FOCUS on the 615
Nashville's premier entertainment blog including album, song and show reviews and exclusive artist interviews.
Mother-daughter trio Lucy Angel, have released their take on Pat Ballard’s classic hit,“Mr. Sandman” with their charming rendition of “Mr. Santa.” Featuring Lindsay, Emily and Kate Anderton, the trio’s flawless family harmonies shine in the spirited tune while the music video showcases their animated and fun-loving personalities. Continue Reading →
Photo credit: Patrice Majors
Yesterday we sat down with country sensation Home Free just before their show at TPAC in Nashville on Dec. 13th to discuss their new album, favorite Christmas memories, favorite holiday dishes, and much more!
Get to know this incredible country vocal group who first gained national attention and won fans’ hearts as the winners of NBC’s “The Sing Off” in the video below.
The show itself was a great mix of country classics with a new twist, original tunes, and Christmas favorites. Their delivery was absolutely mesmerizing with solid harmonies all throughout their performance. It’s pretty incredible what they are capable of doing with just their voices alone. In-between songs, they light-heartedly interacted with the crowd keeping the concert going at a great pace and effortless flow.
A highlight of the evening was the drum solo segment minus the actual drums featuring the beatboxer of the group, Adam Rupp, that was met with a standing ovation.
A video posted by FOCUS on the 615 (@focus_on_the_615) on
Definitely a show worth every penny that I would gladly see again!
Rated 5 out of 5 stars.
Watch them tonight on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” as they join icon Kenny Rogers for a music performance that you don’t want to miss!
Don’t forget their new album, COUNTRY EVOLUTION, is in stores now, and available at all digital retailers.
For more information, visit their website by clicking here.
####
About Home Free:
Since being crowned NBC’s “The Sing-Off” victors, Home Free has made their mark on the music scene selling more than 150,000 copies combined of their popular albums, CRAZY LIFE and FULL OF CHEER, embarking on two major national tours and amassing over 53 million YouTube views. The five-man band from Minnesota, comprised of Austin Brown (high tenor), Tim Foust (bass), Rob Lundquist (tenor), Adam Rupp (vocal percussion/beat boxer) and Chris Rupp (baritone), dropped their debut album CRAZY LIFE in 2014, which hit No. 1 on iTunes Country chart and No. 4 overall. The release of their third studio album, COUNTRY EVOLUTION has elevated the band “from auxiliary entertainment to headlining attraction” (Times Leader) and hit No. 4 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Produced by longtime collaborator Darren Rust, the deluxe version includes five originals and nine new renditions of hit songs that showcase the band’s extraordinary talents, tight harmonies and intelligent arrangements that are uniquely their own. Founded in 2000 during collegiate years, Home Free has been perfecting their live show for nearly a decade performing together for packed crowds at major fairs, colleges and theatres. Their experiences on the road helped carry them to the Sing-Off victory, build a loyal fan base and bring their homegrown country style into the national spotlight.
From the musical “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas” taking place at the Grand Ole Opry.
If you have lived in Nashville for any amount of time, you know that THE place to go during the holiday season is Gaylord Opryland. It’s a Nashville tradition. If you’re new to the area or from out of town, it’s simply a must-see! For me, I’m practically a native-Nashville and for over 30 years since I was a kid, I have ventured out to the hotel to get in the Christmas spirit. Usually a couple of times, at least! It never gets old no matter how many times I venture out there.
“When it comes to the best in holiday entertainment, we always find ways to top ourselves, and this year is no exception,” said Gaylord Opryland General Manager Pete Weien. “We can’t wait for visitors to see all the new decorations we have added inside our nine acres of indoor gardens.”
Now in its 32nd year, I have watched Gaylord Opryland’s “A Country Christmas” grow to the millions of lights spread throughout what I call a “beautiful city under glass”, Christmas-themed dinner show featuring Opry legends, holiday-themed musical, and all sorts of family friendly activities like Glacier Glide outdoor ice skating, Santa’s snowball toss, and Arctic Plunge snow tubbing. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger with more attractions added that keep it fresh.
Guests age 21 and over can chill out at On The Blocks—the exclusive bar inside ICE! This upgrade includes a sampling of Jackson Morgan Southern Cream and Goose Island Beer, plus a Maker’s Mark or Absolut specialty drink, or Hidden Crush Cabernet or Chardonnay, in a souvenir glass. Ambient lighting, music and fun photo opportunities set the mood for this unique VIP experience.
For the first time, in a tribute to Music City, the resort’s seven-story Garden Conservatory Atrium will twinkle with oversized music notes and giant glittery musical instruments. Favorites like the 48-foot-tall Christmas tree and 15,000 poinsettias will return alongside new décor throughout the resort.
There are a multitude of things to do that will be enjoyable by the whole family. From simply strolling around all of the different areas of the hotel itself to look at the beautiful lights and Christmas displays as you grab yourself a cup of hot cocoa in the process, a Christmas-themed dinner show featuring Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers (celebrating 60 years in the music business), to touring ICE! (I refer to it as a world made of ice, because it’s all housed in its own building where you’ll be provided a parka to be able to cope with the freezing temperature as you walk around inside.) where you’ll be amazed at the details carved out of ice by skilled craftsmen from China to the theme of “The Nutcracker” including fun ice slides that make any adult feel like a kid again, and a special musical at the Opry called “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical”. Hailed by The New York Times as “100 times better than any bedside story,” this Christmas favorite is sure to delight adults and children alike with performances from Nov. 20 through Dec. 27, 2015.
Tickets and vacation packages are now available at ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com or by calling 1-888-677-9872.
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, located at 2800 Opryland Drive in Nashville, Tenn., is the flagship property of Gaylord Hotels, part of the Marriott portfolio of brands. The 2,882-room hotel offers “everything in one place”—diverse dining options, a full-service spa, top-notch entertainment, on-site shopping, an award-winning golf course and more. For more information, visit www.gaylordopryland.com.
L to R: Kim Campbell, Glen Campbell and Ashley Campbell celebrate Christmas today in their Nashville home.
Photo credit: Big Machine Records
Glen Campbell is celebrating the holidays in Nashville. The music icon and his family have much to be thankful for with so many achievements in 2014. The Campbell’s welcomed the world into their home this year, revealing Glen’s battle with Alzheimer’s through the critically-acclaimed documentary GLEN CAMPBELL: I’LL BE ME. Released in October to theaters across the country, the film recently earned a Critics’ Choice nomination for Best Documentary Feature.
Gaylord Opryland Resort’s 31st annual A Country Christmas is officially underway, following a festive ceremony tonight to turn on the iconic hotel’s 2 million holiday lights for the season.
We catch up with Brett Eldredge and Tennessee Titan Delanie Walker as they collect toys for Toys For Tots along with CMA just before the “CMA Country Chrismtas” tv filming.
Don’t forget to watch “CMA Country Christmas” on Dec. 1st on ABC!
NBC will celebrate the lighting of the world’s most famous Christmas tree with a live broadcast from Rockefeller Center in New York City on Wednesday, November 28 (8-9 p.m. ET). The star-studded holiday special will feature performances from Trace Adkins, Mariah Carey, CeeLo Green (NBC’s “The Voice”), Victoria Justice, Chris Mann, Rod Stewart and Il Volo, and special appearances by Billy Crystal and Bette Milder.
The 80th annual holiday extravaganza will feature a Norway Spruce that is approximately 80 feet tall, 50 feet in diameter and weighs approximately 10 tons. The tree is estimated to be about 80 years old. Continue Reading →
Not long ago we gave you a sneak peek at Lady Antebellum’s video for “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” The official video for the song was released on VEVO on Saturday, November 10th. Watch it here! But now we give you yet another exclusive look! Check out this exclusive acoustic video performance of “A Holly Jolly Christmas:”
“A Holly Jolly Christmas” is on Lady A’s new holiday collection ON THIS WINTER’S NIGHT, available in stores now. For the festive release, the trio are once again co-produced alongside veteran Paul Worley, penned the album’s title track and created their own arrangements for two of the disc’s additional 11 holiday classics. Lady A will also perform a special concert, SunTrust Bank Presents Lady Antebellum “On This Winter’s Night,” at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Dec. 3. GAC will air the special concert, also sponsored by Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, for fans across the country on Dec. 5 at 7:00P CT. For more information on the holiday album and concert, visit www.ladyantebellum.com
For the second year in a row, the Jack Daniel Distillery will donate more than $100,000 to help service members and their families travel from bases to homes across the U.S. through “Operation Ride Home” this holiday season.
And as with last year’s effort, the famed distillery will be asking its friends to visit www.jdoperationridehome.com and contribute what they can to help in the campaign. Through travel vouchers for plane tickets and pre-paid debit cards for gas, lodging and food, the distillery hopes to surpass the overwhelming success of last year’s effort that helped send 721 Fort Campbell soldiers and their families home last year. In addition to Jack Daniel’s contribution, more than $24,000 was collected from the general public through the donation site.
Well, I just think this needs to be shared! I loved it and thinking you might, too! I wasn’t quite prepared for this, but it brought a smile to my face and I hope it does yours! Fun and festive, people, fun and festive…and he could actually sing quite well! 🙂
