ALBUM REVIEW: 'A Silverado Family Christmas' - Various Artists

Independent Nashville based label, Silverado Records showcase their ever-growing, and incredibly exciting roster, on this joyous Christmas release.

There's been quite a few Christmas albums put out this year by country artists and hearing the same songs being covered can get a bit tiresome. However, this Silverado release finds a good balance between new and old, with 3 original songs and 4 covers.

Up and comer Zack Dyer opens with an original, 'Snow Day', which is a cheerful track with reggae stylings.

Another new track comes from Gabe Burdulis. His song, 'I'm Looking For Christmas This Year', is my personal favorite on the album. A song about his memories of Christmas, it's a sweet song with a beautiful melody. Gabe has a wonderful voice too and is definitely an artist to keep an eye on.

The last original track is Crystal Yates' 'Christmas Time For Just Me and You'. This one is so classically Christmassy, with a wonderful piano accompaniment. Crystal has an incredibly soulful voice which shines throughout the song.

When it comes to covers, this release also does not disappoint. Whilst each cover are songs that have been covered countless times, each artist here puts their own spin on them and makes them sound their own.

Overall, this is a fantastic release and a very promising sign of things to come from Silverado Records.

Track Listing:

1. 'Snow Day' - Zack Dyer
2. 'I'll Be Home For Christmas' - Joe Diffie
3. 'Let It Snow' - Mandy McMillan
4. 'The Christmas Song' - Melissa Mickelson
5. 'I'm Looking For Christmas This Year' - Gabe Burdulis
6. 'Blue Christmas' - Tony Winkler
7. 'Christmas Time For Just Me and You' - Crystal Yates

To stay up to date on all things Silverado, check out their website silveradorecords.com.

Southern Halo's 'Hangin with Halo' Radio Show Launches with CMR Nashville Today

Southern Halo’s popular ‘Hangin’ With Halo’ weekly radio show goes global with the addition of the program to CMR Nashville’s line-up today.

Fans can listen via PC, Mac and TuneIn radio app for all smart Phones, tablets and the new Amazon Echo. Various Smart TV applications and a free CMR Nashville app are also available.

Hangin’ With Halo CMR Nashville Broadcast Times (from Monday 19th December 2016):

Mondays:
4 p.m. GMT / 10 a.m. CT
Midnight GMT / 6 p.m. CT

Tuesdays:
8 a.m.  GMT / 2 a.m. CT

CMR Nashville is Europe’s #1 station and Natalia, Christina and Hannah are thrilled to be on board. 'This is a really cool early Christmas present, and a great way to wrap up an incredible year,' notes Natalia. 'We couldn’t be happier.' For the station’s CEO and Owner Lee Williams, bringing Southern Halo and their ‘Hangin’ With Halo’ show to CMR is a natural evolution. 'We play their music on the station and air their music videos on our CM&T Video channel. We’ve watched them grow as artists and their show just feels like a great fit for our listeners and the new breed of younger Country fans. This should open the door to touring opportunities for the trio in the UK and Europe.'

Steven J. Shelton and Natalia E. Morris are the show's executive producers/directors, and each episode includes a segment called “Nashville Buzz”, which offers exciting updates on today’s hottest Country artists. Additionally, the members of Southern Halo share personal insights into their “crazy” lives and spin songs by their favorite artists. Recently, they chatted about their upcoming holiday plans, affordable stocking stuffers, the Nashville Christmas Parade and inclusion in the newly-released book, Mojo Triangle Travel Guide by acclaimed author Mardi Allen.

The group's self-titled debut album, featuring their Top 40 MusicRow CountryBreakout™ Chart radio hits, “Little White Dress” and “Rewind,” is out now and available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon and streaming via Spotify.

US Country Sensation Brent Cobb Announces UK Debut 'Shine on Rainy Day'

Georgia native Brent Cobb has announced the release of his new single ‘Shine On Rainy Day’, which is taken from his debut album of the same name, to be released in the UK next year.

Having just been on tour with Anderson East and a recent support slot with Chris Stapleton, Brent will be bringing his soulful Southern charm to the UK for a number of dates in January..

The dates are as follows:

Thurs 26th: The Slaughtered Lamb, London
Fri 27th: Castle Hotel , Manchester
Sun 29th: O2 ABC, Glasgow

Released in the US earlier this year to widespread critical acclaim, Shine On Rainy Day is an album Brent’s been trying to make for a decade and saw him enlist the help of his cousin and fellow Georgian, Dave Cobb, the Grammy Award-winning producer (Chris Stapleton, Jamey Johnson, Sturgill Simpson and Jason Isbell).

Brent wanted to record an album that felt Southern, though not the kind of Southern you might expect. Neither Southern rock nor mainstream country, the sound sits somewhere on the wide bandwidth that exists between the two and sees Brent alternating between light and dark by channeling his influences of rural life.

Cousin Dave helped him find the right vibe, full of blue-eyed soul, country funk and the kind of swamp boogie sounds that predominated pop in the 1960s and early 1970s.

The album carries something of a Southern Gothic narrative, alternating between dark visions and self-deprecating scenes of black humour that bubble up in laugh-or-cry moments. He chose the album’s title after a friend heard ‘Shine On Rainy Day’ following a family tragedy and mentioned how powerful it was to him.

'When you have a bad storm that hits, the next day the trees are in full bloom and the grass is greener and lightning cleans the air up,' Brent said. 'My friend called me up out of the blue and said that song hit him so hard. It’s talking about a rainy day, they’re going through a real life rainy day.'

2017 is set to be a busy year for Brent. As well as his UK dates in January, ahead of his forthcoming album release, he’ll also be out on the road across the US supporting the likes of Chris Stapleton, The Cadillac Three, Little Big Town, Nikki Lane and playing California’s Stagecoach Festival and the Newport Folk Festival.

For further information on Brent, his album and his UK dates, visit brentcobbmusic.com.

Canadian Singer-Songwriter Amanda Rheaume Announces January/February Tour

Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume has announced a January/February UK tour in support of her new album Holding Patterns.

Amanda will play the following dates next year:

January

11th: No.8 Cafe, Launceston (Cornwall)
12th: The Wheelwright Inn, Colyford (Devon)
13th: The Victoria Hotel (Midwinterfest 2017)
14th: The Con Club, Lewes
15th: The Black Box (Out To Lunch Festival), Belfast
17th: Green Note, London
19th: Cafe #9, Sheffield
20th: Haile Village Hall, Haile (Cumbria)
21st: Wild Zucchini, Cockermouth (Cumbria)
23rd: Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
24th: The Back Room, Cottingham (East Yorkshire)
28th: The Convent, South Woodchester (nr. Stroud)
29th: Marnhull Village Hall, Marnhull (Dorset)
31st: The Bicycle Shop, Norwich

February

1st: Venue TBC (AMA-UK Showcase), London
3rd: St. George's Hall, Bewdley (Worces.)
4th: Town Hall, Kirton-in-Lindsay (Lincs)

About Amanda Rheaume

Possessed of a powerful, slightly gritty singing voice and an ear for catchy melodies and instantly-accessible roots-pop arrangements, Amanda won a 2014 Canadian Folk Music Award for Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year and was nominated for a Juno.  In September 2016 she received another Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year.

Rheaume has released four albums - Holding Patterns (2016), Keep a Fire (2013), Light of Another Day (2011) and Acoustic Christmas (2009).

She quickly earned a reputation around Ottawa as a generous community-oriented artist and leader who co-organized the Babes4Breasts concerts and recording projects; spearheaded Ottawa’s Bluebird North songwriter showcases; performed for the troops in Afghanistan three times; raised money for the families of military personnel, and sold 6500 copies of a Christmas EP in Ottawa alone to raise money for Boys and Girls Clubs of Ottawa.

Rheaume has delivered her unique and soulful blend of folk-country-pop tinged tracks to audiences around the world, including Canada (coast to coast), the USA, Europe, the UK, Faroe Islands, Central America and beyond. She has opened for artists such as Emmylou Harris, K'Naan, Lucinda Williams, Larkin Poe, Andrew Combs and Ani DiFranco.

Her increasing success stems from her soulful ability to translate personal stories into messages, evoke a feeling of positivity, communicate the strength of those before her, and connect with her listeners.

With the release of Holding Patterns (2016), Amanda continues a long history of raising money and advocating change through her work as an artist – and this time, it’s personal.

For more information about Amanda and her tour, visit amandarheaume.com.

Single of the Week: '#Country' - Tucker

There's a lot about the country genre to love. The songs tell stories, the music is honest and every award show feels like one big family gathering. I'm proud to be associated with this genre and so are a lot of people, which is why there are so many songs about country pride. This sort of song risks being repetitive, and some are, but Tucker's '#Country' is a new take on this well-loved theme.

The title says it all, alluding to the new generation of music with the use of the hashtag. '#Country' is very much in the style of Aldean and Gilbert: country/rock and the desire to get a little crazy - yet this track isn't solely a party anthem. There's some depth to Tucker's voice, some definite soul and you're left in no doubt about how passionate he is about his genre - and you're also left wanting to hear more from this guy.

Listen to '#Country' below:

About Tucker

Fast-rising multi-instrumentalist and prolific songwriter Tucker has released #Country, his debut single. A sought after musician for some of Nashville’s leading stars, the talented singer-songwriter is ready to head out on his own with this new song and EP release.

Paying his dues and honing his craft in Music City over the last decade has meant that Jason Tucker has played and toured with a host of established country artists including Jason Aldean, Jimmy Wayne, James Otto and Eric Durrance. Although he’s been a highly prized musician for some of the busiest artists on the road, all of those artists would urge Tucker to record his own solo project. The thoughtful artist took his time to learn the business and to refine and develop his own songs. He cut demos, performed in and around Nashville, and continued to enhance the sound of other big names until the time was right. That time is now.

The new single celebrates everything he and his audience love about country, both as a musical experience and a lifestyle. As Tucker himself explains: '#Country is more about a state-of-mind and a down-home culture than a region. I’m from North Carolina, my wife is from Detroit. You could be from the South Bronx or Stockholm and understand what it means when we say ‘proud to be from the south’.'

With the release of #Country, Tucker steps out from the shadows into where he belongs - centre stage, with his songs making connections with audiences around the world.

For more information about Tucker, visit tuckermusic.net.

Canadian Wildcrafted Soul-Folk Songstress Carly Dow Announces First UK Tour

Carly Dow’s music will leave you charmed and haunted.

Her wildcrafted soul-folk blends inspiration from wordsmiths Gillian Welch and Amelia Curran, with an edge reminiscent of Neko Case. Carly Dow’s songwriting reflects a deep appreciation of beauty and darkness balanced throughout personal, physical and natural histories. The depth, space and stark allure of her home province of Manitoba seep into her music as primary influences, which is emphasised by her striking, smoky vocals. Soft and sultry, pretty and gritty - Carly Dow’s music has it all.

Love, loss, sensuality and environment are themes carefully crafted throughout Ingrained, Carly Dow’s acclaimed debut full-length album, which she co-produced with Darwin Baker and Jesse Matas (Crooked Brothers).

Carly Dow has performed across Canada and is touring the UK for the first time in January 2017. The dates are as follows:

15th: The Hive, Shrewsbury
16th: Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham
17th: The Bicycle Shop, Norwich
18th: Beauvale Priory, Beauvale (near Nottingham)
19th: Green Note, London
20th: The Met Studio, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Stafford
22nd: Wee Folk Club, The Royal Oak, Edinburgh
23rd: The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore
24th: Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown

For further information,visit carlydowmusic.com.

REVIEW: 'Orphan Offering' - Yola Carter

I'll cut straight to it - Yola Carter has one of the strongest voices that I have ever heard.

Her voice packs so much emotion, power and soul, it is absolutely crazy to think that this lady is an independent artist. This is an artist who is up there with the quintessential powerhouses of music - the Adeles, the Mariahs and the Arethas.

On paper, that seems like a lot of pressure to put on an artist who has still yet to release a full length album but these are comparisons that I could not help but make. Yola's six track EP, Orphan Offering, is one of the most compelling pieces of music that I have listened to in quite some time. The EP combines a whole host of genres such as country, soul, gospel and jazz and, because it's not pigeonholed into one genre, it has tremendous mainstream appeal.

In short, Yola Carter should be on all the big radio stations here, there and everywhere.

Lyrically, Orphan Offering is also strong and addresses tough but important issues. Carter had a hard upbringing, coming from a broken home and a community in which racism was not uncommon. This allows for the EP to become part-autobiographical and part-social/political commentary. One such track, 'Dead and Gone' tackles head on, the obstacles that black women face in the music industry today.

Track 'Orphan Country' is equally as haunting. Carter's vocals are vulnerable; every line she sounds close to tears as she sings about the problems that she faced to be heard, making a comparison to a horse who should be allowed to run free. Having read the press release prior to listening and learning about how she was 'banned' from making any music by a parent suffering from mental illness, this track was incredibly striking.

'Fly Away' features a(nother) vocal masterclass alongside a fiddle which makes the track one of the more 'country' sounding ones on the EP but it's arguably just as bluesy and there's also a gospel element to it, very much so in the latter half of the song as Yola and her backing singers demonstrate the wonderful dynamic between them.

The EP opener, 'Home' is definitely the right song to start the collection off on. Delicate guitars and vocals open the track before growing in ferocity and passion - the latter of the two is found in every song that follows.

Orphan Offering is evocative and Yola Carter's voice is simply stunning. I truly don't think she'll remain an independent artist for much longer...

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Orphan Offering is available now. For more information on Yola, please visit yolacarter.com.

Aaron Watson Confirms Highly Anticipated New Album, 'Vaquero'!

Groundbreaking independent country artist Aaron Watson continues to chart his own course with the February 24th 2017 release of his new album ‘Vaquero’ (BIG Label Records/Thirty Tigers).

Watson made history in 2015 when his 10th studio album, The Underdog debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart marking the first time an independent, male country artist had ever debuted at the coveted top spot. Watson’s unprecedented accomplishment turned heads and opened many eyes to what he had been building independently for years. With Vaquero, Watson continues to challenge current trends and stay true to his muse. The 16-song collection finds the Texas native following the trail back to his roots, keying in on his influences and tipping his hat to the fans and family who helped set the foundation for his success.

Tirelessly defying the odds of the conventional country album cycle over the last 17 years, Watson built a career one fan at a time, night after night, and album-by-album. It’s only recently that others have caught up to the now nationally recognised artist who, now more than ever, is a force to contend with. Watson has been selling out shows across Texas and beyond, with audiences ranging from 2,000-5,000 nightly for years, while also selling out in major markets including Boston and Denver. Expanding his reach even further, Watson performs headlining shows to capacity crowds internationally in the UK, Italy, France, Norway and more. For Watson, it has been a slow and steady climb, but one thing is clear, the integrity and principles that lie beneath all the hard work and perseverance have remain unchanged.

Vaquero - which means the ‘original cowboy’ - is an intensely reflective and personal set of songs filled with compelling narratives. Throughout, he depicts stories of a rugged people, humble but hardworking, like himself. He puts a playful spin on an insider’s view on the Texan way of life with ‘Amen Amigo’ and delivers life lessons courtesy of an old vaquero with the title track. On the poignant ‘Diamonds & Daughters’, he opens up his heart for his little girl. ‘Mariano’s Dream’ is a companion piece to ‘Clear Isabel’ and on ‘They Don’t Make Em Like They Used To’ he sings of the longing for the nostalgia of an earlier time. Listeners have come to know Watson’s pragmatic style and authenticity as an artist over the years. With Vaquero, he keeps his Texas flare and honest songwriting at the forefront.

Watson co-produced Vaquero with award-winning producer Marshall Altman (Eric Paslay, Frankie Ballard). All sixteen songs for the Amarillo, TX native bear his name, with half penned solely by Watson and the others co-written with acclaimed collaborators including Mac McAnally, Leslie Satcher, Kendell Marvel and more.

A pre-order of the album is available now and includes lead single ‘Outta Style’ and ‘Big Love In A Small Town’.

For more information on Aaron, including his UK tour dates, visit aaronwatson.com.

Whiskey Myers Announce May 2017 European Tour

Whiskey Myers have confirmed a headline European tour for May 2017, including dates in Germany, the Netherlands, France and the UK – these follow on from the band’s recent UK visit which saw venues being upgraded and all shows selling out.

To date, Whiskey Myers – Cody Cannon, Vocals & Guitar / Cody Tate, Guitar & Vocals | John Jeffers, Guitar & Vocals | Gary Brown, Bass | Jeff Hogg, Drums / Tony Kent, Percussion – have focused mainly on the UK, appearing at festivals(including Download & Ramblin’ Man), guesting with good friends The Cadillac Three, then packing out halls on their debut headline run, but now they’re ready to set sights on mainland Europe, too…

Says Cody Cannon: 'Travelling overseas has opened a whole new chapter in the story of the band. The audiences are really knowledgeable, they know all of the lyrics and they love to get involved, which suits us just fine. We’ve been playing for over two hours every night, and we’ve had a helluva time. And remember, this is just the tip!'

The dates are as follows:

17 May – UK – Newcastle O2 Academy 2
18 May – UK – Glasgow O2 ABC
20 May – UK – Manchester O2 Ritz
21 May – UK – Birmingham O2 Institute
22 May – UK – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
23 May – UK – Norwich Waterfront
24 May – UK – Cardiff Tramshed
25 May – UK – London Electric Ballroom
27 May – DE – Hamburg Prinzenbar
28 May – DE – Berlin Privatclub
30 May – NL – Amsterdam Paradiso (Upstairs)
31 May – FR – Paris Les Etoiles

The follow-up to Early Morning Shakes (2014), the band’s latest studio album Mud – available now via Spinefarm Records – spotlights 10 new tracks, including ‘Hank’ (which references the Hank Williams Jnr. album ‘The Pressure Is On’), ‘Frogman’ (co-penned with Rich Robinson of Black Crowes repute and inspired by friends in the US military) and ‘Good Ol’ Days’ (featuring Georgia-born singer / song-writer Brent Cobb, cousin of Dave).

Produced by Grammy winner Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Rival Sons), Mud sees the East Texans taking their emotive style and sound to fresh levels, straddling a number of different genres (soul, country, classic rock, blues, etc.) in the process, with the title track standing as one of WM’s weightiest recordings, both in terms of the sonics and the sentiment.

For tickets and further information about the band, check out whiskeymyers.com.

Interview: Canaan Smith Talks About His UK Experience and More!

Currently supporting The Shires on their huge My Universe tour across the country, Canaan Smith has been thrilling old fans and winning over new ones.

Canaan, who last year released his debut album Bronco, has set social media buzzing with his opening set and if you were to take a peek at my Twitter and Facebook feeds right now, you may think that he's on his own headlining tour - people are loving him and the feeling is mutual.

Canaan managed to find a few minutes in his busy schedule to answer a few questions about his tour so far, his album and his future plans.

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SC: You’re a week into touring with The Shires...how have you found the UK so far?

CS: Incredible! The crowds have been super generous and warm....it’s going to be hard to leave.

SC: Have you had much time to explore the country whilst you’ve been over here so far?

CS: Here and there. The parts we've seen have been beautiful! From Windsor Castle to Stonehenge to the beaches of Brighton, this scenic country has made quite an impact on me.

SC: Bronco is your debut album and it is an absolutely stellar album...how would you describe the album/your sound to those not yet familiar with your music?

CS: Thank you! I'm not sure how to sum it up, but lyrics are a top priority for me. Musically I've been inspired by everything from George Strait to Goo Goo Dolls and elements of each appear on Bronco. At the core of these songs, I'm just trying to make honest music.

SC: ‘Love You Like That’ was a #1 single for you in the states. Just what goes through your mind when you find out your song is #1? 

CS: I could feel it in my whole body. I wanted to run around screaming!  We worked long and hard for that # 1 and it was incredibly rewarding the day it happened.

SC: Who are some of your biggest influences?

CS: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Third Eye Blind, George Strait, Jeff Buckley, The Beatles

SC: What artists are you listening to right now?

CS: The new Sting album, Desi Valentine and Dirty Heads.

SC: And finally...what are your plans for 2017? Another trip to the UK, perhaps?

CS: A tour back home and playing the Country 2 Country festival in March!

SC: Thanks for your time & enjoy the rest of the tour!

CS: Thanks so much for the interview.

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For the latest on Canaan, including his last few UK dates this year, visit canaansmith.com. His album, Bronco, is available now.