Nashville rockers The Cold Stares are among 10 finalists in the running to perform at Hard Rock Calling 2010 in London’s Hyde Park with Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Pearl Jam and more. The rock duo are to be international representatives for Nashville in the online voting to commence May 25 via  http://battle.ambassadorsofrock.com/thecoldstares/

Back in April, the Cold Stares won the last local phase of the Ambassadors of Rock Battle of the Bands held at Hard Rock Cafés all over the United States. They were then handpicked by a distinguished panel including the E Street Band’s Little Steven; Doug Brod, editor of Spin Magazine, Toby-Leighton Pope, VP of Promotions for Live Nation, and previous winner, Rudy Vaughn of The Rudy Vaughn Band.

The Cold Stares – Chris Tapp on guitars and vocals and Brian Mullins on drums – performed together for almost two years before beating out the competition at Nashville’s Hard Rock.

“With Nashville being known to the outside world as primarily country, I believe we can get our fellow Nashvillians to help us show the world that Nashville rocks and bust that stereotype,” Tapp says. “It would be so great for Nashville to represent the U.S. instead of New York or Los Angeles. Our sponsors WRLT are also helping to get out the vote. A spot on the London stage should belong to Music City in 2010!”

The Cold Stares will be recording their full length debut album in July. Their EP is currently available on itunes and other retailers. Recent shows in Nashville included 3rd & Lindsley with the Verve Pipe, and a flood benefit at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Miranda Lambert hosted the 3rd Annual Cause for Paws Event last weekend and the numbers are in – $91,000 was raised through ticket sales, sponsorships and auction items at the sold-out event. GAC’s Nan Kelley donated her time to guest host the crowd of over 800 people. Purina Chef Michael’s Canine Creations was the main sponsor at this year’s Cause for Paws. Attendees enjoyed dinner and a concert featuring Lambert and her band along with special guests Nightwork, Kacey Musgraves, Whiskey Myers and a surprise appearance by Blake Shelton.

During the encore, Lambert stunned the audience by inviting her surprise special guest to the stage, fiancé Blake Shelton. She agreed to donate $2800 for him to come on stage and sing his No. 1 hit single “Hillbilly Bone” and then invited the crowd to come up and donate more money as the couple sang together for “tips.” Over $1000 was collected from the fans during the song. Another fundraising highlight was a rare Gibson Goddess electric guitar autographed by members of ZZ Top and Miranda that was the top selling item at the live auction bringing in $8000.00

“It is the best feeling in the world to know we are helping in the fight to treat and find homes for abandoned and abused animal,” says Lambert. “Since we started working with the Humane Society of East Texas over 3 years ago, we have donated over $325,000 and they have become a ‘no kill’ shelter. Every year it amazes me that people spend their hard-earned money to partner with us in this fight. I am very grateful!”

“This year’s event was the best so far,” said Bev Lambert, who is the Director of MuttNation.

“Miranda was able to bring her full band to her home community and it was the first time many in the area had seen her perform. There was definitely electricity in the air!”

Bev Lambert recently visited the shelter and was able to view the improvements that have taken place over the course of the past three years:  

“Just knowing that MuttNation Foundation is helping to take care of them is the most satisfying feeling. All year long our committee works hard on the event and one look into the eyes of the dogs and cats at the shelter makes me motivated to do even more next year.”

This year, in addition to the East Texas Humane Society, funds were given from Lambert’s hometown to Kelley’s hometown to help animals affected by the recent Nashville flood. The Humane Assocation of Nashville was presented with a plaque and special donation of $3,600, collected by the Lindale Independent School District’s Nickels for Nashville campaign.

Acclaimed bassist Steve Bailey will headline Low Notes For Nashville, a benefit concert to raise funds for Nashville flood relief. The event will also include performances by many top bassists from around the world. The concert will take place 8:00 PM, Thursday, June 17, at Douglas Corner (2106 8th Ave. South).

Created less than three weeks ago by Nashville bassist Sean O’Bryan Smith and Lane Baldwin, the charity has gathered an amazing team of professional bassists from around the world to offer relief to fellow musicians devastated by the recent flood. While their web site offers numerous ways for visitors to get involved, the benefit concert is the organization’s highest profile event to date.

The show will be hosted by Smith, Baldwin, and well-known Nashville bassist Dave Pomeroy, now President of the Nashville Musicians Association. All three will perform, and Baldwin will emcee the event.

More players are signing up for the concert daily. To date, the concert will feature performances by numerous top bassists, including Vail Johnson, Roy Vogt, Bryan Beller, Adam Nitti, Doug Johns, and the legendary Bob Babbitt.

“You can expect to hear more top bassists on this bill than almost anywhere else,” said Smith. “We’re reaching out to everyone we know to invite their participation.”

Those interested can keep up to date on all Low Notes For Nashville activities by visiting the group’s web site at www.LowNotesForNashville.org. The charity also has a pair of official Twitter streams and a Facebook Fan Page. More than fifty top bassists and over a dozen music industry manufacturers have joined the cause, making monetary and gear donations to help Nashville musicians in need.

“For Sean and I, this is an excellent opportunity to combine our call to serve others with our desire to strengthen the bonds in the bass community,” said Baldwin. “We’re thrilled that so many top players and companies have joined our efforts, and the concert is going to be one huge bass-centric party.”

Tickets are only $15 per person and will be available at the door. Space is limited so it’s best to arrive early.

Fans of the late country star Chris LeDoux will crowd tiny Kaycee, Wyoming (population 300) on Father’s Day weekend as one of the most popular entertainers to perform his music on the rodeo circuit across the U.S. is memorialized in bronze. The new Chris LeDoux Memorial Park is landscaped on downtown Kaycee property LeDoux and his wife, Peggy, had purchased many years ago. They raised five children on a ranch outside of Kaycee.

A life-and-a-half size bronze statue called “Good Ride Cowboy” is in its final stages of construction. Sculptor D. Michael Thomas of Buffalo, WY crafted the piece and began the project shortly after LeDoux’s death in 2005.

“Chris’ passing hit me like a ton of bricks right in the gut,” Thomas says. “I always had an idea there needed to be a monument of this fellow. He was Mr. Wyoming.”

LeDoux won the professional rodeo world championship in bareback riding in 1976. His music career included “What You Gonna Do With a Cowboy,” a top ten hit sung with Garth Brooks, and record sales of more than six million worldwide. He died at age 56 of a rare form of liver cancer. His capacity crowd concerts at Cheyenne Frontier Days beginning in the mid-1990s drew thousands of loyal fans. LeDoux is a member of both the Cheyenne Frontier Days and Pro Rodeo Halls of Fame.

Thomas’ bronze depicts LeDoux spurring for a coveted world champion’s buckle and the base is a replica of LeDoux’s guitar. The piece has been in production for more than four years and fund raising by a Kaycee-based memorial foundation has included the sale of several smaller models and an annual golf tournament.

“We are very happy to have been able to raise enough money to pay for the monument in this short a period of time,” said Kaycee resident Pam Kinchen, foundation coordinator. “People often come into Kaycee wanting to see something about Chris’ life. Now they will be able to bring their families to the park and tell their kids about Chris, how important family was to him, his artistry and how no dream is too big.”

Many Wyoming hands have been a part of the monument’s creation including a Cody mold maker, the crew at Caleco Bronze Foundry in Cody and finisher Clay Ward whose shop is near Deaver, Wyoming where “Good Ride Cowboy” is being welded into shape out of more than 100 bronze sections. The finished product will weigh 2,300 pounds and its size registers in the “heroic” category of monument designations. LeDoux was unquestionably a hero to many people. His tribute rodeo Facebook site has registered nearly 24,000 fans in seven months.

The bronze is being unveiled in Kaycee, June 19. LeDoux’s band, Western Underground, will play a free concert following the ceremony. More information is available at www.kayceewyoming.org.