Kip Moore Announces 'ROOM TO SPARE: THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS EP'

Multi-platinum singer/songwriter Kip Moore has announced the release of Room To Spare: The Acoustic Sessions EP for November 16th.

Driven by a promise to fans to record an acoustic EP, this seven-song outing features a stripped-down rendition of ‘Plead The Fifth’ – the lead track from Moore’s latest studio album, Slowheart, released by Snakefarm Records in the UK last year – in addition to six never-before-released recordings.

Embracing an all-star roster of songwriters, including Natalie Hemby, Charlie Worsham, Luke Dick and Josh Kear, Moore co-wrote five of the tracks, in addition to producing the EP alongside David Garcia…

'The acoustic idea was something that was honestly born from the fans,' Moore says. 'It was something I noticed would keep coming back around from them, and that I have been promising to put out there. This project has been really cathartic as it doesn’t have the pressures of a full record, and allows you to mix things up a little bit creatively, but also totally strip things down. ‘Plead The Fifth’ is a song that is wild out on the road, so it’s awesome that a number like that gets another life in this form, too.'

One particular track, ‘It Ain’t California’, co-written with Worsham and Jon Mabe, was born a few years back, but is only now seeing the light of day following a fresh injection of life in the studio…

'I’ve always been super attached to that particular chorus melody, but never truly felt a connection to the verses,' Moore says of the song. 'Charlie heard me singing it in the studio and was immediately drawn to it, asking me what that was. I told him I wasn’t in love with the verses and was always in search of changing them to match the intensity and vulnerability of the chorus. We then began discussing our sadness over Tom Petty passing, which trailed into classic songs in general. Before you knew it, we were re-writing the track with a little bit of those concepts in mind, the backbone being that it will never be the same without Petty.'

Earlier this year, Moore played the main stage of Europe’s largest country music festival, Country2Country. This three-day event has fast become one of the biggest platforms outside of the USA for the major stars of the country world, as well as emerging talent from Nashville and beyond.

Room To Spare… is due for release digitally on November 16th, with a physical CD release lined up for November 23rd.

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Pre-order ROOM TO SPARE now here.

Carolynne Announces UK Tour Dates This May/June

Following the release of her debut EP Coming Back To Me - which landed at #2 on the iTunes country chart and has been streamed over 40,000 times to date - and much-hyped return to live music at the Bob Harris-curated Under The Apple Tree night last month, Yorkshire country-pop singer Carolynne has announced two UK dates, co-headlining with The Abrams (Canada), with further tour dates to follow.

They'll play the following shows:

May 31st - London, The Borderline
June 1st - Manchester, Gullivers

About Carolynne

Carolynne's debut single 'I Love You But Shut Up' was released in 2015, attracting strong support from the mainstream and country media - including a slot on the BBC Radio 2 playlist and a live acoustic session on Terry Wogan’s Sunday show; national TV appearances including Channel 5's The Wright Stuff - and publicity across high-profile press and magazines such as Maverick, Country Music Magazine and The Independent, Since then, Carolynne has taken time away from the spotlight to work on new material, an EP written and produced with longtime collaborators The Elements and mixed by Ash Howes (One Direction, Ellie Goulding, The Corrs).

She’s continued to perform live in between writing and recording, including, to much acclaim, an appearance at London’s Country to Country (C2C) 2016 festival at the O2 arena for the third consecutive year, and a two-night residency at London’s Live at Zedel, prompting Jennifer Selway at the Daily Express to describe her songs about heartbreak and desire as having 'true country style'.

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For more information about Carolynne and her UK dates, visit carolynneofficial.com.

EP Review: 'A Shorter Story' - Ward Thomas

If releasing the #1 album Cartwheels just last year wasn't enough, Ward Thomas have decided to treat fans to another collection of tracks - this time in the form of a highly anticipated EP of covers.

Catherine and Lizzy's unique twists on well known songs are always highlights at their live shows, and their Snug Sessions on YouTube are always immensely enjoyable - to finally have a bunch of studio recorded covers has been a long time coming.

A Shorter Story has been worth the wait and serves as proof that the duo's signature sublime harmonies aren't limited to just one genre. From Damien Rice to Justin Timberlake to Kings of Leon, the girls make each song their own.

The real standout track of a very strong bunch, is the girls' take on Crowded House's 'Better Be Home Soon'. The simplistic nature of the arrangement allows for their vocals and harmonies to absolutely shine. It's simply stunning and is a wonderful way to close out the EP.

Tracklisting:
1. 'The Blower's Daughter'
2. 'What Goes Around...Comes Around'
3. 'Shine'
4. 'WALLS'
5. 'Better Be Home Soon'

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A Shorter Story is available for download now and you can pick up a physical copy at the remaining dates of their UK tour.

Jonathan Terrell Announces UK Festival Dates

Jonathan Terrell has announced a run of UK festival dates in July 2017, with more shows to be confirmed.

He'll play the following:

16th July: River Town Americana Festival
22nd July: Deerstock - Nottingham
23rd July: Summertyne Americana Festival

Jonathan recently released the video for his track 'It's Not Me, But It Could Be' from the Color Me Lucky EP, which has clocked up over 11k views since release.

