Little Big Town: The Breakers Tour Sells Out Iconic Radio City Music Hall

Little Big Town - Radio City Music Hall

Photo Credit: Carl Scheffel

Little Big Town‘s The Breakers Tour kicked off a few weeks back and has made its way to the east coast. Tourmates Midland, Kacey Musgraves, and headliner Little Big Town sold out New York City’s legendary Radio City Music Hall Saturday night (Feb. 24), where fans of all ages gathered to listen to some of their favorite country music.

Kicking things off were Midland who hail from Texas and brought their traditional country flair to the big apple.  Singing songs off their debut album, On the Rocks, including “Check Cashin’ Country”, “Burn Out” and of course their debut number 1 single, “Drinkin’ Problem” the boys brought the energy to the theatre.  “This is pretty special for us to be playing at Radio City Music Hall, sometimes life will just trip you out a little bit,” Mark Wystrach, the lead singer stated in between songs. “This is really cool and we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for our good friends, Little Big Town.  I’m getting all emotional now so I’m just going to raise a toast to y’all.”

Next up, Kacey Musgraves took the stage wearing a blue faux fur coat under the most colorful and sparkly jumpsuit. Musgraves released new music on Friday and was excited to share her new songs with the audience.  Alternating between songs off her first album, Same Trailer Different Park including “Merry Go Round” and “Follow Your Arrow” as well as four brand new songs off her forthcoming album Golden Hour including “Slow Burn”, “High Horse” and the recent release “Space Cowboy” and “Butterflies” the crowd got to understand the true versatility of the singer-songwriter.

Right at 9 o’clock on the dot, Little Big Town’s Karen, Jimi, Kimberly, and Phillip took the famed stage, opening with their version of Elton John’s “Rocket Man”. The band played songs from their 2 decade long career, including their very first number one song “Pontoon”. Packing their set with classic songs that the audience knew every word to including “Little White Church” and “Day Drinkin” to deep album cuts from their previous albums like “Save Your Sin” and “Sober”.

Little Big Town

Photo Credit: Carl Scheffel

“We made it here! Radio City, sold out, holy freaking cow!” Karen Fairchild exclaimed. “Country fans are the greatest fans and you’ve been so so kind to us, thank you for coming tonight.”

A few highlights included “I’m With the Band” which is from their 2007 album A Place to Land, the group who has been together for neatly twenty years had old videos playing behind them from their early days together.  Proving that sticking to your guns and recording music that you love will get you a long-lasting career in this business.

The acoustics at Radio City Music Hall lent perfectly to the group’s harmonies, especially on their tribute to Glenn Campbell.  “We’ve lost a lot of heroes and icons recently, back during the CMA Awards we were honored to pay tribute to Mr. Glenn Campbell, we got to do a very special performance that night and we wanted to share that with you here tonight, this is ‘Witchita Lineman’,” Jimi Westbrook explained.

Closing the night with their second number one hit, “Girl Crush” the audience almost drowned out the band, singing every word back to them. (Video below) Their set was iconic, the mix of slower more emotional songs with absolute anthems made for an incredible night of country music.

 

 

The Breakers Tour heads to Pennsylvania this weekend and wraps up late April. Check out below for remaining tour dates.

March 2 – Reading, PA @ Santander Arena
March 3 – Washington, DC @ Anthem
March 15 – Green Bay, WI @ Resch Center
March 16 – Duluth, MN @ Amsoil Arena
March 17 – Grand Forks, ND @ Ralph Engelstad
March 22 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
March 23 – Cedar Rapids, IA @ U.S. Cellular Center
March 24 – Sioux City, IA @ Tyson Events Center
April 5 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
April 6 – Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Harris Bradley Ctr
April 7 – St. Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Arena
April 19 – Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
April 20 – Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena
April 21 – Atlanta, GA @ Infinite Energy Arena

 

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Swag Spotlight: Jon Langston

Jon Langston Swag Spotlight

 

Recently it seems like there is something in the water in Georgia, country artists like Luke Bryan, Cole Swindell, and our next Swag Spotlight, Jon Langston all hail from small towns in Georgia and are making big waves in Nashville and the country music genre.  Langston was a big football guy growing up, always loving music, but focusing his sights on a football career.  When too many concussions in college forced him to hang up his pads for good, he ultimately grabbed a guitar and started writing songs.  With so much free time after stopping football, finding a new passion was just a fun hobby for the “Forever Girl” singer until YouTube changed his life.

 

 

“Forever Girl” was the very first song Langston wrote back in 2012. He remembers sitting on his porch his junior year of college, writing the whole song himself after jotting down a few ideas during class.  He posted an acoustic version of the song to YouTube and the rest is history. The song spread, people loved it, and he started to realize he might be on to something.  Playing frat parties and local bars around town, Langston got his feet wet in the entertainment industry.

“I saw that social media was the greatest tool you could have, free advertising and free marketing for me.  I was using the platforms to my advantage and I found ways to reach out to people and get my music out there,” he explains.  Although his music lived on YouTube for almost five years, when he moved to Nashville and got his publishing deal with Sony ATV he put the songs on Spotify where they have now garnered over 30 million spins.

 

Continuing his journey, writing and releasing new music to his fans, Langston is gearing up for a busy 2018 filled with festivals and gigs in markets he hasn’t played before. “We are traveling to new places we’ve never been and playing shows that fans have been begging us to get there, we are finally able to spread our wings a little and get out there,” he tells us.

On Friday (Feb. 23), Langston was signed to Universal Music Group with a record deal, presented to him by his mentor and friend, Luke Bryan.  Check out his ultimate surprised reaction in the video below.

 

 

Follow Jon Langston on his socials including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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First Impression: New Music from Mitchell Tenpenny, Kacey Musgraves, Brandon Ray, & More

Some of our favorite artists released new music this Friday including Mitchell Tenpenny, Kacey Musgraves, Brandon Ray, The Swon Brothers, Cole Swindell and more.  Check out our playlist here and while you are at it give us a follow.

 

Kacey Musgraves Butterflies New Music

First up: Kacey Musgraves released two brand new songs from her next album, Golden Hour, which she announced will be released March 3oth.  “Space Cowboy” is a slow burn, written with Luke Laird and Shane McAnally.  The breakup tune highlights Musgraves’ delicate vocals and her ability to deliver a heartbreaking lyric.  “Butterflies” is quite the opposite from “Space Cowboy” in that it focuses on those first love feelings. As a new bride, Musgraves flits and floats through the enchanting song.

 

Mitchell Tenpenny New Music

New York Country Swag followers are no stranger to Mitchell Tenpenny who has a killer new song out today.  “Drunk Me” is from his self-titled EP and features Tenpenny’s strong gritty voice, where his desperation rings clear that remaining sober is his only option since “…drunk me can’t get over you”.  While cliched country songs are about indulging yourself in alcohol to get over an ex, Tenpenny flips that on its head, proving his versatile songwriting and deliverance is fast-tracking him to stardom.

 

Cole Swindell New Music

It’s been a little while since Cole Swindell released a new song and “Break Up in the End” is a total heart-wrencher. The song puts a twist on the sentiment that it is better to love and lost than never love at all.  The single is the first from his next album.  Written by Jon Nite, Chase McGill, and Jessie Jo Dillion,  Swindell wrote on Twitter, “This is one of those songs from the first time I heard it I knew it was special. So many people can relate to the lyrics. Even though I didn’t write it, I’m amazed the best writers in town are bringing me songs like this.”

 

Brandon Ray New Music

Brandon Ray released “Small Talkin’ today, a new single which was produced by Ross Copperman and Keith Urban. The mid-tempo groove will have you snapping your fingers or tapping your foot at your desk on this dreary Friday. The track was co-written with Jon Mabe and Jessica Mitchell, an idea Ray wrote on Instagram that he has had in his phone for months.

 

Swon Brothers New music

The Swon Brothers released a nostalgia-filled tune, reminiscent of those great 80’s tunes complete with catchy guitar riffs and questions like “what ever happened to the good old days?“. Head to their Instagram to see some classic throwback photos of the brothers, highlighting those good old days as a promo leading up to today’s release.

 

Follow us on Spotify to keep up with our favorite new tunes each Friday.

 

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– Team NYCountry Swag

 

 

 

Swag Sessions: Featuring Ashley Campbell at Opry City Stage

 

Singer-songwriter Ashley Campbell, who just happens to be the daughter of famed country music star Glenn Campbell, joined us for a Swag Session Wednesday evening (Feb. 21)  at Opry City Stage.  After surprising diners down on the second floor, Campbell headed up to the private fourth floor, The Studio, to play a few songs and answer some questions for New York Country Swag.

Singing songs from her forthcoming debut album, due out in May including “Nothing Day”, “Looks Like Time” and “I Wish I Wanted”. Check out the full video below.

 

 

For more from Ashley Campbell follow her on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook!

 

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3.11.18 – NYCountry Swag Presents: Babes, Booze & Brunch


New York Country Swag Presents:
Babes, Booze & Brunch 

We’re celebrating International Women’s Day with a
Brunch Event for Women Celebrating Women!

Join us under the Empire State Building at Refinery Rooftop
while we chat, dine & celebrate females!

Enjoy Complimentary Pop-Up Style Fun like –
Braid Bar sponsored by NOMI Beauty
Nail Art Station sponsored by ART NAIL NYC
Photo Booth sponsored by In Good Company Hospitality

Plus Build-Your-Own Mimosa’s ft. Primaterra Prosecco
& Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary’s ft. 44 North Vodka

Music by DJ’s @ Work spinning everything from Martina McBride to Beyonce

+ Special Acoustic Performance by rising country star, Hannah Ellis
Opening Set by Lauren Davidson

 

Limited tickets available.
CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets!

 

This event is 21+. All tickets are nonrefundable.
*For all questions please e-mail: [email protected]

Danielle Bradbery Releases Chilling A cappella Version of “Worth It”

Check out Danielle Bradbery’s A cappella version of her current single “Worth It” below.

The video was shot as a warm-up, pre show in a Nashville bathroom. Bradbery’s ability to strip down a song and bare her soul when singing is one of her most incredible attributes to the country genre.

The single is from her current album, I Don’t Believe We’ve Met.

 

 

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Click Here to learn more about NYCountry Swag
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– Team NYCountry Swag

Ashla Taylor

Swag Spotlight: Ashla Taylor

Ashla Taylor

McCalla, Alabama native, Ashla Taylor has always dreamt of having a career like Shania Twain.  Growing up in a very strict Pentecostal Evangelist family, with rules and religious regulations, sneaking secular music such as Britney Spears and Destiny’s Child became a way of life for the young dreamer. Taking after her two grandmothers, who she calls feisty, she fell in love with music and performing.  “My Nana Ellen was a honky tonk singer in the 70’s in a group called ‘The Blue Velvets’. My other Nana, Becky was a writer. She taught me how to write and she also took me to see my first concert when I was eight,” she tells us.  That first concert just happened to be Shania Twain, and after seeing her perform everything changed for her.

From that moment on she tried her best to emulate stars like Twain, Dolly Parton, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks and Etta James all while living a secret life and listening to these incredible females in private, so her family wouldn’t know.  Sneaking around playing original songs at local music venues, she gained her confidence and started meeting people in the industry who told her she should definitely head to Nashville. After winning a local showdown, she made the decision to change her life, quit her boring job and move to Nashville to pursue her dreams.  She explained how hard this was for her, all but destroying her relationship with her parents. “They thought that I moved and totally turned against everything that they raised me to believe, but in reality when I left home and came to Nashville and got away from that religious stronghold, I think that’s when I really found my faith,” she tells us.

Five years later, she has spent her time writing and released her debut EP last September, Truth Is…, five tracks that she is so proud of. “Nothing About Love” is set to hit radio stations all over the country this week.  While she was working on her EP her agent called to tell her that there are open auditions for a Shania Twain docu-drama and urged her to send in an audition tape. “I was shocked, nothing in the world has ever made me feel so happy, just to get the chance to audition, I really didn’t think I would get it,” she tells us. Getting the call just days later that she had gotten the part, she told us that she was all alone when she found out, she couldn’t stop running around and shaking, she was so excited. “I have a lot of parallels with Shania, growing up I relate to her personal life story so not only was she a musical influence to me she was also a personal influence.  Experiencing some of the family trials, I’ve gone through a lot of those things, I’ve had to work really hard and struggle to get where I am at and it’s never been easy,” Taylor explains.

The irony is not lost on Taylor who credits Twain for giving her the chance to follow her path, pursue a music career and make it through the difficult times. Fans can check out www.reelz.com to check out which channel they can catch The Price of Fame, which shows past the glitz and glamour of making it and delves into the deeper more serious stories each artist has.

After chatting about her favorite Shania Twain song (she has too many to pick just one) she tells us what music means to her, in a sentiment, we can all relate to…”That’s the power of music and what is so beautiful about it, it connects people all over the world it doesn’t matter what language or ethnicity, music is universal,” she thoughtfully explains.  “It teaches you, it brings people together, it’s like a time machine, you can go right back to where you were when you first heard it.”
Follow Ashla Taylor on her socials including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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Click Here to learn more about NYCountry Swag
+ Follow our Country Music Adventures on Instagram, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG!

– Team NYCountry Swag

Nash FM Stage 17: David Lee Murphy

David Lee Murphy

Early Tuesday Afternoon (Feb. 13), Nash FM 94.7 Hackensack Meridian Health Stage 17 hosted David Lee Murphy for an intimate Up Close & Country performance.

The Grammy-nominated country hit-maker kicked off his set with “Party Crowd,” one of the biggest party songs of the 90s. He then went on to sing a career changing track he penned for Jason Aldean, “Big Green Tractor”, as well as “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not”, the #1 song he wrote for Thompson Square.

Murphy has spent the past several years concentrating on songwriting and producing, penning numerous #1 hits over the past three decades like “Living in Fast Forward” for Kenny Chesney, “Anywhere With You” for Jake Owen and “The Only Way I Know” for Jason Aldean.

Now, for the first time in thirteen years, Murphy is putting out new music with his forthcoming album, No Zip Code. The record was co-produced by Buddy Cannon and longtime friend Kenny Chesney, and features Chesney on the debut track, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.”

“How do you tell Kenny No?” Murphy jokingly tells the Nash fm crowd before playing the new uptempo track. Following the already popular song, Murphy closed his set with the #1 single and timeless classic, “Dust On The Bottle.”

Listen to David Lee Murphy’s latest single, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” and additional popular tracks below. Check out the full live show at Nash fm here and listen to Nash FM 94.7 daily for your chance to win a seat at these intimate shows.

 

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Click Here to learn more about NYCountry Swag
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Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Maren Morris & Kesha deliver at ‘All For The Hall’ NYC Event…

Tuesday Evening (Feb. 13), New York City fans had a rare opportunity to see country legends, Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris with Grammy winner, Maren Morris & pop star, Kesha, at The Country Music Hall of Fame’s All for the Hall benefit concert.

The fundraising event, which took place at Times Square’s Playstation Theater, was staged as a traditional guitar-pull style format and featured the artists taking turns singing songs and swapping stories.

Leading the charge, Country Music Hall of Fame member and All for the Hall founder, Vince Gill, introduced his all female guests on to the stage before kicking off several rounds of hit songs between the four powerful artists. Highlights included the first live rendition of Maren Morris and Vince Gill’s, “Dear Hate”, a song Morris penned in 2015 after the mass shooting in Charleston and released later to benefit the victims of violence in Las Vegas.

Another standout was Emmylou Harris’ “If I Needed You.” A true gem in Harris’ catalog, she dedicated the song to her duet partner on the track, the late Don Williams.

“I still love making records. I’ve been making them for 44 years,” Gill exclaimed mid-show, before introducing a new song, “Forever Changed.” The emotional ballad tells the story of a sexual assault from a female’s perspective, leaving the capacity audience completely moved.

Throughout her turns, Kesha shared stories of her singer-songwriter Mom, Pebe Sebert and her country music roots, before adding a country twist to her chart-topping pop-dance songs. Closing out the show, Kesha performed an acoustic edition of the first number one song that she wrote with her mom, “My Love Is Your Drug.” Morris, Harris & Gill joined her for a chorus of voices, while the audience clapped along, proving to be a crowd favorite.

The sold out show was a success for the Country Music Hall of Fame. Proceeds from the night will support the museum’s education programs, which teach audiences about the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music.

For more about the Country Music Hall of Fame, visit their website here and follow them on Instagram.

 

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Thanks for supporting Country Music in NYC!

Click Here to learn more about NYCountry Swag
+ Follow our Country Music Adventures on Instagram, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG!

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Next Women of Country Kicks off in NYC with Sara Evans, RaeLynn & Kalie Shorr

CMT Next Women of Country Sara Evans

Sara Evans joined by RaeLynn and Kalie Shorr took the stage at B.B Kings in Times Square for the kick off night of CMT’s Next Women of Country Tour. The venue was packed, with standing room only crowd members at the bar.

CMT Next Women of Country Sara Evans

First to take the stage was Kalie Shorr, this being her first tour and her first time performing in New York City, the young punk-country artist opened her set with “Fight Like A Girl”, an anthem which she powerfully performed.  She also sang her latest single “Two Hands” and “Damn Sky” which are both featured on her EP Awake. Covering a kick-butt version of Shania Twain’s “Man I Feel Like A Woman” the girl power night started off with a bang.

CMT Next Women of Country Raelynn Sara Evans

Next to take the stage was RaeLynn, the “Wildhorse” singer sang songs off of her debut album including “God Made Girls” and “Young”.  “It’s a dream to be playing in New York tonight at B.B King’s opening for Queen Bee, Sara Evans, I’m just so excited to be on tour with her,” she told the audience. Referencing her time on the reality talent show The Voice and her coach Blake Shelton, the young singer explained that after writing for a few years she loved being able to put honest music out into the world.  She closed her set with a song that she explained “changed her life,” “Love Triangle”.

CMT Next Women of Country Sara Evans

Finally, Sara Evans took the stage as the headlining act of the night.  Evans was joined by her band which included her brother, Matt, sister, Leslie and oldest son Avery.  The powerhouse vocalist sang songs from her 20-year career including, “Suds in the Bucket”, “Born to Fly” and of course “A Little Bit Stronger”.

She also performed songs from her latest album Words, including “Night Light”, “Long Way Down” and “Marquee Sign”.  The songstress had the entire audience singing along to her hits, entertaining them with her wit and humor in between songs and empowering all of the women in the room.  “We need a lot more women in country music, that’s for sure,” she exclaimed.  “I can’t tell you how honored I am that you are all here on a Monday night.”

Evans didn’t just sing originals but included some incredible cover songs, stylistically changing them to suit her signature sound including Gavin DeGraw’s “Not Over You”, Chicago’s “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” and closed out the night bringing her two opening acts back on stage for “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”.

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Thanks for supporting Country Music in NYC!

Click Here to learn more about NYCountry Swag
+ Follow our Country Music Adventures on Instagram, @NYCOUNTRYSWAG!

– Team NYCountry Swag