April 25, 2015
Remembering Jones
Some of the biggest stars in country music turned out for a red carpet event Thursday, April 23, to commemorate the grand opening of the George Jones Museum, celebrating the life and work of one of the icons of country music. More than 800 people turned out for the gala event.
Among those seen walking the red carpet were Naomi Judd, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Greenwood, Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley, T. Graham Brown, John Rich, T.G. Sheppard, Dierks Bentley, and Lorrie Morgan. Country music great Jan Howard strolled the museum and shared first-hand stories of the years she knew Jones. But the biggest star of the evening was Jones himself and a musical legacy spanning more than 50 years.
The museum is the result of years’ worth of effort by Jones’s wife, Nancy, who announced the museum’s creation last fall. The grand opening corresponds to the second anniversary of Jones’s passing, April 26. The new museum is a world-class exhibition that documents Jones’s life and cements his position in the history of country music.
Spanning more than 44,000 square feet, the George Jones Museum features exhaustive displays of memorabilia and photos, video displays and interactive experiences. The museum also includes a 40-seat, rocking chair theatre that shows clips from Jones’s television broadcasts, concert appearances, and interviews.
In addition to the displays of Jones memorabilia and history in the museum and a lobby gift shop, the George Jones Museum includes two restaurants, a public exhibition space and event center, and a roof-top bar that overlooks the Cumberland River and LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans.
The George Jones Museum is located at 128 Second Avenue North, just one block off of Broadway.
Among those seen walking the red carpet were Naomi Judd, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Greenwood, Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley, T. Graham Brown, John Rich, T.G. Sheppard, Dierks Bentley, and Lorrie Morgan. Country music great Jan Howard strolled the museum and shared first-hand stories of the years she knew Jones. But the biggest star of the evening was Jones himself and a musical legacy spanning more than 50 years.
The museum is the result of years’ worth of effort by Jones’s wife, Nancy, who announced the museum’s creation last fall. The grand opening corresponds to the second anniversary of Jones’s passing, April 26. The new museum is a world-class exhibition that documents Jones’s life and cements his position in the history of country music.
Spanning more than 44,000 square feet, the George Jones Museum features exhaustive displays of memorabilia and photos, video displays and interactive experiences. The museum also includes a 40-seat, rocking chair theatre that shows clips from Jones’s television broadcasts, concert appearances, and interviews.
In addition to the displays of Jones memorabilia and history in the museum and a lobby gift shop, the George Jones Museum includes two restaurants, a public exhibition space and event center, and a roof-top bar that overlooks the Cumberland River and LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans.
The George Jones Museum is located at 128 Second Avenue North, just one block off of Broadway.
April 22, 2015
Fergal Flaherty Scots dates
Irish singer Fergal Flaherty has a forthcoming Scottish tour, including central belt dates this summer. The shows in Harty's Function Suite Airdrie on August 5th and the Caledonia G.C. Aberdeen on August 7th are now SOLD OUT. Fergal will also play Linlithgow Rose F.C. on August 6th Invergorden Social Club August 8th and Kaldis Baillieston August 9th tickets are going fast.
High Speed Grass to Rutherglen Acoustic Night
The monthly Acoustic Night at The Meeting Place presents 'High Speed Grass' bluegrass and country band this Friday 24th April @ 7.30pm
High Speed Grass hail from Fife and is led by the multi talented,Jim Hyndman who plays banjo, mandolin dobro and fiddle. He sings lead and beautiful tenor harmonies. Influenced mainly by the famous Flatt & Scruggs, Jim started out playing banjo in 1973, and has played with Country Kin, Chinook, Scots Country Comfort and a string of other bands since then, including the successful bluegrass band, Longway. He cites his banjo influences as Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, JD Crowe, Tony Trischka and Jim Mills, and other interests include building instruments and fly-fishing for Trout in Scotland's rivers and lochs. He is an Engineer in the Semiconductor industry, and also plays in a folk band, The Scalded Cats.The two other members of the band play wonderful backup, double bass and guitar.
Support acts as usual will be The Mairs Family Band plus a surprise duo.
Tea coffee and home made cakes are included in the ticket price of £5 (donation)
Entry for children - free.
High Speed Grass hail from Fife and is led by the multi talented,Jim Hyndman who plays banjo, mandolin dobro and fiddle. He sings lead and beautiful tenor harmonies. Influenced mainly by the famous Flatt & Scruggs, Jim started out playing banjo in 1973, and has played with Country Kin, Chinook, Scots Country Comfort and a string of other bands since then, including the successful bluegrass band, Longway. He cites his banjo influences as Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, JD Crowe, Tony Trischka and Jim Mills, and other interests include building instruments and fly-fishing for Trout in Scotland's rivers and lochs. He is an Engineer in the Semiconductor industry, and also plays in a folk band, The Scalded Cats.The two other members of the band play wonderful backup, double bass and guitar.
Support acts as usual will be The Mairs Family Band plus a surprise duo.
Tea coffee and home made cakes are included in the ticket price of £5 (donation)
Entry for children - free.
Southern Fried line up
This year’s Southern Fried Festival of American roots music in Perth takes place from Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August.
Punch Brothers, Rhiannon Giddens, McCrary Sisters and The Fairfield Four headline the eighth Southern Fried Festival which will also feature an all-women celebration of the songs of Dolly Parton. Festival passes go on sale at 10am on Monday 20 April, with individual show tickets available from Thursday 23 April.
The Southern Fried Festival takes place in Perth Concert Hall and other city centre venues. Other confirmed acts include Chris Smither, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Speedometer featuring James Junior, Champion Doug Veitch, Della Mae, Red Sky July, Dean Owens and the Whisky Hearts, Yola Carter, Amythyst Kiah, Meaghan Blanchard, Boogalusa, Wolftrain, Eugene Twist, The Holy Ghosts, JD &The Straight Shot and Daniel Meade & The Flying Mules plus many more to be announced.
Punch Brothers, Rhiannon Giddens, McCrary Sisters and The Fairfield Four headline the eighth Southern Fried Festival which will also feature an all-women celebration of the songs of Dolly Parton. Festival passes go on sale at 10am on Monday 20 April, with individual show tickets available from Thursday 23 April.
The Southern Fried Festival takes place in Perth Concert Hall and other city centre venues. Other confirmed acts include Chris Smither, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Speedometer featuring James Junior, Champion Doug Veitch, Della Mae, Red Sky July, Dean Owens and the Whisky Hearts, Yola Carter, Amythyst Kiah, Meaghan Blanchard, Boogalusa, Wolftrain, Eugene Twist, The Holy Ghosts, JD &The Straight Shot and Daniel Meade & The Flying Mules plus many more to be announced.
Willie & Merle go to pot
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard are releasing a new duets album, Django and Jimmie (June 1st on Legacy Recordings), named for their musical heroes – Willie loves Django Reinhardt and Merle loves Jimmie Rodgers .
The first single, “It’s All Going To Pot”, was released April 20th and sounds like it was influenced by something other than Django and Jimmie! When Willie Nelson guested on the US TV show Jimmie Kimmel Live recently, he sang a few verses and told the audience that it would be released appropriately on 4/20*. You can pre-order the album on iTunes at this link: http://smarturl.it/WNMH_DJ and get the new single as an instant grat track.
*According to Wikipedia – “April 20th (4/20) has become a counterculture holiday in North America, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis”.
The first single, “It’s All Going To Pot”, was released April 20th and sounds like it was influenced by something other than Django and Jimmie! When Willie Nelson guested on the US TV show Jimmie Kimmel Live recently, he sang a few verses and told the audience that it would be released appropriately on 4/20*. You can pre-order the album on iTunes at this link: http://smarturl.it/WNMH_DJ and get the new single as an instant grat track.
*According to Wikipedia – “April 20th (4/20) has become a counterculture holiday in North America, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis”.
Whisky or Whiskey
Stirling born, but South of England based Country singer Kathryn Anderson is going back to Nashville in June to record her next single but we have a dilemma .... the song – co written with a friend in Music City - is called “Talk To The Whiskey” but Kathryn wonders whether she should drop the ‘e’ in deference to her Scottish roots .
Previously Kathryn’s songs have been compared to “early Highway 101 material” by Billy Yates and there high hopes for this new song on both sides of the Atlantic.
Previously Kathryn’s songs have been compared to “early Highway 101 material” by Billy Yates and there high hopes for this new song on both sides of the Atlantic.
Spend the weekend with Lisa McHugh
Hailing from Glasgow and now residing in Co. Fermanagh, Lisa McHugh has won the hearts of the nation with her charm, wit and of course, her beautiful voice. With such a huge demand for the Sunday World’s “Female Vocalist of the Year”, she has decided to hold her very first “Weekend of Dancing”, which will be held this autumn, in the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny.
The gorgeous Glaswegian had huge success last year, with her most recent album, “A Life That’s Good” and TV series “On The Road With Lisa”. Her TV show has has now started filming for its second series and she is currently working on her next album – it’s all go for a sought-after woman like Lisa!
Her very special “Weekend Of Dancing” will be taking place from 16th – 18th October, which will turn the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny into a haven for country music fans. Lisa will be joined by Johnny Brady, Patrick Feeney and Nicky James throughout the weekend, and it is sure to be one you do not want to miss.
There is a special package available for Lisa’s fans at a discounted rate, you can find out more by calling the hotel on +353 (0) 74 912 4369 or further information and booking online at www.clanreehotel.com
The gorgeous Glaswegian had huge success last year, with her most recent album, “A Life That’s Good” and TV series “On The Road With Lisa”. Her TV show has has now started filming for its second series and she is currently working on her next album – it’s all go for a sought-after woman like Lisa!
Her very special “Weekend Of Dancing” will be taking place from 16th – 18th October, which will turn the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny into a haven for country music fans. Lisa will be joined by Johnny Brady, Patrick Feeney and Nicky James throughout the weekend, and it is sure to be one you do not want to miss.
There is a special package available for Lisa’s fans at a discounted rate, you can find out more by calling the hotel on +353 (0) 74 912 4369 or further information and booking online at www.clanreehotel.com
April 01, 2015
Belfast Country Station not an April Fool.
It's been done before, but when Belfast radio station Cool FM became a Country station on April 1st, it was thought that it was another April fools prank. However, Cool FM's owners Bauer are launching a Country station from the city later in the month. Downtown Country will be on DAB across Northern Ireland, as well as online. The April fool was a clever way of creating interest in the new station.
Legendary Midnight Jamboree hits financial woes
The Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree has been an important part of Nashville’s country music business. for nearly 70 years. The show, which airs on WSM after the Grand Ole Opry, has been around for nearly 68 years, but now it’s taking a hiatus due to financial problems.
The show has seen its own fair share of talent, but it’s also known for helping artists who are up-and-coming and artists who are already established. Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Garth Brooks, Elvis Presley and Connie Smith have all used the stage to perform their songs. It’s been legendary for years.
Tubb passed away back in 1984, and David McCormick, who runs the Ernest Tubb Record Shop in Nashville, has tried to remain true to Tubb’s legacy and wishes, according to the Tennessean. He’s even paid to keep the show going with his own funds. Even though he’s done a lot, the show costs are high. It’s roughly $2,000 to do the free show on Saturday nights.
“This is a tremendous loss and a very sad sign of the times,” WSM DJ and Grand Ole Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs tells the paper. “Those of us who have listened to and appeared on that show have never forgotten what that experience was like.”
“As an industry, we can’t sit idly by and let this slip away,” Marty Stuart explains. “David McCormick is one of the cornerstones in the country music business; we need to do anything we can to help support him right now. We all lose if the Midnite Jamboree goes under.”
McCormick is exhausting options to try and find a new venue for the show — even if that means recording from Broadway in downtown Nashville. He’s also considered renovating the second floor of the shop to allow them to broadcast from there. Support is coming from the community as well — the Midnite Jamboree Association has been founded to help with some support.
The show has seen its own fair share of talent, but it’s also known for helping artists who are up-and-coming and artists who are already established. Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Garth Brooks, Elvis Presley and Connie Smith have all used the stage to perform their songs. It’s been legendary for years.
Tubb passed away back in 1984, and David McCormick, who runs the Ernest Tubb Record Shop in Nashville, has tried to remain true to Tubb’s legacy and wishes, according to the Tennessean. He’s even paid to keep the show going with his own funds. Even though he’s done a lot, the show costs are high. It’s roughly $2,000 to do the free show on Saturday nights.
“This is a tremendous loss and a very sad sign of the times,” WSM DJ and Grand Ole Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs tells the paper. “Those of us who have listened to and appeared on that show have never forgotten what that experience was like.”
“As an industry, we can’t sit idly by and let this slip away,” Marty Stuart explains. “David McCormick is one of the cornerstones in the country music business; we need to do anything we can to help support him right now. We all lose if the Midnite Jamboree goes under.”
McCormick is exhausting options to try and find a new venue for the show — even if that means recording from Broadway in downtown Nashville. He’s also considered renovating the second floor of the shop to allow them to broadcast from there. Support is coming from the community as well — the Midnite Jamboree Association has been founded to help with some support.
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