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Little Big Town to host CMA Music Festival Special
Rising star country group Little Big Town have a pretty big job ahead of them. They’ll be the hosts for this year’s CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock television special on ABC. There is no exact airtime or airdate for the special, but it will be aired on ABC this August.
The television special features live performances recorded at this year’s CMA Fest by the top names in the industry in front of thousands of fans at LP Field in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
Watch the video announcement of this year’s hosts below. Are you going this year?
Rascal Flatts launch brand new Summer tour
Rascal Flatts, one of the top selling touring acts in country music today having sold over seven million concert tickets in the last 10 years, will embark on a brand new tour this summer, Farmers Insurance Presents Rascal Flatts “Live & Loud.” The 34-city run will launch on Friday, May 31 in Jones Beach, New York at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre with special guests The Band Perry and 2012’s The Voice winner Cassadee Pope.
Rascal Flatts wrapped their “Changed Tour” earlier this month and ended 2012 having played before one million fans. They are the best-selling country vocal group of the past decade and with the #1 debut of their latest album, CHANGED, they have the distinction of being one of only four acts to have seven consecutive studio albums debut in the top spot on the Billboard Country Albums chart during the Soundscan era. Since their musical debut in 2000, the band has sold over 21 million albums, 25 million digital downloads and delivered 14 #1 singles to the top of the charts. Rascal Flatts is the most awarded Country group of the past decade, earning over 40 trophies from the ACAs, ACMs, AMAs, CMAs, People’s Choice Awards and more.
The Band Perry – comprised of siblings Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry –combines classic Country with an eclectic infusion of Rock and Soul that is rounded out by perfect three-part harmonies. The sibling trio’s latest offering “Better Dig Two,” garnered the family band a multi-week #1 and their third ascend to the top of the charts. The lead single has been certified platinum for sales of over one million copies and marks the fastest-rising of their career. They will release their sophomore album, PIONEER, on April 2.
At just 23, Cassadee Pope’s unique vocals and powerful performances stole the national spotlight during Season 3 of “The Voice.” The reigning star of the NBC hit primetime show wowed from the start with offers from all four judges during the blind auditions before accepting with Team Blake (Shelton). The talented singer/songwriter has already appeared on Today, Live! With Kelly & Michael, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and performed with Train on New Year’s Eve With Carson Daily. She will release new, original music later this spring.
2013 Farmers Insurance Presents Rascal Flatts “Live & Loud” dates:
5-31 Jones Beach, NY Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre
6-2 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
6-6 Atlanta, GA Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
6-7 Tampa, FL Live Nation Amphitheatre Tampa
6-8 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
6-14 Boston, MA Comcast Center
6-15 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
6-16 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
6-23 Grand Junction, CO Country Jam USA
6-27 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
6-28 Cleveland, OH Blossom Music Center
6-29 Indianapolis, IN Klipsch Music Center
7-18 Eau Claire, WI Country Jam USA
7-19 Stateline, NV Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena
7-23 Paso Robles, CA California Mid State Fair
7-25 Cheyenne, WY Cheyenne Frontier Days
8-2 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook
8-3 Bomanville, ON Mosport Park Raceway/Boots & Hearts Festival
8-9 Wichita, KS INTRUST Bank Arena
8-10 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
8-16 St. Louis, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
8-17 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
8-18 Sioux City, IA Tyson Events Center
9-5 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
9-6 Pittsburgh, PA First Niagara Pavilion
9-7 Darien Center, NY Darien Lakes Performing Arts Center
9-12 Phoenix, AZ Desert Sky Pavilion
9-13 San Diego, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
9-14 Irvine, CA Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
9-26 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
9-27 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
9-28 Washington, DC Jiffy Lube Live
10-3 Las Cruces, NM Pam American Center/ New Mexico State University
10-4 Lubbock, TX United Spirit Arena
*dates are subject to change
Fan Fair X to debut at CMA Fest this year!
