Wednesday 9 August 2017

Country Bites News snippets July 31, 2017 – August 6, 2017

UK News, UK Chart News, Album Releases, Canadian News: Country News, Press Releases, Reviews, Gossip, Baby News, Birthdays, Links too Articles, & Videos.

SOURCES / LINKS shown

For the latest Billboard Country Charts Blog Post go HERE

UK NEWS

On the BBC Radio 2 Playlist for the week commencing Saturday 29th July 2017
For the week commencing Saturday 5th August 2017
B Playlist:
Glen Campbell - Just Like Always
OUT
Shania Twain - Life's About To Get Good removed from the "A" Playlist

(2 Aug 2017) iHeartCountry Taps Fiona Culley for Digital Artist Integration Program 
On the heels of her debut radio release “Act Like A Lady”, iHeartRadio has selected British country artist Fiona Culley for their August Digital Artist Integration Program.  As a featured single, the spot will run 3-4 times per day across iHeartRadio’s 126 country stations’ digital streams online. Produced by Tyler Cain and Zachary Maloy and written by Maloy, Culley and Jennifer Schott, the ‘addictive’ (B-Sides & Badlands http://bsidesbadlands.com/fiona-culley-act-like-a-lady-review/) and ‘infectious’ (The Country Note) tune has also been added to Spotify’s premiere country playlist, ‘Wild Country’.

 "The rock-esque style in the way of heavy guitar and drums blends beautifully with the slight rasp in Culley’s voice; add in the clever lyrics and the tune becomes infectious.  She may speak with an English accent, but she sings like a cross between Carrie Underwood and Ann Wilson of Heart, thus setting herself up for a fruitful career."- The Country Note

About Fiona Culley
Hailing from Staffordshire, England, Culley made the move to Nashville in 2012 and diligently began writing, recording and honing her craft. Having been named the ‘Adele of Country’ by industry vet and hit producer Paul Worley (Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Martina McBride, Sara Evans), Culley first raised eyebrows when her cover video of Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” received more than 2 million views overnight. VH1 caught wind of the Culley’s stripped back take on the song and named it one of VH1’s Top 5 Cover Videos to Watch.

See Related BLOG Post: British powerhouse Fiona Culley’s debut radio single “Act Like A Lady” out now


PHOTO (Left)

Strive By: 
Marro/In2une's Fiona Culley pays a visit to Country Aircheck. Pictured (l-r) are In2une's Jamice Jennings, CA's April Johnson, Culley, and CA's Paul Williams and Shelby Farrer.




(3 Aug 2017) UKCountryRadio.com 10th Birthday Party And Awards More performers announced
UKCountryRadio.com have this month announced more performing artists for their 10th Birthday Party And UK Country Music Awards. The event takes place at Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport on Saturday 2nd September, and UKCountryRadio.com do hope as many of you as possible will join us to celebrate ten years of our radio station.
Angels With Dirty Faces have been building a strong following on the festival scene this year and UKCR are delighted that this superb six (or sometimes seven) - piece band fronted by Stuart Landon are to perform at the show.
Gary Perkins, who's band The Breeze won our UK Country Group of The Year Award last year, will return to perform a live acoustic set, accompanied by yours truly on keys.
Having impressed at each of UKCR’s Live Music Nights earlier in the year, Emma Moore joins the line up to play an acoustic set in the hotel bar before the main show in the evening.
UKCountryRadio.com are also delighted to welcome Listeners' Club Song Award Finalists Angela Paterson, December and Wayne Jacobs, who will each perform their eligible song before everyone attending on the night gets a chance to vote for the song they would like to win.
They join previously announced performers Steve Young and his band, Blue Genes, Grand Prairie and Roni in a ten-strong line-up.

(4 Aug 2017) Country Music on the UP in Norfolk with new and increased Radio Audiences.
The country revolution continues... as Chris Country welcome listeners in Norwich to the world of Chris Country!
Chris Country Radio was delighted to announce the seventh part of the country to now receive Chris Country on DAB Digital Radio... it's Norwich.





























