Don McLean To Release Children’s Book “American Pie: A Fable” In September

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May 312021
 
American Pie: A Fable
Iconic Song “American Pie” Becomes Inspiration For Children’s Book Authored By Legendary Singer/Songwriter Don McLean with Judith A. Proffer
NEW YORK, N.Y. – A long, long time ago lived a lonely newspaper boy. Now, 50 years later, that lonely newspaper boy is the topic of the “American Pie” inspired children’s book authored by Grammy Hall of Fame inductee Don McLean with Judith A. Proffer. Being released in September 2021 by Backbeat Books, the 48-page book contains 40 illustrations, illustrated by Yoko Matsuoka, and will retail for $19.95.

To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of one of the top songs of the twentieth century, “American Pie,” this new children’s book weave’s themes from the iconic song with experiences from Don’s early life and, in true “American Pie” form, offers meaningful elements open to interpretation. “American Pie” is the story of a newspaper delivery boy in the late ’50s who discovers the joy of friendship and music, eventually learning that when you recognize what truly makes you happy, you’re never really alone.

“I am really excited to see the reaction from people about this book,” says Don McLean. “We have all read many children’s books to our kids and I am hoping this one stands up to the greatness of others we have put our kids to sleep with.”

Released in 1971, “American Pie” was named one of the top five songs of the century by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America.

Available now for pre-order wherever books are sold:
Amazon: 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/149306231X/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_M7H6T3X50TQSS0WNQV0M
Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/american-pie-don-mclean/1138820714
Books-A-Million:
https://booksamillion.com/p/American-Pie/Don-McLean/9781493062317
Rowman & Littlefield:
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781493062324/American-Pie-A-Fable

To keep up with everything Don McLean and be a part of his upcoming announcements, visit his website and follow his social channels linked below.

About The Authors:
Don McLean is a Grammy Award honoree, a Songwriter Hall of Fame member, a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and his smash hit “American Pie” resides in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry and was named by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) a top-five song of the twentieth century. Don McLean is one of the most revered and respected songwriters in American history, having scored mega-hits like “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night),” “Castles in the Air” and many more. 2021 marks the fiftieth anniversary of American Pie!

Judith A. Proffer founded Southern California–based and award-winning Huqua Press in 2010 as an independent publishing house. Previously Proffer spent twenty-five years in newspaper publishing, including nearly two decades with the alternative press (LA Weekly, OC Weekly, Village Voice Media) where she was associate publisher and publisher, followed by co-ownership of the Sun Community Newspaper chain in the San Fernando Valley. She is the editor of I Hope You Dance, The Power of Spirit and Song, and co-author of two other children’s books, When We Stayed Home and Broadway Baby.

About Meteor 17 Books:
Meteor 17 Books was founded by Spencer Proffer to bridge media and books with creativity and innovation.

About Backbeat Kids:
Founded in 1991, Backbeat Books has grown to become the world’s leading imprint dedicated solely to music. Passionate fans and musicians know to look to our brand to find the highest quality titles on their favorite topics. Specifically, our books are known for their depth, spirit, and authority, offering a diverse range of titles—from biographies and memoirs, critical examinations, and histories to authoritative volumes on musical instruments and instruction—covering all areas of popular music and beyond.

Backbeat has now expanded its brand into children’s books with Backbeat Kids! This series offers richly illustrated, iconic song-inspired titles, presented by legendary songwriters that will warm the hearts of children of all ages.

Red Wing Roots Announces News.

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May 302021
 
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2021 is making out to be a blockbuster year for the return of live music and also indoor and outdoor festivals all over America. We here at Gary Hayes Country cover over 275 festivals each year, and each time they release more information about their event, I make my yearly articles for each one.

Out on the east coast in Mount Solon Virginia, we have the almighty Red Wing Roots Music Festival. So as we get all of the information correct and up to date, please enjoy your own favorite festivals, and maybe even try to find a new one you like!

With a line up this great, every day is a good day! Check out the full performance schedule and the 2021 line up page to learn more about the amazing artists coming to Red Wing VIII.

View each day’s stage-wide schedule all at once: Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday.
Save or print them for use during the festival. However you look at it, we’ll see you in July!
RWVIII Tickets & Camping – June 1st at 10am

A reminder that tickets and camping for Red Wing VIII open on Tuesday at 10am! If you held on to your tickets from 2020, you should have received an email from Eventbrite on Thursday with your ticket information. 

If you’re planning to purchase tickets, this is what you’ll find:

  • Weekend passes will begin with Round 3 Tickets ($141/ea).
  • 3-day passes for teens (ages 13-17) are $75.
  • 3-day passes for children (ages 6-12) are $19.
  • Children under 6 get in free.
  • Single Day Tickets: Friday ($59), Saturday ($69), and/or Sunday ($49).
  • Many great camping options.
  • Don’t forget a parking pass! ($20/vehicle)

2021 Musicians Announced

We are thrilled to be back and preparing to host Red Wing VIII this summer! With only two months until the festival there is much to be done, but first and foremost, let’s get right to the music!

For many of us, musicians and fans alike, live music has been on hold for an excruciatingly long period of time. We are excited to announce that along with festival hosts, The Steel Wheels, this outstanding line up of regionally and nationally-acclaimed musicians will certainly fulfill our long-awaited musical dreams this July!
The Mavericks – Sarah Jarosz – Hiss Golden Messenger – Son Little
Bettye LaVette – Asleep at the Wheel – Tim O’Brien Band
Peter Rowan’s Free Mexican Airforce w/ Los Texmaniacs
The Steel Wheels – Dustbowl Revival – and many more!Visit our 2021 Line Up page to learn more about all the Red Wing VIII performers. Ready for the music? We’ve got your Red Wing VIII Spotify Playlist right here.
2021 Artist Line Up

You have more questions…

We have some answers.

We know that you have a few more questions for us, so we’ll get to some of the most important ones now and share more as things unfold over the coming weeks.

Tickets & Camping Sales

Our plan is to release additional tickets and camping in early June, depending on the Virginia state and local Covid reopening schedule and success. If things continue moving in a positive direction, we anticipate having 3-day and single day tickets, as well as all types of camping packages, except for Premium RV, available. We’ll get the word is out before sales begin, so be sure to sign up for our emails and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

2020 Tickets are Good for 2021!

If you held onto your 2020 tickets and camping, you are good to go! We also know that some of you may need help remembering where you put that information…. no worries, we’ve got you covered. Watch for a new confirmation email to hit your inbox in the coming weeks as we receive final approval to gather this July.

But what about COVID?

We feel more optimistic than ever that we’ll be together this summer AND we’re still waiting for final approval from state and local governments to host this year’s festival. We will be following state and local guidelines for gathering and will have more information about this leading up to the festival.

Featured Artist: BETTYE LAVETTE

Hailed by the New York Times as “one of the great soul interpreters of her generation,” five-time Grammy nominee Bettye LaVette is a vocalist who can take any type of song – jazz or country, pop or rhythm & blues – and make it her own.  LaVette’s commitment to artistry has earned the admiration of musical peers such as Jon Bon Jovi (“she doesn’t just sing the song, she lives in each of them”) and Bonnie Raitt, who praised her as “one of the most incredible R&B singers singing today…a force of nature.”  Over the course of her remarkable, six-decade career, LaVette has sung for President Obama, published an autobiography, placed six records on the rhythm & blues charts, and starred in a hit musical.  And, as proven by Blackbirds, her second recording for the legendary Verve label, she continues to scale new artistic heights. […]

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Jamestown Revival Release “Fireside With Louis L’Amour” EP

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May 302021
 
Jamestown Revival’s Fireside With Louis L’Amour EP Out Now
Six tracks directly inspired by Louis L’Amour short stories
Nashville, TN – May 28, 2021 – When the recording process of their new EP, Fireside With Louis L’Amour, was all said and done, Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance of Jamestown Revival took on the challenge of distilling a half-dozen tales from The Collected Short Stories of Louis L’Amour, Volume 1: Frontier Stories from 30-page adventures down to three and a half minute songs. Their tune “Bound for El Paso” comes from L’Amour’s “The Gift of Cochise,” “Fool Me Once” was inspired by “The Man from Bitter Sands,” and so on. Longtime fans of Jamestown Revival haven’t had to listen very hard to hear L’Amour’s influence on Clay and Chance, but this is the first time they have tipped their hats directly to America’s beloved frontier storyteller. The whole of Fireside With Louis L’Amour—six songs in total—was directly inspired by individual stories from L’Amour’s Volume 1 collection, allowing listeners to trace the precise roots of Jamestown Revival’s newest release. Available now, fans can purchase or stream Fireside With Louis L’Amour with this link.
Jamestown Revival - Bound for El Paso (Official Video - Inspired By The Works of Louis L'Amour)
“They say that L’Amour was the master of the short story and we would humbly agree. In 30 pages he manages to draw you in, make you invest in the characters, and oftentimes hit you with a twist that you truly didn’t expect,” say Clay and Chance. “The songs on Fireside With Louis L’Amour are our attempt to put a musical spin on some of Louis’ short stories found on The Collected Short Stories of Louis L’Amour, Volume 1: Frontier Stories. It’s been challenging and incredibly rewarding.” To have the family of L’Amour on board was just icing on the cake for Jamestown Revival. “On top of that, it’s been an absolute honor to have the blessing of Louis’ son, Beau, and the L’Amour estate. We hope these songs inspire you to pick up The Collected Short Stories of Louis L’Amour and read the true inspiration behind the music,” they say, before adding, “We also feel it’s worthwhile to mention these songs should be best enjoyed sitting next to a fire with a nip of whiskey in the glass.”
Fireside With Louis L’Amour In The Press:
Garden & Gun premiered the live performance video of album-opener, “Bound for El Paso.”
“If you’re a L’Amour fan, you’ll no doubt recognize what’s been distilled from story to song,” said Cowboys & Indians Magazine. “And you’ll love what happens when two Texans get a hold of America’s storyteller and let their imaginations and harmonies run.”
Fireside With Louis L’Amour Track Listing:
1. Bound for El Paso
2. Fool Me Once
3. The Ballad of Four Prisoners
4. The Killing Type
5. Beyond the Ridge
6. Prospector’s Blues
More About Jamestown Revival: In 2020, Jamestown Revival released A Field Guide To Loneliness, an intimate collection of songs that finds Clay and Chance reflecting on recent times whereby human contact was limited more than ever. A Field Guide To Loneliness follows Jamestown Revival’s 2019 critically acclaimed release, San Isabel. Recorded in a remote cabin in the majestic and calming landscape of central Colorado, the band embraced a minimalist approach in the recording of San Isabel. Finding inspiration in ‘60s and early 70’s folk and pop, the original songs on San Isabel show reverence for early John Denver and Bob Dylan, as well as Simon & Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
About San Isabel, Rolling Stone praised, “…bright harmonies and loping guitar patterns..splits the difference between modern-day Americana and old-school folk.” And Paste Magazine complimented, “The record is abundant with imagery – one minute they’re evoking the expansive west on ‘Round Prairie Road’ and ‘Mountain Preamble’ and the next they’re crooning a thoughtful ballad on ‘This Too Shall Pass.’”

Classic Country Trailblazer, Jeannie Seely, Celebrates 55th Anniversary of Debut Performance on Grand Ole Opry

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May 292021
 

 

CLASSIC COUNTRY TRAILBLAZER, JEANNIE SEELY, CELEBRATES 55TH ANNIVERSARY OF DEBUT PERFORMANCE ON GRAND OLE OPRY

NASHVILLE, TN. – (May 28, 2021) – Classic Country trailblazer, Jeannie Seely will celebrate the 55th anniversary of her debut performance tonight on the Grand Ole Opry®. On the night of her debut, she sang “Don’t Touch Me” on the portion of the show hosted by Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper and sponsored by Stephens work clothing. All total, she made eight guest appearances in 1966 and three more in 1967 before becoming an official member and inducted to the Opry® family on September 16, 1967. She will celebrate 54 years as a Grand Ole Opry® member in 2021 and is one of only three living women (the others being Loretta Lynn and Connie Smith) to have reached this milestone.

“Whenever I have had the opportunity to introduce an artist on their debut at the Opry, I always stress to them and the audience that this is a night they will remember for the rest of their lives,” shared Jeannie Seely. “It is a memory I have treasured for 55 years, although I never imagined at the time I would be here this long! I am grateful to the Opry and the Opry fans and I thank you all!”

“Can you even imagine a Grand Ole Opry without Jeannie Seely over the past 55 years? There would have been a lot less heart, soul, and laughter, that’s for sure. Congratulations, Seely!” Vice President and Executive Producer of the Grand Ole Opry – Dan Rogers “Every time I put in a call to Seely, her first word is YES. She is always willing and ready to step up and promote her beloved Grand Ole Opry. She is a blessing to the Opry and a treasured friend to me,” adds Director of Opry Talent Scheduling and Logistics -Gina Keltner.

“Don’t Touch Me” is a song written by Hank Cochran. The song was released as a single on Monument Records in 1966 and became a major Billboard country hit and became Seely’s signature song. In 1967, her original version of “Don’t Touch Me” won the Best Female Country Vocal Performance accolade at the Grammy® Awards. The song’s success also led to an invitation for Seely to become a member of The Grand Ole Opry®.

Jeannie recently re-recorded “Don’t Touch Me” which can be heard on her highly-acclaimed album, An American Classic, on Curb Records. Digital downloads, streaming and physical copies of An American Classic are available on all digital music platforms here.

Listen to Jeannie Seely talk about “Don’t Touch Me below:
https://www.shannoncountry.com/interviews
Clips courtesy of TV and Radio personality, Shannon McCombs
About Jeannie Seely:
Jeannie Seely will celebrate 54 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry® on Sept 16, 2021. Her current album, An American Classic, was released by Curb Records and produced by Don Cusic. The album includes collaborations with Bill Anderson, Rhonda Vincent, Steve Wariner, Lorrie Morgan, The Whites, Vince Gill and more. The project includes her duet with Willie Nelson, “Not A Dry Eye In The House”, was released as a single on her 80th birthday, July 6, 2020. She was honored by Lincoln Memorial University during its Fall Commencement exercises on December 14, 2019 in Tex Turner Arena where she received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree. June 21, 2019 Ms. Jeannie Seely, was honored and recognized for her contributions to the entertainment industry by the Donelson-Hermitage Chamber of Commerce Women in Business. Announced by country music icon and friend, Willie Nelson, The Standing Ovation Award was presented to Ms. Seely at the inaugural Influencing Women Awards Gala.

Country music legend Jeannie Seely has achieved chart topping songs as a solo artist, as a duet partner, and as a songwriter. Jeannie’s recordings have spanned six decades and provided enjoyment to country music fans all around the world. Many of the songs were recorded by Hall of Fame members. Jeannie earned a Grammy for her recording of “Don’t Touch Me” in 1967. Seely is a weekly on-air host on SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse, where she shares personal memories and fun stories about the songs she spins. 2018 Seely was honored to receive recognition and a star on the famed Music City Walk of Fame and recognized for ranking #2 in Billboard’s Top TV Songs Chart for January 2018 for her song “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand),” written in 1964 and recorded by Irma Thomas. The song is the trailer theme song for new Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, many acclaimed music artists recorded their own versions, including Seal and Boyz II Men, and it has been featured in numerous episodes of the science fiction anthology Netflix television series Black Mirror.

A country music legend and trailblazer, her perseverance over many years earned Seely the honor of being the first female to regularly host segments of the weekly Opry® and is credited for changing the image of Opry® by being the first to wear a mini-skirt on the Opry® stage. Jeannie works tirelessly behind the scenes in the music industry on behalf of fellow artists and musicians. Known for her quick wit and humor, she documented some of her “sayings” in her book, Pieces Of A Puzzled Mind, which is a unique collection of witticisms. Jeannie Seely has also starred in several major stage productions.  In his 2003 book “Finding Her Voice: Women In Country Music,” music critic Robert K. Oermann wrote, “With her chin-out, tough/tender, heart-of-gold manner, Jeannie Seely remains one of country’s most completely modern female personalities,” and that statement still holds true. Keep up with all things Jeannie Seely at www.jeannieseely.com.

B.J. THOMAS DEAD AT 78

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May 292021
 
B.J. Thomas
ARLINGTON, Texas – Five-time Grammy award winner and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, B.J. Thomas, died today at home in Arlington, Texas at the age of 78 from complications due to stage four lung cancer.

Few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than B.J. Thomas. With his smooth, rich voice and unerring song sense, Thomas’s expansive career crossed multiple genres, including country, pop, and gospel, earning him CMA, Dove, and Grammy awards and nominations since his emergence in the 1960s.

Thomas’ career was anchored by numerous enduring hits, among them his million-selling cover of Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” the Grammy-winning “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” and the iconic “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” which won the Academy Award for best original song. A five-time Grammy award winner and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, Thomas has sold over 70 million albums worldwide, scoring eight No. 1 hits and 26 Top 10 singles over his 50+ years in the music industry. His lengthy chart history led to him being named one of Billboard’s Top 50 Most Played Artists Over The Past 50 Years. Such memorable hits as “I Just Can’t Help Believing, “Don’t Worry Baby,” “Whatever Happened To Old Fashioned Love,” “New Looks From An Old Lover” and “Hooked on a Feeling” have made him a staple on multiple radio formats over the years.

Born in rural Hugo, OK, Billy Joe Thomas moved to Houston, Texas with his family and where he grew up absorbing a variety of musical influences from the traditional country of Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams Dr. to the soulful sounds of Jackie Wilson and Little Richard, whose “Miss Ann” was the first single B.J. ever bought. He began singing in church as a child and in his teens joined the Houston-based band the Triumphs.

Thomas’s first taste of success came in 1966 when he recorded “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” with producer Huey P. Meaux. Released by Scepter Records, it peaked at No. 8 on the pop charts and became his first million-selling single. He released the follow-up single, “Mama,” and delivered his first solo album that same year.

Thomas’ second million-selling hit came in 1968 with the release of “Hooked on a Feeling,” from On My Way, his sophomore album for Scepter. During his days with the New York label, he became friendly with Ronnie Milsap and Dionne Warwick, who were also on the roster at the time. It was Warwick who introduced him to songwriter-producer Burt Bacharach. In January 1970, Thomas topped the charts with “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.” Penned by Bacharach and Hal David, the song was featured in the classic Paul Newman/Robert Redford film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, earning the Oscar for best original song. Sales quickly exceeded two million copies and it has remained one of the most enduring pop hits of all time, reoccurring in such films as Forrest Gump, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, Clerks II, and Spider-Man 2 as well as multiple TV shows over the years. He followed that career-defining single with a string of pop/rock hits, including “Everybody’s Out of Town,” “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” “No Love at All” and “Rock and Roll Lullaby.”

After six years with Scepter Records, Thomas signed with Paramount Records where he released two albums—1973’s Songs and 1974’s Longhorns & Londonbridges. In 1975, Thomas released the album Reunion on ABC Records, featuring “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” which holds the distinction of being the longest titled No. 1 hit ever on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Like many successful pop/rock artists, Thomas fell into drugs and battled substance abuse. His wife Gloria became a born-again Christian and the turning point in Thomas’ life came when he became a believer in 1976. He immediately quit drugs and found an avenue for expressing his faith in gospel music. Thomas signed with Myrrh Records and released the album Home Where I Belong in 1976. Produced by Chris Christian, the project won Thomas a Grammy and became the first of two Dove Award wins. The album became the first gospel record to sell a million copies. The warmth and emotional timbre of Thomas’s voice was well suited to the genre and he became one of gospel music’s most successful artists. His rendition of “Amazing Grace” is considered one of the most poignant of the classic hymn’s many covers.

In addition to his country and gospel success, Thomas also enjoyed a healthy run on the country charts in the 1980s with such hits as “Whatever Happened to Old Fashioned Love,” “New Looks from an Old Lover Again,” “The Whole World’s in Love When You’re Lonely” and “Two Car Garage.” “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” was No. 1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Country Songs charts. It won the Grammy for Best Country Song in 1976 and was nominated for CMA Single of the Year. On his 39th birthday in 1981, Thomas became the 60th member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Beyond populating multiple radio formats with so many beloved hits, Thomas also voiced the theme song, “As Long As We’ve Got Each Other,” for the popular TV series Growing Pains, and has lent his voice to numerous commercials, including campaigns for Coca-Cola and Pepsi. He can also be seen on television hosting Time Life Music’s Forever 70s infomercial. As an actor, he also appeared in the films Jory and Jake’s Corner. Thomas authored two books, including his autobiography Home Where I Belong.

In 2013, he released The Living Room Sessions, an acoustic album, which celebrated Thomas’s nearly six decades in the music industry. The project featured Thomas dueting with other high profile artists on his most beloved hits, which included teaming with Richard Marx for “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” Vince Gill on “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” Sara Niemietz on “Hooked on a Feeling,” Keb’ Mo’ on “Most of All,” Lyle Lovett on “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” and The Fray’s Isaac Slade on “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” The album was well-received with critics praising it as a reminder of just how engaging his voice remained after decades of recording and touring.

Though Thomas will be remembered as one of this generation’s premiere vocalists and a consummate entertainer, the humble artist was most proud of his family. He’s survived by his wife of 53 years Gloria, their three daughters Paige Thomas, Nora Cloud, and Erin Moore, and four grandchildren, Nadia Cloud, Keira Cloud, Ruby Moore, and Billy Joe Moore.

A quote from his website exemplifies Thomas’ humble attitude and appreciation for life. “All I am is just another guy. I’ve been very lucky,” he shared. “I’ve had a wonderful life, I’ve been a husband and a father who cherishes his children and now I’m a grandfather, and I’m motivated like all these teachers and preachers and mothers and fathers to help my kids grow up with character and self-respect. I hope that doesn’t sound too grandiose, but that’s what it comes down to. It’s what I’ve tried to do with my music and with the majority of my life.”

Funeral arrangements are forthcoming and will remain private. In lieu of flowers, in-memoriam donations will be accepted by Mission Arlington, Tarrant Area Food Bank, and the SPCA of Texas.

Asleep At The Wheel Releases New EP, Better Times

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May 292021
 
Asleep at the Wheel releases new EP, Better Times
First in a year-long celebration of band’s 50th anniversary; in-person tour dates announced
“Everything this act has ever released is simply spectacular.” -Billboard
May 28, 2021 – Austin, TX – Fifty years ago—before Americana or Outlaw or Cosmic Country ever had a name—Ray Benson and his band Asleep at the Wheel were carrying the torch of some of America’s favorite music into the future with fiery live shows, droves of followers, and a mainstream swing sound all their own. Fast forward five decades to find Benson and crew still bearing that torch, albeit with quite a few more fans and albums under their belt. To begin the celebration of its 50th anniversary, Asleep at the Wheel is releasing some new music ahead of a quick jaunt through Texas and Missouri this June—an appetizer of sorts for what’s to come from their momentous anniversary year. Today, the band released a three-song EP dubbed Better Times, produced by Benson for Bismeaux Records. Benson takes the lead vocal on the title track, a hopeful original written while riding out the pandemic. Asleep at the Wheel vocalist and fiddler Katie Shore sings “All I’m Asking,” a rousing request to get back together, written by Band of Heathens’ Ed Jurdi and Gordi Quist. Meanwhile, Benson and Shore harmonize on “Columbus Stockade Blues,” a traditional tune arranged in the spirit of Willie Nelson and Shirley Collie’s 1960s version. Click here to listen or purchase Better Times, of which the Austin-American Statesman earmarked in their “On The Record” column today.
Now that Better Times is out in the world, Asleep at the Wheel will be hitting the road to celebrate—not just the EP, but the fact that they’re able to tour again—with a run of shows that will take them from Texas’s legendary Gruene Hall on May 29th, up through Texas to Columbia and St. Louis, Missouri, and back down to College Station to end the run on June 20th. A full list of tour dates can be found below and ticket information can be found online at asleepatthewheel.com/tour.
Additionally, Asleep at the Wheel fans are highly encouraged to stay tuned as the band gets further along into their 50th anniversary year—2021 has more exciting announcements in store.
Catch Asleep at the Wheel On Tour:
May 29 – Gruene Hall – Gruene, Texas
June 3 – Birdsong Amphitheater – Stephenville, Texas
June 5 – Starlight Ranch Event Center – Amarillo, Texas
June 6 – Cactus Theater – Lubbock, Texas
June 10 – Rose Music Hall – Columbia, Missouri
June 11 – Fox Theatre – St. Louis, Missouri
June 19 – Buck’s Backyard – Buda, Texas
June 20 – Brazos Valley expo – Bryan, TX
June 22 – Saxon Pub (Ray Benson solo) – Austin, TX
July 8 – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
July 9 – Red Wing Music Festival – Mt. Solon, VA
July 10 – Musikfest Cafe – Bethlehem, PA
July 16 – The Flying Monkey – Plymouth, NH
July 17 – Center for the Arts Natick – Natick, MA
July 20 – Center for the Arts Homer – Homer, NY
July 23 – Stone Mountain Arts Center – Brownfield, ME
July 30 – Red River Station BBQ – Saint Jo, TX
Aug. 22 – The Pub Station – Billings, MT
Aug. 25 – Edmonds Center for the Arts – Edmonds, WA
More about Asleep at the Wheel: Founded in 1970, Asleep at the Wheel has been part of the American roots music landscape for more than 50 years. Although the band got its start on a farm in Paw Paw, West Virginia, Asleep at the Wheel became a cornerstone of the Austin, Texas, scene upon its arrival in 1973. Inspired by Western swing and honky-tonk country, the band has received 10 GRAMMY® Awards, was cited by the Country Music Association as the 1976 Touring Band of the Year, and was given the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Americana Music Association. They have released 31 albums and charted more than 20 singles on the country charts.

