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NYCS First Impression: Ashley McBryde Releases ‘Girl Going Nowhere’

Adding to a day of great music released by badass women in country music, Ashley McBryde‘s new album Girl Going Nowhere is available everywhere today. She has spent the last 11 years in Nashville, gigging in biker bars, growing her tattoo collection and writing songs.  Now with her very first major-label debut record, McBryde is serving up some of her best songwriting, with producing genius Jay Joyce. The debut single off the project “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega” hit number one on Sirius XM The Highway’s Top 30 Countdown and is currently sitting top 35 at country radio.

She has cut her teeth in Nashville and Memphis bars, but since then has landed opening spots for Eric Church and Miranda Lambert and was also on the bill for the most recent Sirius XM Highway Finds Tour with High Valley and Adam Doleac.  During her set she told the audience  “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,” reflecting on what a ride it has been from her little town in Arkansas to the stage in the Big Apple.

The tracks are sentimental without being mushy, they all weave a story of the artist that McBryde strives to be, and the niche of the country music world that she has carved for herself. “The Jacket” is simple, about a piece of clothing that her father gave her, but the way she poetically explains the fabric and the imperfections seemingly tug at even the toughest of hearts strings.  “Livin’ Next to Leroy” doesn’t shy away from a topic that is rarely talked about, let alone sung about in country music, where beer and dirt roads are all the rage.  The track tackles meth addiction and the downfall that the main character encounters over an upbeat, soulful melody.

“Andy (I Can’t Live Without You)” is the closest thing you’ll find to a love song on the project, and McBryde says it is about one of her bandmates, not a romantic relationship.  “Radioland” takes you all the way back to a 5-year-old girl sitting in her parent’s vehicle or kitchen learning about life as it flowed out of the speakers.

Ashley McBryde

The lyrics on the project are straightforward and it is undeniable the mark that she has left on this project, co-writing the album in its entirety and recording it with the same band that she is on the road with night after night. Authenticity rings true, making Girl Going Nowhere the quintessential country album, telling stories that McBryde just knew in her soul that she needed to tell.

Grab your copy of Girl Going Nowhere on iTunes here and check out McBrydes full 2018 tour schedule below.

 

2018 Ashley McBryde Tour Dates:
4/03 Los Angeles, CA The Roxy
4/04 San Jose, CA City National Civic*
4/05 Irvine, CA Bren Events Center*
4/06 San Diego, CA The Observatory North Park*
4/11 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex*
4/17 Portland, OR Roseland Theater*
4/19 Seattle, WA Showbox SoDo*
4/20 Garden City, ID Revolution Concert House*
4/21 Spokane, WA The Knitting Factory*
4/23 Vancouver, Canada Commodore Ballroom*
4/25 Calgary, Canada MacEwan Hall*
4/26 Edmonton, Canada The Ranch Roadhouse*
4/29 Indio, CA Stagecoach Festival
6/09 Hunter, NY Taste of Country Music Festival
6/20 Oshkosh, WI Country USA
6/21 Brainerd, MN Lakes Jam
6/23 Cadott, WI Country Fest
7/15 Rhinelander, WI Hodag Country Festival
7/20 Twin Lakes, WI Country Thunder- Twin Lakes
*Denotes dates on Luke Combs’ Don’t Tempt Me With a Good Time Tour

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High Valley Highway Finds

Highway Finds Tour Hits NYC’s Gramercy Theatre

High Valley Highway Finds

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.

Adam Doleac Highway Finds

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.

Ashley McBryde Highway Finds

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.”

High Valley Highway Finds

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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