That means that along with Suffolk, Portsmouth, Cambridge, Central Manchester, Cheshire, Liverpool and London, listeners in Norwich can now enjoy country music on their radios, 24 hours a day!
If you're in Norwich, retune/rescan your digital radio to find Chris Country. You'll need to have a radio that's DAB+ compatible - most new ones are, but if you're planning to buy one, look for the digital radio tick-mark, and check that it works with DAB+.

Chris Country - Bigger and better, thanks to you!
The latest radio listening figures were released this week, and Chris Country is celebrating... having increased listening, in and around London, by 40% in the last three months!
Chris Stevens shares: But... we need more. It's not because we're greedy (well, we are), but it's so we can switch on more transmitters. The more listeners we have, and the longer you listen for, the more places we can expand our coverage to, and we need your help. Firstly... we'd love you to play Chris Country to your friends and family. After all, we all know how great country music is, and we think they'll love it once they listen for a while. And if you live elsewhere, check out our phone apps for iOS and Android phones, plus we're on TuneIn and RadioPlayer.
And if you've got one of those fancy Amazon Echo boxes, just say "Play Chris Country on TuneIn" and you'll hear it!

Keith Greentree who presents Rodeo Norfolk on BBC Radio Norfolk announced his Radio Audience figures: The show now has another extra 3000 listeners tuning in each week (up by 3,000 to 50,000). He shared: Thank you for making the show the most listened to Country Music show in the area.

Singer-songwriter Chloë Chadwick has been featured in July's issue of Brash Magazine as the Country Artist Spotlight.

Her 10 track debut album DUSTBOWL JUKEBOX (Amazon UK | UK iTunes | Fatea Review), released June 30, 2017, peaked at No.13 in the UK Country Music Charts (#612 UK iTunes Albums overall)
Chart run: It debuted at #43 UK Country iTunes debut (#1498 UK iTunes Albums overall) | Sat 1 July not on chart | Sun 2 July #25 (#937 UK iTunes Albums overall), #17 (#700), #19 (#785), #13 (#612 overall), #15 (#749), #16 (#827) | Mon 3 July #42, then #79
Her single "Love Will Find A Way" was promoted on the Hotdisc #222 June 2017 disc and reached No.1 on the Hotdisc British & Irish chart and No.6 on the Hotdisc Top 40 (dated June 25, 2017)
Chloë will be headlining this year’s Crossing The Tyne Festival in Newcastle Upon Tyne, performing on a boat, on August 26th.
Also on August 26th she'll be performing a set at The Word Centre in South Shields from 3pm (before the Tyne Crossing Festival).

Breaking News: UK country-pop duo Holloway Road (The UKs answer to Florida Georgia Line?) will support The Shires on Friday 11th August 2017 at their sold-out Summer Nights show, part of the outdoor series of events taking place at Kelvingrove Bandstand in Glasgow. The band have also just been nominated for a BCMA (British Country Music Association) award for Song of the Year for their recent single 'If She Falls' - which has now been streamed over 75,000 times online (but sold few units on iTunes) - after being named Duo of the Year in both the BCMA & UKCountryRadio awards last year. Holloway Road return to Glasgow on 25th September to play Broadcast as part of their first full band headline tour, which also takes them to Manchester, London and Derby.

Nashville Nights UK CANCEL Regional Events
They posted: It is with regret that sadly, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to cancel our regional event tour dates this summer. A full refund has been issued to all ticket buyers along with complimentary tickets to any London date of their choice before Dec 2018. We are sincerely sorry for any inconvenience caused but sadly we will not be hosting any regional events for the foreseeable future.
We continue to host the hottest country music party in London every month at the fabulous Under The Bridge in Chelsea.