Things are getting just a little more exciting for country music fans heading to Nashville this year for the world’s biggest country music festival. CMA Fan Fest announced yesterday the addition of brand new features, including Fan Fair X, in the brand new Convention Center during the annual event from Thursday, June 6th until Sunday, June 9th.
Fan Fair X will be the new home for artist autograph signings, exhibits, live broadcasts, a marketplace, and the lifestyle home for country fans during the festival.
CEO Steve Moore shared:
“The relationship between our artists and the fans is at the very heart of what this event was founded on, and we continue to embrace that legacy with Fan Fair X. By moving to the Music City Center, we are able to provide more opportunities and activities to enhance this treasured experience for the fans.”
Country superstars Lady Antebellum are the first announced acts for Fan Fair X. They’ll perform the special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 6th. Hillary Scott said:
“I’m looking forward to being in the new Music City Center. We’re really excited to be given the opportunity to merge our ‘PING PONG & SONGS’ event with Music Fest and this new fan experience CMA is creating. Now that fans from all over the country will be able to play ping pong against us, Charles and Dave are going to have to brush up on their skills! All the money we raise at our booth will go to LADYAID – it’s going to be so fun for us and for the fans!”
Are you excited for CMA Fan Fest this year? Did you get your tickets yet? Who else do you want to see added to the Fan Fair X lineup?
CMA Music Festival Adds Artists to 2013 Lineup
Nashville’s yearly CMA Music Festival has just added more fabulous country stars to this year’s lineup at LP Field! Gary Allan, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, Hunter Hayes, Miranda Lambert, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band are the artists just announced, adding to previous lineup of Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town.
“We have an amazing lineup of talent for this year’s Festival,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “I know our fans will be entertained and enthralled to see our annual family reunion of the best and brightest performers in the industry.”
This years fest will take place on June 6-9 in downtown Nashville, TN. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000, or 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378). Ticket prices range from $135 – $350 plus fees.
More artists will be announced soon…stay tuned for details! More info can be found over at cmaworld.com.
Country Music Blog Rodeo: The Year of the Country Crossover
Over the last few years, country music has certainly expanded beyond the old stereotype of boots, big hair and ten-gallon hats. Artists like Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum have huge pop hits, the Zac Brown Band & Jason Aldean sell out Madison Square Garden and the Scotty McCreerys and Tate Stevens of the world rise to fame via televised talent shows. On the flip side, Mumford & Sons get played on country radio, UK-lite-rocker Ed Sheeran tours with Taylor Swift and Kelly Clarkson performs on the CMA’s. Over the last few years, it has become commonplace for country musicians to dabble outside of their genre, and if January of 2013 is any indication, this trend is only going to continue into 2013.
Interestingly enough, I grew up claiming that I loved all music “except country.” (Seriously – I think I wrote that on my Myspace…don’t judge me, I’m from NY.) However, after being taken to see Rascal Flatts at Madison Square Garden, my perspective on the genre completely changed and I was hooked. Now I’ll listen to anything from Garth to Reba to Taylor to Jason. However, if you were to ask a purist of country music, they’d probably argue that Rascal Flatts is just a boy (err, man) band in cowboy boots, Taylor is a dubstep-loving pop act and Jason’s renegade hick-hop style bastardizes country music. Yet, on the heels of Aldean selling out a show at New York’s Madison Square Garden in mere minutes, I’d argue that the biggest development of country music in 2013 will be the pure magnitude of its reach and ability to cross over, while also openly welcoming those who dabble and stretch the ideas of what typical “country” is.
Get Blown Away By Carrie’s 2012!
When we caught wind of just how incredible Carrie Underwood‘s 2012 was, we were simply blown away. Not only were we amazed by the laundry list of successful moments Carrie experienced, but we were exhausted just thinking about everything Carrie accomplished in only 366 days (Leap Year, y’all … are we observant, or what?)! The following is what Carrie’s year consisted of:
Dierks Bentley wraps 2012 with career milestones
Award winning singer/songwriter Dierks Bentley has one of the most recognizable voices in country music, and this year, that signature sound that could only be Dierks was heard more than ever on country radio with three consecutive No. one hits off his sixth studio album HOME bringing his total as both a singer and a songwriter to 10. It was a dizzying 2012 for the artist, who also toured internationally, nabbed award nominations from the ACMs, CMAs and most recently the GRAMMYs, mined GOLD singles and found himself sitting at the top of critics’ year end lists.
