Tag Archives: music news

Music News, Press Releases

Little Big Town & Hunter Hayes to Headline Blue Ridge Music Festival on June 1 in Salem, Virginia

Little Big Town & Hunter Hayes to Headline Blue Ridge Music Festival on June 1 in Salem, Virginia
Gloriana, Nashville Star Charles Esten (Deacon Claybourne), Colt Ford, Greg Bates and More Set to Perform at Salem Stadium

General Admission Tickets Available for $35;
Limited Number of VIP Tickets Available for $99.50

BlueRidgeFestivalLogo
Nashville, Tenn. (March 4, 2013) – On Saturday, June 1, CMA and Grammy award winners Little Big Town and CMA award winner and Grammy nomineeHunter Hayes will headline the star-studded Blue Ridge Music Festival atSalem Stadium in Salem, Va. Charles Esten, Deacon Claybourne on ABC’s hit show “Nashville,” Gloriana, Colt Ford, Greg Bates, Will Hoge and Virginia’s own legendary party band, The Skip Castro Band, round out the lineup of this day-long event.

Tickets are currently on sale at the Salem Civic Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. General admission field tickets and reserved stadium seats are $35.00 plus additional fees. There will also be a very limited number of VIP tickets available for $99.50plus additional fees that will include:

  • Preferred reserved seating or general admission tickets
  • Preferred parking
  • VIP express entry
  • Exclusive invitation to festival after-party
  • Private bathrooms
  • Private cash bar (beer & wine only)
  • Complimentary boxed lunch
  • Commemorative Blue Ridge Music Festival poster
“We are very pleased to be partnering with Mike Smardak and the fine people at Outback Concerts on this event and hope to make the Blue Ridge Music Festival an annual event in Salem Stadium,” says Carey Harveycutter, Salem’s Director of Civic Facilities.

“We’re excited for this event,” states Mike Smardak, President of Outback Concerts.

Salem has played host to a number of major stars for stadium shows in the past decade. In 2005, Salem Memorial Ballpark welcomed Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson to the stage, in 2006, Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert headlined the festival and in 2011, the Zac Brown Band performed at Salem Stadium.

About Little Big Town:
Grammy-winning country group, Little Big Town–consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman and Jimi Westbrook–first entered the music scene over 13 years ago with hits such as “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home,” “Good As Gone” and Grammy-nominated single “Little White Church.” The quartets fifth studio album Tornado was released on September 11, 2012 and debuted at the top of the Billboard Country Chart where it stayed in the #1 position for five consecutive weeks. The album, produced by Jay Joyce, includes 2x platinum-selling #1 hit single “Pontoon” and current single, title-track “Tornado,” which is currently sitting at number 4 on the charts climbing. Collectively, the group has earned over 25 award show nominations and has taken home the award for ACM Top New Vocal Group, CMA Single of the Year (“Pontoon”) and a Grammy Award for Best Country Group/Duo Performance (“Pontoon”). The foursome has played in front of over 4 million people to-date and is currently headlining their Tornado Tour across the US and Canada and will join Keith Urban on tour later this summer.

About Hunter Hayes:
Hunter Hayes, three-time GRAMMY nominated artist – including nods for Best New Artist, Best Country Album and Best Country Solo Performance for “Wanted” – is a multi-talented writer, musician, producer, and performer. The celebrated multi-platinum selling artist is the only Best New Artist nominee to play every instrument, write/co-write every song and co-produce his critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. CMA’s reining New Artist of the Year and ACM New Artist of the Year nominee, Hayes has been touring and performing live for decades. He has played to sold out venues across the US and Canada on his MOST WANTED headline tour and is currently touring with Carrie Underwood on her “Blown Away Tour.” The Louisiana native has also shared the stage with Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, and Hank Williams, Jr. This multi-instrumentalist continues to garner praise from fans and critics alike with performances on CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman , Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The View and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

###
Music News, Press Releases

JASON ALDEAN AND LEE GREENWOOD SURPRISE GUESTS AT CHARLIE DANIELS’ SCHOLARSHIP FOR HEROES CONCERT AT LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY

1 Comment
JASON ALDEAN AND LEE GREENWOOD SURPRISE GUESTS AT CHARLIE DANIELS’ SCHOLARSHIP FOR HEROES CONCERT AT LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY

IOSTUDIO EVENT FEATURED CHARLIE DANIELS, RETURNING PERFORMERS CHRIS YOUNG AND THE GRASCALS, AS WELL AS KENI THOMAS AND BLEACH TO SUPPORT LIPSCOMB’S YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM

Nashville, TN (March 6, 2013) – The legendary Charlie Daniels was surprised while hosting a special free concert last night to support Lipscomb University’s Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program as part of the Charlie Daniels’ Scholarship for Heroes event.  Fellow patriots and country stars, the multi-platinum, multi-award winning chart-topper Jason Aldean and the GRAMMY® award-winning Lee Greenwood walked unannounced onto the stage to offer their support for our military.  The concert also featured return performances by Chris Young and The Grascals, as well as Keni Thomas, Bleach and Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Sparky Matejka, and included a presentation with Mary Byers, President of Gold Star Mothers, Inc., an organization of mothers who have lost sons or daughters while in service of their country.
“The motto for the USO is ‘until they all come home.’ Last night’s event at Lipscomb addressed the fact that many did not come home,” explained Greenwood.  “I’m proud to have been a part of this event and congratulate my friend Charlie Daniels for being a leader in our Nashville community.”

Daniels, a staunch supporter of the military, was pleased with the event and the support by the community.  Corporate sponsors and donors included iostudio, Humana, Waltrip Brothers’ Charity Championship, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Twice Daily, Bridgestone, Chase, Operation Homefront, Clear Channel, Dollywood, Shofner Vision Center, Trauger & Tuke, Glover Group Entertainment, SunTrust and DSI.

“We have so many heroes whose needs fly below our radar,” said Daniels. “This shouldn’t be happening and this event is helping to make sure it doesn’t.”

For more information on Lipscomb University’s Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program, call 615-966-5176 or visit lipscomb.edu/campuslife/veterans.

ABOUT THE FEDERAL YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM:
In 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill was established as an education benefit program for individuals who served on active duty after Sept. 11, 2001. It is administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Based on a veteran’s length of service, he or she may be eligible to receive the cost of tuition and fees, not to exceed the most expensive in-state institution of higher education.

ABOUT LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY’S YELLOW RIBBON ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM:
For veterans who qualify for 100 percent of the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, Lipscomb University has committed to allocate the necessary funds to allow them to earn a tuition-free undergraduate degree through the Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program. The university also offers qualifying student veterans a variety of graduate degrees tuition-free or at a greatly reduced tuition rate. Lipscomb University officials believe strongly in helping open doors for student veterans through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Since its inception in fall 2009, Lipscomb’s Yellow Ribbon Program has grown from 20 original participants to more than 150 veterans enrolled this spring. Students have performed well academically with 71 percent of currently enrolled student veterans maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA, with 13 percent of those maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA.  “Our veterans know that freedom isn’t free, but we think their education should be. At Lipscomb we have a very unique opportunity to help open doors for our veterans through higher education,” said Jim Humphrey, Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Director of Veterans Services at Lipscomb.

For more information about Lipscomb University’s Yellow Ribbon Enhancement Program, call 615-966-5176 or visit veterans.lipscomb.edu.

###
Music News, Press Releases

JEFFREY OSBORNE DEBUTS AT #1 ON BILLBOARD’S CURRENT CONTEMPORARY JAZZ CHART WITH A TIME FOR LOVE

JEFFREY OSBORNE DEBUTS AT #1 ON BILLBOARD’S CURRENT CONTEMPORARY JAZZ CHART  WITH A TIME FOR LOVE

Chart-Topping Album A Collection of Jazz Standards, Produced by George Duke

JeffreyOsborne_cvr_lrg

Fairfax, VA (February 12, 2013) — Jeffrey Osborne’s newest album, A Time For Love (released January 29th on SRR Records), lands at #1 on Billboard magazine’s Current Contemporary Jazz Chart in its first week of release.  Recorded with producer George Duke (who also plays keyboards), the collection of standards features jazz greats Christian McBride, John Roberts on drums, saxophonists Everette Harp and Kamasi Washington, guitarist Paul Jackson, trumpeters Rick Braun and Walt Fowler, and a guest appearance by Chaka Khan, who lends her vocals to “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”

On Valentine’s Day, Osborne will be the guest DJ for the SiriusXM program “Watercolors” (rebroadcasting on February 16th and 18th), playing songs from A Time For Love as well as other romantic favorites from his personal music collection.  On February 16th, A Time For Love will be the subject of a special on Centric TV’s “As Written.”  Osborne appeared on the Tavis Smiley television show on February 7th and will stop by Smiley’s national radio show in the coming days.  Over the next few weeks, he will tape a performance for the international Voice of America radio network, appear on the SirusXM show “Siriusly Sinatra,” and will perform on both the WGN television network’s Mid-Day News and national morning television show The Daily Buzz.  The singer is also the co-host of a one-hour world premiere radio special for his new album with popular DJ Rich Miller, currently available to stations nationwide via The Hot Seat / Nashville.

# # #
Music News, Press Releases

JEFFREY OSBORNE RELEASES A TIME FOR LOVE WITH A MULTI-CITY PROMOTIONAL TOUR INCLUDING CENTRIC SPECIAL, TELEVISION APPEARANCES AND ONE-HOUR RADIO SHOW

  
JEFFREY OSBORNE RELEASES A TIME FOR LOVE WITH A MULTI-CITY PROMOTIONAL TOUR INCLUDING CENTRIC SPECIAL, TELEVISION APPEARANCES AND ONE-HOUR RADIO SHOW

SETS SAIL ON SOUL TRAIN CRUISE FEBRUARY 17th

JeffreyOsborne_cvr_lrgFairfax, VA (January 28, 2013) – Jeffrey Osborne kicks off the release of his new album, A Time For Love (due out on SRR Records on January 29, 2013) with a series of high profile promotional  appearances that will take him to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington DC.  Throughout February and March, Osborne will be seen on Live From The Couch (airing on CBS New York affiliate WNLY), Tavis Smiley (both television and radio), Voice of America, nationally syndicated morning TV show The Daily Buzz, XM/Sirius, WGN-TV’s national show Mid-Day News, and many others. He will also be the subject of an “As Written” special airing on Centric TV (a division on BET) on February 16th. In between promotional stops, Osborne will perform concerts during a national tour that includes Milwaukee, Washington D.C., Dallas, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans and even the high seas when Jeffrey sets sail aboard the inaugural Soul Train Cruise on February 17th.  Osborne will also dominate the radio airwaves with an hour-long special on A Time For Love, created exclusively for Premiere Radio Networks and hosted by nationally syndicated radio personality Rich Miller.  The program is currently airing on a combination of terrestrial and digital radio stations.A Time For Love brings Osborne together with legendary producer George Duke again after the pair ruled the charts in the ‘80s with Jeffrey’s first three solo albums.  The result is a collection of beloved jazz standards updated with brilliant arrangements and Osborne’s signature baritone. “This album is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he explains.  “I was the youngest of 12 kids in my family, so when I was growing up I had to wait my turn to listen to what I wanted to listen to.  All of my brothers and sisters were into Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, Gloria Lynne, Della Reese, Joe Williams and Billy Eckstine so I got to hear all of that before I would put on my little doo wop music, Motown and stuff.  Plus my father was a great trumpet player and he would listen to Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard and Clifford Brown and I got a chance to learn about all these great trumpet players back then.  So despite my love for Motown and doo wop, I really grew up listening to jazz and standards.”

A Time For Love also features a trio of top jazz musicians Christian McBride on bass, John Roberts on drums and Duke himself on keyboards.  Saxophonists Everette Harp, Kamasi Washington, guitarist Paul Jackson, and Rick Braun on trumpet make special guest appearances.  And the incomparable Chaka Khan lends her vocals to the album’s sassy rendition of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”

# # #