NYCS Swag Spotlight Williams Honor

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Williams Honor

This week’s Swag Spotlight shines on two musicians, Gordon Brown and Reagan Richards, who call themselves Williams Honor, a name they told us honors their late fathers, William and Benard. We talked with them about everything from their influences, their journey as a duo, and how they view the ever-changing genre of country music.

Hailing from the Jersey Shore’s Asbury Park, Williams Honor has a unique rise in the industry. Richards made the big move from New Jersey to Nashville to further her career, where she worked with an impressive list of collaborators and sang back-up for rock artists, while Brown, spent decades writing, producing, and directing all in the realm of the music world.

Although the two have known of each other for years, the two met in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy ripped through New Jersey and New York. Both Richards and Brown performed on the same benefit show, bonding over their roots and Nashville, and the rest was history.

“Being that we had two separate careers, all of sudden we say ‘hey’ why don’t we look into doing something together and we started writing and that’ sorta how Williams Honor started. It was very organic. It just really happened with us realizing that we had the same interests, the same goals, and the same things that we really loved,” Richards tells us.

Their mutual love for country music both brought Williams Honor together and have kept them dedicated to the genre over the last few years too. “With country music, you listen to that song. And from the first word sang until the last word sang, you know what they’re talking about,” adding, “And 9 times out of 10 you can relate to it or your best friend can relate to it. So when we sit down to write, that’s what we write, we write country music. Because of just being able to resonate with it. It’s authentic, it’s truly authentic. We love it, we write it.”

The duo hopes to continue to be ambassadors for country music, as they show their loyal fans across many genres that at the heart of country music is a story and a message. This understanding truly resonates across their original music. Mixing old school country-rock influences of everyone from Pasty Cline, Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Cash to Keith Urban, Bon Jovi, and Little Big Town, Williams Honor runs the gamut of the country music spectrum and have truly found a fresh, yet vulnerable sound.

With a new song, “Step!” just released, the duo also have a new full-length album on the horizon. The record will focus on themes of loss and grief while hoping to empower fans at the same time. The duo wrote every single song off the record together, with one exception, where they partnered with a talented songwriter to create the tune. According to Brown, “This second album that we are just finishing up right now is, of course, another bunch of building blocks on what Williams Honor is, what country music from the east coast is, what country music from Asbury Park is,” adding, “It’s got all the great ingredients that Reagan and I decided we wanted to infuse our music with from day one. This record is about grief and loss. It’s an empowering record for those who need it.”

In their time as a duo, Williams Honor has garnered quite the army of loyal and diehard fans to support them. As we anticipate the new record, we also looked back on the success they have already had as artists, recounting a magical time in their career, where the duo got to open for Bon Jovi at the prestigious Madison Square Garden in New York City. “I did grow up in the shadows of Madison Square Garden,” Brown tells us, “[It’s] where Springsteen would play multiple night sin a row or where Bon Jovi exploded through the years. […]. How great for us, playing country music out of Asbury Park, one of the few artists to ever give that a real whirl, to get a tap on the shoulder by one of the areas’ biggest bands.” They later added, “To play The Garden and to have the support from our music community, there are no words to describe that.”

To keep up with William Honors follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

“Step!” 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.

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Sam Hunt Lyrics to Use As Instagram Captions

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As we await Sam Hunt’s sophomore record on April 3rd, fans can look back at some of his great lyrics to use for their Instagram Captions. Be sure to catch Sam Hunt on the road on the Southside Summer Tour. 

Sam Hunt lyrics

1. If I could bottle it up, I’d have a stash in the truck, splash in my cup, it’d never get old – Bottle It Up

2. It’s still early out in Cali, baby don’t you wanna rally again – Leave The Night On

3. I graduated but every year in May I get that schools out feeling – Single For The Summer

4. You ain’t gotta leave the house to have a good time – House Party

5. I wanna see the way you look up under all those stars – Kinfolks

6. We had it made on it, We were born and raised on it – Raised On It

7. But there was somethin’ bout the way, The blue lights were shinin, Bringing out the freedom in your eyes – Cop Car

8. You stole my heart with a kiss right under my nose – Vandalizer

9. We’re flying so high like we’re never gonna crash – We Are Tonight

10. Downtown’s dead without you- Downtown’s Dead

 

To keep up with Sam Hunt, you can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, 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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Jameson Rodgers Drops “Grew Up In The Country”

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Jameson Rodgers Grew UP In the Country

One of our 2020 Artists to Watch, Jameson Rodgers finally released his headlining tour namesake entitled “Grew Up In The Country.” The singer-songwriter continues to make a name for himself in the industry, all while creating music that is laced with authenticity and honesty.

“It’s one of my favorite songs I’ve put out. Love where I grew up like most everyone does,” Rodgers shared via his social media, and we could not agree more!

The new song is a slow-groove about the way Rodgers grew up. The Mississippi native shows his pride in his small-town upbringing and the simple life that country-living instills in you through this new track. Although topically this track discusses common themes that can typically be found in country music, Rodgers relies on personal details and an endearing vocal to make the song different, unique, and heartfelt.

“I’m just a good ole boy thinking out loud / I ain’t no better ya’ll, I’m just proud / I grew up in the country / Where you only gonna reap what you sow”

Since signing with Columbia Nashville, Rodgers has released a Top 50 single, “Some Girls” and garnered more and more fans across the nation. Additionally, the singer just kicked off his ‘Grew Up In The Country’ headlining tour this month. The tour stops at New York City’s The Mercury Lounge on March 25th, and Rodgers is bringing along special guest Hunter Phelps. For tickets and more information head to jamesonrodgers.com

To keep up with Jameson Rodgers follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Grew Up In The 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.

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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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Lee Brice Shares the Love on Valentine’s Day with New York Fans

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Lee Brice NY

Singer-songwriter Lee Brice doesn’t have a residency at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury, but you would’ve thought so the way the Long Island fans responded to his performance Friday night. Whether he was singing an old song, a new song or just talking to the crowd, the audience shared their love for the Grammy-nominated country-star and he gave it right back.

He came out onto the rotating center stage to “Drinking Class.” He walked over to all sides of the stage, holding the mic up to the audience, turning it into a sing-a-long. He performed his number one song “Hard To Love” next, followed by a remix of another top-ten song, “That Don’t Sound Like You.” 

Brice then debuted a new song for us called “One of Them Girls” that he said will head to radio sometime in the next few weeks. It has a modern feel with a rock and roll twist and will be the lead single off his upcoming album. 

Throughout the night, fans from all sections would run-up to, or even onto the stage to high-five, hug or get an autograph from Brice. Brice welcomed everyone with open arms; he even let one woman kiss him on the cheek. During his performance of “A Woman Like You,” a young boy ran up to the stage to get an autograph. Brice proceeded to give the boy a lesson on women. “Girls like it when you whisper to them; don’t ever get too loud,” he told the boy. He continued and sang the final chorus of his first-ever number one song. 

Lee Brice

Brice took a lot of time to speak to the audience. He told us multiple times that this venue was one of his favorite places to perform. A lot of artists just say those things to get a reaction from the crowd, but this time, between the sincerity in his voice and the loyalty of these fans, you truly believed him. Before playing his debut single, “She Ain’t Right,” he explained that he was shocked by how high it charted, stating it almost made the top 25. One fan then shouted “You’re number one in our hearts, Lee,” for the whole crowd to hear. 

The next song he performed, “Beer,” was a fan favorite. There was a whole section of people wearing matching t-shirts with the word BEER on the front and the lyric “Canadian, Mexican, Heineken, American, they’re all real good friends of mine” on the back. They all flocked to the stage when he began playing it. 

“If you don’t like old-school country music, I guarantee you will in the next 20 minutes,” Brice said before performing a string of covers that included “Be My Baby Tonight” by John Michael Montgomery and “Crazy Girl,” a song he wrote for Eli Young Band. His band then exited the stage so he could perform an acoustic version of his song, “Boy.” His band joined him back on stage for “Love Like Crazy.”

He said this next song, “Hope You’re Happy Now” was special for Valentine’s Day. He explained how hard it was to break-up with someone that you like a lot but you don’t see a future with and described a humorous fictional situation. “Well yeah, but it’s two weeks before Christmas so I can’t do it then. Then Christmas comes around you realize that it’s New Year’s and you have to wait ‘til after that. Then, next thing you know it’s Valentine’s Day and you can’t do it there either.” He expressed how grateful he was that Carly Pearce asked him to join her on this break-up song and asked the crowd to help him sing her part. 

Lee Brice

“I Drive Your Truck” is based on the true story of a father who lost his son in Afghanistan. Brice dedicated this song to the families of veterans and first responders who lost their lives on the front lines of combat. Lights surrounded the Nashville-native as he performed this heart-wrenching ballad. One member of the audience threw an FDNY shirt onto the stage which was met by cheers when Brice held it up for the lit-up theatre. Brice quickly transitioned to a more feel-good song in “Parking Lot Party” before exiting the stage. 

After greeting fans and signing some autographs, he came back on stage singing his wedding track, “I Don’t Dance.” He announced his band members during his extended version of his most recent number one song, “Rumor” to close the night out. It’s safe to say, this will not be Brice’s last time performing at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury. 

Brice’s tour heads to the west coast next weekend and has international tour dates starting in June. For tickets, head to his website.

To keep up with Lee Brice, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collectionby 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!

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Luke Bryan Releases Title Track “Born Here Live Here Die Here” & Album Details

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Born Here Live Here Die Here

Luke Bryan released the title track to his upcoming album, “Born Here Live Here Die Here” and announced the release date for the new project, April 24th. The new song is the second release from his next album, the first being a sultry love song, “What She Wants Tonight”.

As you might assume judging by the title of the single it’s a song about spending your life in your hometown or at least be deeply connected to it. Country music tends to make you proud of your heritage and birthplace. Bryan resonates with the songs and he says on social media,  “From the moment I first heard it, I loved that this song related so closely to how I grew up and how I still have so many ties to my hometown. It’s a connection I feel is so important in country music. I am truly thankful to have the opportunity to make music for my fans and to look out into the crowds each night from the stage and be proud of what we’ve created”.

The slow rhythm and great lyrics make you wonder, make you appreciate country music and maybe even your own hometown.

“Born here, live here, die here/ From the roots to the boots to the lay me down suit/Yeah, I’m gonna be proud to be right here/ Just like my daddy, and his daddy did too”

Announced earlier this year, Luke Bryan will bring his Proud To Be Right Here Tour to major cities across the nation this summer with openers Morgan Wallen and Runaway June, and Caylee Hammack on select dates. The tour stops at Madison Square Garden on August 4th.

To keep up with Luke Bryan follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“Born Here Live Here Die Here” 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!

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Songwriters Under the Covers with Victoria Shaw feat. Shelly Peiken & Chely Wright

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Victoria Shaw

Right in the heart of Times Square, underneath the infamous Stardust Diner, Songwriters Under the Covers with Victoria Shaw at the Iridium takes you into the minds of the writers of the music industry’s biggest hits. An intimate night, and behind the scenes as they tape for television, you hear the stories that inspired the music we all know and love. Host and writer, Victoria Shaw, invited her two friends, Shelly Peiken and Chely Wright, to play some of the songs they wrote. Peikin started off with what was her first number one song, and the first number one song of the millennium, Christina Aguilera’s “What a Girl Wants”. This is the moment that it was evident that the creatives sitting in front of you are incredibly talented people behind the scenes in the industry, not to mention their Grammy nominations and published books. It was inspired by when she was deciding to move to Los Angeles, and her husband gave her space and time to figure it out for herself.

Chely Wright played “I Already Do”, a touching song she wrote and recorded with MCA Records. Victoria invited rising stars Carly & Martina, two young twins whom she wrote with when they were 15, to sing a few of their songs, one of which was the number one most requested for 6 weeks on Radio Disney, “Block His Number”. These girls are extremely talented vocally and lyrically, and will be the next generation of songwriters.

The night really did take you under the covers of the big hit songs and show avid music listeners sides and stories of a song they might never have known before. The first season is available on the All Arts Channel, and this episode will be a part of Season 2; an incredible insight into this amazing world of country and music we all love.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collectionby 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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Nick Wayne Releases Emotionally Dense, “I Love You More”

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I Love You More Nick Wayne

“I Love You More” can be marketed towards those who are not spending Valentine’s Day with a special someone this year, yes. And it may blend well in the background of an anti-love Galentine’s Day binge eat, sure. But, this new one from Nick Wayne is much more than a February fixation.

This track continues to present the artist’s ability to quiet a room and lick the wounds that you may have never known you had. Both vocally and lyrically, he creates an emotionally dense yet soothing production.

Like many of his previous releases, Wayne played part in the songwriting process alongside Elias Kaparil, Jackie Young, and Josh Kerr. “You make it look so effortless / to be okay while I’m a mess / I gave you all the best of me / and honestly I hate it” is just one vulnerable lyric out of a haystack of them in this one-sided love story.

It coincides with Michael Ray’s current single “Her World or Mine” whereas one person cannot shake another from their memory. However, “I Love You More” allows the lyrics to speak for themselves while Ray’s utilizes imagery by illustrating a variety of different instances in which a recent stranger may not feel your absence, but you feel theirs or vice-versa.

Nick Wayne is one of those Nashville acts that is difficult to rightfully transcribe the effect his voice holds when molded with keys on a piano or a handcrafted lyric. At the risk of sounding cliché, his music truly speaks for itself.

“You said I love you / I said I love you more / and it’s just as true as it was before / you said three words, I just had to say four / now you love me less and I love you more/ I still love you more”

No, Nick, we love you more.

To keep up with Nick Wayne, follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

“I Love You More” is now available everywhere you buy or stream. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music 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 Collectionby 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 First Impression: Carly Pearce’s Self Titled Album

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Carly Pearce

Carly Pearce is giving her fans a special gift this Valentine’s Day with the release of her self-titled sophomore album. The thirteen song collection shows Pearce expanding her sound, showing off a variety of sides, including flirty, empowering, and more.

For Pearce, this album is a personal one, as it was produced by late songwriter/producer, Busbee, and marks his final full work. Pearce revealed to PopCulture.com about Busbee’s contributions to her career. “I feel like we both felt like this album would be the one that really put my flag in the ground, and hopefully took me to the next level. And we had so much fun making this one. I would just tell him, in the last two records, and since the beginning of Every Little Thing, he helped me find my voice. He helped me find my artistry. He helped me get my dream and I’m just forever grateful to that and really, really proud of what we did.”

The album opens with a pair of fun up-tempo tracks, drawing listeners in immediately with the catchy one-two punch of “Closer to You” and “Call Me.” However, it’s tracks four and five that show Pearce at her best. On the twangy “Dashboard Jesus,” written by Victoria Banks, Sara Haze, and Emily Shackelton, Pearce is a girl who leaves home in search of something bigger. “As long as she’s going somewhere/ It doesn’t matter to her anyway/ Everybody says she’s dreamin’/ Call her crazy for believin’/ Sometimes all you really need is/ Fifty dollars and a dashboard Jesus.”

Track five is the emotive “Halfway Home,” written by Pearce, Jimmy Robbins and Laura Veltz. “You can try to tell a heart/ To feel somethin’ that it don’t,” She sings, her voice practically breaking. “But halfway to heaven isn’t heaven/ And halfway home just ain’t home.”

“I Hope You’re Happy Now,” Pearce’s chart-climbing duet with Lee Brice, is another of the album’s highlights, putting an optimistic spin on a broken relationship. “I hope you find what you were looking for/ I hope your heart ain’t hurting anymore/ And you get moving on, all figured out/ And you don’t hate me somehow/ ‘Cause I hope you’re happy now.”

While Pearce’s duet with Brice is bittersweet, her collaboration with husband, Michael Ray, is 100% saccharine. On the R&B tinged mid-tempo, co-written by Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett, Ashley Gorley, and Jesse Frasure, they sing of knowing each other so well that they know what the other’s thinking.

Pearce shines on empowering songs, as evidenced by “It Won’t Always Be Like This,” which she co-wrote with Sam Ellis and Natalie Hemby. Another of the album’s highlights is the ode to women and their strength, titled “Woman Down.” Here she sings, “She can make a mountain move/ And do it in her high heeled shoes/ If she ain’t back up yet, just stick around/ You can’t keep a woman down.”

For Pearce, this album is the perfect follow up to 2017’s Every Little Thing. With the variety of songs and stories here, she continues to prove that she’s one of country music’s most exciting new female voices.

CARLY PEARCE TRACKLIST:
1. “Closer To You” | Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson, Troy Verges
2. “Call Me” | busbee, Emily Shackelton, Phillip Sweet, Jimi Westbrook
3. “I Hope You’re Happy Now (Carly Pearce and Lee Brice)” | Carly Pearce, Luke Combs, Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton
4. “Dashboard Jesus” | Victoria Banks, Sara Haze, Emily Shackelton
5. “Halfway Home” | Carly Pearce, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
6. “Heart’s Going Out Of Its Mind” | Carly Pearce, Joe Ginsberg, Laura Veltz
7. “Finish Your Sentences (Carly Pearce and Michael Ray)” | Kelsea Ballerini, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley, Thomas Rhett
8. “It Won’t Always Be Like This” | Carly Pearce, Sam Ellis, Natalie Hemby
9. “Lightning In A Bottle” | Hannah Ellis, Anna Vaus
10. “Love Has No Heart” | Sara Haze, Shane McAnally, Trevor Rosen
11. “Woman Down” | Shane McAnally, Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz
12. “You Kissed Me First” | Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson
13. “Greener Grass” | Hillary Lindsey, Jonny Price, Ben West

To keep up with Carly Pearce follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Pearce will play at Joe’s Pub in NYC on March 10 as part of the Songs for a Cause concert along with Michael Ray, Ryan Griffin, and Luke Laird. For more tour dates and tickets, visit her official website.

NYCountry Swag Picks:
1. Woman Down
2. Halfway Home
3. Dashboard Jesus
4. I Hope You’re Happy Now

Carly Pearce 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 Collectionby 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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New Country Music Friday – The Playlist 2/14/20

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New Music Friday! This week we get the highly anticipated sophomore album from Carly Pearce, plus new music from Luke Bryan, Jameson Rodgers, Russell Dickerson, Travis Denning 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:

 

 

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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!

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