Bentley’s tribute to Johnny Cash on the GRAMMY Nominations Concert capped off 2012’s string of television appearances this year that included TODAY, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock, CBS’ Teachers Rock, and awards shows including the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, 47th Annual ACM Awards, 46th Annual CMA Awards and the 2012 American Country Awards.
After some time off the road for the holidays, Bentley will ring in the New Year with pre-game concerts at both the Capitol One Bowl in Orlando and the BCS National Championship Game in Miami. From Florida, preparations will begin for the launch of the Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley: Locked & Reloaded Tour set to kick off Jan. 17 in Columbia, SC.
EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Cherie Oakley
Did you watch the first season of “The Voice”? Have you ever heard the Reba McEntire #1 hit song “Turn On the Radio”? Were you tuned in when Kelly Clarkson and Vince Gill debuted their new song, “Don’t Rush,” on the 46th Annual CMA Awards? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, our latest interviewee should be no stranger to you!
She’s a little bit of Pop, a little bit of Country, and a whole lot of talent…Her name is Cherie Oakley and we were lucky enough to sit down with her and talk about songwriting, song recording, song performing, and some of the incredible artist encounters she has experienced in her musical career so far!
Dierks Bentley Visits Bronx School
Dierks Bentley made the day for some lucky students in The Bronx this week. As part of the Country Music Association (CMA)’s “Keep The Music Playing” program he visited the school and spoke about how important it is for children to stay interested in music, and why music can be used as a sign of expression. After speaking with the students, he then took a tour of their music room which was given $20,000 worth of new instruments and supplies from the program.
Dierks shared the importance of the visit, and why he was glad the program expanded outside Nashville:
“CMA’s “Keep The Music Playing” does so much to enable the future of kids who might not have a hands-on experience with music otherwise. I was honored that they asked me to be their ambassador for the day on behalf of all the Country music artists who donate their time each year to help this cause. They’ve made a huge dent in the music needs in Nashville, so it was really cool to help expand their mission to one of Country music’s top markets, like New York City.”
Every year at CMA Music Fest, the majority of the artists play for free with half of the net proceeds going towards CMA’s Keep The Music Playing program. This tradition began in 2001 when it was re-named from Fan Fair to CMA Music Festival. Between 2001 to 2005, over $800,000 has been donated towards musical education in schools across the United States.
Kira Isabella Joining Carrie Underwood’s Tour
Canada’s own Kira Isabella joins superstar Carrie Underwood as a support act for the Canadian dates on “The Blown Away Tour” this fall. The burgeoning songstress hits several cities opening for Underwood, including Calgary, Vancouver and Kira’s hometown of Ottawa. Hunter Hayes is also support on the tour. A full list of dates is below.
Kira shares:
“To be on a tour with one of my ultimate idols, and on an arena tour, is simply incredible. Carrie is someone I really look up to as an artist. I can barely contain my excitement!”
Just in time for the tour, Kira announced today her debut album will be in stores October 2, 2012. Titled for her first 2011 single, “Love Me Like That” also features Kira’s previously released track, “A Real Good Radio” and current single that’s racing up the country charts, “A Little More Work.”
Racking up accomplishments before even releasing her debut album, Kira is nominated for the 2012 CCMA Rising Star Award. Catch her perform live on the awards broadcast on September 9. Kira Isabella is Canada’s brightest young country music star. At just 18 years old she took home the “Country” award at the 2012 Canadian Radio Music Awards and has appeared at major Canadian country music festivals this past summer, including Boots and Hearts and Big Valley Jamboree.
See the full list of tour dates that Kira will join Carrie for below:
