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.

Marty Stuart Hosts UK Premiere of 'Born in Bristol' Documentary at C2C Festival

Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the birth of country music, Tennessee music superstar Marty Stuart yesterday hosted the UK premiere of the documentary, ‘Born in Bristol’, which tells the story of the of the 1927 recording sessions in Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia, an event Johnny Cash called, 'the single most important event in the history of country music'.

Stuart hosted a 30-minute question-and-answer session moderated by BBC Radio personality Baylen Leonard prior to the screening, which was held at the O2 Cineworld Cinemas as part of the C2C (Country to Country) Music Festival in London. Stuart, appearing at C2C in support of his new album, Way Out West, appears in the film, which tells the story of the July 1927 music recording sessions organized by Victor Recording executive Ralph S. Peer, where music legends including Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family were discovered.

Speaking about the evolution of country music from those humble record sessions in Bristol 90 years ago, Stuart said, 'I’ve always said that country music, to this very minute, is such as diverse place…it doesn’t matter where you get on. Whether it’s the Brothers Osborne or Eric Church or Florida Georgia Line or Taylor Swift, or the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, or Merle Haggard or somewhere in the middle, just get on board and start listening. You will find something that applies to your life—something that speaks to you, I’m sure.'

Produced by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Virginia Tourism Corporation and directed by Sundance Award-winner Chusy, ‘Born in Bristol’, which received shortlist consideration at the 2016 Cannes International Festival of Creativity, was filmed on location in Bristol, which straddles the Tennessee-Virginia state line in the U.S., and Nashville.

‘Born in Bristol’ features re-creations of the 1927 recording sessions, as well as appearances by Dolly Parton, Brad Paisley, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Ashley Monroe, Sheryl Crow, Ashley & Shannon Campbell and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, each of whom contributed music tracks to the 2015 release ‘Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited’, produced by multi-Grammy Award-winner Carl Jackson and featuring an historical narrative by Eddie Stubbs, the voice of the Grand Ole Opry. The release of ‘Orthophonic Joy’ coincided with the grand opening of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol, Tenn./Va.

'We like to say the soundtrack of America is made in Tennessee, because our state is the birthplace of no fewer than seven different forms of American music—country, bluegrass, gospel, the blues, rockabilly, soul and rock-and-roll,' said Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. 'We invite visitors from around the world to see and hear our music where it was born and is still going strong today.'

'Quality films have been produced on nearly every genre of music. But this documentary takes a deep dive in addressing the spark that lit the country music flame. What came from those two weeks in 1927 spawned an industry and launched careers of artists, songwriters and producers now enshrined in the Country Music and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame among others,' said Commissioner Kevin Triplett, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.  'Jimmie Rodgers’ first recordings were made during those sessions. George Harrison was inspired by Rodgers’ music before he even got his first guitar. There are hundreds of stories like that. This film celebrates those stories and the ingenuity of Ralph Peer and the mountain music traditions of Ernest Stoneman, the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers.  In Bristol those stories are preserved and promoted every day at the Smithsonian-affiliated Birthplace of Country Music Museum.'

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The Q&A session with Marty Stuart and Baylen Leonard will be broadcast at a later date on Chris Country, the UK’s 24/7 country radio station and official media partner of the ‘Born in Bristol’ premiere

Michael Nau Announces New Album and UK Tour with First Single

Michael Nau returns with his new album, Some Twist, out 16th June on Full Time Hobby.

Some Twist is the follow up to 2016’s Mowing and its announcement comes amidst a flurry of recent activity. Two weeks ago, Nau debuted songs from Some Twist on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic and headlined two sold out shows on back-to-back nights in Los Angeles. He has received extensive BBC radio play and been selected as a '6 Music Recommends' pick. One-off single 'Love Survive' cracked the top 50 on Spotify's Global Viral Chart and Elton John has played Nau on his Beats1 show.

The first single from Some Twist, 'Good Thing', debuted via The Fader who described it as 'sweet, a little fuzzy, and good for the soul'. Bright piano and fingerpicked guitar weave together throughout the song with a chorus that swells with feedback fuzz and crashing percussion. Nau’s ever-present sense of humor, one of the hallmarks of his songwriting, gives the song a wry sense of purpose amidst its reflection.

Michael Nau has also confirmed he'll be heading out on a UK tour with Haley Bonar in March and April. He'll play the following dates:

Mon. March 27 – Brighton, UK @ Komedia
Tue. March 28 – Nottingham, UK @ Bodega
Wed. March 29 – Manchester, UK @ Night & Day
Sat. April 1 – Liverpool, UK @ Central Library
Mon. April 3 – Newcastle, UK @ The Cluny
Tue. April 4 – Norwich, UK @ Norwich Arts Centre
Wed. April 5 – Bristol, UK @ Thekla
Thu. April 6 – London, UK @ The Dome

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For more on Michael, his new album and his tour, visit his official Facebook page.

Sean Rowe Shares New Video + Announces London Show in May

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Sean Rowe, who releases his new album New Lore through Anti- on 7th April, has unveiled the video to new song ‘Newton’s Cradle’.

'When I was writing the lyrics of the song I kept thinking about the Newton's cradle... you know, that toy that you set off and it reacts back and forth.  And it reminded me of a relationship, of fighting, of that feeling when you just keep setting each other off, making each other crazy and all you want to do is walk away. When we shot the video I wanted to show that feeling you feel in an argument like the whole world is coming down around you and you feel like you're losing your mind a bit.  We had a lot of fun with the masks and props and the different settings. I wanted to do something different, and we nailed that.'

Watch the video below:

Sean has also announced a London show in May. He'll be playing St. Pancras Old Church in London on May 26th.

New Lore’s simple yet powerful sound focuses on Rowe’s renowned baritone and evocative songwriting, delivering a collection of affecting stories of desperation and resilience.  His voice is beautifully augmented throughout by tasteful arrangements including flourishes of piano and a string section. The album was recorded in the city of Memphis at the historic Sam Phillips Recording studio and produced by Matt Ross-Spang who began working at the legendary studio when he was 16 and recently won a Grammy for his work with Jason Isbell.

Rowe says of the album, 'This is a record about loneliness and a longing for connectedness. This yearning for a sense of home. Musically, I think this record is more focused than any before. I’ve become really aware about what it is that I do well, allowing my voice to come through and lyrically grabbing people with the stories.. Those are kind of my superpowers. The instruments on the record never intrude on my voice and words.'

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

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

Brent Cobb Announces UK Headline Tour

After the huge success of his debut dates in the UK in February, Brent Cobb will be returning for a full UK tour in May plus two festival appearances including The Great Escape.

On his earlier visit Brent sold-out headline shows in London and Manchester and stunned crowds in Glasgow at the Celtic Connections festival with his raconteur’s wit, tales of rural life in the Deep South and heart-rending performances of songs from his critically acclaimed debut album Shine On Rainy Day.

Brent will play the following dates:

Sat 20th – Brighton, The Great Escape
Sun 21st – Oxfordshire, Wood Festival
Tue 23rd – Manchester, Deaf Institute
Wed 24th – London, The Borderline
Thurs 25th – Birmingham, Hare & Hounds
Sun 28th – Glasgow, King Tut’s Wah Wah

Brent has also released a new video of him performing the laid-back, melancholic album track ‘Black Crow’ from a session recorded at the Sam Philips Studio in Tennessee.

Released in the US last year to widespread praise, Shine On Rainy Day made number 11 in Rolling Stone Country’s Top 40 Albums of 2016. The album saw him enlist the help of his cousin and fellow Georgian, Dave Cobb, the Grammy Award-winning producer who has worked with Chris Stapleton, Jamey Johnson, Sturgill Simpson and album guest Jason Isbell.

2017 is a busy year for Brent with him heading out on the road across the US supporting the likes of Nikki Lane, The Cadillac Three, Little Big Town, Jamey Johnson and the aforementioned Chris Stapleton, as well as playing California’s Stagecoach Festival, before hitting the UK in May.

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For full information on Brent and his tour dates, visit brentcobbmusic.com.

Marty Stuart To Host UK Premiere of 'Born in Bristol' Documentary at C2C

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the birth of country music, Country to Country festival in London will present the UK premiere of the documentary Born in Bristol at The O2’s Cineworld Cinemas on Sunday, 12th March 2017 at 1:30pm, including a special question-and-answer session with Marty Stuart moderated by BBC Radio personality Baylen Leonard, himself a Bristol, TN native.

Stuart, who will perform on the C2C main stage later that evening in support of his new album, Way Out West, also appears in the film, which tells the story of the July 1927 music recording sessions organized by Victor Recording executive Ralph S. Peer, an event Johnny Cash called, “the single most important event in the history of country music.”

Produced by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Virginia Tourism Corporation and directed by Sundance Award-winner Chusy, Born in Bristol, which received shortlist consideration at the 2016 Cannes International Festival of Creativity, was filmed on location in Bristol, which straddles the Tennessee-Virginia state line in the U.S., and Nashville.

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C2C wristband and ticket-holders can attend the premiere by visiting the Tennessee Tourism booth at the Town Square and registering to win a trip to Tennessee, to receive a free ticket. There will also be a screening on Saturday 11th at 2:00pm, without Q&A.

Jade Jackson Announces Debut Album 'Gilded'

Set for release on May 19th via Anti-, Jade Jackson’s stunning debut album Gilded offers a powerful introduction to the young singer-songwriter’s preternatural writing and distinguishingly raw sound that is simultaneously new and old, merging a youthful spiritedness with a weary storyteller’s perspective.

The Bluegrass Situation called Jackson’s moody and romantic sound 'part Hank Williams, part the Smiths' and a 'unique combination of deadpan and delicate' while Rolling Stone featured Jackson in their '10 New Country Artists You Need to Know' list, describing her as 'a raspy-throated, confident-beyond-her-years songwriter channelling Hank Williams via a sombre goth-folk aesthetic.'

In anticipation, Jackson has just released a track entitled 'Finish Line'. Like so many truly affecting songs, it is a painful personal experience transformed into a musical work of affirmation and defiance.

Jackson explains, ''Finish Line' is incredibly personal to me and I'm excited to share it with you. Don't let other people tell you who you are because that's only ever up to you; when people put you down make art.'

Jade Jackson hails from the tiny town of Santa Margarita in central California where she began playing guitar and writing songs at 13. By the time she had entered high school she had attracted a growing fan base with local performances and estimates that she had written over 300 songs before graduating.

The notion that music could be more than merely a personal escape dates back to the night she went to a concert for the first time without her parents; and the headliner was Southern Californian legends Social Distortion.

'When I watched Mike Ness walk onstage and felt the energy from the crowd, it ignited something in me,' Jackson explains. 'I wanted to be on that stage too. I never knew I wanted to perform until that day. That shifted all the gears in my life.'

After that Jackson formed a tight knit band and together they have shared stages with such iconic artists as Merle Haggard, Rosie Flores and Dwight Yoakam. Along the way, Jade attracted the admiration of none other than Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness, whose wife was friends with Jackson’s mother. Upon hearing her perform, Ness offered to mentor Jackson and to produce her debut album.

The resulting album, Gilded, is unapologetically country rock, merging the heartbreak and resilience of Lucinda Williams with the melodic confidence of Emmylou Harris, yet containing the emotional presence of a young musician who cherished albums by The Gun Club and Smiths alongside the works of George Jones and Hank Williams.

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For more information on Jade and her album, visit JadeJackson.com.

EP Review: 'Signature Songwriter Series Volume 1' - Zack Dyer

Since launching last year, independent Nashville label Silverado Records have been putting together a very strong and exciting roster.

One such signing is Zack Dyer who kicks off the label's Signature Songwriter Series with his four track co-written EP.

Country is the broad bracket genre for this release but there's also elements of pop and blues, with Zack's incredibly soulful voice at the helm. As much as I try to resist comparing artists to each other, if you like guys like Jason Mraz, Chris Young or Jack Johnson, then you'll love this release. It's easy listening, well-written and welcoming music.

We open with the upbeat 'All American'. This track is about a girl who has caught Zack's eye and it's joyful and sweet. One criticism is that this song has been put out a little too early as this easily has potential to be a summer anthem...give this one a spin when you're driving, windows down, on a beautiful sunny day and you'll get what I mean.

'Heartland', a love letter to home, showcases Zack's smooth voice beautifully. It's bluesy and it paints a lovely picture of where he grew up and everything that's so great about it. A bass guitar gives it an infectious groove.