Saturday 12th August 2017 – GLASGOW, The Classic Grand ** CANCELLED **
Friday 15th September 2017 – BIRMINGHAM, The Asylum ** CANCELLED **
Saturday 30th September 2017 – BRISTOL, The Tunnels ** CANCELLED **
November 2017 – MANCHESTER ** CANCELLED **
November 2017 – NEWCASTLE ** CANCELLED **

All London dates are unaffected.
The next London event is Saturday 19th August 2017 with Jess & The Bandits the live act.
Find out about future Nashville Nights UK in London here:

CROWDFUNDERS!
Sasha McVeigh Second Studio EP/Album
$1,580 pledged of $20,000 goal from 42 backers with 23 days to go - Kickstarter projectFacebook Video
All or nothing. This project will only be funded if it reaches its goal by Fri, Sept 1, 2017 5:00 AM BST.
Sasha shares: I cherish being an independent artist and all the hard work that comes with it. However, the one thing that can be increasingly frustrating and debilitating at times is having to find funding in order to keep moving forward. I feel that, right now, I'm at a critical point in my career. I'm so close to making it to the "next level" and I know that recording and releasing these new songs, is the next step to get there. But I need your help to make that step possible...If the budget is exceeded, my producer and I will be able to record additional songs at approximately $2,500 per song. Hopefully we will raise enough to record 10-12 songs which will enable the release of an EP and a follow-up album.

Amy Westney - 2018 Album Production!
£90.00 pledged of £800 goal by 5 backers with 29 days to go - Kickstarter project
All or nothing. This project will only be funded if it reaches its goal by Wed, Sept 6, 2017 4:48 PM BST.
Amy shares: This Kickstarter is raising funds to begin work on the album for 2018! With the release of my debut EP 'Love Shouldn't Hurt', I have noticed that my name within the industry and the UK Country scene has been gaining a lot of traction! It is time to start work on new songs and I am desperate to bring more of my music to you and the masses!
These funds will help give me the opportunity to write with some of the biggest names in the Country world and create more powerful melodies and lyrics which will be recorded for the next record. It will also go towards promoting the current EP and ensuring that I am able to get around the UK so that I can play my songs to you!

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Top 100 Singles Chart (Week Ending 10 August 2017)
4 August 2017 - 10 August 2017
Topping the singles chart for the 11th week in all - a tally bettered by only six tracks in chart history - and the second time in its third run at the top, Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee's Despacito (feat. Justin Bieber) continued to flourish but its combined sales of 40,891 (including 18,759 from sales-equivalent streams) are the lowest for a No.1 since Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl sold 40,587 copies on its fourth week at No.1 in the August 2008, when only paid-for sales were counted.
Despacito's ACR (Accelerated Chart Ratio) status means that it gets only one sale for every 300 streams. Using the old 1:150 ratio, it would have 59,651 sales this week, making it the lowest tally for only two weeks.

Official UK Top 100 Albums Chart (Week Ending 10 August 2017)
4 August 2017 - 10 August 2017
Arcade Fire are the first act from Canada to secure three No.1 albums this decade, with fifth studio album EVERYTHING NOW debuting atop the chart for the Montreal indie band on sales of 36,306 copies, including 3,051 from sales-equivalent streams.
The album's success comes in the wake of the popularity of introductory single, Everything Now, which has been getting major support from both BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2, and peaked at No.12 on the radio airplay chart a couple of weeks ago. It rebounded 14-13 on its fourth week on the Top 20 of that list while jumping 68-50 (8,013 sales) on the singles chart, where it became the band's 10th Top 75 entry last week.

