This Should Be the Year for a Country Super Bowl Halftime Show

Sure, there might be bigger things to worry about in life and country music. But if there ever was a year to feature country music on the Super Bowl Halftime Show, it would be this one.
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Sure, there might be bigger things to worry about in life and country music. But if there ever was a year to feature country music on the Super Bowl Halftime Show, it would be this one.
Billy Strings, Chapel Hart, Charley Crockett, Chris Stapleton, Darius Rucker, Jason Aldean, Jay-Z, Luke Combs, Mickey Guyton, Morgan Wallen, Old Crow Medicine Show, Oliver Anthony, Shania Twain, Super Bowl, Tracy Chapman, Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan
It can’t be emphasized enough just how busy the next five weeks will be when it comes to album releases. In the 15-year history of Saving Country Music, nothing has been experienced like this before.
Ashley McBryde, Billy Don BUrns, Blackberry Smoke, Brent Cobb, Charis Stapleton, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Jason Hawk Harris, Jessi Colter, John Baumann, John R. Miller, Margo Cilker, Nick Shoulders, Ross Cooper, The Steel Woods, Tony Jackson, Travis Tritt, Tyler Childers, Willie Nelson
This tour will be an opportunity to see Vincent Neil as the headliner and in smaller venues. As is commonly said these days, see these guys in intimate settings while you still can, because you never known when they’ll blow up.
Charley Crockett, Colter Wall, John R. Miller, Vincent Neil Emerson
So much damn country music talent will be assembled all in one place, it very well my cause a rip in the country music space-time continuum, and Merle Haggard himself might waltz on out and sing “Mama Tried” one more time.
Billy Strings, Buckeye Country Superfest, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Jason Isbell, Levi Turner, Middle East, Sheryl Crow, Sierra Ferrell, Turnpike Troubadours, Zach Bryan
On Monday, November 14th, 2022, Charley Crockett took the stage at the Ryman Auditorium for his first ever headlining performance at the Mother Church to a sold-out crowd, and put on a show for the ages.
The quality of talent was never the concern about FairWell Fest, and the weekend was one killer set after another. The concern was always about a big out-of-town promoter coming into local-oriented Central Oregon and taking over.
49 Winchester, AJ Lee and Blue Summit, Bella White, Caitlin Rose, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Drayton Farley, FairWell Fest, Gary Clark Jr., Kenzie Sue Miracle, Lucius, Luke Grimes, Micah Nelson, Molly Tuttle, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Morgan Wade, Nathaniel Rateliff, Shane Smith and the Saints, Stephen Wilson Jr., Sullivan Tuttle, Turnpike Troubadours, Under The Big Sky Fest, Willie Nelson, Wyatt Flores, Yola, Zach Bryan
The appeal for independent country has become so robust, we now have megafestivals sprouting up all across the country to cater to the fans of this music. But the first, and still the biggest of these events is Under The Big Sky Festival.
Archertown, Bella White, CAAMP, Charley Crockett, Colby Acuff, Colter Wall, Cristina Vane, Drayton Farley, Elle King, Gabe Lee, Hank Williams Jr., Izaak Optaz, Jamie Wyman, Kat Hasty, LeAnn Rimes, Marcus King, Nikki Lane, Radio Ranch, Ryan Bingham, Shane Smith and the Saints, The Dead South, The Helnore Highwater Band, The Local Honeys, The Texas Gentlemen, Under The Big Sky Fest, Vincent Neil Emerson, Whiskey Myers, Yellowstone, Zach Bryan
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If you’re heading to Whitefish, Montana or are already there, congratulations, you’re about to experience one of the greatest assemblages of talent in independent country and roots music that happens all year.
49 Winchester, Archertown, Charley Crockett, Christina Vane, Colby Acuff, Drayton Farley, Helnore Highwater Band, Hogslop String Band, Jamie Wyman, Kat Hasty, Molly Tuttle, Shane Smith and the Saints, The Local Honeys, The Red Clay Strays, Under The Big Sky Fest, Whiskey Myers
An audio engineer who died by electrocution while helping to set up NASCAR’s street race in Chicago has been identified as Duane Tabinski, a Nashville-based audio specialist and Hermitage native.
He’s known as one of the hardest working artists in country music, and for good reason. Not only has he been releasing albums at a 2-per-year clip for years now, he tours harder than most anyone else. This will be the case once again in 2023 as Charley Crockett has just released a slew of new tour dates.
Charley Crockett, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Tyler Childers
Now Central Oregon will have their own country and roots festival, and it may have one of the best lineups of any independent country event all year. Called the FairWell Festival, they have just announced their inaugural lineup for their July 21-23 festival at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Redmond.
49 Winchester, Bella White, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Drayton Farley, FairWell Festival, Jackalope Jamboree, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Morgan Wade, Pickathon, Shane Smith and the Saints, Trampled by Turtles, Turnpike Troubadours, Wild Hare Festival, Willie Nelson, Yola, Zach Bryan
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For the last dozen years or so, one of the most contentious battles within the realm of commercial country music has centered around the incursion of hip-hop influences into the genre, and specifically the use of verses that are rapped as opposed to sung, and electronic beats replacing organic drums.
Ashley McBryde, Bailey Zimmerman, Carly Pearce, Chapel Hart, Charley Crockett, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Ernest, Jason Aldean, Jason Isbell, Jelly Roll, Jesse Daniel, Jon Pardi, Justin Timberlake, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Sturgill Simpson, The War and Treaty, Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan
On July 1st and 2nd, NASCAR Cup Series will be holding their “Chicago Street Race” as part of the greater July 4th weekend, and have booked some major acts to play full sets as part of the festivities, including Miranda Lambert, The Black Crowes, The Chainsmokers, and yes, Charley Crockett.