Then we have another ode...to a car. 'P.O.S' is a lovingly cheeky song to the first car you own. It's nothing special (as he calls it, it's a P.O.S) but it gets the job done and you'll always remember it for a number of reasons. It's a very fun and playful song.

'Wishful Drinking' ends the EP on a more sombre note, a sorrow filled song about a love that was not meant to be. It's the excellent choice to end on, showing that there's more to Zack than the chilled tracks that had proceeded it. Gut-wrenching punches are also part of his wheelhouse.

All in all, this EP is another sign of very promising things to come, both from Zack himself and Silverado. Well worth a purchase.

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Signature Songwriter Series Volume 1 is available to download now.

AMA UK Artist of the Year Yola Carter Announces European Festival Dates

Following a year that saw the release of her debut solo EP ‘Orphan Offering’; acclaimed live performances in London and Nashville and in between; and worldwide coverage in publications like The Guardian, NPR, The Times and No Depression, British country-soul singer and songwriter Yola Carter has announced a run of UK & European festival dates over the coming months.

You can catch her at the following festivals:

8th April 2017: Ramblin’ Roots Revue, High Wycombe UK
29th - 30th April 2017: Kilkenny Roots Festival, Ireland
14th May 2017: Dart Music Festival, Dartmouth UK
21st July 2017:  Underneath the Stars, Barnsley UK
24th - 27th August 2017: Tønder Festival, Denmark

Carter was named ‘UK Artist of the Year’ in the UK Americana Music Association (AMA UK) Awards in February, and was presented with her award by Al Booth, Editor of Specialist Music at BBC Radio 2. She also performed twice at the prestigious award ceremony in London, opening the night and later as part of a finale singing ‘Will The Circle Be Unbroken’ alongside all the evening’s performers and nominees. In her own words: "We did it! This might be a solo project but it has taken a team to get things done. I'll be heading back into the Studio to record from next week so keep an eye out new recordings and clips in the spring!

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For more information about Yola and her tour dates, visit yolacarter.com.

Single of the Week: Julie's Moon - Dean Owens & The Whisky Hearts

Our single of the week this week is not just a great song...it's also for a great cause.

Available to download from the end of next week, Dean Owens & The Whisky Hearts have released the poignant 'Julie's Moon'. The track was written after Dean's sister, Julie, sadly passed after fighting cancer and is now being released in aid of Marie Curie's Great Daffodil Appeal.

By purchasing this song, you'll not only have a beautiful new song in your library but will also have helped a fantastic charity. It'll be one of the best decisions that you make next week.

About Dean Owens

Dean Owens is one of Scotland’s finest singer songwriters, with fans including Bob Harris, Ricky Ross, Irvine Welsh and Russell Brand.  His songs including 'Raining in Glasgow' and 'Man From Leith' have been hailed as classics of Scottish songwriting.

In September 2014 Dean’s beloved big sister Julie finally lost her battle with cancer. She was 50. Julie was a huge supporter of her brother and his music, always encouraging him, always at his gigs. Written very shortly after her death, 'Julie’s Moon' is one of Dean’s most personal songs, although it was a subject he would have preferred to avoid. But some songs insist on being written, and the final result is lyrically poignant but also characteristically musically memorable. It’s a searingly personal song, an ocean of the heart - a special song for a special girl and a special cause.

Dean: “This is a song I wouldn't have chosen to write due to the circumstances, but when it came to me I knew I had to just go with it. My sister was a big fan of my music so it seems only appropriate that she now has her own song, and I’m delighted if it can do some good in raising awareness and funds for the work of the Marie Curie charity"

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'Julie's Moon' will be released March 10th to coincide with Marie Curie's Great Daffodil Appeal. All proceeds from sales of the single will be donated to the Marie Curie charity.

David Adam Byrnes Signs With Silverado Records

Silverado Records have announced the signing of Arkansas native David Adam Byrnes.

Byrnes has released two previous studio albums and tours extensively. He’s opened for some of country music’s biggest names, including Hank Williams Jr., Chris Young, Thompson Square and many others. He was a featured act at 2016’s Nationals Final Rodeo at the Mirage in Las Vegas, alongside now label mate, Joe Diffie. David is represented by Arlis Albritton and Tayler Bock of Full On Management.

“David is an exceptional talent, and just radiates country music in everything he does. We’re thrilled to have him on the label, and are really looking forward to sharing some amazing new music with his fans,” said Silverado Records VP/A&R Aaron Chesling.

Byrne’s music is traditional country music through and through, with his Arkansas roots prominent in every song he sings. With his true country sound Byrnes joins the label to create multiple albums, with new music coming soon. "I am so excited to start this new journey with the amazing folks at Silverado Records," says Byrnes. "They truly believe in me as an artist, writer, and performer. I love their family atmosphere, approach to the music business, and overall passion. It's a perfect match and I can't wait to get to work!"

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For all the latest Silverado Records news, check out silveradorecords.com.

Shantell Ogden Reveals Video For Latest Single 'Different Sides of the Mississippi' - WATCH

Following the success of her previous release 'Devil Comes Knockin', Nashville-based singer/songwriter Shantell Ogden has released her latest single 'Different Sides of the Mississippi' and revealed a brand new music video for the song.

Taken from her 2016 album The Road That Drives Me, Shantell describes the track as "a three-minute-movie about what happens when couples drift apart from each other. As the story unfolds, the narrator is trying to understand what has gone wrong in her relationship, ultimately hoping for reconciliation. I believe that anyone who's ever lost someone they still loved will connect with the emotion in this song."

Watch the video below:

About Shantell Ogden

Shantell's songs have received airplay on more than 800 country and Americana radio stations and shows internationally, reaching Top 2 chart positions both in the U.S. and Europe. Her songs have also appeared on the CW's TV series Hart of Dixie and in several feature films. She's won honors for Songwriter of the Year and Americana Song of the Year for 'Ghosts in the Field' in the 2015 IMEA Awards, and Americana Album of the Year for Better At Goodbye in the 2014 IMEA Awards.

Last year Shantell toured the UK & US and enjoyed extensive media appearances including Coffee, Country & Cody (WSM) and Good Day Utah (Fox), in support of her acclaimed fifth studio album The Road That Drives Me.

