amu-ricana

Spring Fling Music Festival 2024 @ Giddy Ups - 3/13-3/17

2024-03-09T19:01:00.663-06:00

Welcome to the Spring Fling Music Festival at Giddy Ups.

Let's celebrate the amazing talent of independent artists who are making the world of music a better place day by day!

As a service to the participating musicians and bands, we've asked them to provide us with links to their websites, social media, and streaming platforms. This is to make it easier for you, our audience, to connect with your favorite musicians and support their incredible work.

We encourage you to tip the bands generously, buy their merchandise, and spread the word about their music. In a world where corporate media rarely features independent artists, it's up to us to share their talent and help them reach a wider audience.

Let's come together and show our support for these talented artists who are pouring their hearts and souls into creating music that inspires, uplifts, and moves us. Thank you for joining us on this journey of discovery and appreciation!

Big thank yous go out to:

Mike Morgan - Owner Giddy Ups
Anna Bosworth - Barmanger Giddy Ups

Ann Henningsen - 3sixty inc
Penny Jo Pullus - TeXchromosome

Jacob - Sound

As we wrap up our introduction, we want to express our deepest gratitude to every musician who will share their talent and time with us, as well as all the agents, management companies, and the incredible crew at Giddy Ups who made this event possible. Your dedication and hard work have allowed us to bring you a diverse range of music, from old-time inspired tunes to contemporary rock, and everything in between.

We hope you enjoy the music and discover new sounds that you didn't even know you were craving.

To stay updated on our future events and music news, follow us on our social media pages. Thank you for joining us on this musical journey, and get ready to relax and enjoy some of the finest music over the next five days!

Website (Giddy Ups): giddyups.com

Social Media:

Facebook: Giddy Ups facebook.com/giddyups2000/

Spring Fling Music Festival facebook.com/SpringFlingMusicFestival/

Streaming Media:

YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCK7tPVzz-E96ds3AgjXy0rA

SFMF 2024 - Spotify list of the artists: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7uPN7bF1ctg6IosqNzNZO8

Disclaimer - schedule may change

(This blog will continually be updated - so refresh it on your device once in a while.)

Wednesday 3/13

3 pm - 10 pm - 3sixtyinc present

3 pm - Robert Cline Jr.

Texas Troubadour

Website: https://www.robertclinejr.com/
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertClineJrMusic

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Outlaw4tooLong
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2rhQEPTLZf1pgj3yEQQztM

4 pm - Sherita Perez

Singer/Songwriter

Website: https://sheritaperez.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheritaperez1

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SheritaPerez

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ITxdckaTLPEk44KGlb9JE

5 pm - Taylor Nauta

Swamp Blues Country

Website: https://taylornautamusic.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylor.nauta

Streaming Media:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@taylornauta

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/69wNbxJeqHRrfXOvnFgYDT

6 pm - Thomas Hinds

Georgian Troubadour

Website: https://thomashindsmedia.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hindsthomas/

Streaming Media:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThomasHinds

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7wOxMZgaCVFRwfRT9tvqDH

7 pm - Chris Berardo

Americana before Americana was cool

Website:

http://www.chrisberardo.com/

Social Media:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DesBerardos

Streaming Media:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDesBerardos

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3oQApKy1zyUw7XsiaHkRjn

8 pm - Ted Russell Kamp

Singer/Songwriter, Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer

Website: https://tedrussellkamp.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TedRussellKampMusic

Streaming Media:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3b6FDf9hkxGUtHMeb-NmWQ

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ENJDOcxaI3RZAhQxAi3rS

9 pm - Seanie Vaughan

Irish Rock Singer/Songwriter

Website: https://seanievaughanmusic.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeanieVaughanMusic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanie_vaughan_music/

Streaming Media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@seanievaughanmusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5OkXz0SsyevXwrVMCKEtEC

10 pm - Cody Bolden & The Road Hands

Americana Country-Rock

Website: https://www.codybolden.com

Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codybolden/

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK7Ym9GyZ0sVPqieuFZCvQg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jYrqI6dbcQY4aGaK79WQK

11 pm - The Lost Weekend

Legendary Austin Cats

Website: https://johnviehweg.com/wordpress/?p=1480

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLostWeekendATX

12 pm - Mac Leaphart

Intricate lyrics with a simple plea in C major

Website: https://macleaphart.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MacLeaphart/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macleaphart/

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4yK7dR3EcEgdBKTbTvqlhn

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/macleaphart

Thursday 3/16

3 pm - Markus Daniels

Singer/Songwriter

Streaming Media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@guardedheart

4 pm - Seth Montgomery

Singer/Songwriter

YouTube: https://youtu.be/rtOBO2oVoE4?si=xrrs7m7W1LpxScMl

https://youtu.be/9Qt9dsiMbbQ

5 pm - Rigby Summer

Part Americana, part Okie Red Dirt with a hint of Johnny Cash

Website: https://rigbysummer.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RigbySummerMusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rigbysummer/

Streaming Media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdG_INY11r2F0YrxeY7ko9Q
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6iActLIxgj19aMjqkC6BQw

6 pm - Men From Manchac

Country music for dancing and drinking

Contact: MenFromManchac@gmx.com

7 pm - Big Joe & Bigger In Texas Band

Traditional Texas Country

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088691055047

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jUAKM631gjm5BDHaKxYmI

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bigjoegoynes6518

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/big-joe-goynes/sets/big-joe-big-dreams

8 pm - Country Clubbers

Female Fronted Hot Country & Jump Blues Band

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/countryclubbersatx

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/countryclubbersatx/

Streaming Media:

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/countryclubbers

9 pm - Bakersfield TX

Classic Country & Western with a Texas Twang

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bakersfieldtx
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakersfieldtx/

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3pNNoZyaXdqYDXQYs9RplF

10 pm - The AusTones

Local Blues Favorites

Website: https://theaustones.com/
Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaustones

Streaming Media:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/aan1UUW_KsI?si=hy6BoB9F1Xb5JhEK

11 pm - Discount Pills

Versatile - for early morning bicycle rides or orange desert sunsets

Website: http://www.thediscountpills.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thediscountpills99

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thediscountpills

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thediscountpills

Buy The Music: https://thediscountpills.bandcamp.com

12 am - Marie Madeleine

New Wave With a Gothic Mirage from France

Website: https://www.mariemadeleine.ninja/en/

Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariemadeleine669/

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/42Wmw8g4Cl9ZsxYR8prhSC

Friday 3/17

3 pm - David Newbould

Heartland Roots Rocker

Website: https://davidnewbould.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidnewbould

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidnewbould/

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/davidnewbouldband

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3dqXrfBclm6kixnrxsXXCv

4 pm - Claudia Nygaard

Captivating storyteller between Folk & Country

Website: http://www.claudianygaard.com/store.html

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claudianygaardmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudianygaard/

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/claudianygaard
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/claudianygaard
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TvUN8AlHF9dGp3HauW9IT?si=rEfi6rePReGB0tmQx4N8Jg

Buy My Music:
CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/ClaudiaNygaard

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/claudia-nygaard/370985277

5 pm - Kaz Murphy

World-travelin' Folk Troubadour

Website: https://kazmurphy.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaz.murphy.5/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kazmurphymusic

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kazmurphy

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2izfOpRRwDU14g8PFjjq1y

6 pm - Ever More Nest

Soaring River Delta Alt-Country

Website: evermorenest.com

Social Media:

Facebook: facebook.com/evermorenest

Instagram: instagram.com/evermorenest

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@evermorenest
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4SyLT21Hx2AptF6kdopLqL

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ever-more-nest/1433824641

7 pm - Pi Jacobs

Songs so visual, they could be mini-movies

Website: www.PiJacobs.com

Social Media:

Facebook: Facebook.com/PiJacobsMusic

Instagram: Instagram.com/PiJacobs

Streaming Media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PiJacobsMusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ENAVPqPtiFX4c7QuF06p7

All Links: https://bit.ly/PiCoyote

Buy The Music:

Bandcamp: https://pijacobs.bandcamp.com/

8 pm - Bentley/Casner Band

Local Favorites, now playing together

"Lost" John Casner

Website: www.lostjohn.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lost-John-Casner-114883838564170/

Sam Bentley

Website: www.sambentley.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sam-Bentley-Band-122396791103886/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/csbentley26

Streaming Media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCepPr5pDMuiU6yrjIGTzDcA

9 pm - Shufflehawks

Honky Tonk Barstool Country

Website: https://shufflehawks.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheShufflehawks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/borgtunes

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@borgtunes3646

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1DA4kV0wzKB7Z2dZiFL7Pb

10 pm - Cast Iron Shoes
High-Energy Folk-Rock

Website: www.castironshoes.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/nikki.salt.965
Instagram: https://instagram.com/castironshoes

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://spotify.link/fLr96y8i5xb

11 pm - Stacy Antonel

Country Leaning Americana

Website: https://www.stacyantonel.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gingercowgirl
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacyantonel

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/79wKYcei5hhKEqmQQaaQ7N

Saturday 3/18

3 pm - Michael Laura
Nashville Singer/Songwriter

Streaming Music:

ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/likemaura2

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMSFJZPtM8uwRjnf7cP6nQA

4 pm - Single Girl, Married Girl

Website: www.singelgirlmarriedgirl.com

Social Media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/singlegirlmarriedgirl

Instagram: www.instagram.com/singlegirlmarriedgirl.band

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5DbbgFicZGIQyhkmBg2g7m?si=4XoVRZl-QZGRDVWjtPGC-w

5 pm - Guyville

Americana with pop-rock edge

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Guyvilletheduo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guyvilletheduo

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6R9XrO8i58N8aORdd3JNiG

6 pm - Mike Younger

No-shit poetic realism with a tendency to museum qualities… (Rodney Crowell)

Website: https://mikeyounger.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMikeYounger/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngermike/

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5J2OxueNatyEL3ddlYwBM3?si=_R_Q__KSR-iNSh6waL5XFg

Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/qUm9RQUn6oV32ij86

7 pm - Chris McGill

Jukebox Heartache

Website: https://chrismcgillmusic.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078364214050

Instagram: https://instagram.com/chrismcgillmusic

Streaming Media:

Sporify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2JkKjUaBQiSzstwrA4HnOv (Chris solo)

8 pm - David Touchton

Lonesome Country-Blues

Website: www.davidtouchtonmusic.com

Social Media:
Facebook - www.facebook.com/davidtouchtonmusic
Instagram - www.instagram.com/davidtouchtonmusic

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2rwiMP7NfE1wcoPLvOJpqf

9 pm - Medicine Hat

Lonesome Desert Rock

Website: https://medicinehatmusic.net

Social Media:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Medicinehatband
Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/medicinehat_theband/

Streaming Media:
YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@medicinehat-theband1549

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5hP9YSf3ggNW0cOLMiQ3gR

10 pm - Masha & Fam

Alt-Rock that is vibrant, theatrical and deliciously different

Website: https://mashaandthefam.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mashaalexis

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masha.alexis

Streaming Media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/mashaalexis

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1V7Iksqgpgw3UIhnHXPQa5

11 pm - Moving Blues

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/movingblues

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ZCPspqtgAvqMdrV7yJ965
YouTube: youtube.com/@movingblues

Sunday 3/19

3 pm - David Patrick Dunn

TexaSongwriter

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TXsong

Streaming Media:

ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/texasongwriterdavidpatrickdunn

4 pm - Rachel Lynn

Intimate Austin Singer-Songwriter

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachellynnmusicpage/

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3wSV7HEswx13g0dfhQP4bH
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/rachellynnmusic

Buy The Music:
Bandcamp: https://rachellynn1.bandcamp.com

5 pm - Craig Marshall
Folk - Americana - Singer/Songwriter

Website: https://craigmarshall.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craigmarshallmusic

Instagram: https://www.youtube.com/@craigmarshallband

Streaming Media:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@craigmarshallband

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3VzQaS7Fc1Bis5VjJTEAzs

6 pm - Miracle Cure

The Cure For What Ails You

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miraclecuretrio

7 pm -

8 pm - Ru Coleman

Blues is a family matter

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rucolemanfanpage

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ntmAoPSuMUhpV5athThSi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rucoleman7738/videos

9 pm - Rob Bray
Country

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gideonsarmymusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertmichaelbray/

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7BTyQh7i896kgXvCP4TViO

Dys-fun-ctional Christmas

2023-12-11T12:55:00.000-06:00

Not always is Christmas happy and merry.

Conflicts with the law, broken relationships, loneliness or simply dysfunctional families can put a burden on these holy Holidays.

Good part about it is, that they also inspire songwriters to tell about it. It's basically a reality show wrapped in the soothing sounds of Christmas music. So in this third part of a "Honky Tonk Christmas" let's put the fun back into dysfunctional (my Saloon ornament is hanging) and listen to some tunes, that aren't your standards accompanying "Silent Night," "Oh Tannenbaum" or more secular ditties like "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty The Snowman," "White Christmas," "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow." "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" or even "Feliz Navidad."

First in my list of a half dozen not so PC-friendly, dysfunctional songs is an over 25-year old classic done by Irish punkers The Pogues together with Kirsty MacColl (who passed away in 2000) called "Fairytale Of New York." Even though the song only reached #2 in the British Charts during it's initial release in 1987, it's this season (2013) most downloaded Christmas song in the UK. Though the protagonist of the song is in the drunk tank on Christmas Eve to sober up, he sees quite a rosy future with his loved one.

And what you may have realized is that my definition of Honky Tonk music is quite wide and yes it includes Tom Waits. According to Wikipedia - even though the quote can't be traced anymore - he was quoted about "Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minnepolis" as follows:

"I was in Minneapolis - it was 200 degrees below zero - I know - you think I'm bullshitting, no, I swear to God, I was wearing just a bra and a slip and a kind of dead squirrel around my neck - he was colder than I was. The police cars would go by and they'd wave... Merry Xmas, Merry Xmas, Merry Xmas - anyway - I got caught in the middle of a pimp war between 2 kids in Chinchilla coats, they couldn't have been more than 13 years old - they're throwing knives and forks and spoons out into the street - it was deep - so I grabbed a ladle - and Dinah Washington was singing "Our Day Will Come" and I knew that was it."

I can't say it much better, besides mentioning, that we are all looking for Valentine's day coming up.

I knew that John Prine had a song called "Christmas In Prison" of his 1994 Holiday album "A John Prine Christmas" but after re-listening to the whole album, I decided to use a the only (at least that I know of) song that cynically compares a broken up relationship with a decaying Christmas tree and how bittersweet it is to wish the former lover
"All The Best." Definitely a Christmas song, no department store would use as elevator music.

Alcohol also can be (is) a specific Christmas problem and leads to a crossroad of possibilities:

- a) drinking out of joy and celebrating (for some reason the most kids in the US are born roughly nine months after the Holidays - http://www.labnol.org/internet/most-popular-birthday-months/21283/ - longer, darker nights may be playing a role too)

- b) others may indulge due to dysfunctional relationships, insane family ties and trying to cope with that in a buzzed or even drunk state of mind

- c) and finally all the people who are alone and don't have anybody to celebrate the festivities with

In 1973, John Denver released "Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas," a song written by husband and then-wife team, Bill Danoff and Mary "Taffy" Nivert. The couple was quite successful and had other hits with "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (Denver), "Boulder To Birmingham" (Emmylou Harris) and their self-recorded, as the Starland Vocal Band, #1 hit "Afternoon Delight."

Twenty years later, Alan Jackson spiffed that little ditty about wishful soberness a bit up, put a shuffle beat to it, uped the giddy and the steel guitar replacing the dobro made it more jukebox friendly.

Alan Jackson - Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk On Christmas

John Rich, Jimmy Fallon - Drunk On Christmas

Boxcar Willie - Hee Haw Honey

How can I pass up lyrics like "I need some Christmas spirit, and by spirit I mean booze; I'm getting drunk, drunk, drunk on Christmas." This song was written by Late Night TV host Jimmy Fallon and a writer of the show, Gerard Bradford and premiered three years ago, with special guest John Rich (Big & Rich) sitting in with Fallon and back-up band, The Roots.

"Hee Haw" Host Roy Clark With Some Of The Honeys

Lecil Travis Martin aka Boxcar Willie, even though only remotely popular in the United States was a superstar overseas and is believed to have sold more than 100 million albums. His carnal wish was infused by the beautiful Southern ladies in the TV show "Hee Haw" and Hugh Hefner's playboy bunnies - and yes that simply is all he wanted under his Christmas tree.

