Tag Archives | country

Album Review: Florida Georgia Line ‘It’z Just What We Do’

By on May 18, 2012 in Album & Song Reviews

I know, I look like I just made a big typo in the title, right? ha  No, but I’ll readily admit that you’ll see a typo from me on occasion no matter HOW much I proofread! 🙂 

‘It’z Just What We Do’ is the name of this brand new 5-song EP from up-and-coming country duo, Florida Georgia Line, comprised of Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard.  Released on iTunes just this week, it’s already doing quite well on the iTunes country chart and seems to be creating quite a buzz about this new duo.  There’s also sure to be more buzz created as they are embarking on the 2012 Country Throwdown Tour that features headliner Gary Allan along with Sunny Sweeney, Josh Thompson, Justin Moore, Eric Paslay, Rodney Atkins, and more artists.

This new EP is just plain fun to listen to.  It’s the type of music that is both catchy and just takes you away from your troubles for a bit.  I enjoyed the blending of their two voices together and found the album very easy to listen to.  Very radio-friendly.  I didn’t have to listen a second time to decide if I liked it or not, I just do and it immediately caught my interest.  I wouldn’t say the lyrics have deep emotional depth, but I found it to be very catchy combined with the excellent musicianship I heard on this new release.   There wasn’t a song that really pulled at my heartstrings, but overall I found this new release very enjoyable, filled with uptempo tunes, stellar production, and I imagine live that these guys are quite fun.   Plus, I’m sure all of the ladies will take quite an interest in them, too!

My favorite songs on the album are “Get Your Shine On” and “Tell Me How You Like It”.

Find them on iTunes and give them a listen!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Check out this related article and listen to “Cruise” from the album HERE.

 

 

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Production And Artist Development Company Artist Concepts Launches In Nashville

By on May 17, 2012 in In The Press

Artist Concepts partners Becky Harris, Anthony Smith and Chris Young sign Brinley Addington for artist representation

May 16, 2012 – Nashville, TN – No matter how big Nashville grows, as with all Music City connections, it’s still a very small town.  Successful business manager BECKY HARRIS, hit songwriter ANTHONY SMITH (“Tomorrow”) and RCA recording artist CHRIS YOUNG have teamed up to create ARIST CONCEPTS, a production and artist development company fostering up-and-coming talent in the music industry.  While all three partners will work to seek out top new talent, Smith will spearhead the search for music. Smith has produced acts in the past, however this will be Young’s first time to serve as co-producer. Harris has been tapped to handle the bookkeeping and business management for Artist Concepts.

After a lengthy search for fresh new talent, Artist Concepts’ new signing is Belmont alumnus and singer/songwriter BRINLEY ADDINGTON. Smith is currently accepting song submissions for the project at artistconcepts@yahoo.com. The team plans to take Addington into the studio within the next month to produce several sides to pitch to Nashville record labels with a showcase to be scheduled in the near future. Thanks to Harris’ introduction to veteran publisher Lisa Johnson, Addington has already signed a publishing contract with Razor & Tie. “We are very happy to have Brinley Addington in our Razor and Tie family and we are excited that he has the opportunity to work with such creatively talented pros as Anthony Smith and Chris Young,” shared Johnson.

Addington already has a busy schedule, recently opening several shows for Young, and has been added to the list of talent for the Blake Shelton & Friends Cruise setting sail this fall.  Find more information on Addington and to check out video clips and music samples, visit www.brinleyaddington.com and follow the singer on Twitter @Brinley_.

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Artist Red Carpet Arrivals, Fashion Show, Music, And Much More Added To Fan Fair Hall During CMA Music Festival

By on May 11, 2012 in In The Press

Individual Tickets to the Fan Fair Hall at the Nashville Convention Center Available for $25; $20 if Purchased With a CMA Music Festival Nightly Concert Ticket for LP Field

NASHVILLE – Live performances, exciting new events, lifestyle exhibits, and autograph signings are the centerpiece of the Fan Fair® Hall during the 2012 CMA Music Festival, which will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 7-10 in Nashville, Tenn.

“The unique bond between our artists and their fans has been the foundation of this event since it began as Fan Fair in 1972,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “And the epicenter of that relationship exists today in the Fan Fair Hall.”

“We are constantly looking for ways to enhance the experience for our fans and the artists and we have made several exciting changes and additions to the Fan Fair Hall this year that are sure to be popular with our attendees,”said Sheri Warnke, CMA Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing.

Hours for the Fan Fair Hall are Thursday through Saturday June 7-9 from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM/CT; Sunday, June 10 from 10:00 AM-3:00 PM.

Each day new names are being added to the list of celebrities signing in the Fan Fair Hall including Lauren Alaina, Bill Anderson, Lynn Anderson, Laura Bell Bundy, Bucky Covington, Cowboy Troy, Billy Dean, Donna Fargo, Colt Ford, William Lee Golden, Jack Greene, Casey James, Joey + Rory, The Lacs, LoCash Cowboys, Manuel, The McClymonts, Scotty McCreery, Robin Meade, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, LuLu Roman, Matt Stillwell, Doug Stone, Two Foot Fred, Bryan White, Winfield’s Locket, Chris Young, and many more to be announced soon.

CMA Music Festival

Fans gather around the CMA booth in the Fan Fair hall during the 2011 CMA Music Festival. Photo Credit: Jim Hagans

Durango Acoustic Corner Broadcast by 650 AM WSM

CMA Music Festival is about music and the fans and you will find both in the Durango Acoustic Corner Broadcast by 650 AM WSM. For the first time in 2012, the Durango Acoustic Corner is moving to the floor of the convention center with seating for fans and continuous music.

Performances take place Thursday through Saturday, June 7-9 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM; on Sunday, June 10 from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM. Schedule in order of appearance (subject to change):

Thursday, June 7 – Gene Watson, Georgette Jones, Lulu Roman, Riders in the Sky, Bryan White. Jesse Keith Whitley, James Wesley, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Black Lillies, Billy Dean

Friday, June 8 – The Roys, Bucky Covington, Janie Fricke, Gwen Sebastian, Buddy Jewell, T. Graham Brown, Carter’s Chord, Jimmy Fortune, Marty Raybon, Con Hunley

Saturday, June 9 – Dana Romanello, Jason Michael Carroll, Lonesome River Band, Heidi Newfield, Doug Stone, Mark Wills, Lynn Anderson, Teea Goans, Chase Rice, Joanna Smith

Sunday, June 10 – Donna Ulisse & The Poor Mountain Boys, Chuck Wagon Gang, Sarah Darling, The Grascals, Due West, The McClymonts, Lesley McDaniel, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out

Fan Fair Hall Red Carpet

Fans get to be the paparazzi! An exciting new feature of the Fan Fair Hall in 2012 is the Red Carpet where fans can take photos of their favorite stars as they arrive to sign autographs throughout the day.

“Crowding around booths sometimes made it difficult to get a good photo of an artist, but with this new area with a raised Red Carpet, fans will have a much better opportunity to get that coveted photo of a favorite artist as they enter or leave the Hall,” Warnke said.

Wrangler Fashion Show

The Wrangler Fashion Show is the place for Country Music fashionistas to see artists modeling the hottest styles. Hosted by GAC personality Suzanne Alexander, the Wrangler Fashion Show will be held Saturday, June 9 (1:00-2:00 PM) at the Fan Fair Hall Red Carpet.

The Wrangler Fashion Show will be a showcase of Wrangler fashion with additional designs from Manuel, designer to the stars who is known world-wide for his embellished and embroidered motifs. Manuel will also be embellishing a two Wrangler items that will be auctioned after CMA Music Festival to raise funds for CMA’s music education campaign, Keep the Music Playing. Durango Boots will be providing footwear for all models.

Budweiser Supports Folds of Honor Foundation

As part of their Fan Fair Hall exhibit, Budweiser is continuing their 100+ year commitment to the brave men and women of the U.S. armed forces by partnering with the Folds of Honor Foundation to honor the sacrifices of the fallen and support their families through scholarships and other opportunities.

Budweiser is dedicating the 2012 baseball season to recognizing their sacrifices through the Walk-Off A Hero program; for every walk-off win, Budweiser will donate $5,000 to Folds of Honor. Budweiser is also pleased to feature special patriotic cans and bottles available in stores this summer.

Additionally, Budweiser will be donating a portion of sales (April 20-July 7) to Folds of Honor Foundation. These programs are all part of an effort to raise as much as $2.5 million. The partnership between the Folds of Honor Foundation and Budweiser will significantly expand the mission to help these deserving military families.

The Fan Fair Hall Marketplace

Special mementos and unique fashions can be found in the Fan Fair Hall Marketplace featuring a variety of vendors including Apparel, The Charleston Soap Company, Dillards for the Reba Brand, Hillbilly Brand, Manuel, Mignon’s, Twisted Sisters, and more.

New Autograph Drawing

CMA recently announced new procedures for autograph seekers to enhance the overall Festival experience, improve safety, and make the process for securing a treasured autograph equitable for all Festival goers. The new system will be a drawing with online sign ups and advance notification, which will enable Festival goers to better schedule their time so they can attend concerts and take part in free events and activities rather than waiting in line in hopes of securing a signature. The advance sign-up system creates a level playing field for all fans to enter for their chance to win an autograph signing ticket.

Here is how it works: Individual booths will no longer distribute tickets for autograph signings each morning inside the Hall. Instead, fans will enter a random drawing for the opportunity to meet various artists appearing in the Fan Fair Exhibit Hall. Patrons will enter this drawing in advance of CMA Music Festival via an online entry form at CMAfest.com. Entering the drawing is easy:

Go to www.CMAfest.com anytime until May 28 (ending at 5:00 PM/CT).
Patrons enter their contact information and then select from the list of participating artists signing autographs in the Hall.
Patrons may select as few or as many of the artists listed to be entered to win a ticket for each respective signing.
Once the entry has been submitted, it can’t be changed. Duplicate entries will not be considered.
All winners will be notified on Friday, June 1 via email.

The confirmation emails will contain detailed information on which artist(s) the fan gets to meet as well as the date, time, and location of the signings inside the Fan Fair Hall, plus instructions on where, when, and how to retrieve autograph wrist bands inside the Nashville Convention Center.

Tickets for the Fan Fair Hall

CMA Music Festival four-day ticket holders aren’t the only lucky ones with access to the Fan Fair Hall. Tickets to visit the Fan Fair Hall cost $25 per ticket, per day; $20 if purchased with a ticket to one of the Nightly Concerts at LP Field. Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster.com (http://www.ticketmaster.com/Country-Music-Festival-tickets/artist/1711387). Tickets will also be available at the Nashville Convention Center at the Commerce Street entrance beginning Wednesday, June 6 from 9:00 AM-6:00 PM.

CMA Music Festival is the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience – a celebration of America’s music that takes over downtown Nashville with non-stop concerts on multiple stages with a vast and varied roster of artists. CMA Music Festival is a four-time winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010).

CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. Fan Fair® is a registered trademark of CMA. Chevrolet™ is the Official Ride of Country Music. BIC is an Official Partner of the 2012 CMA Music Festival. Connect with CMA online at CMAfest.com, Facebook.com/CMA and Twitter.com/CountryMusic.

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A Closer Look @ JT Hodges

By on May 10, 2012 in A Closer Look @

 

Check out this interview with JT Hodges! We caught up with him just following CRS so I guess you could say this was our very last official/unofficial interview of CRS since we had to delay our interview with him.  JT was kind enough to not only give us an interview, but performed at our very first ‘Music In Motion’ benefit for MS on March 10th at the Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville. http://youtu.be/ame6RGOiiGY

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A Closer Look @ JT Hodges

By on May 10, 2012 in A Closer Look @, The Latest

JT Hodges

Check out this interview with JT Hodges! We caught up with him just following CRS so I guess you could say this was our very last official/unofficial interview of CRS since we had to delay our interview with him.  JT was kind enough to not only give us an interview, but performed at our very first ‘Music In Motion’ benefit for MS on March 10th at the Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville. http://youtu.be/ame6RGOiiGY

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CRS 2012: Interview With Deborah Allen

By on May 10, 2012 in A Closer Look @

Deborah Allen
Check out this interview with Deborah Allen during CRS! http://youtu.be/6yxfUV68p6c

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CRS 2012: Interview With Jason Mitchell

By on May 10, 2012 in A Closer Look @

Jason Mitchell
Check out this interview with Jason Mitchell from CRS! http://youtu.be/WpFxv2JeAFM

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CRS 2012: Interview With Mark Cooke

By on May 10, 2012 in A Closer Look @


Check out this interview with Mark Cooke from CRS! http://youtu.be/gBzquThU1sY

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CRS 2012: Interview With DJ Miller

By on May 8, 2012 in A Closer Look @

DJ Miller
Check out this interview with DJ Miller during CRS! http://youtu.be/G4XPIvwl6SA

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Album Review: Briana Tyson ‘Back To Me’

By on May 5, 2012 in Album & Song Reviews

Brian TysonBriana Tyson  is our featured artist and track for the month of May.  Her new 5-track EP entitled ‘Back To Me’ is one of the best albums I have had the pleasure to hear this year! Her voice is not only powerful, but filled with such amazing depth and emotion.  If you have the chance to see Briana perform live, you’ll be drawn into her genuine spirit and her live performance will literally give you chills.  I had a friend who couldn’t stop talking about her over 2 weeks after he had seen her perform for the 1st time.  “Wow” was the word he used to describe her and how she gave him chills as she sang.  I couldn’t agree more! In a town filled with many incredible artists, it’s not easy to stick out like this, but she does! Briana has a very special quality about her and definitely worth a listen.  Both contemporary and traditional country music fans will enjoy her music.

Track by track review:

“When You’re Drunk”:  This is my favorite off the album.  It’s an uptempo, fun song with a twist at the end.  Briana starts off acapella–something that most would shy away from because might be a flaw in their voice.  However, no flaws her.  Just control and strength.

“Back To Me’:  A beautiful mid-tempo song about longing to be with a loved one.

“Head Over My High Heels”:  Another fun, mid-to-uptempo song.  I can almost see a legend like Patsy Cline singing this song at Tootsie’s on Broadway.  It’s contemporary but a bit of a throwback to an earlier time in country music.  Something that country traditionalists will love.  Then there’s a section with a trumpet solo where I could’ve sworn I just entered the French Quarter in New Orleans.  So, it even had a little jazz influence, too.

“Almost”:  A beautifully-written and sung ballad about missing a lost love.

“Left My Heart With You”:  This song will bring you to tears.  It did me.  It’s written from the perspective of the person who has passed away as they are watching over their loved ones and trying to give comfort to them from Heaven.

What’s pretty amazing is Briana is only 19 years old, yet her voice and songs have the maturity, emotional depth of someone older who has experienced so much more.  She even writes or co-writes all of her music and co-produced this album herself.  Be sure to find Briana on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/brianatysonmusic

You can buy this EP at iTunes for only $4.95.  Buy it now and support this amazing artist!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

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