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For more information on Shantell, visit shantellogden.com.

Carolynne to Release New EP 'Coming Back to Me' In April

Yorkshire-based country singer-songwriter Carolynne has confirmed the release of her debut solo EP Coming Back To Me, out on 7th April 2017.

Having performed at festivals and venues across the UK, enjoyed extensive radio play and national press coverage, and been the first country artist to take to the X Factor stage, this release of brand new songs follows her previous singles 'Take the Keys' and 'I Love You But Shut Up'.

About Carolynne

For country singer-songwriter Carolynne, music has always been a priority. Though she's now had over 6.5m views on YouTube to date and has been featured extensively on national radio, print and television across the UK, her story starts at the age of just fourteen, when her family of “country music fanatics” inspired her to hit the road joining five-piece Country band 'Sundown'. After several years of touring the UK, at eighteen she left her family home in Yorkshire, heading for London to pursue her career in music, before long signing a contract with BMG and starting to work as a published songwriter. The next couple of years took her abroad to Sweden, where she spent time writing for other pop artists while developing her own songwriting style & sound, a blend of country, rock and pop. As well as collaborating with some great songwriters she continued to work as a touring performer across the U.K.

This allowed Carolynne to hone and develop her unique style of performance, which would eventually catch the eyes and ears of X Factor judge Gary Barlow when she later appeared on the show as a finalist. Gary described Carolynne as “supremely talented” with a voice that “just oozes Country”. With the X Factor propelling her into the public eye in front of millions of viewers & being the first UK contestant to bring Country music to the X Factor stage, Carolynne’s next move was unexpected for someone in her position; knowing she wanted to fulfil her dream as a songwriter, she headed to the heart of country music and the home of many of her influences - Nashville, Tennessee.

During her five months spent travelling across the USA, from Nashville to Arizona and L.A., she performed at every opportunity, and had the chance to work with, among others, Grammy award-winning songwriter Jeff Silbar (Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson), 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 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”.

Thanks to the attention she draws at her energetic live shows and extensive media coverage, Carolynne's music has been heard by country fans all over the UK and beyond, building up a combined social media following of over 133k followers in the process, so it’s safe to say fans are eagerly awaiting her next move. As she told Country Music Magazine, who highlighted her as a ‘Shooting Star’ artist early in 2017, the title of her brand new debut EP Coming Back To Me is “about coming back to music, because I’ve lost my way with music at points in my life, I’ve fallen in and out of love with it but it always finds its way back to me…”

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Carolynne's Coming Back To Me EP is released worldwide on 7th April 2017, and will be available to pre-order on March 3rd. For more information visit carolynneofficial.com.

Mandy McMillan Signs With SIlverado Records

Silverado Records have announced the signing of Nashville based singer-songwriter Mandy McMillan to a multi-album deal with the label.

McMillan, from Stony Plain, Alberta Canada, has been in Nashville since 2012, writing songs and performing across a wide swath of the South, and building a loyal core of fans. She also has tremendous support from Canadian fans, and frequently returns to Alberta for performances and charity events.

"Every once in a while you meet an artist you just know you want to work with from that first encounter. For us, that's Mandy! Her songwriting, strong vocals, fun personality, and strong work ethic embody exactly what we look for in a recording artist," said Silverado's CEO Scott Thomas.

"Mandy's great original songs, and ability to captivate a room make her an incredible addition to Team Silverado" said Silverado VP/A&R Aaron Chesling.

She's opened for several of Country's big names like Trisha Yearwood, Craig Campbell, Maggie Rose and, in perhaps a foretelling of the future, once opened for now label-mate HISH at a Love Your Melon event. McMillan was a guest artist on the label's 2016 holiday release, A Silverado Family Christmas, and recently performed on the label's most recent live Silverado Signature Songwriter Series at Belcourt Taps in Nashville. Her most recent EP, self-titled, was released in 2014.

In Mandy's own words: “I’m very happy to be a part of this team that's more like family than anything else. Can't wait to work along side Scott, Aaron, Heather and the rest of the amazing team at Silverado!”

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Connect with Mandy over on Twitter, @MandyMcMillan

Single of the Week: 'Ones You Love The Most'

Kate Ellis' new track, 'Ones You Love The Most' is our single of the week.

Kate's take on the well known adage features her moving vocals at the very forefront of this track, at times quivering with emotion, as she sings about the inevitability of hurting those closest to you. Citing some of music's greats as influences - Mary Chapin Carpenter and Leonard Cohen, to name a few - this simplicity of this single feels very much like a tribute to them. There's no overbearing production to this number, just a stirring voice, a talented band and what makes music great - heart.

Have a listen below:


About Kate Ellis

Kate Ellis is an Americana singer-songwriter, who was born in Louisiana, grew up in New York and is now based in London, England. Having performed in festivals and concerts across the USA, London and Paris, the timeless sound of her music reflects her love of classic singer-songwriters from Gram Parsons and Gillian Welch, to Mary Chapin Carpenter, Leonard Cohen and Nanci Griffith.

Kate’s southern country-folk roots come from her father, an important early musical influence who once played guitar with Hank Williams on the famous Louisiana Hayride, where Elvis and Johnny Cash started out. The story of her upbringing provides an interesting background to her musical journey - as well as being a musician, her father worked as a high-profile ‘Mad Men’-era Madison Avenue advertising executive, and her mother was a New York socialite during the sixties and seventies. Although Kate had a natural talent for classical piano and art in her early years, she found herself following a different path before pursuing music, attending law school and eventually becoming a lawyer.

Kate’s emotional and seductive vocals take you into a world of private beauty, reflection and feelings. The music is always intimate and evocative – you listen and want to be there. A journalist for the Observer commented: "Kate Ellis writes hauntingly beautiful songs and has an amazing voice, I'm a fan!" While TheMediaEye.com said: "Kate’s contemporary country-folk classic sound, and a voice best described as a cross between Emmylou Harris and Suzanne Vega, make her debut album eagerly anticipated."

Her debut single ‘Ones You Love The Most’ is released on 10th February 2017, and Kate will be playing live throughout the year - tour dates to be confirmed.

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'Ones You Love The Most' is available to stream via Soundcloud/Spotify and available to download via iTunes now. For further information on Kate, visit kateellis.com.

