Thomas Rhett, Eric Church, Carrie Underwood and more bring their best
Rain didn’t stop the music
Jordan Davis entertains at the Chevy Riverfront Stage. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
The Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater was packed with fans at a sold-out show headlined by Brett Young. Meanwhile, Chevy Riverfront Stage was filled with capacity crowds for three back-to-back performances. These included Jordan Davis,The Voice alumni Morgan Wallen and Hunter Hayes’ set.
Elvie Shane performs at the Chevy Riverfront Stage. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
More Enthusiastic fans were cheering on Elvie Shane (BBR’s newest signee) and former American Idol alumni and country sweetheart Lauren Alaina. Fans were singing along to their favorite songs throughout the sets.
LOCASH also had the crowd singing along at the Radio Disney Country Stage and CMA KixStart Artist Scholarship recipient Travis Denning brought the energy to the Chevy Breakout Stage at Walk of Fame Park.
When the 2019 CMA Fest got under way on Thursday, June 06, country music fans were fired up and ready for almost 100 performances on eleven stages across downtown Nashville.
Jimmie Allen performs at CMA Fest. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
Now in its 48th year, the annual CMA Fest began as Fan Fair in 1972, initially staged at the Municipal Auditorium. the festival moved to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in 1982. Fan Fair became the extravaganza we know it today when it was officially renamed the CMA Music Festival in 2004 and by then it was expanding to more venues including Bridgestone Arena, Riverfront Park and what is now Nissan Stadium. The name was later shortened to CMA Fest, attracting fans from 40+ countries every year.
Trisha Yearwood show featured songwriters
On Day One of the festival, fans were treated to performances from many of their favorite artists with music from morning to night. Trisha Yearwood opened the CMA Close Up Stage for Thursday’s special Artist of the Day session at Xfinity Fan Fair X (an event named to honor the festival’s original title) with songwriters featured on her forthcoming album including Ashley McBryde, Karyn Rochelle and Lucie Silvas. The venue also featured ‘meet and greets’ and prize giveaways.
Michael Ray on stage during Day One of CMA Fest. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
Randy Houser and Chase Rice headlined the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater Presented by BBR Music Group. Also on stage were Warner Brothers artist Michael Ray and BBR Music Group’s Jimmie Allen and super guitarist and talent Lindsey Ell.
Lindsay Ell shreds during CMA Fest. Photo credit: Catrina Engelby
Tuesday, June 11, 2019 is a date that Chase Rice will remember for a long time. It was the date of his first Number One party. Chase celebrated the success of “Eyes On You” with co-writers Ashley Gorley and Chris DeStafano at The Tin Roof in Nashville.
Left to right: Ashley Gorley, Chase Rice and Chris DeStefano talk with the media at the Tun Roof. Photo: Preshias Harris
Chase, Ashley and Chris met with members of the music media before the awards presentation and recalled the day that they wrote “Eyes On You.”
“That day was pretty pivotal because it was not good in my career the day we wrote that,” admitted Chase. “I was on my way out of Sony. I think I had, like, a week left in my contract. It was a scary time for me, even though, looking back, I probably wasn’t acknowledging that as much, but it was a tough time. Like, ‘if we don’t get something going big right now, this could go south real quick.’”
Sad but true: Music Row is disappearing, one historic building at a time.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has now designated Music Row as one of “America’s Eleven Most Endangered Historic Places for 2019.” Sign the petition here.
Those modest little houses along Sixteenth and Seventeenth Avenue are where so many of Country music’s best-known songs were written or recorded. Some of the buildings had signs outside, identifying the name of the music publishing company or the recording studio that was hidden inside. But many remained anonymous, their identity known only to the session musicians, sound engineers, songwriters and recording artists that could be seen entering or leaving at all hours of the day and night. Continue reading “Speak Up for Music Row”
Vince Gill, Brett Young, Garth, Chris Young and more in June column
The June edition of my column, “Inside Track on Music Row,” is now available! The column is published monthly at Nashville Music Guide’s website. You can find copies of the print edition of June’s NMG at many music venues throughout Nashville.
You can read a free PDF version of the entire print edition of the magazine here. NMG is full of music news, reviews and info. My column appears on pages 29 through 36.
Inside Track is the longest-running monthly country music column in America. The June column features dozens of news items about new releases, upcoming tours and more.
Among this month’s music news items…
New Vince Album set to drop in August
Brett Young launches Acoustic Sessions videos
John Paul White is The Hurting Kind
Zach Stone offers “Hands On” track
and much more in my seven page column of music news at Nashville Music Guide
New Vince Album set to drop in August
ALBUM NEWS: Vince Gill is set to release his new album, ‘Okie,’ on Aug. 23. The word ‘Okie’ was once a derogatory term to refer to inhabitants of Oklahoma who migrated to the west coast as a result of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Gill is an Oklahoma native and has proudly appropriated the term for the upcoming album that embraces his Oklahoma roots. Gill wrote or co-wrote all 12 tracks on the album. “I thought this was going to be a songwriter record, not a concept album,” Gill says. “It wound up being more information than I’d envisioned.” Continue reading “June ‘Inside Track’ ready to read”
When does John Rich find time to sleep? He is currently running numerous parallel ventures, any one of which would be a full-time career for most people.
A solo recording career, his association with Big Kenny as the hit-making duo Big and Rich, rolling out the Redneck Riviera brand (including his restaurant on Nashville’s Lower Broad), fundraising for the charity Folds of Honor, starting up the all-American-made Redneck Riviera Whiskey, and now a Special Reserve blend named for his dear old Granny… But wait, there’s more, as they say in the informercials. John also has the No. 1 song on the Country download charts with a quirky story behind it.
“A blank sheet of paper is the most boundless thing you can ever look at. The Declaration of Independence started out as a blank sheet of paper. The Bible started out as blank sheets of paper. Songs are blank sheets of paper before you turn them into something.” – John Rich
We sat down to catch up with John at his unique Nashville home, aptly named Mount Richmore, and we were joined by John’s 87-year-old grandmother who is affectionally known as Granny Rich.
Granny Rich inspires strong work ethic
John Rich and Granny Rich
Yes, the same Granny Rich who is the inspiration for Redneck Riviera Granny Rich Reserve, the new addition to John’s line of whiskey. John admitted that your grandmother wouldn’t be the first person you’d normally go to when you’re thinking about launching a new whiskey. But as he pointed out, Granny Rich isn’t your normal grandmother. Continue reading “John Rich says “Shut Up About Politics!””
Sammy Sadler was an emerging artist in the late 1980s on the brink of a successful career with a record deal at Evergreen Records. He was full of optimism and high hopes when he and his friend Kevin Hughes were walking along Music Row in Nashville on March 9, 1989.
Hughes was a chart researcher at Cash Box magazine. While still a student at Belmont University, he had worked as an unpaid intern before being put on the magazine’s payroll by Richard “Tony” D’Antonio, Cash Box’s director of Nashville operations.
Hughes had become suspicious that money was changing hands in order to push certain records up the charts. He had voiced his concerns to friends and family and was considering leaving Music City and returning home to Illinois.
World’s largest songwriter festival attracts fans from all over the world
Hundreds of songwriters, music publishers, media and music industry people – along with thousands of fans – gathered for the 27th annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival Presented by Regions Bank. Tin Pan South Fast Access passes sold out within days. The Festival took place in Nashville, March 26 – 30 with hit songwriters performing at different venues across the city.
Over 400 songwriters performed at this year’s Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, telling stories behind the biggest hits they’ve written and then performing the songs as they were originally composed. There were also special guests who popped in to help out their ‘Songwriter Friends.”
Trae Landon. Photo credit: Preshias Harris
Singer/songwriter Craig Campbell performed at his scheduled appearance at The Bluebird Cafe early show and then headed across town to join Trea Landon at his Listening Room Cafe round for Play It Again Music Publishing with Dallas Davidson, Kyle Fishman, Josh Mirenda and Justin Wilson. Cole Taylor also made a surprise appearance.
94 shows across Nashville
There were 94 shows scheduled at various locations around Nashville. Highlights for the first night included two sold-out shows at The Bluebird Cafe, legends TG Sheppard, Eddy Raven, Frank Myers and others at the Hard Rock Cafe late show, Ross Copperman, Josh Osborne and others at new Tin Pan venue TRUE Music Room and Bar, rocker Jim Peterik and friends at The Local and more. Continue reading “Tin Pan South showcases hit songwriters”
Scotty McCreery turned his own love story into a No. 1 hit. “This Is It” became Scotty’s second No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay charts, following 2017’s smash hit, “Five More Minutes.”
(L to R) Aaron Eshuis, Scotty McCreery, Frank Rogers. Photo: Ed Rode
He celebrated the success of “This Is It” at a Number One party on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, with co-writers Aaron Eshuis and Frank Rogers. The song was produced by Eshuis, Rogers and Derek Wells. The party, co-hosted by ASCAP and BMI, was held at ASCAP’s Nashville offices.
“If you’d told me a couple of years ago that I’d be here, I’d have told you you’re crazy,” said Scotty as he began his remarks at the party. “It’s been an incredible ride.”
A very personal song
Scotty and Gabi’s engagement day selfie
“This Is It” has become a very personal song for Scotty. He and long-time girlfriend, Gabi Dugal, had known each other since kindergarten and dated for about six years before Scotty proposed while on a hike to a romantic spot near Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.
“I wrote it a couple of days before our engagement,” Scotty revealed during the No. 1 party. He played the song to Gabi just an hour after he proposed. He sang the song to her at their wedding and says that he sees Gabi in his mind when her performs it on the road every night. “It’s easy to write love songs about you, baby,” Scotty said to Gabi during the presentation ceremony. “I appreciate you saying yes and marrying me, otherwise this song probably wouldn’t have made it to radio!” He added, “’This is NOT It’ is not a good title!”
Scotty thanked co-writers Eshuis and Rogers for being by his side. “Frank, you’ve been a mentor to me for years now. I feel you really ‘get’ me and what I want to say, and you help me say it. I appreciate you, brother.” Continue reading “Scotty McCreery’s romance inspired “This Is It””
The March edition of my column, Inside Track on Music Row, is now ready to read at Nashville Music Guide. Inside Track is the longest-running monthly Country music column in America. This month’s column includes dozens of news items about upcoming tours, new releases and music industry news.
Among this month’s 30+ music news items…
Johnny Lee’s tell-all autobiography
Marty Brown’s new single from upcoming album
LA trio Honey County is ‘High On The Radio’
Brooks & Dunn share more details on Reboot album
Music Biz 2019 convention set for May 5–8
Tin Pan South hits Nashville March 26-30
Johnny Lee
BOOK NEWS: Johnny Lee racked up 17 Top 40 country hits in the early and mid 90s. His 1980 single “Lookin’ For Love” became a crossover hit, making it to the Top 5 of Billboard’s pop charts and No. 1 on the Billboard Country Singles chart. Now, Lee has written “STILL Lookin’ For Love: Johnny Lee: An Autobiography” with Scot England. In it, he tells of the highs and lows of his life as a country artist… continue reading here.
Marty Brown
CD NEWS: Marty Brown returns to Country radio via Play MPE with “Umbrella Lovers,” a hypnotic new single from his upcoming CD, AMERICAN HIGHWAY (Plowboy Records). The track combines a laid-back, big-city vibe with Brown’s distinctive vocal. Jangling guitars, a slight “island vibe” and easy vamps keep the track moving along with a “live” room sound. Fans can hear “Umbrella Lovers” on SoundCloud now… continue reading here.
Honey County
CD RELEASES: LA-based trio Honey County’s new EP, ‘High on the Radio,’ is loaded with six tracks of California cool and southern spice. The EP showcases the girls’ stacked harmonies and layered musical styling. The girls of Honey County, Dani Rose, Devon Jane and Katie Stump, have released a plethora of videos throughout the past two years leading up to this release… continue reading here.
Reboot
DUO NEWS: The best-selling duo of all time Brooks & Dunn have revealed more details regarding their upcoming album REBOOT. The duo shared with fans their collaborator for each timeless track, with each artist contributing their own unique spin. Available on April 5, the 12-track release will see the duo team up with… continue reading here.
INDUSTRY NEWS: Entertainment Industry’s Convention– Music Biz 2019 is set for May 5 – 8 in Nashville. Every year, these efforts to support the business culminate at the Music Biz conference, four days of insightful presentations and powerful discussions on the most pressing topics affecting our industry… continue reading here.
TIN PAN SOUTH NEWS: The 27th Annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival just bumped the scheduled show count up to triple digits. Fans will have the opportunity to choose between over 300 songwriters performing at over a 100 shows at ten of Nashville-area music venues featuring hit-makers from all genres of music. The popular week-long Fast Access passes are now on sale… continue reading here.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
