Here it all is folks my yearly ever popular list ( which is updated weekly ) of music festivals both independent and corporate ones with an independent bill. I also have included Bluegrass festivals form all over the United States, and Roots Music festivals as well.

I spend a considerable amount of time researching and finding more festivals to my yearly list each year, and I include all the links for you to get all of the info you will need to support whichever festival you choose.

One of the best ways I have found to find new bands, and new friends that eventually treat you like family is to attend outdoor festivals. Many of these festivals have not taken place in 2 years, and some of these are new, but overall I will provide links to their website as well as my articles I write on their behalf.

This year was a really hard one on my personal life, and I did not get the opportunity to attend as many festivals as I usually do. However this year I shall be attending a few in the fall, and Labor Day weekend will be my first one called the Earl Scruggs Music Festival in North Carolina. I’ll have more information on this one later.

Also coming up is the North Springs Music Festival, which is also coming up in the next few days in it’s own separate article. I heavily support this one for being a complete DIY and locally owned and run festival. I attended last year’s festival and you can read about that one HERE. Also, if you would like to read about ALL OF THE festivals that we cover you can read about them all HERE.

Justin Wells
Cole Chaney
July 29th, 2022
Songbirds, Chattanooga, Tn

Justin Wells
Cole Chaney
Sidetrack’s Music Hall, Huntsville, Al

James McMurtry
Hayes Carll
July 31st, 2022
The Burl, Lexington, Ky

Vince Gill
August 4th, 5th and 6th
The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tn

Ronnie McDowell
August 6th, 2022
The Red Barn Convention Center

Kendell Marvel
August 9th, 2022
The Exit Inn, Nashville, Tn

The Josephines
August 9th, 2022
The Burl, Lexington, Ky

Drivin N Cryin
August 12th, 2022
Exit In, Nashville, Tn

The Drive By Truckers
August 13th, 2022
The Caverns, Pelham, Tn

Billy Don Burns
August 10th, 2022
Austin City Saloon, Corbin, Ky

The Goddamn Gallows
August 10th, 2022
Exit In, Nashville, Tn

Billy Don Burns
August 13th, 2022
Grass Roots Theater, Newbern, Tn

The Drive By Truckers
August 13th, 2022
The Caverns, Pelham, Tn

Lyle Lovett
Chris Issak
August 17th, 2022
The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tn

Greensky Bluegrass
August 17th, 2022
The Caverns, Pelham, In

The Shootouts
August 18th, 2022
Brasher’s Little Nashville, Owensboro, Ky

Jeff Shepherd
August 19th, 2022
The Green Lantern, Lexington, Ky

Greensky Bluegrass
August 19th, 2022
The Caverns, Pelham, Tn

The Shootouts
August 19th, 2022
The City Winery, Nashville, Tn

Billy Don Burns
Josh Morningstar
August 21st, 2022
Exit/ In, Nashville, Tn

David Adam Byrnes
August 25th, 2022
The Nashville Palace, Nashville, Tn

Johnny Lee
August 25th, 2022
Historic State Theater Complex, Elizabethtown, Ky

Jamey Johnson
Blackberry Smoke
August 25th, 2022
Firstbank Ampitheater, Franklin, Tn

Aaron Watson
August 26th, 2022
Brooklyn Bowl, Nashville, Tn

The Quebe Sisters
August 26th, 2022
The City Winery, Nashville, Tn

Jim Lauderdale
August 31st, 2022
3rd And Lindsley, Nashville, Tn

The Josephines
September 3rd, 2022
The Basement East, Nashville, Tn

The Local Honeys
September 2nd, 2022
The Grove, Glasgow, Ky

The Shootouts
September 7th, 2022
Lafayette’s Music Room, Memphis, Tn

Moe Bandy
Janie Fricke
September 8th, 2022
The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tn

Joe’s Truck Stop
Golden Shoals
Angela Autumn
September 8th, 2022
The Basement East, Nashville, Tn

The Oak Ridge Boys
September 9th, 2022
RiverPark Center, Owensboro, Ky

Alan Jackson
September 9th, 2022
Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky

Drive By Truckers
September 9th, 2022
Marathon Music Works, Nashville, Tn

Nikki Lane
September 11th, 2022
The Caverns, Pelham, Tn

The Shootouts
September 22nd, 2022
Southgate House Revival, Newport, Ky

Todd Snider
September 24th, 2022
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tn

Tracy Byrd
September 24th, 2022
The Red Barn Convention Center

Nikki Lane
September 28th, 2022
The 1884 Lounge, Memphis, Tn

Marcus King
September 29th, 2022
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tn

Gene Watson
September 30th, 2022
Capitol Arts Center, Bowling Green, Ky

Anderson East
September 30th, 2022
The Caverns, Pelham, Tn

Jon Pardi
October 1st, 2022
Ascend Amphitheater, Nashville, Tn

Ricky Skaggs And Kentucky Thunder
October 1st, 2022
The Red Barn Convention Center.

The Supersuckers
October 1st, 2022
Exit In, Nashville, Tn

The Josephines
October 3rd, 2022
The Basement, Nashville, Tn

Nikki Lane
October 3rd, 2022
The Burl, Lexington, Ky

Nikki Lane
October 4th, 2022
Zanzabar, Louisville, Ky

Town Mountain
October 6th, 2022
The Burl, Lexington, Ky

Lucero
October 7th, 2022
The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tn

Brent Cobb
Hayes Carll
October 14th, 2022
Basement East, Nashville, Tn

Courtney Patton
October 12th, 2022
The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, Tn

Southern Culture On The Skids
October 14th, 2022
The Burl, Lexington, Ky

Dale Watson
October 15th, 2022
3rd And Lindsley, Nashville, Tn

The Hillbenders
October 23rd, 2022
3rd And Lindsley, Nashville, Tn

John Moreland
October 29th, 2022
The Virginia, Somerset, Ky

The Malpass Brothers
November 5th, 2022
The Red Barn Convention Center

Kelsey Waldon
November 11th, 2022
The Burl, Lexington, Ky

John Moreland
November 8th, 2022
The 1857 Hotel And Events Center, Paducah, Ky

Emmylou Harris
November 17th, 2022
Exit In, Nashville, Tn

Cory Branan
November 17th, 2021
Eastside Bowl, Nashville, Tn

Lilly Hiatt
November 19th, 2022
Exit In, Nashville, Tn

The Steeldrivers
November 19th, 2022
The Caverns, Pelham, Tn

Sunny Sweeney
November 20th, 2022
3rd And Lindsley, Nashville Tn

Bloodshot Bill
November 23rd, 2022
The Basement East, Nashville, Tn

The Mavericks
December 1st and 2nd, 2022
The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tn

Ian Noe
December 7th, 2022
The Basement East, Nashville, Tn

Kelsey Waldon
December 16th, 2022
The Basement East, Nashville, Tn

Charles Wesley Goodwin
December 17th, 2022
The Burl, Lexington, Ky

2023 DATES

Sarah Shook And The Disarmers
March 12th, 2023
3rd And Lindsley, Nashville, Tn

My beloved Nashville friends it is that time of the year again, that I take some time off my busy schedule to bring you my yearly article for Americanafest! The biggest concern I have right now is the state  Nashville is in. True, this lineup will prove to be another great one, but there are a few venues that closed and other concerns.

The wait is over. We’re excited to bring you our first round of official showcasing artists and bands for AMERICANAFEST 2022, taking place Sept. 13-17 in various venues across Nashville, TN. Check out a list of our first round of 89 performers here.

Make sure to grab your 2022 Festival Pass here by Thursday in order to catch these amazing acts this fall for only $125*. On Friday the rate will go up to $175.

Keep your eyes peeled for more showcases to be added to this already stacked lineup later this summer. And, on top of hundreds of official showcases, our 22nd annual event will feature many special events hosted by friends in our community.

How can I attend these showcases? With a Festival Pass, you can experience four full nights of music in over a dozen showcasing venues in Music City, including seated listening rooms, intimate dive bars, legendary rock rooms and more. You in?

Let’s party, friends! Come celebrate our incredible Americana music community during AMERICANAFEST, our annual music festival and conference, taking place Sept. 13-17, 2022 in Nashville, TN. Buy your pass here

For over 20 years now, our community has gathered in Music City for music discovery, industry insight, quality hangs and unforgettable times in multiple premier venues.

Find out which pass is right for you.

• $349* // Conference + Festival Pass: For those wanting the full AMERICANAFEST experience, including access to panels, showcases and all special events.
• $125* // Festival Pass: For those who are just interested in music discovery, including access to all nighttime showcases and select special events.

Now,

What to expect:
Our full schedule will be available later this summer. For now, here’s a little breakdown of this year’s AMERICANAFEST over five days, Sept. 13-17, in Music City.

• Wednesday – Friday: Learn from top music industry pros and artists as they talk about today’s important topics and issues during many panels at The Westin Nashville, the home of our daytime conference.
• Wednesday – Saturday: Experience the joy of live music discovery at one of the hundreds of nighttime showcases at many premier venues in Nashville, TN.
• Tuesday – Saturday: Check out incredible special events that highlight our community throughout the whole week. These hangs are hosted by our friends and supporters.

Now

We’ll also be celebrating Americana music’s finest during the Americana Honors & Awards on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at the Ryman Auditorium. Tickets for the ceremony are separate and will be on sale at a later date.

Want to hang with us? Don’t wait! The earlier you buy your pass, the more you’ll save.

One of the many awesome things that differentiate this article from the other websites that feature underground music and other small sub genres, is that I remain to feature many of the Legends that are still active today, like Lacy J. Dalton does. Although she has not released any new albums for well over twelve years, she has recently released a new acoustic version of an old classic song from one of her most beloved albums called “Takin’ It Easy”.

From the get go, she really was one of the more pop country acts of her time, back when being pop country was actually well sought after by fans like me of Traditional Country. So even though this entire album was ultimately acoustic to begin with, this new version of the song was pretty cool to discover for me.

“A few years ago, a disc jockey from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, near my hometown of Bloomsburg, told me that according to BMI, Mistakes had more airplay here in the US than any other tune I’d written. I had no idea, and for a long time, I rarely used the song in my shows, which was strange because I always liked the song and it is very authentic to my life experience,” shares Dalton.

Last year marked the 40th anniversary of Dalton’s album and title track “Takin’ It Easy” which reached number 2 on Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart and received a Million Airplay award from BMI. The easygoing tune came to life by Dalton and Mark while on a boat in the middle of Old Hickory Lake near Nashville, before being taken to Billy Sherrill for editing and production. Once released, “Takin’ It Easy” became Dalton’s highest-charting single and one of her most well-known songs to date. Dalton has a multitude of tour dates scheduled that you will not want to miss!

One thing that I find exciting about Country Music are the eras and regions in which the different eras took place. All over America in the 20th century we had many regions that contained many different bands that shaped and molded history, and you can darn sure bet I study all of them. I go out of my way to accumulate all of the albums involved in each era, and closely study all of the information I can about the people that brought out that music and culture.

There were so many musicians that additionally helped shape the mold for this influx of music during that time, that also had ties to Texas and many other regions. Mr. JayDee Maness is one of them, having played pedal steel for one of the bands listed below called the Desert Rose Band. He also played as a member of the Buckaroos and others.

September 30 marks the opening of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s newest major exhibition, Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock, presented by City National Bank.

The exhibit will examine the close-knit communities of Los Angeles-based singers, songwriters, and musicians who, from the 1960s through the 1980s, embraced country music and created and shaped the musical fusion known as “country-rock”—ultimately making an indelible and lasting impact on popular music.

In the 1960s, young musicians from across North America arrived in Los Angeles, drawn by the counterculture movement and the city’s rise as a recording center. Eager to move beyond rock & roll’s teeny-bopper fixation, the musicians turned to bluegrass, country, and folk music; inspired by these forms, they wrote original material, utilizing drums and electric instrumentation. By the 1970s, this hybrid of country, folk, and rock ranked with the most popular sounds in America.

Western Edge will examine the close-knit communities of Los Angeles-based singers, songwriters and musicians who, from the 1960s through the 1980s, embraced country music, frequented local nightclubs, and created and shaped the musical fusion known as “country-rock” – ultimately making an indelible and lasting impact on popular music.

Opening Weekend Concerts

Western Edge’s opening weekend will include a pair of one-of-a-kind concerts in the Museum’s CMA Theater, made possible in part by exhibit travel partner American Airlines:

Friday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. CT

Western Edge: Los Angeles Country-Rock in Concert

An all-star lineup of luminaries who were a part of the country-rock phenomenon will perform, along with artists influenced by the sound and the scene.

Get Tickets

Sunday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. CT

Desert Rose Band

For the first time in more than a decade, the Desert Rose Band will reunite for a special concert.

Get Tickets

Yeah, it’s true I do publish a lot of articles about Miss Sunny Sweeney but that’s just due to the fact that she has so much upcoming news to tell you about. I recently told you about her upcoming album called “Married And Alone”, which you can read all about there. Additionally, she has been added too my live show article list and her name is all over many festival lists for 2022.

I go back a long way with admiring her music, back to when I was studying Texas Country and I ran across her first album “Heartbreaker’s Hall Of Fame”. Even back then I could easily tell she was going to be an amazing artist, with her own sound. Throughout her album history ( in my opinion ) her vocals did change a little bit, but it was the life full of stories she woven into my mind.

She takes her listeners on personal roller coaster rides of her own life’s ups and downs , if you study her backstory. She has an uncanny ability to take what’s in her heart and mix it into her vocals when she delivers the lyrics. There are a metric ton of breakup and divorce songs on her albums, but at the same time there are stories of love and happiness.

But I wanted to make one special quality she has that not enough people highlight like I do, and that is her strict appetency  to uphold the tradition for the Opry that Country Music needs right now. As of now, she has performed on the Opry 58 times! I think that because of all of these outstanding qualities she was chosen to host her own segment on XM radio! Here is the press release.

Recording Artist Sunny Sweeney Joins SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse As Host Of Brand New Show Sunny Side Up

Catch Sunny weekday mornings from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm ET on SiriusXM channel 59 and on the SXM App; New album Married Alone is due out Sept. 23rd via Thirty Tigers

June 23, 2022 – Nashville, TN – “I do not take lightly the history of country music,” says ACM-nominated recording artist Sunny Sweeney. After all, it was country music that, in Sweeney’s words, “shaped me into the artist I am.” Now, with the help of SiriusXM, Sweeney has been afforded an official platform for proselytizing the wealth of great music the genre has given listeners for all these years.

Beginning Monday, June 27, Sweeney will be the host of a brand new morning show on Willie Nelson’s exclusive SiriusXM channel, Willie’s Roadhouse (ch. 59) and on the SXM App, dubbed Sunny Side Up. On weekday mornings, from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm ET, Sweeney will present over four decades of classic country hits from the ‘50s through the ‘80s by artists including the channel’s namesake Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and many more.

With this new show, Sweeney joins the ranks of legendary Willie’s Roadhouse hosts including Asleep At The Wheel’s larger-than-life frontman, Ray Benson; Ranger Doug from the beloved Western group Riders in the Sky and the Time Jumpers; country music legend, Jeannie Sealy; the “Mayor of Music Row,” Charlie Monk; fellow recording artist Dallas Wayne and Willie’s daughter Paula Nelson.

Willie’s Roadhouse is also SiriusXM’s home for the world-famous Grand Ole Opry—on which Sweeney has appeared a whopping fifty-eight times—airing every Tuesday and Saturday night. “I would have never in my wildest dreams thought I would be able to say ‘Willie Nelson is my boss,’’ says Sweeney. “I’m looking so forward to being a small part of everyone’s mornings.” For more information Click Here.

Sweeney’s announcement comes on the verge of the release of a brand new album, Married Alone, out September 23rd via Thirty Tigers. Produced by Paul Cauthen and The Texas Gentlemen’s Beau Bedford, Married Alone takes listeners on a vibey ride from rowdy juke joints to lonely hotel rooms over the course of twelve tracks.

Ranging from sweet acoustic Americana to painful, pedal steel ballads to unrestrained breakup kiss-offs to an emotional duet with country legend Vince Gill, Married Alone captures perfectly the broad spectrum of Sweeney’s talents as a songwriter and a performer. Fans can watch the visualizer for “A Song Can’t Fix Everything” featuring Paul Cauthen from Married Alone now at this link and pre-order or pre-save the album ahead of its release right here. For more information please visit sunnysweeney.com.

Catch Sunny Sweeney On Tour:

7/6 – Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s
7/7 – Little Rock, AR – Stickyz Rock N Roll
7/8 – McKinney, TX – Hank’s Grill
7/9 – Coupland, TX – Coupland Dancehall
7/10 – Fort Worth, TX – Fort Brewery
7/12 – Tulsa, OK – The Shrine
7/13 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads
7/15 – Springfield, MO – Southbound Bar & Grill
7/16 – Kahoka, MO – Clark County Fair
7/17 -Yorkville, IL – The Law Office Pub & Music Hall
7/20 – Berwyn, IL – Fitzgerald’s Night Club
7/21 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
7/22 – Minneapolis, MN – The Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge
7/24 – Omaha, NE – Reverb Lounge
7/27 – Manitou Springs, CO – Lulu’s Downstairs
7/29 – Cheyenne, WY – The Outlaw Saloon
7/30 – Sheridan, WY – WYO Theater
7/31 – White Sulphur Springs, MT – Red Ants Pants Music Festival
8/2 – Rochester, NY – Abilene Bar & Lounge
8/5 – King Ferry, NY – Treleaven Wines
For all tour dates and ticket information, please visit sunnysweeney.com/tour.

One of the many festivals I cover yearly ( whether in person or just online here ) is the Kentucky festival that I have attended in the past many times called Master Musicians Festival. Well, it is happening RIGHT NOW as I release the info on here, and I apologize for my VERY LATE news ( I have been SLAMMED HERE on the website )!

I try my best to release all of this info before the actual event, but there are some instances that simply prevent me from always doing that on here. However I figured better late than never and besides, the fine folks that organize the festival have always been strong supporters of my website throughout the years. Even though I have only been to two of their annual events, I still have a bunch of great memories and stories about attending this one.

I spent many a hot afternoons out there at that college campus writing about the festival from my vantage point, and celebrating the wonderful local community of Somerset Kentucky ( which isn’t entirely too far from me ).  I lost count of the many acts I have witnessed for the first time live, and others I have been around many times like Mr. Charley Crockett below.

There was a time that we suffered a nasty storm one year, where we were supposed to have has Mr. Jason Isbell and the 400 unit, but mother nature chose otherwise and they ended up having to cancel outright that weekend. Legends have abounded the stages of the festival over two decades, as this particular festival is one of the older annual events that exist across America.

What makes this one unique is the fashion that it implements the community into the equation of the celebration of all of the music. So many local businesses are honored there, along with individuals who practice arts and crafts, prepare food and serve the public in other forms.

The director Miss Tiffany Finley and her entire team of individuals work ardently throughout the year on this iconic event to bring you the best in every aspect of it’s completed form as the actual event transpires just like it is transpiring right now!

Her and her team brought us the magic of the Legend himself Mr. John Prine and my friend from West Virginia Mr. W.B.Walker, host of W.B. Walker’s Old Soul Radio Show had the honors to introduce him as he performed that year for us. That performance was my personal crown jewel favorite of all of the memories I have from this event.

So, with that in mind, I wanted to release some news about the festival in case you were planning on attending this weekend for one of two days of the event. I will always support this wonderful group of people and bands that come together for this event!

Master Musicians Festival Announces Featured Artist, Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, and Featured Photographer for 2022

Grace Potter, The Wood Brothers, Marty Stuart, and more to perform; July 15 and 16 in Somerset, KY

Nate Micheals (Featured Artist), Larry Roberts (Lifetime Achievement), Meredith Frye (Featured Photographer) Honored

June 17, 2022 – Somerset, KY – In advance of Master Musicians Festival, Somerset, Kentucky’s two-day musical and cultural homecoming taking place on July 15-16, organizers are proud to announce three important awards celebrating a dedication to art and community: Featured Artist, Lifetime Achievement, and Featured Photographer.

“The MMF family is not only a collection of artists who have performed on our stages, it is a family in the most literal sense,” says Master Musicians Festival President and Media Director, Julie Harris. “Many of our board members over the years have been sons and daughters of founding members; many families and friend groups in our community have made attending MMF an annual tradition.

Festivals like ours cement a generational love of and appreciation for music and community. And that is the reason we devote ourselves as volunteers to the cause—to ensure that love lives on.”

This year’s Featured Artist is Nate Michaels, a freelance artist based in Louisville, Kentucky. He was raised on art and rock and roll, spending his younger years gigging in rock bands and traveling the midwest. As his collection of art began to grow, his music tours turned into a journey of visual art.

Now you can find Nate traveling all over the country on his “Have Art Will Travel” Tour. Nate brings life to the eyes of his portraits with an exuberant use of watercolor and India ink, while his more recent ventures have brought him to the endless valleys and crests of acrylic and the gentle slick kiss of oils. Most of his art speaks for itself as you can see the time and effort within each mark, stroke or medium.

His history in music and love for the stage has bled through into some of his earlier pieces, as you can find many legends in rock. The art piece created by Michaels portrays what not only festival goers will experience this year, but what the artists will experience as well. Seen from an artist’s viewpoint looking out into the crowd, Michaels captures the gorgeous backdrop of Somerset and highlights the magic set by Master Musicians Festival that while closely captured on canvas, can only be experienced in person.

“Every year, Master Musicians highlights a local or regional artist and commissions that person to create a piece that is auctioned at the festival, proceeds going back into the festival to ensure its longevity,” says Master Musicians Festival Executive Director, Tiffany Finley. “This is a long-standing tradition within our festival. That artwork is also featured on the front of our lineup T-shirt every year and is available for purchase as a poster.”

The 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient is Larry Roberts, who was born in Somerset in 1947 and raised to value hard work, pride in community, and service to others. Larry built a successful career as an electrician in many different roles including commercial wiring, lineman, and electrical inspector. Equipped with his electrical expertise and inspired by his love of music and pride in community, Larry served the Master Musicians Festival with passion for years. Present for the inception of the festival, he worked with a crew of volunteers to set up the initial electrical service at Somersport Park, then temporary service at Pulaski County Park, and later on, he worked to install the underground electrical wiring at today’s home for the festival on Somerset Community College’s campus.

Each year of service, Larry inspected the field to ensure a safe environment for musicians and festival goers before the first note of music was played. In addition to his role of lead electrician, Larry was a member of the MMF board of trustees for several terms in the 1990s and early 2000s. Among his many duties as a board member, he coordinated with vendors to assist them with set-up and utility needs, secured donations from local supply companies, and engaged in collaborative decision making to help the festival survive long-term.

This year’s Featured Photographer is Meredith Frye. A self-described wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, military spouse and momma, light lover, and passionate human being, she remembers receiving her first camera at age 8. Her approach to photography has always been to “bring light” into the lives of her subjects, to “find out what we have in common and to bring the light in each other to the surface.” She credits photography for “opening up a space where I can create and visually see the beauty in people and their surroundings.” A longtime friend and supporter of the festival, “Meredith is an incredibly talented photographer and a huge fan of Grace Potter,” says Julie Harris. “At our announcement party, we were so excited to see her reaction when we announced Grace was the headliner, and it was as priceless as we expected. We selected Meredith because of her talent, her love of community, and her love of Grace and music. We can’t wait to see what she produces at this year’s festival.”

More about Master Musicans Festival: This year, over the weekend of July 15-16 in Somerset, Kentucky. Master Musicians Festival, presented by the City of Somerset, will welcome GRAMMY-nominated roots-rock mainstay Grace Potter, the eclectic influences of super-trio The Wood Brothers, a long-time favorite of music fans and fellow musicians-alike, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, and the easy-going swagger of Rayland Baxter to the Horse Soldier Bourbon main stage. This same stage has seen the likes of the aforementioned Doc Watson, Guy Clark, and Willie Nelson, plus many more—the festival’s last few years alone saw Steve Earle, The Counting Crows, and the late, great John Prine take the stage. Additionally, acts like Boy Named Banjo, John R. Miller, and Leah Blevins will give Master Musicians Festival a taste of what the well-equipped future of this music holds.

The full lineup of July 15-16’s Master Musicians Festival includes Grace Potter, The Wood Brothers, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Rayland Baxter, Boy Named Banjo, John R. Miller, Bendigo Fletcher, Leah Blevins, SG Goodman, Justin Wells, Cole Chaney, Tee Dee Young, Multi Ultra, Short & Company, Eric Bolander, The Minks, The Jessie Lees, Ciggy Tuna, Don Rogers, If Birds Could Fly, Daniel Stroud and the Sleeping Dogs, Dark Moon Hollow, Tommy Cate’s Kids Jam, and Sydney Adams.

Passing the torch along to the next generation is a cornerstone of the Master Musicians Festival ideology, so it only makes sense that the festival is exciting for fans of all ages. Kids 12 and under receive free admission with a ticket-holding adult and there are a plethora of activities for youngsters to enjoy. MMF partners with Somerset ART Studio to offer a free kids camp throughout the weekend. Kids can participate in instrument making, water balloon fights, bubbles, making glow jewelry, and participating in a special music set curated just for them. This year, local Master Musician and harmonica player Tommy Cate will host the kids’ jam at 3:50 p.m. Saturday in the Somersession Tent.

Even though I have been on vacation all week, I did not get as much website work done as I wanted to. I haven’t been to as many shows this year as per usual, and no festivals as of yet. It just hasn’t been in the cards lately in life. I did however, go to a couple of local shows that I am now in the process of writing about on here, and this is one of them here.

Lately I have been publishing a lot of articles about the Oak Ridge Boys, whom remain quite active and they are celebrating almost 5 decades of being around in some form of genre. This band sustained so many lineup changes on the time period of 1947 to 1995, and by 1977 they fully switched from Gospel to country ( as we currently know them ).

Their first venture into Country was their 1977 album called “Y’all Come Back Saloon”, and consisted of the four members that are also the current members now. Except for William Lee Golden leaving for a brief period. On another side note here, I’m going to tell you more about William Lee Golden and the Goldens, who are releasing three new albums of cover tunes. I just decided to lump a bunch of information all together here that was Oak Ridge Boys related.

First, let’s take you on a little ride out here in Springfield Tennessee as our entire community got together to have Grace Baptist Church in Springfield bring us the Oak Ridge Boys to our local fairgrounds for what they called Freedom Fest on July 3rd. We had a nice article published recently about this event, and talked about their celebration of The 40th Anniversary of “Elvira”.

They had Rudy Gaitlin fill in for Mr. Joe Bonsall, whom was ill. However this show was still a truly awesome experience to behold in such a local jaunt out. This show was right across the road from my place of work! My nightly ride to word is only 21 minutes one way, and so OF COURSE I was going to come out and see this.

They went through many of their own timeless classics like the old Miller beer theme song from the 1983 commercial calling their beer “American Made”. I grew up with this song embedded in my mind as I watched people around me drink the beer they celebrated. And with memories like that, The Oak Ridge Boys have had a full part of my youth. For as long as I can remember, they have had a part of my life on cassette tapes on vinyls and on CD’s and I will continue to admire their music and write about them on here as often as I can.

