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Where to Eat/Drink in Nashville: FGL House, Perfect for “Party People”

There are plenty of bars along the downtown Nashville strip, a ton of places with live music and good drinks or food, however, if you are looking for a unique experience head to FGL House. The four-story venue lives and breathes Florida Georgia Line. The duo opened the restaurant/bar earlier this year and fans from all over the world are walking through the doors to experience this one of a kind venue.

The walls are lined with memorabilia, certified records and even iconic outfits the duo has worn in the past. The rustic woodwork, incredible art and overall vibe of the atmosphere allow patrons to feel like they are hanging out at FGL’s home. Every level has a unique feel, there are even chandeliers made up entirely of wooden guitars.

The appropriately titled “Cruise” rooftop level offers an amazing view of downtown Nashville and is a great place to hear live music. If you are here for the food, the kitchen delivers some incredible appetizers and entrees’, created by the band’s very own tour chef. During our lunch at the venue, we were treated to the Bavarian Jumbo Pretzel with a special mustard aioli and queso blanco and the delicious Dirty Kettle Chips topped with smoked pulled pork, crispy bacon, chives, smoked cheddar queso and drenched in bbq sauce.

With so many options to choose from including Southern Fish Tacos to Shrimp and Grits, ultimately the New York Country Swag team decided on the Nashville Hot Chicken salad, dressed with a delicious cilantro ranch and the “No Joke Mac N’ Cheese” which has thick bacon, beer pulled chicken, smoked white and yellow cheddars, and cavatappi pasta.

If you are only visiting to enjoy some drinks, you must try out the FGL House signature cocktails. Check out our New York Country Swag Make-a-Long below to learn about three cocktails off their menu including “Tip It Back”, “Get Your Shine On” and “Party People”. For more cocktails and their full menu check out FGLHouse.com

New York Country Swag was happy to dine at FGL House as a part of our New York Country Swag Takes Nashville trip earlier this month. We will definitely be back!

Where to Eat in Nashville: The Grilled Cheeserie Will Melt Their Way Into Your Heart

There are many things to love about the great city of Nashville and food is absolutely up there on the list. Of course, Nashville has plenty of BBQ joints that will fulfill any out of towners craving for delicious southern food, however, if you are looking for something different and equally as satisfying you MUST head to The Grilled Cheeserie. In the heart of Hillsboro Village, the establishment just opened their very first brick and mortar restaurant back in January. Previously, The Grilled Cheeserie Truck would travel to multiple locations around Nashville, feeding hungry tourists, patrons and artists alike. The famed truck was also featured on Food Network’s popular, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” with Guy Fieri.

With their ever-changing specialty melt menu, featuring the above fall favorite, Harvest Melt, which has double cream brie, roasted free-range turkey, maple roasted squash, pumpkin seed pesto on multigrain bread, patrons can expect to try a something new each time they visit. One of our favorites to try was the Pimento Mac & Cheese that has housemade pimento cheese, local cheddar, macaroni, tomato and bacon bits on country white sourdough bread. They also offer the most delicious tomato soup, the perfect pairing for any grilled cheese sandwich.

Make sure to leave room for dessert. Our favorite was the Campfire S’more, toasted smoked sugar marshmallow, Nutella, salty honey graham crumble on brioche. The marshmallow is gooey and mixed with the Nutella, it is the perfect fall favorite sweet treat.

Don’t forget to stop by their milkshake bar on the way out, featuring delicious concoctions including the Caramel Apple Float, Frozen Mexican Hot Chocolate and the Milkshake of the Moment -“Count Chocula Black & White”.

The food is delectable, the restaurant itself is clean, the staff is super friendly. New York Country Swag was happy to dine at The Grilled Cheeserie as a part of our New York Country Swag Takes Nashville trip earlier this month.

Highway Finds Tour Hits NYC’s Gramercy Theatre

October 23, 2017/in Blog, Concert Reviews /by Christina Bosch

Part of Sirius XM The Highway’s charm is their ability to seek out and spin tracks from brand new country artists. Their feature, Highway Finds, takes on a new life during the tour they have dedicated to these rising stars. Featuring three new artists to hit the scene, The tour lineup includes Adam Doleac, Ashley McBryde, and High Valley. Each of the acts made their way to the big apple to play New York City’s Gramercy Theatre.

Straight from our Pop-Up at Refinery Rooftop, Adam Doleac was first to take the stage Saturday night. Opening his set with “Some Girls”, which Doleac says “I tell everyone this is my mating call to the world, where is my future wife at?…I’ve gotta find her at some point.” He filled his opening set with songs off his latest self-titled EP including “Bigger Than Us” and “Refill”.

His voice is gritty, yet smooth and the Mississippi native injects a bluesy vibe into his country twang. He sang a cover of “Let Her Cry”, Doleac credits Darius Rucker as an influence in his career and was thrilled to sing a song that the country artist just released that he wrote. ” I grew up singing this guy’s songs and now he’s singing one of mine,” he says before singing “Don’t” which can be found on Rucker’s latest album When Was the Last Time. Currently sitting in the #3 spot on the Highway’s Top 30 Countdown, Doleac’s debut single, “Whiskey’s Fine” had the entire crowd singing along.

Next up to take the stage was Ashley McBryde, who is one of our 5 Rising Country Stars You Should Be Listening To. Three of her singles have made their way to Sirius XM The Highway including “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” and ” Tired of Being Happy”. McBryde’s powerful voice, commanding stage presence, and overall badass attitude captivated the crowd. “I was four or five years old when I told my parents this is what I wanted to do for a living, so now we are doing it and I am in New York City for the first time.”

The crowd joined McBryde for her single “Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega”, her performance honest and raw, proves she is definitely a rising star in this industry. She closed her set with a cover of The Eagles’ “Heartache Tonight” stating, we only do covers if it means something to us and this cover, it matters to us.”

Headlining the second Highway Finds Tour is brothers from Alberta, Canada, High Valley. Brad and Curtis took the stage singing the title track to their latest album “Dear Life”. “This is obviously our first time playing in New York City and I don’t know how often y’all see banjos but we’re about to break one out right now.” they laughed. Their high energy set was filled with songs from the album as well as covers including John Michael Montgomery’s “Be My Baby Tonight” to which they organized a full-on dance contest between members in the crowd. “Let’s crank it up to 11, who’s ready to party tonight? they asked the loyal crowd.

A highlight of the night is when the duo slowed things down to thank their father for believing in them and for helping them get to where they are right now. Singing “The Only Way He Knew How” from their 2010 debut album, the crowd hushed to listen to the incredible lyrics. Closing out the night with a giant sing-a-long the duo performed their latest single “She’s With Me” from the middle of the crowd only and then took the stage to perform the upbeat “Make You Mine”.

Check out our Instagram for more photos and videos of the great night of country music in New York City.

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Follow our Country Music Adventures on Instagram, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG!
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– Team NYCountry Swag

NYCS First Impression: Chris Young ‘Losing Sleep’

October 23, 2017/in Blog, First Impression /by Christina Bosch

If Chris Young knows how to do anything very well, it’s release albums chock full of smooth country songs. His voice is unmistakable and as far as his latest, Losing Sleep goes, it is everything fans love about the singer. While he doesn’t take major risks sonically, it is not necessarily a bad thing, balancing sexy love songs, heartbreak and finding new love.

Lending his baritone, twangy voice to a more pop-production, especially in the first single “Losing Sleep”, many of the tracks are primed for radio. He knows the sweet spot in his voice and with his song choices. For the first time on his sixth studio album, Young is a co-writer as well as a co-producer on each of the 10 songs.

The newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, who was inducted earlier this week, shines on “Radio and the Rain”, “Trouble Looking” and “Where I Go to Drink” which each showcase their own dynamic stories. Other highlights include “Holiday”, a simple love song and “Blacked Out” with his melancholy, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley references.

Losing Sleep is an easy listen and each track offers a different point of view or story. It is emotional without being sappy and the love songs are honest and raw. Grab your copy on iTunes now. Young announced he will be headlining the Losing Sleep Tour in 2018, bringing along Kane Brown and LANCO to open each show.

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Thanks for supporting Country Music in NYC!

Follow our Country Music Adventures on Instagram, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG!
+ Shop the Store for your favorite Country Swag & Tag us to be featured. #nycountryswag

Join the Weekly Round-Up for upcoming event reminders, ticket giveaways and more!

– Team NYCountry Swag

Swag Sessions: Featuring Adam Doleac

October 20, 2017/in Blog, Interviews, NYCountry Swag Pop-Up Sets, Swag Live /by Christina Bosch

A warm sunny October morning calls for a Refinery Rooftop Pop-Up Set with rising country act Adam Doleac. New York Country Swag went live on Facebook and Instagram to broadcast Doleac sing three songs and answer a few questions about his backstory, writing his single “Whiskey’s Fine” and about touring with Ashley McBryde and High Valley on the Highway Finds Tour. Check out the video here:

Catch Adam Doleac and The Highway Finds Tour stopping at Gramercy tomorrow, Saturday October 21st. Grab your tickets here.

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Thanks for supporting Country Music in NYC!

Follow our Country Music Adventures on Instagram, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG!
+ Shop the Store for your favorite Country Swag & Tag us to be featured. #nycountryswag

Join the Weekly Round-Up for upcoming event reminders, ticket giveaways and more!

– Team NYCountry Swag

Lee Brice and Morgan Evans Pack Out PlayStation Theater

October 20, 2017/in Blog, Concert Reviews /by Christina Bosch

With the lights of Times Square shimmering down the street, PlayStation Theater is a great venue for New York country music fans to catch their favorite artists. Last night was no exception, rising star Morgan Evans took the stage to warm up the crowd before headliner, Lee Brice.

Evans tells the story in his live set of how he decided to skip finding an American band to back him, but instead to record all of the music solo on stage with the use of a peddle loop. He played covers of Ed Sheeran and his main influence growing up, Keith Urban as well as new songs including “Life Changes” and “Day Drunk”. “I do love New York,” he says adoringly, “I always feel like I’m in a movie when I’m here.” His first single released in the states, “Kiss Somebody”, has not hit radio airwaves yet, but you could have fooled the crowd, they knew every word to the uptempo love song. New York City fans may have had the opportunity of seeing Evans earlier this summer when he played the Grand Ole Opry’s Circle in the City in Bryant Park.

Right at 9:15 on the dot, Lee Brice took the stage and filled his set with plenty of his incredible hits throughout the years as well as new songs off his forthcoming self-titled album due out November 3rd. A true performer, Brice packed the 90-minute set, alternating between new and old and uptempo hits and ballads. His passion for his music is evident during his live set, always interacting with his loyal fans who sang along the entire night. Concert-goers heard “That Don’t Sound Like You”, “Hard to Love” and his first number one single “Woman Like You” as well as his latest single “Boy”.

“We feel and we are so blessed to be here again, and even more blessed that you guys are here because you make all of our dreams come true,” Brice says mid-concert. “I can’t stress that enough.”

A highlight of the night was Brice’s obvious adoration for our police men and women, our firefighters and our military. He thanked them for their service before singing his touching hit “I Drive Your Truck”. The stage went dark as the twinkle lights of cell phones popped up for the duration of the song.

Brice closed his set with more smash hits including “Parking Lot Party” and the song he wrote for his wife “I Don’t Dance” as well as a cover of Lynrd Skynrd’s “Simple Man”. Before leaving the stage, he autographed and handed off his guitar to a deserving fan who held the American Flag high the entire night, Brice proves there is a reason he can come back to New York City time and time again. His fans love him and his music and look forward to many more shows from the megastar. Pre-order his self-titled album on iTunes.

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Thanks for supporting Country Music in NYC!

Follow our Country Music Adventures on Instagram, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG!
+ Shop the Store for your favorite Country Swag & Tag us to be featured. #nycountryswag

Join the Weekly Round-Up for upcoming event reminders, ticket giveaways and more!

– Team NYCountry Swag

Devin Dawson Grooves at Rockwood Music Hall

October 19, 2017/in Blog, Concert Reviews /by Christina Bosch

Rising country singer-songwriter, Devin Dawson, packed out Rockwood Music Hall last night for a showcase of songs off his forthcoming album, Dark Horse, available early 2018. The intimate setting was the perfect place to hear new music from the crooner, whose style is like no one else in the business right now. Dressed in his signature black, Dawson took the stage after a heartfelt introduction from Warner Music Nashville CEO and President, John Esposito.

Throughout Dawson’s first full band show in NYC, the crowd heard his current single “All On Me”, his latest release, “Dark Horse” along with a few songs that will be available on the new record. Dawson finds a unique way of emoting his lyrics, the passion for the groove flows out of him as his entire body moves to the music.

Dawson is a combination of everything you love about John Mayer with a twist of Johnny Cash and a flair for honesty in his songwriting. Pre-order his debut album on iTunes.

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Thanks for supporting Country Music in NYC!

Follow our Country Music Adventures on Instagram, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG!
+ Shop the Store for your favorite Country Swag & Tag us to be featured. #nycountryswag

Join the Weekly Round-Up for upcoming event reminders, ticket giveaways and more!

– Team NYCountry Swag

NYCS First Impression: Carly Pearce Shines with ‘Every Little Thing’

October 13, 2017/in Blog, First Impression /by Christina Bosch

Carly Pearce, one of our 5 Rising Country Stars You Should Be Listening To, released her debut album today. Releasing Every Little Thing is an important milestone for the young singer-songwriter who left high school to pursue her music career, working at Dollywood when she was only 16 years old.

“Raw, real, I’m not trying to hide anything, and I think by sharing my struggles, whether you’re a young girl or someone my age or my mom’s, you’re either going to experience it, are going through it or already have,” she says about her debut record. The breakout title track earned Pearce her stripes and her record deal with Big Machine Record and the single is currently sitting in the number 6 spot on the country charts.

Pearce co-wrote 8 of the 13 tracks on the project along with smash hit writers such as Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird, Hilary Lindsey, Natalie Hemby and Shane McAnally. Whether it’s a story about heartbreak and the well-known sorrow felt after a relationship ends (“Every Little Thing”, “Careless”) or missing home and pride in your hometown (“I Could Use A Ride Home “Honeysuckle”) Pearce’s earnest way of expressing her emotions through her music is reminiscent of powerhouses such as Carrie Underwood.

Not all of the songs on the record are ballads, “Dare Ya” and “Color” are playful and Pearce’s rich, velvety tone shines through. Producer, Busbee has backed Pearce and has helped to shape the album. Her latest single, “If My Name Was Whiskey” is a fresh spin on a common vice.

If you are a fan of powerful lyrics, a strong female presence, and artists like Martina McBride, Eric Church and Carrie Underwood, check out Every Little Thing, you won’t be disappointed.

Grab your copy of the album on iTunes, and be sure to listen to NASH FM 94.7 this Tuesday to hear Carly perform at Stage 17 NYC.

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Thanks for supporting Country Music in NYC!

Follow our Country Music Adventures on Instagram, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG!
+ Shop the Store for your favorite Country Swag & Tag us to be featured. #nycountryswag

Join the Weekly Round-Up for upcoming event reminders, ticket giveaways and more!

– Team NYCountry Swag

NYCS First Impression: Russell Dickerson Impresses with Debut Album

October 13, 2017/in Blog, First Impression /by Christina Bosch

High energy live set, great songs to dance along to and sheer determination to make it in this business, Russell Dickerson has officially arrived y’all. His debut album, appropriately titled Yours after his incredible love song, is filled with 12 tracks with a little something for every fan. Fans who have seen Dickerson open for Thomas Rhett’s Home Team Tour or most recently Florida Georiga Line’s Smooth Tour know the sheer power he can bring to a live show as he jumps around the stage and engages with his fans. He brings that same energy into this new album, featuring up-tempo songs, slow grooves and even a wedding version of “Yours”.

“I’m beyond stoked to have my first full-length album out and available for pre-order!” he says in a recent press release. “The support from my fans is what has brought me this far. The Yours EP has changed my life, and I cannot wait to see what the Yours album will bring!” Fans of Dickerson will be pleased to know, five favorites off his Yours EP made the cut for the full-length album including, “Yours” (the original and an acoustic wedding version), “MGNO”, “Blue Tacoma” and “Every Little Thing”. As a co-writer on each of the 12 songs, this album embodies the music that he wants to create, fun music that his fans will love to listen to and that will inspire repeat spins.

Besides “Yours” which started out as a simple love song for his wife Kailey, the album has no shortage of romantic vibes including the up-tempo “Every Little Thing” and the reggae-inspired, “Would You Love Me” as well as “You Look Like A Love Song” which shines with a gospel choir singing background vocals. Dickerson gets sensual with “All Falls Down” and “Low Key” but does it in a way that feels genuine and will make you want to grab a bottle of wine, turn down the lights and slow dance.

For those missing the lazy, hazy days of summer, “Float” will bring you right back and hold you over until you are able to enjoy those warm days at the beach again. The nostalgia-filled, “twentysomething” and “Billions” are primed for arena sing-alongs.

The LP highlights Dickerson’s incredible ability to be versatile, and although it is cohesive each song has its own influence and vibe. Grab Yours on iTunes and check out our recap from our Country Night on the Water with Dickerson last year.

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Thanks for supporting Country Music in NYC!

Follow our Country Music Adventures on Instagram, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG!
+ Shop the Store for your favorite Country Swag & Tag us to be featured. #nycountryswag

Join the Weekly Round-Up for upcoming event reminders, ticket giveaways and more!

– Team NYCountry Swag

[Watch]#TBT Carrie Underwood’s Idol Audition

October 5, 2017/in #TBT, Blog /by Christina Bosch

In honor of American Idol making its return, here is one of our all-time favorite auditions just in time for Throwback Thursday. Carrie Underwood not only sings an incredible rendition of “I Can’t Make You Love Me” but she charms the judges, even when they make her cluck like a chicken.

Underwood went on to win season 4 of the most popular singing competition back in 2005 and has gone on to win a whopping 174 worldwide awards including 7 Grammys. Exactly 15 years after its inception, Idol is back on a new channel with all new judges. ABC will be the new home of the singing competition. Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and country music’s very own Luke Bryan will sit in the judge’s chairs.

The new season will kick off in 2018 on ABC.