (9/9-9/12), culminating in its nationally televised Awards show on Mon., Sept. 12. (Click here for awards winners.) This year’s location was Hamilton, Ontario, about a one hour drive south from Toronto. The organization’s passionate membership—artists and industry—gathered to celebrate their musical triumphs, network profusely, discover some new sounds, and oh yeah, do some dedicated partying.
“This is the first of four award ceremonies during this week,” said Don Green, the CCMA’s new Executive Director at Saturday morning’s Industry Award brunch. “We’ve upgraded the staging, sound and lights this year and hope you enjoy the difference.” In fact, the staging rivaled a TV Award show set with detailed lighting and sound. Green announced that CCMA has over 1600 members and about 47% of them participated in the award voting this year.
The brunch was hosted by Canadian stars Tara Oram and Aaron Pritchett and presented about 15 industry awards to labels, managers, retailers, radio and more. Awards were punctuated with musical performances. Standouts included Jason Blaine and husband/wife duo Pear. Pear elicited a standing ovation after using dueling fiddles to create an avante garde musical mash-up of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby” and Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal.”
Marlee Scott (center) showcased with Sony Canada.
Later that afternoon many of the country artists performed at FanFest on the Jackson Square rooftop plaza for Hamilton’s country fans. The city used the opportunity to schedule two additional events—a Supercrawl and Locke Street Festival. As a result, over 40,000 people came downtown to enjoy the activities, music and beautiful sunshine-packed afternoon.
The four-day gathering was busting with seminars, guitar pulls and showcases. Nashville songplugger Sherrill Blackman and Ole’s Chad Richardson helmed one titled, “Song Spotting: Tips & Tricks for Placement & Plugging.”
Ole's "Hitsville" team. (L-R) Front: Arthur Buenahora, Gilles Godard, Chad Richardson; Back: Denny Carr, Chris Taylor, Robert Ott, Cadence Grace, Michael McCarty
“Hitsville” was another of the many panel offerings for attendees. Created and staffed by Ole Music, this hardcore, reality-TV-ready game show invited songwriters to submit a song. Based upon repeated listens, the judges would decide if it should reach first, second or third base and finally home plate where a publishing contract awaited. Nashville-based Gilles Godard and Arthur Buenahora anchored the third base judging and ole CEO Robert Ott and President Michael McCarty waited at home plate to make the call—“safe” or “out.”
Saturday evening featured parties and various showcases, but one of the highlights for this writer turned out to be a last minute pairing with Premiere Networks VP Promotions and Integrated Marketing Rick Murray, AristoMedia Chairman Jeff Walker and After Midnight’s Blair Garner. We settled in at a local neighborhood Lebanese eatery. Despite the uneven service, the food was tasty and the conversation downright hot. Discussions covered social networking, industry sales solutions, radio airplay, music discovery and how to solve a variety of industry problems. (Too bad I didn’t have a tape recorder handy for that session…)
Sunday morning featured a warm Canadian style breakfast (bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, sausage) for all the delegates, followed by a 2 1/2 hr. roundtable merry-go-round. Panelist groups rotated among the 10 delegate-packed circles every 15 minutes. Among those helping out were Ralph Murphy, Larry Wayne Clark, your Humble Scribe, Victoria Banks and Jeff Walker.
Futurist Jay Frank gave the Keynote Address.
Sunday’s big event was the Gala Awards Dinner (see winners here). Canadian superstar Johnny Reid was honored with the Humanitarian Award. A moving video montage showed some of the artist’s charitable activities. Reid, who was present with new manager Jim Morey, said, “It’s been an enriching experience to work with so many organizations over the years. The word ‘humanitarian’ is a complex word. We hear it all the time. But it’s not just the big concept, it’s also the small things we all do to help others one day at a time. I’m so grateful to be able to do music every day, but I realize that without the love and support of those around me and my fans I’d never find myself here tonight. So I’d like to dedicate this to everyone that offers a ‘wee bit of love to those that need it the most…”
The awards list also included Hall of Fame inductions for Michelle Wright and Bill Langstroth. Longtime Wright manager Brian Ferriman inducted Michelle. “I first heard Michelle 26 years ago at Gladstone Tavern here in Hamilton,” said Ferriman, also a Hall of Fame member.
