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Current Giveaways:

  • GIVEAWAY: Audacy’s Leading Ladies – Kelsea Ballerini, Meghan Trainor, Elle King & More at Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, NY on 3/20/24 – Win a 4-Pack of Tickets // BUY TICKETS
  • GIVEAWAY: ‘Last Night’ a Wallen Tribute Night at Mulcahys, Long Island, NY on 3/23/24 – Win tickets + VIP table for 4 // BUY TICKETS
  • GIVEAWAY: Jackson Dean at Irving Plaza, NYC on 4/11/24 – Win 2 tickets // BUY TICKETS
  • RAFFLE: Zach Bryan at UBS Arena, 3/30/24 – Purchase Entries to WIN 2 FLOOR tickets — BUY ENTRIES (*live drawing 3/26/24 at 7PM)

 

 

Country Swag Giveaways:

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Runaway June: backstory – EP Review

Runaway June are back with their newest EP titled backstory, out today, August 20th on all streaming platforms.  Check out our full review and listen to the new music below.

We have been big fans of all-girl trio Runaway June since their inception. The ladies first hit the country music scene with the release of their debut project back in September 2018. Now, Naomi Cooke, Natalie Stovall, and Jennifer Wayne come together with three perfectly executed songs on their brand new EP backstory.

“These three songs tell the stories and paint the picture of the heartbreak, joy & freedom that comes along with growing up & moving forward. They represent the road to loving yourself and ultimately someone else,” Runaway June shares on their Instagram. It is clear that the songstresses knew exactly what messages they wanted to convey with their new project.

The first song “Forgot About That” is one of those nostalgic songs that will get suck in your head. Lyrically, the song expresses all the feelings and the memories that rush to the surface, when you run into your ex. The concept is as relatable as can be. We all know what it is like to forget the bad and only remember the good.

“Down The Middle” is a heart-achingly beautiful ballad. The song is palpable, conveying how we all feel when our heart gets broken. Runaway June do not try to sugarcoat or gloss over the heartbreak. They simply share that pain is something you have to go through in order to find your way back to love.

Finally, “T-Shirt” is the up-tempo track off the record. The song is all about female empowerment. The ladies of Runaway June take charge of their lives, refusing to go back to a relationship that no longer serves them. The songstresses express how it feels to find your voice and finally learn your worth in a relationship and in love.

backstory is the perfect reintroduction to Cooke, Stovall, and Wayne. Runaway June showcase, where they have come from with this there-song EP. We cannot wait to learn more about where they are now and where they are headed through their music in the future.

The new project comes just in time for the ladies to hit the road for their stint on Luke Bryan’s ‘Proud To Be Right Here Tour.’ For tickets and more information, head to runawayjune.com.

backstory EP Tracklist:

  1. Forgot About That (Naomi Cooke, Jennifer Wayne, Corey Crowder, Emily Shackelton)
  2. Down The Middle (Naomi Cooke, Jennifer Wayne, Hannah Mulholland, Barry Dean, Tofer Brown)
  3. T-Shirt (Naomi Cooke, Jennifer Wayne, Adam Hambrick, Mark Trussell
runaway-tune-backstory-new-ep

Runaway June’s brand new EP ‘backstory,’ is out today, August 19th.

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming Runaway June announcements and releases.

To keep up with Runaway June, follow them on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

