Tag: Country music

MARTIN: Willie Nelson and ZZ Top tix on sale this week; a chat with Aaron Watson | Community Alert

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Whitewater Amphitheater had a fantastic season this year, and the venue is hard at work planning for an exciting one in 2023.

They are off to a great start, with their first announcement of a co-headlining show with Willie Nelson and ZZ Top on April 14 and 15.

Both acts will perform full sets and receive equal billing. Tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. at WhiteWaterRocks.com.

According to the venue’s Facebook announcement, your tickets will not be emailed to you until 72 hours prior to the event.

Though pairing an iconic country artist with a classic rock band might seem strange at first glance, it does make perfect sense.

After all, both Willie Nelson and ZZ Top are true Texas icons. and what better place to join forces than right in the heart of the Lone Star State.

Whenever I think of Texas country or Texas rock and roll, Nelson and ZZ Top are the first two names that come to mind.

I would be willing to bet that most Texas music fans will be super excited seeing these legendary acts on the same stage on the same night.

Who knows, maybe they will even team up on a few songs. Willie actually recorded a version of ZZ Top’s song “I Love My Automobile” for a tribute album many years ago.

I bet ZZ Top could do a blistering version of “Whiskey River,” too. I once saw them play a rock version of Johnny Cash’s hit “Folsom Prison Blues,” so anything is possible.

Obviously this show will sell out instantly, so be ready to jump online at 10 a.m. Friday morning.

While we are talking about ZZ Top, they just announced another co-headlining tour this summer featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd.

They are calling it the Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, and they will make two stops in Texas. The first will be at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on July 29 and another on July 30 at the Cynthia Woods Pavilion in the Woodlands. Tickets for this tour can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.

Aaron Watson to play Gruene Hall shows

Texas country artist Aaron Watson returns to Gruene Hall this weekend for two shows.

His Saturday night show with Kemberly Kelly as the opening act is sold out.

On Sunday night, his special guest will be Hayden Baker, and at press time, there were still tickets available at GrueneHall.com.

I had the chance to speak with Aaron a few weeks ago to discuss the upcoming shows and to talk about his year. Just as he was ready to release his latest album, “Unwanted Man,” he had a rare vocal cord flare up that put him on complete vocal rest for months.

He had just survived being off the road during the pandemic, so this setback was tough.

“I owe it all to the Texas music scene,” Aaron explained. “It’s given me the chance to do what I love for a living. I just love Gruene Hall, we’ve been playing there for forever now. Over the past 20 years I’m not sure how many shows I’ve played there, but it’s a bunch. I like doing the back-to-back nights, it’s so much fun. The band and I get to relax a bit, kind of our own staycation.”

Aaron and his wife have three children, and if you follow him on social media, you can tell he is a great dad.

“I love being a dad,” Aaron said. “I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve remained an independent artist. It gives me more freedom to do what I want to do. I can make decisions based on my family and what’s best for them.

“It has been a fun job to have with my kids. They enjoy getting to go to work with dad. That means the world to me. I tell people that we are a small-town business and our business is country music. When you come out to Gruene Hall and buy a ticket and buy merchandise, you are helping me pay for my band and helping me keep the lights on at home.”

When I asked Aaron how he survived the pandemic and then vocal issues, he admitted it was tough times.

“It was definitely a double whammy,” he said. “But life is full of double whammys. If you live long enough you are going to face challenges. I am still seeing a throat specialist in Birmingham, Alabama. It’s hard to feel sorry for yourself when you walk through the office and see all the cancer patients fighting for their lives.

“You have to put things in perspective. I think sometimes we live our life like we are going to be young and healthy forever, and that’s just not the case. One of my vocal cords got inflamed from over working and over singing.

“It is bound to happen when you play as many shows as we do. Every now and then you have to stop and put on new tires.”

One positive outcome of having so much down time is the fact that he has three finished albums that he still hasn’t released.

Aaron assured me that he has big plans for next year, and as a huge fan, I can hardly wait to see what he has in store for us.

A Very Bibulous Christmas at Devil’s Backbone

The Devil’s Backbone Tavern is one of the most historic venues in the Texas Hill Country.

What was once a stagecoach stop for the early settlers has become a regular stop for some of the best artists in the music business.

Owned and operated by musicians Robyn and John Ludwick, they continue to book the best that Texas music has to offer.

This Friday, they will have a talented group of artists joining forces for a show called “A Very Bibulous Christmas.”

It will be hosted by Mike Harmeier and will feature special guests Matt Hillyer, Django Walker, Jonathan Terrell and Cody Braun. Get your tickets now at DevilsBackBoneTavern.com.

