Ashley Monroe To Release 'SPARROW ACOUSTIC SESSIONS' EP On February 15th

GRAMMY-nominated Nashville artist Ashley Monroe has announced the release of a brand new EP featuring five acoustic versions of songs from her critically-acclaimed fourth album Sparrow, and shared one of the tracks - 'Wild Love'. Sparrow (Acoustic Sessions) will be released on 15th February 2019 and is available to pre-order now.

The Dave Cobb-produced album, which landed at #1 on the iTunes singer-songwriter chart was featured on a number of significant end of year lists, with Esquire, Billboard, Stereogum, American Songwriter, Nashville Scene and more hailing the record among the best releases of 2018.

Currently on a headline tour in the UK & Europe, with two sold-out dates in London and stops in Glasgow, Oslo and Amsterdam, Monroe noted the relevance of choosing today to release the first song and announce the new EP: 'It means a lot to be releasing the acoustic version of 'Wild Love' while I’m in the UK, because the song was inspired by my very first trip to London. The confidence everyone had made me feel so alive. The fans here in the UK really listen and appreciate music so deeply and it brings me such an energy to be back playing shows here.'

UK/European tour dates:

23/1: Amsterdam, NL - Melkweg (sold out)

25/1: Oslo, NO - Interstate 19 (Americana Weekend)

27/1: Glasgow, UK - Saint Luke's (Celtic Connections)

29/1: London, UK - Bush Hall (sold out)

30/1: London, UK - Bush Hall (sold out)

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For more information about Ashley and the release, visit ashleymonroe.com.

Morgan Evans Hits Top Spot With US Single 'KISS SOMEBODY'

After a hugely successful 2018 following the release of his debut album Things That We Drink To, Warner Music Nashville / Warner Bros. Records star Morgan Evans is celebrating his first-ever #1 hit in the U.S with his triumphant country single 'Kiss Somebody'.

The country-pop star celebrated along with co-writers Chris Stefano and Josh Kear at a party in Nashville last week, where Warner Music Nashville Chairman and CEO John Esposito surprised Evans with a plaque to commemorate the track being officially GOLD-certified by the RIAA – exceeding 500,000 track equivalents units/sold.

As the country genre continues to thrive in the UK, at the start of last year the Australian native made his third visit across the waters and performed at the UK’s biggest Country music event, C2C Festival. His 'loop-savvy' (Rolling Stone), one-man-band style performance impressed crowds, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his next visit.

Evans was also invited to host a BBC Radio 2 show presenting highlights of Nashville’s CMA Music Festival 2018 over four weeks. Talking to various stars of the event and playing snippets of live sets, his radio DJing debut gave the UK audience an insight into the huge four-day country music celebration.

Already an award-winning country force in Australia, Evans’ presence as the next big name in country music continues to grow across the globe, with his non-stop live schedule running throughout 2019 with a tour supporting Old Dominion underway before serving as direct support on the first leg of Dan + Shay The Tour.

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For more information about Morgan, visit morganevansmusic.com.

The Milk Carton Kids Announce May UK and Europe Tour

The Milk Carton Kids return to the UK and Europe for the first time since the 2018 release of their Grammy nominated album All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn't Do.

The new project marks the first time that acoustic duo Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale have brought a band into the studio with them. On this short tour, songs new and old will be played by the duo without accompaniment.

The dates are as follows:

21 May 2019 - Stockholm – Kagelbanen (Sweden)
3 May 2019 - Berlin – Passionskirche (Germany)
24 May 2019 – Mainz - Frankfurter Hof (Germany)
25 May 2019 – Lüdenscheid - Kulturhaus Lüdenscheid (Germany)
26 May 2019 – Amsterdam – Paradiso (Netherlands)
28 May 2019 – Dublin - Olympia Theatre (Ireland)
29 May 2019 - London – Barbican United Kingdom

Since their last studio album, Monterey (ANTI- 2015), life has changed dramatically for The Milk Carton Kids. Pattengale has moved to, and is now producing records in Nashville. Ryan is now the father of two children and works as Creative Director on Live from Here with Chris Thile, the reboot of A Prairie Home Companion. A break from years of non-stop touring, Ryan says, has yielded 'space outside of the band that gives us perspective on what the band is.'

