NYCS First Impression: Blake Shelton ‘Fully Loaded God’s Country’

/in /by

Blake Shelton Fully Loaded

Earlier this year, Blake Shelton said that he probably wouldn’t release a new album any time soon. However, it turns out that his label, Warner Music Nashville, had other plans. “I knew the label would come up with some plan to release an album,” joked Shelton in a statement, of his new album, Fully Loaded: God’s Country, out today.

The album is part-EP and part-greatest hits package, combining a handful of Shelton’s recent releases with some of his older hits. The latter portion of the album contains some of the biggest tracks from Shelton’s 2017 release Texoma Shore and 2016’s If I’m Honest, including “She’s Got A Way With Words,” “I’ll Name the Dogs,” and “I Lived It.”

For the newer section of the album, there’s the title track, the booming “God’s Country,” which marks Shelton’s 26th number one hit at country radio. The song has rightfully earned Shelton a fair bit of attention, including a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Solo Performance and a trophy for Single of the Year at this year’s CMA Awards.

The album also features two new duets, one with Shelton’s longtime pal, Trace Adkins, and one with his Voice co-coach and girlfriend, Gwen Stefani. The duet with Adkins follows in the vein of their previous duet, “Hillbilly Bone,” as a raucous ode to a wild night (“Hell Right”).

The duet with Stefani is definitely a highlight here. Despite the glaring differences in their voices, they somehow manage to create magical harmonies. Written by Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, and Tommy Lee James, the song is a simple love story. “I don’t want to live without you/ I don’t want to even breathe/ I don’t want to dream about you/ Want to wake up with you next to me,” They sing. “I don’t wanna go down any other road, Now I don’t wanna love nobody but you/ Looking in your eyes now/ If I had to die now/ I don’t wanna love nobody but you.”

“This was one of those songs where the more I heard it, the more I fell in love with it,” Shelton said of the duet. “I also realized how important it is for me and where I am in my life, and I think that’s why Shane was trying to get it to me. It fits my story. I was about to go in and record when I decided that it needed Gwen on it – because it is our song. I think it’s magic.”

The album ends with Shelton’s raucous cover of the Bobby Bare classic, “Tequila Sheila,” which Shelton previously released last year as part of a Friends and Heroes session. “One of the coolest things I’ve been able to do in my career, because I’ve been fortunate, is be a little selfish along the way and be able to record some songs that I grew up loving,” said Shelton in a statement. “I feel like they have helped shape who I am as an artist and were what inspired me to want to be a country singer. I recorded this song and didn’t really have a plan for it — I just wanted to have my own version. I’m a huge fan, and I always felt like Bobby Bare’s personality was the kind I wanted to have as an artist, too.”

FULLY LOADED: GOD’S COUNTRY TRACKLISTING
1. God’s Country – Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt, Devin Dawson
2. Hell Right (feat. Trace Adkins) – David Garcia, Brett Tyler, Michael Hardy
3. Nobody But You (Duet with Gwen Stefani) – Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Tommy Lee James
4. Came Here to Forget – Craig Wiseman, Deric Ruttan
5. She’s Got a Way with Words – Wyatt Earp, Andy Albert, Marc Beeson
6. A Guy With a Girl – Ashley Gorley, Bryan Simpson
7. Every Time I Hear That Song – Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey, Brad Warren, Brett Warren
8. I’ll Name the Dogs – Matt Dragstrem, Ben Hayslip, Josh Thompson
9. I Lived It – Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman
10. Turnin’ Me On – Blake Shelton, Jessi Alexander, Josh Osborne
11. Jesus Got a Tight Grip – Blake Shelton, Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander, Rhett Akins
12. Tequila Sheila – Mac Davis, Shel Silverstein

While no New York City date has been announced just yet, Shelton will hit the road beginning in February on his Friends and Heroes 2020 Tour, featuring guest appearances by Lauren Alaina, The Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson, and Trace Adkins. Visit www.blakeshelton.com for more information on ticket sales and exclusive VIP packages.

