Benefit News: Good Times For a Good Cause

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Annual Buds-n-Suds Music Fest Returns
The 13th Annual Buds-n-Suds Music Festival Presented by Big 98 Country will take place on Wednesday, August 25 at Loser’s Bar and Grill in support of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Tennessee Chapter.  The outdoor concert will take place from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

This year’s festival will feature full-band performances by Stoney LaRue, Lee Brice and Sixwire, with special guests Keith Anderson and Ira Dean (formerly of Trick Pony), plus performance painter Rachel Kice will be on stage to create a masterpiece to be auctioned off at the end of the night. A silent auction will be held and will include a vast selection of autographed memorabilia from notable musicians, athletes and other celebrities.

Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.budsnsuds.com at a discounted price of a $15 donation or day of show at the Loser’s Bar and Grill for a $20 donation. VIP tickets are available online for a $60 donation and will include special seating area, drinks and appetizers. All proceeds benefit Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding the cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The 13th Annual Buds ‘n’ Suds Benefit Concert is sponsored in part by Centocor Ortho Biotech and Aegis.

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Miller Harris Golf Tourney Coming in September
Registration is now open for the annual Miller Harris Foundation Golf Tournament, scheduled for Monday, September 13 at Temple Hills Golf Club, 6376 Temple Road in Franklin, TN. The Tournament benefits The Miller Harris Foundation, a non-profit that benefits Asthma-related causes. The early-bird special ticket price is $150 per player. After Sept. 1, the ticket price is $165 per player.

For more information on playing in the tournament, volunteering, or becoming a sponsor call 615-330-2056 or email millerharrisfoundation@gmail.com. To register for the Miller Harris Golf Tourney, click here.

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Coat Drive and Golf Tourney Coming In September
The 10th Annual Music Row Coat Drive and Writer Cup Golf Tournament gives Nashvillians a perfect chance to step up for the homeless. The two-tiered event takes place on Monday, Sept. 20 and Thursday Sept. 30.

Community members are encouraged to bring coats to work for pickup on Friday, Oct. 1. Please call 615-320-7300 or email norman@normanproductions.com for pick up. Donations can be sent to Writer Cup, PO Box 121086, Nashville, Tn 37212. Please write “For the Room In The Inn” in the memo field of your check. All money and coats collected will go to The Nashville Mission & Music Row Coat Drive.

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Patsy Cline Birthday Bash Benefits W.O.Smith School
An all-female line-up of singer songwriters perform Patsy Cline songs on Patsy Cline’s birthday to honor the legenary singer’s memory and benefit Nashville’s W.O. Smith School.

Local songwriter Karen McNatt will host a night of Patsy Cline music, a Patsy look alike contest, ‘60s outfits with lots of Patsy trivia to celebrate her legacy and talent that ended much too soon.

There will not be a cover charge for this event, but donations will be collected during the evening to benefit W.O. Smith School, which assists children of low income families with music lessons.

The list of performers include country radio hit songwriters such as Kirsti Manna, Kacey Jones, Pam Belford, Lynn Langham,  as well as up-and-coming singers/songwriters including Kira Small, Ashley Rose, Barbara Morrison, Cassundra Hunter, Chellanie Adams, Dani Carroll, Diana Kelley, Fran Jackson, Grace Rische, Jeanetta Day, Jennifer Brantley, Julie Grower, Kathy Hudson, Laurie Merrow, Lorna Flowers, Louise Mosrie, Linda Titolo, Marghi Allen, Mary Hartman, Merry Agape,  Rebecca Hoskings, Tisha Simeral, Susan Shann and Wendy Jans.

The Patsy Cline Birthday Bash will take place at the  Red Rooster, 1530 Demonbreun Street in Nashville.

Music Row Ladies Golf Tourney This Monday

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The 23rd Annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament (MRLGT) will tee off at the Old Natchez Country Club (1323 Sneed Road) on Monday August 16. Golfers can support the event’s beneficiary, the United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee (UCP), by registering a team as well as bidding on exciting online auction items.