One of my all-time favorite

dysfunctional Christmas songs is "Merry Christmas From The Family" penned by Texan Robert Earl Keen. With a sharp wit, he describes the Christmas needs and family relationships as it would be part of a reality show. The parents are getting drunk, the sister shows up with a new Mexican boyfriend, who woos everybody with "Feliz Navidad," brother Ken who arrives with wife #3 brings his five kids out of two earlier relationships. And it's Turkey, football and more booze - trips to the convenient store to restock with cigarettes, diapers, tampons and whatever you need in the 24/7 world that America is.

And with this - I can only wish everybody of you - Merry Christmas Y'All

.

This blog was orginally published here.

Spring Fling Music Festival @ Giddy Ups - 3/15-3/19 Schedule

2023-03-13T08:33:00.027-05:00

Welcome to the Spring Fling Music Festival at Giddy Ups. We are happy to back as a multi-day festival. We are so glad to see y'all and for interest to check out real Independent music.

As a service to the participating musicians and bands and to make it easier for the audience to connect with their favorite musicians, we asked all the artists to provide us with links to their websites, social as well as streaming media.

Please make sure to tip the bands generously, buy their merchandise, and spread the word. In these days where corporate media hardly ever feature independent artists, it is important that we share the talent of all these artists that make the world of music better day by day.

Big thank yous go out to:
Nancy M. Morgan - Owner Giddy Ups
Anna Bosworth - Sound / Barmanger Giddy Ups

Robert Cline, Jr. - Heart Strings & Highways
Penny Jo Pullus - TeXchromosome
Dewey Lyon - Poster Artist
Jerry Renshaw - Curator Honky Tonk Night

to every musician for his talent and time, all the agents and management companies involved as well as the whole crew at Giddy Ups. Like in the years before we offer you a plethora of different sounds from old-time inspired music to loud contemporary rock - don't like what you hear, take a break outside and on the hour maybe something you've urged for all your life, without knowing it.

Keep in touch with us - below are our Social Media pages - now relax and enjoy some of the finest music in the next five days. !

Website (Giddy Ups): www.giddyups.com

Social Media:
Facebook:
Giddy Ups https://www.facebook.com/giddyups2000/
Spring Fling Music Festival https://www.facebook.com/SpringFlingMusicFestival/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK7tPVzz-E96ds3AgjXy0rA

Spotify Playlist 2023 - offers you a mix of the artists playing this year: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1j2Cf3T6OHAGy6Qgi85XOU

Disclaimer - schedule may change

(This blog will continually be updated as I'm still getting material from artists - so refresh it on your device once in a while.)

Wednesday 3/15

2 pm - 7 pm Heart Strings & Highways

Robert Cline, Jr. presents

Monty Russell, Beaux Atkins, Dallas Burrows, George DeVore, Darcie Carlson, and Sheyna Gee

8 pm - Mark Allan Atwood
South Padre Texas Troubadour Pirate

Website:

www.markallanatwoodmusic.com

Social Media:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/100078910907856

9 pm - Mark Weber & Los Cuernos
Accordion Maestro - Tiempo de conjunto

Website: https://markweberyloscuernos.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.weber.7127

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTGlQsFPTSo5rPXXkBSsZlw
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1oS420zfjXIvlhoJzhR9d4

Buy The Music:
Rancho Alegre: https://shop.ranchoalegre.org/collections/mark-weber-y-los-cuernos

10 pm - Jamie Krueger Group
Austin Blues-Rock

Website:
www.jamiekruegergroup.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamieKruegerGroup/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiekruegergroup/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdu2H1ZI_7nDhPBTlUO4cvg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3hH9oCyIUZNGJHAnsaGaB1

Buy The Music:

Bandcamp: https://jamiekruegergroup.bandcamp.com/album/dont-wait-for-the-storm-to-pass

11 pm - 421
Blues Rock

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100030613192632

Streaming Media:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/karen-klimas-mardavich

Thursday 3/16

2 pm - Mike Miz
Roots Singer/Songwriter w/ new album 4/14

Website: www.mikemizmusic.com

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mizmusic
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mikemizmusic

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/16gJ2Q5XJ9Iwz8v7KYb4n0

3 pm - David Quinn

Black Dirt Country w/vibrant vignettes

Website: https://www.davidquinnmusic.net/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyNameisDavidQuinn

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidquinnmusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidQuinnBand

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/661F78dWvuJPrBcctKNV6v?si=l0DqHnZNS0Wa4papLbQxYQ

Buy The Music:

Bandcamp: https://davidquinnmusic.bandcamp.com/

4 pm - Rachel Lynn

Intimate Austin Singer-Songwriter

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachellynnmusicpage/

ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/rachellynnmusic

Buy The Music:
Bandcamp: https://rachellynn1.bandcamp.com

5 pm - Pi Jacobs

Songs so visual, they could be mini-movies

Website: www.PiJacobs.com

Social Media:

Facebook: Facebook.com/PiJacobsMusic

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pijacobs

Instagram: Instagram.com/PiJacobs

Streaming Media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PiJacobsMusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ENAVPqPtiFX4c7QuF06p7?si=geF9lnI4SiO-HXGCuxEZ1Q

Apple-Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/pi-jacobs/593132342

Buy The Music:

Bandcamp: https://pijacobs.bandcamp.com/

6 pm - The Waymores

Country with a Western breeze

Website:

https://www.thewaymores.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewaymores
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewaymores

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TWaymores

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/thewaymores

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7oMtNPn2dxyAUGjm5YmqIK?si=wy3X3tOxRrmp2mDR2UQd-A

Youtube: https:www.youtube.com/@The-Waymores

Buy The Music:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-waymores/443055441

7 pm - The Merles
Country with a dash of Western Swing

Website: www.themerles.com

Social Media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/themerles
Instagram: www.instagram/themerles

Streaming Media:
YouTube: www.youtube.com/themerles

Middle Of The Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSRCTdv51_Q

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1GF8m9qagIM7eehXY1HisU

8 pm - Cody Bolden & The Road Hands

Americana Country-Rock

9 pm - Cast Iron Shoes
High-Energy Folk-Rock

Website:

www.castironshoes.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/nikki.salt.965
Instagram: https://instagram.com/castironshoes

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://spotify.link/fLr96y8i5xb

10 pm - Rochelle & The Sidewinders

Slithering poisonous Blues

Website:
https://www.rochelleandthesidewinders.com/
Social Media:
Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/rochelleandthesidewinders

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/rochelleandthesidewinders/
Twitter:

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Rochelleandthesidewinders

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4u6L69zhPoC45YVY1FxqwJ

11 pm - Rock Eupora

Infectious Jingle-jangle Power-Pop

Photo by Whitten Sabbatini

Website: www.rockeupora.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockeupora

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockeupora/

Streaming Media:

Streaming: https://link.singlelock.com/rockeupora

AppleMusic: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rock-eupora/863201970

YouTube:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/55gIFk1GnlkERIGfjJQOjO

Buy The Music:

Bandcamp: www.rockeupora.bandcamp.com

12 am - The Minks

Psyche Bloos from new album "Creatures Of Culture"

Website: theminksband.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theminksss
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theminksss

Twitter: https://twitter.com/theminksss

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3w28qQqtdb9Jf0wGCtNdKE

Friday 3/17
2 pm - Roanoke

Galloping Indie-Folk Americana

Website:

http://www.roanokeband.com/

Social Media:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/roanoketheband

Instagram:

www.instagram.com/roanoke_band

Streaming Media:

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3sOOysSxTVc6lpkqG9tYOF?si=2aaca7d170764cee

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FuEpic2sew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnMP5-_BWTs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s7PwZXYdkk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luCfqmGGUcA

3 pm - Kyle Newlin Jr.
Singer-Songwriter

4 pm - Kay Miracle

Healing with Americana Roots

Website: www.kaymiracle.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loki.burke

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/KayandTheMiracleCure/
ReverbNation:

https://www.reverbnation.com/kaymiracleakalokiburke

Twitter: @LokiMiracle

Instagram: @LokiBurke

5 pm - Tommy Moore

Rock Singer-Songwriter

Website: https://www.tommymooremusic.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tommymooremusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommymooremusic/

Streaming Media:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tommymooremusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tommymooremusic3662
Spotify:

6 pm - Rosy Nolan
Vulnerable Poet with influences from Hazel Dickens to Lucinda Williams

Website: https://www.rosynolan.com/

Social Media:
Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/rosynolanmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/row_sea/

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLuwp9L0jAm4covSJXXfQxw

7 pm - David Touchton
“The devil sold his soul to me…”

Website:
https://davidtouchtonmusic.com/

Social Media:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/davidtouchton

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/davidtouchtonmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidtouchtonmusic

Streaming Media
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@davidtouchton
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2rwiMP7NfE1wcoPLvOJpqf

8 pm - 12 am - Honky Tonk Night
Curated with Jerry Renshaw

Big Joe

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088691055047

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jUAKM631gjm5BDHaKxYmI

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bigjoegoynes6518

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/big-joe-goynes/sets/big-joe-big-dreams

Saturday 3/18

2 pm - Rigby Summer
Part Americana, part Okie Red Dirt with a hint of Johnny Cash

Website: https://rigbysummer.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RigbySummerMusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rigbysummer/

Streaming Media:

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdG_INY11r2F0YrxeY7ko9Q
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6iActLIxgj19aMjqkC6BQw

2 pm - Bovine
(Neil) young and inspired Indie-Folk-Americana trio

Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bovine_sounds/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bovine_sounds

Streaming Music:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6uOxRCj9qd4E1qAdmLbjOg?si=Hmbv-7J-T_ShZa-dkdMTBA

4 pm - Billy "Billy Bass" Alford

Pickin' Blues-Troubadour

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BBB.Alford/

Streaming Media:

ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/amongstourtribe/songs

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Billy.-BilllyBass-Alford

5 pm - Chris Berardo

Americana before Americana was cool

a new album drops this summer

Website:

http://www.chrisberardo.com/

Social Media:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DesBerardos

Streaming Media:

Youtube: "Baby Blue" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YGtnXSZvz8

"Somewhere Blue" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HhD4Qmc66w

"Old Man's Eyes" Music Fog SXSW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejceVSkbrNY

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3oQApKy1zyUw7XsiaHkRjn

6 pm - Nathan Hamilton

Awarded Folk-Americana Poet

Website:

www.nathanhamilton.com

Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanhamilton023/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nathan.hamilton.127

7 pm - Bentley/Casner Band

Local Favorites, now playing together

"Lost" John Casner

Website: www.lostjohn.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lost-John-Casner-114883838564170/

Sam Bentley

Website: www.sambentley.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sam-Bentley-Band-122396791103886/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/csbentley26

Streaming Media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCepPr5pDMuiU6yrjIGTzDcA

8 pm - Taylor Hunnicutt

Website: https://taylorhunnicutt.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylorhunnicuttmusic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorhunnicuttmusic/

Streaming Media: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6lcCm7ycq5rTBls6WNxDZp

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/taylor-hunnicutt/1424787284

9 pm - Medicine Hat
Lonesome Desert Rock

Website:

https://medicinehatmusic.net

Social Media:
Facebook:

https://facebook.com/medicinehatband/
Instagram:

https://instagram/medicinehat_theband/

Streaming Media:
YouTube:

https://youtube.com/channel/UCvzlhwIpyaHiOzf929fTwfw

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5hP9YSf3ggNW0cOLMiQ3gR

11 pm - Will Travis & The County

Website:

Social Media:

Streaming Media:

12 am - The Prescriptions

H³= for the Heart, Head & The Hips

Website: www.the-prescriptions.com

Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprescriptions/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprescriptionsmusic/

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1zRRDbIK328j0S1jLvkPq8?si=VXwtytAxTm29SOqqHKeKJA

Buy The Music:

https://link.singlelo ck.com/prescriptions .

Label/Store: https://www.singlelock.com/

Sunday 3/19

2 pm - Cody Welch

Upcoming country singer/songwriter

Website: https://codywelchmusic.godaddysites.com/

Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontierradio/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@frontierradio

Streaming Media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@codywelch5267

3 pm - Barton Hollow
Americana-Grass

Website: www.eric-booth.com

Social Media:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bartonhollowmusic

Streaming Media:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6HOUsCWborMGdKAGVR6lHz

4 pm - Michael Notarthomas

Country - Singer/Songwriter

Website: michaelnotarthomasmusic.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mtnotarthomas

Streaming Media:

YouTube: youtube.com/@samohtraton/videos

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/michael-t-notarthomas

5 pm - Dewey Lyon & The Divahos
Folk - Americana - Singer/Songwriter

6 pm - Bear Ryan

It’ll either bring you down or make you wanna GIT DOWN

Website: https://www.bearsongs.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlebearsongs

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bear_ryan_music/

Streaming Media:

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/@bearryanmusic

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5sUSO7Pz2kkGtZcQ5CjnJt?si=LQy_Zma-RRejCcjqrxPmYw

7 pm - Discount Pills
Versatile - for early morning bicycle rides or orange desert sunsets

Website:

http://www.thediscountpills.com
Social Media:
Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/thediscountpills99
Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thediscountpills

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thediscountpills

Buy The Music: https://thediscountpills.bandcamp.com

8 pm - Trashy Annie
Country-Rock'n'Roll with a Garage-Punk attitude

Website: www.trashyannie.com

Social Media:

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/trashyanniemusic
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/trashyannie

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/rLotb_QDnrg

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1NE5iw2eDd0kgUlO23m1GV

9 pm - Rob Bray
Country

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gideonsarmymusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertmichaelbray/

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7BTyQh7i896kgXvCP4TViO

10 pm - Glen Collins

Old school country

Website: http://www.alibisaustin.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glencollinsmusic

Dark Matters That Are Detectable - The Stranglers Show Us How-To

2021-09-03T17:07:00.002-05:00

I was coming of age when "Peaches" by The Stranglers hit and was hooked. Part garage- and punk-rock and later meandering into synth-pop, but always with a punch and irresistible hooks, the ratters delivered. And now 44 years later, an almost decade-long wait for a new album, The Stranglers are back and I'm still hooked. Next Friday (9/10) "DARK MATTERS" drops and judging from the three so far released teaser singles, we are in for a fabulous 18th album.

And no, it's not really a comeback, and more of putting the icing on top of an almost 50-year long career as one of the leading UK bands. It is also a celebration of their much-missed keyboarder Dave Greenfield, who succumbed to Covid19 a year ago.

“We had already recorded most of the album with him and during the lockdowns, our only wish was to complete it as a fitting tribute to his life and work. I consider this to be one of our finest recordings,” says the only remaining original member, JJ Burnel.

Eight of the eleven tracks carry Dave's signature keys sound and the band added an honest tribute to him with the first single of the album, ‘And If You Should See Dave…’

Even though melancholic in its lyrics

It would be nice to say hello

This is where your solo would go

If you should see Dave

the song has a warm, twangy feel to it and embraces the old friend who helped define the sounds of the band for 45 years. The video, a cruise by all the legendary rock venues of sun-drenched Los Angeles, has also some worthwhile details to discover, be it the disappearing rats or a hint to their fifth album "GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE MENINBLACK," with its instrumental "Waltzinblack" that prominently features Greenfield and served as the opener to The Stranglers' live shows.

Burnel and Baz Warne, the surviving members finished "DARK MATTERS" remotely during the lockdown with the help of their longtime producer Louie Nicastro. For an insight into the production of the new disc watch the behind-the-scene videos at the bottom of the blog.

"DARK MATTERS" are not only part of our universe, but quite often, especially with the intellect of The Stranglers transcend into other spheres. Without darkness, we could not see the light and vice versa. Not everything can be explained, some mysteries stay in the dark, like the origins of the Easter Island moai for instance that now adorn the cover of the new disc.

The second teaser single changes pace and some of the electronics with a fabulous Dave Greenfield, embedded into "If Something's Gonna Kill Me (It Might As Well Be Love)" hint at Kraftwerk or even to the Doors' Ray Manzarek. As to the lyrics, we all know that the variables are interchangeable, the Martians can be a metaphor for a rapidly changing environment, for a virus crippling the world, or simply for a fill-in of your own angst.

You wake me up one morning and the world has changed

It’s war and the Martians have arrived

The world goes in meltdown and I miss you

Earthquakes may happen

And the heavens open

If something’s gonna kill me

It might as well be love

Even though a two-year-old live version with Greenfield is available on YouTube, a studio version of "This Song" from the new album is the third teaser single. Nottingham Forest football legend Stuart Pearce, a long-time fan of the band, guest-stars as a Bond-like character, trying to escape some free-runners and ultimately realizing that he has to confront them head-on.

JJ calls "DARK MATTERS" in an interview with John Robb,

"the most grown-up album The Stranglers ever did with no need to subscribe to anyone's ideas what the band should be."

Next Friday we can verify that and I'm excited to do so. If "DARK MATTER" is ordered from the band's website, buyers will also receive a special bonus disc a Tribute to Dave Greenfield, containing 8 previously unreleased songs featuring him.

The Stranglers are also going forward with what they call their 47-stop "Final Full Tour" - originally scheduled for last year - starting in October in Belgium and finishing it up before Christmas in France, and then in early 2022 with a run-through the UK. Dave will be replaced by one of his disciples that "learned of the Keyboard man's fingertips."

For a full tour schedule and to pre-order the album with the bonus disc, visit The Stranglers' website.

Behind the scenes - the grandiose "White Stallion" and below "Payday"

Blog Merge - On my own behalf

2021-07-15T05:34:00.000-05:00

As more and more blogs and podcasts hit the internet and an overview is almost impossible, I decided to merge all my music blogs into one all-encompassing, single outlet - here.

What used to be the MMM - Musig, Musik, Musique... blog also got a new name, as 95 percent of the me-inspiring music is in the Americana field, be it Rock'n'Roll, Country, Folk, Roots-Rock, Blues, Rock, and all its different amalgams, I decided to rename my blog site to "amu-ricana." And yes, there may be an occasional excursion into other fields of musical inspiration.

Over the next few weeks, I will incorporate and if necessary update old(er) blogs from other sites (Honky Tonk Daily, Country Music News) here. New blogs will be exclusively posted here. For the time being, I will not delete the old blog sites until I can put it all in this blog.

Be sure to subscribe, come visit often and rummage through my different offerings. Leave a comment, share the blogs if you can, and first of all get inspired with music you may not have known so far.

Thanks for being a reader
A. Michael Uhlmann (amu)

Photo: Conny Charlie Ekström

Jason Eady readies "TO THE PASSAGE OF TIME"

2021-07-11T12:44:00.007-05:00

Texas-based, Mississippi-bred singer-songwriter Jason Eady comes with a new album on August, 27th and so far teased us with three magnificent singles, "Back To Normal," "My Best Friend," and now "French Summer Sun." Recorded in Austin, with the help of producer Gordy Quist, the three singles all have a raw, organic feel.

All these singles from "TO THE PASSAGE OF TIME" have a common theme, as the title suggests a constant flow of time. Alpha and Omega, start and end - be it in the present, the past, or the future - time passes on, change is inevitable:

Every day is a brand-new beginning

Isn’t that what all the sages say?

So every night is a brand new ending

Tomorrow can’t be like yesterday

That's Eady's conclusion in "Back To Normal," the first single of "TO THE PASSAGE OF TIME." Even though the song resonates with the (disappearing) pandemic, the message has a broader appeal, as we will find ourselves always in new, unchartered waters:

“I wanted to write about how, when things get disrupted, you can never really return to the way they were before,” says Eady in his press release. “No matter how big or small that disruption is, you have to accept that change is a fundamental part of life, and just keep moving forward.”

Even though the single cover for "Back To Normal" suggests a world upside down, Eddy got a burst of creativity, while holed up in his Fort Worth home. Secluding himself, even more, he stayed in his bedroom with his guitar and wrote half of the album in just a couple of days.

"I went in thinking I was going to write just one song—but then the songs kept coming, and I didn’t want to break the spell," Eady recalls. "I’d go to sleep with the guitar by the bed, pick it back up when I woke up the next morning, and do it all again. I’d never really experienced anything like that before."

Now I wish that I had whispered

Even one word at a time

Now all I can do is wonder

And try to make it rhyme

Reminiscing about an old love gone awry, indulging in memories about a time long gone by, a missed opportunity, and putting the pain of that loss into rhyme, sums up "My Best Friend." The stripped-down version, simply with fiddle (Noah Jeffries) and steel guitar (Geoff Queen), make the yearning about the missed chance, even more hurtful. Producer Gordy Quist, known as a member of the Band Of Heathens, was able to convey an organic, raw feel to the whole recording process in Austin. Besides Jeffries and Queen, Eady was joined by Mark Williams on stand-up bass and cello, Brian Ferguson on drums, as well as Eady's wife Courtney Patton and Jamie Lin Wilson on background vocals.

“Everything you hear is exactly what happened when we hit record—there’s no studio trickery,” says Eady. “It’s got a real family-band feeling to it, where everyone in the room knew how to play in a way that completely fits with what I do.”

For the current single and its video, "French Summer Sun," Jason Eady asked fellow members of the Sequestered Songwriters Relief Fund, a loose organization that was founded to help musicians in need during the pandemic, to send in pictures of family and relatives who served in the US military. Again touching on time, actually spanning several generations, "French Summer Sun" with its twist in storytelling is not just another song about veterans, similarly to "My Best Friend" it raises the question of "what if" and playfully challenges the timeline and leads into an alternate reality. But to tell you more would spill the beans, listen for yourself and grab a hanky.

If the rest of "TO THE PASSAGE OF TIME" holds up to the first three singles we may well have a "Best Album Of The Year"-contender. As he is back on the road, bringing his stories to a venue near you, I can only recommend going and discover these new gems coming our way in August.

TO THE PASSAGE OF TIME:

01) Nothing On You

02) These Things

03) The Luxury of Dreaming

04) Back To Normal

05) Possibilities

06) French Summer Sun

07) Gainesville

08) Saturday Night

09) My Best Friend

10) To the Passage of Time

"French Summer Sun"

"My Best Friend"

"Back To Normal"

Tour Dates:

7/24: Buda, TX - The Chambers Theatre

8/1: Fort Worth, TX - The Post at River East #

8/6: Saint Jo, TX - Red River Station #

8/7: College Station, TX - Smitty K’s ^

8/14: Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge

8/15: Cheyenne, WY - Terry Bison Ranch

8/17: Billings, MT - The Pub Station Taproom

8/18: Bozeman, MT - Live from the Divide

8/19: Stanley, ID - Mountain Village

8/20: Boise, ID - Neurolux

8/22: Republic, WA - Republic Brewing Company

8/26: Houston, TX - McGonigel’s Mucky Duck

8/27: Austin, TX - Saxon Pub

8/28: Fort Worth, TX - Tulips FTW

8/29: New Braunfels, TX - The Redbird Listening Room

9/3: Manitou Springs, CO - Lulu’s Downstairs

9/4: Greeley, CO - Moxi Theater

9/9: Tahlequah, OK - Diamondhead Resort

9/10: Kansas City, MO - Knucklehead’s Saloon #

9/15: Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic

9/17: Newport, KY - Southgate House

9/18: Eldorado, IL - Eldorado Town & Country Days +

11/27: Denton, TX - Andy’s Bar and Grill

Sources: Missing Piece, jasoneady.com,
Originally published in my Honky Tonk Daily Blog.

Cold Stares - Warm Summer Nights - Indiana Duo On Tour In Scandinavia

2021-07-01T13:29:00.002-05:00

The Cold Stares may be the first US band on tour after Covid and if you are lucky enough to be in Scandinavia you should not miss out to go see them. Destined to headline with their high voltage amalgam of Blues and Rock, this could well be your last chance to see the band playing in clubs. Recently signed to a Dutch label, they will be previewing their forthcoming August release "HEAVY SHOES."

Two years ago I received a request from drummer Brian Mullins of The Cold Stares to play the Spring Fling Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Seeing that it was a duo, I first contemplated putting them somewhere into the afternoon line-up. Damn, was I wrong! The sheer power of their then album "MOUNTAIN" blew me away. I immediately knew Brian and his bandmate, guitarist Chris Tapp deserved a coveted evening slot, normally reserved for full-sized bands. Rocking the house with their mixture of rock, (hill country) blues, southern Gothics, and some punk influences, they left the audience mesmerized. That summer they followed up with the “WAYS” album which garnered them even more critical and audience praise.

Like most bands, the last 14 months, saw them staring at blank walls instead of filled halls. Even though not being able to tour, they released a 4-song digital EP "BLACK SUNSET" and were signed by Mascot Records in the Netherlands, who will release their label debut "HEAVY SHOES" on August, 13th. They also worked together with Tres Hombres and Rootsy on their current European tour, which unfortunately got cut short due to another Covid lookdown in the UK and Germany. But in Scandinavia, Denmark and Sweden opened up and the Cold Stares are thrilled to be back on the road, as Brian messaged in a comment:

“We are super excited to be the first US band to tour Scandinavia after the pandemic. We are also stoked to be a part of the Mascot family.”

The message of "In The Night Time" from their forthcoming album salutes every true music fans yearning to go out and see live music again.

In the night time, there is a rhythm now
In the night time, there is a rhythm now
See the people walking down the street
Hear the shuffling of their feet
Turn on the music when the sun goes down
Clock strikes midnight you can hear the sound

The future may make The Cold Stares despite their band name smile, not only is another European tour already in plans but they were also booked to the Aftershock Festival in October with headliners Metallica and Social Distortion and next year will see them on Joe Bonamassa's "Keeping The Blues Alive" sea-cruise.
Maybe walking in "Heavy Shoes" may get a little lighter in the near future.

Dates & Links for The Cold Stares:

Website: https://www.thecoldstares.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecoldstares/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecoldstares

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0hLLs7dOw0Z1XBFFrLSDln?si=PeKZUiEsR_uyqj5QRHVRBw

New Year's Resolutions And Musings

2021-01-03T09:35:00.002-06:00

Last year I achieved nothing but living in a funk and surviving for another 366 days. A couple of times a year, I tried to balance my sheet, but most of my ambitions went nowhere. Even though the musical output of 2020 was amazing, the blurdays just passed me by. I couldn't find the words to review and share my other reality with the people around me. Goals to ameliorate were boxed up and put in storage.

So here I sit again, pondering. January 1st is my groundhog day. Not as if I can see my shadow, then it's gonna be a shitty year, but more like the movie, that's the way every year starts. Well, today - to check off at least one resolution for the year to come - I thought I'll introduce you to my musical groundhog day.

They called him "Hillbilly Shakespeare" with good reason, like the Bard Of Avon, Hank Williams had an immense appeal to the masses, and like the English poet rewrote literature, Williams as a proto-rocker changed the American songscape. He passed away, only 29 years old, in the back of a powder-blue Cadillac on the way to Canton, Ohio, where he was scheduled to play on New Year’s Day, 1953. Even though not formally educated and pandering often to his audience that he knows every pig-road in Alabama, he had a flair with words painting whole pictures with one- or two-liners. As he sings in his song "Long Gone Lonesome Blues:"

I went down to the river to watch the fish swim by

But I got to the river so lonesome I wanted to die, oh Lord
And then I jumped in the river, but the doggone river was dry
She's long gone, and now I'm lonesome blue

As the song goes on, the suicidal tendencies get a bit softened and almost turn comical when we learn that he hadn't seen the missing "she" for a day or two. But the idea stuck and another great songwriter, Don McLean borrowed it, when he put "drove the Chevy to the levy, But the levy was dry" into "American Pie," yes that song, the song about the day the music died. It happened too often in 2020 and the list of friends and acquaintances I lost is unbearable long.

"Living's mostly wasting time, And I'll waste my share of mine" from "To Live Is To Fly" almost seems like the credo of the last nine-plus months and segues us to another great, that passed away on New Year's Day, 44 years after his hero, Hank. I met Townes Van Zandt only one time, in late April of 1993 while hanging backstage at Nanci Griffith's video recording of "Other Voices, Other Rooms" at the Paramount. Earlier that day I had attended the TV-taping of Willie Nelson's Big 6-0 Birthday celebration, and me sharing to Townes that I just saw Nelson duetting with Bob Dylan on "Pancho And Lefty" was an easy conversation starter. We didn't waste much time that night.

There is a great solo session from 1995, that I originally wanted to post, but then I discovered a clip I haven't seen yet - Townes singing on of his road songs, "Snowing On Raton" and saw that Blaze Foley is singing backup, Leland Waddell pounding the drums, I "had" to change it. Snow seems so much more appropriate for this time of the year and the call of the road always tempting.

When the wind don't blow in Amarillo

And the moon along the Gunnison don't rise

Shall I cast my dreams upon your love, babe

And lie beneath the laughter of your eyes

It's snowin' on Raton

Come morning I'll be through them hills and gone

Mother thinks the road is long and lonely

Little brother thinks the road is straight and fine

Little darling thinks the road is soft and lovely

I'm thankful that old road is a friend of mine

Tommy Hancock, Godfather of West Texas music danced his way into heaven and joined Hank and Townes a year ago. The self-proclaimed patriarch (only due to his large family) was mostly known to a younger generation as the barefoot dancer and his book "Zen and the Art of Texas Two-Step" is a philosophical approach about spreading love on the dance floor. After a stint as a 16-year old in the military during WWII, Tommy had the most influential musical group in West Texas, the Roadside Playboys, the house band at the legendary and integrated Cotton Club in Lubbock, which in the Fifties also saw the rise of Rock'n'Roll. As an owner, he turned the venue into the first Cosmic Cowboy outlet, where Cowboy and Hippies mingled, even before the better known and adored Armadillo World Headquarters opened in August 1970.

Tommy X. and daughter Conni Hancock

A decade later, the Playboys then transformed into The Supernatural Family Band moved South to Austin, and first established themselves on Travis Heights. Even after their subsequent move out of town to the lake, the Swiss-style chalet house was known as the Hancock house. Charlene, Tommy's wife, and two of his daughters, Conni and Traci formed the "Texana Dames" while Tommy kept on releasing singles under his Tom X. alias. "Party Of One" - seems like a theme song for this last year - is from a collaboration with guitarist John X. Reed under the band moniker Los Dos Equis (as in the two Xs) "Austin Tea Party" from 2001, by then Tommy was already inducted into the Austin Chronicle Music Awards Hall of Fame. A year later The Supernatural Family Band got elected into the Country Music Association of Texas Hall of Fame.

Barely a week in Austin - after moving there from Switzerland - on Sunday, January 6th, 1991, I attended John Conquest's "Music City"- later called "3rd Coast Music"- magazine's annual poll celebration at Chicago House. Green behind my ears, the event promised not only fabulous music but much needed new contacts in my new hometown. Betty Elders and Jimmy LaFave were the big winners that night, each carrying home three awards. And then David Rodriguez, who won for Best Independent Tape, offered some songs from that winner, "MAN AGAINST BEAST" and had everybody mesmerized. Long story short, I sent that tape to a Swiss record label, Brambus and a year later, David had his first proper European release appropriately titled "LANDING 92." He featured his teenage-daughter Carrie on fiddle on the opening track "Constant War." His (often sardonic) wit and compassion not only shone through his songs but also in his political engagement to fight for the poor and the racially oppressed. It was David who introduced me to East Austin when it was cool, although segregated by the highway, but not a hipster part of town. Quite often I would take visitors from Europe to this other side, be it for breakfast or for dancing to a Mariachi band. David would have been 69 today, he passed in October of 2015.

Steve Ripley would have been 71 today. Originally I had "Baby Likes To Rock It" by The Tractors, where Steve was the frontman, in mind to be featured, but then I stumbled upon "Can't Get Nowhere" from their 2001 release "FAST GIRL" with some amazing guests; legendary guitarist James Burton, drummer DJ Fontana, who co-wrote the song with Steve and Fats Kaplin on fiddle and lap steel. Ripley was an integral part of the Oklahoma music scene and especially what is called the Tulsa Shuffle, think Leon Russell and J.J. Cale. Before forming The Tractors in the late '90s Ripley and all the other original members made their names as musicians playing with everyone from Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Linda Ronstadt, and Leonard Cohen to Bob Dylan. Original drummer, Jamie Oldaker, who also used to play with Bob Seeger and Clapton, joined Steve when he passed in July of last year.

In the mid-'90s, (Texas) Vireo record label boss Mike Niland called me out of the blue to tell me about these two brothers out of the Bandera area, he's fixin' to record an album with. That's how I got my introduction to Charlie and Bruce Robison.
Unfortunately, at that time it was hard for an independent label to squeeze their artists onto the radio and therefore charting. Only after both signed with Sony imprint Lucky Dog were they able to achieve bigger success, younger brother Bruce mostly as a songwriter with several #1-hits to his name and Charlie actually cracking the lower regions of the charts.
By the time they were let go from the label Texas had its own Red Dirt-Texas music chart, and both brothers were immediately able to establish themselves as regional stars in Oklahoma and the Lone-Star state. On his first Dualtone release "GOOD TIMES" one can find the superbly x-rated, pictorial "New Year's Day."

I can't remember who lit the fire for Slaid Cleaves' writing in me, maybe it was Karen Posten, who co-wrote "Horseshoe Lounge" an ode to one of my favorite and truly missed watering holes in South Austin with Slaid. Or Danny Santos' buddy Steve Brooks who helped pen "One Good Year."

It's a bitter wind

in your face every day

It's the little sins

that wear your soul away

When you start giving in

where do the promises all go

Will your darkest hour

write a blank check on your soul

Time flies: It's been 20 years since "One Good Year," off Slaid Cleaves' second album for Philo ''BROKE DOWN," came into my world and has become my ritual, another New Year's groundhog. By now the song and I agree, giving in is not an option and we keep chasin' grace; it can only get better.

According to a story by OpenCulture.com, a daily inspiring newsletter, I highly recommend; 105 years ago, Italian socialist Antonio Gramsci denied in "Avanti!" the setting of dates, as they are "spiritual time-serving" and forcing life into repeating series of "mandatory collective rhythms."

"I want every morning to be a new year’s for me. Every day I want to reckon with myself, and every day I want to renew myself. No day set aside for rest. I choose my pauses myself when I feel drunk with the intensity of life and I want to plunge into animality to draw from it new vigour."

So let's hope we won't get derailed this year and I will make the dawning of new musical rhythms my new day's resolutions.
Avanti, popolo!

This Land Is Your Land - Avett Brothers take on Woody Guthrie classic

2020-11-11T08:26:00.014-06:00

Riding high in the Americana and the Folk Charts with their in July released "THE GLEAM III" album and its rather dark and somber mood, their new single, an adaptation of the Woody Guthrie classic, "This Land Is Your Land" stipulates less of a call to arms and more of a hopeful beacon of (becoming) a unity (again). This sentiment is also propagated by the beautiful black and white video, Samuel Bayer helmed.

The political anthem, written in a furor by folk hero Guthrie against Irving Berlin's "God Bless America," and borrowing a melody from the Carter Family's "When The World's On Fire" - which was based not only on Baptist-Church and probably African-American influences - isn't really a staple in the Avett Brothers' live show repertoire and does not stem from their latest release, but happened more out of synchronicity.

Enter award-winning visual artist, Samuel Bayer, a photo- and videographer known for his music video work (Nirvana - "Seems Like Teen Spirit"; Green Day - "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" and many others - Drivin'N'Cryin's "Smoke" being an all-time favorite of mine) as well as commercials (for instance his unforgettable, Emmy-award winning Chrysler Superbowl Ad "Born Of Fire", an Ode to Motorcity Detroit with its native son, Eminem from 2011) and his commercially as well as critically-lauded excursion to the silver screen with a remake of the horror flick "Nightmare On Elm Street."

Working on a documentary about the COVID virus, Bayer, inspired by listening to the Avett Brothers' music, wanted to hear them do their version of this American classic as he explained in the press release accompanying the new single:

"While visiting testing sites in vulnerable populations, I was listening to The Avett Brothers music and was inspired to make a music video. I contacted them and told them I wanted to hear their interpretation of Woody Guthrie’s classic anthem. This is a hopeful video during a time where the Country is so divided and I hope Americans will be inspired to be thoughtful during this trying time.”

Filmed in Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans, and the Navajo Nation and ultimately at the home of the brothers, in North Carolina, to film their performance, the video mostly speaks with its lovely black and white videography honoring diversity as well as unity. Watching the video on repeat since this morning, I had to stop it several times to really cherish many of the portraits depicted in the video.

Another nice touch is that the Avett Brothers included the often left out 4th, rather political, verse about property ownership. They did omit three others, namely the third, the fifth, and the also political 6th verse about hunger and poverty in the US.

Was a high wall there that tried to stop me

A sign was painted said: Private Property,

But on the back side, it didn't say nothing

This land was made for you and me.

This is an interesting concept as e.g Swedish law allows you to camp on private property for at least 24 hours and as the revenue of Norwegian oil - extracted from Norwegian lands - benefit the whole population in the so-called oil fund, instead of a single corporate entity making a profit at the expense of all the people who own the land. That fund is now being transferred into more conscious investments and away from coal.

In the press release, Seth Avett commented, “Samuel has highlighted the timelessness of perhaps the most quintessential American folk song by creating a timeless music video marrying performance with the most lovely imagery of American people. We are honored to be a part of such an endeavor in the like-minded spirit of unity and love.”

Dwight Yoakam Marries Longtime Girlfriend Emily Joyce

2020-05-05T12:00:00.000-05:00

As one of the last true country music honky tonkers since the mid-'80s, Dwight Yoakam is not necessarily known to be a crooner of love songs, but more for lamenting heartbreak as in "Ain't That Lonely Yet" or "It Only Hurts When I Cry" and to find solace in a honky tonk by reaching out to the bottle as in "Two Doors Down," "Since I Started Drinking Again," or "It Won't Hurt."

But all the hurt and misery seem to be a thing of the past now, as the 63-year-old finally said "I Do" and married his longtime love Emily Joyce in a very small, private ceremony in Santa Monica, California in March. 12 years her senior, the pair started dating in 2010 and were engaged for several years, before now exchanging their vows. His team announced the good news with an Instagram post.

View this post on Instagram

Dwight Yoakam and Emily Joyce were married in March just prior to the quarantine in a private ceremony at St Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica, CA. At a time when there is so much uncertainty in the world, there are still happy moments. In the face of shutdowns and social-distancing requirements, love prevailed, and the less than ten attendees were seated at least six feet from one another. The happy couple have been engaged for several years and have been dating since 2010. This belated announcement was withheld out of respect to so many people affected by and on the front lines of this pandemic. - D Team 📸: Britt Arnett
A post shared by Dwight Yoakam (@dwightyoakam) on May 4, 2020 at 12:17pm PDT

The surprising news, it's the first marriage for Dwight, is "a happy moment in these uncertain times" as his team wrote.

Keeping his romantic life private, he's known to have dated Sharon Stone or Karen Duffy, but that never became extensive fodder for tabloids and/or the paparazzi.

When I Get To Heaven - Remembering John Prine

2020-04-08T10:24:00.000-05:00

It was mid-October 1988. Nashville was a dump. Boarded-up, lower broadway had more sex-shops and massage parlors than live music venues.

It was my first time in Music City USA and after attending the CMA Awards as a journalist, all I wanted, besides making contacts with record label promo-heads, was to see some decent live music. Both tasks were quite fruitless. What I had envisioned as a "Sing Me Back Home"-journey, was rather tone-deaf. Even so in the middle of "Music Row," I stayed mostly in my room at the old Shoney's Inn on Demonbreun, watching stupid game shows on TV and trying to order mail-order greatest hits compilations hawked off during the commercials. But my - at that time Swiss zip code - just wouldn't work either. The only highlight was a visit down the street by Step One Records and its founder Ray Pennington. He, the writer of "I'm A Ramblin' Man" didn't only load me up with the newest releases (Ray Price, Buddy Emmons, Curtis Potter, etc.) from the label, but also suggested to go and visit the by now legendary Bluebird Cafe.

A short cab ride passing all the music-publishing offices on 17th street and then 21st street took me to the half-empty place. Some people were already playing and I took a seat at the small bar towards the back. There was a guy already sitting there and we started some small talk which quickly evolved into a "change-the-world" conversation, including politics, Nashville, Europe, and general wisdom, mostly ignoring the pickers in the circle.

Then we were suddenly interrupted, one of the pickers in the circle, rose his voice and announced special guest, John Prine. The buddy I talked to for the last or so hour, turned to me, told me he that he will be right, so we can finish our conversation and stepped up on stage and started playing. After a short set of about six songs, he came back to the bar, grabbed the same chair and sat down. I felt bad and apologized for not recognizing him earlier, his last album "GERMAN AFTERNOONS" didn't really have a portrait-cover and he brushed it away: "Instead of having a meaningful conversation, you probably would have asked me stuff about me, my career and songs or songwriting, like this I had a really pleasurable night."

Sure our conversation drifted for a short while to his career, he asked me for a card, so I could promote his new album "JOHN PRINE LIVE" on the radio, but we soon found ourselves talking about the world. We were the last ones, besides the working crew to leave the Bluebird and this evening by happenstance became one of my favorite memories. Needless to say that when I arrived back in Switzerland after staying a week in Texas, I had a package from "Oh Boy" records in my mailbox, even with a zip code that worked.
I probably could have written a more in-depth retrospective of his music, his career, and his genial writing, but other people have already done that way better than me - one of the best obituaries is by Holly Gleason.

So, John, tonight have a cocktail, start your band and please play one for my friend Mike, who preceded you, just a week ago. As a Vietnam vet, he was a huge fan of yours and we often listened to your songs either at the bar or while we were doing chores around the house.

Spring Fling Music Festival at Giddy Ups & Moontower Saloon 2019

2019-03-10T13:00:00.000-05:00

The Spring Fling Music Festival at Giddy Ups is celebrating its 12th inauguration, the eleventh as a multi-day festival. For three of our five days, the Spring Fling will venture out for the first time and visit the Moontower Saloon up the road.

As a service to the participating musicians and bands and to make it easier for the audience to connect with their favorite musicians, we asked all the artists to provide us with links to their website, social as well as streaming media.

Please make sure to tip the bands generously, to buy their merchandise and to spread the word. In these days where corporate media hardly ever feature independent artists, it is important that we share the talent of all these artists that make the world of music better day by day.

Big thank yous go out to:
Robert Cline, Jr. - Heart Strings & Highways
Adrienne Isom, KP Hawthorn - Rebelle Road Collective
Penny Jo Pullus - TeXchromosome
Dewey Lyon - Poster Artist
Bruce Castleberry - South x South Austin
Nancy M. Morgan - Owner Giddy Ups
Josh Bumb - Owner Moontower Saloon
every musician for his talent and time as well as
the whole crews at Giddy Ups and Moontower Saloon

And these are the Media Sites of Giddy Ups & The Spring Fling Music Festival - please follow us and "likes" are appreciated, thanks!

Website (Giddy Ups): www.giddyups.com
Website (Moontower): www.moontowersaloon.com

Social Media:
Facebook:
Giddy Ups https://www.facebook.com/giddyups2000/
Spring Fling Music Festival https://www.facebook.com/SpringFlingMusicFestival/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/giddyups
https://twitter.com/SpringFlingMF

Streaming Media:
Spotify Playlist 2019 - a mix of our artists this year: https://open.spotify.com/user/1212624343/playlist/06TCKqeB5nFGKdwUvN4JLm?si=qykpfvlqT4O0Wgi0pmaNiQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK7tPVzz-E96ds3AgjXy0rA

Wednesday 3/13

6 pm - Rockwell Harrison

Gena & Ben aka singer/songwriters Rockwell Harrison

Website: https://www.rockwellharrison.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockwellharrisonmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockwellharrisonmusic/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/lwM8z9AtbIc

7 pm - Ginger Leigh, Jana Pochop, Dick LeMasters

Ginger Leigh
Little bit cornball, little bit rock-n-roll

Website: http://www.gleigh.com

Social Media:
Instagram: @gingerleighband
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gingerleighband

Streaming Media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/gleigh
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5D0pLl82jUjB8RTXJuYb2s?si=-NmCxK64T4eh6YmzYCockA

Jana Pochop
Awarded deep grooves and poignant lyrics

Website: http://www.janapochop.com

Social Media:
Instagram: @janapochop
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/janapochopmusic

Streaming Media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/janapochop

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/1212624343/playlist/06TCKqeB5nFGKdwUvN4JLm?si=qykpfvlqT4O0Wgi0pmaNiQ

Dick LeMasters
Americana Singer-Songwriter

Website: http://www.dicklemastersmusic.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DickLeMastersMusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dicklemasters/
Twitter:

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DickLeMastersMusic
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dick-lemasters

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/dick-lemasters/id905478634

8 pm - Matt Harlan, Gabe Wootton

Matt Harlan
Musical roux from a traveling troubadour

Website: http://mattharlan.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.harlan1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mattharlanmusic

Streaming Media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mattharlan
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6lV3uGzSaiURsFWsNwZDz0?si=yzjaxfOSSDqeuUTD4idJUg

Gabe Wootton
Make Good Songs, F**k That Other Shit

Website: http://www.gabewootton.com

Social Media:
Instagram: @gabewootton
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gabewoottonmusic

Streaming Media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/gabewootton

9 pm - Libby Koch, Chuck Hawthorne & Doug Greer & Guests

Libby Koch
Singer-Songwriter

Website: http://www.libbykoch.com

Social Media:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/libbykochmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/libbykoch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libbykoch/
Snapchat:

Streaming Media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/libbykoch
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4kF0KiM9thlhvRjjzwRcq3

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/libby-koch/302422976

Chuck Hawthorne
Singer-Songwriter

Website: https://chuckhawthorne.com

Social Media:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/chuck.hawthorne.music/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chuckhawthornemusic/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/HawthorneChuck

Streaming Media:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/ChuckHawthorne
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/1mrHxIdNcSTeHBGA90j2Lm

Buy The Music:
Aritst Link: https://chuckhawthorne.com/store
also available at: iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon

Doug Greer
Roots Rock Singer-Songwriter

Website: http://douglasgreermusic.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/douglas.greer.52

Buy the Music:
CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/DouglasGreer
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/douglas-greer/186522517

Tommy Lewis
Americana from a Beat Poet

Website: http://www.tommylewis.net

Social Media:

Instagram: @tommyclewis
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tommylewismusic

Streaming Media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/tommyclewis
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3W79uRO0n4OdzZawkHZmfR?si=rfh5xDHYS0eiIIGZDisOUA

Rachel Laven
Stories from an earnest observer

Website: http://www.rachellavenmusic.com

Social Media:
Instagram: @rachellavenmusic
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rachellavenmusic

Streaming Media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/rachellaven
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3EgzG2wFz3CwxnDRXkJXAE?si=hF9SZeEtTfCJAgY0U6D7Qw

11 pm - Surreal Nation
Indie-Rock

Website: www.surrealnationmusic.com

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/surrealnation
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SurrealNationDE
Instagram: www.instagram.com/surreal_nation

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAqauqb-FCxCqfNphBOH3MQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/73eCoj56wW3ag92R5yjKNC

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-know-better-ep/1315375456
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/I-Know-Better-surreal-nation/dp/B077LF82G4/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1519658059&sr=1-1-mp3-albums-bar-strip-0&keywords=Surreal+Nation

Thursday 3/14
noon - Danny Schmidt
Songs of mythology, folk wisdom, and surprise

Website: http://www.dannyschmidt.com

Social Media:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dannyschmidtmusic
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dannyschmidt

Streaming Media:
Spotify: http://bit.ly/dannyschmidtspotify

1 pm - Douglas Gene
Austin Sinner-Songwriter

Website: www.douglasgene.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/douglasgenemusic

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx76qsJBVNc

Spotify: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t5GSw7fbF8

2 pm - Stephen Clair (solo)

Website: www.stephenclair.com

Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockoutstephenclair
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herrclair

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ydoB9EEH76c
https://youtu.be/W24Ovjw2Hf4

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/stephen-clair-and-the-pushbacks/1273011544

3 pm - Darren Eedens & Slim Picken's (UK)

Alt-Country from the UK

Website: https://www.darreneedensandtheslimpickins.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darreneedensmusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/darreneedens
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darreneedens/

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4loZUqkq5T3p93IjUhoDaO?si=Mu4Oz5e6Q72FwAaKJJKQig

4 pm - Claudia Nygaard
Captivating storyteller between Folk & Country

Website: http://www.claudianygaard.com/store.html

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claudianygaardmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClaudiaNygaard
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudianygaard/

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/claudianygaard
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/claudianygaard
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TvUN8AlHF9dGp3HauW9IT?si=rEfi6rePReGB0tmQx4N8Jg

Buy My Music:
CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/ClaudiaNygaard
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/claudia-nygaard/370985277

5 pm - Ellisa Sun
Unravelled Jazz-Soul-Pop

Website: www.ellisasun.com

Social Media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ellisasunmusic

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3jQBht11xzGIyDo7PMsYsf

Buy My Music:
iTunes: https://itun.es/us/L84Pib

Tidal: https://tidal.com/artist/8588114

Bandcamp: http://www.ellisasun.bandcamp.com

6 pm - Sean Costanza
Americana Storyteller

Website: www.seancostanzamusic.com

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SeanCostanza

Streaming Media:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/seancostanza/sets/silver-city-drive-album
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/seancostanza
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/sean-costanza/silver-city-drive/AL6kghvtqz42l3k
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3exBjyAQmlpKgJf0LdxYm8

Buy The Music:
CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/seancostanza4
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/silver-city-drive/1226634234

Rebelle Road Showcase (7 - 11pm)

7 pm - The HawtThorns
Americana Roots

Website: https://www.thehawthornsmusic.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theHawtThornsmusic/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZgARPz51I3s

8 pm - Carolina Story

Husband & Wife storytellers

Website: http://www.carolinastory.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolinaStory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolinastory

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6as0zYiCUTtYdMI3rxg5Vn?si=y4bkZx_CRHijEl6GHitC8w

9 pm - NOCONA

Rave-up Garage-Rock For High Lonesome Desperados

Website: https://noconamusic.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoconaMusic

Instagram: http://instagram.com/noconamusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoconaMusic

Tumblr: http://noconamusic.tumblr.com/

Streaming Media:

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/noconamusic

YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FsymyE9dP9Y

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/30ruTcaBnr7SfDltXSRTJ5?si=RH8ayGH2TruTWRp1yOvaDQ

10 pm - Jeremy Pinnell

Hardscrabble honky-tonk

Website: http://www.jeremypinnell.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeremypinnellohky/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pinnell_jeremy

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/201v6RxhxMDaXzoLMhwtRL?si=rPA07TAMRe-7x50gfZBoQg

Buy My Music:
Bandcamp: https://jeremypinnell.bandcamp.com/

11 pm - Adobe Collective
Desert Folk Rock from Joshua Tree

Website: https://www.theadobecollective.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAdobeCollective/

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/074Kh7EWjcTdI4jz5JBwVf?si=q2JYZlmLQrqJQb5GQGHnEg

midnight - The Cold Stares
Rock from Illinois

Website: https://www.thecoldstares.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecoldstares/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecoldstares

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0hLLs7dOw0Z1XBFFrLSDln?si=PeKZUiEsR_uyqj5QRHVRBw

Friday 3/15
noon - Carrie Elkin
Folk

Website: http://www.carrieelkin.com

Social Media:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carrieelkinfanpage
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/carrieelkin

Streaming Media:
Spotify: http://bit.ly/carrielkinspotify

1 pm - Kay Miracle

Americana Roots

Website: http://www.ghosttownramblers.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KayandTheMiracleCure/
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/kaymiracleakalokiburke

2 pm - Rachel Lynn
Singer-Songwriter

Social Media:
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/rachellynnmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachellynnmusicpage/

Buy The Music:
CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/RachelLynn1
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Reunion-Rachel-Lynn/dp/B01N08B958/ref=sr_1_3?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1519406265&sr=1-3-mp3-albums-bar-strip-0&keywords=rachel+lynn

3 pm - Gladys & Maybelle
Vintage Country

Social Media:
Facebook: facebook.com/gladysandmaybelle
Twitter: twitter.com/gladysmaybelle
Instagram: instagram.com/gladysandmaybelle

4 pm - Jim Wyly
Artisan Songwriter

Website: https://jimwylymusic.com/home

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JimWylyMusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunarroller/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LunarRoller

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo5MqaCW0vzoOSBq-31x8jA
Music Outlets: https://jimwyly.hearnow.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0d7h9KjGYUL0WkdSm1F1Ik?si=AQnv0_EySBewncZ2Y7yWyA

5 pm - Mary Battiata
Alt-Country/Folk/Americana

Website: http://www.littlepinktheband.com

Social Media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/marybattiata.littlepink
Twitter: http://twitter.com/marybattiata1

Streaming Media
http://www.littlepinktheband.com/listen.buy

6 pm - WC Clark
Blues

Website: http://www.wcclark.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCClarkBluesRevue/
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/wcclarkbluesrevue

Streaming Media:
YouTube:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2eJojpx2Dv1QL3WBjJQXWi

7 pm - Austones
Blues

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaustones/

8 pm - Ulrich Ellison & Marie Chain
Guitar Shredder Blues

Website: http://ulrichellison.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ulrichellisonandtribe
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ulrichellison
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ulrichellison

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ulrichellison

Special Guest: Marie Chain (Germany)
Funky Pop-Soul

Website: https://mariechain.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariechainmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marie_chain/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/7iIh98osRu8
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/marie-chain

9 pm - Kathy & The Kilowatts
Blues-Soul

Website: www.kathymurrayandthekilowatts.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathyMurrayBand/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathyMu47659208

Streaming Media:
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCI8PI6dD0o

Buy The Music:
Antone's Record Shop:  https://antonesrecordshop.com/content/search.php?name=kathy+and+the+kilowatts

10 pm - William Matheny
Country-Americana

Website: williammatheny.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWilliamMatheny
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/William_Matheny
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/William_Matheny

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ffXgMSb7TTuOLvb56MxGx

Buy The Music:
Bandcamp: https://williammatheny.bandcamp.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/william-matheny/1172936365

11 pm - OSOG
Rebellious Americana Collective

Website: http://osogfamily.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/osogband
Instagram: https://instagram.com/osogband
Twitter: https://twitter.com/osogband

Streaming Media:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/osog

midnight - JJ Gunn
Amalgam of Blues, Rock, Soul, and Jazz

Website: JJGunn.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jjgunnband

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/2gRETzbCvQA

Saturday 3/16

noon - J.R. Rose
Old School Country

Social Media:
Facebook: facebook.com/jrrose009
Twitter: twitter.com/jrrose009
Instagram: instagram.com/jrrose009

1 pm - Melissa Ruth
Blues - Lounge - Singer/Songwriter

Website: http://melissaruthmusic.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Melissa-Ruth-Music-6063448883/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msmelissaruth/

Streaming Music:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPF_4FpQNqw
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4bv9BMghHDeQiZQ6kDSABz

Buy My Music:
CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/melissaruth2
Bandcamp: https://melissaruthmusic.bandcamp.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/meteor/1450183044

2 pm - Josephine Johnson
Storyteller

Website: www.josephinejohnsonsings.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josephine.johnson.sings

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy-xzxTCZB8zP97wIHBfHZQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4WrHAA0jQOWxSGWL46EX9m
Buy My Music:
CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/josephinejohnson2

3 pm - Jenny Van West

Americana with old-school songwriting

Website: www.jennyvanwestmusic.com

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennyvanwestmusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennyvanwest

Instagram: https://bit.ly/2TInYAh

Reverbnation: https://bit.ly/1OGRsZF

Streaming Media:

Youtube: https://bit.ly/2QD2iUh
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2SBiKGc

April 2018 CD release highlights (full band) https://bit.ly/2ANQ5XN

Happiness to Burn (solo) 2018 https://bit.ly/2FgRREx

Never Alone (solo) 2018 https://bit.ly/2H67nEQ

Thresholds (solo) 2018 https://bit.ly/2CfbB7l

4 pm - Tommy Moore
Rock Singer-Songwriter

Website: https://www.tommymooremusic.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tommymooremusic/

Streaming Media:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tommymooremusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0aXDHC3dncM8PIksYR5zZQ

5 pm - Medicine Hat
Lonesome Desert Rock

Website: https://medicinehatmusic.net

Social Media:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/medicinehatband/
Instagram: https://instagram/medicinehat_theband/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/hnmaQQCAADQ

Buy The Music:
http://medicinehatmusic.net/store
Also available on iTunes and Amazon

6 pm - Wild Ponies
Old Time American music from rugged landscapes

Website: http://www.wildponies.net/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildponiesmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wildponiesmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildponiesmusic/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzSyzpsi_Bacm9RuP7Jqngw
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3FA773INUQV6r86d9XW0jJ

Buy My Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/wild-ponies/id682593999

7 pm - Shotgun Josephine
Americana in Harmony

Website: http://www.shotgunjosephine.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shotgunjosephine/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6mVx2lqxW_U5uQjGELK07A

8 pm - Brother & The Hayes
Sibling harmonies and grooves

Website: http://www.brotherandthehayes.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brotherandthehayes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brotherandthehayes/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgOqEdoI0C-1J9v252tB9dA
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5qtzSfVbEueCCceosiC2X3

Buy My Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/brother-and-the-hayes/id1263294710

9 pm - Wink Keziah
Blue Collar Country

Website: http://winkkeziah.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wink-Keziah-188210907906452/

Streaming Media:
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/winkkeziahanddeluxmotel
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZsB7kFyAacb61y36U6MN-w

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZsB7kFyAacb61y36U6MN-w
google play: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/wst/artist/A6bgjfjf6gzeeyy2iaf5hwyci6m

10 pm - The Lawless
Texas Swamp Rock

Website: https://www.thelawlessmusic.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/TheLawlessOnes/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelawlessband?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_lawless_music/

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1KcK0Fczgw8dotkeNM3O5G?si=oCtnbFrhSTKDckeeTmXe9w

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lost-out-there/1439539228

11 pm - Hill Country Revival
Texas/Red Dirt Country'n'Roll

Website: www.hillcountryrevival.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hillcountryrevival/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillcountryrevival/

Streaming Media:
YouTube:
"That's What I Think Too" https://youtu.be/VvI5h8c74CI
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/46xdywMCy9lk3K4wN9SkvE?si=MINN_bOTT4W5t6TmMFDZ2g

midnight - Law By The Gun
Rootsy Red Dirt

Website: https://www.lawbythegun.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LawByTheGun/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawbythegun/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/wQrF9Mr9pjI

Sunday 3/17
noon - Ben de la Cour
Americanoir from a world traveler

Website: https://www.bendelacour.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ben.delacour.3

Streaming Media:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ben-delacour
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/22lIxJpWP36cCW4lKNK6ZH
YouTube: https://youtu.be/EvT7a1tM4mc

Buy My Music:
Bandcamp: https://bendelacour.bandcamp.com/

1 pm - Zach Talbert
"Poor Man's Soul" Red Dirt

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thezachtalbert/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNFbuFPMzmmG1hig2yJoO6g

2 pm - Dennis Jay
Western & Country

Website: http://www.dennisjay.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dennis.jay.756

Streaming Media:
http://www.dennisjay.com/p/listen.html

Buy The Music:
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/dennisjay1

3 pm - Joshua Ray Walker
2019's Emerging Americana Star

Website: http://www.joshuaraywalker.com/

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshuaraywalkermusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/raywalkerjoshua

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/mUnCSf7DJ1s

4 pm - Edan Archer
Southern Gothic Americana

Website: www.edanarcher.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edanarcher/
Instagram: instagram.com/edanarcher/

Buy & Stream Media:
http://smarturl.it/EdanArcherMusic

5 pm - Lost John Casner, Boomer & Ben
Austin Singer-Songwriter

Website: www.lostjohn.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lost-John-Casner-114883838564170/

6 pm - David Touchton
Country-Blues

Website: www.davidtouchtonmusic.com

Social Media:
ReverbNation - www.reverbnation.com/davidtouchton
Facebook - www.facebook.com/davidtouchtonmusic
Instagram - www.instagram.com/davidtouchtonmusic

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPm4UbUQzZ-tmtzmZmg7SbQ?view_as=subscriber/

7 pm - Bad Lucy
Texas Americana Stories

Website: www.badlucymusic.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/badlucyatx/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bad_lucy_atx/

Streaming Media:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/badlucy
YouTube:
Goodnight Samantha - https://youtu.be/MWuN5RdX554
Fast As You - https://youtu.be/q4znvJOEozY
The Roadhouse - https://youtu.be/wp_vdw_Yhl0

8 pm - Dewey Lyon & The Divahos
Folk - Americana - Singer/Songwriter

9 pm - Sam Bentley Band
Country

Website: www.sambentley.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sam-Bentley-Band-122396791103886/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/csbentley26

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCepPr5pDMuiU6yrjIGTzDcA

"Jack's Favorite Song" - original by Sam Bentley:

Buy My Music
CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/sambentleyband
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jacks-Favorite-Song-Bentley-Band/dp/B01DQN2Y4W

Nashville Garbage Wins Again - or - Let Mason Ramsey Do His Own Thing

2018-05-05T13:09:00.000-05:00

By now, everybody has heard the story of the yodeling kid, aka Mason Ramsey, whose intoning of Hank Williams' classics at a local House Of Rollbacks in Kentucky, just across the border from his home state Illinois, catapulted the video of that performance into internet virality. TV shows, a guest spot at Coachella, a first performance at the Grand Ole Opry, and now he got country-Biebered up and released a terrible debut single "Famous." All that in less than a month.

Oh, I was ecstatic like so many other traditional country music fans (aka old farts). Here was a young lad of 11-years pouring his heart out with Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues." A little late to the game, I normally don't pay that much attention to viral videos and memes, I shared it on facebook and stated that "...this is real country. And Hank is smiling."

Well, Hank and I aren't smiling anymore.

It seemed too good to be true, a visit on the Ellen DeGeneres TV- show, not only saw him getting a scholarship to study in the future but also made it possible to go visit and sing at the mother church of country music, The Grand Ole Opry. But that visit to Nashville bore strange fruits, the record-machinery under the auspices of has-been-artist Jake Owen and his Big Loud Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic got hold of the little rebel singing Hiram's songs and set him straight: Turning him into a Justin pop-starlet. Accused of the "kidnapping" of the boy's dream are beside Owen, Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard, EDM-pop-country garbage-writers - Corey Crowder (Kane Brown), Sarah Buxton (Chris Lane), and Canaan Smith (Florida Georgia Line) and to top the atrocities, they hired FGL producer Joey Moi known for his crimes with Nickelback.

Hastily Social Media accounts were created, suddenly there was a website, a facebook page, an Instagram showcase, and a Twitter feed. As far as I know, all these are restricted to kids older than 13 years old. But the onslaught got started and started it did - poor Mason gained over 4000 followers on Twitter per day, alone. And "Famous" his debut was released the same day, "The Yodeling Boy" was squeezed into the FGL set at the Stagecoach festival, to promote the drum-machine ditty.

Not only is "Famous" a dumbed-down, generic mass production, but its lyrics also wouldn't make a reading book for first graders. Please read and digest with caution:

Don't get me wrong, it's pretty cool to be on TV

So all the folks back home can see me

And that I'm livin' it out

All the things I used to dream about

Yeah, it's pretty great, singing on a stage

Proud 'cause there ain't an empty seat in the place

But, girl, ever since I met you

I got a whole new perspective

And people eager to know what happened to their @lilhankwilliams (his Instagram moniker) started clicking on YouTube (> 8 million) and he started to dominate Spotify (> 5.6 million) which amounts, with other streaming services, to over 15 million streams in one week. And the single is currently going to radio, which may or may not pick it up, as they may hopefully see the whole deal as a novelty factor with a faster half-life than a rotting egg in the sun.

Producer Joey Moi and the other perpetrators should be charged with musical child molestation and treason in the name of true country music.

The only good part is, that the original video where he sings his idol's song still leads with 37 million spins and Hank actually saw a 2000% increase of spins on Spotify. How sweet would it have been if the kid actually would have released a remake of a Williams' classic?

The Grand Ole Opry asked him back and Mason will make another 3-hour road trip back to Nashville to play this coming Saturday 5/12. I hope he sticks with Hank, as he got a standing ovation the first time doing it.

But as the Grand Ole Opry wrote: "Mason is rising fast in the music business." - just let's all hope not too fast, this kid deserves better.

*/***** (1/5)

Sources: Pandora - Next Big Sound, YouTube, Billboard, Guardian. Grand Ole Opry

Spring Fling Music Festival 2018 - Giddy Ups - Line Up

2018-02-25T11:53:00.000-06:00

The Spring Fling Music Festival is celebrating its 11th inauguration this year, the tenth as a multi-day festival. As a service to the participating musicians and bands and to make it easier for the audience to connect with their favorite musicians, we asked all the artists to provide us with links to their website, social as well as streaming media.

Please make sure to tip the bands generously, to buy their merchandise and to spread the word. In these days where corporate media hardly ever feature independent artists, it is important that we share the talent of all these artists that make the world of music better day by day.

This is a work in progress, so bear with me, as new information comes in, I will update it.

And these are the Media Sites of Giddy Ups & The Spring Fling Music Festival - please follow and like, thanks!
Website (Giddy Ups): www.giddyups.com

Social Media:
Facebook:
Giddy Ups https://www.facebook.com/giddyups2000/

Spring Fling Music Festival https://www.facebook.com/SpringFlingMusicFestival/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/giddyups
https://twitter.com/SpringFlingMF

Wednesday 3/14

6 pm - Ted Russell Kamp, Doug Greer, Dick LeMasters

Ted Russell Kamp

Red Dirt Stories from California

Website: http://tedrussellkamp.com/

Buy The Music:

CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tedrussellkamp3
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/flying-solo/id109269800

This is a blog I wrote about TRK two years ago: http://mmm-musig-musik-musique-musica-music.blogspot.com/2016/04/ted-russell-kamp-soaring-in-musical.html

Doug Greer
Roots Rock Singer-Songwriter

Website: http://douglasgreermusic.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/douglas.greer.52

Buy the Music:
CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/DouglasGreer
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/douglas-greer/186522517

Dick LeMasters
Americana Singer-Songwriter

Website: http://www.dicklemastersmusic.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DickLeMastersMusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dicklemasters/
Twitter:

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DickLeMastersMusic
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dick-lemasters

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/dick-lemasters/id905478634

7 pm - Ordinary Elephant
2018 International Folk Music Awards - Artist of the Year

Website: http://www.ordinaryelephant.net/

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ordinaryelephant
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ordinaryelephant/

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KDRZ2NwxT9UZ0RyG8gHFs?si=s49Tdp4CSr2UXnO9e6MS8g
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OESongs

Buy The Music:
Artist's website: http://www.ordinaryelephant.net/store/

Bandcamp: https://ordinaryelephant.bandcamp.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/before-i-go/1188763920
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Ordinary_Elephant_Before_I_Go?id=Bzbhrhbl24lerpjrr2ii2xyazbu
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Before-I-Go-Ordinary-Elephant/dp/B01N2WBLJD

8 pm - Brother Oliver
Psychic Folk-Rock

Website: http://www.brotheroliver.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrotherOliverMusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brotherolivermusic/

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/brotheroliver
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG-p0Z3EDPO-hTE3LxrgKPQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiC66eHhjq4

9 pm - Libby Koch & Chuck Hawthorne

Libby Koch
Singer-Songwriter

Website: http://www.libbykoch.com

Social Media:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/libbykochmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/libbykoch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libbykoch/
Snapchat:

Streaming Media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/libbykoch
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4kF0KiM9thlhvRjjzwRcq3

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/libby-koch/302422976

Chuck Hawthorne
Singer-Songwriter

Website: https://chuckhawthorne.com

Social Media:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/chuck.hawthorne.music/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chuckhawthornemusic/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/HawthorneChuck

Streaming Media:
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/ChuckHawthorne
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/1mrHxIdNcSTeHBGA90j2Lm

Buy The Music:
Aritst Link: https://chuckhawthorne.com/store
also available at: iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon

10 pm - Tish Hinojosa, Shelley King

Tish Hinojosa
Singer-Songwriter

Website: http://www.mundotish.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mundotish

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh9QQhP6p_NmdrepDCuy1sQ
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tish-hinojosa-official

Buy The Music:
Her Shop: http://www.mundotish.com/shop/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/artist/tish-hinojosa/id94404

Shelley King

Website: http://www.shelleyking.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelleykingtx
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelleykingtx/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shelleykingtx

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/shelleykingtx
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/shelleyking

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/shelley-king/272388327

11 pm - Robert Frier, Claudine Meinhardt

Robert Frier
R&B singer/songwriter

Website: www.robertfrier.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertFrierMusic/

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/14STPsrE7qsnaxnjJo7wCV

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/robert-frier/367795732
google play: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=robert%20frier&c=music

Claudine Meinhardt
Singer-Songwriter

Website: http://www.claudinemeinhardt.com/

Social Media:
Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/claudinemeinhardt

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5AVLIWTy13BJQXMyhSp6II

midnight - Robert Cline, Jr., Quincy Harper

Robert Cline, Jr.
Singer-Songwriter
Co-Curator of the Evening for The Heart Strings & Highways Project

Website: http://www.robertclinejr.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobertClineJrMusic/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVIN2UOD5xweu6AD9ODdZMg

Buy The Music:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/American-Mojo-Robert-Cline-Jr/dp/B074CWQLYC
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/american-mojo/1265367339

Quincy Harper

Thursday 3/15

1 pm - Whitney Fenimore
Singer-Songwriter / The Voice Contestant

Website: http://whitneyfenimore.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitneyfenimoremusic/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/whitneyfenimore
Twitter: http://twitter.com/whitneyfenimore

Streaming Media:
YouTube: http://bit.ly/whitneyfenimoreyoutube
https://youtu.be/5RQcYqicd6Q
https://youtu.be/lGcdc9Uu35A
https://youtu.be/9fnu3M-MjhU

2 pm - Jaguwar
Indie Noise Pop from Dresden

Website: http://jaguwar.blogspot.de/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/jaguwarmusic/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaguwarmusic
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaguwarmusic

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0izVMlMQvx03fhPNChpPNn?si=ZnqdjDd6RFGSFi4bSbOGHg
YouTube: https://youtu.be/x3CBMxkVU3A

Buy The Music:
Bandcamp: https://jaguwar.bandcamp.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jaguwar/975777173
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ringthing-JAGUWAR/dp/B076TXDKX4
Forced Exposure: http://bit.ly/2DapUwt

3 pm - Rachel Lynn
Singer-Songwriter

Social Media:
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/rachellynnmusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachellynnmusicpage/

Buy The Music:
CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/RachelLynn1
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Reunion-Rachel-Lynn/dp/B01N08B958/ref=sr_1_3?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1519406265&sr=1-3-mp3-albums-bar-strip-0&keywords=rachel+lynn

4 pm - Craig Marshall
Songwriter of the Year 2016 - Austin Songwriter's Group

Website: www.craigmarshall.com

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/craigmarshallmusic
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/cmarshall

Streaming Media:
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/craigmarshallband
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5ClXKPKSgEOyMkg4hW4GoF

Buy The Music:
CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/CraigMarshall
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/craig-marshall/4249850

5 pm - Tommy Moore
Rock Singer-Songwriter

Website: https://www.tommymooremusic.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tommymooremusic/

Streaming Media:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tommymooremusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0aXDHC3dncM8PIksYR5zZQ

6 pm - David Olney
Globe-Trotting Singer-Songwriter

Website: http://www.DavidOlney.com

Social Media:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DavidOlneyOfficial/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/davidolney

Streaming Media:
Bandcamp: http://davidolney.bandcamp.com
YouTube:
“Jerusalem Tomorrow” https://youtu.be/GQcX_rv20dk
“Little Mustang” https://youtu.be/0PIGJRXE9N8
CXCW:
"Big Blue Hole"
http://couchbycouchwest.com/david-olney-big-blue-hole/

7 pm - Beth Noble
Country

Website: bethnoblemusic.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethnoblemusic/

Streaming Media:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVgYGBnGnhaQH_-bCoxLZPQ

Buy The Music:
Itunes: http://itunes.com/bethnoble

8 pm - Pearl Snaps
Texas Dancehall Country

Website: www.thepearlsnaps.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepearlsnapsaustin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeftyRainbolt

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdIk4AzmAONHpT1BA3T65_w

9 pm - Krawlers
Blues

Website: www.thekrawlers.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekrawlers/

10 pm - Alabama Rose
Rock

Website: https://www.alabamaroseofficial.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alabamaroseofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alabamaroseofficial/

Buy The Music:
Bandcamp: https://alabamarose.bandcamp.com/album/good-times-for-bad-girls

11 pm - Surreal Nation
Indie-Rock

Website: www.surrealnationmusic.com

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/surrealnation
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SurrealNationDE
Instagram: www.instagram.com/surreal_nation

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAqauqb-FCxCqfNphBOH3MQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/73eCoj56wW3ag92R5yjKNC
Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-know-better-ep/1315375456
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/I-Know-Better-surreal-nation/dp/B077LF82G4/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1519658059&sr=1-1-mp3-albums-bar-strip-0&keywords=Surreal+Nation

midnight - Grandchildren
Electronic Folk/Pop

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandchildrenmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandchildrenband/

Streaming Media:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/pete-ejrc/01-ok-im-waiting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6KEWf9A_5c
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2dto3cvn953gzTA2nlT4Bv

Buy The Music:
Bandcamp: https://grandchildren.bandcamp.com/

Friday 3/16

noon - Josh Glenn Experience
Folk

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jgexperiment/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jgexperiment/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jgexperiment

Streaming Media:
YouTube:
Make Believe https://youtu.be/krU8bzTcpVQ
Live in Corpus Christi: https://youtu.be/pEI5HIjTWpg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1p8qIaxNuTniPz55h5q2zR?

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/josh-glenn-experiment/1177825798

1 pm - J.R. Rose
Old School Country

Social Media:
Facebook: facebook.com/jrrose009
Twitter: twitter.com/jrrose009
Instagram: instagram.com/jrrose009

2 pm Sleepwalker's Station
Singer-Songwriter

Website: http://www.sleepwalkersstation.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sleepwalkers-Station/48223376746

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/60kRYMz8JXS5K0V7mXRYkS
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/sleepwalkerstation

(Due to a death in the family, originally listed singer-songwriter Jim Wyly had to cancel his appearance, in his place Sleepwalker's Station from Germany will take the stage. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jim Wyly and his family)

3 pm - Paula Held
Singer-Songwriter

Website: http://paulaheld.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulaheld
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/paulaheld
Twitter: https://twitter.com/paulaheld
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulaheld/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUomVLL6Hf08UTvW6hnpPwg

Other Projects: Held and Mann, Moon Blossom Trio

4 pm - Sean Costanza
Americana Storyteller

Website: www.seancostanzamusic.com

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SeanCostanza

Streaming Media:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/seancostanza/sets/silver-city-drive-album
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/seancostanza
Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/sean-costanza/silver-city-drive/AL6kghvtqz42l3k
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3exBjyAQmlpKgJf0LdxYm8

Buy The Music:
CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/seancostanza4
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/silver-city-drive/1226634234

5 pm - Chuck Hawthorne
Singer-Songwriter
see Wednesday 9 pm

6 pm - WC Clark
Blues

Website: http://www.wcclark.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCClarkBluesRevue/
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/wcclarkbluesrevue

Streaming Media:
YouTube:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2eJojpx2Dv1QL3WBjJQXWi

7 pm - Libby Koch
Singer-Songwriter
see Wednesday 9 pm

8 pm - Nocona
Rave-up Garage-Rock For High Lonesome Desperados

Website: https://noconamusic.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoconaMusic
Instagram: http://instagram.com/noconamusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoconaMusic
Tumblr: http://noconamusic.tumblr.com/

Streaming Media:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/noconamusic
YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FsymyE9dP9Y

9 pm - William Matheny
Country-Americana

Website: williammatheny.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWilliamMatheny
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/William_Matheny
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/William_Matheny

Streaming Media:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ffXgMSb7TTuOLvb56MxGx

Buy The Music:
Bandcamp: https://williammatheny.bandcamp.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/william-matheny/1172936365

10 pm - Kathy & The Kilowatts
Blues-Soul

Website: www.kathymurrayandthekilowatts.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathyMurrayBand/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathyMu47659208

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCI8PI6dD0o

Buy The Music:
Antone's Record Shop: https://antonesrecordshop.com/content/search.php?name=kathy+and+the+kilowatts

11 pm - Hill Country Revival
Texas/Red Dirt Country'n'Roll

Website: www.hillcountryrevival.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hillcountryrevival/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hillcountryrevival/

Streaming Media:
YouTube:
"Wandering Song" https://youtu.be/IMsqjSuqX78
"That's What I Think Too" https://youtu.be/VvI5h8c74CI
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/46xdywMCy9lk3K4wN9SkvE?si=MINN_bOTT4W5t6TmMFDZ2g

midnight - Chris Berardo & The DesBerardos
Americana Without Borders

Website: http://desberardo.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DesBerardos/
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/chrisberardothedesberardos

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/iqy_Ht-Xqdk

Buy The Music:
Bandcamp: https://chrisberardothedesberardos.bandcamp.com/

Saturday 3/17

noon - Gladys & Maybelle

Vintage Country

Social Media:
Facebook: facebook.com/gladysandmaybelle
Twitter: twitter.com/gladysmaybelle
Instagram: instagram.com/gladysandmaybelle

1 pm - Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers
Old-Time Country-Folk

Website: http://www.sapsuckersmusic.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ybss

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCctanOTy-rmELhwQLovuzhA
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4pLtVFEgOdXTwo5QZARqO0

Buy The Music:
Sapsucker Store: http://www.sapsuckersmusic.com/store.html

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-yellow-bellied-sapsuckers/969191045
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B00TTP4L2A?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=The%20Yellow-Bellied%20Sapsuckers&index=digital-music&search-type=ss

2 pm - Rodney Rice
Storyteller

Website: www.rodneyrice.com

3 pm - Medicine Hat
Lonesome Desert Rock

Website: https://medicinehatmusic.net

Social Media:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/medicinehatband/
Instagram: https://instagram/medicinehat_theband/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/hnmaQQCAADQ

Buy The Music:
http://medicinehatmusic.net/store
Also available on iTunes and Amazon

4 pm - Sarah Levecque

Website: sarahlevecque.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.levecque.3
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Sarah-Levecque-104165959657171

Streaming Media:
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTOPOFvmFa0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSMlOeSsFNw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0shV9k3kvw

iTunes: https://search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZContentLink.woa/wa/link?path=sarahlevecque
CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/sarahlevecque

5 pm - Mary Battiata & LITTLE PINKAlt-Country/Folk/Americana

Website: http://www.littlepinktheband.com

Social Media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/marybattiata.littlepink
Twitter: http://twitter.com/marybattiata1

Streaming Media
http://www.littlepinktheband.com/listen.buy

6 pm - Pi Jacobs
Country/Americana

Website: www.PiJacobs.com

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PiJacobsMusic
Instagram: www.instagram.com/PiJacobs

Streaming Media:
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PiJacobsMusic
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/PiJacobs

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/pi-jacobs/593132342
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N7T7QQ1/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp

7 pm - Bob Appel
Traditional Country Singer

Website: www.bobappelmusic.com

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bobappeltraditionalcountry

8 pm - Wink Keziah
Blue Collar Country

Website: http://winkkeziah.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wink-Keziah-188210907906452/

Streaming Media:
ReverbNation: https://www.reverbnation.com/winkkeziahanddeluxmotel
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZsB7kFyAacb61y36U6MN-w

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZsB7kFyAacb61y36U6MN-w
google play: https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/wst/artist/A6bgjfjf6gzeeyy2iaf5hwyci6m

9 pm - Stephen Clair & The Pushbacks

Website: www.stephenclair.com

Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockoutstephenclair
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herrclair

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ydoB9EEH76c
https://youtu.be/W24Ovjw2Hf4

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/stephen-clair-and-the-pushbacks/1273011544

10 pm - Jason James
Country With A Big C

Website: www.JasonJamesBand.com

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JasonJamesBand
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonjamesband/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jasonjames01

Streaming Media:
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/jasonjamesband
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4a1s7Yutn16VXLKfchhG0X
www.twitter.com/jasonjamesband

11 pm - Watertower Bucket Boys

Website: www.watertowerband.com

midnight - Michael Dart
Country

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Michaeldartmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeldartmusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skylinewrangler

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/michael-dart-the-skyline-wranglers/930739831

Sunday 3/18

1 pm - Alice Wallace
Country

Website: www.alicewallacemusic.com
Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alicewallacemusicpage
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alicewallacemusic

Streaming Media:
YouTube: www.youtube.com/alicewallacemusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3bjvwCwQw1L6zbmG1y29Qi

Buy The Music:
iTunes: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/artist/alice-wallace/148270994?mt=1&app=music
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Memories-Music-Pride-Alice-Wallace/dp/B015NQP190/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1519419073&sr=8-2&keywords=alice+wallace

2 pm - John Evans
Roots-Rock Americana

Website: https://johnevansband.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JebRocksTexas/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jebrockstexas/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jebrockstexas

3 pm - Shad Blair
Texas Singer-Songwriter

Website: www.shadblair.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shadblairmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadstrikeapose/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shadsong

4 pm - Danny Santos Y Los Bluegrass Vatos
Folk-Americana Singer-Songwriter

Website: www.dannysantosmusic.com

Social Media:
Sonic Bids: www.sonicbids.com/dannysantos

5 pm - Lost John Casner, Boomer & Ben
Austin Singer-Songwriter

Website: www.lostjohn.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lost-John-Casner-114883838564170/

6 pm - Dewey Lyon
Folk-Americana

7 pm - David Touchton
Country-Blues

Website: www.davidtouchtonmusic.com

Social Media:
ReverbNation - www.reverbnation.com/davidtouchton
Facebook - www.facebook.com/davidtouchtonmusic
Instagram - www.instagram.com/davidtouchtonmusic

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPm4UbUQzZ-tmtzmZmg7SbQ?view_as=subscriber/

8 pm - Carl Hutchens
Singer-Songwriter / Western

Website: http://www.carlhutchens.com/

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Carl-Hutchens-Music-122783564467101/

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC36GWsQ-O76fr-QI6CvlvAQ

Buy The Music:
Own Site: http://www.carlhutchens.com/Images/paypal_orderPage8_28_11.html

9 pm - Sam Bentley Band
Country

Website: www.sambentley.com

Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sam-Bentley-Band-122396791103886/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/csbentley26

Streaming Media:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCepPr5pDMuiU6yrjIGTzDcA

10 pm - The Rewinders
Journey into 50's / 60's Country Realm

Website: www.therewindersmusic.com

Social Media:
Faceook: https://www.facebook.com/therewindersmusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therewindersmusic/

Ryan Adams Offers Surprise Valentine Ditty - "Baby I Love You"

2018-02-14T12:00:00.000-06:00

"Sad" replaces a jangly 12-string- guitar (?) "Happy" on a surprise Valentine's ditty by singer/songwriter Ryan Adams released today. He also announced his first concert (6/14) of the year at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado.

It's always a good day when you find music in your inbox, but today's release of "Baby I Love You" by Ryan Adams came as a cool surprise. Battling the aftermath of his divorce to actress Mandy Moore, his last album "Prisoner," released a year ago, had some somber tones to it. His twitter fights and rants on stage mostly going towards Father John Misty and The Strokes didn't help much to improve the grouchy image.

"Baby I Love You" carries that warm California-feel, not unlike the Byrds, from the late 60s, early 70s, without sounding dated to it.

****/***** (4/5)

And no, it's not the famous Ronettes' #24 hit from 1963/64 written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector, who also produced. As a little tidbit on the side, while lead singer Ronnie Bennett recorded the song in California, her cousin Elaine took her place together with Estelle Bennett and Nedra Talley for some tour gigs. The extra background vocals on the recording were provided by Darlene Love and Cher, with Leon Russell on piano.

In The News - Jon Pardi Likes Beer - Marty Stuart To Open Museum - Mel Tillis Memorial Recap

2018-02-03T21:45:00.000-06:00

Traditional newcomer Jon Pardi is featured in a Superbowl beer commercial. Marty Stuart announced, that he plans to open the Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music Museum and Performance Hall in Philadelphia, Mississippi. And a recap, with a video link to the full memorial for the late Mel Tillis at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Jon Pardi redoes "I Like Beer" for Superbowl commercial

"Dirt On My Boots" crooner, Jon Pardi, the reigning CMA "New Artist Of The Year" and ACM "New Male Vocalist" was asked by Michelob ULTRA to re-record the 1975 Tom T. Hall ode "I Like Beer" for a new commercial that will show during this year's Superbowl.

The original, the first single from Hall's "I WROTE A SONG ABOUT IT" charted on the Country Singles Chart at #4, got a more uptempo treatment during Pardi's recording.

Even though Pardi is only delivering the soundtrack to the new anthem for Michelob ULTRA's commercial starring actor Chris Pratt, US Open Gold Champion Brooks Koepka, 11-time World Surf League Champion Kelly Slater and 2017 NYC Marathon winner Shalane Flanagan it is trying to demonstrate that "You Can Do Both" - being fit and still enjoy a cold one.

“This past year has been filled with so many milestones and bucket list items, and when Michelob Ultra reached out with an opportunity to be part of this Super Bowl commercial, I was all in. It was such a fun experience to record this version of the song and it’s awesome to be a part of it,” Pardi was quoted in the press release.

Pardi’s current single “She Ain’t In It” is currently Top 30-and-climbing on the Billboard Country Airplay charts. I hope that "I Like Beer" will be soon available as a download.

And here's the original by Tom T. Hall

Marty Stuart To Open Museum

According to the Associated Press (AP), Country traditionalist Marty Stuart is planning to open "Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music Museum and Performance Hall" in his hometown, of Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Stuart, who began playing as a 13-year old with Lester Flatt and later was part of Johnny Cash's band, is an avid collector of country music artifacts and has by now amassed more than 20'000 pieces, from clothing by Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline to handwritten lyrics from original superstar Hank Williams. He is also known as a photographer and has a vast collection not only of portraits of country stars of old but also of the American West.

Philadelphia, a small town about 80 miles northeast of Mississippi capitol Jackson sure will get an economic boost from tourism when the Congress of Country Music is supposed to open in three years.

"My collection for all these years has been a very good-neighbor collection. We've loaned things to museums for years and years," Stuart is quoted in the AP article.

The government of Mississippi has already allocated $2 million to the project, Stuart is trying to raise the rest of the money from private donors.

Stuart is currently touring behind last year's album "WAY OUT WEST," which made my "10 for 2017" as one of the 30 best Albums released in 2017. His next dates will be in Texas: New Braunfels, Austin, Houston, and Dallas. For more info and tour dates, visit his website, Marty Stuart

Mel Tillis Memorial

Last week's memorial for the late singer, Mel Tillis was broadcasted live on legendary AM 650 WSM, as I told my readers in my blog.

If you didn't have a chance to tune into the almost 2-hour long memorial with various artists taking part, local Nashville NewsChannel 5 recorded the whole celebration of life for Mel Tillis on video and uploaded it to their facebook page.

Besides some stellar performances, it was the remembrances, the little stories that make this memorial worth watching again. I hope the station will leave that link up for people to revisit.

"You could feel the emotion in the room. We felt dad's presence. We think he was proud," Pam Tillis told the TV station.

Mel Tillis, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame was honored by Kyle Young, the CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, with the following statement:

"Mel Tillis spent a lifetime giving us joy and laughter and music, which is why his death brings such sadness. Had he never stepped on a stage, he would still have been one of the funniest and most genuine people on the planet. But his whimsy and warmth were only a part of his appeal. He wrote some of country music's most compelling and consequential songs, he fronted a remarkable band, and he sang with power and emotion. He also shone as an inspiration, revealing what others called an impediment as a vehicle for humor and hope."

Sources: Press Release, Billboard, Whitburn, AP, Marty Stuart, NewsChannel 5 Nashville,

Mel Tillis' Memorial Service Will Be Broadcast Live - Many Stars To Attend And Perform

2018-01-30T17:05:00.000-06:00

The memorial service for Country Music Hall of Famer, Mel Tillis will be broadcast live from the original Grand Ole Opry (Ryman Auditorium) by legendary Nashville station 650 AM WSM tomorrow morning, January, 31st at 10 am local time (CST). If you are not in the local area to catch the radio station you can listen to it on the web WSMonline.com, or on your phone on the station's mobile app.

Tillis’ family, friends, fans, and music industry colleagues will gather at the Ryman to honor the life and career of the Country Music Hall of Famer.

A slew of country stars will perform some of Tillis’ most memorable career songs. Those scheduled to take the stage include Ricky Skaggs, Ray Stevens, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Alison Krauss with the Street Corner Symphony, Jamey Johnson, Collin Raye, Daryle Singletary, Lorrie Morgan, Ira Dean, Pam Tillis, Sonny Tillis, and Carrie April Tillis.

Tillis’ band, The Statesiders, will accompany select performances and former “Nashville Now” host Ralph Emery will emcee.

The event is free and open to the public.

After a long struggle to regain his health, country music legend Mel Tillis passed away on November 19, 2017, at the Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Florida. Tillis battled intestinal issues since early 2016 and never fully recovered. He was 85.

Tillis wasn't only a singer, he was an "Entertainer of the Year" (CMA 1976) and a great songwriter as well: songs like "Detroit City" (Bobby Bare), "Life Turned Her That Way" (Ricky Van Shelton), "Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town" (Kenny Rogers), and "Honey (Open That Door)" (Ricky Skaggs) are just a few of his gems out of a huge catalog.

On February 13, 2012, President Barack Obama awarded Tillis the National Medal of Arts for his contributions to country music

Source: Press Release

Strawberry Champagne All Night - Or Why The Grammys Don't Matter Anymore

2018-01-29T16:36:00.000-06:00

Following the Grammys professionally for about 30 years, I didn't even tune in anymore, rather watching "Dirty Money" on Netflix. They actually should make an episode about the music business. I volunteer to be a consultant. Music has become like food, GMO mass-produced lowest common denominator cRap preferred over a home-cooked meal. What once used to be an award with respect, even so often delayed in the game, when artists who were ready to "retire", got bestowed with a gazillion of awards, decades into their careers.

Don't get me wrong, I love the late Leonard Cohen, but "You Want It Darker" of the album with the same title is great but it's not a rock song, Snubbing R.L. Boyce or Guy Davis and Fabrizio Poggi for traditional blues and giving that award to British import The Rolling Stones, really. Nothing against the club of septuagenarians, they always made a living siphoning of the blues, but they are a rock band and not a traditional blues band. To have a Michael Jackson wannabe in Bruno Mars winning best R&B album and ignoring PJ Morton just adds to my point. Even in country music, I do like Chris Stapleton and I do love the fresh approach he is infusing into what by now is nothing but a bubble-gum genre. I even had his two albums in my 10 of 2017. And I like the fact that the jokesters Nashville is producing, got snubbed by him. But he's a great Americana artist, with some country influences at best.

Copycats
Artists in every genre were always influenced by artists before them, there is always a chip of the old block, who gets you inspired, started. But Bruno Mars, who also tries to impress as wannabe Elvis and Prince may best deserve a pop recognition, but not Record, Album and Song of the year. Due to a lawsuit, he had to add the Gap Band as co-creators to his big hit with Mark Ronson "Uptown Funk" and there are still two other lawsuits pending. Female Rap-Trio The Sequence claim their "Funk You Up" as well as Zapp & Roger saying their "More Bounce To The Ounce" were both used in that Grammy-winning composition. Talking about copying and pasting, RME Ed Sheeran who won Best Pop Song for "Shape Of You" had to add the writers of TLC‘s 1999 hit “No Scrubs” to the song, after he got sued.

But I guess it's all well suited, considering the red carpet and how artists were dressed, getting more press today than actual memorable performances at the award show. Case in point, why take Eric Clapton's beautiful ballad "Tears In Heaven" to honor the victims of the recent shooting in Las Vegas. The sparse production was all right, but why not choose a country song like Vince Gill's "Go Rest High On That Mountain," or even Steve Wariner's "Hole In The Floor Of Heaven" or as outlandish as it sounds actually write a tribute song to these victims. Maybe ask Alan Jackson for some help, his showstopper "Where Were You, When The World Stop Turning" about the fall of the Twin Towers in New York, premiered just two months later at the CMA Awards. Talking about the CMA Awards, Little Big Town sang "Better Man" there in 2016, so they won with it almost two years later at the Grammys and I'm sure that Taylor Swift's penning the song had nothing to do with the band winning.
It is nice to see Chris Stapleton and Emmylou Harris pairing up for a tribute to the late Tom Petty, but why not asking Chris Hillman, Herb Pederson, and John Jorgenson, who recorded "Wildflowers" with Petty as the producer for Hillman's "BIDIN' MY TIME?"

And then there is, what the genius' call "American Roots Music," now as the words imply this has a foundation, but it is shunned by the telecast. May it be string music from Appalachia, singer/songwriters, too a certain degree country, blues, folk, bluegrass and the hodgepodge called Americana, it's mostly music that matters, lyrical-, regional- or music-wise. But it has become the collection basin of what used to be in the Rock, the Country, and the Blues or even the Pop-Charts. If Bonnie Raitt would have released "Nick of Time" in 2017 instead of 1989, she wouldn't have won album of the year but would have been nominated as Best American Roots Performance.
Another point - the Rolling Stones won their, can you quick guess it, their THIRD Grammy. Talking about relevance and how screwed up this whole gramophone business is.

So from the pond of love here are some "rootsy" winners - Alabama Shakes took away the Performance category with "Killer Diller Blues," "If We Were Vampires" by Jason Isbell the song honors and best album for "THE NASHVILLE SOUND." The Infamous Stringdusters couldn't count on the "LAWS OF GRAVITY" and had to share the best Bluegrass album with Rhonda Vincent And The Rage's live album "IN CONCERT VOLUME ONE."

So below are a couple of videos you may have missed and which may have deserved that golden gramophone more than the actual winners. As people are tuning out, like me - the early ratings-game speaks volumes, overall viewership sunk by several millions, numbers indicating the show fell 26% in the key demo, meaning adults 18-49 years old. So be it, let it go.

Sources: grammy.com, wire services, youtube,

In The News - Merle's Tour Bus For Sale - Reba Hawking Chicken - Nashville Scene Winners

2018-01-27T13:34:00.000-06:00

An old tour bus once owned by Merle Haggard goes on to the auction block in Texas; Reba McEntire got promoted to Colonel and is hawking Smoky Mountain BBQ chicken and weekly publication "Nashville Scene" asked over 90 country music critics for their best of 2017.

Merle's Bus

Ever fancied on riding in a country music star's tour bus? What about owning one and taking it for a ride through the Texas Hill Country. On February, 10th Burley Auction Gallery in New Braunfels is putting a 2008 Motor Coach Industries (MCI) bus, once owned by Merle Haggard up on the block.

Besides the regular outfittings (master bedroom, bunks, lounge area) the bus also has some custom made features. The late Merle Haggard was a huge train buff, so the sides of the bus are adorned with Santa Fe Super Chief insignia and the bus, according to the Austin American Statesman even has a vintage train horn installed.

In 1969 Haggard released a tribute album to the "Singing Brakeman," Jimmie Rogers called "SAME TRAIN, A DIFFERENT TIME" and followed with another album lauding trains seven years later with "MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH TRAINS."

The cover of that album also depicts some of Merle's model trains and beside the Dolly Parton penned title track, contains Merle's lament about the disappearance of trains, "No More Trains to Ride".

The video below must have been filmed by the previous owner, it looks like they used Lago Vista airport outside of Austin for a backdrop.
Update: Today (1/29) I did get an update from Robb Burley from the Auction Gallery
"The bus was ordered new by Merle in 2006 & was delivered in 2008. Merle toured in it until 2015 when he traded it in on a bus he only had a few months before he died on his birthday April 6, 2016. Photo of the original title to Merle is on the website. The bus has over 350,000 Merle miles on it. A custom seat has the armrest wear out there by Merle. Comes with a built-in authentic train whistle. The bus was acquired by the current owner & consignor of the bus when Merle traded it in. They tried unsuccessfully running it on eBay twice. Bidding will open at $100,000. It should land north of $200,000 easily even if it wasn’t owned by Merle. The bus shows road wear but is in excellent working order and in good condition. The custom tags were added when registered in Texas."

More info at Burley Auction Gallery

Colonel McEntire

Several firsts mark the new campaign for "Smoky Mountain BBQ" from Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). For the first time, it's a music star and a woman who will play the role of grey-haired and mustached KFC founder Colonel Harland Sanders.

Beginning tomorrow (1/28) new ads featuring Reba McEntire will air on television and computer screens in the US to hawk KFC’s new Smoky Mountain BBQ line of fried chicken.

“With Reba’s southern roots and entrepreneurial spirit, she truly embodies the values of the Colonel and the crowd-pleasing flavor of our Smoky Mountain BBQ,” Andrea Zahumensky, Chief Marketing Officer for the fried chicken chain was quoted in the press release. ”

“I’ve held a lot of roles in my life – sort of like the Colonel himself – but this is certainly the most unique one yet,” McEntire iterated in the release.

Nashville Scene Country Music Critic’s Poll

For the 18th time, weekly publication "Nashville Scene" asked 94 guest music critics for their favorites of 2017. As no big surprise, most mainstream Nashville bubble artists got ignored, Jason Isbell and his 400 Unit came out as the big winner with "Best Album of the Year" for "The Nashville Sound," "Best Live Act," "Best Songwriter," and being "Artist of the Year." Isbell came in second behind Chris Stapleton as "Best Male Singer" the female counterpart being Lee Ann Womack.

Midland was voted best new act in front of Tyler Childers and Carly Pearce; their Grammy-nominated song "Drinkin' Problem" also got the honors as "Single of the Year." Little Big Town was the only mainstream winner in the Duo / Group category.

An interesting factoid mentioned in the publication is that "five of the top 20 singles on Billboard’s year-end chart (Kane Brown’s “What Ifs,” Dustin Lynch’s “Small Town Boy,” Dylan Scott’s “My Girl,” Florida Georgia Line’s “God, Your Mama and Me” and Jason Aldean’s “Any Ol’ Barstool”) failed to gain a vote from any critic."

For a full list of the winners, visit Nashville Scene's website.

Sources: Austin American Statesman, Burley Auction Gallery, YouTube, KFC Press Release, Nashville Scene

Singer Lari White Has Passed

2018-01-20T18:33:00.000-06:00

Singer/Songwriter, Producer and Vocal Coach, Lari White has died earlier this morning (1/23) after a courageous four month battle against a rare peritoneal cancer.

Update 1/23/18

Her mom took to Caring Bridge again today and announced that "At 4:44 this morning, Lari peacefully took her "Rain Walk"..." referencing Lari's love of the rain. Lari was able to spend the weekend at her home with close family and was able to enjoy a sunny and rainy day, as that were her wishes.

Our condolences go out to her loved ones. May there be a light in the darkness!

Original post:

Her mom took to Caring Bridge to post an update on Friday (1/19) and it looks disheartening:

"Last night Lari was admitted to a wonderful Hospice facility here in Nashville, where she has all the Care she needs to make her comfortable and quiet for this part of the Journey, and where she is completely surrounded by loving family…"

It was only in November when Lari took to her "ArtistWorks" space to tell her voice students that she was diagnosed with cancer:

"...The surgery revealed advanced Peritoneal Cancer. Since then a series of complications including pain management, pneumonia and a bowel obstruction requiring emergency surgery has kept me in and out of the hospital fighting for my life. This is, of course, my focus for the foreseeable future."

But she also encouraged her students to keep going on: "All I ask is that you keep singing! Make a joyful noise, because I believe Our Creator loves the sound!"

Lari came to prominence in the late 80's with winning "You Can Be A Star" on The Nashville Network. A resulting record deal with Capitol didn't give her the success she was looking for and she started singing backup for Rodney Crowell. It was him, who, after she got another deal with RCA, produced her debut album "LEAD ME NOT" with the rockabilly-tinged "What A Woman Wants" being its biggest success.

She triumphed even more with her follow up, 1994's "WISHES" giving her three top-ten hits, two again co-written with Cannon "That's My Baby" and "That's How You Know (When You're in Love)" and the Cindy Greene, Don Cook, Chick Rains penned "Now I Know." The album was produced by Garth Fundis and was certified Gold a year later for half a million copies sold.

On her third and last (besides a Greatest Hits Compilation) outing for RCA "DON'T FENCE ME IN" which she produced with Josh Leo, was the marvelous single "Wild At Heart," a co-write with Al Anderson.

Another stint came in 1998 with Lyric Street Records. With the title track, "Stepping Stone" (White, David Kent, Craig Wiseman) she not only cracked the Country top-twenty but also appeared on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. Other singles were "Take Me" (Bob DiPiero, Stephony Smith) and "John Wayne Walking Away "(Austin Cunningham, Jerry Boonstra, Doak Snead).

Over the years she appeared in films like "Cast Away", Broadway Musical ("Ring Of Fire") and Cabaret Shows ("My First Affair"), producing artists and playing house concerts all over the country, including some appearances on Delbert McClinton's cruise. As a producer, she was actually in charge of the Platinum certified album by Toby Keith "WHITE TRASH WITH MONEY." She also started releasing albums on her own label, Skinny White Girl, like "GREEN EYED SOUL".

In February of last year, she released two EPs "New Loves" and "Old Friends" (both available through the links on her website) containing new songs and some re-recordings of her old hits, with some special friends, Suzy Bogguss, Lee Roy Parnell, Delbert McClinton, Etta Britt and Victor Wooten helping out.

To promote the release Lari visited Eric Dahl, the longtime host of Nashville's FOX 17 Rock & Review TV show.

Lari White is married to singer/songwriter Chuck Cannon (among many others "I Love The Way You Love Me - John Michael Montgomery), the couple has two daughters, M'Kenzy and Kyra, and a son, Jaxon.

To cope with the enormity of medical bills, some friends have established, a gofundme account in the name of Lari White and Chuck Cannon.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Lari and her family.

Sources: LariWhite.com, Caring Bridge, Billboard, RIAA,

Plagiarism - Ed Sheeran sued over McGraw/Hill hit "Rest Of Our Life"

2018-01-16T08:51:00.000-06:00

A lawsuit filed in New York federal court accuses Ed Sheeran and three of his co-writers of "blatant copying" an Australian hit by Jasmine Rae "When I Found You" into Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's top-20-hit "The Rest Of Our Life." Two of the original writers, Sean Carey and Beau Golden are seeking at least $ 5 million in damages plus profits, song royalties, covering of attorney's fees and costs, along with an injunction for the song to be permanently blocked.

The lawsuit alleges that: "The copying is, in many instances, verbatim, note-for-note copying of original elements of the song, and is obvious to the ordinary observer." But it's not just the melody, both songs also have the same message, lauding a long-lasting romantic relationship and making both partners stronger in the end.

The two plaintiffs hired Nashville lawyer Richard Busch, who successfully won a trial for the family of Marvin Gaye. Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams were found guilty of infringing Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up" into "Blurred Lines," a hit for Thicke. The Gaye estate was awarded $ 5.3 million.

This is not the first time Ed Sheeran is accused of copyright violations, Busch already sued the British composer and singer before. That $ 20 million lawsuit over the hit "Photograph" was settled out of court and since then the two suing songwriters are credited as co-writers of the song, which grants them a significant share of royalties.

The suit against Sheeran and his co-writers Johnny McDaid from Snow Patrol, Amy Wadge, and Steven McCutcheon also includes McGraw, Hill as well as the publishing companies and the record labels. It actually gets quite interesting, the suit claims, that a marketing manager of Sony Music Australia, Tim Holland who also happens to be the boyfriend of Jasmine Rae was aware of the infringement months before the McGraw/Hill hit was released. Rae, who is not part of the plaintiffs seeking damages, is also a co-writer on "When I Found You," and released the song on her 2015 album "HEARTBEAT."

The lawsuit alleges, that "It very well may have been an agent of Sony Music Entertainment who provided the other defendants herein with access to the Song."

It is also alleged that Mr. Holland may have presented "When I Found You" to Sony Music "in an effort to gain exposure for Ms. Rae and promote her work." and that he may have kept his silence about the infringement, in order to not "lose his job with Sony Music."

Another theory also stated in the complaint, of how Sheeran could have accessed the song, says that he was touring in Australia while "When I Found You" was being played on the local radio stations.

Both songs can be listened to below - tell me what you think in the comments.

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Jasmine Rae

Sources: Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, The Independent

Anderson East - Fulminate Start Into The New Year With "ENCORE" - Album Review

2018-01-14T20:48:00.002-06:00

Anderson East's sophomore album "ENCORE" - released on Friday (1/12) - lives up to the expectations the title may suggest, it's a great follow up to his major debut "DELILAH." Miranda Lambert's new beau is suddenly all over the map, from NPR's First Listen to the HuffPost and he deserves it. He and producer Dave Cobb are setting a high standard, for what's coming out from the music city on the Cumberland, very early 2018.

Even though Nashville-based, Alabamian Michael Anderson aka East is not a country artist, the only thing remotely country is his romantical relationship and him covering Willie Nelson's 20-year old standout from "TEATRO" "Somebody Pick Up My Pieces." which with its background choir and arrangement sounds more Joe Cocker than the subdued Texas troubadour. Yes, Anderson digs deeper into the swampy soundscape, like a Delbert McClinton, a Tony Joe White or Irishman Van Morrison his music has no boundaries, he embeds Southern Soul, R&B, Gospel and even Pop into his oeuvre.
The folk-bluesy Ted Hawkins song, the funny "Sorry You're Sick," from the '82 debut album "WATCH YOUR STEP" with its lyrics:
What do want from the liquor store
Something sour or something sweet
I'll buy all that your belly can hold.
You can be sure you won't suffer no more.
now roars and make the offer to help out as a doctor even more insisting.

On six of the nine originals, East again partners with songwriter Aaron Raitiere, who now writes for producer Dave Cobb's stable, as does Adam Hood who appears as the third co-writer on "Surrender," a song that could be straight out of Ike and Tina Turner's songbook.
Natalie Hemby, who had ten songs recorded by Lambert "FOR THE WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS" and released her own album 'PUXICO" last year, completes the trio on "This Too Shall Last" and "House Is A Building." latter a song that life is only complete when the partner is in it, where the house as a building becomes a home with feeling.
Old friend Chris Stapleton helped on the slow heartbreaker "If You Keep Leaving Me"/I keep loving you and he and his wife Morgane got together with Anderson to write "King For A Day" while they were on tour together. Even though not a boiler, the simmering piece with Stapleton as a guest on the six-string, is one of best songs on the album.
And even if your heart can't
Look my way
Even if our love can't
Stay together
I'd rather be king for a day
Than a fool forever

"All On My Mind" was a sketch brought to East by Ed Sheeran and Johnny McDaid from Snow Patrol and that song does not fit on "Encore." With its lush strings and a subdued Anderson, it sounds like this is the one song the record label will push onto the radio to make Anderson East into the star they want him to be. He's better than that.
At the very end of the album is another outstanding, yet somber storyteller "Cabinet Door"; from the perspective of an elderly widower trying to cope with the loss of his wife, East and Jillia Jackson wrote a lyrical gem of how to try to cope with everyday life after your partner of many years has passed:
I found your old cook books but the biscuits ain't right
How do you work this damn coffee pot?
And all my shirt tails are wrinkled but the bed is still made
Cause your smell still lingers on where you laid

Again pairing with non-mainstream producer Cobb (Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell) the album seems to have an organic feel to it, still embracing the tradition but with an updated more modern approach to it. Cobb was not only at the helm of the board, but also participated as a musician and a co-writer on "Girlfriend" with help from Swedish pop icon Avicii, Raitiere and East. With its infatuation lyrics and it's lush synth (Moog) sound, lusting after a friend's fiancee is a romp on the disc. Too bad he couldn't transfer that energy to the live performance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Brother, we might have a problem
Cause she’s staring me down and I’m tempted
And I ain’t going to say I’m sorry now
I think I’m in love with your girlfriend

****/***** 4/5

Anderson starts his tour behind "ENCORE" in Europe, so friends in the UK, Germany, and Sweden take notice. He will then come back and tour in the US, starting in Dallas in February. You find his touring schedule on his website.

JAN 24 - Omera - London, UK (sold out)
JAN 26 - Blaues Zimmer, Musik & Frieden - Berlin, D
JAN 27 - Nochtspeicher - Hamburg, D (sold out)
JAN 28 - Music Hall - Worpswede, D
JAN30 - Kagalbanan Soedra Teatern, Stockholm, S

Sources: Anderson East, NPR First Listen,

Earls Of Leicester To Record Live Album At Country Music Hall Of Fame

2018-01-13T00:13:00.000-06:00

Grammy and multiple IBMA winner Earls Of Leicester will record their new, third album at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville on February 24 and 25.

The sextet under the aegis of Dobro master Jerry Douglas pays homage to one of the most influential acts in Bluegrass history, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs (hence the name Earls of Leicester) and their group the Foggy Mountain Boys. It was original Dobro player, Josh Graves, who made Douglas pick up the instrument and start playing it. Being one of the most respected instrumentalists, Douglas always wanted to celebrate the history and the songbook of Flatt & Scruggs and found in fiddler Johnny Warren, whose dad was a Foggy Mountain Boy, bassist Barry Bales from Alison Krauss' band, current IBMA banjo player of the year Charlie Cushman, mandolist Jeff White, who replaced original "Earl" Tim O'Brien and singer and guitarist Shawn Camp five other kindred spirits to offer songs originally recorded by Flatt & Scruggs.

A self-titled, Grammy-winning, "debut" album was released in fall of 2014, followed by "RATTLE AND ROAR" two years later and their new live album is scheduled to be later this year. Understandably, Jerry Douglas is quite excited about the new project:

“This two night stand in the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame is a celebration for the Earls of Leicester – as exciting as when Flatt and Scruggs played Vanderbilt University and Carnegie Hall rolled into one,”

said Douglas, referencing the two live albums Flatt and Scruggs cut in 1964 and 1963 respectively. He also hinted at what people may expect during the recordings, which will also be videotaped:

“We will be debuting songs new to our repertoire and rolling out a few surprises as we videotape and record the culmination of five years of work in our mission to re-educate, and in many cases, reveal this body of work for the first time.”

The Earls of Leicester will also tour select cities before the recording session at the Hall of Fame. So I can certainly imagine that certain new songs will be played and "rehearsed" during these live gigs.

The Earls of Leicester On Tour

2/15 Carolina Theatre Durham, NC

2/17 Rodeheaver Boys Ranch (Palatka Bluegrass Festival), Palatka, FL

2/19 Capitol Theatre Clearwater, FL

2/20 City Winery Atlanta, GA

2/22 Lexington Opera House, Lexington, KY

2/24 Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN

2/25 Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN

"The Train That Carried My Girl From Town" from "RATTLE AND ROAR"

Sources: Press Release, Earls of Leicester (FB),

Ryan Bingham - Live From Texas - Album Review

2018-01-12T14:59:00.000-06:00

"RYAN BINGHAM LIVE" is his first live album. Recorded at the Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, Texas on August 6, 2016, this compilation only features part of that almost two-hour concert, which at the time was live-streamed on gaming platform Twitch in connection with Amazon - I blogged about it here. The whole concert is still available on Amazon Prime as a stream or as a video download.

It seems that some versions (digital & CD) of this album were available through Amazon, but now have a national distributor in Thirty Tigers and added the LP format. The album is now also available on iTunes and Spotify.

The Oscar, Gloden Globe and Grammy winner, who came to prominence with his co-write of "The Weary Kind" with T-Bone Burnett for the 2009 movie "Crazy Heart" (which won Jeff Bridges also the Oscar for best actor) was touring behind his studio album "FEAR AND SATURDAY NIGHT," when he made his stop outside of New Braunfels.

Playing in front of a solid rhythm section, Nate Barnes on drums and Shawn Davis on bass, backed by guitarists Daniel Sproul and Jedd Hughes, latter also on mandolin and as special guest Richard Bowden (Maines Brothers Band, Austin Lounge Lizards) providing all those hot fiddle licks, Bingham went through 19 tracks in this almost two-hour show. Most hailed from his major 2007 debut "MESCALITO," including a great version of his single "Southside of Heaven." Four songs stem from "FEAR AND SATURDAY NIGHT" and two each from "ROADHOUSE SUN" and "JUNKY STAR."

Besides his album cuts Ryan also included covers by Townes Van Zandt "Pancho & Lefty," Guy Clark "Dublin Blues," and Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried." It was really nice to see, Bingham including two songs of the then recently departed Clark and Haggard in front of such an enthusiastic crowd. Unfortunately, these cover versions are missing from the audio releases, as well as two "MESCALITO" compositions, the original opening song of the evening "Dollar A Day" and "Ever Wonder Why." Available though for the first time outside of the official soundtrack, is the above-mentioned theme song of the Grammy-winning movie "Crazy Heart," "The Weary Kind."

The clip below is from the live recording, the song "Radio" was originally released on "FEAR AND SATURDAY NIGHT."

Live-Concert ****(*)/***** 4.5/5
Audio products ***/*****3/5 (due to missing songs)

Sources: Amazon Concert Live Stream, Ryan Bingham, Releases.Red

Loretta Get Well Soon - Singer Suffers Broken Hip

2018-01-09T09:45:00.000-06:00

We need to send Loretta Lynn another "Get-Well" card, the soon to be 85-year old broke her hip at her home in Tennessee, while still recovering from a stroke she suffered in May of last year.

According to her sister, country singer Crystal Gayle, the "Coalminer's Daughter" is "doing as well as can be expected with this type of injury." Loretta's team soon followed with their own tweet and the same message on her website, saying that she's doing well and is thanking all her fans for the thoughts and prayers.

#birthdayweek #birthdaywish @LorettaLynn pic.twitter.com/rflIBEpdOn

— Crystal Gayle (@TheCrystalGayle) January 8, 2018

After her stroke last year, Loretta Lynn not only canceled all of her tour dates but also the release of her new album "WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT" to 2018 so she would be able to promote it properly. Her only public appearances after her stroke were at a benefit at her Hurricane Mills' Ranch and at the induction of Alan Jackson into the Country Music Hall of Fame both in October of last year.

Her last album, "FULL CIRCLE" on Legacy Records, a collection of classics and new songs, she recorded with the help of her daughter Patsy and John Carter Cash was released in March 2016 and was nominated for a Grammy Award in February of last year. "Everything It Takes" a song, Loretta co-wrote with Todd Snider is from that release.

P.S. Happy Birthday to Crystal Gayle, who turns 67 today (1/9); may her wishes come through that her sister will fully recover.

Sources: Twitter, LorettaLynn.com, YouTube