But it's not just the addition of the band here that creates something new. National politics left Ryan feeling disoriented and mournful. Pattengale’s relationship of seven years ended, and he found himself unexpectedly needing surgery for cancer. (He is cancer-free now, and accidentally broke his cigarette habit in the process.)

Though they didn't approach the new album conceptually, a theme of shattered realities began to emerge out of the songs that sparked to life. Recent events provided a bruising background for the record, yet the project is somehow bigger than any personal grief. Two-part harmonies ride acoustic guitars high above the haunting landscape created by the presence of the band, as if Americana went searching for a lost America.

'There are only so many things you can do alone in life that allow you to transcend your sense of self for even a short period,' Pattengale says. 'I'm the lucky recipient of a life in which for hundreds of times, day after day, I get to spend an hour that is like speaking a language only two people know and doing it in a space with others who want to hear it.'

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For more information, visit themilkcartonkids.com.

Dustin Lynch Claims SIXTH US #1 With 'Good Girl' Ahead of UK/Ireland Dates in March

Dustin Lynch is celebrating his latest #1 single, this time as both an artist and a songwriter.

With mixing 'a shot of R&B into his country tonic' (Taste of Country), the PLATINUM-certified hitmaker’s 'Good Girl' tops both the Billboard and Country Aircheck/Mediabase Country Airplay charts this week. Finding 'an unmistakable sound to call his own,' he co-wrote the surprise summertime anthem alongside Justin Ebach and Andy Albert that left fans and critics wanting more (Taste of Country). Amid growing international airplay from the likes of BBC radio & Chris Country, Lynch is due to perform arena shows in March as part of the C2C Festival in London, Glasgow and Dublin (dates below).

'I’ve never started the year with a #1 song, and I’ve got to say, this feels really good,' Lynch remarked. 'I moved to town with the dream of writing songs and singing on stage, and finally the stars aligned, and everything worked out. I’ve learned the lesson of perseverance, of hard work and continuing to hone your craft.'

Following the success of his third studio album CURRENT MOOD (BMG/Broken Bow Records), 'Good Girl' delivers Lynch’s SIXTH #1 as an artist with 47 MILLION total streams and garnering over 455,000 in consumption. The hit is a landmark achievement unique to his previous chart success, marking his first #1 as a songwriter, something Lynch has waited for since the beginning of his career and finds 'very very special. As a songwriter, getting a #1 is life-changing.'

Lynch’s previous #1 hits include PLATINUM-certified 'Small Town Boy' and 'Where It’s At,' and GOLD-certified chart-toppers 'Hell of a Night,' 'Mind Reader,' and 'Seein’ Red,' tallying an impressive 5 consecutive #1 singles between 2014-2017. His signature Tennessee sound has 'steadily built one of the most consistent careers in modern country music' (Billboard).

In 2018, Lynch was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by iconic entertainer Reba McEntire. He presented the awards for Single Record of the Year and Single of the Year at the 53rd ACM Awards and the 52nd CMA Awards, and wrapped 2018 with the Reason To Drink... Another Tour, packing out venues nationwide with Cole Swindell and special guest Lauren Alaina.

This year, in addition to making his UK/Ireland debut at C2C in March, Lynch will join the Canadian leg of Thomas Rhett's Life Changes Tour in April and North American Very Hot Summer Tour starting in May as direct support, but that’s just the beginning for this 'Country music star' (AXS). 
'Hopefully as a songwriter this is the start,' said Lynch. 'With new music on the way, I can guarantee there will be more right around the corner.'

