Chapter 334
Photo: Jamey Walls

Lady Antebellum concluded its two-night stand at The Ryman Auditorium on Thursday (3/11) by demonstrating to a sold-out, A-List crowd that it is one terrific little party band.

The set was peppered with bright, tightly harmonized rockers, including the concert opening “Stars Tonight” and such radio favorites as “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore,” “Looking for a Good Time” and “I Run to You.”  One highlight was an acoustic arrangement of the Hank Williams classic “Lost Highway.” Another was, naturally, the gorgeous “Need You Now.” At many points, the audience sang along and/or took its own vocal solos.

The evening began with a pre-show cocktail supper in the band’s honor staged by Adams & Reese LLP for its clients flown in from Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Houston, Jackson, Memphis, Mobile, New Orleans, Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tampa. The soiree was notable for being the first event staged in Market Street Emporium, the space on 2nd Avenue formerly occupied by Windows on the Cumberland. The evening was so balmy that those namesake windows facing the river were open to let the breezes blow in.

Linda Edell Howard and Lynn Morrow were the hostesses with the mostest. The food was superb. Chatting fabulons included Cary Barlowe, who currently has a huge CCM smash, James Slater, Steve Tillisch, Bob Doyle, Ben Vaughn, Tracy Gershon, Tim Fink, John Briggs, Dennis Lord, Eddie DeGarmo, Doug Howard and John Mullins. (Click for Photo Gallery)

From there we strolled up the hill to the Ryman, pausing to peruse Trinkets & Treasures, the new Dolly Parton gift shop at 126 2nd Avenue North. The superstar had her ribbon cutting in the rain on Friday morning (3/12), complete with a Dolly look-alike contest.

Once we reached our seats in the Ryman, we realized that this show was going to be a “perfect storm.” In addition to having thousands of rabid, screaming fans and two dynamite singer-songwriter opening acts, the joint was packed with Music Row’s finest – Paul Worley, Brent Rowan, Mike Dungan, Charlie Chase, Rivers Rutherford, Rod Essig, John Huie, Roy Wunsch & Mary Ann McCready, Steve & Ree Guyer Buchanan, Scott Stem, Lisa Konicki, Ron Huntsman…you get the idea.

Lady A’s Hillary Scott introduced Randy Montana, noting that both are “second generation” country-music kids who attended school together. Her mom, Linda Davis, was in the balcony as was her musical entrepreneurial pop, Lang Scott. So was Randy’s dad Billy Montana.

Lady A’s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood have known each other since they were boys in Augusta, GA. Charles said they moved to Nashville because of his brother, Josh Kelley, who was the other opening act.

Soulful Randy’s three-song set introduced his excellent new single, “Ain’t Much Left of Lovin’ You.” Strong-voiced Josh previewed a UMG album he is working on.

After the concert, the party continued with a post-show reception at Cellar One, 172 2nd Avenue North. The brothers Kelley said that they planned on rocking the night away.

Party on, people.

Building on its continued success in the country genre, EMI Music’s Capitol Nashville is forming a new imprint. Designed to be a sister label to Capitol Nashville, which includes artists Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban and Emily West, the new imprint, to be called EMI Records Nashville, will be a new home for talent, with a dedicated team to support a new roster of country artists.

The first artist on the new imprint will be singer/songwriter Troy Olsen, whose debut album is slated for release later this year. Olsen, an authentic American cowboy, grew up in rural Arizona as a third generation rancher. The work ethic ingrained in him as a child, along with the influence of his musical idols – Dwight Yoakam, Lyle Lovett, Bruce Springsteen – have molded him into a truly unique and driven artist.

Olsen has toured with Yoakam and even recorded with Yoakam’s world-class band. He’s an accomplished songwriter having had cuts and hits for multiple country stars including Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton.

Angela Lange, most recently at Capitol Records Nashville as Director, Promotion for the Southeast region, is joining EMI Records Nashville as Vice President of Promotion. An Atlanta native, Lange has been with Capitol Records Nashville for over seven years, beginning in 2002 as West Coast regional promotion until moving to Nashville in 2005. She started her career working in marketing at BMG Distribution in Atlanta and later became West Coast regional promotion rep for Career Records (a division of Arista). In 1998, Lange joined the launch team for Lyric Street Records, serving as their West Coast regional rep.

“Establishing EMI Records Nashville is part of our growth strategy and a way to provide artists a terrific creative home and a top notch, dedicated team to help build their careers,” says Mike Dungan, President and CEO of Capitol Nashville. “We couldn’t be more pleased to have an artist as unique and groundbreaking as Troy christen the roster of EMI Records Nashville. This demonstrates our commitment to and investment in the country genre. Fasten your seatbelt, because we have a lot more in store for fans and our partners in retail and radio.”

“I dreamed of having a record deal from the first time I picked up a guitar,” says Olsen. “To now have that dream come true with the best team in Nashville, and with the legendary significance of EMI, is more than I could have imagined.”

The EMI Records Nashville team, to be announced shortly, will report in Dungan.

Capitol Nashville’s Darius Rucker will host his 1st Annual Darius and Friends concert at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon on June 7 to benefit the groundbreaking research and lifesaving care of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The concert will include performances by Rucker and some of his country music friends, with additional performers to be announced at a later date.

