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Scott Hamilton Brings Together Country Music & Figure Skating

November 21, 2018/in Blog /by Nicole Piering

Photo via www.bridgestonearena.com/events

On paper, fewer things make sense together than country music and figure skating. Yet, if you look closer, the two have a lot in common. For example, boots are used in skating, and clearly a mainstay in country music. Ice is necessary for skating, just as its necessary for mixing drinks at a country show. Both love glitter, tight pants, drama, and storytelling, and on Sunday night (November 18), the two worlds collided at in the most magical way, thanks to Olympic gold medalist, Scott Hamilton.

Hamilton hosted his third annual benefit show, Scott Hamilton and Friends, to benefit the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation. According to the show announcement, “Proceeds from the concert benefit Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation, dedicated to changing the future of cancer by funding advanced, innovative research that treats the cancer while sparing the patient.”

The night was hosted by Sheryl Crow, a cancer survivor herself, and featured an all-star cast that included country superstars Florida Georgia Line and newly-crowned CMA Vocal Duo of the Year, Brothers Osborne. While the artists performed, they were joined on the ice by a cast of skaters from across North America, including national, world and Olympic champions. “Man, this is a crazy weird gig,” Crow remarked early in the evening. “Can I just say that right up front?… I mean, we just need to have ice skaters every night when we play! It’s so boring just playing for people.”

Florida Georgia Line was unsurprisingly one of the highlights of the night, as Crow revealed that Tyler Hubbard was the first person she texted to play the show. His response: “Hell yeah!” The duo performed “SIMPLE,” “Meant to Be” with Crow filling in for Bebe Rexha, and “Cruise” to kick off the full-cast finale. One of the highlights of the night was a performance by US Olympic Gold Medalists (and Dancing with the Stars winner!), Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who skated during “Meant to Be.”

Joined by figure skating legend Kristi Yamaguchi and Crow, Hamilton served as the night’s emcee and hype man. “You buy a ticket to this show right?… The more people that come to these shows, the more research we can fund, the more we can partner with the V Foundation, and the quicker we can cure this thing!” Hamilton shouted jubilantly, hitting the ice between performances to talk about his foundation and the skaters. In addition to his hosting duties, while Hamilton didn’t skate a full performance, he did briefly join the Canadian cast of the Thank You Canada tour in a tribute performance to David Bowie, set to “Let’s Dance”

Brothers Osborne also electrified the crowd during their performances, rocking their way through “It Ain’t My Fault, “Shoot Me Straight,” and “21 Summer.” Highlights of the show including the death-defying stunts of Canadian pairs team, Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, who earned a standing ovation after skating to “Shoot Me Straight.” Additionally, melting the ice during “21 Summer” were 3-time Olympic gold medalists, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, who earned one of the night’s biggest responses.

Watch as Brothers Osborne perform “21 Summer” for Olympic gold medalists, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir in this video captured by a fan.

In addition to hosting and singing backup for the majority of the performances, Crow performed some of her own songs, including “My Favorite Mistake,” “Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You,” and “If It Makes You Happy.” She was joined on the ice by US Champion Ashley Wagner during “Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You,” and World Champion, Kaetlyn Osmond during “If It Makes You Happy,” making for some extremely memorable performances.

Other performers included Bart Millard of MercyMe, Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, Chelsea Field, and Tommy Shaw of Styx.

In addition to the great music and fantastic skating, the show was for a good cause and truly felt like a celebration of that. In the event program, Hamilton wrote, “Cancer is a disease that has found a way to touch us all…I can tell you that nothing creates hope greater than seeing the Bridgestone arena full of people locking arms in defiance of this destroyer of life.”

For more information about the Scott Hamilton Cares foundation and how to donate, visit the official website here.

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Danielle Bradbery & Thomas Rhett Debut “Goodbye Summer” Music Video

November 20, 2018/in Blog /by Danielle Tornatore

Big Machine Recording artist, Danielle Bradbery has debuted the official music video for her latest single “Goodbye Summer” featuring country superstar Thomas Rhett. “Goodbye Summer” is a reimagining of “Hello Summer,” a solo track featured on Bradbery’s sophomore record, I Don’t Believe We’ve Met. Penned by Rhett, Rhett Akins, Jaren Johnston, and Julian Bunetta, the song delves into the highs and lows of a summer love. Rhett’s added vocal presence on the updated duet version shifts the one-sided story to a perspective from both sides of the bittersweet tales of a summer fling. This rendition focuses more on the “goodbye” part of the song, adding emphasis to the “hello to my broken heart” lyric.

Directed by Shaun Silva, the video features Bradberry and Rhett belting it out on the sandy beaches and boardwalks of 30A in Rosemary Beach, Florida. The video also unfolds a summer romance story between a girl and boy, the girl working at a beach resort and the boy being a guest at the resort. The two seem to fall quickly in love, spending every free moment together, until September rolls around, just as the song lyrics forewarn. Before eventually parting ways, the couple embraces in one final goodbye kiss. Watch the video below.

Bradberry took to her Instagram stories this morning to relay the message that shortly after this music video was filmed, the beaches of 30A were hit by Hurricane Michael, devastating the surrounding communities. She has teamed up with the Rosemary Beach Foundation to help raise funds for the rebuilding and aiding of the surrounding areas. You can learn more and donate to those in need here.

Both country stars have a busy 2019 ahead. Rhett will be on the road for most of next year, including his ‘Very Hot Summer Tour’ next summer. For a full list of show dates along with additional information, visit https://www.thomasrhett.com. Bradbery will head out on the road with Kane Brown as a supporting act for his ‘Live Forever Tour’ this winter. For a full list of show dates along with additional information, visit http://daniellebradbery.com.

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Josh Kerr Hosts Songwriter Round at The Listening Room in Nashville

November 20, 2018/in Blog /by Nicole Piering

For those in Nashville on Saturday night, the Listening Room Cafe was the place to be. The intimate venue featured an all-star cast of songwriting talent, sharing their songs and the stories behind them. Led by Josh Kerr, the round also included Jordan Minton, Nick Wayne, and a surprise appearance by Parker Welling.

While these names may not be familiar to you, we can guarantee that their songs are. Kerr is the most well-known of the group, having written the likes of Kelsea Ballerini’s hits “Love Me Like You Mean It” and “Dibs” and Dylan Scott’s “My Girl.” However, Minton has had cuts by Dan + Shay (“What Keeps You Up at Night” and Keith Urban (“Never Coming Down”), while Nick Wayne is poised to become one of country music’s next big superstars, having just released his own Two Sides EP.

A highlight of the night came in the form of a guest appearance by Parker Welling, who has had two huge hits with one of NYCountrySwag’s favorites, Russell Dickerson. Welling performed “Blue Tacoma” and “Yours,” eliciting some of the night’s biggest cheers.

Another highlight of the night was Minton revealing the story behind “What Keeps You Up at Night,” which appears on Dan + Shay’s latest self-titled album. The songwriter revealed that the track was originally on hold by Blake Shelton, who then decided not to record it. It was immediately snatched up by Keith Urban, but when Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney heard the song, they just had to have it, calling Urban and asking to record it. He obliged, and it became Minton’s first album cut.

Kerr also played a song that was recently cut by a mystery artist he revealed to be named “Enny Esney,” as to not jinx the song. Hopefully, everyone will get to hear this song soon. Kerr also played “Backburner,” one of his older songs, admitting that he “felt a lot of things in 2016” when the song was written.

Wayne was the true revelation of the night, his soulful voice and unique style truly lighting up the room. We fully expect big things from him, and can’t wait to see what’s in store for his future. If you haven’t heard of him yet, run (don’t walk!) to Spotify or iTunes, and take a listen to “If You Wanna” and “How Do I Get Close.” You will not be disappointed.

During the incredible round, the writers revealed that they perform together monthly, usually joined by Jordan Reynolds (Dan + Shay’s “Tequila.”) If you happen to live in Nashville or be visiting, make sure to get down to the Listening Room for a future round. It’s one not to be missed.

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Garth Brooks Intimate Q&A and Performance for iHeart Radio

November 20, 2018/in Blog, Concert Reviews /by Christina Bosch

Last night iHeart Radio presented an intimate, special event with Garth Brooks sponsored by Marathon in New York City which featured a live on YouTube Q&A with the country music superstar and then a special performance for the audience in the room. Unlike Brooks’ recent world tour concerts, his quaint appearance last night for iHeart Radio was certainly a once in a lifetime opportunity for the lucky fans in the room.

iHeart Radio host Joe Levy took the stage first to quickly run through some of Brooks’ achievements before he introduced him, including being the number one selling solo artist in U.S history with over 148 million albums sold. With his brand new Anthology Part 3 Live available everywhere now and his CBS Notre Dame special airing in 2 weeks, Brooks’ answered questions for Levy and entertained the studio audience with his responses. Right off the bat, of course, they discussed the new book, which features stories and photos from the people who have worked closely with Brooks for his entire career including crew members, members of his band, management team and people who worked at the label. He told Levy that he was pretty hands-on with the decisions made for this book stating “If it’s going to end up in the people who allow you to be an artists hands, you want it to be the best that it can be because you want them to be proud to have it.”

The conversation continued and Brooks and Levy discussed his upcoming stadium tour that was announced a few weeks back. He explained that the demographics of his concerts show that 48% of the tickets were sold to fans who were 10 years old or not even born the last time he went on tour, deciding to make this next run a retro tour and bring back elements of the 90’s while also keeping up with new technologies and mixing the old with the new. He also talked about his wife, Trisha Yearwood hosting a giant tailgate party before each of his shows on this stadium run featuring great food, furniture, cookbooks, and even music stating graciously “Every day is the Super Bowl when you are married to Trisha Yearwood”.

Watch the rest of the Q&A below.

After the YouTube live cameras stopped rolling, Brooks performed acoustically for the in-studio audience a slew of his biggest hits and even obscure album cuts that only his longtime fans would know. He kicked off the night with “Callin’ Baton Rouge” but then kept the rest of the night to slow things down and address the audience members and sing some of his more poignant ballads, always taking the time to explain the writing process or the thoughts he had when recording the songs. Throughout his set, he performed “That Summer”, “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)”, “Thunder Rolls” and “The River”.

He also took requests from the crowd, always asking their name and why that particular song was the one they wanted to hear. He even answered our Managing Editor, Christina’s request to sing “Mom” which she asked him to play in honor of her newborn son, Jack. Take a listen to the touching conversation and a clip from the beautiful song below.

Brooks engaged with every member of the audience who wanted to talk with him, listening to their stories and giving genuine, honest answers. One interesting question was if there was one artist he could perform with that he hasn’t yet, who would it be. Without hesitation, he answered, “Adele”. He explained how his daughter introduced him to her music and how much he loves her voice.

The special event certainly wouldn’t have been complete without a venue-wide sing-a-long of “Friends In Low Places” which quickly became a highlight of the evening. Throughout the night, Brooks was clearly emotional whether he was talking about his children, his wife or even the fans that have been there since the very beginning. Closing the night with his inspirational song, “The Dance”, Brooks ended by saying “You guys are sincere every time I play for you. Thank you, I’ve had the best time”. As the world’s arguably biggest success and entertainer of our time, humbly tipped his ball cap and walked off the stage, you could feel the affection and true warmth that was spread throughout the room. There is certainly a reason that Garth Brooks continues to attract crowds of all ages with his musicianship, his personality and the way he truly cares for each and every fan that he comes in contact with.

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Dan + Shay Perform ‘Speechless’ on Dancing with the Stars Finale

November 20, 2018/in Blog /by Erica Zisman

The platinum-selling vocal duo, Dan + Shay have had incredible success with the release of their self-titled third studio album. Their song “Tequila” reached number 1 on the charts and continues to be a staple with fans and in their live performances. After their epic performance of the song at the CMA’s last Wednesday, the boys returned to ABC last night to perform their new single, “Speechless” on the finale of Dancing with the Stars.

Co-host, Brooke Burke-Charvet gave the singers a warm welcome to the Dancing with the Stars stage, as well as a mention to their headlining tour. “I’m so glad our next guests are here! They are hitting the road next year to headline their own epic tour, but right now they’re with us to perform their current single, ‘Speechless,’ joined by Sharna and Artem- Give it up for Dan and Shay!”

The duo sang a breathtaking rendition of their song, while finalists, Sharna Burgess and Artem Chiavintsev effortlessly showcased their own talent, through dance. The smokey ambiance and romantic lighting added a special touch that was the perfect backdrop to the song and dance. Backed by a four-piece band, both Dan and Shay complimented each other in every way, with both singers having an equal share of solo time. From their vocal abilities to their fashion sense to their beautiful harmonies, the men definitely gave their all to this performance.

Dan + Shay were amongst other talented artists, such as Lauren Daigle, Robin Thicke, and Avril Lavinge, who also performed during the finale, and of course, the finalists in the competition.

Expect to hear “Speechless” on Dan + Shay’s setlist, as they gear up for their own headlining U.S. and Canadian tour, beginning at the end of February 2019. The ‘Dan + Shay The Tour’ will feature label-mate, Morgan Evans for the first leg of the tour, while Chris Lane will join them for the second leg. The tour does not make it to the New York area this time around, but keep checking our calendars for any additional dates that may be added. For more information, head to danandshay.com.

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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Swag Sessions: Featuring Maggie Rose

November 19, 2018/in Blog, Swag Sessions /by Christina Bosch

Maggie Rose, one of the most talented vocalists in Nashville stopped by New York Country Swag to perform a few songs before her headlining set at Rockwood Music Hall in downtown New York City. Her album Change The Whole Thing was released in September and she sang two songs from the album for our followers including the title track and the touching love song “Pull You Through”.

During the Q&A after her performance, Rose took time to discuss recording the album in just one take with her incredible band, the meaning behind “Pull You Through” and the viral moment when Karen Fairchild named her in her list of women in Nashville not being represented during her acceptance speech at the CMT Artists of the Year Event.

Watch the full Swag Session above and take a listen to Rose’s music below. For more music from artists we’ve featured during our LIVE Swag Sessions, check out our Sessions Playlist here and give it a follow for updates.

Keep up with Maggie Rose on social media – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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Thomas Rhett Announces 2019 ‘Very Hot Summer Tour’

November 19, 2018/in Blog /by Danielle Tornatore

Multi-platinum selling artist Thomas Rhett surprised fans with a brand new 2019 tour announcement this morning. The recent CMA Award winner will head out on his ‘Very Hot Summer Tour’ next spring, summer and fall, hitting thirty-nine cities across the country.

Rhett will be joined by his father, hit songwriter Rhett Akins on all dates and special guests recent BMI honoree Russell Dickerson and singer-songwriter Dustin Lynch on all with the exception of the first two dates.

The tour will kick off on May 17, 2019, in Spokane, Washington at Spokane Arena and run sporadically throughout the following four months, until the last show in Nashville, Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena on October 12, 2019.

“I’m glad we have the winter to plan and come up with some crazy stuff for next year because I can’t think of a better way to spend the summer than out on the road with my fans. And, I get to bring my dad and two of my favorite artists in country music along for the ride,” Rhett shared in a recent press release.

New York fans will have the chance to see this tour at the legendary Madison Square Garden on September 20, 2019.

Tickets for select dates will go on sale Friday, November 30th at 10 AM local time. The remaining shows will continue to go on sale over the coming weeks. Visit https://www.thomasrhett.com for additional information.

Thomas Rhett: Very Hot Summer Tour

May 17 – Spokane, WA*

May 18 – Tacoma, WA*

May 25 – Orange Beach, AL

May 26 – Orange Beach, AL

June 13 – Virginia Beach, VA

June 14 – Charlotte, NC

June 15 – Bristow, VA

June 20 – Detroit, MI

June 21 – Indianapolis, IN

June 28 – Dallas, TX

June 29 – Houston, TX

July 11 – Toronto, ON

July 12 – Pittsburgh, PA

July 19 – Darien Center, NY

July 20 – Hershey, PA

August 1 – Philadelphia, PA

August 2 – Boston, MA

August 3 – Holmdel, NJ

August 8 – Raleigh, NC

August 9 – Cincinnati, OH

August 10 – Atlanta, GA

August 15 – Rogers, AR

August 16 – Southaven, MS

August 17 – Birmingham, AL

September 5 – Sioux Falls, SD*

September 6 – Des Moines, IA*

September 7 – St. Paul, MN*

September 12 – Kansas City, MO*

September 13 – St. Louis, MO

September 14 – Chicago, IL*

September 19 – Bridgeport, CT*

September 20 – New York, NY*

September 21- Albany, NY

October 3 – Greenville, SC

October 4 – Jacksonville, FL

October 5 – Orlando, FL

October 10 – Knoxville, TN

October 11 – Louisville, KY

October 12 – Nashville, TN*

*ON SALE NOVEMBER 30th

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NYCS Swag Spotlight Featuring Risa Binder

November 19, 2018/in Blog, Swag Spotlight /by Christina Bosch

Columbia, Maryland native, Risa Binder currently splits her time between Nashville and New York, finding inspiration wherever she goes. She grew up writing songs about boys that she had crushes on in high school and singing into old corn husks like they were her microphone with her sister, knowing from an early age where her passion lies. She tells New York Country Swag in a recent interview that her family was always listening to all different types of music but she found a love for musical theatre before becoming obsessed with country music. “I loved Reba McEntire and Martina McBride because these women told stories, and theatre songs and country songs are very similar, they tell a great story and the truth through song,” she tells us.

She decided to travel to Nashville and attended a songwriter night at The Bluebird Cafe that changed her life. She heard one of the writers of Garth Brooks’ “The Dance” sing his song and that is when she knew that she wanted to write hit songs for a living. “I went to New York City and I would waitress to save money and would go down to Nashville and the city sort of became my grad school,” Binder recalls. “I would find the country venues in New York and play there and then I would go out to Nashville and play there.”

Eventually, her record label Warehouse Records decided it was time for her to make the move to Nashville but before she made the big move she prayed to God for a sign that it was the right thing for her. After spending a flight down to Nashville sitting next to songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman (“This Kiss”) and learning all about her story she got the sign she was looking for. “We had a wonderful conversation and at the end of the flight, she asked if we could help her grab her guitar case. Jordan, my husband gets it, she swings it over her shoulder and her guitar case says “Faith” in big letters.”

Two months later, Chapman invited Binder to be her guest at The Bluebird Cafe, fulfilling a dream she had when she first started in this business. “Things like that keep happening, when you are following that passion, magic stuff starts showing up,” she says. She had the opportunity to open for Ronnie Milsap on the night he was being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and then continued to be his opening act for the better part of two years. On touring with Milsap she explains: “I fell in love with how much of a family the road could be. My band is my family. We love each other, we are all trying to make this dream happen.”

Her single “You Came Along” was written by Locash, Phil Barton and Lindsey Rimes and she completely fell in love with the song immediately, telling us originally she thought it was about the love she had for her husband. After recording the song she found out she was pregnant with her daughter and her perspective on the song changed. “We filmed that music video 3 weeks after I gave birth and she’s in it at the very end.” Check out the video for the beautiful song above.

As she continues to write and record music, she tells us that she is a huge fan of dream boards and putting your future plans into the universe. “What you put out there if you focus on it and you are working towards it and you have a photo of it that you look at every day, it actually comes true,” she says. We found out that currently on her dream board in her apartments in Nashville and New York are pictures of big festivals and the Grand Ole Opry. She explains she would love to play Stagecoach one day as well as play at the Grand Ole Opry. “It may take 5 years or 7 years, but if you keep writing and performing you hope one day you’ll be able to step into that circle. You have to listen to your own heartbeat and why it’s beating and follow that.”

Looking to the future she will continue to release singles and tour in 2019. Be sure to follow Risa Binder on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for all upcoming announcements and new music.

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2019 Country Music Tours Announced…So Far

November 19, 2018/in Blog /by Nicole Sellati

Country music fans have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming year. In the last few weeks, our favorite country stars started to announce their 2019 tours. This is only the beginning of what’s to come for next year. Make sure you are subscribed to our Weekly Round-Up here, which features upcoming events, ticket giveaways, meet & Greet contests and more, so you don’t miss a thing. Below is a list of all the tours that are happening so far!

Oh, What A World: Tour
Kacey Musgraves with Natalie Prass and Soccer Mommy

Kacey Musgraves is currently on her headlining, ‘Oh, What A World: Tour’ and will be continuing her 60-date run in the U.S. and Canada next year. Musgraves is joined by special guests Natalie Prass and Soccer Mommy on select dates. New Yorkers have multiple chances to see the tour in January, starting with her show in Port Chester, NY playing at The Capitol Theater on January 17th and then moving onto her two sold-out shows at The Beacon Theater in New York City on January 25th and 26th! For more dates and information, visit kaceymusgraves.com.

The Cry Pretty Tour 360
Carrie Underwood with Maddie & Tae and Runaway June

Carrie Underwood hasn’t toured since 2016, but is now ready to make a comeback on the road in 2019. This time around she is packing the tour with girl power, bringing along special guests Maddie & Tae and Runaway June. Underwood will be launching her tour in the spring, kicking it off on May 1st in Greensboro, NC, and playing 55 arenas across the U.S. and Canada. Luckily as New Yorkers, we can experience ‘The Cry Pretty Tour 360’ at the iconic Madison Square Garden on October 2, 2019! For more dates and information, visit carrieunderwoodofficial.com.

Seasons Change Tour
Scotty McCreery with Jimmie Allen and Heather Morgan

Scotty McCreery will be starting his ‘Seasons Change Tour’ later this month on November 29th in Dallas, Texas and continuing the 14-date run through January of 2019. He’s bringing along special guests, Jimmie Allen on select dates, as well as Heather Morgan. New Yorkers can see McCreery, Allen and Morgan on the last night of the tour at the NYCB Theater at Westbury in Westbury, NY on January 26, 2019! For more dates and information, visit scottymccreery.com.

Live Forever Tour
Kane Brown with Granger Smith
+ Jimmie Allen, Raelynn and Danielle Bradbery (*on select dates*)

Kane Brown will be kicking off the ‘Live Forever Tour’ next year starting on January 10th in Duluth, GA and wrapping the 22-date tour on March 8th in Cedar Park, TX. The tour will feature Granger Smith as Brown’s support act, with Jimmie Allen, RaeLynn, and Danielle Bradbery appearing on select dates throughout the run. For more dates and information, visit kanebrownmusic.com.

Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour
Luke Combs with LANCO and Jameson Rodgers

Luke Combs will be kicking off the ‘Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour’ on January 31st in Birmingham, AL and continuing the 28-date run till May 2019. This marks Combs first-ever headlining arena tour, with LANCO and Jameson Rodgers supporting. For New Yorkers, Combs and Rodgers will be playing at the Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom, on February 28th. For more dates and information, visit lukecombs.com.

Nothing To Do Town Tour
Dylan Scott with Seth Ennis

Dylan Scott kicks off his 17-date, ‘Nothing To Do Town Tour’ on January 17, 2019, in New York City, playing at the Gramercy Theater, presented by NASH FM 94.7. The tour runs just over a month before wrapping on February 23rd in Charlotte, N.C. The tour will feature up-and-comer, Seth Ennis, as Scott’s support act. For more dates and information, visit dylanscottcountry.com.

Make It Sweet Arena Tour
Old Dominion with Morgan Evans, Jordan Davis, and Mitchell Tenpenny

Old Dominion is set to trek across the U.S. and Canada on their 26-date ‘Make It Sweet’ headlining arena tour, kicking off in Chicago, IL, on January 18, 2019, before wrapping their U.S. run on April 27th in San Jose, CA. The group will be joined by country up-and-comers Morgan Evans, Jordan Davis, and Mitchell Tenpenny, on select dates of the run. The Canadian part of the tour will start on May 8th in Halifax, NS, Canada and end on May 12th in St. John’s, NL, Canada with special guests, The Washboard Union and Jason Benoit. For more dates and information, visit olddominionband.com.

If I Know Me Tour
Morgan Wallen with HARDY

Morgan Wallen is set to kick off the ‘If I Know Me Tour’ right at the beginning of the new year, on January 5th in Milwaukee, WI. He will be playing a total of 26 cities across the U.S. before wrapping the tour in Salt Lake City, UT, on March 30th. He will be joined by special guest, Hardy (Michael Hardy) as his opening act. For New Yorkers, the tour will be stopping at New York City’s Irving Plaza, presented by NASH FM 94.7! For more dates and information, visit morganwallen.com.

Dan + Shay The Tour
Dan + Shay with Morgan Evans and Chris Lane

Dan + Shay are gearing up for their own headlining U.S. and Canadian tour in 2019, after being on the road as a support act on Chris Young’s ‘Losing Sleep World Tour.’ The 2019 ‘Dan + Shay The Tour’ will begin on February 28th in the states starting with, New Orleans, LA. and wrap in Canada on April 20th in Calgary, AB. The duo will bring along labelmate, Morgan Evans for the first leg of the tour, while Chris Lane will join them for the second leg. For more dates and information, visit danandshay.com.

Burning Man Tour
Dierks Bentley with Jon Pardi and Tenielle Townes

Dierks Bentley is back on the road again in 2019 for the ‘Burning Man Tour’ making his way through Canada first before heading back to the states. The tour launches on January 17th in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and wrapping on March 30th in Grand Rapids, MI, concluding the first leg of the tour, with more dates and cities to be announced. Bentley will be bringing support acts, Jon Pardi, Tenille Townes, and his 90s cover band, Hot Country Knights, on the tour with him. For more dates and information, visit dierks.com.

The Miss Me More Tour
Kelsea Ballerini with Brett Young and Brandon Ratcliff

Kelsea Ballerini has a big year ahead of her. She first announced that she will be joining Kelly Clarkson on select dates of her ‘Meaning Of Life Tour’ and then announced ‘The Miss Me More Tour.’ She kicks off her first headlining arena tour on April 11th in Salisbury, MD and wraps her 14-date run a month later on May 11th in Fargo, N.D. Ballerini will be joined by support act, Brett Young, and special guest, Brandon Ratcliff. For more dates and information, kelseaballerini.com.

Friends and Heroes Tour
Blake Shelton with Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson, Trace Adkins, and Lauren Alaina

Blake Shelton is bringing his friends and heroes out on the road with him for his 2019 ‘Friends and Heroes Tour.’ His trek is set to start on February 14th in Oklahoma City, OK. and continue throughout 17-cities in the U.S., ending the run on March 23rd in Albany, NY. Shelton will be joined by support acts, the Bellamy Brothers, John Anderson, Trace Adkins, and special guest, Lauren Alaina. For more dates and information, visit blakeshelton.com.

Electric Rodeo Tour
Midland

Midland is currently on their sold-out headlining ‘Electric Rodeo Tour’ but have extended the tour with new dates in 2019. The 2019 leg of the tour is set to kick off on February 8th in Los Angeles, CA, and conclude the run on May 5th in Nashville, TN, at the infamous Ryman Auditorium. For more dates and information, visit midlandofficial.com.

Stray Off Course Tour
Devin Dawson

Devin Dawson is currently on the ‘Stray Off Course Tour’ but because of the high demand, he has extended the tour into 2019. Luckily for New Yorkers, Dawson added a New York City date at the Bowery Ballroom on January 31st to kick off the 2019 leg of the run. He will then continue to travel through 13-cities across the U.S. concluding on February 23rd in Medina, OH. For more dates and information, visit devindawsonmusic.com.

Ryan Hurd
Ryan Hurd with Ryan Beaver

Ryan Hurd hasn’t performed in the U.S. in over a year but is back and ready to kick off 2019 with a series of club shows in four cities, with special guest Ryan Beaver. Hurd starts his run in Los Angeles on January 17th, before heading to New York City to play the Bowery Ballroom on January 25th. He continues his run making a stop in Chicago on February 23rd and ending on February 28th in Nashville. For more information, visit ryanhurd.com.

The Way Back Tour
Carly Pearce and Russell Dickerson

Carly Pearce and Russell Dickerson are joining forces for their upcoming co-headlining tour in 2019. The two singer-songwriters have been longtime friends while experiencing success at the same time. ‘The Way Back Tour’ will visit 11-cities in the U.S., starting on January 24th in Cleveland, OH, and wrapping the tour on March 2nd in Chicago, IL. For more dates and information, visit russelldickerson.com

Down The Rabbit Hole Live
Zac Brown Band

Zac Brown Band is bringing back the ‘Down The Rabbit Hole Live Tour’ for Spring 2019, with new stops across the U.S. They will be playing a total of 15 cities, starting the tour on March 1st in Tulsa, OK, and ending the run on April 27th in Peoria, IL. For more dates and information, visit zacbrownband.com.

Songs For The Saints Tour
Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney recently announced that he will be going back out on the road in 2019 on his ‘Songs For The Saints Tour.’ This time around he is going for a more intimate feel playing arenas instead of his usual stadiums. As of right now, only the first set of venues are announced, with him kicking the tour off in Champaign, IL. Make sure to be on the lookup for dates and any other announcements, visit kennychesney.com.

Dream On It Tour
Walker Hayes with Filmore

Walker Hayes recently turned to the fans with a contest to help him name his upcoming 2019 tour in the U.S. After reading through thousands of entries he picked the tour name ‘Dream On It’ while releasing 27-dates. Hayes will begin his trek on January 31st in Houston, TX and end the run on May 4th in Boise, ID, with support act Filmore. For more dates and information, visit walkerhayes.com.

Brothers Osborne – World Tour
Brothers Osborne with The Wild Feathers, Ruston Kelly, Devon Gilfillian, and Lucie Silvas

Brothers Osborne is currently on their headlining ‘World Tour’ but has extended their run with 44-dates in 2019. The second leg of the tour will begin on January 10th in Chicago, IL, and end on April 27th in Columbia, MO. The group will be joined by support acts, The Wild Feathers, Ruston Kelly, Devon Gilfillian, and Lucie Silvas on select dates. For New Yorkers, the duo has added a New York City date on January 23rd at Terminal 5, with The Wild Feathers. For more dates and information, visit brothersosborne.com.

CMT Next Women Of Country Tour 2019
Cassadee Pope with Hannah Ellis and Clare Dunn

CMT’s ‘Next Women Of Country Tour’ is known for bringing fresh female voices to the forefront of country music. For the tours 2019 run, singer Cassadee Pope will be joining the tour for her first-ever headlining gig. She will be accompanied by special guests, Hannah Ellis, and Clare Dunn. Tour dates and locations are not yet announced but to stay up to date on any new information, visit cmt.com.

Our Kind Of Vegas
Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum will be bringing Nashville to Las Vegas for their ‘Our Kind Of Vegas’ residency at the Palms Casino Resort’s Pearl Concert Theater. They are the first country act to headline the venue, launching on February 8th. The residency will run for 15-dates with shows in, February, May, and August. For more dates and information, visit ladyantebellum.com.

Very Hot Summer Tour

Thomas Rhett, Dustin Lynch, Russell Dickerson, and Rhett Akins

One of the biggest tour announcements so far happened a few weeks ago when Thomas Rhett announced he will be traveling the country with Dustin Lynch, Russell Dickerson, and his dad, Rhett Akins on the ‘Very Hot Summer’ Tour. The tour will kick off on May 17, 2019, in Spokane, Washington at Spokane Arena and run throughout the following four months, until the last show in Nashville, Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena on October 12, 2019. New Yorkers can catch this epic lineup at Madison Square Garden on September 20th. Tickets on sale at https://www.thomasrhett.com/.

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NYCS First Impression: Kip Moore ‘Room to Spare: The Acoustic Sessions’

November 16, 2018/in Blog, First Impression /by Erica Zisman

Multi-platinum singer-songwriter, Kip Moore delivered on a promise he made to loyal fans who yearned for an acoustic project from the artist. Today, the entertainer dropped an acoustically-driven EP, entitled Room to Spare: The Acoustic Sessions. The record features six new beautifully crafted tracks, with lyrics co-penned mostly by Moore that will tug at any listener’s heartstrings, as well as, a stripped-down version of the singer’s previously released song “Plead the Fifth.”

Moore has a reputation for having a way with words and a unique, but still distinctly country sound, which is evident throughout the songs on the EP. Each track has a beautiful melody, showcasing the singer’s raspy and cutting vocals. The third track on the record “Love You to the Moon” is Moore’s funky take on a love song, where the lovers aren’t able to be in the same place right now. Although stripped down, the song has a unique beat and a chorus that will be stuck in listener’s heads in no time. “It don’t matter where I’m at / We’re stuck together like a zodiac / Baby I’m coming home soon / I love you to the moon.”

Another highlight is “Wish It Was Me.” The juxtaposition between the sweet instrumentals and Moore’s soothing voice verses the heartbreaking lyrics is so special. This song needs to be added on everyone’s playlist. The lyrics tell the story from the singer’s point of view, as he tells his ex who has moved on, that she is going to miss him. “Girl theres gonna come a day / When you have to look away / When he’s whispering your name / You’re gonna wish it was me.”

The song “Part of Growing Up” closes out the record, perfectly bookending the heartfelt project. Moore illustrates his journey and experiences, growing up, sharing both positive and negative moments in life. The song does not sugar coat real-life challenges but is still uplifting at the same time. “Some doors are open / more shut / I’ve had some dreams that turned to dust / Yeah life has hit me just because it can / but daddy ain’t/ but that’s all part of growing up.” The message is clear that as long as we yearn for learning and experiences, we will always still be growing up.

The singer humbly announced the release of Room to Spare: The Acoustic Sessions on his Twitter, earlier today, sharing “You guys have been asking for an acoustic project for years & most of these songs were buried for years… I’m stoked you guys get to finally hear them.” Moore did not disappoint with this record, as it truly is an inside look at what is in the singer’s heart and soul.

Traditionally following a headlining tour such as Moore’s, ‘After the Sunburn’ tour, the singer will play a few additional acoustic shows for diehard fans of his music. In honor of those fans and the new record, the singer-songwriter will embark on a limited tour to celebrate, kicking off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 29th. Lucky fans will be able to experience the new tracks live at a few special shows. For more information and tickets, head to kipmoore.net.

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