The Cadillac Three Reveal First Live Video From Abbey Road Sessions

The Cadillac Three have released the video for ‘Graffiti’, filmed live at the legendary Abbey Road studios.

The track is the first in a series of videos to be released which includes ‘White Lightning’, ‘The South’, ‘Running Red Lights’ and ‘Peace, Love & Dixie’, all recorded at the historic North London studio.

After their electrifying feel-good performance at last weekend’s Ramblin’ Man Fair, The Cadillac Three’s long awaited new album Bury Me in My Boots, will be released next week on August 5th via Big Machine Records. In the build-up to release, the Nashville natives have been teasing the album with the staggered release of new tracks including ‘Graffiti’, ‘Soundtrack To A Six Pack’ and the latest single ‘Drunk Like You’, an infusion of country and rock, and a testament to the band’s well-known love of a hard-rockin’ good time. The album also features their 2015 hit single ‘White Lightning’, which was playlisted at Radio 2

Comprised of Jaren Johnston (lead vocals), Neil Mason (percussion) and Kelby Ray (lap steel), The Cadillac Three were named as ‘Best New Band’ in the 2014 Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards and became the most played new band on Planet Rock in 2015. Rolling Stone claims, "Like Kings of Leon before them, they're poised for their first big break in the U.K. — where they've sold out every headlining show for nearly two years — before conquering their U.S. home turf.”

Having established a loyal following in the UK with multiple sold-out headline dates, The Cadillac Three will be returning to the UK in November for their Don’t Forget The Whiskey headline tour later this year. Tickets are available now and the dates are as follows:

5th – Manchester, O2 Ritz
6th – London O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
7th – Cambridge, Junction
9th – Glasgow, O2 ABC
10th – Birmingham, O2 Academy
11th – Bristol, O2 Academy
13th – Belfast, Empire Music Hall
14th – Dublin, Whelans

Further information can be found on the band's site.

Carolynne Announces New Single 'Take The Keys'

Following the success of her single 'I Love You But Shut Up' and the buzz around her performance on the Brooklyn Bowl stage at C2C in London earlier this year, UK country singer-songwriter Carolynne (aka Carolynne Poole) has announced the release of her next single ‘Take the Keys’ on 19th August 2016 and two London shows in September.

With a family of country music fanatics it was almost inevitable that country music would be in her blood. At the age of just fourteen Carolynne joined and fronted Sundown, a five-piece Country band, going on to tour the country circuit in the UK. At eighteen she left her family home in Leeds, heading for London to pursue her career as a singer-songwriter. In 2000 she signed her first publishing contract with BMG and took the first step in her professional songwriting career.

During the next couple of years she spent time in Sweden, writing and perfecting her country rock/pop sound. As well as collaborating with some great songwriters she continued performing and touring with various artists such as Tony Christie and The Charlatans. This allowed Carolynne to develop her own style of performance, which would eventually catch the eyes and ears of Gary Barlow when she later appeared on X Factor live finals. Gary described Carolynne as “supremely talented” with a voice that “just oozes Country”.

After the X Factor, Carolynne knew she wanted to fulfil her dream as a songwriter and head to the heart and soul of country music; Nashville, Tennessee. During her five months spent in Arizona, Nashville and LA, she not only gigged her way around but had the opportunity to spend time in a Nashville studio with Grammy award-winning songwriter Jeff Silbar (Dolly Parton, Kenny Rodgers, Willie Nelson, Fleetwood Mac), who as well as penning songs for the country elite in Music City also wrote the award-winning hit ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ .

Carolynne's debut single 'I Love You But Shut Up' was released in May 2015. The single attracted strong support from the mainstream and country media - with playlists and live sessions on BBC Radio 2, significant regional radio support, a TV appearance on C5's The Wright Stuff - and publicity across national press and magazines, with the song peaking at #7 in the chart. Since then, Carolynne has been working on new material and playing live, including, to much acclaim, an appearance at London’s Country to Country (C2C) Festival at the O2 arena for the third consecutive year.

‘Take the Keys’ will be released via iTunes & Spotify on 19th August 2016. Carolynne will be performing at Live at Zedel on September 27th & 28th 2016.

Single of the Week: I See Sky - Hannah White

Sadly, there is not a reset switch we can flip to start this year over. 2016 has pretty much sucked and it's hard not to feel a sense of dread when we see a city or country trending on social media. It is times like these when music is needed perhaps more than ever before.

Music is an escape. Music helps heal.

Hannah White's 'I See Sky' is a song that we all need to hear right now. This bluesy-country number sings about the power of love and unity in helping us to achieve what we all want - a world we can all be proud of. And it is so true, demonstrated by the selfless acts of others in the wake of recent tragic events - blood donors after Orlando, homeowners opening their doors to offer shelter to to others to mention just a few examples of how humanity has come together after acts of hate.

This song is a beautiful, poignant reminder of what's important in life - love.

ABOUT HANNAH WHITE

The London-based singer-songwriter’s music draws from a rich well of life experiences as well as an eclectic range of genres. A single mother who’s battled her way to gaining a loyal following of fans whilst maintaining a wholly independent approach to her career, her music is influenced by country, blues, pop and soul but remains distinctly her own. With a voice that can switch from a sweet Nashville croon to a bluesy holler and production work from Roger Cotton (BB King/Paul McCartney) and Gerry Diver (Christy Moore/Tom Robinson), Hannah’s songs have been playlisted on BBC Radio 2, BBC London, BBC Kent, BBC Merseyside, BBC Introducing & Amazing Radio, and she has performed video sessions for Bob Harris and Balcony TV. She’s also wowed audiences at shows with Thea Gilmore and Ben Haenow, headlined at a sold-out Union Chapel in London, performed at major festivals and picked up press plaudits from Acoustic Magazine, R2 Magazine, Country Music People, Fatea Magazine, Blues Matters and many more.

With stellar production input from Nigel Stonier (Martha Wainwright/Joan Baez) and her most personal collection of songs yet, Whose Side Are You On? is a defining statement from a talented and versatile songwriter and vocalist. With I See Sky forming a perfect introduction, Hannah’s honest, witty and emotionally raw songs are set to gain new fans wherever they are heard.

For more information of Hannah, visit her official site.

A Thousand Horses Unveil Video For 'Southernality' + Announce UK Dates

A Thousand Horses have released the video for their latest single ‘Southernality’, the title track from their critically acclaimed debut album which was released last year through Big Machine Label Group.

With the clue in the name, ‘Southernality’ is a thumping groove laden party anthem. Directed by Shaun Silva (TackleBox Films), the video features scenes from A Thousand Horses’ high-energy performances throughout their recent stint opening for Jason Aldean on his We Were Here Tour. “This was a really fun shoot since we got to film most of it in a concert setting,” said frontman Michael Hobby. “Our fans relate to the message of this song and we love getting to show our Southern personalities when we perform.”

The band made their UK debut earlier this year with a performance at C2C, the UK’s biggest country music festival, at the O2 Arena alongside an intimate headline show at The Barfly in Camden, London and will be returning at the end of the year with the following dates:

- Wed 30th Nov – London, O2 Academy Islington

- Thurs 1st Dec – Manchester, Academy 3

Tickets go on sale on Friday (July 22nd).

ABOUT A THOUSAND HORSES

The band are quickly becoming a staple on UK radio. Their (UK) debut ‘Trailer Trashed’ sat proudly on the Planet Rock Radio B-list, followed by ‘First Time’ and then ‘Smoke’, both A-Listed at Planet Rock and C-Listed at BBC Radio 2. The band have also been nominated for ‘Best New Band’ at this year’s Classic Rock Awards.

Back in the US, the band have made an equally impressive impact with their first single ‘Smoke’ soaring to Number 1 on both the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay Charts, making Country Aircheck history as the highest debut for a new artist’s first single. They also became the first band (with at least three members) to send a debut single to Number 1 on Billboard Country Airplay Chart this decade.

The band were nominated for the Academy of Country Music Award for ‘New Vocal Duo or Group Of The Year’ and were hotly tipped by Rolling Stone Country and USA Today for ‘Smoke’, with its video – which now has over 14 million views – also receiving a nomination at the CMT Music Awards.

Album Review: HARDLOVE - NEEDTOBREATHE

NEEDTOBREATHE are a band that are impossible to label. Their music has always been infused with a variety of genres. It's what makes the band stand out and stand the test of time and it's especially what makes their latest album, HARDLOVE, one of the year's most interesting releases so far. The four piece experiment even further on this, their sixth studio album.

There's a little bit of everything on this record and it's a fun journey, even if it's a little bit disjointed at times - musically, rather than lyrically.

