Blog Archives

Country Newcomers, LANco, Bring The Energy To Irving Plaza

November 7, 2016/in Blog /by Stephanie Wagner

Opening for CMA Vocal Duo of the Year, Brothers Osborne, country newcomers, LANco, took the stage Friday Night at Irving Plaza for their first-ever, full band performance show in NYC. The high-energy group consists of five small town natives – singer-lyricist, Brandon Lancaster, bassist Chandler Baldwin, multi-instrumentalist Jared Hampton, drummer Tripp Howell and guitarist Eric Steedly.

After catching LANco this past summer at Nash FM’s, Up Close & Country Series, we knew we were in for a treat. The guys give off an old-school rock-like vibe, mixed with a pop-friendly feel, and when you add that Country twang – you’ve got a truly incredible and unique sound.

There is something for everybody in LANco’s performance. Playing tracks from their self-titled EP, including crowd favorites, “Trouble Maker,” and “American Love Story,” along with covers like, “Your Mama Don’t Dance,” the group delivered with each and every song.

Seeing the faces from the stage just wasn’t enough for lead singer, Brandon Lancaster. To end the show, Lancaster jumped into the crowd walking all the way to the opposite end of the venue and back, getting an up-close visual of each and every member of the sold-out crowd. Closing out their set with their debut single, “Long Live Tonight“, LANco’s infectious energy surely set the tone for an unforgettable night.

If you aren’t listening to LANco yet, you need to. Take a listen here & be sure to catch the guys at a show near you!

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram (@NYCOUNTRYSWAG) to catch a glimpse of our Country Music Adventures in NYC.

Peace, Love & Country Music,
NYCountry Swag

A Note From Our Founder…

October 28, 2016/in Blog /by Stephanie Wagner

It makes me so happy to see Old Dominion out there killing it. I remember playing their songs a few years ago at one of the venues I was working at (way before New York Country Swag was even a thought) and trying to convince my bosses to let me book them. In reality, maybe a handful of people in our area (if that), would have known who they were at the time. It just didn’t make sense for us to do the show.

Fast forward a year, and these guys sell out Joe’s Pub in NYC at 200+ tickets. Another year later brings us to now, where they sold out PlayStation Theatre at 2000+ tickets in October 2016. The OD guys are incredible songwriters and even better performers. They are headed straight to the top and I feel so dang happy that there were venues out there who booked them in those early days.

If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past few months of breaking into the music industry with New York Country Swag, it’s that there are some truly, incredibly talented people who may never get their shot, despite how hard they work. This is where one of my biggest goals at New York Country Swag stems from. We need to give artists a new and different platform to help get their music out there! Our goal is to produce fun and unique events while showcasing artists that we believe in. We want to build relationships with both the fans and the talent, and help these artists get their music heard. Whether it’s a Country Brunch in NYC, a Clambake in Brooklyn or a Country Night on the Water in Rockaway Beach, we are often bringing fans to these special events who may have never heard music by these artists before.

In the past few months, we have produced several unique & successful events all over NYC, showcasing artists like Russell Dickerson, Carter Winter, Elizabeth Lyons, Blaire Hanks, Rob Bellamy, Lauren Davidson, The Dalton Sheriffs & more. We have sought out working with these artists, not only because we love and respect them, but, because we believe in their music and want to share their talent with other like-minded fans.

I am so thankful for the relationships we have made in this industry (and continue to make) and hope that with each event we can continue to spread the Country Music Love in NYC.

I want to send a special THANK YOU to the artists we work with & to everyone who follows us, who attends our events and who rocks our merch! The support means the world to us. We are proud Country Fans in NYC and are excited to continue this journey with you all!

We have a great line-up of upcoming events in the works and are looking forward to sharing them with you. Be on the lookout for announcements next week!

Best Wishes,
– Stephanie Wagner
Founder/Operator
www.NYCountrySwag.com

#CircleInTheCity October Series – Ft. RaeLynn

October 5, 2016/in Blog /by Stephanie Wagner

Tuesday Night, October 4^th, brings us back to The Southwest Porch in Bryant Park for Part 2 of The Grand Ole Opry’s #CircleInTheCity October Series, featuring RaeLynn.

Welcomed to the stage by Nash FM’s, Mike Allan, RaeLynn steps foot into the famous wooden circle for a #CircleThrowdown right in the heart of New York City. The “sassy, blonde, Texas girl,” Raelynn, kicked off her set with the title track of her upcoming debut studio album, Wild Horse. She follows up with “Insecure,” another track on the highly anticipated album.

The former NBC’s The Voice contestant, (#TeamBlake), takes us through personal stories and insights into each song of her set including a cover of Dolly Parton’s, “Jolene,” and her very own debut single to country radio, “God Made Girls.”

Before ending the show in the big apple with the ironically named track, “The Apple,” RaeLynn introduces us to the touching story behind her latest radio single, “Love Triangle.” The powerful ballad alludes to growing up being a kid of divorce and the difficulty of being forced to split your love.

WildHorse releases on December 2^nd, but can be pre-ordered now for immediate access to “Love Triangle” and the title track, “WildHorse”. Go on and get it and let us know what you think!

Currently, RaeLynn is on tour with her former Voice coach, Blake Shelton. The two take on Barclays Center this Friday, October 7th and Saturday, October 8th!

Missed the show? Check Out the Live Recording from the Grand Ole Opry’s Facebook Page here.

Check out more pictures from the show on our Facebook & don’t forget to follow us on instagram (@NYCOUNTRYSWAG) to catch a glimpse of our Country Music Adventures in NYC.

Want to rock a NYCountry Swag snapback? Get yours here.

Peace, Love & Country Music,
NYCountry Swag

#CircleInTheCity October Series – Ft. William Michael Morgan

October 4, 2016/in Blog /by Stephanie Wagner

The Grand Ole Opry returned to NYC Monday Night, October 3, for a special October edition of #CircleInTheCity with a #CircleThrowdown by Country newcomer, William Michael Morgan.

It’s been a rather special week for WMM, not only did his debut album, Vinyl, release this past Friday, but his single, “I Met A Girl,” hit #1 as of Monday!

The 23 Year Old, Mississippi native took the stage at The Southwest Porch in Bryant Park just after 6PM.

Morgan opened his set with the title track of his debut album, Vinyl. The song set the tone for the small, intimate show & the busy NYC Park was quickly entranced by Morgan’s deep voice and obvious southern charm.

Morgan’s nearly 60 minute set consisted of some of his own songs from the new album including; “Beer Drinker,” “Cheap Cologne”, “Lonesomeville” & “Missing”, as well as some solid covers by greats like Merle Haggard, George Strait, Hank Williams, Jr. and Mark Chesnutt.

He closed his set with his very first number one AND very first single, “I Met A Girl”. The ballad, which was co-written by Trevor Rosen of Old Dominion, Shane McAnally and Sam Hunt, spent 58 weeks at radio & 49 weeks on the Mediabase/Aircheck charts, making it the longest chart run to Number One in the chart’s history.

Giving the crowd just one more – Morgan brought the pitch back up with Kevin Fowler’s, “I Pulled A Hank Last Night,” sending the audience into a slew of feet stomping & hands clapping along to the music before ending the show.

Morgan’s distinct voice and irresistible enchantment makes him one of the most promising new acts to hit the Country Music scene.

Missed the show? Check Out the Live Recording from the Grand Ole Opry’s Facebook Page here. Don’t Miss Part 2 of the #CircleInTheCity October Series, TONIGHT! Tuesday, October 4th with RaeLynn back at Bryant Park at 6:00PM.

Check out more pictures from the show on our Facebook & don’t forget to follow us on instagram (@NYCOUNTRYSWAG) to catch a glimpse of our Country Music Adventures in NYC.

Want to rock a New York Country Swag snapback? Get yours here.

Peace, Love & Country Music,
NYCountry Swag

NYCountry Swag Presents: End of Summer Country Bash ft. Russell Dickerson

September 19, 2016/in Blog /by Stephanie Wagner

Friday, September 9th – Russell Dickerson returned to Bungalow Bar & Restaurant in Rockaway Beach, Queens, NY

for NYCountrySwag.com’s End of Summer Bash:

Rockaway Times sits down with Founder of NYCountry Swag…

September 7, 2016/in Blog /by Stephanie Wagner

Rockaway’s got NYCountry Swag. You don’t need to go down South to appreciate country music and now thanks to Stephanie Wagner, country is coming to the city.

New York Country Swag aims to bring country… >> Read More at RockawayTimes.com

#CircleInTheCity Part 1 with Parmalee

July 26, 2016/in Blog /by Stephanie Wagner

Tuesday Evening, July 26^th, The Grand Ole Opry made it’s way back to NYC for their Annual Summer Series – #CircleInTheCity.

The Series kicked off with one of Country Music’s most successful new acts: Parmalee. The group consists of four guys – Matt Thomas on Lead Vocals & Guitar, Brother – Scott Thomas on Drums, Their first Cousin, Barry Knox, on Bass Guitar and their childhood best friend, Josh McSwain on the Keys.

Parmalee opened the show with their feel good jam, “I’ll Bring The Music” from their first studio album, Feels Like Carolina. Followed by “Already Callin’ You Mine,” “Day Drinkin’,” “Close Your Eyes” and their latest single: “Roots.“

Mid set- Lead Vocalist, Matt Thomas, shares stories of the inspiration behind their dreams and credits their Father for their love of music. Next, he paints the scene for us and before we know it, we are in the back of his Dad’s pick-up truck, driving down the back roads of North Carolina…. Here the group covers hits like Bob Segar’s “Night Moves,” The Marshall Tucker Band’s, “Can’t You See,” Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” and the ever-popular, “Thinking Out Loud,” by Ed Sheeran.

Can we take a second to point out the range in vocals in these four songs? Hitting every note– High & Low, the group truly displays their talent in these chosen covers, showcasing the group’s undeniable chemistry in perfect harmonies.

The group ended the show with “Dance,” another upbeat, original song, before closing out their set with their first Number 1 Country Hit, “Carolina.”

Missed the show? Check Out the Live Recording from the Grand Ole Opry’s Facebook Page here. Don’t Miss Part 2 of the #CircleInTheCity Series, Tuesday, August 2 with Lindsay Ell back at Bryant Park at 8:30PM

Check out more pictures from the show on our Facebook & don’t forget to follow us instagram & twitter as well! to catch a glimpse of our Country Music Adventures in NYC & upcoming special event!

Want to rock a NYCountry Swag snapback? Get yours here & Tag us in your pictures to be featured on our page!

PS – Have you heard? We’re hosting a Country Boil at Belle Shoals in Williamsburg, Brooklyn this Saturday, July 30^th at 3PM! Get your tickets here. There will be seafood, frozen drinks & live country music by Lauren Davidson and Dalton & The Sheriffs!

Peace, Love & Country Music,
NYCountry Swag

Country Night on the Water by NYCountrySwag.com

June 30, 2016/in Blog /by Supportadmin

Take a look into our Country Night on the Water with Russell Dickerson at
Bungalow Bar & Restaurant in Rockaway Beach, Queens, NY on June 24th, 2016.

Nash FM’s Up Close & Country with LANco

May 19, 2016/in Blog /by Supportadmin

Our next stop on our Country Music Adventures in NYC brings us to Hill Country BBQ for Nash FM’s Up Close & Country Series. This series brings select listeners to intimate shows featuring different Country Artists. The shows generally last an hour or so and are usually held on a week day evening, or lunch break. They take place in a room downstairs of the venue, complete with a full bar, stage and standing room with a few hi-top cocktail tables.

A quick scope of the room and you will run into a few familiar faces like Radio hosts, Jesse Addy & Shila Nathan.

So, how do you get into these awesome events? It’s kind of simple. Follow Nash on social media. Sign up for their email blasts. Listen & Call in. They host several contests to win tickets and really do the best they can to take care of their biggest fans.

This particular show featured up & comers and one of Rolling Stone’s, ‘Top 10 New Country Artists You Need to Know in 2016’, LANco. The group consists of five guys, singer-lyricist Brandon Lancaster, bassist Chandler Baldwin, multi-instrumentalist Jared Hampton, drummer Tripp Howell and guitarist Eric Steedly.

A lively and energetic group, the guys kicked off the show with one of their own songs, Trouble Maker, from their first, self-titled, EP. (Download it here.) The set consisted of some of their own distinctive jams as well as a few covers, like Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ and Walk The Moon’s, ‘Shut Up & Dance With Me.’ Throughout the show, lead singer, Brandon Lancaster, consistently thanked the crowd, elaborated on the stories behind each song and shared memories of how LANco first began.

So, what does LANco stand for? Lancaster & Company, of course. The idea behind the name is to create a connection to a community built by the bonds of music. “We are LANco, and so are you,” says Lancaster.

LANco, recently signed by Sony Music Nashville, is currently working on their upcoming, full-length debut album. Keep up with the group here & be sure to hit a show when they are in town!

Check out more pictures from the show on our Facebook & don’t forget to follow us on snapchat (NYCOUNTRYSWAG) to catch a glimpse of our Country Music Adventures in NYC. While you’re at it – give us a follow on instagram & twitter as well!

Want to rock a NYCountry Swag snapback? Get yours here.

PS – Have you heard? We’re hosting Country Night at Bungalow Bar on Friday, June 24th! Get your tickets here. There will be special guests & some awesome surprises.

Peace, Love & Country Music,
NYCountry Swag

Catching Up with Levi Hummon in NYC

May 18, 2016/in Blog /by Supportadmin

If you haven’t already started hearing the name ‘Levi Hummon‘ in the Country Music World, you’re about to. The young 24-year old singer/songwriter is making quite the name for himself in the industry.

Fledging from a musically inclined family and born and raised in Nashville, TN, Levi grew up in the biz. His Grammy-Award-Winning songwriter father, Marcus Hummon, has written hits for Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw and more. While his mother, Becca Stevens, is widely known for her philanthropic organization, Thistle Farms (a residential program and social enterprise made up of woman who have survived prostitution, trafficking & addiction).

Hummon, a sweet and charismatic guy, told us all about his accelerating career when we caught up with him last night in Bryant Park at Jennifer Nettles pop-up show. He explained that he had been writing for two & a half years regularly & just released his first self-titled EP. (Download it here!) A truly humble guy, he spoke about his experience and adventures. When we went home and did some more research we realized that he also co-wrote Steven Tyler’s, ‘Red, White & You.‘ Umm… Congrats, Levi!

So, what’s Levi up to in NYC? Currently, Levi is on the road with his Ram-Powered, #GutsGloryRam Tour. The Tour kicked off in late April and hits various cities across the country until late May. This past weekend he opened for Kelsea Ballerini & Billy Currington in Binghamton, NY & spent a few days in the Big Apple visiting Radio Disney, Nash FM & of course, Times Square.

Where can you see Levi? He comes back to the area on Wednesday, June 15th for a show at Maxwell’s Tavern in Hoboken, NJ. Grab your tickets here & get a feel for him yourself. Trust us – he’s going places.

Don’t forget to follow us on instagram to keep up with all things Country Music in NYC. While you’re at it, add us on snapchat too: @NYCOUNTRYSWAG.

Want to rock a Country Swag snapback? Order yours here.

Special Thanks to Levi for the picture and the most genuine conversation. Wishing you all the luck & success in your career. See you in Hoboken!

Peace, Love & Country Music,
NYCountry Swag