This year’s roster includes industry drivers from ASCAP; Azoff Music/Front Line MGT; Big Loud Shirt/Bucks; Big Tractor Music; BMI; Cal IV Entertainment; Capitol Records Nashville, Chrysalis Music Group; Chumley Productions; CMA; Creative Artists Agency; EMI Music Publishing; Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy; Hampton Music; Harris Music; Kobalt Music; Martin, Allbee & Association; Musicians Hall of Fame; NARAS; SESAC; Show Dog Universal Music; Sony/ATV Music Publishing; SunTrust; The Primacy Firm and Crownover Tisinger PC; Warner Chappell Music; Wells Fargo; William Morris Endeavor Entertainment; Women’s Music Business Association and Zavitson Music Group. Registrations are $125 per player and $100 per caddy. Contact Anna Maki (amaki@ascap.com) to participate.

The day will kick off with breakfast sponsored by Bread & Co., prior to 8:30 AM tee-off. Before the last round of tee-offs, teams will enjoy a grill-out lunch sponsored by Allen Reynolds. A Happy Hour at the 19th Hole will be sponsored by Kenny Chesney. The tournament will conclude with a Loveless Café-sponsored dinner, awards ceremony and a silent auction to benefit UCP. A special online auction, hosted by Country Music Marketplace, will allow the MRLGT to continue supporting UCP throughout the year. Items will include autographed merchandise, guitars and meet-and-greets with country stars like Brooks & Dunn, Dierks Bentley, Jewel, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Lee Ann Womack and Chris Young as well as prime product from the Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. The auction will open in conjunction with the tournament on August 16. Click here to view once the auction goes live. http://www.countrymusicmarketplace.com/cgi-bin/auction.cgi?action=ShowPage&page=ladiesgolfauction.html

For the latest Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament news check out Facebook or follow on Twitter.

Little Big Town Readies “The Reason Why”

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With the fastest-climbing hit of their career, “Little White Church,” currently climbing the country singles chart, Capitol Nashville’s Little Big Town’s fourth studio album, The Reason Why, will hit shelves on August 24. The platinum-selling band, which consists of Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook, co-produced the album alongside Wayne Kirkpatrick and co-wrote eight of the 12 tracks. In celebration of the release, Little Big Town is scheduled to perform on ABC’s Good Morning America on Wed., August 25 and on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends on Fri., August 27 with both performances airing during the 8:00 AM EST hour.

“We wanted to change things up and make sure this record was fresh while still containing the elements that are inherently Little Big Town, and in doing so, we pushed ourselves harder than we ever have,” Schlapman says.

“There’s a maturity and a history to the band that can’t help but come through on this record, and we’re really pleased with the direction and journey this album takes the listener on conceptually,” adds Fairchild.

The new album’s debut single “Little White Church” was penned by Little Big Town and Kirkpatrick and has already marked the group’s return to the top of the country radio charts. Other highlights on the album include “Why, Oh Why,” which was co-written with Jonathan Singleton and Chris Stapleton, and the title track, which highlights the band’s signature trade-off vocal styling.

“Kiss Goodbye,” written by Gordie Sampson, Hillary Lindsey, and Steve McEwan, allows Little Big Town to venture into uncharted territory as a band, and “All Over Again” deals with the band members’ relationship tribulations and triumphs. The album’s final track, “Lean Into It,” represents the band’s mantra about hope and perseverance.

The Reason Why Track List:
1.  The Reason Why
2.  Runaway Train
3.  Kiss Goodbye
4.  Shut Up Train
5.  Why, Oh Why
6.  Little White Church
7.  You Can’t Have Everything
8.  All The Way Down
9.  All Over Again
10.  Rain On A Tin Roof
11.  Life Rolls On
12.  Lean Into It

Little Big Town is currently preparing to rejoin Sugarland on their The Incredible Machine Tour.

For more information, visit www.littlebigtown.com.

IBMA Conference Offers Early-Bird Discounts

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The International Bluegrass Music Association is gearing up for their annual IBMA Business Conference at Nashville’s Convention Center/Renaissance Hotel Sept. 27-30. The annual business conference for the bluegrass music industry features artist showcases, an exhibit hall with more than 100 booths, professional development seminars, member constituency meetings, one-on-one networking and more.

The Conference culminates with the International Bluegrass Music Awards Show. Presented at the Ryman Auditorium, this is the most anticipated night of the bluegrass music year.
Up until this Friday (8/13) the IBMA is offering up to $50.00 advance discounts for the Conference.