To keep up with Blake Shelton, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Fully Loaded: God’s Country is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

New Country Music Friday – The Playlist 12/13/19

/in /by

New Music Friday! This week we get brand new tracks from Blake Shelton, Adam Doleac, Lacy Cavalier, Parmalee & Blanco Brown, and more!

Check out all the new music and more on our Spotify New Country Music Playlist below and be sure to follow for updates each and every Friday:

 

 

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Swag Sessions Update: Featuring Lauren Davidson

/in , /by

In this Swag Session Update, we feature Lauren Davidson, local NJ/NY country artist as she got ready to premiere a brand new song, “Soaking Up Every Second”. Along with the newly released single, Davidson sang “Live Laugh Love” and spoke with Christina about her whirlwind year, opening for artists like Rodney Atkins, Micheal Ray, and singing the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden. Watch the Swag Session below.

To keep up with Davidson follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

For more music from artists we’ve featured during our LIVE Swag Sessions, check out our Sessions Playlist below and give it a follow for updates.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

CMT Next Women of Country Tour Announced: Tanya Tucker Headlines

/in /by

Tanya Tucker CMT Next Women of Country

Announced last month during the CMT Next Women of Country event in Nashville during CMA Awards week, Tanya Tucker will headline the 2020 CMT Next Women of Country Tour and just announced earlier this week, she will bring along several promising rising acts along the way including Brandy Clark, Aubrie Sellers, Erin Enderlin, Hailey Whitters, Madison Kozak, Walker County as well as Shooter Jennings, who will appear at select shows.

Kicking off on February 5, the CMT tour will make stops in such major cities as Boston, Dallas, Houston, Ontario, Vancouver and more. New Yorkers can catch the tour when it stops at Town Hall on February 7th with special guests Brandy Clark and Aubrie Sellers.

Recently, Tucker received four GRAMMY® Award nominations including Song of the Year (“Bring My Flowers Now”); Best Country Album (While I’m Livin’); Best Country Solo Performance (“Bring My Flowers Now”); and Best Country Song (“Bring My Flowers Now”).

Tickets for most of the dates go on sale beginning tomorrow Friday, December 13 at 10:00 am local time at CMT.com and TanyaTucker.com.

2020 CMT Next Women of Country Tour Dates

February 5: The Barns at Wolf Trap, Vienna, VA ~

February 6: World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA ~

February 7: Town Hall, New York, NY ~*

February 20: Graceland Soundstage at Elvis Presley’s Memphis, Memphis, TN ~

February 21: Gillioz Theatre, Springfield, MO ~

February 22: TempleLive, Wichita, KS ~

February 24: The Blue Note, Columbia, MO ~

February 25: Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln, NE ~

February 27: The District, Sioux Falls, SD ~

February 28: Fargo Theatre, Fargo, ND ~

February 29: Grand Casino Hinckley Event Center, Hinckley, MN

March 3: River Run Centre, Guelph, ON ^

March 5: FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St Catharines, ON ^

March 6: Levon Helm Studios, Woodstock, NY ^

March 7: Metropolitan Theatre, Morgantown, WV ^

March 26: The Kessler Theater, Dallas, TX #

March 29: The Heights Theater, Houston, TX #

April 22: The Fremont Theater, San Luis Obispo, CA +

April 29: Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO

May 9: Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center, Cherokee, NC

May 13: Jefferson Center, Roanoke, VA @

May 15: Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak, MI @

May 16: Roxian Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA @

May 17: The Wilbur Theatre, Boston, MA @

May 20: House of Blues, Cleveland, OH @

May 21: Danforth Music Hall, Toronto, ON @

May 22: The Egg, Center for the Performing Arts, Albany, NY @

May 30: Beaver Dam Amphitheater, Beaver Dam, KY &

June 4: The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA

June 5: Crest Theatre, Sacramento, CA*

June 6: Carson Valley Inn Casino, TJ’s Corral Outdoor Amphitheater – Minden, NV*

June 8: State Theatre for the Arts, Red Bluff, CA*

June 10: Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR

June 12: Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, BC*

June 13: The Bing Crosby Theater, Spokane, WA*

June 14: The Showbox, Seattle, WA

* Aubrie Sellers
~ Brandy Clark
# Erin Enderlin
+ Hailey Whitters
^ Madison Kozak
@ Walker County
& Shooter Jennings

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Jimmie Allen Teases Nelly Collab, “Let The Good Times Roll”

/in , /by

One of our favorites and Swag Session alumni, Jimmie Allen performed a killer new song called “Let The Good Times Roll” last week during his opening slot on the CMT on Tour with Michael Ray. The singer-songwriter collaborated and wrote the song with none other than cross-genre recording artist Nelly, watch the sneak peek below.

