Nashville Music Archives - Page 18 of 29

For Dustin Collins, ‘It’s Been Awhile’

New album follows Number One hit

Music is a way of life for Dustin Collins. Growing up in a family where music was always present, it was a natural progression for Dustin to focus on a musical career. His music-savvy parents weren’t quite so sure, but, as he told me during our interview, he knew he had to be involved some way with music for the rest of his life.

Coming off a Number One hit, this Kentucky boy is back with a new album, due out in August. IT’S BEEN AWHILE was produced and mixed by Bill McDermott and mastered by Noah Gordon. Dustin invests much of his time touring throughout the Midwest and his home state of Kentucky, including a slot on Aaron Watson’s Vaquero Tour, as well as opening for Chris Janson, Granger Smith, Kane Brown, The Kentucky Headhunters and many more.

He took time away from a hectic tour schedule to sit down with me and talk about his music. Knowing he shares my love for Kentucky basketball, the first thing I asked him was, “Does your blood run Kentucky blue?” With a wide grin, he replied, “You betcha life it does!” I knew it was going to be a great interview!

This is one of a series of interviews with emerging artists in which I ask about their creative process and approach to the music industry.

Touring Road Warrior

Preshias Harris: You are quite a road warrior. You’ve driven hundreds of thousands of miles playing everything from honky tonks to fairs and festivals. What are the pros and cons of touring like that?

Dustin Collins: Money! [laughs] That’s the ‘pro.’ And the ‘con!’ The pro is, you make enough money to stay on the road. The con is, you don’t make enough money to pay your car insurance. It is what it is. But I love it. I’d rather be on the road. I sleep better in my bunk than I do in my bed. I love getting out to meet new people, to see new people, play my songs for people who never heard of ‘em. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do, so I love being out there. So anytime we get a chance to take a road trip, all my guys are the same. They’re like, “Let’s Go!” By week two, they’re like, “Let’s go back home!”

PH: ‘Cold Dead Hands’ was your first Number One. Can you remember where you were when you heard the news? Continue reading “For Dustin Collins, ‘It’s Been Awhile’”

Music Row One Sheet Early July 2018

Nashville Music News Roundup

Scroll down to read these Music Row One Sheet news items

Larry Gatlin wants his stolen GRAMMY® back
Do you have unclaimed royalties out there?
Summer NAMM attendance up 5%
US/UK country pop duo take the ‘Top Down’
Garth’s ‘All Day Long’ most-added at Country Radio

Scroll down to read these Music Row One Sheet news items

Larry Gatlin wants his stolen GRAMMY® back

Have you seen Larry Gatlin’s GRAMMY®? If you know where it is, Larry wants to talk to you. In 1977, Larry Gatlin, eldest of the Gatlin Brothers, took home a GRAMMY® Award for ‘Best Country Song’ thanks to his self-penned classic hit, ‘Broken Lady.’

In an exclusive interview with The Tennessean, Gatlin reveals his prized award was actually stolen from the Gatlin Bros. Music City restaurant in the Mall of America in the 1990s. Now, two decades later, he’s on a mission to get it back. The country legend is promising a monetary reward for the safe return of his golden gramophone, and he won’t notify authorities.

“I’ll give you a written statement that I won’t prosecute you,” Gatlin tells The Tennessean’s Cindy Watts. “You can just say you bought it at a pawn shop.” The possessor of Gatlin’s gold can email assistant@absolutepublicity.com to make arrangements to return the trophy and receive the reward.

Do you have unclaimed royalties out there?

If your recordings are out there on any of the digital platforms, it’s possible (it’s likely!) that you are owed money. Okay, it’s probably not a LOT of money, but it is legally yours and you should be able to claim it.

You might want to check out SoundExchange that collects and distributes digital performance royalties on behalf of rights owners and licensees. So far, SoundExchange has paid out about $5 billion in royalties from recordings played on digital radio including Pandora’s free tier and SiriusXM. Continue reading “Music Row One Sheet Early July 2018”

Patrick Darrah’s music tells a ‘Northern Truth’

The story behind ‘I Never Got Over You’

Small towns seem to breed great country singers, and those small towns aren’t always located in America’s southern states. Patrick Darrah grew up in the small rural town of Bloomingdale, NY, where he joined his father’s auto body shop when he left school. He looked set to carry on the tradition as the fourth generation technician in the family business.

But music was calling. Earning a college degree in music production and audio engineering, he moved on, first to New York City and then further afield. He is now settled in Nashville to focus on his career as a singer and songwriter.

His new album, NORTHERN TRUTH, dropped a few weeks ago and the lead-off single from the album, ‘I Never Got Over You,’ is now at country radio. We met during CMA Fest 2018 to talk about his music.

This is one of a series of interviews that I conducted with rising singer/songwriters during CMA Fest to find out about their new music, their musical influences and their experience at CMA Fest.

From Punk to Country

Prehias Harris: What was the music you listened to, growing up in Bloomingdale, New York?

Patrick Darrah: A wide, wide variety. My dad was born in the 1950s so I heard all that 60s and 70s rock and roll; Roy Orbison, Temptations, all that kind of stuff. He was in a band so I heard him practicing. And my mother’s interest was country and things like the Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, Asleep At The Wheel… all those good quality, full bands that made some of the greatest songs, I think, ever written. So all of that, but I was in a punk rock band actually, growing up, if you can believe that!

PH: I can’t see that! I’m sorry!

PD: Yeah, that tends to be a bit of a shocker when I tell people that. But, you know, going through your ‘teenage angst’ years, and all that. But everyone in the town loved country and the musicians played it, so we’d play ‘bar band’ music and punk rock music and I was playing my country music on the side. So it was a mix of everything.

PH: Who have been some of the biggest influences on your career? You’ve moved around a lot, too.

PD: I was in Pennsylvania in a little town called Richland. Oddly enough, I was going through a particularly strange but good part of my life at that time. Kind of sorting out my own personal demons, figuring out my direction musically. I don’t know it was necessarily the music around me more than the town itself and the people that were there. But playing in smaller bars there and meeting people did a lot to help shape the sound and the style of my music. Continue reading “Patrick Darrah’s music tells a ‘Northern Truth’”

‘Make Music Experience’ set for June 30

Summer NAMM’s special day for music ‘prosumers’

It’s almost time for the once-a-year opportunity for everyone who can’t wait to get their hands (and ears) on the latest musical instruments, tech gear and accessories. The 2018 Summer NAMM Show will be in town and has a special day on the program just for you.

On Saturday, June 30, Summer NAMM will host the ‘Make Music Experience’ at Nashville’s Music City Center. It’s an all-day, all-access pass for the prosumer audience to trial the latest music and pro audio gear from top manufacturers. (Scroll down to order tickets online and save 50% off the ‘at-the-door’ price.)

You can participate in career-enhancing educational sessions, demo products and enjoy fun, interactive events and performances. You can also enjoy live music with Lillie Mae, MONA and the Delta Saints on the outdoor stage.

‘Open Mic’ at Martin Guitar booth

If you are a ukulele or guitar player (and you need a cool new tee shirt) here’s an exciting opportunity for you. On this day, Martin Guitar invites guitar and uke players of all levels to perform at Summer NAMM at the Martin Guitar and Strings Open Mic event. Attendees will be able to sign-up to perform a song during the Martin Open Mic at the convention center and everyone who plays will receive a Martin T-shirt, a set of Martin strings, and be entered to win a Martin Guitar. Martin Guitar is at booth #801.

Fender: ‘start playing in minutes’

Looking to improve your playing? Fender Play is the easiest way to learn guitar and ukulele, featuring your favorite music and the techniques you need to start playing in minutes. Watch hundreds of high-quality video lessons to master new skills. Plus join an exclusive community of like-minded players and professional instructors. Learn more here – and start a free trial. Visit Fender at the main Fender booth #943 or in the breezeway off 8th Ave.

During the ‘Make Music Experience,’ you can also attend a variety networking events, receptions and educational events. Topics include Songwriting, Recording, Marketing and PR, Licensing, Live Sound, House of Worship and Software Development.

You can save 50% off the cost of the ‘Make Music Experience’ ticket price. Buy tickets for only $10.00 online here or pay $20.00 at the door. Either way, it’s a bargain for anyone with a serious interest in music.

NAMM is the National Association of Music Merchants. More info at the NAMM Make Music Experience website.

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

CMA Fest 2018 a record-breaker with capacity crowds

47-year high in ‘fan engagement’

Michael Ray performs at CMA Fest 2018, Photo: Caitlin Harris/CMA

CMA Fest 2018 was a huge success by just about any standard. The Country Music Association (CMA) reported the ‘highest fan engagement’ in the festival’s forty-seven year history.

Country music fans from all fifty states, Puerto Rico and thirty-six international countries poured into Music City to attend the longest-running country music festival in the world.

Overseas fans arrived from as far away as Australia, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Chile. Attendance from European countries, including Germany and Poland was up. So was attendance by fans from Great Britain, possibly helped by new direct flights between Nashville and London, England, on British Airways.

Fans pack Riverfront Park at CMA Fest. Photo: Hunter Berry/CMA

This year, fans could see more than 300 acts performing on 11 official stages. Ticket proceeds go directly to helping enrich and sustain music education programs across the country through CMA’s nonprofit arm, the CMA Foundation, thanks to every artist at the festival donating their time.

Among this year’s highlights…

=>> A sold-out CMA Songwriters Series show at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum featuring Mary Chapin Carpenter, Vince Gill, Mac McAnally and Don Schlitz.

==> The Ultimate Fan Experiences Drawing, which offers fans special access to artists meet-and-greets and performances, saw a 36 percent increase in participants. Traffic on the festival’s official website CMAfest.com increased by more than five percent over last year.

==> Over the course of the four-day festival, Xfinity Fan Fair X welcomed 71,000 attendees, up 10% over 2017, and hosted 365 artists across meet-and-greets and three indoor stages in the exhibit hall, including the expanded Radio Disney Country Stage.

==> Fans enjoyed listening to and meeting the 51 up-and-coming artists featured on the new CMA Spotlight Stage.

CMA Fest MuttNation. Photo: Amanda Eckard/CMA

==> Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation was a “pup-ular” highlight inside Fan Fair X again with 55 dogs finding their forever homes.

==> Fan safety and security was enhanced this year. A ‘clear bag’ policy was implemented across the CMA Fest footprint. CMA ramped up safety precautions with upgraded breakaway fencing at the Chevy Riverfront Stage, which was utilized Sunday afternoon as lightning neared the area allowing fans to exit the area swiftly.

==> Fans got see some of country’s biggest stars, including Carrie Underwood, Charley Pride, Chris Stapleton, Dan + Shay, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Florida Georgia Line, Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Jon Pardi, Kane Brown, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs, Maddie & Tae, Trisha Yearwood and many more.

Emerging artists at CMA Fest

For me, and for many other country fans, CMA Fest offers an unrivaled opportunity to see and meet the rising artists who are performing here just as their careers begin to take off. Many years from now, when those acts are headlining, we’ll look back and say, “I saw them when…”

Among the emerging artists that I saw and spoke to this year were Adam Rutledge, Band Steele, Dallas Remington, Dugger Band, Harper Rae, Mags, Matt Rogers, Patrick Darrah, Shane Owens, Uncle Si and the Sicotics and Zach Stone. Many of my interviews with these artists have appeared (or will soon appear) here at this blog. Although they are all unique in their own way, each of these acts impressed me with their courage, their persistence and their resolve to do what it takes to achieve their goals. Remember those names!

CMA Fest TV Special August 8

The festival was filmed for a three-hour special, ‘CMA Fest,’ which will be hosted by Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini and airs Wednesday, Aug. 8 on the ABC Television Network. This year marks the 15th consecutive year of the broadcast.

Ready to get your tix for next year? Verified fan pre-sale for CMA Fest 2019 begins Monday, July 30, with a national on-sale Monday, Aug. 6 here.

Watch a ‘sizzle reel’ of all four days of CMA Fest 2018 at YouTube here.

CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium. Photo: Kayla Schoen/CMA

Adam Rutledge drops new single and EP

‘Love Kickin’ In’ high-energy anthem

Adam Rutledge has a reputation for bringing contagious high energy to the stage that quickly cranks up the audience at his live shows. Adam has appeared with hot acts such as Brothers Osborn, Chris Janson, Eli Young Band, Cassadee Pope and Phil Vassar. In fact, Adam’s career is now managed by Phil Vassar (along with Amy Millslagle of i81 Entertainment).

He has a strong presence on social media with around 12,000 Instagram followers and thousands more on Facebook. Adam was in Nashville for CMA Fest 2018, playing at Music City Light Stage, Bridgestone Arena Plaza. He has a brand new EP, RUNWAY, that includes his new single, ‘Love Kickin’ In.’

Taking a few minutes away from the CMA Fest hustle and bustle, Adam sat down with me to catch up on what’s new with him.

This is one of a series of interviews that I conducted with rising singer/songwriters during CMA Fest to find out about their new music, their musical influences and their experience at CMA Fest.

Airfield serves as video backdrop

Preshias Harris: Tell us about what’s been going on with your career since you dropped your single.

Adam Rutledge: Yeah, so it’s been exciting! I’ve shot a music video for the single which we’re really excited about. It’ll be out in a few weeks. We shot it at an old, abandoned airport on a runway. It was a beautiful backdrop for the video. And I’m promoting another record coming out June 22nd.

PH: Tell me about any radio tours you’ve got planned.

AR: We’re in the process of planning radio tours right now.

PH: You’ve got a lot of wheels moving in your career. Which is the most exciting one?

AR: Being right here with you! No, it’s all so exciting. I can’t just pick one. There’s the new record, the video and working with so many talented people. I’m just one percent of all this! It’s everybody else that makes this all work for me. I’m just thankful for all the good people on my team.

PH: How long did it take you to get the songs for your CD?

AR: Some of them I’ve had written for years. Some of them I’d released on my own, years ago, and we went back and re-recorded and re-mixed them. And some of them were pitched to me and they are pretty new, so the songs span a large period of my life, actually.

PH: I’m going to ask you something that every artist hates when I ask it but I’m going to ask it anyway. What’s your favorite song on the album? Or a special one that means more to you personally? Continue reading “Adam Rutledge drops new single and EP”

Zach Stone tells stories in music and video

Texas singer/songwriter inspired by life’s moments

Zach Stone was in Nashville to play some dates at CMA Fest 2018. Zach is an emerging artist from Arlington, Texas. His influences range from George Strait to Jason Aldean, and his own music can move from hard-driving country rock to emotional ballads. He is currently self-releasing a series of singles and their accompanying music videos that are held together by a thematic thread running through them.

We sat down to talk just as CMA Fest was wrapping up.

This is one of a series of interviews that I conducted with rising singer/songwriters during CMA Fest to find out about their new music, their musical influences and their experience at CMA Fest.

Preshias Harris: What are some your favorite things to do with music, besides performing?

Zach Stone: Wow. Well, you really made it hard for me because my favorite thing is performing! Songwriting is a lot of fun. I really enjoy creating my own storylines, getting to tell stories and convey emotions that I’m feeling and thinking about going through. I really didn’t start doing that until I moved to Nashville about seven years ago. That’s been a new experience. The more I’ve done that, the better I’ve gotten. It’s just been super cool to keep moving forward with that. One of my other favorite things that I’m just recently discovering with our new video series that we’re doing is that music videos are so much fun.

PH: It sounds like you’re enjoying that aspect.

ZS: I love getting to shoot music videos! It’s fun to create these storylines and characters and act in them. It makes me think that one day, I’ll eventually want to do some movies. Right now I’m just focusing on each song and music video individually because each one has been ‘my baby.’

Playing for The Country Network

PH: What were some of the highlights of your first CMA Fest? Continue reading “Zach Stone tells stories in music and video”

Shane Owens’ album keeps country music traditional

Stays true to his roots with ‘Where I’m Coming From’

Shane Owens makes no apologies for playing traditional country music, the kind he grew up listening to in rural Alabama. That influence is evident in every song on his latest album, ‘Where I’m Comin’ From,’ that includes songs written by some of country music’s top songwriters. The style might be traditional, but Shane’s voice definitely puts the songs in the here and now.

The album includes the single, ‘Lie,’ a witty song about, uh, stretching the truth. You can see the very funny music video of the song here at YouTube.

This is one of a series of interviews that I conducted with rising singer/songwriters during CMA Fest to find out about their new music, their musical influences and their experience at CMA Fest.

Shane has played his share of bars and honky-tonks, but has also shared the stage with some of country music’s top names.

I met up with Shane while he was in town, playing dates at CMA Fest 2018.

Preshias Harris: How did it feel to re-cut one of John Anderson’s songs?

Shane Owens album, Where I’m Comin’ From

Shane Owens: Well you know, John’s a legend in this business, and he’s a traditional artist and paved the way for a lot of traditional artists like myself, and I believe that. I take great pride in my traditional country sound and sticking to my roots. He [Anderson] should be a Country Music Hall of Famer. I love John, I’ve actually had the opportunity to do a lot of shows with him over the years, opening up for him. He’s a great guy! Nobody can sing a country song like John Anderson. He stands out by himself. You know it’s going to be a John Anderson song as soon as you hear his voice.

PH: Do you have a favorite John Anderson song?

SO: ‘Swingin’! I remember when that came out, when I was a kid, I thought that’s the coolest thing. [sings] “Just a-swingin’…” and I thought, that’s awesome!

It’s a Southern Thing

PH: What’s your favorite song on your album? Continue reading “Shane Owens’ album keeps country music traditional”

Dallas Remington has ‘Never Turned Around’

New single now, EP to follow

Dallas Remington is a dynamic young singer/songwriter who, at only eighteen, already has several years of experience as a performer. Her current single, ‘Never Turned Around’ (RoadWarrior Records), a tale of heartache and love, is now at country radio, with an EP to follow.

Dallas stopped by to talk about her new songs and her musical influences.

This is one of a series of interviews that I conducted with rising singer/songwriters during CMA Fest to find out about their new music, their musical influences and their experience at CMA Fest.

Preshias Harris: Tell me the story behind your new single, ‘Never Turned Around,’ and who did you write that with?

Dallas Remington: I wrote ‘Never Turned Around’ with my friend Regan Stewart and we went into the session preparing to write a song about a girl who didn’t think she could ever be heartbroken. She was going to go out with this guy but he wasn’t going to break her heart because her heart would never break. We got halfway through the writing session and we were like… ‘This girl really loves him.’ She is so in love with him and she is going to be so heartbroken when he leaves her. So, ‘Never Turn Around’ is about that kind of love that you don’t want to let them go because you love them so much, no matter how much you want them to chase their dreams, you want to hold on to them forever. But you end up having to let them go because it’s what’s best for them.

PH: The single is a taste of your EP titled ‘Freedom,’ due out this summer. What can we expect to hear on this project? And how many of the songs have you co-written?

Co-written every song on EP

DR: I’ve co-written every song on the project. There are seven songs on there and I’m very excited. It’s a big mixture of what I’ve grown up listening to, because I grew up listening to traditional country but also Lynyrd Skynyrd and classic rock so these seven songs present to the world who I am through my music and how I like to present myself, so I’m excited for everyone to hear it. It will available digitally at the end of June or the beginning of July and the physical copies are available now.

PH: You are a Kentucky girl like me. What were some of your favorite Kentucky artists that you listened to? Continue reading “Dallas Remington has ‘Never Turned Around’”

Uncle Si and the Sicotics bring humor to CMA Fest

‘Sicotic’ trio mix music with fun

One of the most original acts in country music has to be Uncle Si and the Sicotics. Si Robertson and his daughter-in-law Marsha Robertson came to fame as part of the hit television series, ‘Duck Dynasty,’ setting the record for the most-watched show on the A&E Network. The show depicted the Robertson family who became successful selling duck calls for hunters.

When the TV series ended, Si and Marsha decided to combine their love of music and their sense of humor into a new direction: making music. They teamed up with hit singer/songwriter Bridgette Tatum and became Uncle Si and the Sicotics, playing to crowds of fun-loving fans. Si, known for his ever-present Tupperware cup of iced tea, and the two young ladies have released a six-song EP titled ‘Uncle Si and the Sicotics,’ available at all digital outlets and via their website.

[L to R]: Marsha, Si and Bridgette, Uncle Si and the Sicotics. Photo: Preshias Harris

I met up with the trio when they were in Nashville preparing for appearances during CMA Fest. I began by asking Si what has been happening in his life since the Duck Dynasty TV series ended in 2017.

“Well, we went into the music business, me and my daughter-in-law,” said Si. “And then we met this young lady right here, Bridgette Tatum, at a charity event which Jesus worked out or we would have never met. Then we got together and we wrote six songs and recorded them. And we all actually think it’s pretty good music, all six of ‘em. We’ve got a record label deal and we’re going out on the road doing our thing!”

What about that Tupperware cup?

So, I had to ask Si: What’s the story behind the famous green Tupperware cup?

“I’ve got it here with me,” he said. “My mother sent it to me in a ’care’ package [while I was in Vietnam], tucked inside my cowboy boots, because I’d asked her to send me a pair of cowboy boots and a pair of blue jeans so that while I’m not on duty I’d have civilian clothes. So she sent [the cup] and the clothes and some food. That was in 1968.” Continue reading “Uncle Si and the Sicotics bring humor to CMA Fest”