Comal Country Music Show scheduled for Dec. 20

Last month, I dropped the ball and failed to mention the anniversary of the Comal Country Music Show.

Hopefully their die-hard fans went and enjoyed some great country music. Next Tuesday, Dec. 20, they will host their December show at the Columbus Club Hall on Landa Street.

The doors open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30 p.m., with the low price of just $7 at the door.

As always, all profits are donated to the Meals on Wheels program at the Comal County Senior Center. The guests this month are two amazing singers, Loren Woods and Yesenia McNett.

Austin City Limits announces 2023 season

Austin City Limits, the longest-running show of its kind in history, just announced their 2023 season. The new season will start with an ACL Hall of Fame induction of Sheryl Crow on Jan. 7.

The season will continue with Nathaniel Rateliff and Adia Victoria on Jan. 14, Adrian Quesada on Jan. 21, War on Drugs on Jan. 28, Pavement on Feb. 4, Maren Morris on Feb. 11, and Spoon on Feb. 18. The season will conclude on Feb. 25 with another ACL Hall of Fame induction of Joe Ely. The Austin City Limits TV show is broadcast locally on KLRN, the PBS station in San Antonio.

Random notes from the music scene

Hope Hospice and Village Venue will be hosting a Winterzeit Christmas Show on Friday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Live music will be provided by Zack Walther and Matt Briggs. It will be a CD release party for their new Christmas album.

There is a $25 entry fee with 50% of ticket sales going to the Hope Hospice Grief Center. This family-friendly event will be held at the Silos at Freiheit, located at 2032 Central Plaza.

Gruene Hall just announced some new shows that include Dale Watson, Los Texmaniacs, Micky & the Motorcars, Roger Creager and a second show by the reformed Uncle Lucius. Tickets for all the shows go on-sale Friday at 10 a.m. at GrueneHall.com.

Rock band Blue October will play the Tech Port Arena in San Antonio on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Riley’s Tavern recently held a toy drive that collected 75 toys and $2,000. Well done guys, this will help a lot of local kids have a better Christmas.

Redbird Listening Room welcomes Bryon White on Sunday at 4 p.m. He’s the lead singer of The Damn Quails. Next Wednesday at the Redbird is the sold-out show by William Beckmann.

The rock band Kansas celebrated 50 years with the 3-CD set of hits titled “Another Fork In The Road.” According to their press release, they are releasing an American version and a European version. As Christmas gets closer, more venues will be hosting special holiday shows. A quick look at the concert calendar and you will see that the Brauntex Theatre, Devil’s Backbone Tavern, Gruene Hall, Luckenbach Dance Hall, Our Lady Bar & Grill, Rudy’s BBQ, and Villa at Gruene all have special shows this week.

CMHOF to offer free admission Sunday

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Those who happen to be visiting Nashville Sunday and want to check the Country Music Hall of Fame off their bucket list, or even locals who have not had a chance to go to the museum in a while, Sunday is your lucky day – CMHOF is offering free admission as part of its annual Ford Community Day, sponsored by the Ford Motor Company Fund.

It will also be a busy day of performances and programs for the whole family, such as a performance by Runaway June and a songwriter session with Parker Welling. Charlie McKoy will also be featured as a musician spotlight.

People can bring their kids to the Taylor Swift Education Center for cool activities like a ukulele workshop and a musical instrument petting zoo.

People can also get some special discounts on food and at the museum store if you are a Ford driver. All you have to do is show your keys and get 10% off your purchase.

Those who want a membership to the museum can get $5 off on individual passes, or $10 off for the family.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free tickets can be reserved on the Country Music Hall of Fame’s website. There will also be a limited number of tickets available at the door.

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Birthplace of Country Music Museum hosts Darrell Scott, John Long at Farm and Fun Time | Arts & Entertainment

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Riders in the Sky perform Christmas show Dec. 2 at Birthplace of Country Music | Arts & Entertainment

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A Little Left of Center: I love country music: Three of the reasons why | Columns

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Yep, I am a country music lover.

It was Johnny Cash who said, “Of emotions, of love, of breakup, of love and hate and death and dying, mama, apple pie, and the whole thing. It covers a lot of territory, country music does.”

Country is my favorite genre of music. Largely to blame are Morgan Wallen, Hardy, and Ernest. I have long referred to these country hitmakers as the great trifecta of modern country music. These three friends have been blowing up the scene for a while now. I was fortunate to see them all perform live and feel comfortable writing this piece based on those experiences. I am here to proclaim with good authority that this trio is fun to watch. These guys are multifaceted and versatile. With a little something for everyone, let’s break down how these good ol’ southern boys have turned many, including myself, on to today’s country music.

Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen is the epitome of the Southern pretty boy. His true talent, however, is his ability to not only sing a great song, but to get his audience to really “feel” his joy of performing. Wallen has said that after seeing Eric Church perform, it left such a profound impact on him because, as he puts it, “you could feel what Eric Church was singing.” It’s apparent that Wallen also sets out to do just that when he performs. Having seen both Wallen and Church perform live, I concur. Wallen’s music also blends a variety of genres. From “Broadway Girls” featuring rapper, Lil Durk, to his collaboration with Ernest on “Flower Shops” (nod to traditional country music with steel guitar embedded throughout), his range and musicality is what makes him so appealing to country music lovers and those like me, who are still fairly new to the country music scene.

Ernest

I have found that many Ernest Smith (he goes by only his first name, professionally) fans don’t know that his first released song was a rap single, “Dopeman.” It is a catchy joint with a smooth beat that showcases that he definitely has an affinity for rap, yet personifies versatility when you discover he has written songs for the likes of FGL, Kane Brown, his buddy Morgan Wallen, and others. Ernest has a number of hit songs under his belt including “More than my Hometown,” a single on Wallen’s “Double Album.” He also did a beautiful remake of “Islands in the Stream” by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton with new and rising female artist Hailey Whitters. Not only is the song awesome, but the cheesy, ‘70s throwback video is a nostalgic delight. If those things didn’t make him appealing enough, add to his talents a cool podcast titled “Just being Ernest.” He interviews friends and other celebrities in this entertaining series that only adds to his versatility as an entertainer.

Hardy

To round off this musical trifecta, you cannot forget Michael Hardy, who goes by only his last name. The energy and vibe he brings to his live performances is unparalleled. To put it bluntly, his shows kick butt. A high energy load of fun is what you’ll get at a Hardy show. I would best describe his style as modern country rock. One of my favorite songs is “He went to Jared.” It’s a fun sing-along jam about a hardworking blue collar dude who lost his girl to a prestigious fella who went to the Harvard of the south — Ole Miss. It was the first Hardy song I ever heard and I immediately liked it. Seeing him perform live had me hooked for good. He is truly on that stage to party and have a good time. If you want to hear an emotional country song that tells a raw story of domestic abuse and outlaw justice, check out his latest duet with Lainey Wilson, “Wait in the Truck.”

Regular dudes

Honestly, the appeal of these three is that they seem like regular folks — unpretentious bros who enjoy entertaining and having fun — they are the guys you just wanna sit down and have a beer with — or in my case — go fishing with. Having met Wallen as a VIP guest at a concert this past summer, I can tell you he is the real deal — humble and down to earth. Ernest is, too. In fact he’s known for driving around Nashville in his 1966 Cadillac, and I’ve met him briefly at a concert last summer. I haven’t met Hardy, but hope to someday. We’ll see him next February in New York City. A girl can dream…



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Darius Rucker Reflects on His Jump to Country Music as He Celebrates Huge Milestones

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Darius Rucker is set to launch the next era of his career as he prepares to release his next album, Carolyn’s Boy. However, he took a moment to look back before he kicked off this next album cycle. Rucker was the guest of honor at The Electric Jane in Nashville on Oct. 26 in celebration of his cover of Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel” reaching Diamond status — making it only the fourth country song to reach that milestone. The event, which was attended by Today’s Craig Melvin and music industry figures, was also meant to mark his 10 No. 1 songs (not counting his work with Hootie & the Blowfish).

In the spirit of this momentous occasion, we asked Rucker to reflect on the start of his solo career and the trepidation that came with entering the country genre. In the media roundtable before the bash, Rucker, 56, told PopCulture that his successful solo career was kickstarted by the hustling he did around the release of his debut solo single, 2008’s “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.”

“I look back on that period as the example of hard work paid off,” Rucker said. “I came to Nashville and Duncan signed me at Capitol, and we really didn’t know what was going to happen. He promised me a shot, he told me if I gave him a country record, he’d give me a shot. And when we put out ‘Don’t Think’ and went around the radio stations, really the naysayers were the leaders. And I got it; there was really no reason for us to expect success. Even if we had written (Patsy Cline’s) ‘Crazy,’ there’s no reason to expect success. But going out to the radio stations and working hard and going around and doing all the things and being the baby band on Dierks (Bentley) and Brad (Paisley)’s tour and stuff like that, that hard work is what paid off. And so now I look back, and I’m glad that I have my work ethic, and I’m glad that I don’t mind taking chances. Because if I hadn’t had those two things, I wouldn’t be sitting there talking to you guys.”

(Photo: Steve Lowry / Essential Broadcast Media)

While Rucker’s worked hard to get to this point, he noted elsewhere in the conversation that he’s comfortable enough to slow down a bit. While he’s just as dedicated to music as ever, he’s learned to appreciate his time away from work more in recent years.

“I didn’t always give myself time to enjoy it (life),” Rucker said. “It was always work, work, work, work, work. And (if) you’re not working, concentrating on family. But now I’ve learned to say ‘no,’ which was really big for me, learning to say ‘no.’ And I love it. I love writing songs, I love all of it, but I’m at a really cool place in my career where I’m not chasing it anymore. It’s either going to be there or it’s not, now, for me. So I love it. I still love doing it more than anything in the world, but I also love my time off a lot now, too.”

Rucker will release Carolyn’s Boy at an undisclosed date in 2023. Rucker has released two singles ahead of the album, “Same Beer Different Problem” and the Chapel Hart collaboration “Ol’ Church Hymn.”



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Country music star Paul Haggerty dies at 78

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(CNN) – Country music star Patrick Haggerty has died.

The 78-year-old suffered a stroke several weeks ago, and a close friend said Haggerty died on Monday.

Haggerty broke ground as the first openly gay country music artist with the group Lavender Country.

Their breakthrough album in 1973 was called “Lavender Country.” Many considered it a protest album against country music.

He did not produce another album for decades.

Haggerty spent those years in between as an activist for LGBTQ rights and socialist causes.

He re-released “Lavender Country” in 2014 and then rerecorded another album with other LGBTQ artists.

Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.



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Leslie Jordan did not expect to have a career in country music | Entertainment

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Leslie Jordan did not expect to have a career in country music | Entertainment News

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Leslie Jordan did not expect to have a career in country music.

The ‘Will and Grace’ actor tragically died whilst driving in Los Angeles this week at the age of 67 but collaborated with the likes of Dolly Parton and Brandi Carlile on the album ‘Company’s Comin’ in 2021 and explained that the shift in vocation was “unexpected” in what became his final interview.

He said: ” So unexpected just to happen in my 60s – I’m a country music singer now! I love Nashville and the way that Nashville embraced me, you know, and to be taken kind of serious, and to have made an album with Dolly Parton, Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile? That’s something!”

Leslie entered the music industry after Instagram videos showing him singing garnered him six million followers during the pandemic and at the time joked that the spread of COVID-19 had allowed him to “flourish”.

During an appearance on ‘CBS Mornings’ just two weeks before his death, he added: “I blew up. Give me a good pandemic and I flourish! I was just thinking, ‘My gosh who are these people that want to hear what I have to say?’ It was just the innocence of it I guess!”

The ‘American Horror Story’ star was reportedly en route to film ‘Call Me Kat’ when at the wheel of his car on Monday morning (24.10.22) and while a cause of death has not been established by the coroner as of yet, TMZ reports that investigators suspect it was a heart attack.

Production on the sitcom ‘Call Me Kat’ – in which Leslie played the role of Phil – has been put on hold following his passing.

His co-star Mayim Bialik was among the many celebrities and friends to pay tribute to Leslie online.

She wrote: “They broke the mold when they made Leslie Jordan. He was a dear mentor and a beloved friend. I will miss him so much – it’s unimaginable that he’s gone. Rest well, sweet buddy.”





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Europe’s Largest Country Music Festival to return in March 2023

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Get your ten gallon hat, check shirt and denim ready because Country to Country (C2C) has revealed that it’s coming back in full swing next year in 2023 after being stopped in its tracks by the Covid pandemic.

It will be the tenth edition of the festival which will take place over a three-day weekend (March 10-12) between the O2 in London, the 3Arena in Dublin, and the Ovo Hydro in Glasgow.

Some of the most eagerly anticipated artists will be headlining Lady A, Thomas Rhett, and the Zac Brown Band. Lainey Wilson, who’s never seen without wearing bell bottoms will be performing, as well as Midland and Matt Stell. 

Gearing up for Greenwich

“I’m so excited to get back across the pond. It’s been way too long. But when we’ve been in the past, we’ve only played in England, so I’m looking forward to playing in Dublin and Glasgow. The bigger the stage, the better! I already know this is going to the best run of international shows we’ve done yet,” says Lainey Wilson.

The 30-year-old is one of the most nominated artists for the CMA Awards (Country Music Association) with six nominations. She’s the fourth artist to ever receive this many. 

From Album of the Year, to Music Video of the Year, New Artist of the Year, and three others she’s bound to win a few if not all.

She’s also going to be on season five of Yellowstone, a TV show that streams on Paramount channels in Hungary, the Nordics, Poland, UK, Spain, and Italy. She will portray Abby, a character that Oscar-winning nominee and show creator Taylor Sheridan created for her. 

Living the dream

Wilson’s Southern drawl catches the attention and like most artists, she had to work hard and fight to get noticed, but persistence has paid off: “I’m learning you don’t get much sleep when you’re living the dream,” she laughs. 

“It’s a pretty wild ride right now. It feels like I’ve been working hard just to work harder. But it’s working, and it’s so worth it. I’ve made a commitment to myself to run (not walk) through the doors that open for me. And when I’m not walking through those doors, I’m probably still trying to find a way to get them open. It definitely gets overwhelming sometimes…well pretty much all the time right now. But I kind of see it like, I’ve worked this hard to get to this point, why would I take my foot off the gas now? 

“It’s amazing how each phase of this journey makes you feel like you’re just getting started. That’s why it’s important to enjoy the process and not get too wrapped up in the outcome. I have to remind myself of this all the time. But I’ve found if you just keep your head down, do your thing, surround yourself with the right people and stick with it, you just might look up and see your dreams coming true.”

Opening the Friday night in London will be Breland. 

The 27-year-old artist from New Jersey has garnered a major following in the past couple of years with his Hip Hop, Soul, and Country hybrid. He’s nominated for the CMA Award’s Musical Event of the Year category. Known for collaborations with Nelly, Thomas Rhett, and Mickey Guyton, he will co-host the festival during the weekend with the legendary British radio presenter Bob Harris. 

“I’ll be joined in the spotlight by my friend Breland, whose career has literally gone stratospheric since the release of his first music only three years ago,” shares Harris in notes.

Country in a cost-of-living crisis

In the midst of economic turmoil in Britain and across Europe Milly Olykan, VP of International Relations and Development for the CMA echoes his sentiments. 

“The fans in UK and EU are some of the most engaged Country fans in the world, and festivals like C2C also promote multiple opportunities to discover new artists. CMA has also partnered with C2C since it began in order to introduce new artists and songwriters to the UK. I think any fans who budgets for live Country events and festivals know that they can count on them to deliver a great experience, in a terrific atmosphere with fans of all ages and backgrounds and artists of incredible caliber who really appreciate their international audiences,” she says.

Presale tickets for the 3-day weekend start at €180 and go up to €560. The Insider Weekend Package, which is VIP level offers premium reserved seating, a C2C commemorative gift, the VIP lanyard, and the 2023 collectable pin badge, costs a little over €800. If fans, however, just want to go on Friday night, presale tickets range between €63 and €154. Saturday’s presale tickets start at €98 and go up to €155, while Sunday’s presale tickets range from €98 to €218.

Country Club favourites

Country Music has been resonating with Europeans since the days of Johnny Cash and even Dolly Parton’s early career. Both performed widely across Europe. Since C2C’s inaugural festival in 2013 headlined by Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood, the festival has grown, turning into a three-day event. 

Germans, Italians, French, and Belgians, and a wide array of domestic fans make the festival an enormous successful event as the 20,000-seater 02 Arena is packed. Even the Middle East has taken to the genre. It’s the songful stories of life, love, heartache, and joy seem to unite all nationalities. 

Matt Stell will also be performing. His songs like ‘Prayed For You’ and ‘Boyfriend Season’, has garnered over a billion streams. The giant two-metre plus Harvard pre-med student turned country music singer is proud to be on the official artist line up.

“Man, I’m so excited to get back over here and get to play the main stage at C2C. Last year when we were there, I got to watch a lot of my favorite acts play the main stage and see how the crowd reacted to them, and it’s a special thing. Because we don’t get to make it here that much, that makes the dates all the more special, so I’m excited to be playing the big stage and not only get to play music for the fans, but also get to be a fan myself,” says Stell from Manchester, England.

He’s on his fall tour in the UK and he’s finding the energy of his European fans different to his American ones.

“I don’t know if it’s because of how few times we get to come over here in a year’s time, but there’s always great energy. People know the music surprising well, not just the singles, but also the album cuts. It just seems like fans are excited for us to be here,” says Stell.



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