The first half of the album is very full on. Title track, 'HARDLOVE' is a vibrant, pulsing track about how relationships are not straightforward and are often full of hardships needed to be overcome - hence the title. 'Money & Fame' is a definite highlight, the funk heavy number warning that the celebrity lifestyle is not as desirable as it seems. 'When I Sing' is another funky feeling song and whilst it's not as lyrically deep as the songs in the second half of the album, ii's still sweet nonetheless.

Lyrically, 'Let's Stay Home Tonight' and 'Clear' pack the biggest punch on the album and are found towards the end of the twelve tracks. The former is about how the simple things such as staying in with your love can be some of the most wonderful things, whilst the latter is a haunting piano led track - which was actually written for one of the brides of the band - and is absolutely beautiful.

HARDLOVE plays with many genres over the course of forty or so minutes and the variation of the songs is a welcome listen. This album will appeal to many and it deserves to be listened to by many. It's available now and it's well worth a purchase.

Interview: Megan O'Neill Discusses Megan & The Common Threads' PledgeMusic Campaign

Upcoming country band, Megan & The Common Threads have announced a PledgeMusic campaign as they are set to release their debut EP, offering a wide range of rewards for pledgers.

The band grew from the solo project of front-woman Megan O’Neill, whose track 'Don’t You' featured on hit US TV show Nashville and debut EP Coming Home was named UK EP of the Year by public vote at the W21 Music Awards.

We talked to front-woman Megan O'Neill to find out more about the band and their campaign. 

For those who may not be familiar with your music, how would you describe yourselves and your sound?

Megan & The Common Threads are a six piece Americana band based in London. We are from all over the EU - two Irish, one Scottish, one Welsh, one English and one Italian - hence why we initially joked that we should be called Megan & The European Union!!

Our new record is dabbling more in a Country-Rootsy sound than the previous EP Coming Home (2015) which was more Country-Pop.

How did Megan & The Common Threads come together?

For about 18 months (2013-2015) I had been playing under my own name 'Megan O'Neill' with two incredibly, trusty guitarists (Tom Smith & Dan Clark) and we were really enjoying being an acoustic trio. But after 18 months we decided that we needed to expand the sound - especially ahead of this new record. So we recruited in November 2015 for bass, drums and fiddle.

What/who are your influences? What/who has influenced this upcoming EP?

I have a lot of influences ranging from old-school, classic country singers to modern folk
singer-songwriters. I listen to all genres of music (aside from Heavy Metal) and at the moment am really loving Brandi Carlile's album 'The Firewatchers Daughter' and The Tallest Man on Earth.

I think with the upcoming EP our influences as a band have really come from one another which I'm really happy about. All six of us have been feeding off each others' ideas and artistic input. Its been really awesome to see the sound develop over the past 6 months.

Besides being able to boast that they were there from the beginning, what else is on offer for potential pledgers?

There is so much on offer! You could have an original song written about you or a loved one (which we think is such a unique gift idea!) or a personalised birthday video of us singing! Top pledgers can book us for a live show at a venue of their choice (even at their own homes) either as an acoustic or full band AND pledgers also have the opportunity to be thanked by name on the EP itself (in a hidden track)! There are also loads of smaller goodies up for grabs such as t-shirts, VIP guest list passes, handwritten letters and signed CD's.

Finally, where can fans catch you live in the upcoming months?
We have a number of shows coming up in August and September in London and surrounding areas. They're always listed on the website so you can check those out here.

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You can find out more information about the PledgeMusic campaign here.

Single of the Week: 'Legacy' - Sean C Kennedy (feat. Mark Price)

After first appearing on Somethin' Country's radar when he supported The Shires and Ward Thomas at a packed King Tut's in 2014, Sean C Kennedy has been steadily growing a name for himself. He released a stellar debut album titled 77 last September and has been busy with shows both across the country and over in the States. The Ayrshire native is also set to support Lucie Silvas in Glasgow this coming September.

Now comes 'Legacy', out today (July 18th), which may be Sean's finest song yet. The track, featuring Mark Price, is anthemic. It is about living your life to the fullest and reaching for your dreams.

In a blog post on his site, Sean describes how the song came to be: 'On my return from NYC I started to work on a song for Mark’s show. We spoke most days conversing about the way life can change in the blink of an eye, how much we had in common, similar paths in life and just how passionate we were about making a difference, inspiring people and doing good. I would ask Mark specific questions to spark me. All I can say is it helped me to be more like myself. Talking about the things we did growing up as a kid. When we had an idea in our heads, we went ahead and did it with no fear. Why should that change when we grow up. Hence the opening lines. We don’t have to follow rules, bend them to suit yourself to fuel your desire. We are in charge of our own destiny and the path we take.'

If you find yourself in need of some motivation this Monday (or on any other day for that matter) take a listen to 'Legacy' down below and/or head over to iTunes to get this track for the bargain price of 79p and help support another fine UK talent.



For further information on Sean, check out his official site.

ALBUM REVIEW: Steven Tyler - We're All Somebody From Somewhere

Skepticism is only natural when an artist announces a genre switch. Some see such moves as attempts to stay relevant, others see moves as a mere marketing ploy, a move to cash in. Such views were vocally voiced when Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler announced that his new record would be a country record. Yet, We’re All Somebody From Somewhere effortlessly quashes such arguments with a collection of some finely crafted country songs which contain as much heart as they do twang.

A lot of artists try to blend Rock and Roll and country together, with varying levels of success. Naturally Tyler pulls it off – what else would you expect from him?

‘My Own Worst Enemy’ is perhaps not the best album opener. It’s a slow track and for any skeptics listening, they may falsely believe that Tyler’s interpretation of country music is that of the infamous stereotype that the genre is all about songs about tough times. The song is good but definitely not representative of the whole album. The title track has the sort of swagger that Tyler is famous for (this song would have been a better choice to begin the album on) and ‘I Make My Own Sunshine is this reviewer’s personal favorite, a lovely carefree song which you can’t help but feel that this song is Tyler’s ode to the naysayers of this chapter of his storied career, as he sings on the chorus, It don’t matter if it’s raining, nothing can phase me, I make my own sunshine.

‘Only Heaven’ is slightly reminiscent to the iconic Aerosmith track, ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’ yet it is by no means a carbon copy, nor is that a detriment to the track with Tyler’s vocals just as strong now as they were then, a clear sign that the man is showing no signs of slowing down. ‘The Good, The Bad, The Ugly & Me’ follows (for those who listen in track album order) and is rockier, a lovely example of the versatility offered on the record.

There are a plentiful fifteen tracks on offer, all of a very, very high standard. I personally was surprised by the high quality of this album and I was very much excited about this release when it was announced. I suspect others – including and especially those skeptics – will also be pleasantly surprised.

We're All Somebody From Somewhere is available from July 15th.

Uncle Lucius Announce UK Tour This Autumn!

Following the success of their UK tour dates in January and their latest single 'Age of Reason', Uncle Lucius have announced a UK tour in support of their fourth album The Light. Starting on October 31st at Greystones in Sheffield, the tour

also stops at Whitney, London, Brighton, Glasgow, and Leicester.

Their tour dates are as follows:

October 31st - Greystones, Sheffield
November 1st - Fat Lils, Whitney Oxon
November 3rd - O2 Academy 2, Islington, London
November 4th - Open Studios, Brighton
November 6th - Hug and Pint, Glasgow
November 7th - The Musician, Leicester

About Uncle Lucius

Having shared stages with Merle Haggard, Zac Brown Band, Shooter Jennings, Ryan Bingham and Hayes Carll, Uncle Lucius will already be familiar to many who consider themselves fans of country, Americana and southern rock.

For a decade, the band built its fan base the hard way, through relentless touring and restless searching. When the time came to exit the Nashville ‘machine’ and find a new way to create and release the music they needed to make, they called on their die-hard fans for help. Hundreds of believers pledged tens of thousands of hard-earned dollars. Both humbled and exhilarated, the band hit the studio, eager to justify their fans’ love with the labor of their hearts and souls.

The resulting fourth LP, The Light, is the statement their fans have waited for, with its songs of seeking and questioning, of reaching out to others, of excavating the hidden strength within. After years spent spreading their message across Texas, here at last is the vehicle that can take them to the national - and international - level.

Much about Uncle Lucius sets them apart. Five songwriters combining forces is neither common nor easy, but what each individual loses in pride the band more than gains in power. The song itself matters more than who wrote it, more than the genre to which it belongs. “It’s not about trying to write a certain kind of song,” says Galloway, “it’s about harvesting whatever song comes.”

Despite that organic method, The Light’s 12 songs share themes of travel, movement, and quests without destinations. The album places the band in unfamiliar sonic territory, and much credit belongs to producer George Reiff (Shinyribs, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Band of Heathens) for testing their limits. Every member influences every other, and that combined filter comes close to defining what Uncle Lucius is. “We’re a five-headed beast,” Galloway insists, “and our songs speak for us. Whether we succeed depends on how well they resonate in the world.”

For further information, visit the band's official site.