Featured IBMA Business Conference Events include:

  • Crash Course for Artists.  Learn how to price, book and promote your act.
  • How to Be a Better Broadcaster.  Learn how to make the most of your radio program!
  • Celebrating Bill Monroe’s 100th Birthday. Honoring the Father of Bluegrass.
  • Hands On Educational Labs.  Get useable knowledge on developing a busines plan, bluegrass songwriting, eMarketing to your fans and more.
  • Mentor Sessions. Get one2one advice from the pro’s.
  • Gig Fair. Meet and greet the promoters you want to work for face to face.
  • Song Demo Listening Sessions. An exciting event for bluegrass songwriters.
  • DJ Taping Session.  There’s no better way to get your songs played on radio than to record an introduction to go along with it.

Click here for a complete schedule of IBMA Business Conference events. For ticket and registration information, click here.

Buddy Miller Kicks Off Hall of Fame Residence

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Acclaimed singer/songwriter/guitarist Buddy Miller delivered a stellar performance last night (8/10) in the first of three Artist-in-Residence appearances at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. Miller, who served as host and curator for the sold-out evening, invited many of his collaborators onstage, including Country Music Hall of Fame members Emmylou Harris and Tom T. Hall. Other special guests included gospel trio the McCrary Sisters and guitarist Bill Frisell.

The event also marked the official re-opening of the Museum’s Ford Theater, which was damaged during Nashville’s catastrophic flood in May. Tickets are still on sale for Miller’s Aug. 17 and Aug. 24 performances. A full recap, along with photos and video clips from the evening, can be viewed here.

(l-r): Frieda McCrary, Bill Frisell, Ann McCrary, Tom T. Hall, Museum Director Kyle Young, Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris and Regina McCrary Photo: Donn Jones

DISClaimer Single Reviews (8/11/10)

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It’s Independents’ Day.

As regular readers know, I occasionally like to stray off the major-label path and devote a column entirely to indies. Just to survey the scene and see what’s going on.

Guess what? I haven’t been missing much. This stack of platters is pretty much a sea of mediocrity.

The few bright spots include Teea Goans, whose entire The Way I Remember It collection is easily the Disc of the Day.

Ms. Goans is a newcomer to this column. But for this week’s DisCovery Award, I decided to go with someone more obscure. Emil Bishaw, according to his website, is a 16-year-old living in El Paso, Texas. He clearly has something special going on in the vocal department. No wonder Music City’s Judy Rodman has taken him under her talented wing.

JEFF OLSON/Rhythm Of The Rail
Writer: Jeffrey Olson; Producer: Dick McVey; Publisher: Jeffrey Olson, ASCAP; D&T (CDX) (615-838-2141)
—Love the track, the tempo, the harmonica, the twang guitar, the fiddle and the slippery piano. His voice, however, is pitch-y at best.

JOHNNY A/Politicians
Writer: Eddie Ray Russell/Randall K. Hicks; Producer: Ed Russell; Publisher: Alley Roads, BMI; Castle (CDX) (www.castlerecords.com)
—He bemoans the economy and blames politicians. But it’s a flat-footed vocal performance.

MIKE AIKEN/Love You Tonight
Writer: Mike Aiken; Producer: Mike Aiken & Amy Aiken; Publisher: Michael Aiken, ASCAP; Aspirion/Northwind (CDX) (www.mikeaikenmusic.com)
—His singing voice is so lightweight it practically floats away. Good thing the melody is as simple as a nursery rhyme.

CHRIS FILER/John Deere, John 3:16
Writer: Shane Minor/Brett Jones; Producer: Dennis Dearing; Publisher: Shane Minor/EMI Blackwood, BMI; Lofton Creek (CDX) (www.chrisfilermusic.com)
—His delivery and earnest and strong. The heartland-America song is sturdy and well written. The production is understated and clear. It probably won’t change your life, but it’s certainly worth a listen.

EMIL BISHAW/All I Ever Knew Of Love Was You
Writer: Gregory Steven Gonzalez; Producer: Judy Rodman; Publisher: Emil Maes Productions, BMI; Caper (CDX) (www.emilmusic.us)
—The slight feathery rasp in his tenor vocal is intriguing, and the bopping pop track is a winner, even though it occasionally threatens to swamp him. Highly listenable.