backstory is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

Country Songs That Embody 2020

The top country songs that embody 2020…

At last, 2020 is coming to an end. Despite how crazy this year has been, country music still prevailed, bringing us new songs, records, and even livestreams to enjoy. We thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of the songs that we think personified this year.
“F2020” – Avenue Beat
“Lowkey fuck 2020 / I don’t know about everybody else / But I think that I am kinda done / Can we just get to 2021” 
Obviously, we have to start our list off with this certified jam! The ladies killed it with this viral song, personifying exactly how we all felt midway through quarantine. Of course, regardless, it’s such a bop.
“7 Summers”- Morgan Wallen
“Back then you used to love the river / And sippin’ on a mixer with me / Does it ever make you sad to know / That was seven summers ago”
This nostalgic Morgan Wallen tune is quite possibly one of his best to date. Despite the fact that it’s about a past relationship, the song brings back memories of better days and even more innocent times. It is also super catchy and Wallen’s vocals shine on the track.
“Black Like Me”- Mickey Guyton
“It’s a hard life on easy street / Just white painted picket fences far as you can see / If you think we live in the land of the free / You should try to be black like me”
One of the most poignant country songs arguable ever, Mickey Guyton spoke her truth with this powerful song. Making the country music industry and the world pay attention to the societal issues in regards to racism and disenfranchisement, we are so happy that this song was brought to life by the incredible artist.
“I Should Probably Go to Bed” – Dan + Shay
“In a crowd of strangers and lovers / Someone told me that you were coming so / I should probably go to bed”
The irony of this song just cannot be beat. Although it was not about the pandemic, we cannot help but think that we “should probably go to bed,” when we are fatigued from the whole year. Also, the song is just plain great, so it had to make our list.
“We Were Rich”- Runaway June
“I never thought that grass was greener / On the other side of our old chain link fence / Yeah, we were rich”
Runaway June’s latest single, “We Were Rich” was one of our favorites off their last project. The song reminds us to be thankful for what we have, even when times are tough. It is the perfect reminder for us during these last few months and into 2021.
“Six Feet Apart”- Luke Combs
“But there’ll be crowds and there’ll be shows / And light after dark / Someday when we aren’t six feet apart”
Luke Combs was honestly the king of quarantine, giving fans so much new music. This particular song is lyrically-genius. He reminds us all that the world will not be like this forever, a reminder that we definitely all need.
“Be A Light”- Thomas Rhett + Friends
“In a world full of hate, be a light / When you do somebody wrong, make it right”
Finally, we leave you with this impactful song by Thomas Rhett featuring Reba McEntire, Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin, and Keith Urban. This song is the encouragement we need in our world right now. Even in the darkest of times, there is always good in the world. If you cannot find any, be the light.

As we look forward to a better 2021, we want to thank each and every one of you who show us so much love throughout the year. We are looking forward to the new year and better days together!

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about upcoming releases in the coming weeks.

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on InstagramTwitter & Facebook:

Runaway June: When I Think About Christmas – EP Review

Runaway June’s first-ever holiday EP, When I Think About Christmas, is available now, October 16th on all streaming platforms. Check out our full EP Review below as we dive deeper into the collection of songs.

Releasing their first-ever holiday project, When I Think About Christmas, Runaway June are bringing the holiday spirit to fans a little early this year. The five-song EP features three well-known Christmas classics and two new original tracks. Although it’s only October, we’re more than ready to curl up next to the fire, hot chocolate in hand, with Runaway June playing on the record player.

“Christmas On The Radio,” written by Sam Hollander and Martin Johnson, is the first original on the project to make its debut and is a perfectly hand-crafted reference guide to all things Christmas. Silver bells, classic hits from Otis Redding, and Nat King Cole.

“When I Think About Christmas” is the second original and serves as the title track of the project. Written by Runaway June member Jennifer Wayne, Josh Matheny, and Tiffany Goss, the song pays homage to conventional country in the sweetest way: swing-laced instrumentation, pure joy, and your loved one.

“When I think about Christmas // I don’t worry ‘bout the cold // I’m covered up in all your kisses // C’mon baby let it snow” 

“O Holy Night” strays away from any traditional version with elegant and flawless harmonies. Of course, the holiday season just isn’t complete without the classic tune, “Let It Snow” and Runaway June’s beautiful upbeat version concludes the jolly project with glistening bells.

“Our new Christmas EP, When I Think About Christmas has all of these beautiful mountain Appalachian sounds,” said Runaway June’s Naomi Cooke, Wayne, and Natalie Stovall. “So we put our own little spin on Christmas music and we’ve got some fiddle so why not!” The trio continued to share in an Instagram post, “It’s been a long crazy year, and working on this music has felt so liberating from the madness of the world. When we think about “Christmas” we think of family, peace, rest, love and reflection, gratitude, celebration, and we wanted this music to be the soundtrack of what Christmas is to us and hopefully spread a little of that to all of you through this project.”

Singer-songwriter and fiddle player Natalie Stovall recently joined the band after Hannah Mulholland left the group. Members Naomi Cooke and Jennifer Wayne announced Stovall’s addition shortly after Mulholland announced that she was leaving, simply because she wanted to be in California with her husband and family.

Runaway June When I Think About Christmas

Runaway June’s first-ever holiday EP, When I Think About Christmas, is available now, October 16th.

When I Think About Christmas EP Tracklist:
1. Christmas On The Radio (Runaway June Original – Sam Hollander, Martin Johnson)
2. Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish)
3. O Holy Night (Traditional Holiday Song)
4. When I Think About Christmas (Runaway June Original – Jennifer Wayne, Josh Matheny, Tiffany Goss)
5. Let It Snow – (Julie Styn, Sammy Cahn)

Fans can join our Weekly Round-Up e-newsletter here, for the latest in country music and more news about future Runaway June releases.

To keep up with Runaway June, follow them on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

When I Think About Christmas EP is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

 

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. Specially selected foundations that support our heroes will receive donations from each purchase. Honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice is what we are dedicated to.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on InstagramTwitter & Facebook:

Luke Bryan Postpones 2020 Proud To Be Right Here Tour

Luke Bryan's NEW 2021 Dates

Luke Bryan’s NEW 2021 Dates

As summer shows and tours are canceled or postponed throughout the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Luke Bryan’s 2020 Proud To Be Right Here Tour with special guests Morgan Wallen, Runaway June and Caylee Hammack, becomes the latest to post an update. Unfortunately, the entire tour has been postponed to 2021.

“Out of an abundance of caution for the safety and health of our fans, the Proud To Be Right Here Tour is being moved to 2021.” Bryan states in a press release, “The health and safety of our audience, band, and crew remains of the utmost importance.”

Previously billed opening acts, Morgan Wallen, Caylee Hammack and Runaway June will remain the same next year. ​The new 2021 dates for concerts previously announced are in the photo above including some currently on sale. Previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new dates. Ticket holders will receive an e-mail in the coming days regarding refund options.

For more information visit, lukebryan.com.

To keep up with Luke Bryan, you can follow him on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

 

Luke Bryan’s Proud To Be Right Here 2020 ORIGINAL Tour Dates:
with Morgan Wallen, Runaway June & Caylee Hammack

5/28 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
6/18 Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
6/19 Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
6/20 Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
6/25 Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest at American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7/16 San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/17 Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
7/18 Sacramento, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
7/23 Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater
7/24 Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater
7/25 Portland, OR – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
7/30 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
7/31 Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
8/4 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
8/5 Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion
8/6 Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion
8/14 Bangor, ME – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
8/21 Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
8/23 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
8/28 Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
8/29 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
8/30 Charleston, SC – TBD
9/24 Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
9/25 St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
9/26 Green Bay, WI – Resch Center
10/1 Bossier City, LA – CenturyLink Center
10/2 Lafayette, LA – Cajundome
10/8 Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
10/9 Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
10/10 San Bernardino, CA – Glen Helen Amphitheater

 

 

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on InstagramTwitter & Facebook:

Luke Bryan, Morgan Wallen & More On The Proud To Be Right Here Tour

Luke Bryan Tour

 

Just announced, this summer’s tour line up is getting even hotter as Luke Bryan brings the Proud To Be Right Here Tour nationwide. Joining him on select dates is Morgan Wallen as direct support with Runaway June and Caylee Hammack. Bryan went live on Facebook to announce the summer and fall tour which kicks off on May 28th and will continue through October 10th.

The tour will stop at the most famous arena in the world, Madison Square Garden on August 4th. Watch the full Facebook live below. Bryan also teased that there are several special surprises in store for the tour including unannounced dates and other opening acts.

After the big announcement, Bryan played his current single “What She Wants Tonight” and teased a snippet of a new song “Born Here, Live Here, Die Here”. “The second I heard this next song, I knew it was something that I was going to record. It just feels like certainly growing up in my hometown. It feels like just the perfect song to kind of describe the small town, hometown life,” Bryan described of the unreleased track.

Tickets for the tour and more information can be found at www.lukebryan.com/tour

Planning on heading to a show? Check out the best Luke Bryan lyrics to use as Instagram captions here. 

Luke Bryan’s Proud To Be Here Tour Dates:
5/28 Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
6/18 Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater
6/19 Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
6/20 Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
6/25 Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest at American Family Insurance Amphitheater
7/16 San Diego, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/17 Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
7/18 Sacramento, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
7/23 Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater
7/24 Bend, OR – Les Schwab Amphitheater
7/25 Portland, OR – Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
7/30 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
7/31 Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena
8/4 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
8/5 Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion
8/6 Gilford, NH – Bank of NH Pavilion
8/14 Bangor, ME – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
8/21 Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
8/23 Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
8/28 Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
8/29 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
8/30 Charleston, SC – TBD
9/24 Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
9/25 St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
9/26 Green Bay, WI – Resch Center
10/1 Bossier City, LA – CenturyLink Center
10/2 Lafayette, LA – Cajundome
10/8 Fresno, CA – Save Mart Center
10/9 Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
10/10 San Bernardino, CA – Glen Helen Amphitheater

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on InstagramTwitter & Facebook:

Where Are They Now? Our 2017 Artist to Watch Update

Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

Here at New York Country Swag, we pride ourselves on being tastemakers, finding and championing new and up-and-coming artists and introducing our followers to the best of the best of the rising acts. Back in 2017, we named the 10 artists below in our “Artists to Watch in 2017” and we are proud to say, we know rising talent before they make it big. Check out what each of these artists has done over the past two years and what is coming up for them in 2019.

 

10. Seth Ennis- Last year, Ennis followed his debut single, “Woke Up In Nashville” and “Look at You” with the captivating “Call Your Mama,” featuring A-list superstars, Little Big Town. The singer-songwriter went on to make his TODAY Show debut with that song, taking his career to new heights. This year, Ennis also opened up for Dylan Scott on his headlining tour.

 

9. Trent Harmon- Continuing to ride the high from dropping his debut album You Got ‘Em All, Harmon released the title track to country radio last year. The song peaked in the Top 40 on Country Airplay.

 

8. High Valley- The Canadian country duo continues to take the country music world by storm. Back in April, they released their new single, “Single Man” from the forthcoming studio album. The song already reached the number two spot on the Canadian country charts. Earlier this month they released “Your Mama” and the video features real-life shots of their families. We hope 2020 brings more music from the rising duo.

 

7. Runaway June- The ladies of Runaway June have had arguably the most successful year! The trio released their debut record Blue Roses, and their radio single “Buy My Own Drinks” cracked the Top 5 on the Country charts, making history as the first song by a female trio to break into the Top 5 in a decade. Additionally, the ladies joined superstar, Carrie Underwood on her sold-out headlining tour. Check out how they expressed their excitement for their success with us here, during our interview with the girls at Taste of Country Music Festival and our most recent Swag Session below.

 

6. Brett Young- 2019 was a big year for Young, both personally and professionally. The singer-songwriter’s beautiful wife Taylor gave birth to their first child together in October, after they celebrated one year of marriage. As a recording artist, Young released his new project, The Acoustic Sessions EP, which followed the release of his Number 1 sophomore record Ticket to L.A. Fans of Young have his newly announced headlining tour to look forward to in the new year. The tour stops at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom on February 2nd.

 

5. Ryan Hurd- In 2019, Hurd focused on advancing his career as a solo artist. The talented singer-songwriter sold-out Bowery Ballroom in New York City this past January. We got to catch up with him at Taste of Country, where he shared what it’s like playing for New York fans. Hurd upped the ante by releasing both his EP Panorama and Platonic this year, including lead single “To a T.” Just recently announced, he will be headlining the Platonic Tour with Niko Moon, the tour hits NYC for a two night run on March 4th and 5th.

 

 

4. Russell Dickerson- We are proud to continue to champion the very first artist that New York Country Swag ever featured at our very first event back in January of 2016. Dickerson continues to be one of the most promising rising artists and infectious entertainers on the scene right now. This year, the singer-songwriter achieved a rare feat, as his first three singles to ever go to country radio hit the number one spot on the charts! Even better, the entertainer finally made it to the big stage at Madison Square Garden, where he opened up for Thomas Rhett on his sold-out tour and even shouted out our company, during his set!

 

3. Walker Hayes- Hayes continues to release music that he can be proud of and that his fans can always relate to. This year, he released a beautiful tribute to his wife, Laney, titled “Don’t Let Her,” headlined his own tour, and is about to release Volume 3 of 8Tracks. Check out our interview with the Swag Session alum below, as he talks about “Don’t Let Her,” and his journey.

 

2. Luke Combs- Combs has officially solidified himself as a bonafide country superstar in just a few short years. The singer recently accepted his membership into the Grand Ole Opry and released his record-breaking sophomore record What You See Is What You Get. Combs’ has had seven consecutive singles reach the top spot on County Airplay and continues to sell-out shows in arenas across the country. 2020 is shaping up to be another mega-successful year for the entertainer.

 

1. Drake White- It’s been a relatively quiet year for the White; however, that has not stopped him from bringing his unique talent to stages across the United States. The singer-songwriter captivated fans in New York City back in February when he played at Irving Plaza. He continues to be a mainstay at country music festivals as well.

Be on the lookout in the coming weeks for an update on all the artist we named to watch in 2018 and 2019, and then coming soon, our carefully-cultivated 2020 Artist to Watch list.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

+ Follow our country music adventures on InstagramTwitter & Facebook:

Carrie Underwood, Runaway June & Maddie and Tae Sell Out Madison Square Garden

Carrie Underwood MSG

Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

Last night (October 2nd) Carrie Underwood brought her Cry Pretty Tour 360 to The Most Famous Arena in the World, Madison Square Garden. Her pure talent, stamina and ability to entertain the sold-out room in its entirety was impeccable. The sheer magnitude of the stage which spanned the arena, to the giant screens, fireworks, smoke and sparkles only helped to enhance the beauty and natural singing abilities that each of the women standing on that infamous stage obtains.

In a time when fans don’t bat an eye when all-male country tours make their way across the country, it was a big deal back in 2018 when Underwood announced she would be bringing not one but two female country acts along for this epic ride. Up first to warm up the crowd was one of our favorite rising female groups, Runaway June. Hannah, Jennifer, and Naomi looked fierce taking the stage to perform songs from their debut album, Blue Roses including “Trouble With This Town”, “Head Over Heels” and their rendition of Dwight Yoakam’s “Fast As You”. “Playing Madison Square Garden is a dream come true!” Jennifer told the crowd in between songs. “Thank you Carrie Underwood for sharing your stage with us”.

Runaway June Carrie Underwood MSG

Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

The ladies closed out their opening set with one of the most poignant songs on the album, co-written by our Woman of the Month, Nicolle Galyon, “We Were Rich” and their latest top 5 smash, “Buy My Own Drinks”. The crowd immediately stood up to sing along to the female empowerment anthem that has garnered the ladies so much success in the past year.

Next up, Maddie and Tae took the stage, who are gearing up to release their next EP, Everywhere I’m Goin‘ which will be available on October 18th. Both ladies walked around the stage, singing some of their latest tracks including “Bathroom Floor”, “Friends Don’t”, and “Tourist In This Town”. Their flawless harmonies soared throughout the venue and the way they were standing on opposite sides of the arena yet still displayed perfect cohesion proved their star power.

Maddie and Tae Carrie Underwood Tour

Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

Maddie and Tae were sure to feature two of their older hits, “Fly” and closed out their set with “Girl In A Country Song”, the one that got things started for them nearly 5 years ago. They also included what they called a “country throwback” for their NYC fans by singing a cover of Diamond Rio’s “Meet Me In The Middle”.  It’s a true testament to Carrie Underwood and her team, allowing these rising female artists to take the spotlight on this huge tour, allowing them to garner even more fans as they make their way across the U.S.

Carrie Underwood MSG

Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

As the lights dimmed and giant screens dropped to the stage, deafening screams could be heard swirling around the venue. The anticipation in the room was palpable and from the moment the superstar rose up from the center of the massive stage, she was greeted with screams, cheering and was poised for two hours of entertaining some of her biggest fans. She kicked the night off with her current single, the summer bop “Southbound” and as the songstress strutted around the 360 set up, her sparkly dress glittered throughout the grand arena.

She seamlessly transitioned from hit to hit, barely taking time to slow down, take a breath or stop moving. The concept of having fans completely surround you must be daunting, but the energy level was high, fans could be found holding hands, swaying along and screaming the lyrics back to Underwood as she made her way from one side of the venue to the other. After 15 years in this business and six, well-received, critically acclaimed albums, it must be so hard to pick and choose which songs will make each tour setlist but Underwood carefully chose tracks from each of the records that she holds so near and dear to her heart.

Carrie MSG

Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

 

Between oldies like “Wasted” and “Last Name” to brand new tracks from her 2018 album Cry Pretty, “Backsliding”, “End Up With You” and “Drinking Alone”, the songstress did not miss a single note, her voice somehow sounding better live than it does on the studio recordings. She told the crowd how she is especially proud of her latest album, she did a ton of writing for this record and even tried her hand at producing, watching the song take life from the writer’s room to the studio and ultimately what is heard on country radio.

Other stand out moments included when Underwood slowed things down to do a medley of tracks she doesn’t usually perform in concert like sitting at the piano to play “See You Again” while the entire room was lit up by cell phone lights, “Temporary Home” and “Just A Dream” which she mashed with Aerosmith’s “Dream On” and in classic Carrie Underwood fashion, her endnotes would give Steven Tyler a run for his money.

Carrie Underwood MSG

Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

She welcomed back to the stage Maddie and Tae and Runaway June to honor the women of country music’s past. “There are so many reasons that this is possible and those reasons are the women that came before us, the women of country music that blazed the trails, that paved the way, that taught us how to be up here, and to sing and taught us how to write a good cheating song,” she explained. “In honor of those women, we’ve put together a little something special to honor all of the women of country music, but we’ve used a few of our ‘sheroes’. The 6 women strutted around the stage singing a medley of songs from Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton and Trisha Yearwood to Shania Twain, Faith Hill, and Martina McBride. It was an epic moment and a highlight of an already empowering evening.

 

After a brief moment, Underwood rose from under the stage once again wearing a striking pink dress under the most stunning glittering chandelier to close out the show with “Cry Pretty” and “Love Wins”. As rainbow-colored confetti rained down, the sold-out venue walked out all smiles, impressed by the incredible country music show they had just witnessed. For more exclusive clips from the show head to NYCountry Swag’s Instagram.

The Cry Pretty Tour 360 continues through the end of the month. For remaining tour dates head to carrieunderwoodofficial.com.

To keep up with Carrie Underwood follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

—————

SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

—————————-

Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
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Runaway June First Female Band or Trio To Enter the Top 10 in 14 Years

Runaway June’s “Buy My Own Drinks” has secured historical status by being the first radio single by a female country music trio in 14 years to break into the Top 10 on the Country charts. The last track was SHeDaisy’s “Don’t Worry About A Thing back in February of 2005.  The single, written by Josh Kear, Hillary Lindsey, and the trio, is the lead single from their first LP, Blue Roses, released June 28th on Wheelhouse Records.  In our most recent interview with the ladies last month, we discussed the track sitting in the top 15 and how incredible it is to watch it climb. Watch the full performance and interview below.

Hannah Mulholland, Naomi Cook and Jennifer Wayne formed Runaway June roughly four years ago and have since acquired CMT and ACM nominations, scored opening slots of major tours including Carrie Underwood and Garth Brooks, have been named CMT’s “Next Women of Country,” appeared in Billboard’s Chartbreakers, and have given show-stopping performances on the CMA Awards, CMT Awards and the ACM Awards.

Back in December of 2018, Billboard’s Country Airplay tally depicted that not one female artist or female group occupied the Top 20 for the first time since the survey lofted in January 1990. Runaway June is the first all-female group to obtain a spot in the Top 20 on the Country Airplay chart, there have been a few other females to do the same such as the Dixie Chicks, Maddie & Tae, Kelsea Ballerini, and Maren Morris but the lack of women on country radio has still not become a thing of the past. Read more about why Maren Morris taking the top spot on the charts just last week was so important.

A plethora of female country artists including Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Carrie Underwood, Ashley McBryde, and more have released critically-acclaimed records but have minimal radio play. You may hear these females, but most definitely not one after another. Blake Shelton will be played immediately after Luke Bryan, but not Kacey Musgraves following Miranda Lambert. It’s nearly impossible for females to reach that top spot on the charts without constant radio airplay.

Women in country music need to continue to lift each other up and show endless support. If you love “Buy My Own Drinks” here are six other female artists that we think are helping to turn the tides and make radio programmers pay attention.  Congrats to Runaway June on their Top 10 single!

To keep up with Runaway June, follow them on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

Blue Roses is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
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Swag Sessions Featuring Runaway June

New York Country Swag caught up with the ladies of Runaway June during one of our Live Swag Sessions. We first featured the trio last August before their EP was available and the same week that they had announced they would be joining Carrie Underwood and Maddie & Tae on tour. Today, they have released a full-length debut album, Blue Roses and they just finished the first leg of the Cry Pretty 360 Tour.

After they performed their top 13 single “Buy My Own Drinks” and the title track, “Blue Roses” the trio talked with our Managing Editor, Christina about the Carrie Underwood Tour and all about the inspiration behind the emotional title track.

Watch the full Swag Session above and take a listen to Blue Roses here. For more about Runaway June check out our very first Swag Session with the ladies from last August and our most recent interview at Taste of Country Music Festival here.

For more music from artists we’ve featured during our LIVE Swag Sessions, check out our Sessions Playlist below and give it a follow for updates.

To keep up with Runaway June, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

 

 

 

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
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