Swag Sessions Featuring Baker Grissom

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Back in June, our Managing Editor, Christina stumbled upon an EP from an undiscovered singer-songwriter, Baker Grissom. She was blown away by the talent she was hearing on Saturdays and Sunday and was thrilled when we were able to book Grissom for our 3rd Manhattan By Sail Country Edition.

Before playing on our sail, Grissom sat down with NYCountry Swag to perform a track from his EP, “Right Bar Wrong Stool”, as well as a new song, “Jack Made Jack”. Watch the full Swag Session below.

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.

 

To keep up with Blake Grissom follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

 

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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.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
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Country Stars Honored During Emotional CMT Artist of the Year Special

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CMT Artist of the Year 2019

Photo Courtesy of @CMT On Twitter

CMT honored five country artists on Wednesday night that had incredible success on tour and on country radio this past year. Those five were Dan + Shay, Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Carrie Underwood and Thomas Rhett. CMT also honored Ashley McBryde, who received the Breakout Artist of the Year and Reba McEntire, who received the Artist of a Lifetime Award.

Dan + Shay began show performing their hit song “Tequila”. The Grammy-winning duo was introduced by gospel-pop singer and their good friend, Tori Kelly. The two accepted their award, told the story of the journey and thanked a bevy of people who helped them get there.

“We’ve spent the last four or five years trying to figure out what we wanted to say and by that third record, this was finally the time we could put our stamp on a record,” Shay Mooney explained.

Roseanne and Big Bang Theory Star Johnny Galecki came up on stage to announce Luke Combs as the next Artist of the Year Award winner. He spoke of Combs’ past, being broke and working odd jobs to make end’s meat until “Hurricane” blew up online. He has since generated millions of streams and set sales records with his debut album “This One’s For You”. Combs, who is currently on his Beer Never Broke My Heart tour with Morgan Wallen and Jameson Rodgers, couldn’t be there last night, so This is Us star Chrissy Metz performed Combs’ newest single to country radio “Even Though I’m Leaving”.

Another This Is Us cast member, Lonnie Chavis introduced Kane Brown. Chavis and Brown got to know each other when Chavis portrayed a younger version of Brown in his music video for “Good As You”. It has been an emotional week for Brown, as his drummer and lifelong friend Kenny Dixon passed away tragically in a car accident last Saturday. Brown, who was vulnerable on stage, dedicated the award to Dixon. “I want to dedicate this to my drummer Kenny, he started with me coming out of Chattanooga on Facebook. People didn’t think we would make it, he was with me the whole time. He was so supportive of me.” Another friend of Brown and fellow country artist Chris Young performed one of his new songs, “Drowning” which is about the loss of a friend.

Next on stage was Kid Rock, who introduced the recipient of the Breakout Artist of the Year, Ashley McBryde. “It’s daunting to tell you the story about this year’s Breakout Artist because she is the real storyteller…I defy you to listen to those songs and not be moved; they take a hold of us.” McBryde then performed her most recent release “One Night Standards”.

McBryde told us she was broke, living out of her car and playing acoustic gigs before she got recognized. “I had this tip jar and I would look at these one dollar bills like this one dollar bill was a moment for somebody and any nights where you go ‘what I am even doing this for?’ just count your moments in the tip jar and try to put on your big-girl boots.”

Radio DJ, Bobby Bones introduced Carrie Underwood as the next Artist of the Year. He mentioned Underwood was one of the first recipients of the award ten years ago and has won three more in between her first and this one. She was not in attendance either because she was in Ohio performing on her Cry Pretty 360 tour with special guests Maddie & Tae and Runaway June. However, we did get to see Underwood’s powerful vocals on display during two songs from the show, both from her 2012 album Blown Away including “Blown Away” and “Two Black Cadillacs”

Thomas Rhett was the last Artist of the Year recipient and he was introduced by none other than his wife, Lauren Akins. He performed a song off his new album about sacrifice; one we did not see live at Madison Square Garden, “Dream You Never Had”. Arguably one of the most emotional and touching moments the country family has seen in a few years, Rhett spontaneously moved by the emotion of the night, asked the audience if he could take a moment to pray, for Kane Brown’s family and Kenny Dixon’s family.  “Father God, we love you so much. Loss is something that we can’t comprehend and so right now I pray that you can be with Kane and his family and his drummer, Kenny and his family and bring them peace that only you know how to bring somebody,” Rhett prayed.