John Denver with THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION fell 8-10 with 5,417 sales in its 16th frame.
Glen Campbell with ADIOS rose 27-13 with estimated sales of 5,200 (7-week estimated total 62,500)

Official UK Country Album Top 20 (Week Ending 10 August 2017)
4 August 2017 - 10 August 2017
 
Glen Campbell with ADIOS held at #1 (8 weeks; #1 peak)
Lady Antebellum with HEART BREAK held at #2 (8 weeks; #2 peak)
The Shires with MY UNIVERSE held at #3 (24 weeks; #1 peak)
Nashville Cast with THE MUSIC OF NASHVILLE - SEASON 5 VOL 2 held at #4 (9 weeks; #3 peak)
Steve Earle & The Dukes with SO YOU WANNABE AN OUTLAW rose 6-5 (7 weeks; #2 peak)
Nashville Cast with THE MUSIC OF NASHVILLE - SEASON 5 VOL 1 fell 5-6 (18 weeks; #4 peak)
Chris Stapleton with FROM A ROOM Vol 1 held at #7 (13 weeks; #1 peak)
Zac Brown Band with WELCOME HOME rose 10-8 (12 weeks; #1 peak)
Nathan Carter with LIVIN' THE DREAM fell 8-9 (7 weeks; #3 peak)
Alison Krauss with WINDY CITY fell 9-10 (22 weeks; #1 peak)
Outside the top 10
Willie Nelson with GOD'S PROBLEM CHILD held at #11 (14 weeks; #2 peak)
Sara Evans with WORDS fell 15-16 (15 weeks; #2 peak)

Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40 (Week Ending 10 August 2017)
4 August 2017 - 10 August 2017
This Week/ Last Week/ Title/ Artist
1 1 Adios Glen Campbell [Tagged Country] #27 Official Top 100 Albums
2 2 Life Love Flesh Blood Imelda May [Tagged Singer/Songwriter]
3 3 A/B Kaleo 
4 4 Crack-up Fleet Foxes [Tagged Alt]
5 6 Cleopatra Lumineers [Tagged Alt] 
6 8 Pure Comedy Father John Misty [Tagged Alt]
7 7 Something's Changing Lucy Rose
8 NEW America Juanita Stein [Tagged Americana]
9 9 The Nashville Sound Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit [Tagged Rock]
10 12 So You Wannabe An Outlaw Steve Earle & The Dukes [Tagged Country]
Outside The Top 10
11 10 Semper Femina Laura Marling [Tagged Singer/Songwriter]
13 5 Barefoot In The Head Chris Robinson Brotherhood [Tagged Rock]

UK Country iTunes Chart August 6, 2017 10:00
Songs
1. Lonestar - Amazed (#179 overall UK Singles chart)
2. John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads (#208 overall UK Singles chart)
3. Shania Twain - Life's About To Get Good (#166 overall UK Singles chart)
4. Johnny Cash - Hurt (#323 overall UK Singles chart)
5. Nashville Cast - Saved (feat. Lennon Stella) (#557 overall UK Singles chart)
6. Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey (#605 overall UK Singles chart)
7. Sam Hunt - Body Like a Back Road (#615 overall UK Singles chart)
8. Dolly Parton - Jolene (#653 overall UK Singles chart)
9. Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like a Woman (#685 overall UK Singles chart)
10. Shania Twain - You're Still The One (#770 overall UK Singles chart)
Debuts Fri Aug 4, 2017
Helena Mace - Breakin' up Ain't Easy Debut #130 climbing to a #44 peak

UK Country iTunes Chart August 6, 2017 10:00
Albums
1. John Denver - The Ultimate Collection (#110 overall UK Albums chart) 
2. Glen Campbell - Adios (#56 overall UK Albums chart)
3. Brett Eldredge - Brett Eldredge (#138 overall UK Albums chart) | Debut #1 (#37 overall UK Albums)
4. Johnny Cash - The Legend of Johnny Cash (#211 overall UK Albums chart)
5. Lady Antebellum - Heart Break (#222 overall UK Albums chart)
6. Shania Twain - Greatest Hits (#229 overall UK Albums chart)
7. Various Artists - The Country Album (#258 overall UK Albums chart)
8. Nashville Cast - The Music Of Nashville Soundtrack Season 5, Vol 2 (#333 overall UK Albums chart)
9. The Shires - My Universe (#374 overall UK Albums chart)
10. Various Artists - Country 101 All Time Greats (#380 overall UK Albums chart)
Of Note:
17. Ward Thomas - Cartwheels (#694 overall UK Albums chart)
Debuts Fri Aug 4, 2017
Dylan Scott - Dylan Scott (Deluxe Edition) Debut #4 (#167 overall UK Albums chart)