 

List Of Local Shows In Kentucky And Tennessee.

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May 282021
 

No Deceit
July 17th, 2021
Spillway Bar And Grill, Bowling Green Ky

Kentucky Headhunters
July 20th, 2021
Downtown Burkesville Ky

Leftover Salmon
July 21st, 2021
The Burl, Lexington Ky

Randall King
July 23rd, 2021
Cahoot’s Dance Hall, Lebanon Tn

The Steel Woods
July 23rd, 24th 2021
The Shed, Maryville Tn at 7PM

Sean McConnell
August 5th, 2021
Nashville City Winery, Nashville 7PM

The Cadillac Three
August 14th 2021
The Shed, Maryville Tn at 7PM

Ricky Skaggs And Kentucky Thunder
August 14th 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Quaker City Nighthawks
August 15th, 2021
3rd And Lindsley

Johnny Lee
August 18th, 2021
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville Tn

Whiskey Myers
August 20th and 21st 2021
The Shed Maryville Tn at 7PM

The Bellamy Brothers
August 21st 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Blue Water Highway
August 26th, 2021
The High Watt, Nashville Tn

Ashley McBryde
August 26th and 27th, 2021
Ryman Auditorium

Gene Watson
August 28th 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Steve Earle And The Dukes
August 30th, 2021
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn

The Cadillac Three
September 1st and 2nd
The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn at 8PM

Terri Clark
September 3rd, 2021
Cahoots Dancehall, Lebanon Tn

Steve Earle
September 4th, 2021
Beaver Dam Ampitheatre, Beaver Dam Ky

Parker McCollum September 8

Legendary Shack Shakers
September 9th, 2021
The Southgate House Revival, Newport, Ky

Whiskey Myers
September 10th and 11th
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn

Clint Black
September 12th
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn

Reckless Kelly
September 24th, 2021
Plaza Theater, Glasgow Ky

Daryl Worley
September 26th, 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Emi Sunshine
October 2nd
Farmhouse Living Fair, Lebanon Tn

Ronnie McDowell
October 9th, 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Gene Watson
October 11th, 2021
Renfro Valley, Mt. Vernon Ky

Neal Mccoy
October 16th, 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Pecos And The Rooftops
October 22nd, 2021
The Basement East, Nashville Tn

Jo Dee Messina
October 23rd, 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Chris Stapleton
October 23rd, 2021
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tn

The Supersuckers
October 29th, 2021
Growler’s, Memphis Tn

Shane Smith And The Saints
November 3rd, 2021
The Basement East, Nashville Tn

Southern Culture On The Skids
November 6th 2021
The Mercy Lounge, Nashville Tn at 7PM

The Mavericks
December 3rd and 4th 2021
The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn

Chris Stapleton
December 5th, 2021
Knoxville Tennessee

Billy Strings
December 17th and 18th, 2021
Bridgestone Arena

Vince Gill
December 19th, 2021
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn

2022 Dates:

Lost Dog Street Band
January 15th, 2022
Cannery Ballroom, Nashville Tn 8PM

Orange Blossom Revue Announces 2021 Lineup.

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May 282021
 

 

ORANGE BLOSSOM REVUE
ADDS BLACKBERRY SMOKE TO 2021 LINEUP

Lake Wales, FL – Orange Blossom Revue is pleased to announce the addition of Blackberry Smoke to its 2021 lineup. The Atlanta based rock titans will co-headline the 7th annual festival alongside critically acclaimed folk duo The Wood Brothers, joining The Steeldrivers, Hayes Carll, Devon Gilfillian, Nicki Bluhm, and more. A staple of the southern music canon, the seven piece ensemble will celebrate their 20th anniversary this year with a new album You Hear Georgia to be released May 28. The outfit will return to central Florida this winter, bringing their dynamic sound and larger-than-life stage presence to the scenic grounds of Lake Wales the weekend of December 3-4.

A music and heritage event like no other, Orange Blossom Revue continues to attract locals and globetrotters alike to the glimmering shores of Lake Wales, a stone’s throw from two of the sunshine state’s main hubs, Tampa and Orlando. General Admission weekend passes are on sale now, with a limited number of VIP and RV Camping passes available while supplies last.

Orange Blossom Revue springs into action this December 3-4, 2021 at Lake Wailes Park (33 N Lake Shore Boulevard, Lake Wales, FL 33853). For up-to-date information about Orange Blossom Revue including safety precautions, tickets, and VIP packages, visit www.orangeblossomrevue.com. A complete lineup can be found below.

 

Orange Blossom Revue 2021 Lineup
Blackberry Smoke
The Wood Brothers
The Steeldrivers
Hayes Carll
Devon Gilfillian
Nicki Bluhm
Ryan Montbleau*
Roosevelt Collier*
The Hummingbirds
Side Hustle

 

 

Mempho Music Festival Announces October 1-3rd Artist Lineup.

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May 282021
 

 

MEMPHO MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES OCTOBER 1-3, 2021 ARTIST LINEUP

WIDESPREAD PANIC (TWO NIGHTS) AND THE AVETT BROTHERS TO HEADLINE, JOINED BY NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS, BLACK PUMAS, LUCINDA WILLIAMS, AND MORE

 

I have the entire list of festivals for 2021 up now folks, and I have more information than you can read in one evening on here now. I work tirelessly adding information as I go along, to over 275 nationwide festivals on here at once. This year above all years you have TONS of bands and artists going back on the road all at once! That brings forth a deluge of concerts, and small venue shows all happening at once despite gas price taking a big leap!

Memphis is a city I have done a lot of music work in, it’s not my favorite city to venture out in, but it is fun to go soak up some live music in. I like to go to the Lucero block party they throw each year, and also the Ameripolitan Awards.

Memphis, TN (April 28, 2021) — Mempho Music Festival is proud to announce its 2021 music lineup taking place October 1-3, 2021 at its new home, Memphis Botanic Garden. The three-day event will feature a two-night headlining performance from rock titans Widespread Panic plus a headlining performance from folk-rock barn burners The Avett Brothers on the Adams Keegan main stage. Additional hitmakers covering the gamut of Americana, rock, and blues include Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Black Pumas, Lucinda Williams, and many more. A full lineup is below.

New for 2021, Mempho Fest will celebrate its fourth annual event at a new home, Radians Amphitheater at Memphis Botanic Garden. Centrally located in the 96-acre Memphis Audubon Park, Radians Amphitheater provides state-of-the-art sound and premier amenities for festival attendees.

Mempho Fest burst on the festival scene in 2017 adding a new chapter to Tennessee’s storied music scene. The event’s focus on bringing a diverse and exciting mix of nationally acclaimed chart-topping artists and regional favorites to a city renowned for its musical lineage garnered praise from attendees and critics alike. This year, after an unprecedented year that halted live music, organizers of Mempho Fest are thrilled to return and offer music lovers three full days and nights of incredible performances.

Early Bird and Tier 1 advance price tickets for Mempho Fest 2021 were announced in February and sold out in record time. Tier 2 three-day General Admission and VIP tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased for $185 and $585, respectively. VIP ticket packages include access to a dedicated VIP area presented by Orion; access to a viewing area in front of the main stage; complimentary VIP parking; $100 in Mempho Bucks to be used on food and beverages or Mempho merch; catered hors d’oeuvres; access to a private bar serving premium craft beer, wine, and cocktails; air-conditioned restrooms; WiFi and charging stations; and a dedicated VIP entrance. Tickets can be purchased through memphofest.com/tickets and Ticketmaster.

While the live music industry continues to navigate unknowns and challenges in the coming months, the safety of Mempho Fest’s patrons, staff, and artists is the organizers’ top priority. The festival is working closely with local and state health officials to ensure a safe and unparalleled experience for all attendees. For up-to-date information about Mempho Music Festival, including safety information and protocols, tickets, and VIP packages, visit memphofest.com.

Now then, as I add more information on this article before the event happens I will embed links to the bands involved on here. I’ll also add links to my favorite hotels I use to stay in, when I visit Memphis.

Mempho Music Festival Lineup 2021
Widespread Panic (two nights)
The Avett Brothers
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
Black Pumas
Lucinda Williams
Moon Taxi
Julien Baker
Waxahatchee
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Andy Frasco & the U.N.
Will Hoge
Southern Avenue
Liz Brasher
The City Champs
Dirty Streets
More artists coming soon

 

Miss Allie Colleen Sets Up To Release Her Debut Album “Stones”.

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May 282021
 

 

Don't Give Your Heart To A Cowboy Artwork

NASHVILLE, TENN. – (May 7, 2021) –  Independent Singer/Songwriter, Allie Colleen, has released the second digital single, “Don’t Give Your Heart To A Cowboy,” off her well-received debut album STONES to all music platforms for streaming and download. The spirited tune, co-written by Eric Dodd and Allie Colleen, is available on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube Music, Pandora and more platforms here.

“It’s all in the lyrics ladies… don’t do it. Cowboys, they have been the coolest thing since forever. Men that smell like leather, horses, and tobacco. Well ladies, I am here to tell you that is what heartache smells like. Flirt with them, dance with them, drink with them, hell – kiss’em if you want, but don’t give your heart to a cowboy,” stated Allie Colleen.

“Allie came over to the house for our writer session, and she said she wanted to write a cowboy song. She shared a cool story with me about someone told her that went something like, “Those cowboys are dangerous when it comes to your heart…they’ll leave their leaving boots on your front porch,” and that line or quote stuck with me and the last part made it in the chorus of the song,” shared Eric Dodd. “I was hooked when she told me that story. When we finished this one, Allie and I knew we had something special. We felt like we really painted the picture of that warning about what a cowboy can do to a girl’s heart. There is something so bittersweet and nostalgic in this one, and it’s one of my favorites I have ever been a part of.”

“… Ever since the wind, came rolling in, from the East
To a one horse town, spurs on the ground, silver screen
From that first tip of a hat, girls like me got it bad
That grit drives you wild, he’ll rope you with his smile
Back then I wish I knew
not all dreams come true

Yeah, He’ll spin you around that sawdust floor
Yeah, He’ll hold your hand out those double doors
He smells sweet like wintergreen with lips that taste like whiskey
He’ll leave his leavin’ boots on your front porch
Don’t Give Your Heart To A Cowboy …”

STONES was co-produced by Joe Costa, Joe Costa Productions and Ben Watts, Lore Entertainment, and recorded at Allentown Recording Studio in Nashville. Physical copies of the highly anticipated debut album STONES are available for purchase online at alliecolleenmusic.com and will be available Nov. 19 on all digital music platforms.

“Allie Colleen delivers the goods on her debut album. From moments of angsty blues to soulful ballads and classic country. Allie does it all with raw, heartfelt lyrics and an honest vocal delivery,” added Co-producer, Ben Watts. “It was a pleasure to play a part in the creation of this project. I’m sure she’s set for a bright journey ahead!”

Allie Colleen Tour Dates:
6-11-21 – Comstock Festival – Comstock, NE
7-17-21 – Valley View Campground – Belmont, OH
7-31-21 – Farley Fest – Milbank, SD w/ Casey Donahew
8-06-21 – Franklin Theatre – Franklin, TN
8-15-21 – Washington County Fair – Richmond, RI
8-19-21 – Battery Park At Hard Rock Hotel & Casino -Sioux City, IA
8-20-21 – The Rust Belt – East Moline, IL
8-21-21 – Riverbend RV Resort – Watertown, WI w/ Love & Theft
8-22-21 – JR’s Southpork Ranch – Iowa State Fair – Des Moines, IA
9-11-21 – Red Hill Cutlery – Radcliff, KY
9-16-21 – Nancy Howe Auditorium – David Howe A. Library – Wellsville, NY
9-18-21 – Fall Heritage Festival – Cowan, TN w/ JD Shelburne

Music is available on all digital platforms Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music and Amazon Music

About Allie Colleen:
A Belmont University graduate from Owasso, Oklahoma with a style that is truly her own, Allie Colleen is no stranger to the music industry. A passion for singing and songwriting since a young age has garnered her a reputation of being a notable songwriter with an iconic-sounding voice. Her impeccably strong voice with hints of timeless tradition falls between classic country and the emerging country sound. The room never fails to silence as Allie Colleen begins to sing about the layers of love and heartbreak that have shaped her. Some of her newest songs bring witty lyrics and a connection to the song unlike most today. One of her original songs, Close Enough, gained nearly more than 715k views on YouTube. Her social media following has continued to increase every year. Her passionate drive and innovative vision set her apart from her peers resulting in here music and videos going viral on the internet – even capturing the attention of well-known radio show host Bobby Bones – proving that her audience is captive and waiting for her next song. Persistently working to hone her skills along-side industry professionals and performing at venues both around Nashville and national venues garners Allie Colleen a growing fan base. Allie Colleen’s debut single, “Work In Progress” defines the life that’s shaped her with personal lyrics and transparency in both the vocals and delivery.  “Work in Progress” is a sweet sentiment regarding her introduction to the Music Industry co-written with hit songwriter Marcus Hummon and well known studio engineer Greg Beick. Her debut single released in early July and followed by “Along The Way.” Her release of her concept project of “Best Friend” and “Road You Take” shared her journey and the story of a broken friendship along with healing a broken heart. Her first radio single “Ain’t The Only Hell (My Momma Raised)” broke tho top #30 on Music Row Breakout Chart 1landed at #9 on CDX TRACtion True Indie Chart  and made a debut at #74 CDX TRACtion Mainstream Country.

