• Sugarland Launches Interactive "In The Hands of the Fans" Tour
    Wednesday, February 29th, 2012 | News, Upfront

    credit: Valarie Allyn<br /> Bienas

    Reigning CMA and ACM Vocal Duo of the Year Sugarland will launch their sixth consecutive headlining tour entitled "In The Hands of the Fans" this April.

    The tour will rely solely on fan interaction and requests to determine the set list played in each city. Specific guidelines and instructions coming soon on www.sugarland.com.

    "This year's tour is based around the concept of putting the show into the hands of the fans," said Nettles. "THEY will make the requests that will help form the set list and guide the show. Through texts, handwritten signs, the Internet (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), phone calls made during the show and selections directly from the stage, the fans will become the conductors as well as the audience. If it's one of our records or if we've played it on stage, it is it fair game."

    Here are the "In The Hands of the Fans" tour dates/markets:

    4/5                        Toledo, OH                       

    4/6                        Youngstown, OH

    4/10                       Niagara, ON

    4/11                       Niagara, ON

    4/13                       Pikeville, KY

    4/14                       Louisville, KY

    4/19                       Thackerville, OK

    4/20                       Thackerville, OK

    4/21                       Mississippi State, MS

    4/26                       Virginia Beach, VA

    4/27                       Charlotte, NC

    4/28                       Raleigh, NC

    5/25                       Rancho Mirage, CA

    5/31                       San Diego, CA

    6/1                         Mountain Valley, CA

    6/21                       Oshkosh, WI

    6/22                       Cadott, WI

    6/23                       Chicago, IL

    7/21                       Harrington, DE

    7/22                       Bristow, VA

    7/27                       Tampa, FL

    7/28                       Valdosta, GA

    7/29                       West Palm Beach, FL

    8/3                         Cincinnati, OH

    8/10                       Sturgis, SD

    8/17                       Brownsville, OR

    8/18                       Stateline, NV

  • Get A Glimpse of Little Big Town's Upcoming Album
    Monday, February 27th, 2012 | News, Upfront

    Capitol Nashville's country foursome Little Big Town will be hitting the studio this week with new producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church/Wallflowers) to record their new album which will be the group's fifth studio album.

    Karen, Kimberly, Jimi and Phillip will be giving fans a glimpse inside the studio and the recording process this Wednesday via Livestream.

    The band will fill fans in on the exciting details about the new record beginning with a live chat at 5:45pm CST and then leave the stream open for the rest of the night.

    Use the link below for access to the live feed (compatible with most smartphones).

  • 'This Is NRA Country Vol. 1' Available Now!
    Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 | News, Upfront

    Some of country music's biggest stars have been brought together on the brand new album, This Is NRA Country Vol. 1.

    The compilation is available now exclusively through nracountry.com and can be purchased HERE.

    This Is NRA Country Vol. 1     is a unique project that features various artists including Charlie Daniels, Trace Adkins, Justin Moore and many more, singing songs that speak to the heart of what NRA Country is all about, including support of our U.S. military, appreciation for the great outdoors and love of family.

    Here's the list tracking/sequence:

    1. Justin Moore - "This Is NRA Country"
    2. Hank Williams Jr. - "A Country Boy Can Survive"
    3. Montgomery Gentry - "My Town"
    4. Rodney Atkins - "Cleaning This Gun"
    5. Trace Adkins - "More Of Us"
    6. Craig Morgan - "I'm Country"
    7. Charlie Daniels - "In America"
    8. Josh Thompson - "Way Out Here"
    9. John Rich - "Shutting Detroit Down"
    10. Lee Brice - "She Ain't Right"
    11. Rhett Akins & Dallas Davidson - "Opening Day"

  • Dierks Bentley's 'Home" Debuts At No. 1
    Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 | News, Upfront

    Award winning singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley takes the No. 1 position this week on Billboard's Country Albums chart with his sixth studio album Home, marking Bentley's fourth career debut in the top spot.

    The new album's poignant second single and title track also continues to climb the Top Five at radio and has already spawned the rowdy chart-topper "Am I The Only One."

    Music critics across the country are weighing in with glowing reviews of Home, all focused around one central theme - Bentley's unique sound that combines his distinctive gravely vocals with a modern blend of acoustic and electric instruments. Entertainment Weekly awarded that sound with an A.

    Here are more rave reviews Bentley has been getting from the media:

    "Bentley has always been a big-picture guy, looking to pull together the different kinds of music he loves. On what may be his most cohesive album, he combines rustic sounds of crisp banjo and mandolin with a surging beat that falls between U2 and Waylon Jennings." - USA Today

    "Bentley always utilizes banjo, fiddle, mandolin and especially dobro in his music, but with a modern beat and energy that, along with his distinctive voice, gives him a compelling sound of his own." - Associated Press

    "Dierks Bentley's new album is his most assured...like an actor playing a role, great country singers inhabit their songs and make them sound like they're living it all right before your ears. When it works, it feels Oscar-worthy...Dierks Bentley is a great country singer." - Washington Post

    "Dierks Bentley has recorded what is undoubtedly the finest album of his career." - CMT

    Bentley will perform a song off the new album today on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and is set for the first show of his 2012 Country & Cold Cans Tour tonight in Vancouver, BC Canada. For a list of upcoming appearances and tour dates in Canada, Australia and the US, visit www.dierks.com.

  • Country Throwdown Tour 2012!
    Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | News, Upfront
     
    4 FINI Inc. announced today the star-studded line-up for its highly popular Country Throwdown Tour. The third-annual, outdoor amphitheater trek will feature an impressive lineup that will deliver energy-packed, exhilarating performances to eager country fans in 20 cities.
     
    Joining headliner Gary Allan, recording artists Josh Thompson, Eric Paslay, and Sunny Sweeney round out the high-profile lineup for the nationwide country music tour that will kick off in Gulfport, Mississippi on May 18 and run through July 8.  Special guests on many tour stops, Rodney Atkins (June 1-30) and Justin Moore (May 18-27) will join the roster of superstars and newcomers for the ultimate country music experience.

    Gary Allan, country’s modern day outlaw, has won over legions of fans with his signature blend of rugged vocals, rebellious lyrics and raucous live performances.  With more than seven million chart-topping albums sold and nearly a dozen Top 10 hits to his credit, Allan sets the tone for what promises to be a dynamic concert event in each and every tour city.     
     
    “I’ve always been a fan of the Warped Tour, so I thought it was great when they came up with the concept of doing a country version of it with the Throwdown Tour.  I’m excited to be a part of it this year, and I look forward to working with Kevin, Sarah and everyone involved with the tour,” says Allan. “My band and crew can’t wait to take this experience to our fans and we look forward to making new fans along the way. We’re hoping this is the best Throwdown Tour yet.”

    “I had the privilege of playing shows with each of these incredible artists with the exception of Eric Paslay, but a few weeks ago he and I got to hang out in East Tennessee--talking and fishing," Atkins said.  "I can't wait to be a part of this tour. Every artist brings something awesome and different to the show. It's gonna be a blast!”
     
    Tour co-founder and co-producer, Kevin Lyman says "This tour continues to put some of the finest established artists front and center with their loyal fans, and we are thrilled to be celebrating our third year.  The lineup of up-and-coming talent brings an exciting dimension to the festivities, and we look forward to sharing more information about the Bluebird Cafe Stage in the coming weeks."

    The only tour of its kind in the world of country music, Country Throwdown Tour 2012 brings together top-selling artists with talented, emerging singer-songwriters in a festival environment where fans enjoy a constant stream of music on multiple stages all day long.
     
    "As we roll into our third summer of Country Throwdown, the team has been working hard to put together a can't-miss package for true country fans, and we're excited to work with some of country music's greatest acts,” said tour co-founder and co-producer, Sarah Baer. “We know the party that Gary, Justin and Rodney bring to the show, and the up-and-coming acts like Sunny Sweeney and Eric Paslay are sure to have fans coming early and staying late.”

    In addition to the performances on two main stages, the Bluebird Cafe Stage will spotlight the talents of emerging singer-songwriters as they perform intimate “in the round” sets throughout the day along with nightly performances during main stage set changes.  Artists for the much-anticipated Bluebird Cafe Stage will be announced in the coming weeks.
     
    "We're proud to continue our relationship with the Bluebird Cafe and some of Nashville's most talented songwriters,” adds Baer. “Bringing the magic that used to only be captured at this small, iconic venue to all the Throwdown cities is a real treat, and we're especially thankful for the many people in the music community who have been supportive of trying something new and have helped us give developing artists a home on the tour scene.”

    In addition to top-notch music, Country Throwdown 2012 offers eager fans a full concourse of lifestyle attractions and vendors at an affordable ticket price.  Doors to each venue open at 3 p.m., and the entertainment continues until 11 p.m.
     
    Tickets are ON SALE NOW in select cities. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.countrythrowdown.com.

     

    Also, Yallwire was lucky enough to be on the road of Country Throwdown 2011 - get ready for this year's Throwdown and check out all the fun we had last year!

  • Craig Morgan Announced As NRA Country's Artist of the Month
    Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 | News, Upfront

    Craig Morgan, who served 10 years in the U.S. Army before launching his career as a country music hitmaker, has been declared the NRA Country Artist of the Month for February.

    Many of country music's biggest stars, including Trace Adkins, Lee Brice, Montgomery Gentry and Justin Moore, have joined the "This Is NRA Country" movement celebrating their support of our U.S. military, appreciation for the great outdoors, and love of family.

    "As someone who has served alongside the brave men and women of our Armed Forces, I have a huge sense of pride in what this country stands for and what our freedom means," shares Morgan. "As many service men and women make their way home and reunite with family, we are here to give them support and encouragement along with our gratitude. I am Craig Morgan and I am NRA Country."

    Following Morgan's ten years of service in the U.S. Army he completed another nine years in the Army Reserves. Morgan continues to support our troops through the multiple overseas tours of military installations and back at home with more than fifteen Jack Daniel's Toast To The Troops USO care package packing parties and free concerts for family members remaining stateside.

    February's NRA Country Artist of the Month promotion gives fans the opportunity to view a personal video message from Morgan along with clips from a recent Ranger Challenge competition from Ft. Benning, Georgia. The exclusive video can be found only at www.NRACountry.com.

    In addition to this exclusive video clip, fans can register to win an autographed acoustic guitar and a signed copy of Morgan's soon to be released album This Ole Boy, out February 28th. Visit HERE from now through the end of February to register to win.

    Each month a new country music artist will be featured on NRACountry.com, highlighting what makes them 'NRA Country.' Celebrate our country and learn more at www.NRACountry.com!

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