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

(31 July 2017) Kathy Crinion - My Country Eyes (Single; ISG Records) IRE

(1 August 2017) Denny Strickland - California Dreamin' (Red Star)
11 Tracks/ Time: 33:43 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
The 11-track debut full-length album California Dreamin' project features current single “We Don’t Sleep,” plus “SloMo,” “Damn Babe” and full band and acoustic versions of “Close My Eyes.”
Strickland produced his debut album with Sean Giovanni (Big & Rich, Brett Michaels, Randy Houser).
Following the success of lead single 'We Don't Sleep' which has been streamed nearly half a million times, had over 160,000 views for the video on Youtube, and received worldwide airplay.

(1 Aug 2017) Penny Jayne Black - She Got a Call (Single; P.J.B. Records) UK
Amazon UK (Amazon Albums Bestsellers Rank: #48,236) - UK iTunes
Debut: UK Country iTunes Charts at #29; then #25 | Aug 3: off the top 200
No.11 in The French Country iTunes Chart (on 1st August).


Single promoted by CMR Nashville and released on Hotdisc #223 July 2017. It made a debut and peaked at #37 (chart dated July 16, 2017) and has climbed to #28

(4 August 2017) Brett Eldredge - Brett Eldredge (Atlantic Nashville)
12 Tracks/ Time: 41:50 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
#1 US all genres debut
UK Country iTunes Debut #1 (#37 overall UK Albums chart, then #43) | Sat Aug 5 #2 (#67 overall UK Albums chart , then #3 (#101 overall) | Sun Aug 6: #3 (#153 overall), Mon Aug 7: #6 (#254), Tues Aug 7: #5 (#254)

(4 Aug 2017) Dylan Scott - Dylan Scott (Deluxe Edition; Curb Records)
16 Tracks/ Time: 49:48 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
UK Country iTunes Debut #4 (#167 overall UK Albums chart), then #11, Sat Aug 5 #13 (#471 overall) , then #14 (#646 overall)  | Sun June 6: #27 (#1227 overall)

(4 Aug 2017) Dawson Edwards - Half My Heart's in Georgia (EP)
5 Tracks/ Time: 15:46 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
#33 US iTunes Country debut

(4 Aug 2017) Nate Hosie - The America I Know (EP; Spit & Drum Productions)
5 Tracks/ Time: 16:48 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
#9 US iTunes Country debut

(4 Aug 2017) Summer Brooke & Mountain Faith - Small Town Life (Mountain Fever Records)
11 Tracks/ Time: 40:10 Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
#105 US iTunes Country debut

(4 August 2017) Square One - Southern Summer (Square One) UK
12 Tracks/ Time: 48:09 Amazon UK - UK iTunes -
Blurb: Whiskey Fueled Southern Rock born in the Southwest of England. Square One (who played the C2C2017 Big Entrance and Town Square stages) have forged their sound and merged their influences to create huge stompin riffs and songs you can't help but sing. Driven and inspired by artists like Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Blake Shelton, they aim to bring an all American party to this side of the pond.
Band Members: Sam Boxell, Samuel Boughen, Ben Johnson, Dan Russell, Andrew Willett.

(4 Aug 2017) Helena Mace - Breakin' up Ain't Easy (Single) UK
UK Country iTunes Singles Chart Debut #130, then #146, then #153, then #189, then #109, then #76 (Note: #21 = #1484), then #68, then #67, then #52, then #49, then #44 | Sat Aug 5 #75, then #92, then #139, then #112 | Sun Aug 6: Off the top 200

(4 Aug 2017) Aubrey Wollett - Run to the Water (Single; Little Beach Bum Music)

(4 Aug 2017) Maeve Farrell - Dancing Queen (Single) IRE
Maeve Farrell is 20 years old and comes from Annaclone in Co. Down, Ireland. Since a young age Maeve has shown signs of musicality and a passion from performing and singing. She made her Irish Country Debut back in August 2012 and since then her career has went from strength to strength. she has worked and sang alongside the very best of the Irish Country Scene from

(5 Aug 2017) When Rivers Meet - Liberty (One Road Records) UK
11 Tracks/ Time: 37:19 (CMP July 2017 1.1/2 STARS)
When Rivers Meet are a British husband and wife musical duo composed of Grace Bond (Vocals, Fiddle, Mandolin) and Aaron Bond (Vocals, Guitar). Based around masterful vocals and rich harmonies WRM deliver their self penned material with authenticity and sincerity.
When Rivers Meet received acclaim after reaching number three in the UK Independent Music Charts leading to airplay throughout Europe, Australia, America and Canada. When Rivers Meet have spent 2016 developing their debut album with Platinum Award Winning Music Producer Chris West after being in attendance at a live show, he was impressed by their dynamics and on-stage chemistry and began working with the duo the following week. WEBSITE - FACEBOOK (430 Followers)

CANADIAN NEWS
(31 July 2017) NEW MUSIC Tanya Ryan "In Another Life" >> Spotify

She has been described as the musical love child of Jason Mraz and Patsy Cline; smooth classic vocals with a modern approach to delivery and songwriting.

Tanya Ryan moved from Saskatoon, SK in 2008 and has rooted herself in the Foothills of Alberta where she has been honing and shaping her musicianship by playing numerous venues inter-provincially We found some information about Tanya that we thought we would share.

(3 Aug 2017) Olivia Rose A Star In The Making!
Published on July 24, 2017 Olivia Rose - Hometown Sundowns  




The industry is built on young new talent and while she has been performing and following her dreams for over 10 years already she is on the road to stardom. We recently heard from Olivia and she Graduated High School!! Honours with Distinction,  A new single and she won a Storyhive video grant of $10000 to shoot the video. Olivia tells us about Hometown Sundown "Everyone has a place they call home. A soldier missing his family, a waitress working late hours and a lonely elderly show us what they yearn for." At just 17 years old Olivia is well on her way to stardom.  Find out more - www.storyhive.com

(3 Aug 2017) NEW MUSIC Adrienne Taylor "Missing You, Missing Me" iTunes | Listen on Spotify
Being raised on a farm, 26-year-old Adrienne Taylor grew up riding dirt bikes, driving trucks in fields, shooting guns and running through cornfields.  Her first job was raising chickens on her farm and selling eggs door-to-door. Her love for writing began with stories and poems in elementary school and blossomed into lyrics after her father began to teach/encourage her to sing and play guitar.

Taylor knew from a young age that she had found a creative home in country music and continued to uncover inspiration from artists such as Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.

Taylor was chosen to play "Diamond in the Rough Showcase" at the CCMAs in London, Ont., in September 2016.
In January 2017, Taylor was named one of the Top 10 Country Artists To Watch in on TopCountry.ca website.
Her country music career has been advancing steadly over the past few years and she looks forward to release a new single " Missing You, Missing Me". going for adds now.

NEWS

(2 Aug 2017) Wedding Belle: Capitol's Mickey Guyton married Grant Savoy June 26 in Kauai, Hawaii. The couple got engaged last November. More on the wedding at People.com.
GUYTON released the details of her wedding with an official announcement via INSTAGRAM (Aug 2nd).
And her marriage reveal isn’t the only news Guyton has to share — her new song, “Nice Things,” was released Friday. The stripped-down track was written by the newlywed, along with Liz Rose and Stephanie Chapman. >> Audio

(4 Aug 2017) Steele Reinforcement: Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Jeffrey Steele will hold his nine-week online Songwriting Boot Camp starting Sept. 11. The camp is hosted by the Jeffrey Steele Academy in conjunction with 3 Ring Circus Music and will feature online coaching from Steele and industry interviews. Enrollment and more info here.

(7 Aug 2017) Signage: Kid Rock has signed a record deal with BBR Music Group/BMG. Upcoming new music will be released under the artist's Top Dog Records in conjunction with BBR Music Group in Nashville and BMG in LA.

TV
(1 Aug 2017) Theme Party: Capitol's Carrie Underwood returns for a fifth season to perform the opening theme of NBC-TV's Sunday Night Football. There will be a sneak preview of "Oh, Sunday Night" Aug. 27 during the 49ers/Vikings preseason game. See the entire theme in the Sept. 10 Giants/Cowboys season-opening game.
This year, 10 NFL players participated in the opening video with Carrie, including Antonio Brown, Derek Carr, Dont'a Hightower, Travis Kelce, Julio Jones, Khalil Mack, Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, Jason Pierre-Paul and Dak Prescott.

BABY NEWS
(4 Aug 2017) Ashley Monroe and Husband Welcome a Baby Boy, Dalton William Danks
On Christmas Day 2016, Ashley Monroe and husband CHICAGO WHITE SOX Pitcher John Danks announced via Twitter that they were expecting their first child.
On Friday August 4th on Instagram, Ashley shared that she and John are the proud parents of a baby boy, Dalton William Danks, weighed in at 8 lbs. and measures 20 inches long. Ashley posted three pics of her new bundle of joy with the caption: “Welcome to the world, love of my life. Dalton William Danks.
SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS
(2 August 2017) Red 11 Music announced on Instagram: We are excited to welcome Julie Roberts to the Red 11 Music family! Julie has sold over a million records in her career with hits like "Break Down Here" and "Men and Mascara". Her newest project, produced by Shooter Jennings, will be released soon. This new record Julie and Shooter created is by far one of the best records we have heard in a long time and can't wait to share it with the rest of the world. Welcome aboard Julie!

PRESS RELEASES
(2 Aug 2017) George Strait’s Pure Country to be released on vinyl for first time, Sept. 15, 2017: Strait Reveals Sept. 1-2 Vegas shows will spotlight Soundtrack

ARTICLES
Off the Record with Alan Cackett – August 2017
The straight-talking monthly column on all things country, Americana, roots and acoustic…
In the August edition of Music Republic magazine Cackett look at the thorny subject of:
Is it likely that a UK country act could actually make it big on the American country scene? The past few years has seen the emergence of several UK country acts that have made that all-important crossover to widespread acceptance outside of the somewhat insular UK country music scene. Both the Shires and Ward Thomas have taken their albums high on the pop charts and regularly get played on BBC Radio 2, not to mention appearances on mainstream national TV programmes.
Both acts are signed to major record labels. In their wake are other promising UK acts like Wandering Hearts, Catherine McGrath, Raintown and Holloway Road, all capable of making a similar breakthrough. The Shires, via their contract with UK Decca have been signed to the Nashville-based Big Machine Records—the label responsible for launching Taylor Swift to international superstardom.....Read More

REVIEWS
(5 Aug 2017) Elles Bailey - Wildfire (Music-news Album Review) 4 STARS out iTunes Sept 1, 1017

WATCH
(1 Aug 2017) Sara Evans performing “Marquee Sign” (C) 2017 Born To Fly Records

COUNTRY GOSSIP
(3 Aug 2017) Olivia Newton-John has shared that she's "feeling good" as she battles cancer for the second time.
The 68-year-old actress was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 and she underwent treatment and a mastectomy to fight the disease. But 25 years later, in May (17), her spokesperson revealed that she had been diagnosed with it again and that the cancer had "metastasised to the sacrum".

Grease star Olivia has kept relatively quiet as she undergoes treatment for the illness this time around, but took to Facebook this week to offer an update on her wellbeing.
"I am really grateful for and touched by the worldwide outpouring of love and concern for me over the last few months. Thank you," she wrote. "I am feeling good and enjoying total support from my family, friends and my loyal fans. I am totally confident that my new journey will have a positive success story to inspire others!"
Olivia added that she's hoping her medical centre, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre, and the upcoming Wellness Walk and Research Run to raise funds for the organisation, will help the long-running effort to find a cure for the disease.
Olivia's Facebook post came just a week after her daughter Chloe Lattanzi was asked how her mother was coping during an interview on Australia's The Morning Show.
Speaking to hosts Larry Edmur and Kylie Gillies, Chloe smiled: "She's doing wonderful, her and I... we both think positive...she's taken care of herself and she's getting stronger every day."
Olivia cancelled her North American tour following her diagnosis.

(4 Aug 2017) Carrie Underwood honours husband Mike Fisher following ice hockey retirement
Carrie Underwood has paid a sweet tribute to her ice hockey star husband Mike Fisher following the news of his retirement from the sport.
The Canadian sportsman is stepping down as the captain of the Nashville Predators National Hockey League (NHL) team, after leading the franchise to the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals series, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in early June (17).
Fisher shared his retirement news in an op-ed for The Tennessean newspaper on Thursday (03Aug17), when he reflected on his last game with the Predators, during Game 6 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, where huge crowds of fans had gathered for the big finale.
Expressing his shock and gratitude to devotees, he wrote, "How was there that many people there? And all to support us? It was almost incomprehensible. The way the city was behind us was unbelievable, and that's what makes the memory such a high - but also bittersweet. Can you imagine if we had a (winners') parade down Broadway?"
Fisher went on to admit walking away from his "fun" job was "the hardest decision I've ever had to make," but insisted, "I know I've made the right one."
Carrie took to Instagram to share a few words of praise for her man, admitting she is looking forward to spending more time at home with Mike and their two-year-old son Isaiah.

PHOTO

(5 Aug 2017)
Kelsea Ballerini unveiled the cover art for her sophomore album. The country singer posted the cover of UNAPOLOGETICALLY to social media on Saturday (Aug. 5).
The elaborate cover reflects a more mature vibe, depicting the now 23-year-old singer-songwriter in an elaborate bohemian vibe with a delicate floral backdrop in a floral beaded dress rocking a hippie flair, curled up in a chair with her bare feet tucked under the sheer hem of the gown and looking simply into the camera.
 “I feel like I’ve been keeping a secret for two years that I finally get to tell,” Ballerini said. “I’ve never been more proud as I am of this record, the story it tells, and the heart my friends and I put into it. So, November 3, we get to start the next chapter! Unapologetically…”

BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays in the week ahead
AUGUST
Rodney Crowell (1950), B J Thomas (1942), Alison Brown (1962), Michael Peterson (1959), Raul Malo (Mavericks) (1965) 
Webb Pierce (1926), Mark Wills (1973), Michael Johnson (1944), Mel Tillis (1932), Jamie O'Hara (1950)
Merle Kilgore (1934) 
10 Jimmy Dean (1928), Jennifer Hanson (1973) 
11 John Conlee (1946), Rachel Proctor (1974) 
12 Buck Owens (1929),  Porter Wagoner - (1927), Deeanne Dexeter (Dexeter Band; UK) 
13 Andy Griggs (1973), Dan Fogelberg (1951) 

R.I.P
Michael Johnson Obituary: Singer, songwriter, guitarist Michael Johnson passed away on July 25, 2017 at his Minneapolis home following a lengthy illness. He was 72. Read more at Alan Cackett.com

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