Nashville-based country duo Bowen * Young has signed with Snakefarm Records and announced their debut album, Us, out May 3.

Made up of Clare Bowen and Brandon Robert Young, the act dives into love, heartbreaking loss and hope on the new 10-track project. The couple teamed up producers Sean McConnell and Roger Alan Nichols for Us, which features the stripped-back track “Halo” and the honest “To The Bone,” among others.

“We’re thrilled to join Snakefarm Records. Their passion for music and commitment to artistic expression align perfectly with our vision,” shares Bowen * Young. “We can’t wait to share our debut album, Us, with the world.”

Bowen, known for her role as Scarlett O’Connor in Nashville, arrived in Music City in 2012. A pediatric cancer survivor, she seeks to embrace both the light and dark in their narrative. Young’s journey began in 2000 and unfolded with nights spent filling composition books with melodies in Nashville. He has contributed to projects such as Johnny Cash Forever Words and the television show Shameless.

They met in 2013 when Young became Bowen’s last-minute duet partner. Their chemistry transformed into love, culminating in a proposal at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and a union officiated by John Carter Cash in 2017.

The two hit the road on a headlining U.S. tour last year, and will make their way to the U.K. for the Highways Festival at Royal Albert Hall on May 17–18.

Tre Twitty and Tayla Lynn, the grandchildren of Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, have joined forces to form the new country duo Twitty & Lynn and follow in the footsteps of their legendary relatives.

The two released their first full-length album, Cookin’ Up Lovin,’ on April 20. Produced by Scott Baggett, the 12-song compilation includes covers of three of Conway and Loretta’s No. 1s as a duo: “After the Fire Is Gone” (1971), “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” (1973) and their last No. 1 together “Feelins'”(1975). The project also features “Spiders and Snakes,” a Jim Stafford single that Conway and Loretta covered, and a remake of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire,” which was included as a tribute to Tayla’s mom.

The seven originals on the album, all co-written by the duo, include “Cookin’,” “Need Your Love (Give It Up),” “I Hate Me (For Lovin’ You),” “Hillbilly Git-Down,” “Me and You,” “Always Be You” and “Thinkin’ of a Number.”

The two are also collaborating on several other projects. Twitty & Lynn: Together Again is the name of their new podcast and a documentary series celebrating the power of music and family legacies. Produced by Nashville radio personality and country music historian Devon O’Day, the podcast debuted on April 5 with over 350,000 views its first week, and delves into everything from Conway and Loretta to online dating in front of a studio audience. The pilot episode of the docuseries will have a private screening in Nashville later this spring.

Cookin’ Up Lovin’ Track Listing:
(Side A)
1. “Cookin’ Up Lovin’” (Shelly Fairchild/Tayla Lynn/Mark Narmore/Tre Twitty)
2. “After the Fire Is Gone” (L.E. White)
3. “Need Your Love (Give It Up)” (Tayla Lynn/Mark Narmore/Liz Rose/Tre Twitty)
4. “Spiders and Snakes” (Jim Stafford/David Bellamy)
5. “Me and You” (Tayla Lynn/Mark Narmore/Tre Twitty)
6. “I Hate Me (For Lovin’ You)” (Scott Baggett/Tayla Lynn/Jeffrey Steele/Tre Twitty)
(Side B)
7. “Feelins’” (Troy Seals/Will Jennings)
8. “Always Be You” (Tayla Lynn/Mark Narmore/Tre Twitty)
9. “I’m on Fire” (Bruce Springsteen)
10. “Hillbilly Git-Down” (Scott Baggett/Tayla Lynn/Jeffrey Steele/Tre Twitty)
11. “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” (Becki Bluefield/Jim Owen)
12. “Thinkin’ of a Number” (Tayla Lynn/Mark Narmore/Tre Twitty)

The lineup has been unveiled for the upcoming Outside Lands Festival, taking place Aug. 9–11 at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California.

Now in its 16th year, the festival will include performances by Sturgill Simpson, who is returning for his first full show in three years, as well as Tyler the Creator and The Killers. Post Malone will also return to the Outside Lands main stage to perform a special country set.

Other acts on the bill include The Postal Service, Grace Jones, Kaytranada, Jungle, Snoh Aalegra, Gryffin, Young the Giant, Schoolboy Q, Chappell Roan, Reneé Rapp, Victoria Monét, The Last Dinner Party and more.

Also coming back for 2024 is Dolores,’ an inclusive dance floor where everyone is welcome. The space aims to be a celebration of queer and trans communities. The full lineup for Dolores’ will be announced in the coming months.

Soma, the festival’s techno stage, will return with a new, open-air format and an expanded dance space featuring performances from Idris Elba, Uncle Waffles, The Blessed Madonna and Shiba San B2B CID, among others.

“Every year we start with a blank canvas and because of the diverse and sophisticated palette of Bay Area music fans, we get to program a festival that is not only multigenerational but shows an incredible range of genres and musical subcultures,” says Allen Scott, Co-Founder of Outside Lands and Head of Concerts & Festivals at Another Planet Entertainment.

Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) held its annual “World’s Largest No. 1 Party” on Tuesday (April 25) at Analog at the Hutton Hotel, recognizing the songwriters of 2023’s hits.

The morning celebration was held to honor all songs with a Nashville-associated writer that topped the Billboard Airplay, Digital, Hot or Mediabase charts during the period of January 2023–December 2023. Awards were presented by NSAI representatives Bart Herbison (Executive Director), Lyndsie McClure (Director of Development) and Jill Moody (Director of Membership) for a total of 21 songs who had writers present.

Additionally, NSAI gave its Champion Award to MusicRow Magazine’s Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson. The Champion Award recognizes an individual who shows unwavering support of songwriters, and serves as a champion for the music industry as a whole.

“Sherod Robertson and MusicRow are champions and appropriately deserve the NSAI Champion Award,” shared Herbison. “The Nashville music industry is lucky to have MusicRow and its associated publications. But we are also blessed that Sherod and his team have championed songwriters, females in the industry, and do amazing work on a daily basis.”

For the morning’s last award, Herbison welcomed special guest, veteran manager TK Kimbrell, to say a few words about the final No. 1 recipient, Toby Keith, who notched his last chart-topper with “Don’t Let The Old Man In” before his passing.

Kimbrell spoke about Keith’s love of songs and songwriters, sharing stories about how the country giant wrote many of his hits by himself, but that he knew a great outside song when he heard one.

“Toby Keith’s career was launched in NSAI’s headquarters, The Music Mill, many years ago when he was signed by Harold Shedd. Toby and TK Kimbrell supported NSAI and The Bluebird Cafe both financially and with their time and talents for many years,” Herbison shared. “We are grateful for Toby, and not a day passes by that we don’t feel his ongoing presence in The Music Mill.”

To end the event, Keith’s friend and frequent collaborator Scotty Emerick gave a moving performance of “Don’t Let the Old Man In.”

Songs recognized for reaching No. 1 between January 2023 – December 2023:

“Build A Boat”
Written by: Pete Becker, Colton Dixon, Michael Gormley, Johan Lindbrandt, Seth Mosley
Recorded by: Colton Dixon

“Can’t Have Mine”
Written by: Matt Alderman, Josh Melton, Dylan Scott, Dallas Wilson
Recorded by: Dylan Scott

“Dancin’ In The Country”
Written by: Ross Copperman, Tyler Hubbard, Jon Nite, Keith Urban
Recorded by: Tyler Hubbard

“Don’t Let The Old Man In”
Written by: Toby Keith
Recorded by: Toby Keith

“Down Home”
Written by: Jimmie Allen, Rian Ball, Cameron Bedell, Tate Howell
Recorded by: Jimmie Allen

“Girl In Mine”
Written by: Casey Brown, David Fanning, Matt Thomas, Travis Wood
Recorded by: Parmalee

“Going, Going, Gone”
Written by: Luke Combs, Ray Fulcher, James McNair
Recorded by: Luke Combs

“Handle On You”
Written by: Monty Criswell, Parker McCollum
Recorded by: Parker McCollum

“Heart Like A Truck”
Written by: Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Lainey Wilson
Recorded by: Lainey Wilson

“I See Grace”
Written by: Zachary Kale, Micah Tyler, Matthew West
Recorded by: Micah Tyler

“Need A Favor”
Written by: Jason DeFord, Austin Nivarel, Joe Ragosta, Rob Ragosta
Recorded by: Jelly Roll

“Next Thing You Know”
Written by: Jordan Davis, Greylan James, Chase McGill, Josh Osborne
Recorded by: Jordan Davis

“Praise The Lord”
Written by: Jake Henry, Jeff Pardo, Micah Tyler
Recorded by: Micah Tyler

“Religiously”
Written by: Marty James, Alexander Palmer, Frank Romano, Austin Shawn, Bailey Zimmerman
Recorded by: Bailey Zimmerman

“Running Home”
Written by: Michael Cochren, Jeff Pardo, Matthew West
Recorded by: Cochren & Co.

“Tennessee Orange”
Written by: David Fanning, Paul Jenkins, Megan Moroney, Ben Williams
Recorded by: Megan Moroney

“Thank God”
Written by: Kyle Fishman, Jaxson Free, Josh Hoge, Jared Mullins, Christian Stalnecker
Recorded by: Kane Brown with Katelyn Brown

“Try That In A Small Town”
Written by: Kurt Allison, Kelley Lovelace, Tully Kennedy, Neil Thrasher
Recorded by: Jason Aldean

“Wild As Her”
Written by: Kelly Archer, Brett Tyler, Morgan Wallen
Recorded by: Corey Kent

“You, Me, And Whiskey”
Written by: Jessi Alexander, Brock Berryhill, Cole Taylor
Recorded by: Justin Moore & Priscilla Block

“Your Heart Or Mine”
Written by: Bart Butler, Justin Ebach, John Pierce
Recorded by: Jon Pardi