Friday 8th March - Dublin, 3Arena

Saturday 9th March - London, O2 Arena

Sunday 10th March - Glasgow, SSE Hydro Arena

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For more information visit dustinlynchmusic.com.

Nicole Atkins Announces UK April Tour

Nashville crooner Nicole Atkins, who recently toured the UK with Mercury Rev, will return to these shores in April for a string of headline shows. Having performed again just before Christmas with friend and collaborator Jim Sclavunos from the Bad Seeds, Atkins will play her fifth London show in 18 months at The Lexington on 30th April.

Nicole recently unveiled her take on the Guns N’ Roses classic ballad, 'November Rain', as a duet with Mark Lanegan. 'Atkins and Lanegan’s 'November Rain' cover turns the song into a slow-cooking country-rock duet', commented Stereogum, 'The Screaming Trees singer’s signature grizzled, gothic baritone makes an ideal complement to Atkins’ sweet high-pitched twang.' The song is available on all digital platforms and can be heard here.

Tour dates are, as follows:

4/4 - Blue Arrow, Glasgow
5/4 - St Mary's Creative Space, Chester
7/4 - The Cluny 2, Newcastle
9/4 - Arts Centre, Norwich
10/4 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
30/4 - The Lexington, London

Atkins found her inspiration for the 'November Rain' cover while staying at a cosy Vermont Inn, a retreat from the usual corporate hotel digs provided while on tour. At the inn, Atkins found herself having strange dreams, one of which inspired the track. Atkins explains, 'I dreamt that I was in an old tower and I was singing an old ’60s country-style duet of the Guns n’ Roses song 'November Rain,' and it sounded awesome. I immediately woke up and sang it into my phone the way I heard it.'

Returning to her home in Nashville, Atkins gathered a group of musician friends and headed into the studio to record the song as she dreamt it. Missing a duet partner, Atkins called upon The Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan to complete the track. Atkins states, 'I still didn’t know who I’d get to sing it with me and then I thought, 'well who’s the best living singer?' For me it’s Mark Lanegan… Mark and I have been talking about singing together now for over ten years so this seemed like the perfect time to do it. I figured I didn’t have anything to lose by asking and it turned out exactly as I’d pictured.' Lanegan adds, 'Doing this song was a blast. It combined two of my favourite things: Nicole’s beautiful voice and GNR.' The result is a gorgeous, sprawling country reimaging of the rock n’ roll classic.

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For more information, visit nicoleatkins.com.

Mandolin Orange Release New Single 'THE WOLVES' Taken From Upcoming Album 'TIDES OF A TEARDROP''

Mandolin Orange release 'The Wolves', the third single taken from their new album Tides Of A Teardrop out February 1st on Yep Roc Records.

The band has also announced that later this year they will be performing live at the Islington Assembly Hall  - a sign of things to come for the 'slow-burning, steadily rising duo [that] exudes gentle elegance' (NPR Music). This further extends their largest headlining tour to date, with over 55 shows hitting the US first and then on across Europe.

Mandolin Orange are coming off an incredible 2018 that saw them sell out every single one of their headlining US performances, make new inroads in Europe, and rack up almost 50 million streams from over 5 million fans on Spotify. The North Carolina duo’s new studio album, Tides Of A Teardrop, has received early praise from NPR, Paste, The i Paper, and Rolling Stone Country.

Mandolin Orange EU/UK May 2019 tour dates:

1st – Ampere, Munich, DE

2nd – Lido, Berlin, DE

3rd – Nochtspeicher, Hamburg, DE

4th – Folk a Rock, Malmo, SE

5th – Slaktkyrkan, Stockholm, SE

7th – John Dee, Oslo, NO

8th – Pustervik, Gothenburg, SE

10th – Oosterpoort, Groningen, NL

11th – Doornroosje, Nijmegen, NL

12th – Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL

13th – Dok, Ghent, BE

14th – Les Etoiles, Paris, FR

15th – Islington Assembly Hall, London, UK

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For more information about Mandolin Orange, visit mandolinorange.com.