Performances of note included The Band Perry, a Michelle Wright tribute with Terri Clark, Victoria Banks and Katie Love Hess, and a spellbinding new song from Carolyn Dawn Johnson. Backstage CDJ and I reminisced about getting stranded in Calagary ten years ago at CCMA in the aftermath of 9/11. Together with Scott Siman and Mike Kraski we drove in a van over the border to Cut Bank, Montana where we got picked up by Tim McGraw’s jet and thankfully flown home. I remember Kraski kissing the ground in Nashville after getting off the plane. We were all so happy to get home and be with loved ones during that terrible time.
(L-R) Katie Love Hess, Hall of Fame inductee Michelle Wright, manager Brian Ferriman, Victoria Banks and Terri Clark.
Monday morning’s big draw was the hard hitting Keynote address featuring Nashville futurist Jay Frank and his recent book, Futurehit.DNA. “You must grab the listener within 7 seconds or your chances for success drop exponentially,” Frank warned. “Don’t construct your songs as you would have 10 years ago. Every single play online starts at zero seconds.” Frank noted that country music fans now listen to multiple formats so they are all competition. “Don’t bore us, get to the chorus,” he joked. Frank also argued that all outlets need to be aggressively pursued. “Revenue streams will be greatly fragmented. Record companies are looking more like the publishing business every day. Administrators must be ready to collect small amounts from many sources to be in the new record biz.” Frank also advised new artists, “Radio has abdicated the responsibility of breaking songs to the Internet. Therefore, artists should build a story elsewhere before going to radio.”
Other Nashvillians seen and heard in Hamilton were songwriters Bob Regan and Marty Dodson who performed at the CCMA Great Guitar Pull, Byron Hill who produces hit Canadian artist Gord Bamford, SESAC’s Tim Fink, TBP manager Bob Doyle, Award show performers Luke Bryan plus Ronnie Dunn with manager Clarence Spalding, and Capitol label head Mike Dungan.
If you’ve already attended CCMA, then you know how the hospitality, passion and talent translates into a great experience. If not, next year’s CCMA event will take place in Saskatoon, Sept. 6-9, 2012. Participate! For more information visit www.ccma.org. All photos by Grant Martin except where noted.
CCMA artists performed on the Jackson Square rooftop plaza for Hamilton’s country fans on Saturday afternoon at FanFest. Photo: David Ross
Strait To The Top
/by Sarah SkatesStrait once again co-produced this album with longtime friend and legendary producer Tony Brown at Shrimpboat Sound Studio in Key West, FL. It’s the same studio where Strait recorded his last three award-winning albums.
Meanwhile, Lady Antebellum’s hot new single “Wanted You More” debuted with 74K digital downloads, landing at No. 1 Country. All signs point to strong first-week sales for the band’s third album Own The Night which was released Tuesday (9/13). Lead single “Just A Kiss” is already past the one million downloads mark. Nearing the Platinum point are “Remind Me” from Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, and Jake Owen’s “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.”
Strait by the Numbers
69 million—albums sold
2006—year of induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame
89—singles released
89—Top 20 singles
84—Top 10s
57—No. 1 singles
33—Platinum or multi-platinum albums
30—years active
24—No. 1 albums
Music Biz Buzzes Over “Honey Bee”
/by Sarah SkatesMusic Row came together to toast the team behind Blake Shelton’s four-week No. 1 hit “Honey Bee” at a shindig co-hosted by BMI, ASCAP and Warner Music Nashville at the latter’s offices on Sept. 8. Written by longtime friends Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip, it is the fourth consecutive chart-topper for Shelton, and his ninth overall.
Akins and Hayslip have now both written six songs recorded by Shelton, including another No. 1, “All About Tonight,” which they penned with frequent collaborator Dallas Davidson. Together, the trio of Georgia-bred tunesmiths are known as the Peach Pickers.
Shelton’s remake of the classic song “Footloose” is now available on AOL and AOL’s The Boot. The track is from the Footloose soundtrack, set to be released Sept. 27. Shelton also debuted his music video for “God Gave Me You” recently at www.BlakeShelton.com, which includes a never-before-seen testimonial from Miranda Lambert shot before their May wedding.
Pictured (back, L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, EMI Music Publishing’s Jon Platt, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, Warner Music Nashville’s Chris Stacey, producer Scott Hendricks, This Music’s Rusty Gaston, EMI Music Publishing’s Ben Vaughn and Starstruck Entertainment’s Brandon Blackstock; (front, L-R) Warner Chappell’s Steve Markland, co-writer Ben Hayslip, Blake Shelton, co-writer Rhett Akins and Warner Music Nashville’s John Esposito. Photo: Rick Diamond
Shelton also celebrated with his WB radio promo team. Pictured (back, L-R): Blake Shelton, WMN VP of Promotion Bob Reeves, (front L-R): National Dir. Of Promotion Kristen Williams, Coordinator Tyler Wall, SVP of Promotion Chris Stacey, Southeast Regional Lou Ramirez, and Northeast Regional George Meeker
Photo Spread: Connie Smith, Alan Jackson, Pink Trash Ball
/by Sarah SkatesConnie Smith Releases Long Line of Heartaches
Connie Smith celebrated the release of her album Long Line of Heartaches with friends and members of the industry at an intimate reception hosted by BMI on Thurs., Sept. 8. Smith and her band performed a short set of songs from the Sugar Hill Records release which is already being praised by critics. Her performance included “A Heart Like You,” the first song written by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Dallas Frazier in 30 years, and his 69th composition recorded by the singer.
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley, Dallas Frazier, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Sugar Hill Records’ Cliff O’Sullivan, and Gaylord Entertainment’s Steve Buchanan. Photo: Rick Diamond
Women Rock’s Pink Trash Ball
Women Rock For The Cure™ (WRFTC) brought the PINK heat to Music City with a pink-themed soiree on Aug. 20 at Aerial. The evening featured a DJ, dancing, the crowning of the King & Queen and the delicious WRFTC pink cocktails. Over $1500 was raised to benefit the ongoing efforts of Women Rock For The Cure™ to help support breast cancer research and community outreach programs, including its upcoming Young Survivors Retreat (Sept. 23-25). See more Pink Trash Ball pics here.
Photo by Sara Lee
Jackson Commemorates 9/11
Alan Jackson performed “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” immediately preceding President Obama’s public address on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 during A Concert for Hope. The event was held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC as the capstone event of a three-day commemoration. See performance video at bottom.
Photo: Donovan Marks/courtesy of Washington National Cathedral
CMA EDU Expands To MTSU, Lipscomb
/by Sarah SkatesMTSU held it's first CMA EDU meeting last night. (L-R): MTSU student and CMA EDU officer, Angela Walton; MTSU student and CMA EDU officer, Liz Hause; MTSU student and CMA EDU officer, Angela Johnson; CMA Coordinator of Partner Programs, Wes Perry; CMA Senior Coordinator of Partner Programs, Sarah McGrady; MTSU student and CMA EDU officer, Becca Roberson; MTSU Faculty and CMA EDU Advisor, Professor Matthew O'Brien. Photographer: Amanda Eckard / CMA
The Country Music Association has expanded CMA EDU, the Association’s education-based, national college initiative, to Lipscomb University in Nashville, and Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
The program is designed to reach and engage undergraduate college students with a hands-on opportunity to enhance their skills in marketing and promotion. The program launched in February at Belmont University in Nashville with 115 members and has grown to more than 250 this semester.
“We are pleased with the growth and success of this new initiative,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Interest in starting similar groups at schools outside of central Tennessee has been high and we are looking forward to building a program that will benefit college students interested in Country Music and gaining valuable business experience.”
Students will gain networking opportunities, unique educational experiences, and leadership training all while promoting the Country Music genre.
“MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry could not be more proud to forge these ties with the Country Music Association,” said Matthew O’Brien, MTSU faculty sponsor of CMA EDU. “The CMA has developed a great program to genuinely enrich our students in a manner that is perfectly integrated into their academic experience and moves them closer to their career goals and all the while having fun doing it! Similarly, we believe the CMA will benefit from the input and unique insight our students will give it with respect to today’s young Country Music audience.”
McBride Partners With Amtrak For Album Promotion
/by FreemanMartina McBride and Amtrak are partnering for “Eleven Across America Powered by Amtrak,” a four-day train ride to promote her Republic Nashville album Eleven due out October 11.
The tour will begin in Los Angeles in October and culminate in New York City, hitting eleven cities in all. On the itinerary in addition to LA and NYC are Flagstaff, Ariz.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Newton, Kan.; Kansas City, Mo.; Chicago; Cleveland; Pittsburgh; Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia. Fans in Albuquerque, Chicago and NYC will be treated to intimate performances.
“This partnership is perfect for many reasons,” said David Lim, chief marketing officer, Amtrak. “We both value connections. Martina wants to connect even more closely with her fans—her music touches so many people, and is relatable to so many American’s lives—and Amtrak’s trains connect people across the country every day.”
Both Amtrak and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year nominee McBride are currently celebrating career milestones. Eleven is, of course, McBride’s 11th studio album and she was recently declared the most played female artist on country radio for the past 11 years by BDS and Mediabase. Concurrently, Amtrak is celebrating its 40th anniversary, which it will mark with numerous special promotions and events.
“This album is very special to me, and I wanted to be able to share it with my fans far and wide,” says Martina. “I also wanted to do something that has never been done before, and I thought what better way to do that than with a cross-country train ride with Amtrak where we make several stops along the way? Eleven stops, to be exact. I’m so excited for this journey across America.”
Soundland Prepares To Make A Big Noise
/by FreemanOver 100 artists are scheduled to perform through Saturday, September 24, including Foster The People, Ghostland Observatory, M. Ward, Justin Townes Earle, Yelawolf, Big K.R.I.T., Dawes, Cults, The Low Anthem, JEFF The Brotherhood, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Bonobo, The Ettes, Jonny Corndog, and many more.
Educational Field Trips include a Civil Wars Case Study September 22 at the Belcourt, American Songwriter Sessions with The Low Anthem and Justin Townes Earle (also Sept. 22), the State of A&R (Sept. 23), and more. Check here for full Field Trip details.
Foster The People
VIP badge holders have swanky parties every day of the event, including the Opening Night Reception at TPAC on Sept. 21; the SunTrust Industry Party presented by Loeb & Loeb and The Orchard at Virago Sept. 22; the ASCAP-sponsored BBQ & Beer Day Party at Jackalope Brewery and Nashville Scene & Gibson VIP Party at Gibson Showroom on Sept. 23; and the BMI-sponsored Brunch at Imogene & Willie September 24.
Single day tickets for $25 are still available to some of the shows, including M. Ward (9/21); Foster The People (9/22); Ghostland Observatory (9/22); Justin Townes Earle with Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit (9/23); Yelawolf & Big K.R.I.T. (9/24), and the just-announced Neuhoff Factory Party (9/24) with local faves JEFF The Brotherhood, Those Darlins, The Black Belles, Tristen, Jessica Lea Mayfield and more.
M. Ward
Four-day, all music wristbands are also available for $65 that grant access to all shows and venues, with unlimited venue-hopping. For $150, fans can get the full VIP experience that includes all music, VIP parties, field trips, a goodie bag, and plenty of free food and drink.