Sean Rowe Shares Video For New Album's First Single, 'Gas Station Rose'

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Sean Rowe whose thunderous soulful voice Esquire recently proclaimed has the “kind of intensity that pulls you in and keeps you there” has released an
appropriately sparse video for his 'Gas Station Rose'.

The track, off Rowe’s forthcoming album New Lore which arrives on April 7th, is a bittersweet road song built around a simple guitar, some well placed piano chords and Rowe’s soulful and powerful voice.

“I wrote the melody while in Las Vegas,” Rowe explains, “I knew there was something to the song because I loved to play it. Lyrically it's about overcoming obstacles and looking for a place to hang your hat. The characters in the story are in it together. It’s not easy but it's worth it. The line, “we are the elders of our minds” means that we control our own destiny, that it's what we believe about ourselves that determines where we go.”

New Lore’s simple yet powerful sound focuses on Rowe’s renowned baritone and evocative songwriting, delivering a collection of affecting stories of desperation and resilience.  His voice is beautifully augmented throughout by tasteful arrangements including flourishes of piano and a string section. The album was recorded in the city of Memphis at the historic Sam Phillips Recording studio and produced by Matt Ross-Spang who began working at the legendary studio when he was 16 and recently won a Grammy for his work with Jason Isbell.

Rowe says of the album, “This is a record about loneliness and a longing for connectedness. This yearning for a sense of home. Musically, I think this record is more focused than any before. I’ve become really aware about what it is that I do well, allowing my voice to come through and lyrically grabbing people with the stories.. Those are kind of my superpowers. The instruments on the record never intrude on my voice and words.”

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

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For more information about Sean, visit seanrowe.net.

ALBUM REVIEW: 'Dream Country' - Sarah Darling

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover...but you know that sometimes you can't help but do it. I did it with Sarah Darling's latest release Dream Country. The album box art is stunning: a constellation map is printed on the disc, gold stars are embossed on the case and the album insert folds out into another gorgeous map, with the stars representing people Sarah wanted to thank for bringing this project to life.

Wow, I thought. The music has some seriously high standards to live up to now.

I needn't have worried. Dream Country, like its case, is a work of beauty.

We open with 'Wandering Star', a track that sets the tone for the album brilliantly. Atmospheric and ethereal, it's a track of self-belief and reassurance that it's okay to find yourself lost in life. A strings section helps to make this one aptly dreamy.

'Where Cowboys Ride' is a four minute trip to Wyoming. Described as a 'love letter' to her home state, it's hard not to fall in love with the idyllic landscape she's painting for us. The theme of home continues on 'Anchor' a track written with a certain Mr Sam Palladio and is about missing his home. Another beautiful song...listening to this album really, really makes you want to get out there and see the world.

Sarah puts a new twist on 'Tell That Devil', a song that was already dear to my heart. Probably more people listening to this album will recognize this track as a song sang by Juliette Barnes in Nashville but this song, originally cut by Jill Andrews, currently serves as the theme song for Wynonna Earp, a drama about a demon-hunting eponymous main character (and currently this reviewer's favorite show). Darling does this one justice, providing feisty vocals to a kicking beat.

Then comes a drastic change of tone and something that left me speechless. The personal, 'Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want'. Sure, it's not an original but it's a song that you can feel resonates so deeply with Sarah. It's vulnerable and, musically, is so beautifully arranged. It's absolutely stunning.

Honesty features also on the following 'Starry Eyes'. Life is fraught with difficulties, she admits here but you gotta push through them to get to where you want to be. It's an optimistic message that many will relate to, and will also need to hear.

Sarah then takes us across the channel to 'Montmarte'. It's three and a half minutes of beautiful imagery, immersing you in a picturesque Parisian cityscape. 'Halley's Comet', a track that has been steadily growing momentum (and deservedly so) is next up and, again, it's another spellbinding number. Opening and ending with a delicate piano, there's again vulnerability to the vocals, vocals that soar and shine bright.

'You Take Me All The Way' is a sultry and playful number, with a jazzy melody. And then we end with 'Stargazer'. It's the perfect song to end on. Sarah calls it 'a lullaby to help you get through' - a philosophy that is very much at the heart of Dream Country. This is an album for the dreamer; hopeful and inspirational. And it's an album that is very much needed in the world right now.

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Dream Country is out this Friday (10th February).

Catherine McGrath Announces UK Tour & Festival Dates

Following last night's sensational performance at London's Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, country-pop’s newest rising star Catherine McGrath has announced a number of UK shows including support for US country singer/songwriter Canaan Smith on his March UK tour.

Catherine has also just announced a third date with The Saturdays’ Una Healy and will now be playing at Bush Hall on the 15th May in addition to the February shows at London’s St Pancras Old Church on 15th and Dublin’s Sugar Club the following day.

You can also catch Catherine performing at this year’s Country 2 Country festival at London’s O2 Arena on the 11th and 12th of March and The Great Escape in Brighton on the 18th of May with many more to come. Full live dates below.

Following a series of live in-session videos, Catherine has just revealed ‘Say You Love Me’ filmed live from Firepit Studios, showcasing her stunning voice which is winning the hearts of young fans across the country.

This comes after the release of her debut EP One, which came out just before Christmas via Warner Bros. Records and saw Catherine dubbed as ‘Ones To Watch 2017’ by Amazon Music. The EP has so far clocked up almost 1 million streams on Spotify and features the three original tracks ‘Hell Would Have To Freeze Over’, ‘Cinderella’ and ‘She’ll Never Love You’ as well as her beautiful version of Jessie Ware’s hit single ‘Say You Love Me’.

All four tracks have been added to numerous Spotify playlists including the UK and Global New Music Friday Playlists and lead track ‘Hell Would Have To Freeze Over’ reached #1 on the Very Nearly Nashville Playlist – with Catherine as the cover star – and #9 on the Spotify Viral Chart.

Embracing her love for Nashville and country music while conserving her Irish folk roots and pop influence, Catherine’s songwriting talent is going from strength to strength. Writing of love, loss and life, her youthful touch relates to her audience and is as engaging as it is beautiful.

Tour dates are follows:

February
Wed 15th – St. Pancras Old Church, London (supporting Una Healy)
Thu 16th – The Sugar Club, Dublin (supporting Una Healy)

March
Sat 11th – C2C Festival, London
Sun 12th – C2C Festival, London
Tue 14th – Bush Hall, London (supporting CAM)
Wed 15th – O2 Institute 2, Birmingham (supporting Canaan Smith)
Thu 16th – Deaf Institute, Manchester (supporting Canaan Smith)
Sat 18th – Thekla, Bristol (supporting Canaan Smith)
Sun 19th – Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth (supporting Canaan Smith)
Mon 20th – Concorde 2, Brighton (supporting Canaan Smith)
Tue 21st – Bush Hall, London (supporting Canaan Smith)
Mon 27th – The Social, London

April
Wed 19th April – The Bedford, London

May
Mon 14th – Bush Hall, London (supporting Una Healy)
Thu 18th – The Great Escape Festival, Brighton

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For more information about Catherine and her tour, follow her on Twitter @imcathmcgrath

Rodney Crowell Announces New Album Featuring Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow and John Paul White

Multi-Grammy award winning troubadour Rodney Crowell will release his new album Close Ties on 7th April through New West Records.

The 10-song set is his first album in over three years and follows The Traveling Kind, his acclaimed collection of duets with long-time collaborator Emmylou Harris. Co-produced by Jordan Lehning and Kim Buie, the album features a duet with Sheryl Crow on the haunting 'I’m Tied To Ya' and 'It Ain’t Over Yet' a vocal collaboration with his ex-wife Rosanne Cash and John Paul White. It is the first time Crowell and Cash have appeared on record together since Cash’s Interiors album in 1990.

Rolling Stone premiered the video for 'It Ain’t Over Yet' which also features legendary harmonica player Mickey Raphael.

Fifty years after Crowell first started playing as a teen in Houston garage bands, he has moved into elder-statesman territory, and continues to extend the path carved out by the top-tier songwriters who preceded him. His songs have been recorded by country legends (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, George Strait), to current country chart toppers (Tim McGraw, Keith Urban) to blues icons (Etta James) to rock and roll legends (Van Morrison, Bob Seger). He is a Grammy award winner, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, recipient of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting from the Americana Music Association, and the author of his autobiography, Chinaberry Sidewalks.

Close Ties Tracklisting:

1. East Houston Blues
2. Reckless
3. Life Without Susanna
4. It Ain’t Over Yet (featuring Rosanne Cash & John Paul White)
5. I Don’t Care Anymore
6. I’m Tied To Ya (featuring Sheryl Crow)
7. Forgive Me Annabelle
8. Forty Miles From Nowhere
9. Storm Warning
10. Nashville 1972

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For further information about Rodney Crowell, visit rodneycrowell.com.

Holloway Road Confirm C2C Appearance + Announce New Single 'If She Falls' Out 10th March

Country-pop duo Holloway Road have confirmed their performance at this year's Country to Country (C2C) Festival in London in March, and have also announced the release of their brand new single 'If She Falls', which will be made available to stream & download on March 10th 2017.

About Holloway Road

The first thing you notice about UK duo Holloway Road’s live performance is that it doesn’t look like country music; they’re more baseball caps and trainers than Stetsons and boots. But the sound they make sits somewhere between the country-pop chart and the Nashville songwriting they both grew up listening to. The second thing you notice is the crowd’s response; Holloway Road have spent the last two years playing throughout the UK & Europe, honing their live show, and as a result they understand the importance of being both a standout name on any lineup and a high energy crowd-pleaser.

They haven’t been afraid to gain momentum while learning their craft - having played the Martin stage at CMA Fest 2015 in Nashville, performed for the Country to Country (C2C) crowds in London on two consecutive years, written with Jacob Bryant (John & Jacob), and landed both their EPs in the iTunes country top ten thanks to radio play across the UK for their singles ‘Little Harder’ and 'Where We Are Tonight' and national coverage in publications like Maverick and Country Music Magazine - success in a growing international country scene is increasingly becoming part of the Holloway Road story.

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For more information on Holloway Road, visit hollowayroadmusic.com.

Sarah Darling Releases Animated Video For New Single 'Halley's Comet' - WATCH

Singer-songwriter Sarah Darling has premiered the video for her new single, ‘Halley’s Comet’.

The lead single from Sarah’s forthcoming album, Dream Country, - due out February 10th on Be Darling records - ‘Halley’s Comet’ is one of seven she wrote or co-wrote among the 10 album tracks and is “just a really personal story about a dreamer and that key figure in one’s life who encourages you to do what you love.”

Sarah worked with Nashville based production company Magnetic Dreams over a six month period. “I said I wanted it to be wide open spaces. It reminds me of being home back in Iowa and, of course, there’s a ton of stars,” she says. "As you grow up, fear can change the way you dream, and it’s easy to forget why you do what you love. I think it’s one of those videos that I hope when people see it, it will relate to kids but adults, too. It’s sort of for everyone.”

Produced by Nashville multi-instrumentalist-composer-arranger Larissa Maestro, Dream Country, “a cinematic, dreamy album with strings on it” showcases Sarah’s smooth, escapist song-writing style that crosses country, Americana and contemporary pop. As Sarah explains, “this has been an opportunity to make a record with everything I’ve ever imagined, top to bottom.”

An experienced player in the Nashville scene, Sarah has also supported stadium fillers Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Vince Gill and Tim McGraw, and performed at the Grand Ole Opry more than 80 times. Recently she toured the UK with Jenn Bostic and Kyshona Armstrong, selling out each night. Sarah returned in October supporting British chart-topping duo Ward Thomas and will be performing at Country To Country in London in March 2017.

Sarah first made her name in America in 2003 as a top-three finalist on E! Network reality show, The Entertainer. She went on to release two successful full-length US albums, Every Monday Morning and Something to Do With Your Hands. Sarah is now preparing for the worldwide release of Dream Country, her first UK album. From wishing on wandering stars, to never giving up, the new material really captures the spirit of the ones who love to dream.  Sarah Darling is sure to take you on whimsical ride through songs about stars, and when cowboys used to ride away into the West, with her new sound that she calls Dream Country.

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Dream Country is out on February 10th and can be preordered here. For more information about Sarah, visit SarahDarling.com.

ANTI- Signs Jade Jackson

Anti- is thrilled to announce the signing of Jade Jackson.

A highly prolific and supremely talented young singer-songwriter, Jackson creates a sound that is simultaneously new and old, merging a youthful spiritedness with a weary storyteller’s perspective usually reserved for veteran artists. Stylistically the sound is unapologetically country rock. It merges the heartbreak and resilience of Lucinda Williams with the melodic confidence of Emmylou Harris, yet contains the emotional presence of a young musician who cherished albums by The Gun Club and Smiths alongside the works of George Jones and Hank Williams.

Hailing from the tiny town of Santa Margarita in central California, Jackson began playing guitar and writing songs at 13. By the time she had entered high school she had attracted a growing fan base with local performances and estimates that she had written over 300 songs before she graduated.

Since then Jackson formed a tight knit band and together they have shared stages with such iconic artists as Merle Haggard, Rosie Flores and Dwight Yoakam. Along the way, Jade attracted the admiration of renowned Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness, who produced her debut album.

The collaboration between the two really began years back. As Jackson explains, “I went to see Social Distortion play when I was thirteen. I was really into punk. They are one of my favorites. After the show I picked up the guitar and began writing songs. That night I believe started a ripple effect inside of me that influenced my musical career. That day forward I tailored my life around wanting to be a musician."

Several years after that, Mike’s son and wife caught a small show at a coffee shop and told the Social Distortion frontman about the young singer-songwriter. When Ness heard her self-recorded demo he invited her to his studio in Orange County where he told her he wanted to produce an album for her. “I remember driving up to meet him for the first time, freaking out,” she says. “It was crazy because watching him that night back when I was thirteen put the dream in my heart so I find it very serendipitous to now be working with him.”

Mike Ness says of the ensuring session, “I wouldn't have done the Jade Jackson record if I didn't believe in her and her potential. The songs were amazing and came to life each week we worked on them. She is an old soul and it comes through in her songwriting and performing. She truly is one of a kind, raw and unique. She put her trust in me and I trusted she'd deliver. And she did! Here is a bad ass record delivered to you from us! Listen and enjoy."

Now Jackson has just released a video for the track “Motorcycle,” a song that channels a tough girl swagger and reluctant vulnerability set to a haunting post-punk Western sound. “I was driving and it was dark and I just started singing the lyrics," Jackson says. “It’s about feeling independent and capable and restless. I pulled the car over and recorded myself singing. When I got home I picked up my guitar and already knew the chords. At first it was this intricate finger picking and then Mike envisioned it more as a western ballad. He put a spin on it for sure and I think it sounds awesome.”

Jade Jackson will be touring with Social Distortion in the US in March and April this year.

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For further information on Jade Jackson, visit jadejackson.com.

EP Review: 'South Texas Suite' - Whitney Rose

After releasing her last album, Heartbreaker of the Year in 2015, Whitney Rose is back with an EP that could very well be Record of the Year.

South Texas Suite is a short, but sweet, set of songs that instantly catapults you to Texas. Rose is Canadian but a piece of her heart most definitely belongs to the Lone Star state with honky-tonks, Tex-Mex flair and Luckenback all on the agenda here. This EP is a six track love letter to the state that captured her heart after a two month residency there.

Opening number 'Three Minute Love Affair' has an apt cha-cha rhythm as Rose sings (/warns, depending on your situation) about how it can only take three minutes on the dance floor with someone to fall in love.

'Analog' has sass, swagger and a desire to return to a simpler time, a time in which our lives weren't ruled by technology. Her style of traditional country gives off a very classic-sounding vibe as she addresses a very modern day problem.

An ode to a staple of the country lifestyle, 'My Boots' is a foot-stomper, sassy and utterly charming. This one will be fun to hear live and it's easy to imagine that it will become a fan favorite.

'Bluebonnets For My Baby' is this reviewer's personal favorite on this release. This gorgeous romantic ballad is a joy to listen to, a throwback to the 50s/60s country sound (I was instantly reminded of the great Patsy Cline on my first listen) and Rose's voice here is faultless.

The nostalgia continues in a very literal sense on 'Lookin' Back on Luckenbach'. This is more classic country and the more I hear of it, the more I want to hear. Rose's sound is traditional, yes, but it relates and leaves a much more profound mark on myself than the very often generic-sounding slew of "party anthems" that continue to dominate the country charts today. I long for a resurgence of well-crafted, heartfelt songs and South Texas Suite solidifies Rose's potential to be one of those artists to lead any looming revival. She's a strong and assured singer-songwriter, who's also gracious enough to dedicate the last track of her EP ('How 'Bout A Hand For The Band') to the talented musicians who helped her bring this project to life.

Rose makes the trip across the pond this May, playing Nottingham, Sheffield, Newcastle and London. With South Texas Suite in her repertoire, these shows will simply be unmissable. So if you haven't, go grab your tickets to go accompany this fine release.

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South Texas Suite is released today (January 27th). For more information on Whitney Rose, her album and her UK dates, visit whitneyrosemusic.com.

Jim Lauderdale Announces New Album 'London Southern' + Shares New Track 'If I Can't Resist' - LISTEN

Award winning singer and master songwriter Jim Lauderdale releases a striking new studio album London Southern on February 3 2017 and will take part in the hugely popular Transatlantic Sessions tour in February, starting in Glasgow at Celtic Connections and then touring the UK.

He will play the following dates:

3rd February - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
5th February - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
6th February - Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
7th February - Corn Exchange, Cambridge
8th February - The Sage, Gateshead
9th February - Symphony Hall, Birmingham
10th February - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

Himself recipient of the Wagonmaster Award at this year’s US Americana Honors & Awards, a special lifetime achievement honour reserved for the most valuable contributors to the course and history of the format, presented to him by George Strait, Jim has been invited to present an award at the second UK Americana Awards in London next February.

Listen to Jim's new single, 'If I Can't Resist' below.

Recorded in London at Goldtop studios and produced by Neil Brockbank and Robert Trehern, London Southern features co-writes with Dan Penn, Joan Oates, Odie Blackmon and Kendell Marvell alongside six Lauderdale solo compositions and a host of celebrated guest musicians.

About the album, Jim says: 'Making London Southern was my first time recording in the London area. It’s something I had wanted to do for a long time, but more important was getting to work with Nick Lowe's band and with his co- producers Neil Brockbank and Bobby Irwin.  I had been such a huge fan of Nicks and was able to be his support act back at different times in ‘94 and ‘95 which was a huge break for me. So fast forward 20 years later and this record came together. We recorded over several sessions at the Goldstar Studios in Balham. In my opinion Neil Brockbank is one of the best producers, engineers, and mixers out there. Period.  Tragically, Bobby Irwin has passed away and I dedicate this record to his memory. He was well loved by his friends and family and is terribly missed.

Some of the songs for the first session were written or started in Glasgow, Liverpool, or London after gigs in the few days before starting. Back in the States, before going back for second rounds of sessions, I wrote with new co writers John Oates (If I Can't Resist, Different Kind Of Groove) and Dan Penn (Don't Shut Me Down, What Have You Got To Lose). Neil got me to add strings to "I Love You More" which I had never tried before. He had great ideas and made this a different sounding record than I had ever gotten to make.  It was a real pleasure and inspiration to play with the musicians and some of the songs were written during the recording. Ready for more.'  

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For more information on Jim, the new album and his UK dates, visit jimlauderdale.com.

Brent Cobb Announces UK Release of Album 'Shine On Rainy Day' Ahead of UK Shows

Brent Cobb has announced the UK release of his critically acclaimed debut album Shine On Rainy Day, which will be released March 24th through Atlantic Records.

To coincide with the announcement, The Independent premiered a heart-rending new performance of the title track which was filmed at the legendary Sam Phillips Studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

The video gives a taste of what’s to come from the Georgia native who this week hits the UK for a number of shows. These dates follow Brent’s US tour with Anderson East and a recent support slot with country music giant Chris Stapleton.

Brent will play the following dates in the UK:

26th January - The Slaughtered Lamb, London
27th January - Castle Hotel, Manchester
29th January - Celtic Connections at O2 ABC, Glasgow

About Shine on Rainy Day

Released in the US last year to widespread critical acclaim, Shine On Rainy Day made number 11 in Rolling Stone Country’s Top 40 Albums of 2016. The album saw him enlist the help of his cousin and fellow Georgian, Dave Cobb, the Grammy Award-winning producer who has worked with Chris Stapleton, Jamey Johnson, Sturgill Simpson and Jason Isbell

Brent wanted to record an album that felt drenched in the spirit of the South, but is neither conventional Southern rock nor mainstream country. Instead Shine On Rainy Day sits somewhere on the wide bandwidth that exists between the two.

Working with cousin Dave they discovered the perfect vibe for the album, from the blue-eyed soul evident on album opener ‘Solving Problems’, through the country funk of ‘Diggin’ Holes’, to the swamp boogie sounds of the 1960s and early 1970s which resonate on album closer ‘Black Crow’, featuring blistering slide guitar work by Grammy Award winner Jason Isbell.

Lyrically the album carries something of a Southern Gothic narrative, channeling the influences of Brent’s rural life. It alternates between dark visions and those self-deprecating scenes of black humour which 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 says. “My friend called me up out of the blue and said that song hit him so hard. It’s talking about a rainy day, and 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, he’ll 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.

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For more information about Brent, visit brentcobbmusic.com.

Southern Halo Announce UK Tour Dates

Following the success of their current single ‘Living Like That’ and their self-titled debut album, Southern Halo - the country-pop trio of sisters from Mississippi - will set out on their first tour of the UK at the end of March, with dates in London, Nottingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle.

Tickets are on sale now and the dates are, as follows:

18th March - The Garage, London
19th March - Bodega, Nottingham
20th March - Gullivers, Manchester
21st March - Hug & Pint, Glasgow
22nd March - Jumpin' Jacks, Newcastle

About Southern Halo

The Mississippi Delta is revered as the birthplace of the Blues and Rock & Roll. Soon, it will also be recognized as the home of Southern Halo, a soulful sister trio hailing from the small town of Cleveland, Mississippi. Growing up in an area so rich in musical history had its benefits for Natalia, Christina and Hannah Morris: a close-knit family nurtured the girls love of music and community support helped boost the siblings’ confidence. Their first live performance was in Cleveland - at a local restaurant - when Hannah, the youngest, was just nine years old.

In the years since that performance, Southern Halo has crafted a signature sound that is a blend of classic Country and ‘Pop Country’ with a dash of Southern Rock. It’s youthful, energetic music - made immediately recognizable by the sweet sibling harmonies that have become Southern Halo’s trademark. The girls lay it all out on the line during their high-energy stage shows, honing their chops as openers for top-tier acts Brantley Gilbert, Eric Paslay, Maren Morris, Love and Theft, Tyler Farr, Randy Houser, John Michael Montgomery, Parmalee, Old Dominion, Jamie Lynn Spears, Craig Campbell, Uncle Kracker, Julie Roberts, American Young and B.B. King.

The stars aligned for the three sisters in 2014 when Southern Halo made the National finals of the Texaco Country Showdown at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and recorded their first EP with Alabama’s Jeff Cook. Their current album, ’Southern Halo’, was produced by SESAC's 2012 Writer of the Year Catt Gravitt (Kelly Clarkson, Jake Owen) and Gerald O'Brien (Martina McBride, Trace Adkins).

With the release of Southern Halo, the band’s career took off – and the trio’s popularity continues to grow exponentially. Last year they made their CMA Music Festival debut with appearances on two separate stages; were named Nashville Universe’s Vocal Group of the Year 2016; performed at an elite pre-GRAMMY Awards show on the rooftop terrace of the GRAMMY Museum at LA Live in Los Angeles; launched Townsquare Media's ’Say It With Pepsi’ Concert Series; and performed during the 63rd Annual Nashville Christmas Parade television show. Brand partnerships were forged with Gibson Guitar, Claire’s, and Radio Disney Country, and the siblings now host a weekly radio show, ’Hangin’ With Halo’, stateside on powerhouse WDMS-FM and globally on CMR Nashville. Their music videos can be seen on Radio Country Disney, CMT, MTV and The Country Network.

The band’s hypnotically-upbeat Country radio debut, ‘Little White Dress’, caught the attention of U.S. radio and press and gained them early recognition in Europe; the track spent an incredible eight weeks at #1 on the International Hotdisc Chart. Their sophomore single, ‘Rewind’, was a U.S. Top 40 MusicRow CountryBreakout™ Chart hit that also held the #1 spot on the Hotdisc Chart for two weeks.

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