Rucker is a loyal St. Jude supporter who has visited patients at the hospital and performed at multiple events in support of the hospital’s lifesaving mission. After touring the facility in 2009, the singer vowed to create a personalized event that would raise money and awareness for St. Jude.

“This was a chance for my friends and I to do something during CMA Music Fest week that is for the fans while drawing attention to St. Jude and their incredible efforts,” says Rucker. “It’s going to be a great night of music and stories.”

All proceeds from ticket sales will help St. Jude continue its mission of finding cures and saving children fighting deadly diseases. The concert will begin at 9:00 p.m. with doors opening at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to the event will go on sale Saturday, March 13 and are available here.

Also stepping up for St. Jude is Show Dog-Universal Music’s Phil Vassar. The singer/songwriter has partnered with St. Jude for their annual St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. A brand new home located in the Westhaven community of Franklin, TN valued at $550,000 will be awarded to one lucky winner.

“St. Jude is an amazing organization and I’m more than happy to lend my time for such a worthy and necessary cause,” states Vassar.  “We’re going to have a lot of fun this year helping out with the Dream Home.”

Vassar helps kick off the Dream Home campaign with a free concert at The Factory in Franklin, TN on March 24 from 7-9 pm.  To purchase tickets and get more information, click here.

Fred Eaglesmith To Perform at the Bluebird
Singer/songwriter Fred Eaglesmith is back in Nashville to celebrate his recent success with a show at the Bluebird Cafe on Friday, March 19. The acclaimed Canadian has enjoyed some mainstream country success of late with cuts from Miranda Lambert (“Time To Get a Gun”) and Alan Jackson (“Freight Train,” the title song from Jackson’s upcoming release).
Following up on the success of his critically critically lauded Tinderbox release, the Eaglesmith is set to release a new album, Cha-Cha-Cha on June 1. Tickets for the Bluebird gig will go on sale March 15.

• • •

Wynonna Plays The Horses
Wynonna Judd will deliver a special performance at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. The 2010 Games will feature world championship competitions in eight equestrian sports at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky from September 25 through October 10. The Games will be the largest sporting event in America this year and are renowned to be the world’s most prestigious equestrian competition.

“I could not be more thrilled to have the opportunity to return home to my roots,” Judd says. “Kentucky holds such a sacred place in my heart and to have this honor to share the home I so dearly love with my friends and family brings me great joy.”

• • •

Willie Serves Up “Country Music”
Rounder Records is set to release Willie Nelson’s classic country collection, the aptly titled Country Music, on April 20. The album was produced by Grammy winner T Bone Burnett, who also picked up a “Best Original Song” Oscar last week for “The Weary Kind,” from the award-winning film Crazy Heart. Burnett co-wrote the song with Ryan Bingham.

Nelson will be performing songs from the new album on tour this spring and summer.

March
3  The Pageant  St. Louis, MO
12  Ameristar Casino  Kansas City, MO
13  Black River Coliseum  Poplar Bluff, MO
14  Peoria Civic Center  Peoria, IL
15  Embassy Theatre  Fort Wayne, IN
16  Overture Hall  Madison, WI
18  La Crosse Center  La Crosse, WI
19  Shooting Star Casino  Mahnomen, MN
20  Fox Cities PAC  Appleton, WI
21  Genesee Theatre  Waukegan, IL
23  Grand Theater on Artsblock  Wausau, WI
24  Rialto Square Theatre  Joliet, IL
25  Northern Lights Theatre  Milwaukee, WI
26-27  Mystic Lake Casino Hotel  Prior Lake, MN
28  7 Flags Event Center  Clive, IA

April
15  Grove of Anaheim  Anaheim, CA
17  Country Thunder Festival-AZ  Florence, AZ
20  Topeka Performing Arts Center  Topeka, KS
21  Memorial Auditorium  Wichita Falls, TX
22  Dos Amigos Cantina  Odessa, TX
23  Whitewater Amphitheater  New Braunfels, TX
24  Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater  College Station, TX
30  Morgantown Event Center  Morgantown, WV

May
8  Seneca Allegany Casino  Salamanca, NY
14 -15  L’Auberge du Lac Casino  Lake Charles, LA

BMI will honor John Fogerty as a BMI Icon at its 58th Annual Pop Awards, slated for Tuesday, May 18 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Barbara Cane, BMI Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles, the invitation-only event will also honor the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most-performed pop songs. The capstone of the evening will be an all-star musical tribute to Fogerty.

BMI Icons are selected because of their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” As a BMI Icon, Fogerty will join the likes of  Gamble & Huff, Kris Kristofferson, the Jacksons, the Bee Gees, Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, Willie Nelson, James Brown, Carlos Santana, Dolly Parton, and Hall & Oates.

From his legendary recordings with Creedence Clearwater Revival to his solo work and recent return to his more country side with The Blue Ridge Rangers, Fogerty is an acclaimed Grammy winner and member of both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Halls of Fame. In honor of Fogerty and his friend Keith Urban (and the onset of spring training), here’s a video, courtesy of CMT, of a rocking version of Fogerty’s “Centerfield.”