SMOKEY RIVER BOYS/All Pure Country
Writer: Robert Metzger; Producer: Robert Metzger; Publisher: Aim High/Universal, ASCAP; Platinum Plus (CDX) (www.smokeyriverboys.com)
—Definitely hillbilly. It made me smile with its innocence and simplicity. Corny country fun.

KELLY PARKES/Nothin’ Good Ever Happens After Midnight
Writer: Doug Bryson/David Dorn; Producer: Kim Copeland; Publisher: Cross Bayou/Big Loud Bucks/Songs South/David Dorn/Perleejo, ASCAP; Edge/Lofon Creek (CDX) (www.loftoncreekrecords.com)
—She’s a honky-tonk angel, looking for a good time. A little bluesy, a little rocking, a lot of wailing.

DAVID WOOD/Simple Things
Writer: Alan Laney/Bill C. Graham; Producer: Ronnie Guilbeau, David Wood & Bill Graham; Publisher: Soloal/Bill Graham, BMI; Dew Note (CDX) (www.davidwoodcountry.com)
—As you might expect from the title, the track is spare and uncomplicated. The lilting tone would be more enjoyable if his rather bland singing voice had something “country” in it.

ULRIKA OLUND/Sick And Tired
Writer: Ulrika Olund/Petrus Wessman; Producer: Petus Wessman & Ulrika Olund; Publisher: Sunday Morning, no performance rights listed; Sunday Morning
—Everything was bopping along splendidly as long as she stuck to the verses and their less-than-challenging melody. She was doing fine until she got to the first chorus. That’s when she went up into her wavering-pitch upper vocal range. Ouch!

TEEA GOANS & DAN TYMINSKI/Made For Loving You
Writer: Curly Putman/Sonny Throckmorton; Producer: Terry Choate; Publisher: Sony-ATV Tree/Sony-ATV Cross Keys, BMI/ASCAP; Crosswind (track) (www.teeagoans.com)
—The songwriter credits on Teea’s new CD The Way I Remember It, read like a who’s-who of classic country tunesmiths—Hank Cochran, Red Lane, Bill Anderson, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and even Ernest Tubb are represented. She sings with direct, true phrasing throughout. And on this slow duet shuffle with Dan Tyminski she a piercing arrow of emotion above his perfect vocal harmony. Recommended.

Summer Sales Await Fall Finale

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The album sales chart which compares 2010 YTD sales against 2009 sales (physical and digital) finds country languishing in the summer sales doldrums, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The steep purple trend line shows the genre’s fall continues to worsen compared with 2009. Although all genre YTD sales percentages are lower overall they have leveled somewhat and stabilized for the time being. One factor influencing country’s 2nd and 3rd quarter declines is a weak release schedule. That, however, is about to change.

A stack of viable artists are set to launch new CDs over the coming weeks, beginning with Blake Shelton’s newest SixPak just placed on shelves, and including, among others, upcoming discs from Trace Adkins (8/17), Jamey Johnson (9/14), Randy Houser (9/21), Zac Brown Band (9/21), Kenny Chesney (9/28), Toby Keith (10/5), Sugarland (10/19), Taylor Swift (10/25) and Rascal Flatts (11/16). As country’s heavy artillery rolls out expect to see the purple line flatten and hopefully even rise a bit.

Jerrod Niemann

This week’s country sales action (week ending 8/8/10) is on the Digital Genre Country tracks chart. Taylor Swift enters at the top of the list selling over 297,000 downloads of “Mine.” Holding the second spot is K. Chesney reaping almost 82,000 downloads of his “The Boys Of Fall.” Sugarland’s explosive “Stuck Like Glue” was downloaded 65,000 times to take the No. 3 spot in line with its third week on the list.

One story of note belongs to Artista/Seagayle’s Jerrod Niemann. His successful single “Lover Lover” has now passed the half million downloads mark (it is still No. 5 on the country list) and his album has scanned almost 80,000 units in four weeks. For a debut CD and artist in today’s sales climate, his numbers are strong.The album is unique in that it has 20 tracks which include comedic interludes in addition to full length songs.

Free Taylor Swift App Garners Critical Raves

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Country sensation Taylor Swift is no stranger to rave reviews, and now the superstar can add her own iPhone app to her list of success stories. The new Mix Me In2 app gives listeners the ability to play or sing along with Swift, and, from the NY Times to US Magazine, critics are lining up to praise this latest manifestation of Swift-mania.

