On Saturday, December 26, 2015, Loretta’s Last Call welcomes Country Girls In The City, featuring performances by Krista Angelucci, Jilly Martin, Emily Hodges, Brianna Grace, Jess Dondero, Caroline Gray, Liv, Haley Chiocariello, Gabrielle Boyle, Kristen Merlin and Jenny Tolman.
New England to Nashville (NETN), a group of over 700 songwriters and artists with New England ties, is putting on the event along with it’s two sponsors/promotional partners, New England Country Music (NECM) and WLKB Country 102.5.
The event is a benefit for Coley’s Wish. Coley Candelario is a 19 year old bright, young man, who is currently fighting a medical battle for which there is no known cure- a condition called Hypo Plastic Left Heart Syndrome. This is a form of congenital heart disease where the left ventricle does not develop.
New England to Nashville’s ‘Country Girls’ all grew up or have lived in New England. Krista Angelucci, originally from Billerica, MA and currently living in Nashville, has performed the National Anthem at various charity and sporting events, including the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots and has recently shared the stage with artists including Hunter Hayes and Kip Moore. At the 2013 Limelight Music Magazine Awards, Krista received the Video of the Year award for her song ‘C R E E P’ and was also nominated for Country Act of the Year at the 2013 New England Music Awards.
Jilly Martin from Chelmsford, MA will be performing and co-hosting the Country Girls in the City concert on December 27. Jilly has performed at some of the biggest music events in Boston in 2014, including singing with the Boston Pops and the Beach Boys at the July Fireworks Spectacular at the Esplanade. Jilly’s talents have landed her performances opening for country superstars The Band Perry, Josh Turner and Eric Church.
The concert will feature all the girls playing original songs in Nashville round style as well as full band rock, pop, and of course country covers of their favorite songs.
Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
Kristen Merlin
Tie to New England: Hanson, MA
Quick Bio:Kristen Merlin is an up and coming artist from Boston, MA. She has been taking the Northeast by storm with her energetic performances and powerhouse vocals. She was on Season 6 of NBC’s Emmy award-winning show The Voice and came in fourth overall. Her debut EP, ‘Boomerang,‘ released and it soared to #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart.
Ultimate music goal: Sell out arena tours 🙂
Favorite Christmas song: ‘All I Want For Christmas is You’ – Mariah
Favorite country artist(s): Reba McEntire
What you’re looking forward to about the event: “Having all of the crazy good talent in one room!”
Emily Hodges
Tie to New England: Born and raised in Plymouth, MA.
Quick Bio: 15-year-old singer/songwriter. She has had the opportunity to open for country artist Michael Ray this year at the Charlie Horse and is continuing to pursue her music career through high school and is happy to participate all of the NETN events in the area. She is currently working on content for her first EP.
Ultimate music goal: To have a portfolio of her own music to share her experiences, the places she goes, and the people that she meets along the way.
Favorite Christmas song: ‘Baby it’s Cold Outside’
Favorite country artist(s): Kacey Musgraves / Miranda Lambert
What you’re looking forward to about the event: “To play my full band set and share my new originals with my friends and family.”
Liv
Tie to New England: Westwood, MA with a summer house in Falmouth, MA.
Quick Bio: As a 22 year old graduate from Belmont University, Liv graduated with a degree in Songwriting with a minor in Music Business. She’s now a professional songwriter and artist living in Nashville, TN. On top of that, she works at King Pen Music and Rascal Flatts Entertainment on Music Row where she works in publishing, A&R, and artist management. Liv is known for strong country/pop vocals as well as her undeniable stage presence where every one of her shows feels like a party.
Ultimate music goal: To be a successful recording artist who figures out the Krabby Patty secret formula.
Favorite Christmas song: ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’
Favorite country artist(s): Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts
What you’re looking forward to about the event: “Raising money for a great cause. Also anytime I get to come back to Boston to perform for friends and family is exciting.”
Jenny Tolman
Tie to New England: “I was born and raised in Nashville, but my dad is from Acton, MA. So, all of my family on my dad’s side is still up there.”
Quick Bio: Soft-spoken in conversation, 20-year-old Jenny Tolman is bold and courageous behind a guitar, able to make sense of life’s challenges by putting them under a verbal microscope. Her voice mixes the smokiness of Shelby Lynne with the accessibility of your next-door neighbor. Her self-written stories ring true for just about anyone who hears them.
Ultimate music goal: “My goal with my music is to bring healing to people. I see and hear of so many people hurting in some way, everyday. If I can empathize with that hurt so that they don’t feel alone, or make them laugh and have fun to forget about whatever it is that is bringing them down, I believe I am doing my job.”