As they were celebrating their album “Elvira” we also took a few moments out to remember the man whom wrote the song, Mr. Dallas Frazier, whom we lost in January of this year. They also played their old hit called “Bobbie Sue”, but in the middle of the set tonight they settled into a few of their older Gospel songs they had.

They remain prominent members of the Grand Ole Opry and they uphold the respectful duties that I as a fan expect them to acknowledge as members. However I also wanted to tell you, my readers of a side project that Mr. William Lee Golden has with his sons called “William Lee Golden And The Goldens”. They have a three volume collection of albums that were released earlier this year, one called “Country Roads” one called “Old Country Church” and another called “Southern Accents”.

If you enjoy smooth four piece harmonies, and cover songs from bands that place their own take on the songs they do, then these are the albums for you. They became available this past spring, and there have been some shows announced for them as well. This video here shows a prime example of just how beloved there songs are to this family.

So once I took in all of this information for you, I wanted to tell you about it for many reasons. So often than not, you hear many of these people claim that Country Music is dead, and all of the Legends are gone. I am hoping that through this website, you will find out that is not in any way true. Many of these iconic folks we grew up with are still producing some mighty fine music.

Country Roads
1. I Still Miss Someone
2. Four Walls
3. Welcome To My World
4. Take Me Home Country Roads
5. You Are My Sunshine
6. The Great Speckled Bird
7. Green Green Grass Of Home
8. Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On
9. For The Good Times
10. I Saw The Light

Southern Accents
1. Take It Easy
2. Me And Bobby McGee
3. The Long And Winding Road
4. Stand By Me
5. Jambalaya
6. Peaceful Easy Feeling
7. Long Black Veil
8. Southern Accents
9. Elvira
10. Multi-colored Lady
11. Bobbie Sue
12. Hollywood Nights

Old Country Church
1. Come And Dine
2. Old Country Church
3. It’s Suppertime
4. If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again
5. Until Then
6. Why Me, Lord?
7. I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
8. Too Much To Gain
9. Sheltered
10. Softly And Tenderly
11. Love Lifted Me
12. Power In The Blood

Back in 2017 I discovered this absolute gem of a Country Music artist, as by chance I strolled into Robert’s Western World to check out this man that a friend of mine referred me to named Mr. Joshua Hedley. I was always into hardcore Country and the more traditional it was, the more I loved it. I have always frequented Nashville ever since I moved here way back in 1996, like so many are doing now…it’s crowded here folks…don’t move here now.

I have a shit ton of respect for this man ( even though we may not be in agreement on many personal issues ) and his extensive knowledge of true Country Music and his signature vocal style that sets him apart from all of his peers. I consider myself a huge Janissary of Country Music, and I will go toe to toe with anybody on my own knowledge of it. However, when I meet people that clearly defeat my echelon of skill on the subject I have no problem admiring that!

Now many times I went to Robert’s with company and took them there to drink and hear some great bands play cover songs all day or night. I mean, that is actually what Broadway is now for the most part. When one of my friends encounter someone out there playing original songs THEY wrote, while at the same time gathering a big fan base, they come tell me. Those are the qualities I look for in artists to cover on this website here.

I was just absolutely amazed at how genuine this man was toward the genre and toward the tourists he was playing to. He was belting out obscure things from Gentleman Jim Reeves and  at the same time he was doing songs by commonly mentioned names down there like George Jones. Now here is the thing I wanted to point out about that latter name I just dropped..95 percent of the players down there on lower braodway all play the well known George Jones songs they usually get requested.

I mean, I sat there and listened to him play the song “Tarnished Angel” from the early 60’s. He is 100 percent correct…Jones does indeed have a bigger catalog than just his Outlaw Era albums that Mr. Billy Sherill produced. He has a bunch of Starday label songs that are just absolute fire, and Joshua Hedley can play through every one of them.

He was a part of the Old Crow Medicine Shows that I have been to at the Ryman on New Year’s Night Read more on that here., and I hope that he agrees with me that the song Wagon Wheel isn’t such a bad song if it’s played by Old Crow on that stage! Through the years I have indeed had the distinct pleasure of seeing him all over the place in town until the day he finally released one of the most amazing albums in the last 10 years called Mr. Jukebox on Third Man Records. which got my vote for album of thee year that year on here.

After that album was released, apparently right around the same time I entered rehab for a bad pill addiction, I learned that he too had addictions. I went through some extensive therapy and detox myself to be 2 years clean of drinking and drugs as well. And I hope to one day shake his hand from one sober recovered addict to another. But my friends that is exactly what makes his music so honest and his lyrics so transpicuous by people who are alcoholics and addicts.

For a man to openly admit the reason he hasn’t toured or has many functions on his resume, was because of his drug and alcohol dependencies is beyond admirable and I like him even more for this honesty. I think he deserves another chance to speak to us through his music.. this man is the modern era version of what Merle Haggard influenced Alan Jackson to be….the singer of the common man.

He has followed that album with another hard Honky Tonk banger called “Neon Blue”, an album that has an extremely traditional core while it takes you on a journey to an era a little later than the first album. See the way the songs are presented and performed one the first album take you to the 60s style Country, like the voices singing bum bum bum on the chorus. This album got a little more modern resonating loudly during the 90s Country era.

Songs like “Country And Western” pretty much sum up the whole process of trying to categorize this man and the songs he plays. His vocal delivery on this album clearly gets his point across, he wants the sinners and cheaters to feel at home here. With songs like “Down To my Last Lie”, he vents his frustration with all of the lies he has to keep coming up with just to live this double life he has here.

So many talented musicians make up this album to be one of the year’s top choices for crying in your beer and looking into the mirror at yourself. I mean, if he can play songs like “Found In A Bar” while maintaining his sobriety why can’t I ? Why can’t I too draw strength and inspiration from his songs?

If you study that song it actually makes a pellucid point that good, honest love CAN BE found in a bar after all! You encounter things in bars that you put into them sometimes, and I know I still go to bars to listen to people like him pour their hearts out in their stages.

Official Press Release:

… Are you ready for some Front Porch Singin’? We hope you’ll join us at one or more of our live performances this year on the Front Porch Singin’ Tour. The brand new set list will feature songs from our Bobbie Sue album, which turns 40 this year — and, of course, your favorite hits. Check out our latest tour schedule to see if we’re coming to your city soon!

My dear friends I am elated right now, because I have been given the blessed opportunity to tell all of my local friends that the Legendary Oak Ridge Boys will be performing here in Springfield Tennessee, at the Robertson County fairgrounds on July 3rd for a FREE SHOW!

Back in June of last year, they released their 32nd album ( not counting their early Gospel albums from the early 50’s, the 60’s and early 70’s ) produced by Mr. Dave Cobb, called “Front Porch Singin”. This album release then culminated into a huge tour which included many amphitheater appearances and Opry performances, including the one I’m telling you about.

As they celebrate 40 years of the album “Fancy Free”, which contains the mega hit song “Elvira”, they celebrate the life of it’s writer Mr. Dallas Frazier who we lost in January of this year. Their current set list includes many songs from that album as well as the staple songs they usually do live.

This band has been a Legendary staple in my life for many decades, and I have so many splendid memories of their music and live shows in my life. All four of these guys have given Country Music so many years of dedication and upholding the traditions of the genre, while maintaining a positive relevance in an ever changing market.

This event will be taking place July 3rd at the Robertson County Fairgrounds and provide a wonderful boost to the economy in my general area. This entire outdoor event has attractions for all ages, and pretty much anybody will be having a blessed time there….please join me!

FRONT PORCH SINGIN’ VINYL ALBUM Our latest album in vinyl format from Lightning Rod Records/Thirty Tigers! $25.00 Buy now

HERE IS MORE INFO

Celebrate our nation’s independence at the City of Springfield’s Freedom Fest, presented by Grace Baptist Church. Enjoy carnival rides, inflatables, youth games and activities, vendors, food trucks, and more! Gates open at 3:00 PM. Fireworks will begin at 9:00 PM.

Date: Sunday, July 3, 2022

Time: 3:00 PM – 9:30 PM. Music begins at 3:45 PM.

Location: Robertson County Fairgrounds

Fee: Free admission.

Stage Schedule: Visit www.freedomfest21.com to learn more.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase from a variety of food vendors, including The Grilled Cheeserie, Golly G’s Food Truck, Big Thunder Events, J & J Concessions, Retro Monkey Sno, Whitts BBQ, and Robertson County Fair Concessions.

 

This album feature and review will be updated a few times in the near future, so like many of my other articles you should keep in touch with me on here to stay informed in all things local music. Summer of 2022 is already hot and it is even hotter with new releases from a plethora of different bands, including one that I have been salivating over, and that is my good friend Miss Sunny Sweeney.

I’m going to be writing my own piece on this album, as well as include the press release and some of her tour dates. I got all sorts of new music news up on all of  my current articles, as well as dates and information on over 200 festivals across this nation. Who cares what people are arguing about over on social media, music brings people together!

This album means A LOT to me as two of the most amazing people in the business are heavily involved in making her finest album yet. I have been an avid fan of Sunny Sweeney since her early days of “Heartbreaker’s Hall Of Fame”, and her stint with Big Machine Records. Back then, she was one of the most overlooked artists out there, and she has earned my adoration due to her passionate love for the Opry and it’s core foundations.

I inject this portion into EVERY article I write about her and her music, I myself as an avid fan and patron of the Opry, feel that she has more than earned a place among the ranks of membership. There is no doubt in my mind that she would join with the current members that ACTUALLY DO play there, and uphold that tradition.

I am going to skip around on the songs here, as I am still taking all of this in over here. I want to focus now on the title song called “Married Alone”. Even though Miss Sunny is not one of the writers, her vocal delivery of the lyrics convinced me as a listener that she is indeed LIVING the song. And she has….and one of the co writers has.

Mr. Josh Morningstar is one of my favorite people in the game in many ways. He is a good friend, and a truly talented man. This quickly became my favorite song he has ever had a co write on, and I am very proud of the songwriter he has become. However another song on the album he co wrote with Miss Sunny and Mr. Channing Wilson ( who wrote “Black Jesus” for Mr. Jason Eady ) , called “How’d I End Up Lonely Again”. This song marks the absolute end of a marriage and the time that your body and soul winds up in the embers of the aftermath.

What made it even MORE special was the guest vocals by one of the people from the 80s Country scene that I consider a Legend….Mr. Vince Gill. That right there is simply the icing on the cake. Many of us that have been through a divorce to where you and your spouse simply grew apart while together.

Overall this album is by far one of the saddest Country albums I have heard in the last 10 years, adding yet another emotional chapter of her own life for her fans to absorb. Her albums in succession take you on a wild ride of her own life’s ups and downs, where her fans can identify with how she was feeling at that particular time. Her albums have themes of the high points of being married and being on top, and they stretch toward thee bitter end…..and that is where this albums culminates.

One of these songs I do remember hearing live a few months ago was the song “Tie Me Up”, a song of   irreverent  feelings for a relationship’s rules and conduct. It is a witty anthem for the single people that live on the edge of taunting people who are “tied down” to an exhausting routine of a relationship.

This album once again features some mighty fine songwriting from Mr. Buddy Owens again, as he wrote two songs on her third album ‘Provoked’. One of the songs that resonated to me the most on here was the song ‘Wasting One On You”. When you meet someone you think may be a good fit to have a relationship with, even if you are in denial, this song is a push out the door of the world and give it a try.

Sunny Sweeney, With The Help Of Paul Cauthen, Paints A Beautiful Picture Of A Hard Reminder In “A Song Can’t Fix Everything,” Co-Written with Lori McKenna

From upcoming album Married Alone, out September 23rd via Thirty Tigers; Produced by Cauthen and The Texas Gentlemen’s Beau Bedford; Tour continues tonight in Mesa, AZ

“Sunny Sweeney has a lot to say, I knew that from the beginning. The opportunity [to produce] arose from heaven’s gates. I believe truth and honesty outweighs any sex or genre. This is undeniable…don’t put it in a box and if you do, the box is Sunny’s. Listen to what is real.” -Paul Cauthen

June 3, 2022 – Nashville, TN – “I was stepping into the elevator at my hotel as we were leaving Chicago after a great run, and this title popped into my head,” says prolific songwriter and singer Sunny Sweeney of her new tune “A Song Can’t Fix Everything.”

Sweeney, an artist known for her uncanny ability to straddle the line of demarcation between Texas Country and Nashville Americana, recounts the lightbulb moment, saying, “Despite the fact that music is so special to me, and always has been, and can lift me up and bring me out of a funk, I was having a shitty day. I only wanted to stay in bed and listen to Tom Petty.”

What she and Lori McKenna wrote in the final version of “A Song Can’t Fix Everything” is at once uplifting and heartbreaking.“That song can’t bring my mother back to life,” Sweeney sings at the song’s start, before recounting the many ways that music may be able to transport us to the past but can never fix it. “It’s about just trying to find those three minutes of happiness you get relating to something and taking yourself out of your everyday life,” says Sweeney.

“Letting yourself slip away, it can feel like it’s going to be ok, even if, ultimately, it may not be.” Sweeney is joined on vocals by the song and album’s co-producer, beloved Texas musician, and larger-than-life personality Paul Cauthen.

“A Song Can’t Fix Everything” is the first single from Sweeney’s upcoming album Married Alone—out on September 23rd via Thirty Tigers. Produced by Cauthen and the Texas Gentlemen’s multi-hyphenate Beau Bedford, Married Alone is Sweeney’s finest work yet, bringing together confessional songwriting, image-rich narratives, and no shortage of sonic surprises for a loosely conceptual album about loss and healing.

Recorded at Dallas’s Modern Electric Sound Recorders and was mixed by the whole team with the help of Jeff Saenz—beloved Dallas-based producer and owner of Modern Electric—upon his unbelievable return to work after being electrocuted in a freak accident. Fans can listen to “A Song Can’t Fix Everything” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save Married Alone ahead of its release right here. 

In addition to the release of Married Alone, Sweeney has a song featured in the upcoming film VENGEANCE, the directorial debut from writer and star B.J. Novak (The Office) and her tour resumes tonight in Mesa, Arizona. A full list of tour dates can be found below or at sunnysweeney.com/tour.

More About Married Alone: Opener “Tie Me Up” declares that, despite its loose theme, Married Alone is not a somber record, with Sweeney in full spitfire mode and cheekily declaring to a would-be suitor, “You can tie me up, but baby you can’t tie me down.” Cauthen’s and Bedford’s production especially shines on the track, which would sound at home at a roadside juke joint or in front of thousands of fans at a festival.

Cauthen joins Sweeney on the aforementioned “A Song Can’t Fix Everything,” one of the album’s rawer moments. “Want You to Miss Me” is an honest take on the complexities of a difficult breakup, with Sweeney’s nimble vocal wavering between defiance and doubt. “Easy as Hello” is Sweeney’s writing at its finest, channeling the heartache that comes with the end of a treasured relationship, for a track that recalls—vocally and lyrically—the work of Stevie Nicks.

“Someday You’ll Call My Name” reads like a break-up kiss-off—and it’s a great one, at that—but the song, pulled from Sweeney’s vault, was originally inspired by her early days as a musician, longing to be recognized by major country institutions like the Grand Ole Opry. She and co-writer Brennen Leigh reworked their 10-year-old version of the track to better fit Married Alone, and that session helped set the tone for what would become the full album.

The full potential of the album really revealed itself, though, when a friend sent Sweeney a demo of what would become its title track, “Married Alone.” Though she wasn’t a co-writer on the track, Sweeney felt her own story reflected in its lyrics. The song, which features a particularly emotional guest vocal from living country legend Vince Gill, charts the painful moments sometimes experienced in marriages that have run their course. “There may be rings on our fingers, but we’re married alone,” she and Gill sing, over weeping pedal steel and reverbed guitar.

“My jaw hit the floor when I heard that song, because I had just gone through my second divorce, which is also cliche of a country singer,” Sweeney says, with a laugh. “I was still pretty raw about my divorce, but also very candid and trying to find levity in the situation. You have to be able to laugh at yourself at some point and not let it just totally get you down.” A few months after securing the song and mining her own vault for a tracklist, Sweeney traveled to Dallas, TX, to record—alongside Cauthen and Bedford—what would become Married Alone.

Married Alone track listing:

1. Tie Me Up (Sunny Sweeney/Buddy Owens/Galen Griffin)
2. Easy As Hello (Sunny Sweeney/Lori McKenna/Heather Morgan)
3. Married Alone ft. Vince Gill (Hannah Blaylock/Josh Morningstar/Autumn McEntire)
4. Someday You’ll Call My Name (Sunny Sweeney/Brennen Leigh)
5. How’d I End Up Lonely Again (Sunny Sweeney/Channing Wilson/Josh Morningstar)
6. A Song Can’t Fix Everything ft. Paul Cauthen (Sunny Sweeney/Lori McKenna)
7. Want You To Miss Me (Sunny Sweeney/Caitlyn Smith)
8. Wasting One On You (Sunny Sweeney/Buddy Owens/Monty Holmes)
9. Fool Like Me (Waylon Payne/Kendell Marvel)
10. All I Don’t Need (Sunny Sweeney/Lori McKenna)
11. Leaving Is My Middle Name (Sunny Sweeney/ Buddy Owens/Galen Griffin/Scotch Taylor)
12. Still Here (Sunny Sweeney/Lori McKenna)

Catch Sunny Sweeney On Tour:

6/3 – Mesa, AZ – Rooster’s
7/6 – Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s
7/7 – Little Rock, AR – Stickyz Rock N Roll
7/8 – McKinney, TX – Hank’s Grill
7/9 – Coupland, TX – Coupland Dancehall
7/10 – Fort Worth, TX – Fort Brewery
7/12 – Tulsa, OK – The Shrine
7/13 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads
7/15 – Springfield, MO – Southbound Bar & Grill
7/16 – Kahoka, MO – Clark County Fair
7/17 -Yorkville, IL – The Law Office Pub & Music Hall
7/20 – Berwyn, IL – Fitzgerald’s Night Club
7/21 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
7/22 – Minneapolis, MN – The Hook and Ladder Theater & Lounge
7/24 – Omaha, NE – Reverb Lounge
7/27 – Manitou Springs, CO – Lulu’s Downstairs
7/29 – Cheyenne, WY – The Outlaw Saloon
7/30 – Sheridan, WY – WYO Theater
7/31 – White Sulphur Springs, MT – Red Ants Pants Music Festival
8/2 – Rochester, NY – Abilene Bar & Lounge
8/5 – King Ferry, NY – Treleaven Wines

I took full advantage of the thrill of Record Store Day this year, it was a long day of shopping all around the area and digging through some used bins of albums as well. But this year we will additionally be treated to another ‘drop day” like there was last year, however this year the “drop day” has been activated due to the process of the albums and not the pandemic.

Down below there you will see the PDF file to bring up the list for the upcoming RSD drop day. As far as I know, you will find albums at the same stores that were initially involved in the original Record Store Day in the spring.

I’m so elated that the thrill of digging through crates of records has returned to the normal way of life in today’s society, and in fact vinyl is outselling all other forms of music. I mean, even the local Wal Marts now have exclusive vinyl to buy form many artists.

From the website:

In 2022, there is one Record Store Day, April 23. We feel strongly that stores have learned and adapted in the past few years and are ready to bring back elements of a “traditional” Record Store Day, bands and beer and fun and people and whatever parts of the party they like, in ways that make them, and their customers, comfortable.  We also feel strongly that it’s important to focus on those stores themselves, and celebrate what they do year-round, in their communities.

As we’ve all learned in the past few years, it can be hard to make any plans in permanent ink, so it’s always a good idea to have a sort of contingency plan. A safety net for anything a few months still down the road. In the last few years, our plans for RSD Drops helped record stores around the world get through the pandemic, by marking a change in the way Record Store Day was focused. In “normal” times, the list of releases is a part of the celebration as a whole, but for RSD Drops, the focus became the releases themselves, and getting them into stores, and then into customer homes as safely as possible, bringing much-needed revenue and stock in a very unpredictable time. Importantly, those dates weren’t called Record Store Day, because they weren’t. They were release dates –important release dates, but not the party that Record Store Day is.  That was an important distinction.

But we’re well aware of where we are in terms of manufacturing, shipping, etc. etc. We help the stores deal with it every release day, and we know that our Saturday in April is no exception to issues. We worked proactively with artists, labels and distribution to push back by several months the planning for Record Store Day 2022, some of these titles have been worked on for more than a year. We’re also being proactive with designating an RSD Drops date on June 18. That will serve as a street date safety net, for titles that are part of the Record Store Day celebration, but for any number of reasons beyond controlling, can’t make it into stores on April 23. The List includes titles that are coming to record stores on Record Store Day in April and those that will be coming in June. As we become aware of issues for any specific title, that title will move to the RSD Drops date and you’ll see that on the List on the website.

The titles on the RSD 2022 Official List will be released at participating record stores on Record Store Day, April 23, and some on RSD Drop date June 18. There is one List, with titles broken out for each date.  You can choose to view the List on our website, with added detail and artwork, or you can print out a PDF that can be used as a wishlist or shopping guide.

RECORD STORE DAY DOES NOT SELL THE RELEASES. THERE IS NO WEBSITE WHERE THESE CAN BE PRE-ORDERED. Please use the Participating Store Search to find a store near you and contact them directly to find out how they’re participating and celebrating Record Store Day.  Stores in the US may choose to sell releases online starting Sunday, April 24 and Sunday, June 19.

The List of special releases is below, in a WEBSITE form where you can search and get more information, and a PDF that you can print out and use as a Wish List or Shopping Guide.

I stumbled upon an email not long ago about a certain episode of this particular podcast, and I decided to check it out. Well I’m not entirely sure if you are anything like I am, to the point of having to not only hear that one but ALL OF THEM in the same afternoon. Well, unfortunately I could not do that on this podcast, for the simple fact that there are quite a few good episodes I wanted to listen to multiple times.

Anybody that is a true Janissary of Country Music in any sense of the genre, needs to listen to many of these episodes. The main reason being is that the people that are interviewed are from all different aspects of the music genre. The very first episode that I gravitated toward was the one that featured Legendary steel guitarist Mr. Jim Vest.

Mr. Jim Vest not only contributed to Johnny Paycheck, but also he heavily contributed to Mr. Vern Gosdin, David Houston, and a long list of others that paved the way for some of the artists that have been featured on this very same podcast like Mr. Collin Raye and Mr. John Berry.

This show gives you insight, right from the source of the insight on as many avenues of this industry from musician per idem and how management does their job to govern things, to how to copyright different things like songs and logos.

Each and every different episode on here is another journey into a different aspect of the music business on the side usually forfended…the side which isn’t always the most desirable.  With so many different angles of instruction, the many variety of guests have an uncanny way of inculcating their talents, so you too can learn from them.

Award-winning broadcaster and podcaster, Candy O’Terry and Music City Mentor, Jacy Dawn Valeras have released another episode in their joint podcast project, Country Music Success Stories. The new podcast is an intimate conversation with Grammy award-winning songwriter, artist and producer, Frank Myers. Subscribe to the podcast here and listen on all podcast platforms here.

“What an amazing time visiting with Country Music Success Stories. They were so prepared and dug deep into the music and songwriting. You will hear behind the scenes conversations never heard before,” expressed Frank Myers.

“I think I’ve played “You And I” on the radio a thousand times and never could have imagined that, one day, I’d be sitting beside the man who wrote the song. Frank Myers is full of stories, including how he wrote “You And I”, “I Swear, I’m Already There”, and “My Front Porch Lookin’ In.”  If you are a songwriter, this is an episode you just can’t miss. Oh, and having a tour of his man cave was AMAZING.” stated Candy O’Terry.

“Having the opportunity to sit and talk with a songwriting icon like Frank Myers was inspiring in every way“ shares Jacy Valeras. “ His dedication to his craft is remarkable, and the wisdom he shares in this episode is some of the best advice a young, aspiring artist can hear.”

Future guests include Bobby Tomberlin, Jim Messina, Jim Vest, Pam Lewis and many others, including surprise guests along the way. Past guests have included Jamie O’Neil, Sonny LeMaire, Lily Isaac, Chris Lindsay, Bill Anderson, John Schneider, Collin Raye, Aimee Mayo, John and Robin Berry, Steve Dorff, Naomi Judd, Jeannie Seely, Crystal Gayle, Lori McKenna, Karen Staley, Kent Blazy, Larry Strickland, T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang.

The popular podcast made its debut on in the top #25 on Apple Podcasts USA Music Interviews Chart and has been picked up by iHeartMedia, the #1 commercial podcast publisher globally and RADIO.COM which is powered by Entercom, the 2nd largest radio group in the country and the top podcast producer which includes 800+ streaming stations across the US.

In this Nashville based podcast, radio legend & master interviewer Candy O’Terry goes straight to the pros to hear their stories. From singers to producers, songwriters to record label executives, radio programmers and DJ’s to PR and marketing pros, every episode is a deep dive into what it takes to succeed in the country music industry. If you want to make it in Nashville, you need a roadmap. Music City Mentor and Founder of Platinum Circle Media, Jacy Dawn Valeras provides valuable advice about everything from writer’s rounds to online marketing and building a network that will go the distance

After spending a week together in Nashville with the idea of doing a 4-part series for O’Terry’s award-winning podcast and radio program The Story Behind Her Success, the two realized that the city was rich with stories to tell and that a platform for music industry stories, combined with the rich content Valeras had accumulated through her YouTube series, might be a hit.   As life-long singers and country music fans, Candy & Jacy have a clear vision of the guests they seek.  “We’re on the lookout for women and men who aren’t afraid to tell the world how they got to where they are today in the music business….including the good times when they were riding high, and the bad times when they were on the verge of giving up. These stories are meant to teach and inspire others to take a chance on living their dreams.”

Stay current with Candy O’Terry on her website candyoterry.com and follow her on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Stay current with Jacy Dawn Valeras on her websites jacydawnvaleras.com and  platinumcirclemedia.com and follow her on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Frank Myers:
Frank J Myers is from Dayton, Ohio. He moved to Nashville in 1981. Frank got his start in Nashville as band leader, road manager and lead guitarist for Eddy Raven in 1981 and worked with Eddy for nine years. It was with Eddy that Frank started writing, playing and co-producing sessions. They had two number ones, five number twos and three top tens. Songs such as “I Got Mexico,” “Bayou Boys,” “You Should’ve Been Gone By Now,” “Sometimes A Lady” and many others. It was in 1982 though, that Frank had his first single (a song he wrote by himself) with “You and I” for Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle which stayed number one: four weeks country, number two for six weeks AC and number six for four weeks Pop. It was during his time with Eddy Raven that Frank met Gary Baker. They had their first number one together in 1993 with “Once Upon A Lifetime” by Alabama. Gary and Frank recorded one album for MCG/Curb Records as Baker & Myers and were three time nominees for Duo Of The Year at the ACM’s and CMA’s. Their greatest accomplishment as writers together came when John Michael Montgomery recorded “I Swear” which was number one for four weeks on the Country charts. The song was then recorded by All 4 One and went to number one on the pop charts and stayed there for 11 weeks. Since then, “I Swear” has won many awards, including: American Songwriter Magazine Pop, AC, R&B, Country and Overall Song of the year. Pop, R&B, Country and Overall Songwriters of the year. 1st Annual Country Radio Awards Single and Song of the year, C.M.A. Awards for Single of the year, Song of the year nomination, Grammy Awards for Country song of the year, Best R&B Vocal and Song of the year nomination, A.C.M. Awards for Single and Song of the year, N.S.A.I. Award for Country, Pop, and AC Song of the year A.S.C.A.P. Award for Country, Pop and R&B Song of the Year Billboard Magazine Awards #1 song of 1994, Jukebox Award for 1994 Song and Songwriters of the Year and International Song Of The Years Awards for Canada, Germany, Great Britain, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan and China. Frank also co-wrote “I’m Already There” the seven-week number one smash by Lonestar, which was nominated for a Grammy and CMA Song and Single Of The Year. The song also went to number two on the AC chart and named American Songwriter Magazine’s Country Song of the year and Frank was voted Country Songwriter of the year along with Gary Baker and Richie McDonald. His single “My Front Porch Looking In” by Lonestar is the first record in R&R history to go to #1 fall to number #2 for 6 weeks and go back to #1. Frank’s latest #1 was “Tomorrow” by Chris Young which was also nominated for ACM Single of the Year. Frank has had songs recorded by over 50 Country and Pop Artists, He has had 12 number ones and 20 top tens and is a 2021 Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Nominee. Frank’s Artist co-writes and Productions include Kenny Loggins, Richie McDonald, Lonestar, Vince Gill, Billy Ray Cyrus, All 4 One, Pam Tillis, The Gatlins, Andy Griggs, Eddy Raven, John Rich, Dave Fenley, Angie Keilhauer and many others. He was nominated for a Dove Award in 2009 for his writing and production work on “I Turn To You” recorded by Richie McDonald. This was his first Dove Award nomination, as well as his first Producer nomination. Frank is also a member of Leadership Music’s class of 2005.

Candy O’Terry:
Known as Candy O for 25 years on Magic 106.7/WMJX, Candy O’Terry is an award-winning content creator who has spent her career providing a platform for women to share their stories.  As the Founder of My Dove Productions and the Candy O Radio Network, Candy’s lens is focused on women doing great things with their lives.  She is the host of The Story Behind Her Success weekly podcast and radio series, The Speaker Coach podcast, 16 Life Lessons Motivation Monday feature, and Candy’s Land, a 4-part music video series for young children during the pandemic. Her latest venture is the Nashville-based podcast series Country Music Success Stories featuring Music City Mentor, Jacy Valeras.  Chosen by her peers as the 2015 Massachusetts Broadcaster of the Year, Candy is the winner of 50 local and national awards for excellence in women’s programming. To date, she has interviewed over 700 women from every walk of life with the mantra: when we lift each other up, we all rise. A lifelong singer, Candy’s full-length CD Dream Come True includes songs heard around the world. Born in New York City and raised in Connecticut, she is also the Co-Founder of Boston Women in Media & Entertainment. The consummate performer, Candy O has never met a microphone she didn’t love!

Jacy Dawn Valeras: 
Music City Mentor and Platinum Circle Media Founder Jacy Dawn Valeras got her start as a country singer.  Born and raised in a little town outside of Boston, Jacy was writing songs and singing at local events at only 13. By the time she was 19, Jacy was opening for country music legends like Reba and Willie and performing at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden, the Bluebird Café and the Texas Troubadour Theatre. When vocal issues caused her to press pause on her singing career, Jacy knew she had to turn the page and start a new chapter.  In 2012, she combined her talent and experience as a performer with her love of social media marketing, graphic design and content creation to launch Platinum Circle Media. Grammy, CMA, ACM, JUNO Award winners and Country Music Hall of Fame members have become Jacy’s clients and friends. Widely known as the woman in new media who returns calls, meets deadlines, believes in the power of relationships to get the job done, Jacy checks all the boxes. When it comes to content creation, digital marketing, and increasing online visibility,  Jacy Dawn Valeras is in a league of her own.  As the creator and host of the Music City Mentor YouTube series, Jacy shares her wisdom with aspiring artists. Her inspiring platform devoted to mentorship and how to make it in Nashville, has 250 thousand views and counting.

I am going to be completely honest here with this one folks, I only liked half of his albums and music overall. However the relevance of this being released on the day of his death is one of the kindest things the promotion company could have done.

Throughout the years, he recorded some damn fine Country albums and a metric ton of Pop Country and even some old school rock. His 1978 album “The Gambler” spawned one of his most beloved songs ever was actually not the greatest album of his career on my terms, in fact the only perfect album he ever released was the 1980 concept album called “Gideon”, about a Texas cowboy looking back on his life.

In 2017, the Country Music community gathered together for a night of music at the Bridgestone arena for this blessed event that commemorated the life of Mr. Kenny Rogers.  His peers from past and present all attended the event and played his songs in front of him, as he announced his retirement from the music industry.

The former front man for the Bluegrass band the Steeldrivers, whom has acquired much attention as a solo artist Mr. Chris Stapleton contributed a beautiful rendition of the song Mr. Don Schlitz wrote called “The Gambler”. I am extremely big on enjoying the songwriter side of Country Music, and I have met and admired those men and ladies that have penned those wonderful songs for decades.

Songs Being Performed During The CBS Special
Chris Stapleton – “The Gambler”
Idina Menzel & Charles Kelley – “We’ve Got Tonight”
Lady A – “She Believes In Me”
Lionel Richie – “Lady”
Little Big Town – “Through The Years”
Reba McEntire – “Reuben James”
Dolly Parton – “I Will Always Love You”
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton – “You Can’t Make Old Friends”
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton – “Islands In The Stream”

Well, as the man called Meat Loaf once sang ” Two out of three ain’t bad”. That’s what I initially thought about today’s announcement from the Country Music Hall Of Fame, as they announced the class of 2022, which consisted of Mr. Keith Whitley, Mr. Jerry Lee Lewis and Mr. Joe Galante. Many people might disagree with me on my views, and that’s completely fine, because Mr. Galante isn’t exactly the worst enemy of Country Music like others are, I just felt there were others in the industry that were more deserving of this honor.

I know….I know…the never ending argument we all have a bout  “so and so got the shaft again”….I have heard that for 20 years now. But to be honest, I think that it is indeed high time Miss Tanya Tucker was inducted. I truly think that she is overly deserving of this honor as well as a few others.

I do not however, feel that way about the other two that were selected to join the ranks of the greatest honor in all of Country Music. I will openly admit right now, that I felt that Miss Tanya Tucker, Mr. Ray Stevens and The Oak Ridge Boys all deserved to be inducted. But in the end, the three inductees were indeed some damn fine choices overall.

Now, before I talk about the many reasons I justify these choices, allow me to make one disclaimer about the personal lives of the other two choices that were made this week. This entire website is operated by a recovered opiate addict, as many of you already know, and many of you were right along side me for the journey of my recovery. For that reason and a few others, I have decided to focus on their musical legacy in lieu of their personal plights.

Bearing that in mind at this time, I wanted to point out the fact that we all have skeletons in our closets. I’m extremely cautious about being a judgemental person toward anybody, let alone some of my personal heroes, however I can understand someone’s personal dislike for some of these passed Legends that lead such turbulent lives. It was a stable and pellucid fact that these Country Music legends indeed had a litany of issues with marriages, alcohol and drama with drugs ( both of them may or may not have had issues with all three ).

One thing I am going to say about Mr. Keith Whitley is this…I cannot begin to fathom how beautiful the music would have been, had he lived a full life. The same thing I say about Mr. Hank Williams. With only two albums released during his life, he charted hits in both life and death. He charted twelve alive and seven after his death in 1989.

Now, altogether he only released four full length albums, which is a mere drop in the bucket compared to artists like Mr. Garth Brooks or Mr. Alan Jackson, at the same time is often compared to them for paving the way for the artists we love today. He basically erupted from the early 1980’s, and not only became one of the largest country heartthrobs, but became a household name through television appearances on TNN and Hee Haw.

I’m going to be completely honest and say outright without a doubt nobody sang with more feeling and more emotion than this man. I remember as a young boy, I once asked my mother “Mom, who is that guy” she said “That’s Keith Whitley, son”. I asked “Why is he crying, mom?” She replied “Because he is Keith Whitley, son”.

Last but certainly not least, the Country Music Hall Of Fame has inducted one of the most vastly overlooked legends in many genres of music, Mr. Jerry Lee Lewis. While it was altogether essential to remember that he not only embellished  Rock Music, but Country as well.

True, a lot of his Country songs were indeed covers, but with his signature flair for the piano and ripping vocals, he revitalized many of the songs he covered. It is my ardent belief that in his time he was responsible for bringing legions of fans from other genres into the Country fold.

To be honest folks, there are just so many boxed sets and compilations that exist of his decades of recordings, that it is almost criminal to not delve into his past Country Music recordings. From a collector’s view his album LIVE At The Star Club, Hamburg is a highly collectable album to have in your collection for anybody, and many of his Country albums are hard to find.

For me, one of his pinnacle album for his contributions to the world of Country Music was his eighth album on Smash Records called “Another Place Another Time” which contained the song penned by Mr. Glenn Sutton called “What’s Made Milwaukee Famous ( Has Made A Loser Out Of Me )”. Also the title song to this album was AMAZING!  HOWEVER…

This was only the tip of his mountain of immense material most of society doesn’t delve deep enough to find. I’ll tell you why. See, in 1969 Mr. Sam Phillips who owned Sun Records sold the entire Sun catalog to Mr. Shelby Singleton, which included all of his unreleased recordings of Country songs.

The songs were being released and packaged in such a manner that the general public thought they were new songs. The mastery of the marketing technique they used to move these albums was unprecedented for that time period.  I did a lot of studying about the business deal that transpired here, that kept the Sun Records name relevant in this time period.

A plethora of his best Country Music was released on Mercury Records in the 1970’s with an album called I – 40 Country. The song that Mr. Larry Kingston wrote with Mr. Frank Dycus called “He Can’t Fill My Shoes” , which in my opinion was one his finest songs ( also recorded by Mr. Mikey Newberry ).

This was preceded by albums like “Odd Man In”, which boasted another favorite of mine called “Let’s Put It Back Together Again” by my friend Mr. Jerry Foster, and it had some great Hank Williams songs on it.  The album called “Killer Country” that was released on Elektra Records, was another perfect Country album, with “Thirty-Nine And Holding ( another song Mr. Jerry Foster wrote with Mr. Bill Rice ).

In conclusion, I have never fully understood why many of these “Outlaw Country” websites and memes never include this man. I mean, there weren’t many that created more chaos for the industry than Mr. Jerry Lee Lewis! That’s not in ANY an insult to one of the people who made the music that helped shape my youth, and truly does indeed deserve to be in the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

There are many things that I am essentially late in getting on the website, that I have written down throughout the year, that I wanted to publish before starting on the work I intend begin for 2022. I usually spend my Christmas/ New Year’s vacation catching up with all of the many different projects I have going for the website, and for all of my home projects too.

Many years ago, I met this man via the internet and I was introduced to his internet radio show that he had. I learned about so many different bands from him and his Texas show, that featured Roots Music, as well as older Texas Music tunes like Mr. Red Steagall. I learned a lot about how much this man truly cared about the music that he played on the show, and how elated he was about the bands.

There are so many people that were instrumental throughout my journey in the beginning and beyond, and Mr. Big G was one of them. It was always fun to pop on and find out what kind of new artists and new bands he was featuring on the radio show, and many times he would delve into the history of some of those bands. Where did they come from? What was going on with the local Texas music community he was in? Who was making new music and what venues were featuring this new music.

His daily show on KERV 1230 was called Big G’s Texas Roadshow, and it also featured interviews and political satire ( which I overlooked because I am neither right nor left ). But this show became one of my favorite parts of my weekly routine, to get on the chat room and visit with everyone.

Later on, as I continued to listen and I continued to write more articles, he began to admire my work as well as I  would admire his. The more we began to interact, I would get to pop on the phone and visit with his radio show, where he gave me the opportunity to showcase some of the fabulous bands I was featuring at the time.

We had the opportunity to finally meet in 2014, when I covered a local festival here in Kentucky called Outlaw Fest that he was the emcee at for the weekend. It was really a fun couple days out here filled with music and friends, even though the weather only agreed with us part of the weekend.

2014 was a pivotal year for my website here, as I began to branch out more to other festivals and communities. For the first couple years ( like 2010 to 2013 ) the only festival I had been to was Muddy Roots and Master Musician’s Festival, and in 2013 I finally had more opportunities to travel more and branch out.

This brought so many new bands and artists to my attention, to which it gave me the opportunity to write about those bands, which in turn were brought out to a more wider audience. So many wonderful people stepped up to make that event so very special in many ways, and I myself had a ton of friendships culminate from that event, that I would be remiss to say it was one of my most important festival jobs.

I had to spend a few years catching up on some things in my personal life, and that caused me to fall behind, but recently I had the wonderful opportunity to stop and catch up on all of the articles I wanted to bring you. Better late than never, right?

I read on his page this past spring that he was in need of help with some medical issues right now, and one thing I will say is this: in the world of music, we take care of our own. This man means a lot to me, and I feel he is vastly overlooked by the Texas local music community and right now we need to lift him up in prayer and love.

You can reach the GOFUNDME link HERE.

Over the last few months my father, Gordon “Big G” Ames, found out that he has Stage 4 Salivary Gland Carcinoma. This is a form of cancer that has developed right behind his ear and has metastasized down to his chest.

*3 Time Ameripolitan awards Official DJ of the Year nominee*

UPDATE: Results of the final biopsy conclude that treatment will be handled with chemotherapy instead of surgery or radiation. Due to Big G’s health insurance, treatment will be done locally at Texas Oncology instead of MD Anderson. This takes away the strain from traveling back and forth from Houston but associated costs for treatment are still high. Duration of treatment is still unknown at this point, but Big G just had his first chemo session on 1/21/2021 and will continue every three weeks. 

Big G’s spirits are high and plans on a full recovery. The support so far has been phenomenal and we (his family) are eternally grateful.

This gofundme will help fund medical bills, life bills and quality of life.

Please share this with friends and fans of my dad’s radio show “Big G’s Texas Roadshow.” To all of the musicians that my dad interviewed: it would mean a lot if you could share this with your fans. He means the world to his sons, wife and family.

His GOFUNDME was updated once again on  March 31, 2021 by Jake Ames, Organizer.

Ahh the ever popular myths and assumptions that the general public has about the music business, and how those all night parties and debauchery are  a nightly occurrence. I mean, we all know that being a musician isn’t really a job, right? Right. All they do is roll around the United States snorting coke and devouring catered food and jack daniels whiskey.

I been following these bands I cover on here for over twelve years now, and I can readily tell you that this life isn’t made for everyone, hence the name of these videos. Her band takes us on a first hand tour of what life is like on the other side of the stage, even though it does not show the extremely dark side of the loneliness it entails.

I always try my best to stay out of the way during these events if I am ever backstage for any length of time,  so as not to be a burden on anyone.  There are so many people running around before and after the show, doing their job to make sure the show goes well.

I think more of the mainstream artists and the local artists need to showcase both sides of how life is like while touring and performing all over the world. From so many different perspectives and levels of the music business, someone needs to release videos of the actual paperwork side of the music business.

I’m one of those people that has had the opportunity to have seen some of the contracts and some of the ways the business handles things, and I’m extremely glad I don’t have to live the life like they do.  I am extremely content with just being a website hobby journalist ( and I use that term loosely in regards to myself ), and just having a “fan of music blog”.

This article was once again updated on July 30th, as she and her band have consistently released some additional videos, showing many aspects of the business that we as fans don’t really think of. It is a really good tool for a novice road musician to implement into their own shows.

I’m hoping in the future that they will publish a few more of these, and show more of the technicalities of the overall touring musician. Maybe she is one of your own personal favorites and you use her music to influence you in a positive way, and these videos will help enrich your own life.

Sunday Mornin’ Country promises to be the best ticket in town, blending top Country artists and your favorite Gospel music together for a time of celebration and inspiration along with great entertainment for the whole family. Again this year, the show will be hosted by the legendary Country Music and Rock -n- Roll Hall of Fame member, Brenda Lee. Sunday Mornin’ Country is an event you won’t want to miss. This year’s show will be the 40th Anniversary of Country music artists coming together to share their hearts as well as their favorite Gospel songs. The event will take place on Sunday, June 12 on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Order tickets on www.opry.com or call 1-800-733-6779.

“Sunday Mornin’ Country is one of my favorite things to be a part of each year. It reminds me of my childhood, going to church, being with old friends, meeting new friends and sharing the songs of my childhood,” said Brenda Lee. “I am honored to be invited to host the 40th Anniversary show this year at the Grand Ole Opry House.”

Artists and performances for this special celebration event will be announced soon. Past years performers have included the talents of Jeannie Seely, John Berry, Skeeter Davis, Roy Acuff, Lynn Anderson, Jason Crabb, Chris Young, Jimmie Wayne, The Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Clark, Freddy Hart, Grandpa Jones, Charlie McCoy, Vestal Goodman, Paul Richey, Marty Raybon, Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith, Rhonda Vincent, The Whites, Tammy Wynette, Brenda Lee, Linda Davis, Jean Shepard and many others.

Sponsored by the Nashville-based nonprofit, Music City Christian Fellowship, the concert has wrapped up the week at the conclusion of CMA Music Fest each year, leaving fans and guests with an uplifting memory of Nashville. Sunday Mornin’ Country is the longest-running Country/Gospel event during the music festival.

Keep current with Sunday Mornin’ Country on the Music City Christian Fellowship website and stay in touch on social media platform Facebook.

About Music City Christian Fellowship:
The Music City Christian Fellowship is a non-profit organization of born-again Christian believers, involved in the Music and Entertainment Industry, dedicated to the proclaiming of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through our gifts of music. A Scripture-based, Spirit-filled, God-led, and trust in Jesus for all things, believing in the Bible as God’s inspired Word for man, that everyone might live a life that is pleasing to Him. It is the desire to be able, with the crumbling of old barriers and birth of new freedoms, to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world through the International Language of Music! For more information on the Music City Christian Fellowship visit musiccitychristianfellowship.org.