The app comes with two of Swift’s hits (“Love Story” and “You Belong With Me”). When you open the program mini avatars of Swift and her band appear as the music begins. Users can then tap one of the band members to open a second screen and adjust the mix or even remove particular vocals or instruments and add their own. There’s also a Record button that lets users replace Swift’s voice. The company is offering a special cable to connect a guitar.

Originally priced at $2.99, the manufacturer, Atlanta-based Fried Green Apps, is now offering the Taylor Swift app for free “to thank fans for making Taylor’s new single, “Mine” the #1 song in the iTunes store.” Only the first 10,000 fans to download the app will get it for free. Also, Swift will reportedly be launching a special contest involving the game in just a couple weeks. She will also act as a judge in the contest.

User-customized mixes can be posted online on the company website  (mixmein.com) or on Swift’s official site (www.taylorswift.com). Additional Swift songs will be available for $2.00 each, and the company says that it will be adding songs from other groups in the coming months.

Of course, Swift isn’t the only pop sensation getting into the app game. A similar app themed around the popular TV show Glee takes that show’s pop song obsession to new heights. It comes with backup band and vocals for three songs from the show ( “Rehab,” “Somebody to Love” and “You Keep Me Hanging On”). The app sells for $1.00 and additional songs (“Imagine,” “Lean on Me,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” etc.) are available for $1.00 each.  To guarantee that the user sounds like a star, the software uses a version of auto-tune (the recording effect that adjusts notes to the correct pitch) and includes reverb and other effects.

Dierks Bentley Readies “Draw Me A Map”

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Capitol Nashville artist Dierks Bentley will release “Draw Me A Map” as the second single off his critically acclaimed album Up On The Ridge. The pleading ballad ships this week and goes for official adds on Aug. 23.

“When we were making this album, we didn’t follow the rules of what a modern ‘country’ record should or should not sound like…we just tried to make a great album that wasn’t defined by genre,” explains Bentley. “To see country radio get on board and play this music…it really means a lot to me.  The fans have been asking for “Draw Me a Map” ever since we released the album…I can’t wait to hear it through my truck speakers!”

While critics continue to praise Up On The Ridge in its entirety, Bentley’s songwriting and delivery of “Draw Me A Map” has the Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly naming the ballad as their most recommended track.

“The wistful ‘Draw Me A Map’ ranks among Bentley’s most poignant ballads, with its aching lead vocal performance.” – Paste

“’Draw Me a Map’ finds Bentley softly pining for a route back to his lost lover’s doorstep, those clarion pipes sounding more genuine than ever.”  – Washington Post

“Bentley’s ballads remain one of his many strong points. ‘Draw Me A Map,’ a song he and Randall co-wrote, is a good example.” –  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

To preview “Draw Me a Map,” click here.

Chesney Offers Hemingway’s Whiskey

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Kenny Chesney’s Hemingway’s Whiskey will be released Sept. 28th on BNA Records. Its debut single, “The Boys of Fall,” is already Top 15 at country radio and an eight minute video, co-produced by Chesney, featuring football superstars Peyton Manning and Brett Favre can now be seen on video outlets, including VEVO, CMT and GAC.

Other standout tracks on the album include:

“Somewhere With You,” a haunting song about getting over a relationship, which Chesney says “is really tough – there’s always something to remind you of a time, a place, a memory, a feeling.”

“You and Tequila,” written by Matraca Berg and Deana Carter, is a duet with big-voiced rocker Grace Potter (says Chesney, “I just fell in love with her voice”)

“Coastal” is a celebration of low-key vacationing.

“Hemingway’s Whiskey”  the title tune, co-written by Guy Clark, Ray Stephenson and Joe Leathers, makes Chesney think of one of his favorite books, ‘The Old Man and the Sea,’ and about the idea of sitting down with its adventurous author for a drink. “I’d like to sit with him and talk about life, because he got through a lot in his life with some regret, but with a lot of grace too. And there’s a lesson in there for everybody.”

Tracklist

1. The Boys of Fall

2. Live A Little

3. Coastal

4. You And Tequila (featuring Grace Potter)

5. Seven Days

6. Small Y’all (Duet with George Jones)

7. Where I Grew Up

8. Reality

9. Round And Round

10. Somewhere With You

11. Hemingway’s Whiskey