Texas Music Talent Gets Opportunity on Rodeo Houston’s Hideout Stage
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Though the venue isn’t as large, the Rodeo Houston Hideout Stage is the place where up-and-coming talent and future rodeo headliner hopefuls can cut their teeth. It’s also where rodeo attendees can get the opportunity to discover some of Texas’s and country music’s best budding talent.
“All My Ex’s” Songwriter Whitey Shafer Has Died
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A legend of country music songwriting, and one that put the painful experience of divorce into words and song like none other has gone to the great honky tonk in the sky. Sanger D. Shafer, known popularly as Whitey Shafer, passed away on Saturday, January 12th according to reports.
Tracy Byrd Is Back, and Is Hitting The Road Hard and Heavy
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With all the re-emphasis on 90’s country lately, what better time for 90’s country star Tracy Byrd to re-emerge with a big tour. Tracy Byrd continued to make live appearances here and there, but he re-emerged in 2016 when he released his first record in 10 years, the self-funded and self-promoted ‘All American Texan.’
Patty Griffin Announces New Self-Titled Album
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Like a lazy Sunday morning, a Patty Griffin song can frame life perfectly, and put everything into perspective. This gift is the reason artists such as Emmylou Harris, Miranda Lambert, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and the Dixie Chicks have selected her songs to record, and the Grammys have awarded and nominated her efforts.
Album Review – Randy Houser’s “Magnolia”
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Tag Randy Houser’s Magnolia as yet another entry into the evidence file that the era of Bro-Country continues to wane, and it’s slow but steady expiration has allowed the latitude of some established artists to return, giving them the ability to select and record the material of their choosing, and reuniting them with their more […]
UPDATED: ‘Highwomen’ Supergroup with Brandi Carlile & Amanda Shires On The Way
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A new country music supergroup is on the way that will combine the talents of Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, and Margo Price. Called the Highwomen, it will take inspiration from legendary country music supergroup The Highwaymen. Jim Lauderdale is also involved in the project as a co-writer.
Dillon Carmichael Lands Big Tour Opening Opportunities for 2019
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One of the biggest discoveries in 2018 was Dillon Carmichael and his debut, Dave Cobb-produced album Hell On An Angel. This hard country, heart-pounding honky tonk record was nominated for Saving Country Music’s Album of the Year, and put this young man with a country music pedigree on the radar of the real country crowd.
Meet King Calaway: Country Music’s Manufactured Boy Band
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Looking for yet another reason to be embarrassed as a country music fan? Well here comes King Calaway. Who or what is “King Calloway” you ask? Never heard of them? That’s okay, nobody has. Up until a couple of days ago, there was absolutely no information about this project entered into the public record whatsoever.
Steve Earle Announces New Guy Clark Tribute Album, “GUY”
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“No way I could get out of doing this record,” Steve Earle says. “When I get to the other side, I didn’t want to run into Guy having made the ‘TOWNES’ record and not one about him … Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark were like Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg to me.”
“Colorado Kool-Aid” Songwriter Phil Thomas Passes Away
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Beloved and influential country music songwriter Phil Thomas passed away Saturday, January 5th. With prominent songs recorded by artists such as Johnny Paycheck, George Strait, Randy Travis, Alabama, Barbara Mandrell, and more, his fingerprints are all over the sound and style of country from the late 70’s into the early 2000’s.
Chris Stapleton Gives Songwriter Kevin Welch Big Boost via “Millionaire”
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Starting on November 4th, Kevin Welch has been #1 on the Music Row Songwriter Chart, and will likely be at or near the top of the chart for a while as “Millionaire” continues to climb. And that’s not the only accolade for the tune. The song is up for Best Country Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards.
Blackberry Smoke Adds New Tour Dates + Acoustic-Only Shows
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Southern rock gods Blackberry Smoke have just added even more dates to an already-stacked 2019 tour schedule, but these come with an interesting wrinkle. Piggy backing off of the release of their Southern Ground Sessions EP, they’ll be playing a series of acoustic-only shows.
In Memoriam: Country Music’s Fallen Greats of 2018
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Before we get too far into 2019, let take time to remember the country music great we lost along the way in 2018, from bona fide legends like Roy Clark, to those taken tragically too soon like Daryle Singletary, Red Dirt’s Brandon Jenkins, to George Strait drummer Mike Kennedy.