Last, but certainly not least, the Artist of a Lifetime Award winner, Reba McEntire was honored. First, Lady Antebellum covered her song “Is There Life Out There”. Next, Country Music Hall of Famer, Vince Gill gave a very personal and heartfelt speech about their friendship and of course all the success she has had in this industry. Then, it was McEntire’s turn to speak:

“I appreciate the people I got to open the show for and the ones that guided me and taught that I would get through with my show, run back and sign autographs and then I’d sit there and watch their shows because I was learning all the time…That’s what this business is all about: the people we get to learn from but get to know,” she praised. “I am very blessed to have so many friends” To end the show, Sam Hunt delivered an excellent rendition of McEntire’s “Fancy”.

To keep up with CMT, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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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:

Kacey Musgraves Performs at the Iconic Radio City Music Hall

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Around two years ago, Kacey Musgraves stepped on stage to a half-filled room in New York City while opening for Little Big Town. Some people knew her name, but not nearly enough. People were walking in during her set, talking, laughing, but once she closed her set with hit “Merry Go ‘Round”, accompanied by just her and her guitar, the crowd went silent. They learned her name that night.

Kacey Musgraves Radio City

On Tuesday, October 15th, Musgraves walked on to that stage again; this time as a headliner at the first of two sold-out shows at the legendary Radio City Music Hall. She started with “Slow Burn”, the first track off the Grammy-winning album Golden Hour, with her guitar and silhouette being the only two things visible. Once the second verse kicked in, the lights came up, and the crowd went wild. “Oh my gosh, this is exciting. Ok well, you didn’t sell out just one night, you sold out two!” She shouted to the audience, which resulted in cheers throughout the entire venue. “I am so honored and so excited to be here, there are just no words to describe how happy I am to be playing this iconic place, and in New York City nonetheless. Are y’all ready to have a good time?” The crowd roared in response. “Sweet, me too.”

The crowd had better than a good time, and Musgraves appeared to be having just as much fun as the fans did. She sang hits like “Butterflies” and “Follow Your Arrow”, both of which the crowd knew every word to and sang almost as loud as she did. “This is my story about growing up in a small town,” Musgraves said to the audience before playing “Merry Go ‘Round”. One of the highlights of the night was when she accompanied herself on guitar as the crowd sang the last chorus of “Go ‘Round” by themselves, a moment that was incredibly vulnerable for every person filling the seats, and for Musgraves and her band.

Musgraves added something special to her extended tour. She had beautiful, detailed lasers that created an absolute utopia of an atmosphere. The lasers generated stars, clouds, and, golden beams of light, among other things. After singing Pagent Material album cut “Family is Family,” Musgraves told the crowd, “This next person I want to bring out is from my family, but not the crazy [kind mentioned in “Family]… he is someone I really admire so much, as a fellow songwriter and creator, but also as my husband,” she said, and with that, Ruston Kelly (Bowery Ballroom, October 24th) surprised everyone and came out with his guitar. The couple played their song, “To June, This Morning”, the lyrics from a letter Johnny Cash wrote to June Carter Cash, and the melody they wrote together. The theatre was silent as the two sang the love song in electrifying harmony, and although there were thousands of fans watching them, it was one of the highlights and most intimate moments of the night.

kcdey musgraves

“A lot changed when I met Ruston, [love] songs just started coming out, but [before] I met him, I was like, it’s not clicking, I’m not going to find my person, and you know, I felt like I didn’t deserve it, to be honest,” Musgraves told the New York City crowd as her band returned to the stage. “It’s really cool that a change of events can happen and it’s cool to see that love can really spring up at any place”, she said, starting up the Golden Hour cut “Love Is A Wild Thing”.

Magic seemed to be all around during Musgraves’ set. While an incredible performer, she is a poet first, and it was a treat for any fan to watch her explain her stories. She brought light and honesty to everyone on a weeknight, and her set was like entering an alternate universe. Once in this “world”, no one wanted to leave.

Kelly wasn’t the only surprise of the night. During her cover of the iconic, “I Will Survive”, the one and only Gloria Gaynor joined Musgraves onstage. “Gloria Gaynor, the queen of disco!” Musgraves shouted. Gaynor had nothing but kind words to say about Musgraves, telling the audience, “I recorded this song in 1975, forty years ago, and I can’t tell you how pleased I am that Kacey is carrying on the tradition, helping you all to survive”.