He met the directors, Paul Galvan and Rachael Win last year during a shoot, and they kept in touch through the Austin art scene. They were approached by Tyler Beede, the pitcher of the San Francisco Giants baseball team to create a video as a front so he could propose to his actress girlfriend, Allie DeBerry. 'Allie always wanted to be in a country video so we "hired" her to be in this one,' Jonathan explains. 'We story-boarded, styled, shot and went along with everything to make a real video and in the end he got to propose to his gal.'

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For more information about Jonathan and his UK dates, follow him @heartachetycoon.

Sean Rowe Shares New Video Ahead of London Show in May

Sean Rowe has shared the video for his new single 'I'll Follow Your Trail' ahead of a London date this May.

Directed by Chromoscope Pictures, the clip features the singer - also a renowned naturalist - walking through a forest playing acoustic guitar and singing.

The acclaimed singer-songwriter's new album New Lore is out now through Anti-.

Rowe has also confirmed a London show in May and will be playing St. Pancras Old Church on the 26th.

The album New Lore was recorded in Memphis at the historic Sam Phillips Recording studio and produced by Matt Ross-Spang. The simple yet powerful sound focuses on Rowe's soulful baritone and vivid storytelling delivering stories of desperation and resilience. His voice is beautifully augmented throughout by tasteful arrangements including flourishes of piano and a string section.

The record’s emotionally haunting sound echoes Rowe's recent crossover hit 'To Leave Something Behind', a song that resonated with a whole new wider audience after being featured in the Ben Affleck film The Accountant.

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For more information on Sean, his London show and the new album, visit seanrowe.net.

Tia McGraff Announces May UK Tour + New Single 'Nineteen'

Canadian singer-songwriter Tia McGraff has announced a full UK tour in May, along with the release of her latest radio single 'Nineteen' taken from her acclaimed album Crazy Beautiful.

McGraff will play the following dates:

May 1 - Celtic Music Radio House Concert, Glasgow
May 2 - Backstage (w/David Mundell), Kinross
May 5 - Hopkins Hall, Gloucester
May 6 - Ent Shed, Bedford
May 7 - Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury
May 9 - Green Note, London
May 11 - Otterton Mill,  Otterton, Budleigh Salterton
May 12 - Frometown Football Club, Frome, Somerset
May 13 - Bickington Hall, Bickington
May 14 - Dartmoor Hill Pony Association, Devon
May 18 - Acapela Studio, Cardiff
May 19 - Netheredge Bowling Club, Sheffield
May 20 - The Narrow Boat Sessions, Halton
May 26 - The Sound Lounge, London
May 28 - Highclere Castle Festival, Newbury

Listen to 'Nineteen' below:


About Tia McGraff

Tia McGraff is an internationally renowned and award-winning Americana/Country singer-songwriter from Port Dover, ON, Canada. With Scottish and Transylvanian roots running through her songwriting and voice, Tia’s talent has been described as “haunting and soul-gripping.”

With six album releases, four videos on CMT Canada, various film/television placements, and numerous nominations and awards - including Americana album of the year first ballot nomination for 2016 Grammy Awards - have earned Tia a respect in the music industry and a global fanbase that continues to stretch beyond demographics.

Tia’s latest release, Crazy Beautiful - produced by Colorado native, husband and longtime collaborator, Tommy Parham - was released in 2015, and immediately impressed Americana and Country radio programmers in the USA, Canada and Europe, resulting in significant activity on various airplay charts. Tommy, who moved to Nashville, TN in 1998 with a staff songwriter deal in hand, and soon became one of Music Row’s sought after hit writers, is credited with cuts by major label artists, including Lee Greenwood, and film placements in movies starring Ashley Judd, among others.

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For more information about Tia and her tour, visit tiamcgraff.com.

Southern Halo to Release Debut Album on Vinyl During UK Tour

Mississippi sister trio Southern Halo have announced that their self-titled debut album will be released on vinyl LP, available first to their fans in the UK.

The country-pop band's UK tour begins this weekend in London, with an exclusive press event on Friday 17th in Soho to launch the tour, album release and premiere the video for their current single 'Living Like That'. The record was produced by Catt Gravitt (Jana Kramer, Kelly Clarkson) and Gerald O'Brien (Martina McBride, Trace Adkins), and featured co-writes with Kelsea Ballerini and Forest Glen Whitehead (Dylan Scott, Brantley Gilbert) among others.

As the popularity of vinyl and the fanbase for country music in the UK increase, the release could not come at a better time, and the trio were keen to make this special edition available for audiences on this tour, which stops in London, Nottingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle. Southern Halo will be available on vinyl and CD at all shows, and online via their website.

The trio will play the following dates:

18th March - LONDON, The Garage (support from Jeannine Barry)
19th March - NOTTINGHAM, Bodega (support from Journey Home)
20th March - MANCHESTER, Gullivers (support from Jade Helliwell)
21st March - GLASGOW, Hug & Pint (support from Gravel Tracks)
22nd March - NEWCASTLE, Jumpin’ Jacks (support from Outlander)

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For more information about the trio and their tour, visit southernhalo.net.