Favorite Christmas song: ‘Mary Did You Know’ – “I absolutely love the melody to this song. It gives me chills every time I hear it!”
Favorite country artist(s): Lee Ann Womack, Brandy Clark, Ashley Monroe- “Anyone who has that timeless, classic feel with incredibly honest lyrics.”
What you’re looking forward to about the event: “I’m looking forward to having a new crowd to play to in Boston and hearing all of the other girls, because I usually don’t get to see them very often!”
Gabrielle Boyle
Quick Bio: Gabrielle Boyle is a singer/songwriter from Hingham, MA. She graduated from Endicott College in 2013 where she majored in creative writing, minored in music, and played four years of varsity lacrosse. Since then, Gabrielle has been playing venues in Boston and the South Shore. In the past five months, she has opened for both Parmalee and David Nail. She is looking forward to moving to Nashville in January where she will be interning at Thirty Tigers.
Tie to New England: Hingham, MA.
Ultimate music goal: “I guess the ultimate goal is to hear a song I wrote on the radio. But more importantly, I’d like to write the kind of song that people turn on when they want to feel better.”
Favorite Christmas song: ‘Little Drummer Boy’
Favorite country artist(s): Shania Twain and Phil Vassar
What you’re looking forward to about the event: “This is my first time playing at this event! I am excited because it is the last time I play in Boston before I move to Nashville, and a ton of my family and friends are coming! All of these girls are incredibly talented, and I’m proud to be singing with them. It’s going to be a blast!”
Haley Chic
Tie to New England: Arlington, Mass.
Quick Bio: Haley is a 21 year old singer-songwriter. Currently in her senior year at Berklee College of Music, she spends much of her free time performing around Boston and writing music with other artists. She is releasing her EP, ‘18 Degrees,’ on iTunes and Spotify on January 9, 2016.
Favorite Christmas song: ‘Happy Christmas (War is Over)’ by John Lennon
Favorite country artist(s): Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Jason Aldean
What you’re looking forward to about the event: “I’m so excited to be a part of a show with so many talented people who are also my friends! I also can’t wait to sing with a band because I don’t get to do that often.”
Molly Mae
Tie to New England: Grew up in Woburn, Massachusetts.
Quick Bio: Molly is a 21 year old singer/songwriter from Boston, MA. Molly grew up listening to country music, so her music is strongly rooted in country and folk, and is delivered with a soulful tone. She is a full time student at Berklee College of Music studying music therapy.
Ultimate music goal: “My ultimate music goal is to be surrounded by music my whole life, whether it be my own career as a music therapist or as a writer and performer. I’m hoping for a little bit of both.”
Favorite Christmas song: “My favorite Christmas song is ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ because my nana, my sister, and I used to do a dance to it every time we decorated the tree.”
Favorite country artist(s): “My favorite country artists are Chris Stapleton and Carrie Underwood. I love their presence as performers and the soul they put into their music.”
What you’re looking forward to about the event: “I’m excited most about seeing everyone else perform! Some of these ladies are my favorite performers, and a few I have never heard so I am looking forward to hearing them!”
Jilly Martin
Quick Bio: Jilly Martin, is a singer/songwriter from Chelmsford, MA and has been splitting time between New England and Nashville. Jilly has performed at some of the biggest events in Boston including opening the show for the Boston Pops and the Beach Boys at the 2014 July Fireworks Spectacular at the Esplanade and has been the supporting act for artists like Miranda Lambert and Loretta Lynn. Recently she added The Band Perry, Eric Paslay and Keith Urban to that list with Ryan Brooks Kelly. The duo performed at the 1st Annual New England Country Music Festival presented by The Harbor Agency in July of 2015.
Tie to New England: Chelmsford, MA.
Ultimate music goal: “I always want to positively influence people with my music and have everyone leave a show happy, but winning a Grammy couldn’t hurt either!”
Favorite Christmas song: ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’
Favorite country artist(s): Miranda Lambert and Loretta Lynn.
What you’re looking forward to about the event: “Last years show was a blast, and with this line up this year is sure to be another hit! And since it’s for such a great cause it just adds that much more excitement to it!”
Jess Dondero
Bio: ‘A timeless voice from the South Shore’ best describes this rising singer/songwriter. Jess Dondero was born and raised in a small coastal town south of Boston, Massachusetts. She began writing songs when she was 19 years old when she taught herself guitar, then slowly began performing at local open mic nights. Falling in love with writing and crafting songs, Jess decided to follow her instincts and pursue her passion in Nashville, Tennessee. Jess is currently co-writing in music city with top writers and gaining much recognition on her craft. Jess is set to release her first radio single on iTunes and Spotify in February 2015.
Tie to New England: “I was born and raised on the south shore in Kingston, MA.”
Ultimate Music Goal: “To get a number one song cut and get a publishing deal that allows me to travel and see the world while creating and writing for myself and for other artists.”
Favorite Christmas Song: ‘Believe’ by Josh Groban
Favorite Country Artists: Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Jessi Alexander, and Sam Hunt.
What I am looking forward to at the event: “Seeing friends and family and being able to share what I have been working on in Nashville with Boston.”
Krista Angelucci
Bio: Growing up in Billerica, MA, pop-country artist Krista Angelucci has been out pursuing her passion for music most of her life. With the strong support of her family, friends, and fans she has been able to build her skills as both a writer and performer. She has performed the national anthem at various charity and sporting events, including the Boston Celtics, New England Patriots, NASCAR, and the New England Revolution. Krista has opened for and shared the stage with artists such as Phil Vassar, Chuck Wicks, Lee Brice, Jo Dee Messina, Hunter Hayes, Chris Cagle, Jerrod Niemann and Kip Moore. It has been a few years now since Krista’s debut EP ‘Like it or Not‘ was released back in 2012. She has since made the move to Nashville. After spending some time growing as a writer and artist Krista is she ready to release her new EP in 2016.
“I am really excited for this new music. I think it reflects well how much I have grown and learned since the release of ‘Like it or Not.” I would describe the music as classy and fun with an edge. I like to keep it that way.” – Krista
Tie to New England: Grew up in Billerica MA.
Ultimate music Goal: “Always strive for the top! To have a few number ones under my belt wouldn’t be so bad… But to have a career doing what I love and being able to put into others lives while doing it, is fulfilling in itself.“
Favorite Christmas song: ‘Breath of Heaven’
Favorite Country artist(s): “Grew up listening to Amy Grant (I know she is not exactly country, but she’ll always be my number one influence).“
What I am looking forward to about the event: “I am excited to be part of the Country Girls in the City event again this year! It’s a cool thing to get together with a lot of other NE artists and share the stage with them. It will be a really fun night full of great music and for a really great cause!“
Caroline Gray
Tie to New England: Chelmsford, MA
Quick Bio: Caroline Gray is a singer/songwriter.
Ultimate music goal: To move to Nashville and be a happy and successful artist.
Favorite Christmas song: ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’
Favorite country artist(s): Cam, Kelsea Ballerini, Dolly Parton,
What you’re looking forward to about the event: “Being part of an amazing cause with amazing musicians.”
Brianna Grace
Quick Bio: Brianna Grace has a plan. Growing up in New England, she strays away from the expected with a love for country music brought upon by memories of riding in her Dad’s truck blasting George Straight and Alan Jackson. At the age of 5, she would sneak into storage just to pull out her Father’s old acoustic guitar, and by the age of nine performed in front of hundreds. With a work ethic, drive, and passion well beyond her years, she has accomplished performances for major organizations, as well as shows throughout multiple states and opening for artists such as Scotty McCreery and Jonathan Edwards. With appearances on Cat Country 98.1, WATD, and WCIB she is no stranger to radio. In March of 2013, she was invited to Nashville to perform at the Rally Rumble, where she was interviewed by WKRN-TV Nashville. Her stage presence, dedication, and friendly personality earned her the title of Female Vocalist of the Year at the 2014 Limelight Music Awards. She’s bringing a new edge to a classic style.
Tie to New England: Born and raised in Middleborough, MA.
Ultimate music goal: Be able to share my music and positively impact those who listen in some way.
Favorite Christmas song: ‘Carol of the Bells’ – Trans Siberian Orchestra.
Favorite country artist(s): Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Martina McBride.
What you’re looking forward to about the event: “Sharing/promoting original music and independent artists!“
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Elle Wine
Tie to New England: “Moved to Newburyport, MA at age 8 and been in Mass. ever since.”
Quick Bio: Elle Wine is a singer/songwriter from Newburyport, MA. She previously sang and performed in the pop/R&B 4 girl group JADA signed to Universal Motown and was able to perform and work with some of the industries top writers, producers and artists. Now pursuing her love of country music, she is thrilled to have had the opportunities she has already been able to be a part of.
Ultimate music goal: To tour the world.
Favorite Christmas song: ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.’
Favorite country artist(s): Miranda Lambert
What you’re looking forward to about the event: “I am looking forward to be part of such great cause and to be amongst other amazing local female artists.”