Noah Kahan brought his thunderous fall “Stick Season Tour ’23” to Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater for two nights last week (Oct. 3 and 4).

He opened with his hit track “Northern Attitude” as the setting sun illuminated the skyline behind him. Kahan then played “She Calls Me Back,” a song he re-released with Kacey Musgraves on Friday, Oct. 6.

His brutally honest songs “New Perspective,” “Everywhere, Everything,” “Your Needs, My Needs” and “Growing Sideways” followed as Kahan talked openly about his struggles with mental health, specifically anxiety and depression. He spoked candidly about his growth through therapy, and how his music is a reflection of that.

“I would look up ‘artists with depression’ because I wanted to know that there was someone else that was successful that felt the way that I did. I found some people but I didn’t find a lot. I want to provide that for somebody out there who’s struggling [and let them] know that you can be up here and be all f*cked up in the head,” he told the crowd

His introspection shifted and he sang about his relationship with others, playing “Paul Revere,” All My Love” and his early release “False Confidence,” which helped to boost his career back in 2019. During Wednesday night (Oct. 4)’s performance  of “Paul Revere,” Kahan was joined on stage by a favorite artist of his, singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov, to the crowd’s utter glee.

With every note, new and old fans alike sang their hearts out to the raw lyrics backed by a New England mountain of sound. Kahan was having fun keeping the crowd on its toes by throwing in new ad libs and blending harmonies with his band.

He reminisced on his teenage years, and his move from New England to Nashville. “I moved down here after high school. I don’t think I ever imagined I’d play Ascend. There’s so many people who discovered me this year and got me here, and I wanna say thank you, guys. To all the new fans, thank you so much.”

Kahan’s “Call Your Mom” was a crowd favorite, especially following its re-release with singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine. “You’re Gonna Go Far” and “Orange Juice” let Kahan and attendees lean into the vulnerable emotions that come with healing as his powerful voice added a somber note to the evening. “Dial Drunk” had the whole audience on its feet from the pit to the back of the lawn as fans belted out the chorus.

“The View Between Villages” served as the beginning of the end of the shows. Even as Kahan prepared to close the set, the energy never waned. Passionate fans let out raucous screams as Kahan played his two encore tracks. With “Stick Season,” Kahan thanked the fans who have supported him, and treated Wednesday’s audience by bringing out Hozier to join on the track.

“I wanna say a special thank you to everyone who’s been riding with me for a long time, for many years, those who’ve stuck by me and listened to me,” Kahan remarked. “I just wanna say I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to repay you for getting me to this place. I’ll never forget it. Thank you so much.”

He closed the evening with everyone on their feet for the high energy track “Homesick.” The fans’ applause was near deafening for the artist as he left the stage. Kahan wrapped his leg of the fall tour in Florida last night (Oct. 10), and will head to Europe for a winter “Stick Season Tour.” Additionally, his “We’ll All Be Here Forever Tour” kicks off its North American leg in March 2024.

Kahan will return to Music City to perform at Bridgestone Arena May 24 and 25. For more information, click here.

ONErpm Nashville has signed singer-songwriter Dan Smalley.

The Alaskan-born and Louisiana-raised musician moved to Nashville in 2017 after signing his first publishing deal with Keith Stegall. He then found success as a BMI songwriter, garnering cuts with multiple artists. Now aligned with ONErpm, Smalley is focused on his own artistry.

He plans to release a series of singles leading up to the release of his first self-produced, full-length record, The State of Country Music, in April 2024.

“I didn’t drag my family across the country to let a couple of disappointing deals slow me down. I feel like I spent the last six years learning valuable lessons from the best in the business; now I’m looking toward the future,” he says.

“We are thrilled Dan Smalley has signed with us,” says Tim Wipperman, Managing Director of ONErpm Nashville. “He offers a new brand of country music, infused with the swampy sounds of his roots. Dan will be releasing songs regularly in advance of an album project next year.”

UTA has signed singer-songwriter Fancy Hagood to a worldwide representation deal in all areas.

Hailing from Bentonville, Arkansas, Hagood has found success in the industry by writing hit songs for major acts such as Christina Aguilera, Little Big Town, Anderson East and Rascal Flatts. After the release of his 2021 debut album, Southern Curiosity, Hagood gained recognition through his nomination for Best Country Record at The Liberia Awards and has received praise from legendary artists as an artist to watch from Brandi Carlile and Sir Elton John. In 2022, he released his popular collaboration “Blue Dream Baby” alongside Grammy Award-winning artist Kacey Musgraves.

Hagood has accumulated over 30 million streams across multiple services and is the host of two Apple Radio shows titled Trailblazers, where he celebrates the expansion of country music, and Hallelujah Anyway, where he explores the relationship between spirituality and music.

Hagood is currently opening for Brothers Osborne in their fall tour and has recently released the first single “Southern Sound” from his upcoming sophomore album.

Hit songwriter Nicolle Galyon, known for her nostalgic stories of strength, home and heartbreak, will continue to deepen her identity as artist-songwriter as she pulls back the curtain on her life as a wife with her surprise EP Second Wife, out this Friday (Oct. 13) on her and fellow renowned songwriter Rodney Clawson‘s 16th wedding anniversary.

Written by the couple over a long weekend at their farm outside of Nashville, Second Wife welcomes listeners into their world with what Galyon calls a an “imperfect, honest and kind of irreverent” title, six personal tracks and accompanying videos. The collection was recorded with co-producers Jimmy Robbins and King Henry at the famed Sonic Ranch in Texas, and follows Galyon’s debut project Firstborn.

“Second Wife shows the side of me that is flawed, self-deprecating, understated, silly, and yet unconventionally traditional. The side of me that fell in love at 21. That’s a side of me that I don’t always show—the married one,” shares Galyon. “If Firstborn was a memoir, Second Wife is more of a fun adventure in real time.” She adds, “the thing about Second Wife is even the title itself is imperfect. That’s probably my favorite thing about being one. The illusions (and delusions) I had as a firstborn were gone once I became one.”

The EP opens with a one minute prelude, “Jo.,” which finds Galyon expressing gratitude to her mother-in-law, detailing all of the ways she helped shape Clawson. In the upbeat, tongue-in-cheek “Prenup.,” the husband and wife poke fun at their lack of need for a prenup upon marriage, with Clawson’s vocals carrying the second verse and chorus. The next track “The Grain.” is a piano-driven ballad that reminds listeners how different love stories can look as it nods to Galyon’s home state of Kansas.

The second half starts with “Rooms.,” a vulnerable confession chronicling how walking into rooms together has evolved throughout their relationship. A metaphor for multiple life experiences, Galyon’s anxieties are ultimately overshadowed by her unwavering desire to be with Clawson. “Texas Hold ‘Em.” brings the EP to a crescendo in energy, as she shows her lighthearted side while singing the cheeky, romantic tune. Second Wife then concludes with “Under The Rainbow.,” a foreshadowing of her family’s recent move back to her hometown of Sterling, Kansas—a place that has stayed at the core of her writing over the last two decades.

Second Wife Track Listing:
1. “Jo.” (Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
2. “Prenup.” (Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
3. “The Grain.” (Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
4. “Rooms.” (Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
5. “Texas Hold ‘Em.” (Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon)
6. “Under The Rainbow.” (Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg)