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The Onsite Foundation Will Honor Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell At Annual INSPIRE Event 

By on September 5, 2018 in In The Press

The Onsite Foundation announced today that their annual INSPIRE event will honor Live Nation’s President of Country Touring Brian O’Connell and his Nashville team with their 2018 Inspiration Award, taking place October 23 at Marathon Music Works.  The special evening will recognize O’Connell’s ongoing commitment to helping the victims and families of the Oct. 1 tragedy in Las Vegas. The Onsite Foundation has created a 100% Scholarship, trauma and grief intensive program specifically for those who lost loved ones and proceeds from INSPIRE will benefit this directly, helping to find healing through mental health resources. To purchase tickets and sponsorships packages visit here: https://give.classy.org/inspire.

“The Onsite Foundation more than doubled its’ impact last year thanks to the success of this event,” said Miles Adcox, CEO of The Onsite Foundation. “With this momentum, a new important idea was born to help change the way we have historically responded to mass tragedies in our country. We are circling back over a year after the Route 91 Harvest Festival to offer Onsite’s world class proven grief and trauma intensives for free to all who lost a loved one that day. The country music industry is known for doing things differently and this will be no exception. I’ve spent a lot of time with Brian O’ Connell since October 1st of last year and I’ve never seen someone in his position care so much about helping the fans and music community recover and heal. He and his team have spent countless hours in support of these efforts. He was the last to want this honor but the first to raise his hand when he heard how the proceeds would help the families.”

“The work that The Onsite Foundation does is so important,” said Brian O’Connell. “I’m a huge advocate of seeking help when you need it, and so our philosophies are very much in line with each other. I’m so inspired by my team for their strength this past year and thankful to be a part of raising more funds for a shared cause so close to us all.”

About The Onsite Foundation:
The Onsite Foundation provides funding to vulnerable populations including , victims of mass tragedies, refugees, veterans, first responders, creatives, and every day people needing mental health resources. This aids in the healing and rebuilding of those who struggle from the effects of trauma, abuse, stress, mental-health and relationship issues.  Inspire is an event honoring and celebrating the creative community and the individuals who give their heart and soul to make it what it is. This energy and culture is made possible by the tireless efforts of those who use their platforms to make an impact by giving back to their communities and inspiring those in need. Past recipients include Troy Tomlinson, Tracie and Scott Hamilton, Rod Essig and Pete Fisher. Past performers include Kenny Chesney, Wynonna, Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Big & Rich, Ashley Monroe, LeAnn Rimes, and many more.  For more information, visit: https://inspirenashville.net/about/.

About Brian O’Connell:
President of Country Music Touring for Live Nation, Brian O’Connell is first and foremost a music fan. His passion for the artist, live shows and the fan experience remains engrained in his award-winning career of more than 25 years. O’Connell not only has a hand in some of the most important careers in country music, but has helped to revolutionize country touring. Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Sam Hunt and many more are part of his growing tour legacy. He developed the innovative and successful Country Megaticket, and continues to grow a vibrant festival division, including Watershed Music And Camping Festival, Faster Horses, Country LakeShake, Tortuga Music Festival and Seven Peaks Music Festival.  In 2018, O’Connell was honored with the CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award and he is a eight-time winner of the Academy of Country Music’s Promoter of the Year award – more than any other promoter. He is a four-time winner of the Country Music Association’s Talent Buyer/Promoter of the Year award. In 2013 he was named Promoter of the Year by IEBA (the international Entertainment Buyers Association) and recognized by the industry’s leading tour source Pollstar with the 2006 Bill Graham Promoter of the Year Award, as well as the 2017, 2014 and 2013 Talent Buyer of the Year award.

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The Delta Rae Revival Congregates Tonight (9/5)

By on September 5, 2018 in In The Press
Preview Stunning “Do You Ever Dream?” Video Ahead of the
Immersive Musical Experience


Photo Credit: Delta Rae

Delta Rae kicks off their much-anticipated,16-week residency at The Basement tonight in Nashville (1604 8th Ave S.) with Carrie Welling and Liz Longley taking the stage at 8:00P. As promised, they have been teasing a special guest for the evening who will make the lucky fans in the intimate crowd “Surrender.” Tickets for the show sold out online, prompting the band to open the doors for a limited number of $10 walkup guests.

The Delta Rae Revival will offer a new immersive experience from the moment fans arrive to the stage as audiences assemble every Wednesday from September 5 through December 19. This three-dimensional experience offers a palpable energy and dynamic rarely seen during concerts. More surprises are to come each week and will be announced throughout the next months over the band’s social media.

The wait is over for loyal supporters eager for new music. Leading up to their Music City celebration, Delta Rae has continued to create inside and outside the studio and today officially released “Do You Ever Dream?” to all digital partners. The song comes alive in an accompanying new video filmed in the band’s origin state of North Carolina and across the globe in Rekjavik, Iceland with director, Law. The stunning cinematic endeavor captures the complexity between two people whose relationship has fallen cold. Lead vocalist Brittany Holljes stars in the video portraying a dream-sequence visual depicting the reality of love lost and a yearning for more. She and her bandmate brother Eric Holljes (vocals, piano) produced this soul-stirring journey with Law that also features bandmates Liz Hopkins (lead vocals), Ian Holljes (vocals, guitar), Mike McKee (drums) and Grant Emerson (bass). Watch “Do You Ever Dream?” here  and get the song digitally https://DeltaRae.lnk.to/DreamPR. 

“One of my best friends from college is a genius filmmaker who directed our first music video for ‘Bottom of the River,'” expressed Eric. “He’s always wanted to shoot a video in Iceland, so we booked the cheapest tickets we could find, story-boarded on the flight, and traveled around the gravel roads eating salami and cheese sandwiches in a rental car, pulling over to shoot when we saw something beautiful. We wrote the song after Brittany’s break up with someone who didn’t share her imagination and vision for the future, and I think it was cathartic for her to finally tell that story. For me, it was one of the most creative experiences of my life and it has jumpstarted the next chapter for the band, which is proving to be our most ambitious and creative yet.”

Added Law, “Shooting in Iceland was an unforgettable experience. Every day was a fight against the elements, whether it was wind, rain, snow, sleet, cliff edges or puffins, Brittany was a trooper and overcame it all. She also asked to do everything barefoot because it just wasn’t difficult enough.”

The six-piece troupe will add an interactive element to the new song and more from their hearty catalogue – including hits from their Valory Music Co. EP’s A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE and THE BLACKBIRD SESSIONS – on stage week to week. The Delta Rae Revival offers first-timers and longtime fans a perfect combination of light and dark of Southern storytelling accompanied by impressive set design that Eric conceptualized and built.

Purchase tickets for remaining shows through December online now. For more information, visit DeltaRae.com and continue to check in on their social media accounts for updates on special guests and opening acts.

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Eight-Time Grammy Winner Dolly Parton To Be Honored As 2019 MusiCares Person Of The Year

By on September 5, 2018 in In The Press

Photo credit: Kii Arens

Eight-time GRAMMY® winner Dolly Parton will be honored at the 2019 MusiCares® Person of the Year tribute on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, it was announced today by Neil Portnow, President/CEO of MusiCares and the Recording Academy. Proceeds from the 29th annual benefit gala will provide essential support for MusiCares ( www.musicares.org), a charity founded by the Recording Academy that ensures music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical, and personal need. The tribute will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center two nights prior to the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards®.

Parton will be the first artist from the Nashville music community to be honored by MusiCares. She is being recognized as the 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year for her considerable creative accomplishments and her longtime support of a number of causes through her Dollywood Foundation, including the Imagination Library, which, since 1996, has provided more than 100 million books to children from birth to 5 years of age in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the U.K.”Dolly Parton has always been and continues to be a courageous trailblazer and indomitable inspiration for creators and artists—so for us to have the opportunity to honor her at our annual MusiCares Person of the Year gala is to pay tribute to a true pillar of strength and someone who we all look up to and cherish,” said Portnow. “With her legendary talent, she has forged a career that spans decades, and her gifts as a performer resound on both stage and screen. Dolly also knows the power of philanthropy and she has used her stardom to contribute to a wide range of causes from natural disasters to education and literacy programs.”

“I am so excited and humbled to be honored as MusiCares Person of the Year,” said Parton. “It’s even more special knowing the gala benefits music people in need. I can’t wait to hear all of the great artists singing my music.”

Remarks Parton’s manager Danny Nozell, CEO, CTK Management, “I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving to be the first MusiCares Person of the Year representing the Nashville music community.  It’s been a privilege to witness her generous heart firsthand for the last 14 years.”

“With each passing year, the goal of MusiCares remains clear: to do more and serve more music people in need,” said Michael McDonald, MusiCares’ Board Chair. “Over the course of our last fiscal year, we provided more than $6.4 million to more than 8,500 members of the music industry—the largest number of clients served and dollars distributed in a single year in our charity’s history. We are confident that our 2019 Person of the Year tribute to Dolly Parton will help us raise the funds that sustain and expand our mission.”

The MusiCares Person of the Year tribute ceremony is one of the most prestigious events held during GRAMMY Week. The Person of the Year gala will begin with a reception and silent auction offering an exclusive and unparalleled selection of luxury items, VIP experiences, and one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests. The reception and silent auction will be followed by a gala dinner sponsored by AEG; a live auction; a tribute concert featuring renowned musicians and other artists; and the award presentation.

The celebration culminates with the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. The telecast will be broadcast live on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.Established in 1989 by the Recording Academy, MusiCares offers health and human services and programs to members of the music community, including emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses such as rent, utilities, and car payments; medical expenses, including doctor, dentist and hospital bills; and treatment for HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, hepatitis C, and other critical illnesses. MusiCares offers nationwide educational workshops covering a variety of subjects, including financial, legal, medical, and substance abuse issues, and programs in collaboration with health care professionals that provide services such as flu shots, hearing tests, and medical/dental screenings. MusiCares provides access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community. Staffed by qualified chemical dependency and intervention specialists, MusiCares offers Safe Harbor Room® support, sponsored in party by the Bohemian Foundation, to provide a network to those in recovery while they are paraticipating in the production of televised music shows and other major music events.  MusiCares holds weekly addiction support groups for people to discuss how to best cope with the issues surrounding the recovery process.

For more information, please contact:
MusiCares at 310.392.3777 or personoftheyear@musicares.org.
ABOUT DOLLY PARTON
Dolly Parton is the most honored female country performer of all time. Achieving 25 RIAA certified gold, platinum, and multiplatinum awards, she has had 26 songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard country charts, a record for a female artist. She has 41 career Top 10 country albums, a record for any artist, and she has 110 career-charted singles over the past 40 years. In 2014, the RIAA recognized her impact on recorded music with a plaque commemorating more than 100 million units sold worldwide—and in 2016, her album Pure & Simple , which topped the Billboard Top Country Albums and Americana/Folk Albums charts and debuted at No. 1 in the United States, Canada, U.K., and Australia, added to that massive tally. She has garnered eight GRAMMY Awards, including a 2016 win with Pentatonix for their collaboration on her iconic 1974 hit “Jolene”; nine Country Music Association Awards, including Entertainer of the Year; 13 Academy of Country Music Awards, also including a nod for Entertainer of the Year; four People’s Choice Awards; and three American Music Awards. In 1999, Parton was inducted as a member of the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2008, Parton launched her return to touring on a global scale with Backwoods Barbie World Tour, the first of many sold-out arena tours, returning her to  Billboard Boxscore’s Top 10 Country Tours of the Year. Her 2016 movie Christmas Of Many Colors: Circle Of Love, was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie. In 2017, Parton released her first children’s album, I Believe In You,  on Dolly Records through her partnership with Sony Music Nashville; the project’s proceeds benefit The Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library, a nonprofit that, since 1996, has provided more than 100 million books to children from birth to 5 years of age in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the U.K. In 2018, Parton received her first two Midsouth Emmy Awards as the organization recognized her lifetime of giving with the Governors Award and the award for Best Community Service Program, lauding her 2016 telethon “Smoky Mountains Rise,” which raised more than $13 million for her My People fund, which provided financial assistance to victims of massive wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Parton is currently collaborating with producer Linda Perry on the soundtrack for the film Dumplin’ starring Jennifer Aniston and Danielle MacDonald with Parton as the executive producer. And Parton’s Dixie Pixie Productions is partnering with Warner Bros. Television to produce a series of television films to premiere on Netflix in 2019. Next year will mark the 33rd anniversary season for Dollywood, her theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., which since 1986 has hosted more than 2 million visitors annually.about MUSICARES
A friend and ally of the music community, MusiCares was established by the Recording Academy to safeguard the health and well-being of all music people. A four-star charity and safety net in times of need, MusiCares offers confidential preventative, recovery, and emergency programs to address financial, medical, and personal health issues. Through the generosity of our donors and volunteer professionals, our dedicated team works across the country to ensure the music community has the resources and support it needs.

For more information, visit www.musicares.org, “like” MusiCares on Facebook, and follow @MusiCares on Twitter and Instagram.

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Lady Antebellum Signs With Big Machine Label Group

By on September 4, 2018 in In The Press

BMLG staff congregates to surprise and celebrate signing of superstar act Lady A. Photo credit: Jason Kempin/Getty Images

MULTI-PLATINUM, seven-time GRAMMY® Awards winners Lady Antebellum have signed with Big Machine Label Group’s BMLG Records. A reconnection of sorts for the trio whose success has taken them around the globe, the deal finds Lady A once again crossing paths with BMLG President/CEO Scott Borchetta and BMLGR President Jimmy Harnen.

“We have been truly blessed throughout our career to work with some of the brightest people in music,” said Lady A’s Hillary Scott. “We’ve watched BMLG become the powerhouse they are from the sidelines and couldn’t be more excited to become part of their family. We hope to honor all the people who have been part of our story over the last 10 years – can’t wait to work with some old friends again and are excited for where it takes us all together!”

“Lady Antebellum is the consummate vocal group,” Borchetta says. “Hillary, Charles and Dave have a special chemistry that only the greatest bands of all time have and what you see is what they sing – and it’s the sort of thing no label can create, only magnify. I am delighted that we get to assist them in writing the next chapter in their extraordinary career.”

Pictured (L-R): BMLGR’s Matthew Hargis, BMLG’s Sandi Spika Borchetta, BMLGR’s Jimmy Harnen, Lady A’s Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott, BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, Lady A’s Dave Haywood, BMLG’s Andrew Kautz, Allison Jones and Mike Rittberg. Photo credit: Jason Kempin

With nine No. 1 Country hits, two AC chart-toppers, a No. 2 spot on the Hot 100, Lady A hits critical mass with the American public over and over again. Their musically forward, fresh and uplifting sound has sold over 18 million albums. Their songs reflect youth, romance and an ideal of how people hope to live. They have appeared on nearly every TV show imaginable including being the musical guest on Saturday Night Live.“Our extreme belief in Lady A, admiration of their amazing career and the greatness they have yet to achieve, as well as being their biggest fans,” begins Harnen, “makes this the thrill of a lifetime.”

“It is also the grand reuniting of a large musical family,” Harnen continues. “Scott Borchetta and I worked with Linda Davis, Hillary’s mom (as well as her father Lang Scott) when we were both at DreamWorks. Michelle Tigard Kammerer worked closely with Lady A when they signed to CAA, and Matthew Hargis and I helped break the band at radio on their debut album. The long associations, close ties and the group’s always incredible music is literally why we do this.”

With seven GRAMMY® Awards, including the 2011 overall Record and Song of the Year awards for “Need You Now,” six Country Music Association Awards, including back-to-back Single of the Year nods for “I Run To You” and “Need You Now,” seven Academy of Country Music Awards, including three Top Vocal Group and Album of the Year trophies, and four straight American Music Awards for Favorite Country Group, the undeniable quality of the trio’s music defines them.

With 2017’s Heart Break receiving both GRAMMY® and Country Music Association Award nominations, after well-received solo albums from Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott, Lady A is currently writing and recording new music that is poised to be the best music of their careers.

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Thomas Rhett Notches 11th Career No. 1 Hit + Announces LIFE CHANGES DELUXE, Out 9/21

By on September 4, 2018 in In The Press

Photo courtesy of the Valory Music Co.

Just days before its one year anniversary, current multi-CMA Awards nominee Thomas Rhett’s PLATINUM-certified album LIFE CHANGES earns its fourth consecutive chart-topping hit with the title track, notching his 11th career No. 1. Living up to his title as “a man with no boundaries” (Billboard), Thomas Rhett simultaneously announces the release of LIFE CHANGES DELUXE out September 21, which features three new tracks: “Country Gold,” “Cardboard Heart” and “When We’re 80.” The digital version will also include three remixes of “Leave Right Now” and a track with updated lyrics for “Life Changes.”

“There’s no way for me to explain how it feels to have 11 number ones,” Thomas Rhett said. “This was the song that inspired the name of the album and is so special for me because it’s my family’s story. It’s amazing that so many people have also been able to connect it to their own stories.”

LIFE CHANGES DELUXE TRACK LIST
1. “Craving You” (featuring Maren Morris) | Dave Barnes, Julian Bunetta
2. “Unforgettable” | Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally
3. “Sixteen” | Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur
4. “Drink A Little Beer” (featuring Rhett Akins) | Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ben Hayslip
5. “Marry Me” | Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Shane McAnally
6. “Leave Right Now” | Thomas Rhett, Julian Bunetta, Edward Drewett, John Henry Ryan
7. “Smooth Like The Summer” | Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
8. “Life Changes” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley
9. “When You Look Like That” | Jessi Alexander, Matt Dragstrem, David Lee Murphy
10. “Sweetheart” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur
11. “Kiss Me Like A Stranger” | Thomas Rhett, Dave Barnes, Jordan Reynolds
12. “Renegades” | Thomas Rhett, Julian Bunetta, John Henry Ryan
13. “Gateway Love” | Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Sam Ellis, Emily Weisband
14. “Grave” | Chris DeStefano, Hillary Lindsey, Josh Miller
15. “Country Gold” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley
16. “Cardboard Heart” | Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins, Sean Douglas, Jesse Frasure
17. “When We’re 80” | Thomas Rhett, Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
18. “Life Changes” (Radio Edit)**
19. “Leave Right Now” (Martin Jensen Mix)**
20. “Leave Right Now” (Nashville Mix)**
21. “Leave Right Now” (Radio Edit)**

**Digital Version Only

Thomas Rhett’s PLATINUM-certified third album LIFE CHANGES (The Valory Music Co.) is the biggest, boldest-sounding record of his career, filled with a diverse batch of songs as he stretches his sound to new limits. Emphasizing his “detailed style of songwriting” (Rolling Stone), LIFE CHANGES was an instant hit upon its 2017 release, debuting at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, marking the first Country release to take the top spot last year. The release also drew a 2018 GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album and has been streamed more than 850 million times. Thomas Rhett is currently nominated for three CMA Awards including Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for LIFE CHANGES and Music Video of the Year for “Marry Me.” He was also recently named iHeartRadio’s Country Artist of the Year for the second year in a row, following a CMA Triple Play award for penning three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period (“Die A Happy Man,” “Star of the Show” and Michael Ray’s “Think A Little Less”), adding to his collection of trophies from the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, Billboard Music Awards, CMT Music Awards and more. After a run of sell-outs this year, Thomas Rhett is set to continue on his headlining LIFE CHANGES TOUR, kicking off the fall leg September 13 in Bangor, ME with special guests Brett Young and Midland. For more information, visit www.ThomasRhett.com.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd Rock Hometown Stadium Show In Jacksonville, Florida

By on September 3, 2018 in In The Press

(L to R): Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Mark ‘Sparky’ Martejka (guitar), Rickey Medlocke (guitar), Gary Rossington (guitar) and Keith Christopher (bass guitar) Photo Credit: Rick Diamond

Southern Rock icons Lynyrd Skynyrd wrapped the first leg of their two-year Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour Sunday night with a packed homecoming stadium show presented by The NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s were joined by friends Jason Aldean, Kid Rock, The Charlie Daniels Band, Blackberry Smoke and the Marshall Tucker Band at Jacksonville’s TIAA Bank Field, home of the Jaguars.

“There are a lot of people who thought this was going to be our last show, forever, here in Jacksonville,” lead singer Johnny Van Zant told the Times-Union. “That’s not true. We still have places that we need to do.” Added Rickey Medlocke, “We’ve got fans all over the world…You can’t just say we’re only going to do the United States and then shut it down. Those people would be so upset.”

No one left TIAA Bank Field upset — even after a weather delay in the middle of Kid Rock’s set — as Skynyrd’s 90+ minute show featuring classic hits such as “Simple Man,” “Gimme Three Steps,” and “What’s Your Name,” as well as deep cuts such as “The Ballad of Curtis Lowe” kept fans on their feet the entire show. The evening included a moving tribute of “Sweet Home Alabama” to the song’s co-writer and original Skynyrd band member Ed King. The show’s finale ended with a stadium-sized sing-along of “Free Bird.” The evening left no doubt why Rolling Stone magazine calls them one of the 100 Greatest Bands of All Time. The unforgettable homecoming was filmed for future release. Details will be announced soon.

Earlier this year Skynyrd announced that after a career that has spanned more than 40 years and includes a catalog of more than 60 albums with more than 30 million units sold, they would embark on their final tour. Produced by Live Nation, the career-concluding two-year farewell tour will have logged over 50 stops by the end of 2018.

The band returns to the road for the second leg of 2018 dates on Saturday, Sept. 22 for this year’s two-day iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. The band are part of a star-studded lineup at T-Mobile Arena that includes Justin Timberlake, Jack White, Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, Jason Aldean, Sam Smith, Luke Bryan and more. Fans can visit iHeartRadio.com/Tickets to purchase tickets. For those unable to attend, the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Festival will be broadcast live on iHeartMedia Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR) stations across the country that weekend including the iconic Z100 in New York, KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, Y100 in Miami, KISS FM in Dallas, Chicago and Boston, as well as many more. The CW Network will exclusively live stream the mega-concert via CWTV.com and The CW App and broadcast the two-day, televised special on October 7 and October 8.

The tour derives its name from the band’s “The Last of the Street Survivors” and their fifth studio album Street Survivors that is certified multi-Platinum by the RIAA and includes the Platinum-certified single, “What’s Your Name.”

The Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour marks a big moment for generations of fans, as Lynyrd Skynyrd has been touring consistently since the 90s. The band, that USA Today called the “whiskey-soaked genre’s most popular and influential crew,” is ready to rock one last time. The farewell tour will take original member Gary Rossington joined by Van Zant, Medlocke, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Dale Krantz Rossington, Carol Chase and special guest Jim Horn across the country over the next two years.

Tickets for the second leg of 2018 shows are sale now at LiveNation.com. The farewell tour will continue to take the band across the country through the remainder of this year and all of next year, giving fans one last unforgettable night of classic American Rock-and-Roll. Skynyrd’s 2019 tour dates including stops in Europe and South America will be announced soon.

Lynyrd Skynyrd on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018 in Jacksonville for their Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour stop at TIAA Bank Field
Photo Credit: Dotlyn Snedden

Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour Second Leg of 2018 Dates:
Saturday, September 22 – T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV+
Friday, September 28 – Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion, Rogers, AR
Saturday, September 29 – Intrust Bank Arena, Wichita, KS
Friday, October 05 – Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN
Saturday, October 06 – Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE
Friday, October 12 –  Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls, SD
Saturday, October 13 – US Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids, IA
Friday, October 19 – Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
Saturday, October 20 – Huntington Center, Toledo, OH
Friday, October 26 – Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
Saturday, October 27 – The Ford Center, Evansville, IN
Friday, November 02 – Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
Saturday, November 03 – Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL
Friday, November 09 – Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
Saturday, November 10 – KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
Friday, November 16 – Royal Farms Arena, Baltimore, MD
Saturday, November 17 – Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington, WV
Friday, November 30 – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, Wilkes-Barre Township, PA
Saturday, December 01 – Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
Friday, December 07 – Raising Cane’s River Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Saturday, December 08 – Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, MS
+ Part of the iHeartRadio Music Festival

VIP packages are available for all dates.  Details available at lynyrdskynyrd.com.

About Lynyrd Skynyrd
Original members Ronnie Van Zant, Bob Burns, Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, and Larry Junstrom formed the band in 1964, originally known as My Backyard, the band changed to its famous name in the early 1970s, and became popular in the Jacksonville, Florida area, where the original members were from. They signed with Sounds of the South Records in 1972, and released their self-titled disc the following year. The album that featured “Free Bird,” arguably the most-recognized single in the Southern Rock genre, has sold more than 2 million units since its release. Later down the road the band recorded iconic tracks “Sweet Home Alabama” and “What’s Your Name.”

The band’s story took a tragic turn in October 1977 when a plane crash took the lives of Van Zant, Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines, and several of their road crew. The band took a decade-long hiatus before reuniting for a tour and live album, Southern by the Grace of God. Since then, the band has toured and recorded extensively, with their most recent release being Last Of A Dyin’ Breed. The band’s current line-up includes original member Rossington, Johnny Van Zant, Rickey Medlocke, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

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Big Machine Vodka 400 At The Brickyard Taps Florida Georgia Line As Grand Marshals + Scott Borchetta To Wave The Green Flag

By on August 31, 2018 in In The Press

Global superstars Florida Georgia Line were already slated to have a huge presence as race namesake and festival headliners at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway next weekend. Now, they have also been tapped as the grand marshals of the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line on Sunday, September 9.

The chart-topping and history-making duo, made up of Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, will headline the first annual FGL Fest concert on Saturday, September 8 at IMS, leading a revved-up lineup that also includes Cole Swindell, Nelly, Raelynn, Jillian Jacqueline, Mason Ramsey, Riley Green and Stephanie Quayle.

“Our growing relationship with Big Machine and Scott Borchetta has helped create an exciting new era for the NASCAR weekend at IMS this year with a new September date, exciting lineup of five days of on-track action and such a great collection of music superstars at FGL Fest,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Scott, Tyler and Brian have been such strong supporters of this event, so it’s fitting they receive these prestigious roles on Race Day.”

Big Machine Label Group Founder, President and CEO Scott Borchetta will wave the green flag to start the 25th Running of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, which starts at 2:00P ET on the 2.5-mile IMS oval.

“We’re about to open a giant bottle of full-throttle entertainment from the first note of FGL Fest on Saturday all the way through to the checkered flag of the Big Machine Vodka 400 on Sunday!” expressed Borchetta. “Our partnership with IMS has grown bigger each year and FGL Fest is going to take it to the next level. On Saturday, in addition to our great concert line-up, we will have the Monster Motocross Stunt Riders and the Monster Girls, NASCAR Heat Video Game Championships, amazing food and drink, and surprise appearances from some of the best race drivers in the world… start your engines!”

Billboard’s first-ever “Trailblazer Award” recipients continue to build their ever-expanding empire of innovative artistry and entrepreneurial endeavors. Currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on their fourth studio album (BMLG Records), FGL have given fans an early taste with No. 1 best-selling lead single “Simple,” as well as already-released tracks “Colorado,” “Talk You Out of It,” and “Sittin’ Pretty” all of which hit No. 1 on iTunes best-selling Country Songs Chart.

The kings of superstar collaborations have also shattered records with the certified 3X Platinum No. 1 single “Meant to Be” with Bebe Rexha (FGL’s 15th No. 1 single).  The single continues to lead the way atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for a history-making 39th week. With more than 4.2 billion streams, 31 million tracks and more than 4.3 million albums sold worldwide, the BMLG Records’ duo remains the first country act to achieve RIAA’s Diamond certification (10 million copies sold) for their breakout “Cruise,” which is the best-selling digital country single of all time.

Since 2012, FGL has earned prestigious honors from the AMAs, ACM Awards, CMA Awards, Billboard Music Awards and CMT Music Awards, plus left their mark on several chart-crushing songs as writers. As announced earlier this week, the six-time CMA Vocal Duo of the Year nominees will vie for the acclaimed title, plus Single of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for “Meant to Be” at the 52nd Annual CMA Awards, airing live from Nashville on November 14 at 8/7c on ABC.

The bonafide visionaries have launched their Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey, as well as thriving businesses: FGL HOUSE, meet + greet, Tree Vibez Music and Tribe Kelley. They will further elevate their revolutionary status with a limited residency, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS, inside Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino beginning December 1.

Borchetta founded Big Machine Label Group in September 2005. The Nashville-based company is the No. 1 independent record label in the world and encompasses Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co., BMLG Records, Big Machine Records/John Varvatos Records, publishing company Big Machine Music and a digital radio station Big Machine Radio.

The BMLG artist roster also includes international phenomena Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Thomas Rhett, Brantley Gilbert, Cheap Trick and Sugarland as well as chart-topping acts Justin Moore, Eli Young Band, Brett Young, Aaron Lewis, Midland, Carly Pearce, Danielle Bradberry and Trent Harmon.

Big Machine artists have received multiple GRAMMY, CMA, ACM, AMA, CMT, Teen Choice, MTV, Billboard, People’s Choice and Brit Awards.

The Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line event week also will include the Lilly Diabetes 250 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday, September 8 and the Driven2SaveLives BC39 presented by NOS Energy Drink for the USAC P1 Insurance Midget National Championship September 5-6 on the new The Dirt Track at IMS inside Turn 3 of the IMS oval.

Visit IMS.com for tickets and more information about the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line.

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Breakthrough Artist/Songwriter Ryan Hurd Releases “To A T” Today

By on August 31, 2018 in In The Press

With more than 90 million career streams worldwide, the appetite for new music from breakout artist/songwriter Ryan Hurd is ferocious. He delivers Friday, Aug. 31 with the perfect fit in “To A T.” The song captures Hurd’s trademark powerful lyrics and melodies woven around a sexy, imploring vocal.  “To A T” is available to stream and download HERE.

The song has caught the attention of men’s lifestyle playbook, Esquire Instagram Live, which will feature a live performance of the song by the RCA Nashville artist at noon/ET on Friday, Aug. 31.

Esquire isn’t the only media gatekeeper paying attention to the Kalamazoo, MI native. Hurd was named an “Artist To Watch” by VEVO, Pandora, CMT, Huffington Post and Rolling Stone Country, which lauded him for “generating major buzz” and “making waves online.”

The praise is earned. Hurd is one of Nashville’s most multi-dimensional young songwriters. He has had co-pen credits on some of the format’s biggest chart-topping hits including “Lonely Tonight” (Blake Shelton), “You Look Good” (Lady Antebellum), and “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset” (Luke Bryan). Now with the release of his own music, fans are discovering the fuel that drives Hurd is often love with all its avatars.

Prolific in the writing room, studio, and via social media, Hurd released his self-titled debut EP in 2017 which featured “Love In A Bar,” “We Do Us,” “City Girl” and “Hold You Back,” each track released over a four-month period. Attracting fans eager to embrace the soulful country artist’s new sound, his EP to date has garnered over 11 million streams.

In March, Hurd released “Diamonds Or Twine” as a present for his then soon-to-be wife Maren Morris after secretly recording the track with his long-time producer Aaron Essuis.

Hurd has been on the road with Thomas Rhett, Morris, and Florida Georgia Line. For more information on Ryan Hurd, visit RyanHurd.com.

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Luke Bryan Throwing A Free Grand Opening Celebration On September 10th

By on August 31, 2018 in In The Press

Four-time Entertainer of the Year and Superstar Luke Bryan is planning a FREE Nashville concert in the heart of downtown on Monday, September 10th as the grand opening celebration of his new multi-level venue, LUKE’S 32 BRIDGE FOOD + DRINK.  Luke’s performance will take place just outside the bar at 301 Broadway. Party begins at 6:30pm. Special guests include Jon Langston, Chelsea Field and DJ Rock.

“I’ve been looking forward to this for some time,” shared Luke.  “Couldn’t think of a better way to kick this place off than to have a big party right on the streets of Broadway!”

Last summer, Luke performed in downtown Nashville as part of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final Game 6 drawing 60,000 fans.

LUKE’S 32 BRIDGE FOOD + DRINK name was inspired by Luke’s childhood home near Route 32 Bridge in Lee County, Georgia and is housed in Nashville’s iconic American National Bank Building.

“The reason why we named it 32 Bridge is that 32 Bridge is the bridge that goes over the Flint River, and that’s just a special place for me and it tells my story,” explains Luke. “So, we wanted to do pictures, we wanted to do outdoor type scenes and we wanted to have the food and the drinks.

The facility, in partnership with TC Restaurant Group, opened last month. LUKE’S 32 BRIDGE FOOD + DRINK is a 30,000 square foot venue featuring six levels of entertainment space with eight bars, four stages of live music and two restaurants. It includes Nashville’s only rooftop Sushi Bar as well as a menu inspired by some of Luke’s favorite dishes and one-of-a-kind drinks.

It’s not just the Georgia native’s name on the bar. He definitely wants everything to be just right for the patrons of 32 Bridge Food + Drink. “I tell all my family and all my friends and now my fans, if something isn’t right, if you’ve got a complaint, hit me up, let me know, and I’ll get it fixed,” he says. “I want it to be an amazing experience for everybody that walks in the door.”

Go to www.lukes32bridge.com to learn more about LUKE’S 32 BRIDGE FOOD + DRINK.

Dedicated parking for the event will be at Nissan Stadium.

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Miranda Lambert + Little Big Town’s Bandwagon Caravan Comes To An End

By on August 30, 2018 in In The Press

Photo credit: Reid Long

For songwriters, an idea for a song may be nothing more than a notion — a scribble on a notepad for years before the timing, message and hook come together. So, it’s not surprising that Country superstars Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town dreamt about a co-headlining tour for years before finally pulling the trigger on their 17-city The Bandwagon Tour.

Saturday’s show at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Chicago marked the tour’s final destination, but not before giving fans one last night of high-energy hits and powerful collaborations unique to the show.

The Sun-Chronicle described the show as “an evening of country music at its best,” and CMT recalled how “everyone stayed until the ugly lights came on…It was almost as if the fans knew that this was the end, and no one wanted it to be over.”

The troupe traversed across the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest regions, playing to at-capacity crowds almost every night and treating them to a once-in-a-lifetime performance of some of the group’s greatest hits—including an hour-long encore that CMT described as feeling “as perfected as it did spontaneous.”

As Pollstar commended Lambert for “her command of the stage and the momentum build of her songs” while declaring that “Lambert at her core is a vocalist committed to the music,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offered that “[Little Big Town’s] four voices coming together are some of the best harmonies that country has to offer” and Pollstar noted that “they are perhaps modern country’s most diverse and musically intelligent act.”

Opening for the quintet was Sony recording artist and country newcomer Tenille Townes, and other special guests included Natalie Hemby, The Steel Woods and Turnpike Troubadours.

Both critically acclaimed artists, Lambert and Little Big Town combine for a total of thirty-six ACM Award wins, twenty-one CMA Award wins and four GRAMMYs. Lambert, who made ACM history when she was named the ACM Female Vocalist of the Year for the ninth consecutive year, was recently announced as the Country Music Hall of Fame ® and Museum’s 15th artist-in-residence and is preparing for the release this fall of her third project with fellow Pistol Annies Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe.

Little Big Town recently hosted a sold-out, year-long residency at Ryman Auditorium and on July 26, the Country Music Hall of Fame ® and Museum launched their new, yearlong exhibit called LITTLE BIG TOWN: THE POWER OF FOUR showcasing the bands’ storied and powerful 20-year history within the country music community.

About Miranda Lambert: 
Vanner Records/RCA Records Nashville singer/songwriter Miranda Lambert is the most decorated artist in ACM history as well as the reigning ACM Female Vocalist of the Year, having been bestowed this honor for nine consecutive years. Her accolades include 2 Grammy Awards, 13 (CMA) Country Music Associations Awards, and 32 (ACM) Academy of Country Music Awards as well as many other honors, including the prestigious Harmony Award from the Nashville Symphony.

The Texas native released her most recent effort, a double album titled The Weight of These Wings in November 2016, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. She touts six studio albums to her repertoire; Kerosene (2005), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2007), Revolution (2009), Four The Record (2011) and Platinum (2014), the latter earning Lambert a GRAMMY Award for Best Country Album, in addition to her previous GRAMMY win for Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 2010 for “The House That Built Me.”  The first song released from The Weight Of These Wings, “Vice,” received multiple Grammy and ACM Award nominations. Lambert’s previous country radio single, “Tin Man”, which she debuted at the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards last year (2017) and was awarded Song Of The Year at the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards. www.Mirandalambert.com.

About Little Big Town:
GRAMMY, ACM, CMA, and AMA Award-winning group, Little Big Town — consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook — first entered the music scene over 19 years ago with hit songs “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home,” “Good As Gone” and the GRAMMY-nominated “Little White Church.” Their breakthrough albums Tornado and Pain Killer produced multiple #1 singles, including “Pontoon,” “Tornado,” and “Day Drinking,” as well as the history-making, best-selling country single of the year (2015) “Girl Crush.”  Released February 24, 2017, Little Big Town’s last studio album, The Breaker, debuted #1 on the Billboard Country Charts and Top 10 (No.4) on the Billboard 200 to critical acclaim, marking the group’s fourth Top 10 debut on the Billboard 200 chart. The album features their GRAMMY-winning, multi-week #1 single, “Better Man,” as well as “When Someone Stops Loving You.” Current single “Summer Fever” is out now and climbing the charts at country radio.

Little Big Town has earned more than 40 award show nominations and in the past five years has taken home nearly 20 awards, including multiple GRAMMY, AMA, People’s Choice, CMA, ACM awards, and an Emmy award. Currently the reigning CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year, the Country Music Hall of Fame inductees (2014) went onto receive their star on the Nashville Walk of Fame in 2017. Also in 2017, Little Big Town hosted a sold-out, year-long artist residency at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville — marking the venue’s first-ever, year-long residency in its 125-year history. The band also recently launched 4 Cellars wine, their first non-musical project as a band, with Browne Family Vineyards. On July 26th The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville launched their new, yearlong exhibit called LITTLE BIG TOWN: THE POWER OF FOUR showcasing the bands powerful and storied 20-year history within the country music community.

For more information on Little Big Town visit LittleBigTown.com or follow them @littlebigtown.

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