Ben Reddell Band Set To Release  ¡LA BABY!

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May 282021
 

http://www.benreddellband.com/

Los Angeles, CA April 27th, 2021—Bryan, Texas-born, Kerrville, Texas-raised Ben Reddell has made a name for himself on the LA roots music scene  He has played bass in Leslie and the Badgers, Elijah Ocean’s band, on Rod Melacon’s Southern Gothic album, and most recently with GospelbeacH. Reddell has also fronted the Ben Reddell Band for many years, playing gigs about town and releasing an EP in 2012, The Big Dang Deal.

 

He is also a community man.  If you’ve ever visited the LA roots music scene, he’s the tall mustachioed man with the long dark hair and a cowboy hat and he’s either walking around shaking hands, or manning the boards for the stage, where it’s needed.  A regular friendly fixture and ‘Mayor’ of the scene, he prides himself on his role of promoter for the indie-roots music show, The Grand Ole Echo and as General Manager of Bedrock L.A. Studios.

 

The band initially went into the studio in December of 2019 to begin recording ¡LA Baby! Of course, we all know what happened after that, and the rest of the record had to be finished remotely.  Not the most ideal, but Reddell wanted to get it done. The pandemic also led to the hiatus of Reddell’s roles as musical promoter and studio manager, but it did have an upside.  “In the absence of my responsibilities, I wanted to focus on putting out my art that I feel is good,” he observes. “Before I didn’t have the time or ability to put my work out there.”

 

Reddell’s music reflects the small town Texan in him and merges it with his urban life in Los Angeles. “I think my approach to country music is unique,” he describes. “I’m really inspired by all the Texas songwriters that came before me, but I’ve always had a penchant for rock music. So I think my brand of country is different than others that have melded the two genres.” L.A. Record compared his voice to Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, calling it “…as weather-beaten and world-weary as any classic Texan troubadour.”

 

Reddell says that the tunes on ¡LA Baby! come from a celebratory perspective. “We went into the studio in December, and we were all really happy and in a good place.  I went into it after watching ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’, which was a celebration of LA, as much as you can celebrate our demon angel of a city.  So the movie kind of filled me with a sense of instilling the tunes with a sense of being in LA, and I feel that comes through.”

 

Longtime friend and musical partner, Elijah Ocean helped Reddell arrange the music on the album, as well as lending his bass skills.  The upbeat, toe tapping, “My Baby” opens the record. “I wrote this in the summer of 2019, I was traveling, playing bass for GospelBeacH, and I was the happiest I’ve ever been.  It’s a love song to my lover, but also to L.A. It’s a tribute to easy living and being the highest and happiest one can be.”

 

“Cocaine” is an edgier song with a country-rock vibe. The story song, “Tumbleweed” slows it down and the sweet sound of the pedal steel juxtaposes with Reddell’s raspy baritone voice. “This is one of my oldest songs. I wrote this in my sad Hollywood apartment in 2007. At that time, I was a drunk and a waiter at the Arclight Cinema, but writing this song made me feel like I was more than those things. It’s inclusion on this record means a lot to me, it’s my banner of L.A.”

 

The lyrics and melody on “Bar Blues” are reminiscent of a Tom T. Hall or Robert Earl Keen song, while the accordion on “If You Love Her and You Need Her” and “Good Thing” will have you moving in your seat if you’re not already on the dance floor. “Good Things’ was written when I moved to the neighborhood of Boyle Heights. It’s a reflection of what I would hear in the hills as Norteño bands would be playing a party somewhere in the distance.  But it’s also inspired by my youth growing up in south Texas. The kind of boozy Jim Morrison-chorus grounds it even more in the LA legacy.”

 

Reddell plays rhythm guitar on ¡LA Baby! and is backed by a stellar band of musicians from the L.A. roots music scene.  Along with Ocean (who is one of Reddell’s favorite country songwriters), he has Travis Popichak on drums who he has been playing with since 2004. Reddell met guitar player Joe Bourdet (Whispering Pines, Jonathan Wilson) over a decade ago and keyboardist Jon Nieman plays in GospelBeacH with him. Added to the mix are Matt Pynn (Billy Ray Cyrus, Jaime Wyatt, Ringo Starr) on pedal steel and Jeremy Long (Sam Outlaw, Jason Hawk Harris) on accordion.

 

¡LA Baby! was a long time coming and is a step forward for Reddell.  “My last EP was released 2012 and back then I was trying to find ways to meld country, R&B, and indie rock into something that would work with the east LA indie scene. This record is more about where I am now.  It’s unapologetic in its country voice, but it’s me now living in LA after 18 years.  This city will eat you whole and spit you out, but if you’re lucky, it doesn’t. I feel like these tunes are a celebration of not letting the demons of this city get you down.”

 

“This record is about joy and love and feeling free,” he muses. “I think the past year has been beyond hard on all of us.  And this record was started before all of that, when I was extremely happy and free. I think that breathes through these tunes, and I hope it brightens the day of whoever listens to it.”

 

The Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

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May 282021
 

Dear Festivarians,

Remember a while back when we asked you the opposite of the word fallow? Well, let’s kick it off, because we are officially ON for Summer 2021! We are thrilled to announce that we will produce all of our festivals this year. Yes, all of them! Wow, that feels good to say. What a momentous day! This includes Telluride Bluegrass, RockyGrass, Folks Festival, Mabon, as well as Song School and Academy.

We spent last year adjusting to a new normal. In the limited light, we began a slow walk through winter, gaining momentum as the days grew longer. We stoked the embers on the Equinox, and they grew brighter as we flowed into weeks bursting with Spring Grass. And soon, we approach the Solstice.

This year, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival will be split into two separate weekends; the traditional Solstice weekend, and the Friday- Sunday before. We will be operating at a reduced capacity of 2,500 people per day. We are doing this to accommodate for the extensive COVID-19 precautions we will have in place.

All Festivarians will be socially distanced in self selected corrals of 10, and we have coordinated limited camping in town. We will forego our traditional sponsor/vendor areas. We worked tirelessly with the town to coordinate a plan that everyone feels safe with, and we are excited to explore a new frontier of Telluride Bluegrass this year.

The Festivarian almanac guarantees seven days of music under the solstice sun. We will bask in the warmth of familiar singing voices, as we are returning to our roots with some of our oldest friends. We will announce the lineup in the next two weeks!

Existing ticket holders will receive preference to buy tickets to all 2021 festivals. We will reach out to all Telluride rollovers this week to outline the available options. There is the possibility that there will be no leftover corrals to go on sale to the general public, and we want to set this expectation on the front end.

Thank you all for your patience through this process. Our eyes are on the future, and we’re full steam ahead. This year will be different, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to present live music to you once again. You will be hearing more from us soon. It’s Pandemonium on the Planet in the very best way possible.

With love,
The Planet Bluegrass Family

2021 Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Dates: June 11-13, 17-20
Limited capacity: 2,500 people per day
We will reach out to existing ticket holders with more information on your options this week – Keep an eye on your email.

RockyGrass Academy
Dates: July 18-22

2021 RockyGrass Festival
Dates: July 23-25
Capacity: TBA based on state guidelines
More information to be released soon. 

Americana Music Association Announces Nominees.

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May 282021
 

I’m always keeping my ear to the ground on so many fronts for the music I love. There are so many good music communities across the globe to give support to and The Americana Music Association is one of them. They teach me a lot about the business side of the music industry, and so much about bands I have yet to discover that I deem them a worthy asset to my website.

Each year, the festival week has town absolutely buzzing while they host all of their panels and artist showcases here in Nashville. I like to spend as much time as I can studying all of the people and subject matter they are featuring.

Last year was a huge disappointment to everybody, as the awards were all done on video because of the pandemic. The entire festival was all online and virtual, however there were still winners, and plenty to learn.

Last year’s winners are all included on this video here and also in this article here are the announcements for this year’s 2021 honors and awards nominees . This one is pretty much inclusive of many of the artists I cover on this website, however there are always quite a few artists I don’t know yet, or need to study further.

After all, that is pretty much why I built and started this website, I wanted to study the music and all of the derivatives of many genres, and become a better fan and a great writer. I truly look forward to covering this event even more in the future so keep tuning into the website.

Here Are Our 2021 Americana Honors & Awards Nominees

What a group! We’re proud to present these much-deserved nominations for our 20th Annual Americana Honors & Awards. Is your favorite artist nominated this year? Check it out below!

And the nominees are …

Album of the Year:

“Cuttin’ Grass – Vol. 1 (Butcher Shoppe Sessions),” Sturgill Simpson, Produced by David Ferguson & Sturgill Simpson

“J.T.,” Steve Earle & The Dukes, Produced by Steve Earle

“The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers,” Valerie June, Produced by Valerie June, Ben Rice & Jack Splash

“Reunions,” Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Produced by Dave Cobb

“World On The Ground,” Sarah Jarosz, Produced by John Leventhal
Artist of the Year:

Brandi Carlile Kathleen Edwards Jason Isbell Margo PriceBilly Strings

Duo/Group of the Year:

Black Pumas

The Highwomen

Our Native Daughters

The War and Treaty

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings

Emerging Act of the Year:

Charley Crockett

Amythyst Kiah

Joy Oladokun

Allison Russell

Waxahatchee

Instrumentalist of the Year:

Megan Coleman

Robbie Crowell

Ray Jacildo

Philip Towns

Kristin Weber

Song of the Year:

“Black Myself,” Amythyst Kiah, Written by Amythyst Kiah

“Call Me A Fool,” Valerie June ft. Carla Thomas, Written by Valerie June

“Dreamsicle,” Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Written by Jason Isbell

“I Remember Everything,” John Prine, Written by Pat McLaughlin & John Prine

“Long Violent History,” Tyler Childers, Written by Tyler Childers
Congratulations to all! Find out who will win at the 20th Annual Americana Honors & Awards on Sept. 22 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Ticketing information will be announced on June 10, so mark your calendars, folks

DelFest Lite Livestream.

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May 282021
 

Happy Memorial Day weekend everybody!

There is so so so much good music happening all over the country this weekend, to celebrate the return of our beloved industry. ALL WEEKEND I have things happening on the website here from many groups of people. I invite you to enjoy all of this fine music with me here on Memorial Day Weekend.

One of the festivals that I ardently watch is DelFest, which is also one of those festivals that was canceled in 2021. MANY shows and small festivals ARE RETURNING SLOWLY, and I have included the information for house shows HERE. Additionally, I have a TON of information on festivals You can read here .

There are so many ways we can now support our favorite venues and festivals, by buying products, and attending small shows as safely as you deem fit. This show here is transpiring in leau of the traditional DelFest on Memorial Day Weekend.

This is one hell of a fantastic lineup folks, and I highly suggest you attend this event!  Now, below the quotes from their website, I have included the virtual festival videos from 2020.

Friends,The thought of not playing on another Memorial Day Weekend was too hard to bear, so while we can’t gather for DelFest, we are glad to be doing a few shows in the region, and look forward to seeing many of our friends.

First up, we are hosting a three day event at B Chord Brewing. We are calling it DelFest “Lite” – same great taste, but less filling.  Marty and the crew at B Chord have shown over the past year they have what it takes to safely put on limited capacity shows in their huge outdoor space.  We will be playing Friday and Sunday nights, and Seldom Scene will be holding down Saturday night along with a bunch of great bluegrass bands there all three days.

On Saturday, we are going to hop on the bus and head up to Selinsgrove, PA for a show at the Susquehanna Events Center.  Then we will head right back to B Chord.  And at some point we are going to make a pit stop to see our friends in Cumberland. Stay tuned for more info on that next week.

Read on below for all the details. Tickets go on sale this Friday, so make your plans now to spend Memorial Day Weekend with us at one of these events.

Stay safe,
Rob, Ronnie, and the rest of the gang

 

More Bands? DelYeah!

DelFest has added some incredible musicians to this year’s DelFest, including Railroad Earth, Béla Fleck My Bluegrass Heart featuring Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Mark Schatz, and Bryan Sutton, Cabinet, the Seldom Scene, Hawktail and Jacob Jolliff Band. DelFest returns to the beautiful Allegany Fairgrounds where it celebrates over 13 years of music along the Potomac River.

Unfortunately, the Infamous Stringdusters will be unable to perform this year, and tickets to their late night will be refunded automatically.  No further action is required by ticketholders. We will be announcing this year’s late nights soon, so keep an eye out or sign up for our email list HERE to get the latest DelFest updates.

Tickets for this year’s festival go on sale tomorrow April 22, 2021 at noon EST.

We look forward to sharing more bands with you soon!
For Immediate Release:
DelFest announces lineup for 14th annual festival
Sept. 23-26 in Cumberland, MD
Initial lineup announced today with more acts to be announced
Cumberland, MD – March 31, 2021 – Del Yeah! DelFest, the beloved genre-spanning festival brainchild of McCoury Music and High Sierra Music is pleased to announce the initial lineup for its 14th annual festival, once again taking place in beautiful Cumberland, Maryland, on Sept. 23-26.
This year, festival hosts The Del McCoury Band and The Travelin’ McCourys will be joined by Old Crow Medicine Show, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Sam Bush, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Lil Smokies, Della Mae, Cris Jacobs Band, Hot Club of Cowtown, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, The Broomestix, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Steve Poltz, Sister Sadie, Lonesome River Band, Ghost of Paul Revere, Dre Anders, Twisted Pine, Fireside Collective, The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Birches Band, Haint Blue, Dirty Grass Players, and The 9th Street Band. As always, Joe Craven, will emcee for the weekend.
In addition to traditional stage sets by these world-class artists, attendees can again expect to see one-of-a-kind collaborations, special guest sit-ins, various tributes to Del McCoury and his musical legacy, and intimate appearances from the aforementioned artists. Delfest will, as usual, be immediately preceded by the 3-day DelFest Academy hosted by The Travelin’ McCourys and other all-star players.
Located along the Potomac River in the scenic Appalachian Mountains, and personally chosen by Del, the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD (2.5 hours from Baltimore and D.C.) serves as the ideal location for DelFest. The fairgrounds are conveniently located near four major airports and can be easily reached by rail or road. The city of Cumberland, MD, is a welcoming host offering multiple hotel options, a charming downtown, and great amenities that include biking, fishing, and kayaking, as well as a steam train engine and museum, and interesting dining options. Come for the music, and perhaps stay an extra day to explore the area offerings which are well suited for music fans and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
The festival, which typically happens Memorial Day weekend, will make a one-time move to the fall in 2021 to ensure a COVID-safe gathering. Festival organizers are working with local and state health officials to ensure musicians, attendees, and staff are cared for, and will adhere to local, state, and federal safety mandates. COVID-specific protocols will be announced closer to the festival.
DelFest announces lineup additions for 13th annual festival, tickets on-sale now
Sept. 23-26 in Cumberland, MD
Railroad Earth, Béla Fleck My Bluegrass Heart feat. Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Mark Schatz, and Bryan Sutton, Cabinet, the Seldom Scene, Hawktail, and Jacob Jolliff Band join festival hosts The Del McCoury Band and The Travelin’ McCourys
Cumberland, MD – April 21, 2021 – DelFest, the beloved genre-spanning festival brainchild of McCoury Music and High Sierra Music is pleased to announce additional acts for its 13th annual festival, once again taking place in beautiful Cumberland, Maryland, on Sept. 23-26.
Announced today, festival hosts The Del McCoury Band and The Travelin’ McCourys, will be also joined by Railroad Earth, Béla Fleck My Bluegrass Heart feat. Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Mark Schatz, and Bryan Sutton, Cabinet, the Seldom Scene, Hawktail and Jacob Jolliff Band.
“We are so glad that many acts were able to move with us to this fall, and glad that more friends have agreed to join us. I feel like we’ve got a little something for everyone here, and the best news is, we aren’t quite finished yet,” says Ronnie McCoury of the lineup and fall festival. “I know one thing is for sure, this DelFest is going to mean more to me and my family than any of the previous ones. It’s going to be so special (and probably emotional) getting to play our second home again.”
Previously announced artists include Old Crow Medicine Show, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Sam Bush, The Lil Smokies, Della Mae, Cris Jacobs Band, Hot Club of Cowtown, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, The Broomestix, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Steve Poltz, Sister Sadie, Lonesome River Band, Ghost of Paul Revere, Dre Anders, Twisted Pine, Fireside Collective, The Jakob’s Ferry Stragglers, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Birches Bend, Haint Blue, Dirty Grass Players, and The 9th Street Band. As always, Joe Craven, will emcee for the weekend.
Tickets are, as of today at 12 PM EST, officially on-sale and music fans are encouraged to act fast. DelFest’s famed Late Night programming will be announced in the coming months.
In addition to traditional stage sets by these world-class artists, attendees can again expect to see one-of-a-kind collaborations, special guest sit-ins, various tributes to Del McCoury and his musical legacy, and intimate appearances from the aforementioned artists. Delfest will, as usual, be immediately preceded by the 3-day DelFest Academy hosted by The Travelin’ McCourys and other all-star players.
Located along the Potomac River in the scenic Appalachian Mountains, and personally chosen by Del, the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD (2.5 hours from Baltimore and D.C.) serves as the ideal location for DelFest. The fairgrounds are conveniently located near four major airports and can be easily reached by rail or road. The city of Cumberland, MD, is a welcoming host offering multiple hotel options, a charming downtown, and great amenities that include biking, fishing, and kayaking, as well as a steam train engine and museum, and interesting dining options. Come for the music, and perhaps stay an extra day to explore the area offerings which are well suited for music fans and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
The festival, which typically happens Memorial Day weekend, will make a one-time move to the fall in 2021 to ensure a COVID-safe gathering. Festival organizers are working with local and state health officials to ensure musicians, attendees, and staff are cared for, and will adhere to local, state, and federal safety mandates. COVID-specific protocols will be announced closer to the festival.
For information including camping, parking, partners, and more, please visit delfest.com and follow DelFest on all social platforms. Can’t wait until September for Del-centered goodness? Refresh with and relive the magic of DelFest on the festival’s Youtube page. To apply for a media pass, click here.

Del Fest is one of the northeastern festivals that I have always made informational articles for each year. This festival community offered many online streaming concerts before they announced the actual festival dates for 2021.

Many festivals have announced a return this year, and this one is one of the more important ones to many. I will be reporting more on this festival, as well as tons more, with all the information you need to enjoy the festival.

Album Feature – Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia

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May 282021
 

By Joshua Wallace

Blackberry Smoke have released their seventh studio album with You Hear Georgia following 2018’s excellent Find A Light record.  But this is no seventh inning slump my friends.  This is their best record since 2014’s Holding Down The Roses.  I don’t know if the band was inspired by the thick humidity in Georgia, but this album is thick with riffs.  If you have been waiting for the return of the riff in modern southern rock, Blackberry Smoke has got you.  This album is full of good songwriting and it even has a couple of great features with Jamey Johnson and Warren Haynes.  Let’s take a deeper dive into what makes this record great.

The album kicks off with “Live It Down” and from the moment you press play you know you’re in for a riff heavy rock n’ roll ride through the south.  A thick and punchy riff greets you and has you rocking through a song about making the most without having much.  The guitar solo on this one is short, but just enough to get you into it.  I love the pause after the solo before the chorus kicks back in.  Up next, is the single “You Hear Georgia” and it’s kind of the anthem for the record.  This song features another killer riff that has a slower groove.  I can hear this one being a live favorite for years to come. 

 “Lonesome For A Livin’” is a great country ballad that breaks up some of the more riff heavy songs on the record.  Jamey Johnson is a good feature for this tune and his voice mixes well with Charlie Starr.  If Jamey Johnson being on this record is one of your inspirations for picking it up, you won’t be disappointed.  “Morningside” is a track that brings back a guitar riff as thick as the darkness the song is about.  I love the lyric “I’m not stumbling in the darkness, I’m just waiting for the morning-side.”  Finally “All Over The Road” is a fun rock heavy track that is one of my favorites on the record.  It goes hard and heavy from the start and doesn’t let up.  Even the mellowed out bridge keeps the vibe going before the solo kicks in.  I love this song and it’s probably going to be a new go to Blackberry Smoke tune for me.

This record does not disappoint.  Lots of great heavy southern rock tunes, thick riffs and good song writing.  If you’ve been a fan of Blackberry Smoke over the years, or a big fan of modern southern rock in general, I highly recommend picking this one up.  Blackberry Smoke has released what I feel like is their best album in years, and it’s an album that brings the rock back to southern rock in a big way.  You Hear Georgia is out everywhere as of May 28th, 2021.  You can catch Blackberry Smoke on tour and this fall they are running their delayed “Spirit Of The South” tour and I’m hoping we can have coverage of one of those dates.  In the meantime, check out the band’s website for tour dates and all of your Blackberry Smoke merch needs.

Favorite Tracks : Live It Down, You Hear Georgia, Ain’t The Same, Lonesome For A Livin’, Morningside, All Over The Road

Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia (2021)

  1. Live It Down
  2. You Hear Georgia
  3. Hey Delilah
  4. Ain’t The Same
  5. Lonesome For A Livin’ (Feat. Jamey Johnson)
  6. All Rise Again (Feat. Warren Haynes)
  7. Old Enough To Know
  8. Morningside
  9. All Over The Road
  10. Old Scarecrow

New Music From Bill And The Belles.

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May 272021
 

 

 

Bill and the Belles – Happy Again – May 21, 2021

Happy Again isn’t exactly happy. But the delightfully deadpan new album from roots mainstays Bill and the Belles is full of life, humor, and tongue-in-cheek explorations of love and loss. Out May 21, 2021 on Ditty Boom Records (distribution and promotion by Free Dirt Service Co.), Happy Again marks a new chapter for the group by featuring eleven all-original songs penned by founding member Kris Truelsen. There’s no dancing around it: this album is about his divorce. But the group has a knack for saying sad things with a bit of an ironic smirk, pairing painful topics with a sense of release and relief. Anyone who’s been to one of their shows can attest that you leave feeling lighter and refreshed. The band often jokes that their setlists appear mournful and angry, but if you don’t listen to the words, you wouldn’t know it. “One of the darkest times of my life turned out to be one of the most creative,” says Truelsen. “I realized, ‘My life is chaos. I need to write about this shit.’” This personal loss turned out to be a creative boon for the band. Many of the songs were cranked out in just a few months, two were even written the night before they were recorded. This raw songcraft, along with the deft production touch of Teddy Thompson, son of Linda and Richard Thompson, who encouraged using only first or second takes, gives Happy Again an emotional punch that deepens with each listen.

The core of Happy Again is the foundational Bill and the Belles quartet sound featuring Truelsen on guitar, fiddler Kalia Yeagle, bassist Andrew Small, and banjo/banjo-uke player Helena Hunt, recently replaced by Aidan VanSuetendael. The album is also gently supported by Nick Falk on electric guitar and percussion and Don Eanes on piano and B3 Hammond. Early fans of the band were hooked by their singing, and Happy Again continues to deliver stellar vocal trio arrangements, honed by Yeagle, that nod toward groups like the Ronettes and The Shangri-Las. ​The band began as a project to explore the sounds between rural and urban music, between vaudeville and down home roots, but they’ve arrived somewhere wholly their own. They revel in the in-between: deeply engaged with the stringband tradition and eager to stretch those influences to contemporary settings. Happy Again is the latest chapter of that ongoing story: what happens when a stringband from East Tennessee lays down a session at Motown. It’s a welcome evolution that feels familiar.

Hear The High Hawks’ Shuffling Ode To The Road In “Heroes & Highways” From Debut, Self-Titled Album

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May 272021
 

Hear The High Hawks’ Shuffling Ode To The Road In “Heroes & Highways” From Debut, Self-Titled Album
Members of Leftover Salmon, Railroad Earth, Hard Working Americans, and more spread their wings with brand new band and album; out June 11th
May 7, 2021 – Nashville, TN – In the first few seconds of The High Hawks’ debut single, a flurry of pulsing electric piano, kick drum, and Townshend-esque guitar strums give way to a flat out J.J. Cale groove just in time for the first line to be sung: “If we could just find a highway…might even find a way to make it home.” And thus, The High Hawks take flight. That tune, “Heroes & Highways,” is an appropriate first taste of music from the long-time-coming, feel-good Americana cooperative, naturally expressing the range of which the bands’ members can reach. With close to 150 years of collective experience as professional touring musicians, The High Hawks—Vince Herman  (Leftover Salmon), Tim Carbone (Railroad Earth), Chad Staehly (Hard Working Americans), Adam Greuel (Horseshoes & Hand Grenades), Brian Adams (DeadPhish Orchestra) and Will Trask (Great American Taxi)—have maintained a generation-spanning presence at the forefront of the roots music scene for over two decades. On June 11th, their debut album The High Hawks will be released via LoHi Records.
Yesterday, Live for Live Music premiered the music video for the aforementioned “Heroes & Highways,” a song the band calls “a nod to the ever-present tension of the thrills and experiences of ‘the highway’ and the comfort and pleasures of home sweet home.” Live for Live music echoed that sentiment, calling the tune “a much-needed reflection on the way of the road.” Fans can watch the video for “Heroes & Highways” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save The High Hawks ahead of its June 11th release right here.
While the term “supergroup” gets thrown around a bit too frivolously, it’s an apt description for these gentlemen who’ve known each other, played in other musical outfits together and sat in with each other’s bands for the better part of the new millennium. But talk to the band members, and you’ll find that their reasons for getting together were much more down to earth. “Sometimes you meet somebody and you hit it off, and you feel like, ‘Man, I don’t want to just look at the cover, I want to read that book,’” says guitarist Adam Greuel with a laugh. “It’s a tight-knit music community in our Americana-bluegrass-jam band world. Over the years, we all kept bumping into one another and realizing there was a deep sense of fellowship and kindred spirit. The main impetus to form The High Hawks was really a curiosity about one another, both musically and personally. This band came out of a yearning to hang out.”
Two years ago, when they first convened at guitarist-singer Vince Herman’s house in the Rockies, there was no clear road map for where they might go. Greuel says, “We had a run of shows booked in Colorado, and we didn’t know what kind of music we were really going to make. Everybody brought a few song ideas along. It was two days before our first show, and that’s when a lot of the songs came together and our whole vibe as a band came together. We have shared influences, shared musical vocabulary, but even with that, there was a kind of telepathy that was like, ‘Holy moly, not only should we be playing some shows, but let’s cut a record too!’” “We went in with zero expectations,” says Carbone. “Once we got together and played the songs we had in mind, it was like, ‘Wow, there’s something going on here! This is not just a bunch of guys playing some songs. This is a band.’”
Indeed, the baker’s dozen of songs that make up their debut have the strong identity and cohesiveness of a band three records into their career. The summery, fiddle-infused opener “Singing a Mountain Song,” with its self-referential line—Soaring like a high hawk across this mountain top—acts as a kind of mission statement for the whole collection. There’s a lot of good feeling and optimism in these grooves, from the celestial cowboy vibe of “White Rider” and the revved-up Cash rockabilly of “Bad Bad Man” to the catchy, sauntering “Do Si Do,” which sounds like a great lost Grateful Dead track, the spare emotional cover of Woody Guthrie’s “Fly High,” and “Just Another Stone,” a moving ode to love’s redemptive power. Throughout, the creative hand-offs between four songwriters and four distinct singers all come together to channel influences from bluegrass to folk to reggae to cosmic Americana into a singular, appealing voice. “These songs wouldn’t sound like High Hawks songs if it was just one of us playing them,” Greuel says. “When it all comes together, there’s a sound.”
As touring starts to wind back up—a list of the High Hawks’ June tour dates can be found below—the band is ready to get these new, feel-good songs out in front of a live audience. “There’s a lot of stuff on this record that’s soulful and soul-nourishing,” says Carbone. “That’s what I get out of it. So I hope that people who listen will get something similar—a replenishment and a nurturing of the soul.” And that’s something that, after all these years of making music and touring the world, all of the band members are grateful for—as the outro of “Heroes & Highways” exclaims, they “Still got a soul!”
The High Hawks Tracklist:
Singing A Mountain Song
Talk About That
Heroes & Highways
Just Another Stone
When The Dust Settles Down
White Rider
Fly High
Bad Bad Man
Do Si Do
Home Is
Blue Earth
Trying To Get By
Goodnight Irene
The High Hawks On Tour:
June 2 – Pearl Street Brewery – La Crosse, WI
June 3 – The Hook & Ladder Under The Canopy – Minneapolis, MN
June 4 – WIJAM Presents Sol Dance at Jones Park – Appleton, WI
June 5 – Mackey’s Hideout (outdoor stage) – McHenry, IL
June 6 – The High Hawks Invitational @ Long Bridge Golf Course –

The Red Barn Convention Center 2021 Shows.

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May 272021
 

With the insane deluge of shows pouring in, and the amount of venues that are in dire need of support from not just me, but every music fan, I proudly announce that my Ohio friends over at The Red Barn Convention Center has gone back into full throttle. Now, many of the shows that were scheduled for 2020, are rescheduled for 2021 to the best of their ability.

We need to remember that many of these national touring acts have so many shows to make up from being postponed, that many people already hold tickets for. Many of them did not want to forfeit their tickets, however they hung onto them in hopes of instances like this.

However, like many other large venues, they are having to cancel a mega ton of shows and are keeping a good sized amount of them as well. As I delve into a nationwide plethora of outdoor amphitheaters and convention centers, I find that many of these national acts can only keep so many shows.

To be honest, having been around the music business as I have for a few years, A LOT of these decisions are made by management, and booking agencies. The actual artist does not really have as much control over their schedule than you think. Many of them that have smaller circles of control, and make the calls….but a LARGE portion of them that are on the echelon of this venue….do not.

One needs to keep in mind how many hands are in the cookie jar behind the scenes at a show. SO MANY are in the background laboring tirelessly to bring you the best entertainment they can. It truly takes a lot of effort to just ‘play music”.  Please take that under consideration when you become irate at artists or the venue itself.

The History

As visitor to the Red Barn Convention Center enter the facility, gasps of aw and astonishment can be heard and, it is difficult to envision that just a few years before the Cantrell Family purchased the now known RBCC that the very building was once known as the unfinished abandoned mega-church alongside the Appalachian Highway flapping with strips of weather torn house-wrap and waist-high weeds. The dream was to create a family-oriented place people of all ages and backgrounds can unite to enjoy concerts, festivals, camping, and so much more in a relaxing environment.

Auditorium
The Red Barn Convention Center has been designed for both patron comforts and stage performance technology, in additionally, it is the region’s largest and most versatile event room. The Auditorium offers plush seating for 1,000. The fully-equipped stage features state-of-the-art lighting and sound. Features of the RBCC include a house sound system, spacious backstage area and professional technical and events staff to make any type of performance or production possible. The main foyer, where patrons can gather during intermission can accommodate more than 300 and enjoy a full-service cafe and shop merchandise and memorabilia of RBCC entertainers and performances. Entertainers enjoy full-service hospitality perfectly situated backstage and convenient access to and from their buses and trailers. In addition, the RBCC affords hospitality events staff to ensure the comforts of entertainers and their crews during their time at the RBCC.

New Music Coming From Mr. Lukas Nelson And Promise Of The Real.

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May 262021
 

I’m not always into everything that Mr. Lukas Nelson puts out each time, but last week I was given some press on his new album called “A Few Stars Apart” , and I must say…I loved it. “Turn Off The News” , I just didn’t enjoy as much as the self titled 2017 album, however the song “Civilized Hell” is one of my favorite songs he has.

The pandemic left a lot of people in uncomfortable positions, like Mr Lukas, who self admittedly hasn’t stayed anywhere more then three months long. This song tells us all about how he adapted to being cooped up with his own family for a long period of time. I liked the line where he said somebody smiled at him without a mask.

It hits stores on June 11th, and is produced by Mr. Dave Cobb, and was recorded in RCA studio A.

from what one might say is the ultimate road family—I’ve been on the road my entire life. I’ve never been anywhere longer than three months, and suddenly here we are, the four of us together. And thank god we were together… It took me a really long time to come back to the home in my heart…I think I finally decided not to run from who I am and who I am destined to be. First and foremost, that’s a songwriter. That’s what this record means to me. There’s a story being told through the whole record. A story about connection and coming.

The singer-guitarist and Promise of the Real — drummer Anthony LoGerfo, bassist Corey McCormick, percussionist Tato Melgar, and pianist and utility player Logan Metz — will release A Few Stars Apart on June 11th via Fantasy Records.

A Few Stars Apart tracklist:
1. “We’ll Be Alright”
2. “Perennial Bloom (Back to You)”
3. “Throwin’ Away Your Love”
4. “A Few Stars Apart”
5. “No Reason”
6. “Leave ‘em Behind”
7. “Wildest Dream”
8. “Giving You Away”
9. “Hand Me a Light”
10. “More Than We Can Handle”
11. “Smile”

 

Lefftover Salmon Releases Brand New Good Old Days.

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May 252021
 

I have enjoyed this band’s music for many years, however I do not agree with their anti firearm politics. The song “Red Fox Run” was biased and it is a  pompous and arrogant attempt to get their point across, however there is no point on arguments like that. THE REST of the album, however is an amazing album from a seasoned band. I’m not going to drift off into a rant with back handed insulting vernacular.

The title track here is a free flowing anthem to this band, and their ilk. I think with many of the people like Mr. Billy Strings and Mr. Sam Bush spearheading this community, this is a TRULY wonderful era for this type of music. All of these bands and the festivals they frequent are indeed rapidly becoming good old days.

As a recovering addict with 20 months clean under my belt, I AM LIVING brand new good old days. This song can speak to you in so many ways, and I’m sure the band will not mind you accepting any way.

Here is the press release for the single:

Known for their exhilarating live shows and musicianship as well as their eclectic musical tastes, Leftover Salmon is one of Colorado’s most beloved musical exports, picking up where bands like Little Feat, The Band and The Grateful Dead left off and distilling the music into their signature potent brew of bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll, folk, Cajun, soul, zydeco and blues.

Leftover Salmon’s new album BRAND NEW GOOD OLD DAYS will street on May 7th. The release marks the band’s return to the Compass Records family, following on the 2002 release of LIVE, as well as three solo projects for lead singer/mandolinist Drew Emmitt. The new album will be released on CD, digitally and on limited-edition blood orange vinyl. Relix premiered the animated lyric video for the title track this week. The message of the song, according to band co-founder Vince Herman, is about living in the moment:  “It’s a reminder that no matter what kind of trouble we’re in these days, it may not ever be as good as it is right now.”

On BRAND NEW GOOD OLD DAYS, Leftover Salmon delivers a feel good collection of 10 new tracks, dipping their collective musical toes back into the bluegrass stream from which they emerged as a band 30 years ago. The resulting album is a fun, engaging and deeply musical set which showcases the band’s musical roots even as they embrace the more progressive elements that made the band one of the principal architects of the jam grass sound several decades ago.

Leftover Salmon is a band that has continued through various musical fads and label affiliations to maintain a vibrant, relevant and influential voice in the music world. Over that time, their sound has grown and evolved while staying true to the roots and guiding spirit of the band’s founding members — mandolinist/singer Drew Emmitt and guitarist/singer Vince Herma

“Category Stomp” is a trademark JAM this band is known for, with lyrics that are fast and all over the grid. They are so so versatile in their music, they display it prominently here on this song. Mr. Andy Thron drives this song along with some banjo wizardry, and when you juxtapose that with the vocals from Mr. Vince Herman and Mr. Drew Emmitt ( both of whom are founding members), you get an absolute jam!

You get some of that new psychedelic sound in the beginning of this song here, this band has so many different instrumental sounds and influences, they make almost any song enjoyable. Look for this band to be on a plethora of festival lineups in 2021.

The John Hartford Memorial Campout 2021.

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May 242021
 

May be an image of text that says "JOHN HARTFORD MEMORIAL CAMPOUT SPECIAL TIME OF CAMPING & MUSIC MEMORY OF JOHN HARTFORD &JON HOTZE HENHOUSE PROWLERS THE TILLERS ARMCHAIR BOOGIE AVOCADO CHIC BARBARO CHICAGO FARMER FLATLAND HARMONY EXPERIMENT FRANK AND LEE GOOD MORNING BEDLAM THE HAMMER AND THE HATCHET MAMA SAID STRINGBAND •NEW OLD CALVARY RED MOUNTAIN BOYS JUNE 3-5, 2021 BILL MONROE MUSIC PARK AND CAMPGROUND BEAN BLOSSOM INDIANA USA 2021"

This years Campout event is being produced and hosted by the Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground.

We want to give a huge THANKYOU to all of you who donated all or part of their tickets from the 2020 festival. Your donations made are making this event possible with no admission fee. Things will be back, much closer to our old normal for the 2022 John Hartford Memorial Festival. 

No tickets will be sold to this event. You must have camping reservation for admission. Produced and hosted by Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground.
For camping reservations visit; https://www.campspot.com/book/billmonroemusicpark At this point you must reserve 4 days June 2 to 6 as tent camping to confirm reservations. RV sites are sold out other than ones you may see listed by individuals.

Please Join Us at the John Hartford and John Hotze Memorial Campout

What is the next best thing to a music festival? How about a giant campout with live music. Tickets will not be sold to this event. You must have paid camping for admission. Visit www.billmonroemusicpark.com for camping information and reservations. Produced and hosted by the Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground. This event was made possible by the generous donations of our fans. We want to give a huge THANKYOU to all of you who donated all or part of their tickets from the 2020 festival. Things will be back closer to our old normal for the 2022 John Hartford Memorial Festival.

“Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground” is dedicated to continuing to be cautious and protecting the wellbeing of their campers and guests during the upcoming campout. They will continue to follow all of their Festival Health Procedures and Guidelines moving forward. The complete guidelines can be found on their website: BillMonroeMusicPark.com

Some of the highlights include:

A safe 10’ barrier will be around the stage.
Wearing a face mask is highly recommended when near others not in your group even though the state of Indiana mask mandate has been lifted.
Wearing a face mask is important in these areas: restrooms, food vending, jam circles and any indoor area, making everyone feel more comfortable.
Allow for social distancing when choosing your seating area in the concert area. Please do not sit in chairs belonging to others or leave items unattended.
Chairs will need to be removed each night from the concert area.
There will be designated golf cart parking.
Pavilion will be designated as eating only.
No smoking or vaping in the designated concert area.

Most of all, please be kind and courteous, we are all in this together and want to have the best campout experience for everyone. We look forward to seeing everyone gather at the park this year.

Our beloved founder, John Hotze. Rest in Peace Dear Friend.
Our beloved founder, John Hotze. Rest in Peace Dear Friend.

Where Does An Old Time River Man Go?

Our wonderful founder and visionary, John Hotze passed away March 29th, 2021. John stuck his neck out and created a unique gathering of kindred souls dedicated to preserving the music and legacy of his lifelong friend and our festival namesake, John Hartford. The John Hartford Memorial Festival is this gathering and the fulfillment of John Hotze’s vision. Thanks to John’s resilience and persistence, folks have been exposed to and reunited with the music and life of John Hartford. Please read this informative article about John Hotze that first appeared in nodepression.com, May 4th 2012. Click Here.

So let’s talk for a bit about this scaled back lineup they have here to accommodate the health guidelines for 2021. I’m sure every festival will indeed be back to normal next year, each one of them offering mammoth lineups spanning 3 and 4 days. Until that time, I think we are more than lucky to get smaller lineups…. here’s why.

Smaller lineups equal more relaxed band time and stage time for tech problems. You may not realize this yet, but outdoor festivals can be an absolute debacle for sound techs and stagehands. You start mixing mud and water with loose cords and wet wood…you get a MESS….especially on day 3 or 4.

You got so many people in HOT, cramped tents swapping in and out gear and you have an outdoor festival! Smaller lineups will equal smaller and smoother changeups, and the band can spend more time being intimate with their audience.

Well, none of that is going to be the case this year, as this will be more of a campout than a festival, and it was culminated by the fans making donations to make it happen.

The Low Down On Where To Stay:
The Brown County Inn

If camping is not for you, please make reservations now at our JHMF official host hotel, The Brown County Inn. Full restaurant and bar, year-round covered and enclosed open-air pool pavilion with a 2,500 square foot sun-deck and live entertainment. Located just six miles from the park, and only a three-block walk from beautiful downtown Nashville, IN. We’ve negotiated a special price just for our festival family! Visit their web site by clicking here and use the promo code JHMF9 for a discount on your room.

Brown County Cabins
Comfort Inn
Abbey Inn
Creekside Retreat
Always Inn

The bands involved on this bill are all equally amazing in their own right. I’ll start with one of Roots music’s older bands The Tillers, whom recorded an iconic album called Farewell To The Historic Southgate House. Their 2010 album “By The Signs” is on my TOP 100 Roots Albums Of All Time, and this Ohio based outfit have been friends of mine for many years.

The Henhouse Prowlers are currently out playing a string of shows to support their new album called “The Departure”. This quartet is a Bluegrass powerhouse, having over 15 years in operation, and an endearing respect from their peers in the music community.

The Hammer And The Hatchet is an Indiana based duo that released a TERRIFIC album in 2020. I have had the pleasure of seeing them play on quite a few music functions, like one of the previous Hagfests at the aforementioned Southgate House Revival.

Chicago Farmer
Armchair Boogie
Avocado Chic
Barbaro
Flatland Harmony Experiment
Frank And Allie Lee
Good Morning Bedlam
Mama Said String Band

Oystergrass Festival Announces 2021 Lineup.

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May 232021
 

Live music has returned in a mammoth fashion now, and the floodgates have foodgates have poured out into the void for me. Releasing my 275 festivals I follow and report on, as well as literally thousands of bands here! I will be touching briefly on each lineup before making my monthly article for each festival.

After what seems like forever, live music is back and the Oyster Ridge Music Festival team is excited to announce our new lineup for this year’s event, which will be held on July 23rd and 24th in the Herschler Triangle Park in downtown Kemmerer. Headlining this year’s event will be the Yonder Mountain String Band!

This summer’s event will feature a diverse and extremely talented lineup featuring the Yonder Mountain String Band, Reckless Kelly, Tim Montana, Freddy Jones Band, Goodnight, Texas, Wheelwright (formerly Jared & The Mill), Michigan Rattlers, The Rightly So, Reckless Rooster, and as always Robin & Dan Kessinger – view the 2021 Artist Lineup here.

In what will be a modified schedule for this year’s event, due to the late start and some cancellations early in the year, we are pleased to share this lineup with everyone and we are extremely excited about who will be playing for us very soon.

We kindly ask for everyone’s patience as we move forward with planning and getting prepared for this summer in such a short time frame.

Please stay tuned to our social media pages, website, and emails as we will provide regular updates regarding this year’s festival.

Thank you all for your support, without you a lineup like this is not a possibility at a free festival. If you’d like to continue to support ORMF and make next year even better, please feel free to do so.

New Music Coming From Mr. John R. Miller.

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May 222021
 

The floodgates have officially opened over here at Gary Hayes Country, and I have been insanely busy, keeping up with all of these bands and artists. Keep scrolling and far a look at the articles I have for over 275 festivals going on in 2021. I’m having to Pace myself here, in order to get everyone and everything up on an even schedule, and i realize that I am sometimes on an ecletic structure about getting albums out on a timely basis.

This brings me to talk about my buddy Mr. John R. Miller, whom has a new album coming out this summer under the Rounder Records label called “Depreciated”. This album boasts 11 songs on it, and currently there are three singles released.

The first single is called “Lookin’ Over My Shoulder”, which opens with a solid funky bass line and includes some fine slide guitar work and nice effects. “Lookin’ over my shoulder, making sure she ain’t around”.

This song is about a man returning to his old small home town after being gone for some time. It is admittedly his own fault the relationship went to shambles, and it deals with the fact that time and life makes us return to scenarios like this.

This West Virginia native whom is also a founding member of the Prison Book Club, plays a hefty amount of your dates each year. He stays very active all around my area all year long, and he also plays bass for Mr. Pat Reddy And The Longtime Goners. I get the priveledge to see him on the many festival lineups I cover.

The song “Faustina” is a heartfelt ode to the road life that many of these musicians live. Through the many years of me doing this, and following these people all over the United States I have one deduction….its NOT an easy life. And this IS A JOB.

In Their Words: “I wrote ‘Faustina’ a few years ago as a salve when I needed one; one part road-ode, one part a nod to long hours spent in search of mystics and saints while navigating cycles of addiction. I love John Clay and Jonathan Beam’s comfortable groove here on drums and bass respectively, Adam Meisterhans’ backdrop of electric guitar flourishes, and Russ Pahl’s effortless-sounding pedal steel ebbing throughout the song.” — John R. Miller

This album hits the market on July 11th, and it was produced by Mr. Justin Francis, whom produced Miss Margo Price and Miss Kasey Musgraves as well. Also, this album was recorded in studio A of the historic sound emporium here in Nashville.

This last single called “Shenandoah Shakedown” is a difficult song to dissect. It spoke to me on many levels, one being stuck in a relationship out of comfort instead of love. Kind of like an old shoe, you don’t NEED IT anymore….but it’s comfortable.

TRACK LIST:
1 Lookin’ Over My Shoulder
2 Borrowed Time
3 Faustina
4 Shenandoah Shakedown
5 Coming Down
6 Old Dance Floor
7 Motor’s Fried
8 Back and Forth
9 What’s Left of the Valley
10 Half Ton Van
11 Fire Dancer

The Beauty Of The Marfa Tapes.

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May 212021
 

The first few albums that Miss Miranda Lambert put out, in my opinion were crap. But through the years and through the personal struggles in her life, she grew exponentially as an artist. Additionally, I feel she has grown exceedingly well as a songwriter and overall entertainer.

She became a Country Music juggernaut around 2000, when she began releasing better albums, like her third album “Revolution”. However, one of the catalysts for her triumphant breakthrough was her 2011 band The Pistol Annies album “Hell On Heels”.

She wowed audiences with her double solo album in 2016, while it dominated the commercial market, it was snubbed by the media. The Weight Of These Wings was an underground holy grail album boasting the song “Tin Man” and “Highway Vagabond”.

Ultimately, I think that her widely publicized parting with producer Mr. Frank Liddell marked a few more notches in her growth. Even though Liddell was responsible for the Pistol Annies albums, and her breakthrough albums, she decided to part ways and go with music row giant Mr. Jay Joyce, a Longtime producer of Mr. Eric Church.

Now we have an absolute masterpiece of a song, which was recorded in the west Texas desert, as the three of them took four trips in seven years out to west Texas. The finished products here were nothing more than raw work tapes of songwriter sessions. This song here was not included on the album at all, which is almost as sad as her lyrics in this pandemic period lament.

This was a tragic year for the music industry, as many venues just couldn’t stay afloat in the non active market. What else were the artists supposed to do but record heartfelt ballads to rip out your heart? She sadly mentions a lot of the iconic Texas venues like Billy Bob’s Texas, where she sold out three solid nights worth of shows.

So now here we have a truly epic album done in a small discreet ranch recording studio, in West Texas. Marfa Texas is a small desert city in West Texas, that is known as an artist’s hub.

Mr. Jon Randall of course is half responsible for “Whiskey Lullaby ” with Whispering Bill Anderson. And Mr. Jack Ingram is a Red Dirt giant who also helped Miss Miranda write “Tin Man”.

The three of them along with engineer Mr. Brandon Bell decided to release this acoustic album of raw and unique recordings of their songs, and it ended up being a holy grail. It’s very much like what Mr Shooter did with Billy Don Burns on his album “A Night In Room 8”, which was my 2016 album of the year.

The reason I say that is while you listen to all of the different recordings, you hear life going on in the background. It gives it a party like ambiance, like cans cracking open and at one point, cattle!

The direct result is this unintentional ode to Texas in this album, with songs like “Am I Right Or Amarillo”. Now that is COUNTRY right there! That is a well written song of absolute simplicity that complements the other songs on this album.

My point is, much like what Mr Shooter did THE MAGIC is there on this album. Beyond “quality” you have DEPTH and so many other scenarios. Miss Miranda has said publicly that she would LOVE to perform these songs, but it would be hard to wrangle them all three together……the beauty of The Marfa Tapes.

The Steel Woods Album Release Party.

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May 202021
 

As I slowly and assuredly make all of my favorite venues a priority, there are a few that I have a few disappointing things to say about some of them as well. I have truly enjoyed many a terrific show at the Nashville Palace.

It’s been exceptionally nice to get back to music work.  My right arm Mr Joshua’s is in Georgia spending time supporting Mr. Adam Hood, and Mr. Donnie is floating around somewhere. There is a pretty full house tonight and I see a LOT of friendly faces among this crowd. One thing I will say is that they were adequately staffed tonight. Everything looked really well done service wise.

They changed the venue around a lot, making the main room a better separate room from the front bar. This makes me have mixed feelings on the matter. For one, I can see the security and the wristbands for this area.  They just do not want mixed rooms because not everyone may have paid  and I can understand that.  The bad side was that hallway feels more cramped on the way in and they really didn’t have a system for the general admission area. I am happy to see they kept much of the priceless artwork from all of the previous places it was displayed in.

This was one of those shows where the opening band, was just as top notch as the headlining act. I’m going to be completely honest with y’all…..I have never heard of  The Wilder Blue until now, and I’m just beyond amazed at what I’m hearing.  This band is a prime example of that undiscovered talent you can find lingering around many local music scenes.

I got into their album a little bit further this weekend, and there were some songs on the album I liked, that I do not remember on the set. One thing I wanted to say outright is that their harmonies LIVE are not captured on the album on the echelon they are on!

One of their songs was called “River Roll” , which is just what the title says, it’s just a free flowing, slow and easy song. One of the best songs on the album, that showcases the band’s harmonies was “The Eagle”.

Another one of the many reasons I thoroughly enjoyed this band, was their multi instrumental abilities. They all changed up many different times, like the accordion on the song called “Adios”. However, the most well written song on this album was when they got out a dobro, and played us “Dixie Darlin’ “.

If you love story songs like I do, and songs that try to tame a female with a gypsy soul. Wandering rodeo queen, that is the love of this man’s life, that keeps wandering off. She knows she is loved and wanted but keeps leaving, until she calls and says she is pregnant. The story really doesn’t end, and the fun part is that  you can see the ending any way you want.

One of the better songs on the album was the song “Work To Do”. That song spoke to me as an individual that has a LOT on his plate. Nobody is going to run your house and keep vehicles running BUT ME.  It seems I am always doing chores, and twisting bolts, AND working a job, AND I write for music over 30 hours a week!

This band is composed of Mr. Lyndon Hughes, Mr. Andy Rogers, Mr. Zane Williams, Mr. Sean Rodriguez and Mr. Paul Eason..and I was damn glad I ran across them. I want to go back into the song “Adios”, which was another song that painted a good picture in my mind. One of those fantastic Texas songs about live down there, and this one sounded better LIVE. GO PAY TO SEE THIS BAND.

The Steel Woods took the stage tonight on behalf of their new album which launched today entitled All Of Your Stones. I fully expect a righteous offering of the new album with a few from the middle album tonight.  As the show time drew nearer I got kind of sad this many people missed a BEYOND amazing opening band.

But I’m going to tell you….The Steel Woods got it going on after all that they have been dealing with in the past two years, and yet the sound still rings amazingly true now.. They came out with the song “Out Of The Blue”, a song you can interpret many ways. One of the ways I did was that this was a song of freedom from a controlling and abusive relationship.  A song of growth and redemption of your self respect and dignity, after not being able to see it for so long.

They followed that up with “You’re Cold”. They took a little time between songs to tune for the different ones, and had some guitar tech issues later on…things happen.  but overall this show was indeed amazing! They played a portion of the song recorded by many called ” God’s Gonna Cut You Down” before going on into ” You Never Came Home”. Basically, they played the album in it’s entirety and in order ( accept two songs) .

Jack Mills, son of Wayne Mills, has been a long time guitar student of jason cope. Jack took the stage and plugged up Jason’s telecaster dubbed “The Frankencaster” to sit in on “I Need You” he immediately had tech issues that remained throughout the first half of the song. It seemed as though Jacks Mentor/teacher had one more lesson to teach the young man. That lesson being it’s not going to be that easy always expect the unexpected. Jack passed this test with the composer of a seasons road guitarist. After the show talking with Jack about playing Rowdys guitar he said “ I love that guitar. It doesn’t play wrong notes.” We have not heard the last of Jack Mills

“Ole Pal” is the greatest song on this album, a very fine, well written masterpiece of love and brotherhood. Our old pal Mr. Jason was not forgotten by any of us tonight, they brought out Mr. Jack Mills, son of Mr. Wayne Mills to play his guitar.

I’m going to tell you an old story of mine from a few years back, we all went down to Nashville for the day to have a benefit show for Mr. Wayne Mills. I had older articles written for it years ago that were destroyed by malware. I was heavily involved in all of the shows and festivals in the past, that involved Mr. Wayne Mills.

“I need You”, is actually a Lynyrd Skynyrd cover off the 1972 album called Second Helping, and went on into the low ballad called Run On Ahead. tow thoughts here, one is the song reminds me of my adopted mother saying goodbye to my father. He passed away from dementia, and my mother told him to run on ahead, and he passed away the next day.

The final two from the new album were “Baby Slow Down” and “aiming For You” before playing  the ultimate comeback anthem called “All Of Your Stones”. That has to be one of the best relationship breakup anthems I have ever heard, or a person that will persevere over the mudslinging of others.

Their second half of the show kept all of the older songs fresh in our minds, and brought us back to the old lineup. At the same time of the, they are not trying to replace or imitate anyone from their previous lineups. Rather they are keeping their memories alive with everything they do.

“Axe” began the second portion of their set touching on their second album,  then went into “All Of These Years” from the Old News album. “Southern Accent” and “Rock That Says My Name” were others from the second album included here.

The three songs this set list boasted from the first album were “Let The Rain Come Down”, “Better In the Fall” . Their cover of “Hole In The Sky” concluded the show tonight.

Mr. Donnie said ” Probably their best. I love how it tie the Della/jimmy/Anna story in with You’re cold being written from Jimmy’s perspective and you never came home from.

Of course I have a much more emotional account of the entire evening. Especially after having talked with Ron and Joan cope prior as well as Bethany. Baby y slow down really got to me.
Also I’m positive they played the entire All of your stones album.

The current Steel Woods lineup is Mr. Wes Bayless, Mr. Johnny Stanton on bass, Mr. Issac Senty and Mr. Tyler Powers.

Local Shows In Ky Tn And Alabama.

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May 192021
 

 

 

Joshua Ray Walker
May 19th, 2021
The City Winery, Nashville Tn

Charley Crockett
Jesse Daniel
May 21st, 2021
The Burl, Lexington Ky

Alex Williams
May 21st, 2021
3rd And Lindsley, Nashville Tn

The Josephines
May 21st, 2021
The Basement East, Nashville Tn

Billy Strings
May 21 and 22nd,2021
The Lawn At Waterfront Park, Louisville Ky

Mandy Barnett
Saturday, May 22, 2021
Playing at Capitol Theater, Lebanon, TN at 7PM

Charley Crockett
Jesse Daniel
May 22nd, 2021
3rd And Lindsley, Nashville Tn, at 7PM

Ray Wylie Hubbard
May 22nd, 2021
The Shed, Maryville Tn, at 7PM

Nick Dittmeier And the Sawdusters
May 22nd, 2021
The Southgate House, Newport Ky

Brent Cobb
May 23rd, 2021
Music City Winery, Nashville Tn at 8PM

Margo Price
May 28th, 2021
The Caverns, Pelham Tn at 9PM

Nick Dittmeier And The Sawdusters
May 28th, 2021
Headliners Music Hall, Louisville Ky

Jim Lauderdale
May 29th, 2021
3rd And Lindsley, Nashville Tn

Nick Dittmeier And The Sawdusters
May 29th, 2021
The Sutler, Nashville Tn

Henhouse Prowlers
June 4th, 2021
Station Inn, Nashville Tn

Matt Woods
Austin Lucas
June 5th, 2021
The Southgate House Revival, Newport Ky

Mandolin Orange
June 5th and 6th, 2021
The Caverns, Pelham Tn 7PM

Matt Woods
Austin Lucas
June 6th, 2021
Barley’s Taproom, Knoxville Tn

Matt Woods
Austin Lucas
June 8th, 2021
Cherry Street Tavern, Chattanooga Tn

Gene Watson
June 11th, 2021
The Nashville Palace, Nashville Tn

Doug Stone
June 12th, 2021
Homestead Hall, Columbia Tn 8PM

Erin Enderlin
June 12th, 2021
3rd And Lindsley, Nashville Tn

No Deceit
June 12th, 2021
Drifter’s Beaver Dam, Ky

49 Winchester
June 15th, 2021
3rd And Lindsley, Nashville Tn.

Ashley McBryde
June 18th, 2021
Mars Music Hall, Huntsville Alabama

Justin Wells
June 19th, 2021
The Burl, Lexington Ky

American Aquarium
June 22nd, 2021
The Basement East

Wade Hayes
June 25th, 2021
Cahoots Dancehall And Honkeytonk, Lebanon Tn 8PM

 

Alternate text

BEAST IS BACK!

 

We are excited to see you again! The venue capacity is reduced by 74% to accommodate socially distanced tables/pods. If we are full this weekend, please join us another weekend. We will be open at this capacity at least Fridays and Saturdays until we can do full shows.

All guests, artists and staff are required to uphold The Basement East Core Safety Policy:

FACEMASKS are required for entry and must be worn at all times in common public areas (entry, restrooms, etc). While in a guest’s assigned pod, facemasks may be removed to allow eating and drinking. For the comfort of guests in nearby pods, facemasks are encouraged at all other times within the pod.

TEMPERATURE CHECKS at entry will measure for guests exceeding 100.4 degrees fahrenheit. Entry for guests with higher temperatures will be denied out of an abundance of caution for other guests.

SOCIAL DISTANCING 6’ or more from one another is required except when in one’s own pod. Guests are encouraged to remain in their pods at all times other than when using restrooms or visiting the food truck.

HAND HYGIENE is encouraged. Hand wash stations and hand sanitization stations are provided near entry, restrooms and bar.

SANITIZATION of frequent touch points in public areas (doors handles, counters and equipment) occurs routinely throughout the show.

SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING is encouraged of all guests. Any violations of the Core Safety Policy or behavior creating discomfort for guests or staff should be reported to venue staff.

Confederate Railroad
June 5th, 2021
The Shed, Maryville, Tn at 6PM

Patterson Hood
June 20th, 2021
City Winery, Nashville Tn

Trampled By Turtles
June 25th and 26th, 2021
The Caverns, Pelham Tnat 8PM

Eric Bolander
Jamie Resch
June 26th 2021
Tidball’s Bowling Green, Ky

June 26th, 2021
The Shed, Maryville, Tn at 7PM

The Lost Dog Street Band
July 9th, 2021
Marathon Music Works, Nashville Tn at 8PM

Ward Davis
July 17th, 2021
The Shed, Maryville Tn at 6PM

No Deceit
July 17th, 2021
Spillway Bar And Grill, Bowling Green Ky

Leftover Salmon
July 21st, 2021
The Burl, Lexington Ky

Randall King
July 23rd, 2021
Cahoot’s Dance Hall, Lebanon Tn

The Steel Woods
July 23rd, 24th 2021
The Shed, Maryville Tn at 7PM

The Cadillac Three
August 14th 2021
The Shed, Maryville Tn at 7PM

Ricky Skaggs And Kentucky Thunder
August 14th 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Johnny Lee
August 18th, 2021
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville Tn

Whiskey Myers
August 20th and 21st 2021
The Shed Maryville Tn at 7PM

The Bellamy Brothers
August 21st 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Blue Water Highway
August 26th, 2021
The High Watt, Nashville Tn

Gene Watson
August 28th 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Steve Earle And The Dukes
August 30th, 2021
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn

The Cadillac Three
September 1st and 2nd
The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn at 8PM

Terri Clark
September 3rd, 2021
Cahoots Dancehall, Lebanon Tn

Steve Earle
September 4th, 2021
Beaver Dam Ampitheatre, Beaver Dam Ky

Legendary Shack Shakers
September 9th, 2021
The Southgate House Revival, Newport, Ky

Whiskey Myers
September 10th and 11th
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn

Clint Black
September 12th
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn

Daryl Worley
September 26th, 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Emi Sunshine
October 2nd
Farmhouse Living Fair, Lebanon Tn

Drive By Truckers
Monday, October 04, 2021
Playing at Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
8:00 PM

Ronnie McDowell
October 9th, 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Gene Watson
October 11th, 2021
Renfro Valley, Mt. Vernon Ky

Neal Mccoy
October 16th, 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Pecos And The Rooftops
October 22nd, 2021
The Basement East, Nashville Tn

Jo Dee Messina
October 23rd, 2021
Red Barn Convention Center, Ohio

Chris Stapleton
October 23rd, 2021
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tn

The Supersuckers
October 29th, 2021
Growler’s, Memphis Tn

Shane Smith And The Saints
November 3rd, 2021
The Basement East, Nashville Tn

Southern Culture On The Skids
November 6th 2021
The Mercy Lounge, Nashville Tn at 7PM

The Mavericks
December 3rd and 4th 2021
The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn

Chris Stapleton
December 5th, 2021
Knoxville Tennessee

Billy Strings
December 17th and 18th, 2021
Bridgestone Arena

Vince Gill
December 19th, 2021
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Tn

2022 Dates:

Lost Dog Street Band
January 15th, 2022
Cannery Ballroom, Nashville Tn 8PM

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