 

“Let The Good Times Roll” is a perfectly titled tune geared towards making fans dance and sing along. Written with rapper Nelly, the new jam even features a snippet of Nelly’s classic song “Country Grammar” of his debut record. The new song is infectious and will get stuck in your head after just a single listen. Allen is proving that his talent resonates across genre lines and that modern country music has no boundaries for a reason.

When it comes to his co-writer, Nelly is no stranger to collaborations. He has collaborated with everyone from Simple Plan to other hip-hop artists to even country’s own Florida Georgia Line on their smash hit “Cruise.” He also earned himself a major crossover hit with his song “Over and Over Again” featuring Tim McGraw and penned his own country tune, “Sound Good to Me.”

It will be exciting to see what other surprises Allen has for fans coming up soon, but we would be remiss if we didn’t hope for even more collaborations from the entertainer!

To keep up with Jimmie Allen, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Hannah Ellis Releases Poetic Acoustic Version of “Never In Love”

/in /by

Never In Love

One of CMT’s 2018 “Next Women of Country” artists Hannah Ellis has been the one to watch. Earlier this year Ellis completed her stint on the CMT Next Women of Country Tour as well as an opening slot on Gavin DeGraw’s summer tour.

This past Friday, December 6th, Ellis released an acoustic version of her strong pop-country song “Never in Love;” a song on the country singer + songwriter’s debut self-titled EP released back in 2017. The song portrays a breakup, where one entity was really only in love, not the other. She sings: “How could it be over when it never was? / You were never in love / Just in love with the thought of me / Not in love like you oughta be / Just enough to get all you need / And I had nothing to give / When you asked for it all back / But you already knew that / Cause there was never an us / And you were never in love”

When asked about a favorite story about how one of her songs came together on Cowboys & Indians, Ellis answered, “Man, I feel like there are so many. One of my favorites is how “Never in Love’ was written, my cowriters and I (which happen to be my boyfriend and our best friend) went swimming at a friend’s house and we came inside and started writing this fun, upbeat title. Halfway through the song we took a little break and started talking about our friend’s recent breakup. Without meaning to we ended up writing about that experience instead of our original idea. I ended up recording that song on my first EP because it was just so organic and came from such an authentic place.”

Ellis shared on Instagram, “This song has never made a playlist or been a single, and yet I haven’t played a show in two years that someone didn’t request it. So I decided to strip it all the way back to how it was written; @joshkerrmusic, @nickwaynemusic and I sitting around a piano putting words and melody to a fresh wound.. Thank you for loving it. #NeverInLoveAcoustic.”

To keep up with Hannah Ellis follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

“Never in Love (Acoustic) is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently music here on our “New Country Music” playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Riley Green & Travis Denning Impress Fans at Gramercy Theatre in NYC

/in , /by

Last night the Get That Man A Beer Tour with Riley Green and Travis Denning made its way to a packed house at Gramercy Theatre in Midtown Manhattan. The breakout star and one of our 2019 Artists to Watch, has been on the road nonstop this past year, first opening for Brad Paisley’s World Tour then plotting out this headlining run and next he will join Jason Aldean’s We Back Tour.

Travis Denning Riley Green

Kicking things off, Swag Session alumni, Travis Denning took the stage to captivate the already packed venue. The full band set featured his songs “After A Few” and “Tank Of Gas and a Radio Song” as well as a great medley of female country songs like Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine”, Taylor Swift’s “Picture to Burn”, Reba’s “Fancy” and Miranda Lambert’s “Kerosene”. Denning and his band showed their southern rock influences on “Ramblin’ Man” which featured an intense and harmonious jam session.

He introduced a new song, “ABBY” which he says is “…is not about one girl, okay, and it’s not about all girls, this song is just about that one person that you don’t give two shits about anymore in your life, okay?”. “ABBY” being an acronym for ‘Any Body But You’, the cheeky song had fans intently listening and smiling along. He closed his set with his breakout single “David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs” and from the moment the song started Gramercy Theatre was singing along, even singing the final chorus back to the rising artist.

As soon as the house lights dimmed and the giant Christmas tree lights flickered on (complete with a red solo cup star), fans of the Alabama native and headliner, Riley Green started screaming. Kicking off his set with the title of the tour, “Get That Man A Beer”, Green entertained the Gramercy Theatre for 75 minutes with track after track from his debut album Different ‘Round Here. He sprinkled in some classic covers throughout the night like Jamey Johnson’s “In Color” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” but for the most part, this country boy kept things traditional country.

Riley Green Travis Denning

New York City sang along with Green to his album cuts “Same Old Song”, “Georgia Time”, and “Runnin With An Angel” and he seemed quite impressed that so many fans from the tri-state area were such big fans of his traditional vibe. Taking a moment in between songs to introduce the next or tell a quick story about the songwriting process, Green kept the room engaged for the entirety of the Wednesday evening.

His current single, the heartwarming, “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”, although a slower track cultivated an entire venue wide sing-along, echoing the sentiments of the touching lyrics. The night would not have been complete without his debut single, and very first chart-topper, “There Was This Girl”. It was incredible to watch an entire venue sing along to a song that we featured as an acoustic version over a year ago during our Swag Session with the breakout star. Watch that performance below.

For more exclusive clips from last night’s show head to our Instagram. This is the final weekend of the Get That Man A Beer Tour as it heads to Philadelphia tonight. Coming up in 2020 Travis Denning will be opening for the Stay Country Tour with Dustin Lynch and Riley Green will be on tour with Jason Aldean.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, HARDY Announce the Center Point Road Tour

/in /by

Thomas Rhett Center Point Road Tour

Announced this morning, Thomas Rhett will be heading out this summer on 2020 The Center Point Road Tour. The tour, named for his most recent album, Center Point Road will kick off on May 29th with back to back shows in New Hampshire and conclude in Virginia on August 29th. Joining the reigning ACM Male Vocalist of the Year is Cole Swindell and HARDY.

New Yorkers can catch the tour when it hits Northwell Health at Jones Beach Amphitheater on August 27th. Fans can purchase tickets beginning Friday, January 24, 2020, for select cities as part of Live Nation’s Country Megaticket at www.Megaticket.com.

 

2020 THE CENTER POINT ROAD TOUR DATES:
5/29 – Bank of NH Pavilion – Gilford, NH*
5/30 – Bank of NH Pavilion – Gilford, NH*
6/5 – Ruoff Music Center – Indianapolis, IN
6/6 – Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, OH
6/7 – Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, OH
6/11 – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview – Syracuse, NY
6/12 – KeyBank Pavilion – Burgettstown, PA
6/19 – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL
6/20 – Coral Sky Amphitheater – West Palm Beach, FL
7/9 – PNC Music Pavilion – Charlotte, NC
7/10 – Coastal Credit Union Music Park @ Walnut Creek – Raleigh, NC
7/11 – PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ
7/16 – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre – Birmingham, AL
7/17 – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO
7/23 – USANA Amphitheater – Salt Lake City, UT
7/24 – Idaho Center Amphitheater – Boise, ID
7/30 – Toyota Amphitheatre – Sacramento, CA
7/31 – Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mtn. View, CA
8/7 – Ak-Chin Pavilion – Phoenix, AZ
8/8 – Isleta Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM
8/21 – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion – Bangor, ME
8/22 – Xfinity Theatre – Hartford, CT
8/23 – CMAC – Canandaigua, NY
8/27 – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY
8/28 – BB&T Pavilion – Philadelphia, PA
8/29 – Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA

*dates do not include Cole Swindell

 

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

Lauren Duski Gets Vulnerable with New Track “Chasing Me”

/in /by

Lauren Duski Chasing Me

Season 12 The Voice runner up Lauren Duski hasn’t been shy about taking time to release vulnerable music after her run on the competition show. More than a year passed after winning The Voice when she dropped her first single “Costume Party.” Shortly after that, earlier this year, the country singer + songwriter released her debut EP Midwestern Girl Part 1. We spoke to Duski earlier this year about her honest songs and her inspirations. Read our full Swag Spotlight here. 

“Chasing Me (Voice Memo) was released on Friday, December 6th. Duski recorded the emotional, sensitive voice memo in a bathroom at the House of Blues in Chicago on November 6th, 2019 while out on tour opening up for Lukas Graham. Ironically, the song features a picture of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a bite taken out of it, gently resting next to a butter knife on a paper plate as the album artwork.

The single begins with Duski admitting the comfort in leaving the dream behind and heading back home, simply because that’s the easier thing to pursue. She sings: “I’ve asked myself, again and again, why don’t I pack it up and then? // Move back home and settle down // Find a good man back in my hometown” She proceeds to realize that this dream is everything she’s ever known and everything she’s ever wanted.

“But I’ve got songs I wanna sing / The new ones, the old ones and the in betweens / This dream keeps chasing me / Like the birds and the bees in the yard back when I was a kid / Like my little brother on his BMX / I ran and I ran ‘til I was out of breath / I tried for a while to deny who I was always born to be / I swear I’m not chasing down this dream / This dream’s been chasing me”

Duski shared on Instagram shortly after the release, “I released a new song today called Chasing Me” and it wasn’t supposed to come out yet. It was supposed to be “produced perfectly” but to be honest, after feeling the way it connected after every show I didn’t want to wait any longer. So I recorded it in a bathroom in Chicago on my iPhone. I’ve tried to run away from this music thing my whole life. I’ve tried to go back to school. Every time I do though, something keeps tapping me on my shoulder saying, “Nope. Not yet.” Maybe this is just an inevitable process we go through as young adults, searching for meaning or trying to find ourselves? I have no idea. Here I am at 28… still no answers and I’ve tried to pray it away at least once or twice a week for the last few years. The one thing I do know is that the closest thing to any purpose I’ve ever experienced is standing up there on stage and getting an opportunity to be vulnerable with you all. I’m so grateful for the relationship I have with all of you. Thank you for accepting me and this song with all its imperfections. No turning back now. A massive thank you to @nathanchapmanofficial and @emily_landis for writing it with me.”

To keep up with Lauren Duski follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

“Chasing Me (Voice Memo)” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently music here on our “New Country Music” playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook:

 

 

Where Are They Now? Our 2019 Artists To Watch Update

/in /by

Here at New York Country Swag, we pride ourselves on being tastemakers, finding and championing new and up-and-coming artists and introducing our followers to the best of the best of the rising acts. Back in 2019, we named the 10 artists below in our “Artists to Watch in 2019” and we are proud to say, we know rising talent before they make it big. Check out what each of these artists has done over the past year and what is coming up for them in 2020.

Teddy Robb Artists to Watch 2019

10. Austin Burke– Singer-songwriter Austin Burke continues to mesmerize fans with his uniquely crafted songs like “Whole Lot in Love” and “Slower.” This past year, the singer received accolades for his millions of streams on Spotify, as well as, made his Grand Ole Opry debut back in March. Additionally, Burke has been a regular on the festival circuit, playing major festivals such as Country Lakeshake and Faster Horses Festival. Most recently, he released his newest song “Love You Most,” with more music promised heading into 2020.

9. Abby Anderson– Sassy and talented rising artist, Abby Anderson grew her fan base this year, opening up for Rob Thomas and formally, Brett Eldredge and Devin Dawson. The Texas native released three songs this year including her fiery track “Good Lord,” her single “Flowers,” and a cover of A Star Is Born’s “Shallow” with fellow Artist to Watch, Jimmie Allen. Back in July, we hosted a Swag Session with the spunky singer-songwriter, reminding us exactly why she is one of our favorite rising artists.

8. Riley Green– Fans have flocked to Riley Green this year. His traditional country twang mixed with contemporary sound has resonated with fans across the nation. This year, Green opened up for Braid Paisley and Chris Lane and is slated to take the opening spot yet again on Jason Aldean’s ‘We Back’ Tour for 2020. If that’s not enough, the singer-songwriter released his debut record this fall, Different ‘Round Here, which featured his number one single, “There Was This Girl” and thirteen other killer tracks. Additionally, this year, Green embarked on his first headlining tour, which makes a stop at New York City’s Gramercy Theatre tonight! This Swag Session alum is going places, and we cannot wait to see what he has in store for us heading into 2020!

7. Brandon Ratcliff– Brandon Ratcliff is another rising artist that we believe is primed for success. The Monument Records signee is both poised and talented beyond his years. In 2019, the singer-songwriter followed up his debut song “Rules of Breaking Up,” with two new releases, “Number in My Phone” and “Slow Down Hometown.” Our team got to hear the songs live, back in March, during an intimate performance in New York City, and we are sure that 2020 will be an even more exciting year for him. To learn more about the Ratcliff, check out our Swag Spotlight here.

 

6. Seaforth– The new Australian duo, comprised of Mitch Thompson and Tom Jordan are making waves on the American airwaves. This year they have released their first EP Love That, which contained four songs, including their debut singles “Love That and “Talk to Me.” In addition, the duo has teamed up with singer-songwriter Mitchell Tenpenny in their chart-climbing song “Anything She Says.” Tenpenny and Seaforth are currently on tour together. New Yorkers will be in for a real treat this Sunday when the tour finally makes it’s way to New York City! To learn more about Seaforth, check out our Swag Spotlight feature.

 

5. Kassi Ashton– Kassi Ashton is one of those artists that is making radio pay attention and one of UMG Nashville’s most promising new artists. She made our list for her fearlessness, grit, and soulful vocals, but she is proving her staying power with her 2019 released singles “Violins,” “Field Party,” and “Pretty Shiny Things.” Most recently, Ashton opened up for Maren Morris on her sold-out headlining tour, where our team was able to witness her magic up close and personal!

 

4. Teddy Robb– It is obvious that here at New York Country Swag, we love Teddy Robb! The singer-songwriter recently played at our NYCS Country Brunch ’19 and even stopped to chat with us in a Swag Session before he made his Today Show debut! There has been a lot of much-deserved attention around Robb lately, and we cannot wait to see how his newest songs, “Really Shouldn’t Drink Around You” and “Tell Me How” continue to resonate with fans.

 

3. Filmore- This year, Filmore opened up for one of our favorites, Walker Hayes, during his headlining tour. The singer’s unique talent draws fans across genres, as his undeniable swagger and creative songwriting lends itself well to music fans as a whole. He recently released a feel-good summer song “Livin Easy” and a nostalgic tune called “London.” Additionally, Filmore made his national television debut on TODAY and will take the opening spot on Lauren Alaina’s headlining tour, beginning this January.

 

2. Tenille Townes– Tenille Townes has had quite the year! She is truly the full package, shining on both emotional songs and upbeat tracks. She opened up for none other than Dierks Bentley this summer, where our team got to catch her set at Northwell Jones Beach Amphitheater. The songstress continued to promote her music all year, even making her TODAY Show debut back in July. For more on Townes, check out or Swag Spotlight here. She is already a star in Canada, and it’s only a matter of time before Nashville catches on!

1. Mitchell Tenpenny– Last, but certainly not least, Mitchell Tenpenny has had arguably the biggest year out of all the artists on this list. Between being a staple at festivals all season long, opening for Old Dominion on their headlining tour, and finally headlining his own tour alongside Seaforth, Tenpenny shows no signs of slowing down. On top of that, his newest song “Anything She Says” will go to country radio very soon, and we suspect that it will be another hit for the singer! We will always be true fans of Tenpenny and his talent, and will never forget our Swag Session in the middle of Time’s Square that took place just two years ago!

Be on the lookout in the coming weeks for our carefully-cultivated 2020 Artists to Watch list! In the meantime, don’t forget to take a look back at what our 2018 and 2017 artists to watch have been up to.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook: