Zach Bryan Depicts ‘The Great American Bar Scene’ On Latest Album

/by

Zach Bryan has released his latest studio album, The Great American Bar Scene, via Warner Records.

The collection is comprised of 18 songs and a poem. Along with previously-released tracks “Pink Skies” and “Purple Gas,” The Great American Bar Scene features collaborations with John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen and John Moreland.

Leading up to its release, Bryan selected 21 of his favorite bars across the U.S. and Canada where fans could hear to the album first. A double-vinyl edition will be available on Oct. 10. For more information, click here.

The Great American Bar Scene Track Listing:
1. “Lucky Enough”
2. “Mechanical Bull”
3. “The Great American Bar Scene”
4. “28”
5. “American Nights”
6. “Oak Island”
7. “Purple Gas”
8. “Boons”
9. “The Way Back”
10. “Memphis; The Blues (feat. John Moreland)”
11. “Like Ida”
12. “Bass Boat”
13. “Better Days (feat. John Mayer)”
14. “Towers”
15. “Sandpaper (feat. Bruce Springsteen)”
16. “Northern Thunder”
17. “Funny Man”
18. “Pink Skies”
19. “Bathwater”

Maddie & Tae Extend ‘Here’s To Friends Tour’

/by

Maddie & Tae. Photo: Lily Nelson

Maddie & Tae have extended their “Here’s To Friends Tour” through the fall.

The duo has added nine new dates to the headlining run after selling out nearly every show on the journey this year. Additional markets include Illinois, Virginia, Ohio, Iowa and more. Lauren Watkins and another special guest, set to be announced soon, will join the the pair on select dates.

Tickets are available now. For more information, click here.

Maddie & Tae also recently shared a new track, “Sad Girl Summer,” which follows their recent single, “Heart They Didn’t Break.”

Steve Pleshe To Join Wheelhouse Records

/by

Steve Pleshe

Steve Pleshe will join Wheelhouse Records as West Coast Director of Promotion on July 15.

Pleshe brings three decades of radio and promotion experience to the BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville imprint, including time spent at RCA Nashville, Warner Music Nashville, Monument Records and Black River Entertainment where he was instrumental in the careers of Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Young, Sara Evans and Walker Hayes, among others. As a radio programmer, Pleshe helmed KSKS/Fresno on two separate occasions and consistently led the station to success.

“Steve is both a well-respected promotion professional and an accomplished radio programmer. From the beginning of our job search, it seemed that he was the right person for the job and, throughout the process, he continued to reinforce that belief,” says Ken Tucker, VP of Promotion, Wheelhouse Records. “He brings strong relationships at radio, a passion for music and a work ethic that will further strengthen team at Wheelhouse.”

Starting July 15, Pleshe can be reached at steve.pleshe@bmg.com.

Chase Matthew Gives A Cheers To Summer With ‘Always Be Mine’ EP

/by

Chase Matthew. Photo: David Bradley

Chase Matthew released his new EP Always Be Mine on July 4 across all streaming platforms and digital retailers.

The project features five fresh tracks, with the Nashville native co-writing four of them, including the nostalgic, yearning title track that fuses a slow-grooving cruise through romantic memories with an unfiltered look at reality without the rose-colored glasses. Other songs on Always Be Mine include the previously released “First,” the playful “Crazy Girls” and a callback to Matthew’s Platinum smash “County Line” with “How You Been (Letter To The County Line Girl).”

“These are the songs I’d listen to this summer! There’s also a little sequel buried in there,” shares Matthew. “From a sandy beach to the heartbreak highway—there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re feeling crazy or lazy, here’s a cheers to the summer!”

In celebration of summer, Matthew also released a new video for “Saltwater Cinderella” as well, bringing the sand and steam of a hot summer fling to life. Directed by West Webb, the clip is infused with live performance footage from Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City Beach.

YouTube video

With his Gold country debut “Love You Again” nearing the top 10, Matthew has now amassed over a billion global career streams.

Always Be Mine Track List:
1. “Always Be Mine” (Chase Matthew, Jacob Durrett, Andy Albert, Jaxson Free, Taylor Phillips)
2. “First” (Chase Matthew, Jacob Rice, Ben Hayslip, David Lee Murphy)
3. “Crazy Girls” (Michael Hardy, Jessie Jo Dillon, Daniel Ross)
4. “Saltwater Cinderella” (Chase Matthew, Jacob Rice, Alex Maxwell, Will Pattat)
5. “How You Been (Letter To The County Line Girl)” (Chase Matthew, Alex Maxwell, Will Pattat, Philip Morgan, West Webb)

Post Malone Notches Fourth Week At No. 1 On MusicRow Chart

/by

Post Malone and Morgan Wallen

Post Malone keeps his place at No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart for the fourth consecutive week with “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen.

“I Had Some Help” comes from Post’s upcoming country album, F-1 Trillion, and was written by Post, Wallen, Ernest, Louis Bell, Ashley Gorely, Hoskins, Charlie Handsome and Chandler Paul Walters.

Along with his album, Post recently announced the “F-1 Trillion Tour.” Kicking off Sept. 8 in Salt Lake City, the 21-show journey will wrap at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on Oct. 19. Before hitting the road, Post Malone will host “A Night in Nashville” with Bud Light on July 16.

“I Had Some Help” currently sits at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart and No. 1 on the Mediabase chart.

Click here to view the latest edition of the MusicRow Weekly containing the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Morgan Wallen Delivers ‘Lovelorn Lament’

/by

Just when you thought it was safe to listen to country radio again, here comes some more bro country.

To varying degrees, that’s what Bailey Zimmerman, Timothy Wayne and Thomas Rhett are offering, as was last month’s Luke Bryan.

On the brighter side, we have forward-looking country singles this week by Caylee Hammack, Kelsea Ballerini & Noah Kahan, Fancy Hagood and Tanner Adell.  Not to mention Maren Morris’s pop outing with Julia Michaels. All of them were in contention for Disc of the Day.

But the Disc of the Day prize goes to Morgan Wallen, who is coming off what is shaping up to be the biggest single of the year, “I Had Some Help,” his No. 1 duet with Post Malone. His fine “Lies, Lies, Lies” performance will continue his unbroken string of authentic hits.

Our DISCovery Award winner is Daniel Jeffers, a North Carolinian with all his country bona fides in place.

MORGAN WALLEN / “Lies, Lies, Lies”
Writers: Chris Tompkins/Daniel Ross/Jessie Jo Dillon/Josh Miller; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records/Mercury Records/Republic Records
– If he tells himself, or her, that he is over the heartbreak, he is lying. The lovelorn lament is beautifully produced, and Wallen’s delivery, as usual, is hillbilly perfection. Essential listening, especially the live version recorded at Abby Road studios.

TANNER ADELL / “Cowboy Break My Heart”
Writers: Akil “worldwidefresh” King/Anthony Germaine White/Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor/Tanner Adell/Will Weatherly; Producers: Tanner Adell, Di Genius,Will Weatherly, Akil “worldwidefresh” King; Label: LVRN Records
– Bopping and frisky with a snappy electronic rhythm track underscoring her solid vocal. Adell is having a dandy year. She was chosen for CMT’s 2024 Next Women of Country tour, appeared on the Beyoncé album, has a track on the blockbuster Twisters soundtrack, signed a new record deal, appeared on Macy’s July 4th TV special and became the first female country act to perform on the BET Awards, where she introduced this audio delight on June 30.

KENNY CHESNEY / “Just To Say We Did”
Writers: Brett James/David Lee Murphy/Kenny Chesney/Matt Dragstrem; Producers: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney; Label: Blue Chair Records/Warner Music Nashville
– Kids do crazy stuff. “No rhyme or reason why/It just seemed like the thing to do at the time.” The rollicking production is like an exciting surf-board ride, and Chesney’s vocal has immense verve. Made for summer.

FANCY HAGOOD / “Through”
Writers: Caitlyn Smith/Fancy Hagood; Producer: Jarrad K; Label: FH
– What a groove. Love the cool, crunchy bop tempo. The catchy, uplifting song is about getting through heartache and heading for a better place. “This is for the lost and the broken hearted,” he sings while tapping his toes. “One day you’ll just wake up laughing” as if the pain had never happened.

MAREN MORRIS & JULIA MICHAELS / “Cut!”
Writers: Caroline Ailin/Joel Little/Julia Michaels/Maren Morris; Producer: Joel Little; Label: Columbia Records
– She’s a flawless model of having it all together while out and about. Behind closed doors, however, she’s weeping and screaming. Wonderfully produced pop with loads of melodic hooks. So nice I played it twice. Programmer alert: There is a rather loud “f-bomb” in the lyric.

MORGAN WADE / “Moth To A Flame”
Writer: Morgan Wade; Producer: Clint Wells; Label: Ladylike Records/RCA Nashville
–  It’s a guitar ballad about lasting love that has a sensual vocal intimacy underscored by a sighing steel and piano chords. Riveting and hypnotic.

THOMAS RHETT / “Feelin’ Country”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Chase McGill/Chris LaCorte/Parker Welling/Thomas Rhett; Producers: Dann Huff, Julian Bunetta; Label: Atlantic Records
– Loads of rockin’ fun. He’s along for the ride as she beckons him to join her in a hick-time good time. Happy sounding, for sure. Drawn from the soundtrack of Twisters, which is packed with a country who’s who. Both the film and the soundtrack drop on July 19.

CAYLEE HAMMACK / “The Hill”
Writers: Caylee Hammack/Logan Wall/Tenille Townes; Producer: John Osborne; Label: Capitol Nashville
– A minor-key fiddle saws enthusiastically and a backbeat thumps righteously beneath her spectacular vocal delivery. Passion in every note. I remain an enormous fan. This lady is the for-real deal.

BAILEY ZIMMERMAN / “New To Country”
Writers: Austin Shawn/Bailey Zimmerman/Heath Warren/Jacob Hackworth/Tim Galloway; Producer: Austin Shawn; Label: Warner Music Nashville/Elektra
– This current country ‘it’ guy says he is still the same good ol’ boy as always. Truck, mud, whiskey and rowdy friends are all cited in this tuneless rock outing.

DANIEL JEFFERS / “Roll One With Willie”
Writers: Ben Chase/Chris Buck/Daniel Jeffers/Jake Parshall/Zach John King; Producer: none listed; Label: DJ
– This wailin’ North Carolina honky tonker knows that if he could just toke up with Willie, life’s problems and issues would all make sense somehow. The lyric name checks Waylon, Jones and Merle as it yearns for a time when “country was true to itself.”

KELSEA BALLERINI & NOAH KAHAN / “Cowboys Cry Too”
Writers: Alysa Vanderheym/Kelsea Ballerini/Noah Kahan; Producer: Kelsea Ballerini, Alysa Vanderheym; Label: Black River Entertainment
– The delicate production is exquisite, and these two vocalists blend like they’ve been singing together all their lives. The swirly ballad is folkie, poppy and country simultaneously. Great listening.

TIMOTHY WAYNE / “God Made A Country Boy”
Writers: Brad Warren/Brett Warren/Lance Miller; Producer: Tim McGraw, Byron Gallimore; Label: UMG Nashville
– Well sung. But the song comes across as a series of routine, paint-by-numbers country-music cliches. Wayne is Tim McGraw’s nephew.

Bartlett Sher To Direct ‘Hello, I’m Dolly’ Broadway Musical

/by

Tony Award winner and nine-time nominee Bartlett Sher will direct Hello, I’m Dolly, the new musical inspired by Dolly Parton‘s life and career that is set to open on Broadway in 2026.

As previously announced, Hello, I’m Dolly will be produced by Parton, ATG Productions’ Adam Speers and her longtime manager, CTK Enterprises’ Danny Nozell. The musical’s title comes from Parton’s 1967 debut studio album. The production will feature a score by the superstar, including her hits as well as new songs she has penned for the musical. Parton will also write the script alongside Maria S. Schlatter.

After working in regional theater and on residencies all over the world, Sher made his Broadway debut in 2005 with the world premiere of The Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, which earned him his first Tony nomination.

He then assumed his current role of Resident Director of Lincoln Center Theater (LCT). While at LCT, Sher has also received Tony Award nominations for his productions of My Fair Lady, Oslo, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I, Golden Boy, Awake and Sing! and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. Additionally, his film of Oslo  premiered on HBO in 2021 and was nominated for two Emmy Awards.

Sher’s Broadway credits include Pictures from Home, Fiddler on the Roof and The Bridges of Madison County. He took home the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for the 2008 Broadway revival of South Pacific, and directed Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird, which became the best-selling American play in Broadway history, in 2018.

He most recently worked on the revival of Kiss Me, Kate, which is now running at London’s Barbican Theatre. Sher’s other upcoming productions include the stage adaptation of the movie-musical La La Land and the world premiere of a new Ayad Akhtar play, McNeal, starring Robert Downey Jr. at Lincoln Center this fall. He will also direct the world premiere of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay for the Metropolitan Opera during the 2025–2026 season.

Cody Hibbard To Take A ‘Long Ride In A Short Bed’ Next Month

/by

Cody Hibbard. Photo: Brooke Stevens

Cody Hibbard plans to release his new album, Long Ride In A Short Bed, on Aug. 2.

The 10-track collection features Hibbard’s latest single, “Set In My Ruts,” and previously-released tune “Rollin’” as well as ballad “Backroad To Heaven,” drum-driven number “Storm That I Ride (feat. A Thousand Horses)” and the title track, which he co-wrote with Rivers Rutherford and Adam Craig.

Produced by Grady Saxman and solo-penned by Hibbard, “Set In My Ruts” centers around the Adair, Oklahoma native’s rural upbringing, and aims to instill his message of staying true to who you are—for better or worse.

“‘Set In My Ruts’ was inspired by the unsolicited advice us artists often get on how to write a song, or approach our career and industry,” says Hibbard. “Coming from the pipeline industry, you would never tell someone how to weld, lay pipe or work. The music industry is the only industry where that seems to fly. While some of the advice is great, and super helpful, ‘Set In My Ruts’ is my way of voicing my plans to do things on my terms. If I’m wrong, then that’s on me—but at least I’m staying true to myself.”

Long Ride In A Short Bed Track Listing:
1. “Kill The Messenger” (Cody Hibbard)
2. “Bad Trip” (Cody Hibbard)
3. “Had It Been A Boy” (Brinley’s Song) (Cody Hibbard, Rose Falcon, Kyle Schlesienger)
4. “Storm That I Ride (feat. A Thousand Horses)” (Cody Hibbard, Michael Hobby, Graham Deloach, Bill Satcher)
5. “Right Behind You” (Cody Hibbard, Mike Moberly, Tommy Karlas)
6. “I Wouldn’t Be Here” (Cody Hibbard, Tony Lane, Rivers Rutherford)
7. “Rollin’” (Cody Hibbard, Marc Oriet, Bryan Frazier, Alex Maxwell)
8. “Long Ride In A Short Bed (feat. Aaron Watson)” (Cody Hibbard, Rivers Rutherford, Adam Craig)
9. “Set In My Ruts” (Cody Hibbard)
10. “Backroad To Heaven” (Cody Hibbard, Wesley Davis, Reid Morris)

Hope In The Hills Slates Fifth Annual ‘Healing Appalachia’ Benefit

/by

Hope in the Hills’ “Healing Appalachia” benefit concert is set to return to Lewisburg’s State Fairgrounds of West Virginia for its fifth annual event, slated for Sept. 19–21.

This year’s lineup will include Tyler Childers, My Morning Jacket, Sierra Ferrell, Shooter Jennings, Benjamin Tod & Lost Dog Street Band, S.G. Goodman, Hiss Golden Messenger, Sierra Hull, Dan Reeder, Shadowgrass, Willi Carlisle, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Justin Wells, Geno Seale and more.

The three-day event aims to build community as people from across the world gather to celebrate recovery and raise awareness for the opioid crisis. In addition to the performances, the weekend will feature speeches from those affected by addiction as well as a variety of organizations providing support and information to attendees, including a free Naloxone training.

Also, for the first time this year, Hope in the Hills will present Rising Lazarus Awards with author Beth Macy, which will celebrate crucial members of the community working daily to help save lives and fight the opioid epidemic.

“We can’t wait to gather again to bring folks together using the superpower of music to celebrate recovery month, spread empathy and build communities of healing,” says Dave Lavender, Hope in the Hills Board President.

Tickets will go on sale July 9, and proceeds will fund grants that support addiction prevention, recovery and wellness programs around Appalachia and beyond. For more information, click here.

Hope in the Hills has distributed more than $450,000 to recovery efforts in the region, helping to reduce the stigma of addiction. Last year’s “Healing Appalachia” welcomed over 18,000 fans from across 42 states and three countries, and featured over 40 recovery group booths and the world’s largest Naloxone training along with performances by various artists. The nonprofit also supports other events and programs throughout the year, including their Music Is Healing music therapy programs in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Hanseroth Twins’ Debut Project ‘Vera’ Set For July Release

/by

The Hanseroth Twins. Photo: Hanna Hanseroth

Phil and Tim Hanseroth, also known as The Hanseroth Twins, are gearing up for the release of their debut album Vera on July 26. The two have unveiled a brand new single from the project, “Broken Homes,” available on all streaming platforms now.

On “Broken Homes,” the brothers process childhood scars from domestic turbulence and fraying family ties with an enlightened realization at the track’s conclusion: “Standing so tall on my own, because I come from a broken home.”

“It’s a personal story about our childhood,” share the brothers. “We grew up very poor, and our parents divorced when we were young. There wasn’t a lot of harmony after the split, so we just had each other. When you go through adversity, it makes you stronger. We’re standing here tall, because we come from a broken home.”

YouTube video

Vera—defined in Latin as “true, real, genuine, actual”—was written, recorded and produced by Tim and Phil, with Brandi Carlile serving as the album’s executive producer. Fans around the world first became acquainted with the identical twins as Carlile’s longtime songwriting partners and bandmates. Encouraged by her, Phil and Tim crafted the 10 tracks during sessions in their home studios in Maple Valley, Washington. The pair assembles a mosaic of Americana, folk, indie and rock threaded together with warm harmonies, storytelling and artful instrumentation. The record is the product of two brothers, best friends and creative soulmates using their voices to explore love, loss and what it means to be alive.

“Vera was the perfect name, because every note of this record is genuine in terms of how it was written and recorded. There’s no trickery; it’s just the truth,” shares Phil.

“Phil and I are so close. I can feel what he’s feeling all of the time, and it’s part of the music. With how busy we get, who knows if we will get to make another record like this. Vera is a special moment in time that we’ll never forget,” adds Tim.

Tim and Phil introduced The Hanseroth Twins earlier this year with the release of Vera’s lead single “Remember Me,” which was penned for their children.

Vera Track List:
1. “If Everyone Had Someone”
2. “Remember Me”
3. “Counting The Days”
4. “Under The Weather”
5. “A Little Respect”
6. “The Poor Side of People”
7. “I’ll Always Know I Do”
8. “Broken Homes”
9. “Somewhere Between”
10. “The Loyal Soldier”