Charley Crockett, Miranda Lambert, NASCAR, The Black Crowes, The Chainsmokers
Not all of us will end up making it to 90. But we’re all the beneficiaries of the fact that Willie Nelson (almost) has. On April 29th, Willie will officially turn 90 years old, and on that day and the next one, a massive cavalcade of stars will converge on the Hollywood Bowl in California.
Allison Russell, Beck, Billy Strings, Blackbird Presents, Bobby Weir, Charley Crockett, Chris Stapleton, Edie Brickell, Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Lukas Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Margo Price, Miranda Lambert, Nathaniel Rateliff, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Orville Peck, Particle Kid, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, Sturgill Simpson, The Avett Brothers, The Chicks, The Lumineers, Tom Jones, Tyler Childers, Warren Haynes, Willie Nelson, Ziggy Marley
Marcus King, Lainey Wilson, Charley Crockett, Charles Wesley Godwin, Ashland Craft, Chris Stapleton, The Black Pumas, The Steel Woods, Brit Taylor, Midland, Nikki Lane, Jake Worthington, Quaker City Nighthawks, Casey Donahew, and Jaime Wyatt are some of the cool names that have appeared in the Tulsa King soundtrack.
Andrea von Foester, Ashland Craft, Brit Taylor, Casey Donahew, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Chris Stapleton, Jaime Wyatt, Jake Worthington, Lainey Wilson, Marcus King, Midland, Nikki Lane, Quaker City Nighthawks, Sylvester Stallone, Taylor Sheridan, The Black Pumas, The Steel Woods, Tulsa King
The Saving Country Music Artist of the Year is not about who sold the most tickets or left the biggest footprint, or who shattered the expectations and possibilities of independent artists that are not played on mainstream country radio. It’s about the artist who most embodied the spirit of of the idea…
Billy Strings, Charley Crockett, Molly Tuttle, Turnpike Troubadours, Zach Bryan
Let’s highlight some of the bands on the brink, that probably should be headlining festivals and big events themselves, and very well may be in the coming years. These are the artists and bands you better get out to see before like many of your favorite headliners, they end up only playing arenas.
American Aquarium, Big Richard, Billy Strings, BJ Barham, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Cody Jinks, Hogslp String Band, MIke and the Moonpies, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Ferrell, Sierra Hull, The Vandoliers, Them Dirty Roses, Turnpike Troubadours, Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan
Alright, so we’ve already run down the most sad, sappy, and poetic songs of 2022 in the Song of the Year nominees. Now it’s time to crank it up a notch and to showcase the songs that are just so damn enjoyable to listen to, we can’t stop. These are the songs that burrow deep in your ears and won’t come out.
49 Winchester, Charley Crockett, Isaac Gibson, Kimmi Bitter, Matt Daniel, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Ferrell, The Broken Spokes, Tony Logue, Zach Bryan
The Railbird Festival has been around for a few years now, mixing Kentucky horse racing culture and the state’s favorite spirit of bourbon with a diverse musical experience. But in 2023, Railbird is leaning more into the independent country side of music and their Kentucky roots.
49 Winchester, Brit Taylor, Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, Cole Chaney, Molly Tuttle, Railbird Festival, Sierra Ferrell, The Local Honeys, Town Mountain, Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan
Once again, Under The Big Sky Festival outside of Whitefish, Montana has wowed us all with their lineup announcement, and it underscores once again why this is arguably the premier event in independent country and Americana. With two stages, some 20,000 fans, and a curiously excellent curation of headliners…
49 Winchester, Bella White, Charley Crockett, Christina Vane, Colter Wall, Drayton Farley, Hank Williams Jr., Kat Hasty, Molly Tuttle, Ryan Bingham, The Red Clay Strays, Under The Big Sky Fest, Vincent Neil Emerson, Whiskey Myers, Zach Bryan
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This is 2022, and artists like Tyler Childers, Billy Strings, Zach Bryan, and the Turnpike Troubadours are exploding in popularity. Add on top of that then pent up demand due to the pandemic, and we’re living in an era when you’re favorite independent artists are arena stars.
Billy Strings, Charley Crockett, Garth Brooks, Shane Smith and the Saints, Sierra Ferrell, Sturgill Simpson, Taylor Swift, Ticketmaster, Turnpike Troubadours, Tyler Childers, Whiskey Myers, Zach Bryan
What a year it has been for Charley Crockett, who has recently transitioned off the club circuit to full-blown theaters. And in country music, there is no bigger theater than the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium.
Charley Crockett, George Jones, Greyhounds, James Hand, Johnny Cash, Johnny Paycheck, Loretta Lynn, Ryman Auditorium, The Blue Drifters, Townes Van Zandt
The 2023 Grammy Award nominees were announced on Tuesday (11-15), with some big surprises, some worthy nominees, and a some disappointment in some categories as it seems the Recording Academy continues to be obsessed with nominating familiar names.
Allison Russell, Brandi Carlile, Charley Crockett, Grammy Awards, Miranda Lambert, Molly Tuttle, Willie Nelson, Zach Bryan
Consisting of 30 total dates, including a couple in the UK and some previously-announced festival appearances, it gives Tyler Childers fans the greatest set opportunities to see him in the last three years. Though there are some big venues and amphitheaters on this tour, these are not arenas.
Charley Crockett, Elle King, John R. Miller, Marcus King, Margo Price, Miles Miller, Send In The Hounds Tour, SG Goodman, Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Wayne Graham