In a time where people constantly disagreeing with one another, music is there to help humans survive. No one knew each other, swaying to Musgraves’ glow, but together, they were a community of people sustained by stories. It’s a pretty powerful sentiment, and this showed on lighter songs like “High Time” and on heavier songs like “Rainbow”. Music is a healer, and Musgraves is leading that revolution.

The final song in Musgraves’ set was upbeat psychedelic-country jam “High Horse”, and there was not a single person standing still at that moment. “I want to see you jump!” She told the dancing audience while confetti and lasers decorated the stage. It was the perfect end to a perfect show.

In 2019, genres aside, it’s rare to see a true singer-songwriter reach this many people. Musgraves captivated the audience, some old and some new fans, with her storytelling and raw vocals, and she brought such joy to Manhattan. In the words of the queen of yeehaw herself, “Oh what a world / I don’t want to leave / All kinds of magic all around us it’s hard to believe / Thank god it’s not too good to be true / Oh what a world”.

To keep up with Kacey Musgraves follow her on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter.

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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:

Victoria Shaw Launches New Web Series “Songwriters Under the Covers”

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Songwriters Under the Covers

If you have never been to a songwriter round, you are certainly missing out. Each round is unique, featuring songwriters of the biggest songs of our time, and each songwriter takes time to chat with usually an intimate audience about the process and headspace they were in when they gave life to a brand new song.

Hit songwriter Victoria Shaw has been hosting similar nights for years but now is taking the wonderful art of storytelling through songs to television. Songwriters Under the Covers with Victoria Shaw is launching on ALL ARTS, a multimedia arts platform launched earlier this year by WNET and is being produced by Brighton Entertainment.

“I’m blessed to know a lot of talented, funny, wonderful musicians who are dear friends,” Victoria said in a statement. “I invite those friends who just so happen to be top-selling songwriters from across the pop, rock and country worlds to join me on stage to play their huge hits and reveal what went into creating those iconic songs.  It’s very organic, and my shows feel like you’re hanging out in my living room listening in on a bunch of songwriters singing songs, swapping stories and cracking jokes. That’s my goal every night, for my shows to feel like a party at my house.“

NYCountry Swag attended a taping of Songwriters Under the Covers back in March with Marcus Hummon, Beth Nielsen Chapman and of course, Victoria Shaw. For a full recap of what to expect from that episode, click here.

Being that each show is held at Birdland Jazz Club which is located in the heart of New York City, you never know who might be in the audience. Shaw’s been in the business for many years and has many friends who may just happen to be sitting there and are willing to join her on stage.

Songwriters Under the Covers with Victoria Shaw premieres Wednesday, October 16 at 8:30 p.m. on the ALL ARTS streaming app and website. Check your local listings for more info.

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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!

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Blake Shelton Announces Friend and Heroes 2020 Tour Dates

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Blake Shelton 2020 Tour

In preparation for his upcoming record, Fully Loaded: God’s Country, superstar Blake Shelton, gathered his friends for an epic new tour slated to begin Thursday, February 12th in Portland, Oregon. The ‘Friends and Heroes 2020’ tour will feature headliner, Shelton, alongside special guest Lauren Alaina and appearances by The Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson, and Trace Adkins.

The tour will run through all major cities throughout the Midwest and West Coast, including special stops at The Forum in Los Angeles on March 7th.

Shelton shared in a recent press release that “The Friends and Heroes Tour was so exciting and successful last year that [he] couldn’t imagine not trying something like that again,” adding, “I feel like it was the best concert experiences that I’ve ever been involved in and I’m ready to get fired up again.” The original leg of the tour had limited dates, but the same star-studded line-up, so the 2020 tour should be even better!

Blake Shelton Tour

Photo Credit: Andrew Eccles

BLAKE SHELTON’S “FRIENDS AND HEROES 2020” DATES
2/13 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
2/14 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
2/15 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena
2/20 – Bakersfield, CA – Mechanics Bank Arena
2/21 – Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
2/22 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
2/27 – Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Smart Home Arena
3/5 – Glendale, CA – Gila River Arena
3/6 – San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena
3/7 – Los Angeles, CA – The Forum*
3/11 – Wichita, KS – INTRUST Bank Arena*
3/12 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center
3/14 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
3/19 – Chicago, IL – Allstate Arena
3/20 – Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
3/21 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena*
All tickets except where noted are on sale at 10:00 a.m. local time on 10/25.
*On sale at 10:00 a.m. CST on 11/1.

Don’t forget to watch out for Shelton’s next project, out December 13th.

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

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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:

NYCS Woman of the Month: Cassie Petrey & Jade Driver Owners of Crowd Surf

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We’re bringing you stories from women who are chasing their dreams and building a life that they love with New York Country Swag’s, “Woman of the Month”.

Each month, we highlight a different female pursuing her passions. Introducing you to women who are taking risks, working relentlessly and turning their dreams into reality. These are empowering women who serve as role models and should be celebrated.

Cassie Petrey and Jade Driver

Cassie Petrey and Jade Driver

This month we are shining a spotlight on Cassie Petrey and Jade Driver, co-founders/owners of digital marketing, publicity, and management company Crowd Surf. “Crowd Surf is an artist marketing and management company that is focused on problem-solving and helping our clients accomplish their goals,” they tell us. “Our company is all about helping talent solve their problems, at first it was digital because nobody knew how to deal with digital, but over time we’ve evolved into so many different services and solving different problems, creating solutions that were realistic and in line with what our clients needed.”

Driver, who grew up in Richmond, Virginia was introduced to music at an early age, her parents would play music that was “clean” she explains, like The Monkees, The Partridge Family, and The Beatles. She laughs when explaining that she loved The Chipmunks, they were the first boyband that she became a big fan of. As she got older and her tastes evolved, she started listening to Debbie Gibson, New Kids On the Block and eventually, the Backstreet Boys. “I went to my guidance counselor in high school and told her I want to work for the Backstreet Boys and she told me that wasn’t possible but I told her I would figure it out, it took me a long time but I did,” she proudly states. She started running fan street teams from her bedroom, participating in show choir and eventually ended up at Middle Tennessee State University where she met Cassie Petrey.

Petrey, from Louisville, Kentucky wasn’t exposed to music until she was eleven or twelve years old. After her softball team in high school won the championship they all went to see the Backstreet Boys in concert and it’s safe to say from there she became a superfan. She worked at local radio stations, ran message boards and fansites, promoted local shows and even worked at management firms or local record labels. After a family member mentioned that she could major in music business, she became obsessed with the idea and applied to and got into Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Unfortunately, the reality of finances kicked in, and Petrey made the decision to go to the University of Lousiville instead. On her drive to the school for orientation, she pulled over, started to cry and realized that wasn’t the right decision for her. “I drove home and in the mail, that day had come to my house a letter about MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University) and it was a school I hadn’t even heard of at that point,” Petrey explains.  “I changed where I was going to school and moved to Nashville to follow that path and that journey, and I am really grateful for that piece of mail if I didn’t get that I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

 

Talking about fate and the universe leading you in the right direction, Driver and Petrey lived in the same dorm at college and after a trip to get tacos, a shared love for singing Backstreet Boys deep tracks, and a Wyoming cowboy love interest, they decided to become friends and eventually partners in business. While completing their degrees at MTSU, Driver was working for Radio Disney and Petrey was a Warner Music College Rep where she had the brilliant yet unheard of idea, to run MySpace pages for a living.

Social media and the general notion of artists having a social fan base and digital marketing was still super new at the time, but Petrey and Driver almost saw the future when creating their business. “The initial motivation for the company was, how do we get free tickets and hang out with boy bands,” Driver laughs. “We learned a lot being fans but then also trying to work for them, there was never a point where we said we wanted to start a business, we just sort of did it.”

Their first official retainer was with Capitol Nashville where they helped set up and run MySpace pages for artists such as Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Eric Church and more. Helping the record labels and the artists understand the social space, they were able to continue their little company and move on to pop acts such as Britney Spears and eventually, end up managing AJ McLean from Backstreet Boys, for sure a full circle moment for both women.

Now 12 years after officially starting their business they have a team of 50+ that work in conjunction via four offices nationwide (LA, Nashville, NYC) and they continue to evolve to help connect artists with their fans, managing artist’s careers, graphic design, video production and however they can artist’s help achieve their goals.

When we discuss what advice they have for people who are looking to fulfill either an entrepreneurial dream or just be in the music business, the two women actually explained their podcast, ‘How I Got Backstage’ where they feature influencers, artists, and executives, that join them to discuss the ins and outs of music industry. “Each guest develops their story, each story is so different, to get into the music or entertainment industry, there is no right or wrong path, it’s all different, it depends on your story and how much you want it and how much you want to work for it,” they tell us.

They also tell us two great pieces of advice. “Do what you do and always ask”. 

“Doing what you do, me and Cassie are good examples of that because before entering the workforce we were fangirls, being able to take that passion and understand that we were not just fans but consumers,” they explain. “There were plenty of other people just like us, people who we could also turn into consumers, and taking that understanding of why we were purchasing things and making a company out of it, we continue to be fans and we utilize that in our understanding. Studying your own habits led us into this company essentially.”

“My boss at Radio Disney told me if you don’t ask you’re not going to get it but if you do ask, you might,” Driver tells us. “I was asking for tickets to Nick Carter’s concert and because I asked, I met and interviewed him, and in 2003 it was a huge deal and it proved to me that I could do things, I could meet and work with people that I admire and that was a big catalyst for me in understanding something that looked impossible and making it possible.”

Be sure to listen to their podcast, ‘How I Got Backstage’ and follow Crowd Surf on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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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:

 

Exclusive Interview: Brantley Gilbert Chats About His Baby Daughter

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During his New York City press album release week, Brantley Gilbert stopped by The Boogie Room located inside The Mondrian Park Avenue Hotel to chat with New York Country Swag about his new album, Fire & Brimstone as well as his new baby daughter and his upcoming tour.

Watch below for the full interview and to hear Gilbert’s hilarious answer to the question, “How will you act when your daughter brings home a boy she wants to date”.

Gilbert is heading out on his Fire’t Up Tour with Dylan Scott and Chase Rice in 2020. Find out more details about that tour here.

To keep up with Brantley Gilbert follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Fire & Brimstone 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.

 

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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:

The Best Moments That Happen At Country Concerts

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Concerts

Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

As the summer concert season is coming to a close, we have been busy reminiscing about some of our favorite concerts that we were able to catch. To learn more about our favorite shows, click here. Although each concert is different and unique to the artists on the bill, there are some moments that transcend through each and every show.

1. The tailgate.
Although technically not the start of the show, everyone knows that the tailgate is a crucial component of a country concert. It’s your chance to grab your friends, crank up the music, and play a few drinking games with your crew and other country music lovers. Tailgates get the party started and make you even more excited for the night of music to come! Check out our tailgate essentials here to make sure you have everything you need for an epic tailgate.

 

2. The opening acts.
Getting to see multiple artists in one night is always a highlight, but when the tour is stacked with fresh talent and rising artists, it makes it even better! Plus, you get to say you saw the artist before they hit it big! We love championing rising artists, so getting to check out their sets are always a highlight! Still not convinced? Check out the many reasons, we encouraged you to get their early for Riley Green’s, Tenille Townes, and Russell Dickerson’s opening sets!

3. Gearing up for the headliner.
Just before the artist of the night takes the stage, the house lights dim, music begins to play, and fans begin to scream in anticipation. This moment isn’t always appreciated enough, but we live for the introduction song and the production before the artist explodes on to the stage. The energy in the venue is electric and the notion that you are about to see your favorite artist perform with thousands of other people, who love country music is always indescribable.

 

4. U.S.A. chants and red, white, and blue.
Here at NY Country Swag, we are big supporters of our troops, our firefighters, our police officers, our first responders, and our local heroes, such as our teachers! We created our hero collection to honor those who serve our country and community and donate a portion of our proceeds to organizations that benefit them across the country. Because of this, one of our favorite moments is when the crowd erupts into a U.S.A. chant after the artist honors our troops. In a typically divided world, the feeling of patriotism and being united feels magical.

 

5. Surprise guests.
It is so thrilling when the headliner brings a surprise guest to the stage! Most recently, at Jones Beach, Luke Bryan brought Morgan Wallen on stage to sing his song “Whiskey Glasses,” and Miranda Lamberts like to bring out her other members of the Pistol Annies on occasion too. The element of surprise keeps fans on their toes, and it is fun to guess, who might be showing up, especially during festival season!

 

6. Openers come back on stage with the headliner.
Usually, the headliner will bring their opening acts back on stage to duet with them. We love witnessing the camaraderie on stage and hearing a new version of one of our favorite songs! Over the summer, FGL gave us goosebumps, when they performed “H.O.L.Y.” with Dan + Shay, and back in September, Thomas Rhett had fans at Madison Square Garden up on their feet, screaming, when Dustin Lynch, Russell Dickerson, and Rhett Akins came back to the stage to sing Rhett’s “Beer Can’t Fix.” These are the moments you can only be a part of if you’re present for a live show!

 

7. When every single person in the crowd sings along or holds up their flashlights.
Two years in a row, one of our favorite moments have been when the whole venue sang along as Dan + Shay sang “Tequila.” This magical moment never gets old. Usually, during one of the artists’ slower, more vulnerable songs, fans show their appreciation and approval by putting on their flashlights and swaying their phones back and forth in the air. This creates some extraordinary imagery and usually brings the performer (and us) to tears!

 

8. When artists bring fans on stage.
We love getting to see fans being pulled on to the stage by an artist! It showcases the performer in a more human light, and it is fun to see how they interact with their audience up close and personal! We especially love, when the little kid in the crowd gets to sing along with the artist on stage, as we’re sure it’s a moment that they never forget! For us, this is the equivalent to getting a shout out from an artist on stage, as Russell Dickerson did for us in his MSG debut in September! Just like that little kid, who gets pulled up on to the stage, we’ll never forget that moment!

 

9. When the headliner covers a throwback song and the whole audience sings along.
Typically in an entertainer’s set-list, the singer will add in a cover of some old-school country song or a catchy modern song. Sometimes artists will even create their own medley or mash-up! Some crowd favorites include, “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “I Like It, I Love It,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” and many more. It is always a blast to see how country artists put their own twist on cover songs!

 

10. The encore.
At this point, we know that the headliner is going to come back on stage to entertain us with a couple of more songs, but still, hearing the entire crowd shout “encore” and witnessing the gratitude shining from the artist is always a heartwarming moment. Plus, the encore is usually where you get to finally hear the songs you’ve been hoping to hear all night long. It definitely ends the night on a high note!

Let us know what your favorite concert moments are in our New York Country Fans Facebook group!

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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!

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What We’re Listening To: October Picks

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NYCountry Swag’s “What We’re Listening To” playlist highlights the wide range of our team’s favorite songs and artists when it comes to the country music genre.  At the end of the day, we are all fans first with a passion for country music and are eager to share with you all what we’ve got on repeat each month.

Find below each of our team member’s favorite songs and why in our September picks. Then be sure to give our Spotify account a follow and listen to our favorite tracks!

 

OCTOBER PICKS:

 

Stephanie Wagner, Founder

Pick: “Drink About Me” – Brett Kissel
Songwriters: Ben Stennis & Matt Rogers

Ever since we hosted Brett Kissel for one of our latest Swag Sessions, I’ve been listening to his song “Drink About Me” on repeat. I love the way the lyrics talk about the memories of a past love and with each and every drink it can take you to a different moment with that person and wonder if they think about the same things too. 

 

Christina Bosch, Managing Editor 

Pick: “Getting Good” – Lauren Alaina
Songwriters: Emily Weisband

When I first heard Lauren Alaina’s new single, “Getting Good” I immediately resonated with always looking ahead to the next thing, instead of taking a look around and appreciating where I am at this very present moment. I love this wave of new music from female artists just singing about real life, not relenting about a man, rather focusing on things that men and women can relate to. I especially relate to the lines about worrying about her parents dying and the anxiety that so often overcomes me.

“I’m afraid of both my parents dying / I call my dad, he answers right away / And I didn’t hear a word ’cause I was thinking
 / About what hasn’t happened yet but will someday / And we hang up the phone before I know it / I’m crying over the conversation my fear took / I’m thinking once I learn to soak up every moment / I’ll realize my life’s already good”

In my life, knowing that so much has changed over the past few years, I try to constantly stop and smell the proverbial roses. I have always loved Lauren Alaina, since the moment she stepped in front of the judges on American Idol back in 2011 and with each release, I fall more and more in love with her voice, her personality and specifically her flawless songwriting.

 

Lucie Bernheim, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Trying To Let Her” – Ruston Kelly
Songwriters: Kyle Jacobs, Ruston Kelly, Joe Leathers

My playlist always changes when the weather does, and now that it’s fall, I’ve been listening to Ruston Kelly’s debut album, Dying Star, on repeat. Kelly leans more on the alternative side of country music, or as he calls it- “dirt emo”, but I love everything about it. The story is thought-provoking, and while autobiographical, it’s universal. I also love the production;  it’s simple, yet beautiful, and the three-part harmony gives me chills.

“So, do you really wanna live like this forever / She’s trying to love you, boy / Why don’t you let her?”

 

Dylan Bestler, Contributing Writer

Pick: “The City” – Chase Rice
Songwriters: Chase Rice and Chris Destefano

Chase Rice put on an incredible show on Friday night at the Playstation Theater where he debuted a new song for us called the “The City” that will be on his next album. I’m not sure if I can pick an unreleased song but it’s been stuck in my head since and I can’t wait for him to release it so I can play it on repeat. It cannot go on our playlist yet but you can check it out an acoustic version on his Instagram page.

We were higher than the moon / hanging over lights on Broadway / as the band played / Baby let’s take/let’s take it to the city

 

Kristina Callahan, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Heartbeat of a Small Town” – Travis Denning
Songwriters: Chris Stevens, Rhett Akins, Travis Denning

When I listen to this song, I’m immediately thrown back to growing up in my hometown in Upstate New York where every Friday in the fall was all about high school football.

“Friday night, home team, marching band // Whole crowd stomping in the stands // You can hear them pads popping a mile away”

I think any song that can take you back to great memories growing up is something so special. I’ve been a fan of Denning’s other songs he’s released like “After a Few,” “David Ashley Parker from Powder Springs,” and “Tank of Gas with a Radio Song.” While still up-and-coming, I can’t wait to see what this Georgia boy has coming up next.

Julia Grubbs, Contributing Writer 

Pick: “Coming Down the Mountain” – Mipso
Songwriters: Libby Rodenbough

With the fall chill in the air, and New Yorkers gearing up for Thanksgiving, Christmas, winter, don’t forget Halloween!, I’m taking full advantage of the sweater weather to listen to chill country music in preparation for the changing of the seasons. I’ll light my Honeycrisp Apple candle from Trader Joe’s and throw on this easy tune by Mipso. I’m totally into the Indie-Country mashups these days, where you can’t place the music in any particular genre, but it just makes you feel good.
Her voice eases any tension you might be holding and encourages a slowing down so appropriate for this time of year. Imagine watching the leaves fall with this in the background, and you’ll get what I mean. The harmonies also sit well, further relaxing you into a casual ‘sit on the porch with your coffee’ mood. I think we all need a bit more slow-moving songs in this fast-paced society, so let Mipso give you all you need to gather round the people you hold dear and just breathe. If you have the chance to listen to this in the mountains, then you’ll really catch the essence of the song.

Autumn Haile, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Newport” – Kylie Rothfield
Songwriters: Kylie Rothfield

Although Kylie Rothfield toes the line between pop and country, her ethereal songwriting is what fits her so effortlessly into the Nashville music scene. It also happens to be what made me fall in love with her song, “Newport.” While “Newport” isn’t one of her newest songs, it’s one that recently caught my attention because of the wistful atmosphere and the emotional reminiscent sprinkled throughout the lyrics. It captures that feeling you get when you look back on a moment you didn’t realize was important until long after it was over.  Her talent with words and melodies makes listeners feel every ebb and flow of the melody, which is perfect for a song that reminds me of being close to the water with someone I love. From the very first listen, I was hooked on her voice, her sound, and her talent. I still feel you holding me / I still feel your love / We always have Newport, babe / Our escape from the world that we don’t understand / We always have Newport / and We left something there that we’ll never get back

Molly Holmberg, Contributing Writer

Pick: “A Road and A Radio” – Charles Esten
Songwriters: Charles Esten and J.T. Harding

This month I have been listening to Charles Esten’s “A Road and A Radio.” This song embraces the free spirit that an open road brings and listening to your favorite, nostalgic songs with friends, or just simply driving to clear your mind. The song channels an upbeat rock in roll toon with such ease to sing along. Esten mentioned in a press release, “It would be nice to think that maybe when somebody out there, in an attempt to get away from it all, decides to get ‘a song turned up’ and ‘a ragtop down,’ this just might be one of the songs they turn up.” I can definitely say that I have turned this one up more than once while driving with friends.

 

Nicole Piering, Contributing Writer

Pick: “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost” – Craig Morgan
Songwriters: Craig Morgan

My pick for the month of October is Craig Morgan’s “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost.” Released in late August, the song was given much-deserved attention thanks to a viral campaign led by Blake Shelton. With the help of Shelton and some other famous friends, including Ellen Degeneres, Carson Daly, Kelly Clarkson, and Hoda Kotb, the song climbed to #1 atop the iTunes’ all-genre chart. Unlike many other viral hits, Morgan’s song is a meaningful and powerful proclamation of faith and love, written in the wake of tragedy. Morgan penned the track after the passing of his son three years ago in a drowning accident, and it’s sure to give you chills. “I know my boy ain’t here, but he ain’t gone,” He sings, and it’s a message that anyone who’s ever lost someone can definitely relate to.

Pick: “Right Where I Left It” – Cole Swindell
Songwriters: Cole Swindell, Cole Taylor, Michael Carter
My pick for October is “Right Where I Left It” by Cole Swindell. The latest song to come from Cole Swindell’s new EP, Down Home Sessions V, might be my favorite from the EP so far.  It’s a great reminder that no matter how old you get or how far you move, your home town is always going to be there. Growing up in a small town in South Jersey, I know that’s true.

Shanna Vitaliano, Contributing Writer

Pick: “Let It Roll” – Midland
Songwriters: Jess Carson

I have been listening to “Let It Roll” by Midland since I saw them kick off their tour last month in New York City.  Penned by Jess Carson, it is a wordy track that reels you in with the authentic feel of strong country roots.  Midland sticks with their undeniably incredible distinguished style as “Let It Roll” tells a story of being in awe over someone.  It is a great song to play while on a long drive with an easy-going chorus, “So let it roll/Out of your soul/And we’ll fly down the road/See how high we can go/And let it ride/Like the tumblin’ dice/When you flash me those eyes/Girl, I’m out of my mind.”  “Let It Roll” has a twangy, laid back vibe that showcases what Midland is all about.

Erica Zisman, Contributing Writer

Pick: “One Beer” – HARDY feat. Devin Dawson and Lauren Alaina
Songwriters: Hillary Lindsey, Jake Mitchell, HARDY

This month I knew exactly which song I was picking for my song of the month almost as soon as I heard it. My pick is HARDY’s song “One Beer,” featuring Devin Dawson and Lauren Alaina. First off, the entire concept of HARDY’s record “Hixtape Vol. 1” blows my mind and excites me for more music from him, but this song is for sure stand out off the record.

“A Boy and a girl and a three on a tree / K-I-S-S-I-N-G / First comes lust, then a shotgun marriage / Six month’s later come a baby in a carriage / You know what, y’all? You know what, y’all? / The whole thing started with some alcohol / The whole thing started with some alcohol.”

“One Beer” is innovative, oddly relatable, and storytelling at its finest. It paints the picture of a young couple, who find out that they are having a baby, which clearly changes the course of their lives. “One Beer” is the modern day “There Goes My Life” by Kenny Chesney. From the clever wordplay to the killer vocals by the collaborators to using a baby’s heartbeat as an instrumental, HARDY created a masterpiece with this track. I’ll always be a sucker for some creative and heartfelt lyrics, so I cannot wait to see what HARDY brings to the table next with his song-writing craft.

 

Listen to our picks on our “What We’re Listening To” playlist on Spotify and be sure to give it a follow, so you can catch our monthly updates.

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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.

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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:

[Listen] LANCO Drop “What I See” and “Old Camaro”

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LANCO What I See Old Camaro

The double-platinum feel-good country band LANCO debuted two new songs this weekend and added the nostalgic “What I See” and the classic love story “Old Camaro” to their repertoire. The dynamic five-person band has proved once again how their authentic voices and pure organic sounds create relatable lyrics with infectious anthemic choruses.

Their new single “What I See” is a song that originated when LANCO was on tour and happened to be picked up in a random parking lot next to a run-down restaurant and bar. To the band, that place meant nothing. However, they realized that the same spot they saw could have been part of someone’s childhood memories or an important part of their hometown life. This was all lead singer Brandon Lancaster, drummer Tripp Howell, and bassist Chandler Baldwin and Jeremy Spillman needed to put the pen to paper and write “What I See,” with lyrics recognizing that even the simplest things that may be insignificant to them, could be important to others. The second song “Old Camaro,” tells a story of two young kid’s in love escaping the reality of life. In the chorus, LANCO sings the reminiscent verse, “You and me in an old Camaro, a whole lot of love and a little dinero, the world in the taillights and a little bit scared, oh, just you and me, three on the tree, in an old Camaro.”

“What I See” and “Old Camaro” showcase once again the talented storytelling ability of LANCO. The two tracks are follow up’s to the band’s incredible success and notoriety from their critically acclaimed No. 1 selling album HALLELUJAH NIGHTS which featured “Born To Love You” and “Greatest Love Story.” LANCO has been on the road selling out venues across the U.S. with their own headlining HALLELUJAH NIGHTS tour. Next year, they will be joining Miranda Lambert on her highly anticipated Wildcard Tour. For more information go to www.lancomusic.com. Be sure to watch our full interview with the band from earlier this summer at Taste of Country Festival, below.

To keep up with LANCO, follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

“What I See” and “Old Camaro” are 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.

 

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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: