Tag Archives: New England Country Music

Keep Your Eyes on the Restless Road

The rising trio, Restless Road is hitting the road this summer as they embark on their Bar Friends Tour. NECM caught up with the group, made up of Garrett Nichols, Colton Pack, and Zack Beeke, ahead of their Boston, MA stop on May 16th.

It has been quite the journey for the band so far. Zach recalled the group’s creation, dating back about nine years when Colton and Zack appeared on the TV show, The X Factor. “We auditioned individually and about halfway through the show we decided to join forces.” A fun fact is that Kane Brown also appeared on that season of The X Factor and was originally slated to be the third member of the group. Brown decided the group wasn’t for him and went in his own direction, but their stories would cross paths down the road. 

Restless Road ultimately landed in fourth place on the show. “About a year or so after the show was over we were looking for a brand new member. We kind of took to the internet looking at people on YouTube and the app called Vine. We found some great videos that Garrett had posted and we hit him up in the DM and asked him to join Restless Road. The band just wouldn’t be the same without him and it’s been kicking ever since.”

Fast forward to 2019 when Kane Brown reached out to Colton after seeing a cover Pack posted of ‘Good as You’. “Kane texted me and told me about him starting a label, and we started talking and we wanted to get the band back together,” Pack shared. Not only did Kane want the trio on his new label, he wanted them on his tour, too. “It was within six months of when we had gotten back together that we were playing at the Staples Center – pretty insane!” 

Things were going seemingly well for the trio, but after five or six shows, they hit a roadblock – the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to touring just as Restless Road was getting fired up. The band used the time off to post tons of content to social media, Garrett explained. “We got a lot of fans over that time and connected with new people and now it’s really starting to show when we’re back on the road.”

Last summer, the group got to finish up the tour with Kane. “It really helped us get our name out there and a lot of people got to see us and we got to kind of show what we’re all about. It really has helped us carry over into this next season that we’re in right now. We’re going on our first ever headlining tour and we have a lot of people coming back to our show who were there for Kane’s show. It’s great because we have over twice as much music at our show than during Kane’s and we just got to learn so much from Kane being on tour,” Zack said.

The guys started the tour in April and already have a handful of shows under their belt, including a sold-out show in Nashville. Garrett said the group has been blown away by the support thus far. “We couldn’t ask for anything better! We had so many people supporting us online these past few years and we’re really starting to meet everyone.” He added, “It was kind of a great moment to see all the work that we put in come together, and yeah, it was incredible!”

As mentioned earlier, Restless Road will be playing an all-ages show in Boston on May 16th at the Sinclair. The group can’t wait to get back up to New England. Colton shares the sentiment that many of us New Englanders have, “The people there were absolutely incredible, for one. We’re really excited! This has honestly been one of the best selling shows, I mean, from as soon as we started putting tickets on sale, this one has gone really really fast. I think we’re really excited because that just shows us that fans are really eager to come out to the show.” But that’s not all, “My gosh, you CANNOT forget the food! I’m ready to come back to Boston and get a lobster roll,” he laughed. 

It’s obvious that the future is bright for this band. And even though they’ve already checked off so many things on their bucket list – from their Opry debut to playing on The Bachelor – they have so much to look forward to. The road might be restless, filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, but as they like to say, “It’s all about just hanging on and enjoying the ride… No matter what life brings you, just keep your eyes on the road and keep going.”

To stay up to date with Restless Road, you can follow them on Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Florida Georgia Line: ‘I Love My Country’ Single Review

If you’re looking for some new tunes to help get you through this difficult time, Florida Georgia Line has just the song for you. Written by Corey Crowder, Ernest K Smith, and Charlie Handsome, ‘I Love My Country’ has that vintage FGL party vibe. As the lyrics suggest, this is one of those songs that you have to turn up loud. Whether you’re tailgating in a parking lot or relaxing at home, the rockin’, banjo-infused melody will have you bopping along to the beat. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley hoped that this new single would bring some joy to their fans in the midst of the current pandemic, and it certainly does just that.  

‘I Love My Country’ is an ode to life in the countryside and loving country music. The lyrics detail the simpler, more laid-back aspects that come along with living in the country, such as hunting and fishing and a barbecue, steak fries, styrofoam plate date night. Tyler and BK go on to sing about how they like other genres of music but country is their favorite. They love driving around town with the windows down and the music up. The fun, light-hearted nature of this song is reminiscent of many of the first big hits that helped launch FGL’s career. The duo have been in the studio working on their next album, and if this first single is any indication of what’s to come, we can’t wait to hear the rest of it.

Favorite lyrics: Six strings and fiddles, whiskey from Kentucky, We keep it funky we like how it sounds, Monday to Sunday, yeah, I love my country

You can purchase ‘I Love My Country’ here.

Kenny Chesney: ‘Here and Now’ Album Review

Kenny Chesney’s nineteenth studio album ‘Here and Now,’ was released on May 1st – perfect timing with summer on it’s way! With as many records as Chesney, one may ask how he continues to produce great music. For ‘Here and Now,’ Kenny brought together his favorite writers to all have a hand in this record. Out of the 12 songs, only two were co-penned by Chesney. Instead, he let his writers take the reins to create top-notch work for this very personal record. On his Instagram Chesney wrote: “When I looked at these songs, they were polaroids from the parking lots, back home, the islands, my friends’ lives. Every single song is someone I know or someone you know. And right now, our friends are absolutely the most precious thing we have.”

1) ‘We Do’ Written by Kenny Chesney, Craig Wiseman, Scooter Carusoe and David Garcia

Impression: Kenny opens things up with a tribute to his loyal fan-base of No Shoes Nation. ‘We Do’ has a sweet sounding melody with a harder hitting chorus that Chesney sings directly towards his fans – touching upon the tailgates, people gathering far and wide, and traveling city to city. This single is definitely catchy, and members of No Shoes Nation will feel the love from their leader. 

Favorite Lyrics: No matter where it goes, you know we’re here for the ride. Who gets to roll like we do?

2) ‘Here and Now’ Written by David Lee Murphy, David Garcia & Craig Wiseman

Impression: The title track holds people accountable for not living in the present. Chesney sings the poignant lines “everybody’s waiting, but they’re waiting on what? Better get to living, because all we’ve got is here and now.” It’s the perfect song that emphasizes making the most out of doing nothing. 

Favorite Lyrics: I must’ve sat on a dozen islands, watched the sun sink into the sea. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt and hat…

3) ‘Everyone She Knows’ Written by Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne

Impression: Kenny does it again with his pure storytelling on ‘Everyone She Knows.’ This song will resonate with women in a way they didn’t think possible – especially since it is written and performed by men. It tells the common tale of women comparing their lives to everyone they know and shaming themselves for not being like them. It’s classic Kenny with a twist. “Everyone She Knows’ is blissfully sweet. 

Favorite Lyrics: She’s bored with all the boys and the men are too damn old. She’s sick of summer love, but the winter’s just too cold…

4.) ‘Wasted’ Written by David Lee Murphy, Bobby Hamrick and James Slater

Impression: ‘Wasted’ gives off classic Kenny beach vibes, with some resemblance of his hit ‘Pirate Flag.’ This song is an ode to being thankful for what you have, when you have it. Money cannot buy happiness, and Kenny highlights that with these subtle lyrics.

Favorite Lyrics: I was going nonstop ’til I squeezed every drop of that good time top shelf, sweet life that I tasted. And to tell you the truth, the rest, I just wasted.

5) ‘Knowing You’ Written by Brett James, Adam James and Kat Higgins

Impression: Who does a song filled with nostalgia better than Kenny Chesney? ‘Knowing You’ is filled to the brim with reflection of the past. Chesney said “When I heard this song, it knocked me out. It’s such a classic kind of country song you don’t hear anymore and it’s so pure.” Kenny sings it passionately, yet delicately. In a way, it mimics his older song ‘You Save Me’ with its melody and tone.

Favorite Lyrics: Knowing you, you probably got your toes in the sand, at a bar on a beach in the sun somewhere. Knowing you, you got something cold in your hand, chatting up a stranger without a care

6) ‘Heartbreakers’ Written by Zach Crowell, JT Harding and Josh Osborne

Impression: ‘Heartbreakers’ brings out the classic Kenny feel of jammin’ guitars and an upbeat melody. This single reminisces on the people that were known as heartbreakers and how they were idolized growing up. Kenny wants to know, where are they now?

Favorite Lyrics: You were lucky just to know ’em. If you got lucky, you got broken. You were never gonna hold ’em…

7) ‘Someone to Fix’ Written by Scooter Carusoe and Jon Nite

Impression: ‘Someone to Fix’ is extremely relatable for many. This ballad is simple and wholesome. Chesney’s voice carries the listener through the lyrics and melody. Soft in nature, but truthful in its approach. ‘Someone to Fix’ is a favorite from this album. 

Favorite Lyrics: Broken hearts leave hearts broken. Loving me is so hard, I know it. Why you took me on, I’ll never understand…

8) ‘Happy Does’ Written by Brad Clawson, Jamie Paulin, Brock Berryhill and Greylan James

Impression: Three words to describe this song: island-esque, catchy, and happy. As the title states, this song embodies what it means to be smiling, despite things being far from ideal. ‘Happy Does’ fits perfectly into Kenny’s repertoire. 

Favorite Lyrics: Laugh and live with a half-full cup. When it’s all black clouds, find the sun, ’cause happy is as happy does.

9) ‘Tip of My Tongue’ Written by Kenny Chesney, Ross Copperman and Ed Sheeran

Impression: Chesney takes a different approach with this single, as ‘Tip of My Tongue’ is more contemporary than his usual stuff. This song is all about connection, and its dreamy lyrics paints the story of celebrating sensuality. ‘Tip of My Tongue’ was the first single released off the album back in July 2019. 

Favorite Lyrics: I wanna love you ’til my days are done. I wanna tell you that I think that you’re the one. Oh girl, you know when it’s all said and done, everything about you’s on the tip of my tongue.

10) ‘You Don’t Get To’ Written by Dustin Christensen, Josh Kerr and Barry Dean

Impression: A slow and sensual melody accompanies powerful and pain-filled lyrics. ‘You Don’t Get To’ is prominent with hurt and ridden with damage. The lyrics display taking a stand against it and finding your inner peace again. 

Favorite Lyrics: Did you hear that I was happy? You just had to mess it up. Or is it just some phase you’re always going through? To want what you can’t have and leave it when you do…

11) ‘Beautiful World’ Written by David Lee Murphy, Tony Lane and Tom Douglas

Impression: ‘Beautiful World’ expresses the amazement in everything surrounding us. In this world we are small, and that can be beautiful, scary, and profound. The lyrics pay homage to the world and respect the things more powerful than us. The melody is airy and it has tropical tones underlying. 

Favorite Lyrics: It’s the blue sky days you don’t wanna miss. Jukebox dances and girls to kiss, keeps us all living for nights like this. It’s a big old beautiful world.

12) ‘Guys Named Captain’ Written by James Slater

Impression: To close the album, Kenny sings a ballad about all of the Captains he has met along the way. Chesney said this song is about the guys where “those things [the road or the water] take them away, bring them back, but mostly allow them to be free. This song feels like it distills their soul into just a few lines…”

Favorite Lyrics: Buccaneers with nothing to fear. He’ll go down with the ship, last man standin,’ guys named Captain.

Gear up this album for your summer playlists, because the King of Summer gave us more tunes to get us through our days! Take the time to really sink into this album, as Chesney shows us a side of him that we don’t always get to see. You can listen to ‘Here and Now’ on Spotify, iTunes, and more platforms here.

Jordan Davis: ‘Detours’ Single Review

Jordan Davis – one of the many talented artists to bless the country music scene. On Friday March 27th, Davis released a personal and reflective single ‘Detours.’ A single that he called “… one of my favorite songs I have ever written…”

Let’s flashback to 2017, first. We had the honor of covering an Eli Young Band concert at the House Of Blues in Boston. The opener for EYB was Louisiana native, Jacob Davis (yes, you read that correctly). Jacob Davis is none other than Jordan Davis’ twin brother. As Jacob’s set unfolded, he introduced a new, not yet recorded single called ‘Detours.’ As soon as the first chord hit, the crowd was mesmerized. People swayed back and forth, recording the single with their phones so that they could listen to it before it was officially released. When the song ended, Jacob confided in the crowd by saying “that song is my life. I love it so much, man. We’re in the studio with it right now and it should be out soon!” 

Fast forward to 2020 and we finally have this amazing single, with Jordan being the one to cut it! Jacob performed this song before Jordan came to fame from his debut album, ‘Home State.‘ However, what makes ‘Detours’ so special is the story behind it – for each of the brothers, and listeners will be able to resonate with the message within the lyrics, too. 

‘Detours’ is a song that celebrates all the wrong paths life takes you down on the way to finding where you’re supposed to be. The song was co-penned by Jordan, Jacob Davis and Dave Turnbull. With his daughter and wife in mind, Jordan wrote the song from the perspective of being thankful for all the different directions life took him in. What seemed like obstacles at the time, were actually changes that made him the man he is today. 

Soft guitars open the song with Davis’ voice sneaking through – blissful and content. He begins to explain how his life was growing up and where his choices took him, which ultimately led him to his wife, Kristen. Davis sings that she “was an everything but the wings angel outta nowhere” and that “she’s the dotted lines and every sign that led me straight to Jesus.” After learning from his past mistakes, he states that he’s finally on the right road now.

Melodic and sweet, ‘Detours’ fits in perfectly with Davis’ sound. He delivers the story behind the music soulfully and convinces the listeners of how grateful he is for all of the detours that led him to where he is today. It’s been a long three years waiting for this single to be released, but we’re ecstatic that it’s finally out. 

Favorite Lyrics: “And I’d love ’em and I’d leave ’em and it was what it was. And it is what it is and I wouldn’t change it if I could…”

Listen to ‘Detours’ now: Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

Your Guide To The 53rd Annual CMA Awards

With the weather getting cooler it means that awards show season is almost here! The 53rd annual CMA Awards will air live on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday November 13th at 8pm. In an effort to honor more women in country music, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire will serve as guest co-hosts alongside longtime host Carrie Underwood, who is returning for her 11th year in a row. The CMA’s are always a fun night full of amazing performances, must-see collaborations, and special moments. Currently in the midst of a career year, Maren Morris could be in store for a big night after receiving the most nominations with 6.

Check out the complete list of nominations as well as our predictions for who will win below.

Entertainer of the Year

  • Garth Brooks
  • Eric Church
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Carrie Underwood
  • Keith Urban

Prediction: Garth Brooks – In the middle of his record-breaking three year stadium tour Garth has already played to over 750,000 fans this year, needing only 12 shows to accomplish this feat. Look for him to take home his 7th Entertainer of the Year award in this closely contested category.

Male Vocalist of the Year

  • Dierks Bentley
  • Luke Combs
  • Thomas Rhett
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Keith Urban

Prediction: Thomas Rhett – Thomas Rhett has had a huge year. Not only did he headline his first amphitheater tour this summer, but he also released his fourth album, and had two #1 singles with a third currently climbing the charts.

Female Vocalist of the Year

  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Maren Morris
  • Kacey Musgraves
  • Carrie Underwood

Prediction: Maren Morris – In what will probably be the most highly contested category, we’re giving a slight edge to Maren Morris. Very deserving of the honor, if Maren wins she’ll be the first woman other than Carrie Underwood or Miranda Lambert to win since 2009.

Vocal Group of the Year

  • Lady Antebellum
  • Little Big Town
  • Midland
  • Old Dominion
  • Zac Brown Band

Prediction: Old Dominion – Old Dominion have solidified themselves as one of the top groups in country music, which is why they have a great chance to be repeat winners in this category.

Vocal Duo of the Year

  • Brooks & Dunn
  • Brothers Osborne
  • Dan + Shay
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Maddie & Tae

Prediction: Dan + Shay – After being snubbed in 2018, this is finally the year that Dan + Shay will win Duo of the Year at the CMA’s. They followed up the success of their smash hit ‘Tequila’ with two more #1 singles (‘Speechless’ and ‘All To Myself’) and a headlining tour earlier this year.

New Artist of the Year

  • Cody Johnson
  • Ashley McBryde
  • Midland
  • Carly Pearce
  • Morgan Wallen

Prediction: Ashley McBryde – You can make a strong case for all of these artists, but ultimately we think that it will come down to either Ashley McBryde or Morgan Wallen. Ashley McBryde is looking to follow up her win at the ACM Awards for New Female Artist of the Year with a win at the CMA’s.

Album of the Year

  • ‘Center Point Road’ – Thomas Rhett
    • Producers: Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett, Julian Bunetta, The Stereotypes, Cleve Wilson
  • ‘Cry Pretty’ – Carrie Underwood
    • Producers: David Garcia, Jim Jonsin, Carrie Underwood
  • ‘Dan + Shay’ – Dan + Shay
    • Producers: Scott Hendricks, Dan Smyers
  • ‘Desperate Man’ – Eric Church
    • Producers: Jay Joyce, Arturo Buenahora Jr.
  • ‘Girl’ – Maren Morris
    • Producers: busbee, Maren Morris, Greg Kurstin

Prediction: ‘Girl’ – Maren Morris has herself a winner with this gem of an album. We can’t get enough of it. Every song is fantastic.

Single of the Year

  • ‘Burning Man’ – Dierks Bentley feat. Brothers Osborne
    • Producers: Ross Copperman, Jon Randall, Arturo Buenahora, Jr.
    • Mix Engineer: F. Reid Shippen
  • ‘Girl’ – Maren Morris
    • Producer: Greg Kurstin
    • Mix Engineer: Greg Kurstin
  • ‘God’s Country’ – Blake Shelton
    • Producer: Scott Hendricks
    • Mix Engineer: Justin Niebank
  • ‘Millionaire’ – Chris Stapleton
    • Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
    • Mix Engineer: Vance Powell
  • ‘Speechless’ – Dan + Shay
    • Producers:  Dan Smyers, Scott Hendricks
    • Mix Engineer: Jeff Juliano

Prediction: ‘God’s Country’ – Arguably the biggest country song of 2019, ‘God’s Country’ reached #1 on the charts in July.

Song of the Year

  • ‘Beautiful Crazy’ – Luke Combs
    • Writers: Luke Combs, Wyatt B. Durrette III, Robert Williford
  • ‘Girl’ – Maren Morris
    • Writers: Maren Morris, Sarah Aarons, Greg Kurstin
  • ‘God’s Country’ – Blake Shelton
    • Writers: Devin Dawson, Jordan Schmidt, Michael Hardy
  • ‘Rainbow’ – Kacey Musgraves
    • Writers: Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves
  • ‘Tequila’ – Dan + Shay
    • Writers: Dan Smyers, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds

Prediction: ‘Girl’ – This category is full of incredible songs. On a night when country music is putting an emphasis on celebrating women, it would only be fitting if the inspirational power anthem ‘Girl’ won the award for Song of the Year.

Musical Event of the Year

  • ‘All My Favorite People’ – Maren Morris feat. Brothers Osborne
    • Producers: Maren Morris, busbee
  • ‘Brand New Man’ – Brooks & Dunn (with Luke Combs)
    • Producer: Dann Huff
  • ‘Dive Bar’ – Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton
    • Producer: Garth Brooks
  • ‘Old Town Road (remix)’ – Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
    • Producers: YoungKio, Michael Trent Reznor, Atticus Matthew Ross
  • ‘What Happens in a Small Town’ – Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell
    • Producer: Dann Huff

Prediction: ‘What Happens in a Small Town’ – This collaboration from some of our favorite country rockers is a massive hit. We would love to see Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell take home the award for Musical Event of the Year.

Music Video of the Year

  • ‘Burning Man’ – Dierks Bentley feat. Brothers Osborne
    • Director: Wes Edwards
  • ‘Girl’ – Maren Morris
    • Director: Dave Meyers
  • ‘God’s Country’ – Blake Shelton
    • Director: Sophie Muller
  • ‘Rainbow’ – Kacey Musgraves
    • Director: Hannah Lux Davis
  • ‘Some Of It’ – Eric Church
    • Director: Reid Long

Prediction: ‘God’s Country’ – Filmed in Blake Shelton’s hometown of Tishomingo, OK the video for ‘God’s Country’ features footage of farmers during the Dust Bowl intertwined with the modern day landscape. This concept perfectly captures the essence of the song. It leads all of the nominees with over 60 million views on YouTube.

Musician of the Year

  • Jenee Fleenor
  • Paul Franklin
  • Mac McAnally
  • Ilya Toshinsky
  • Derek Wells

Prediction: Mac McAnally – With the exception of 2016, Mac McAnally has won this award every year since 2008.

Congratulations to all of the well-deserving nominees!

More New Music Coming From Sam Hunt?

For quite some time, Sam Hunt’s fans were longing from new music. Let’s be real, Sam’s career started off hot and really slowed down after the release of ‘Downtown’s Dead.’ And for months, fans wondered if Sam was dead… simply because he went quiet. No new music. No social media posts. No tour announcements. For a guy who was at the prime of his career with smash hits and sold out tours, for him to go quiet was pretty odd.

But fans were elated last week when Sam dropped his new single, called ‘Kinfolks.’ And country radio responded with it being the top added song to country radio this week with over 130 stations adding it to their rotation.

But from what we just saw on the Gram, it sounds like Sam might be releasing even more music soon. At a surprise appearance at The Listening Room last night for a benefit for the American Cancer Society, he said, “I just put out the first song I’ve put out in awhile… this song, we’re going to put out in a few weeks. I haven’t played it yet…“

Check it out below and let us know what you think!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3w8DPGJnii/

Payton Smith: Self-Titled EP Review

Country music continuously grows with new talent. Payton Smith, a 19-year-old who recently signed to Big Machine Label Group, is now part of this ever growing brilliance. He’s equal parts George Strait and John Mayer while incorporating his own flare to his music. On October 4th, the former CMA Fest performer released his first EP – ‘Payton Smith’ under his new label.

1) ‘‘92’ Written by Payton Smith, Marla Cannon-Goodman, and Larry McCoy

Impression: To open the EP, Smith sings about throwin’ it back to the year 1992. Smith’s voice is strong and mature despite his age. He proudly displays what he is capable of right off the bat. The instrumentals are rocker-esque and old school country mixed into one. 

Favorite Lyrics: “Now hold on, while we throw it back to ‘92…”

2) ‘Can’t Go Wrong With That’ Written by Payton Smith, Thomas Archer, and Jim McCormick

Impression: ‘Can’t Go Wrong With That’ brings nostalgia to the listener. With happy riffs and a kicked up beat, Smith takes the audience on a journey of some of his favorite things. Whether it’s cold beer, Willie on vinyl, or football on Friday nights, you’ll be able to resonate with this song and with Smith. 

Favorite Lyrics: “Football is better under Friday night lights. Hard to lose the girl if you treat the girl right. Don’t matter where you’re from, don’t matter where you’re at, no you can’t go wrong with that.”

3) ‘Like I Knew You Would’ Written by Payton Smith, Ronnie Bowman, and Dan Fernandez

Impression: Slow and sensual tones fill this single from the very first note, followed by accompanying guitars to pick up the pace. Smith sings about how a girl stole his heart from the first moment he saw her – like he knew she would. This take on a love song will be a hit with listeners anywhere.

Favorite Lyrics: “You’re my angel. As a matter of fact you took me to Heaven and all the way back, like I knew you would. And I knew you would.”

4) ‘What It Meant To Lose You’ Written by Payton Smith and Jim McCormick

Impression: The last song of the EP has a funky beat, which displays Smith’s versatility in incorporating the country/pop crossover. As for the meaning behind this single, the title speaks for itself. In a tale so often told, you never know what you have until it’s gone, and Smith sings his heart out on this track to depict that feeling. 

Favorite Lyrics: “I can see that you’re the only one I really need. I can feel the fire comin’ from the spark. I can feel the love runnin’ through my heart. I can admit that I’d die if you ever really leave.”

In just four short songs, Smith has created a name for himself under his new label. With an impressive variety presented in this EP, the country music genre just gained another future star. You can stream Payton Smith’s self-titled EP on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube! Give Payton a follow on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

KENNY CHESNEY CHILLAXIFICATION 2020

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eight-time Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney is ready to take it back to the stadiums! His Chillaxification 2020 tour is designed to bring great music, good vibes and one of his most diverse lineups to some of his favorite cities and a few new places. Joining him for this summer’s adventure are six-time Academy of Country Music/Country Music Association Duo of the Year Florida Georgia Line (“Meant to Be,” “Cruise”), three-time and reigning ACM/CMA Vocal Group of the Year Old Dominion (“Make It Sweet,” “Break Up With Him”) and summer touring sensation Michael Franti & Spearhead (“Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)”).

Chillaxification 2020 kicks off Saturday, April 18 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – and culminates Friday, August 28 with his 20th show at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. Tickets for all dates will go on sale next Friday, October 4 at 10 a.m. local time

“These stadium shows are the most fun thing I do,” says the high-energy songwriter. “It’s been a year, so when I get out there, I wanna make sure that No Shoes Nation is being rocked, having fun and getting all the music they can out of the day. We always try to do something different, bring someone new – and for anyone who’s never seen Michael Franti and Spearhead, just wait!”

The only country artist on Billboard’s Top 10 Touring Acts of the Last 25 Years, Chesney’s summer stadium treks have become legend – and gave rise to the iconic No Shoes Nation. Built on a strong commitment to the fans, Chesney’s No Shoes Radio serves as a connector for the man The Los Angeles Times deemed “The People’s Superstar” and The Wall Street Journal hailed “The King of the Road.”

“I love playing for No Shoes Nation any time, anywhere,” says the soft-spoken superstar, “but these stadium shows are always something so powerful, I can’t tell you how much anticipation goes into each one. Not to mention, we’re always wanting to top what’s come before – and I think this lineup might just pack the most fun of them all.”

Recently singled out by Variety as “Country’s only long-term stadium act,” Chillaxification 2020 builds on the enduring rite of summer that Chesney’s stadium shows have become. With the multiple week No. 1 “Get Along” from his deeply personal Songs for the Saints, benefiting the Love for Love City Fund, and the steamy “Tip of My Tongue” hovering just outside the Top 10 at Country radio, there’s a lot of new music, old favorites and surprises on tap for what will be the summer’s biggest tour.

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Thursday, September 26 at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, October 3 at 10 p.m. local time. General ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, October 4.

Having defined the country music stadium experience over the last decade and a half, Chesney spent this year’s Songs for the Saints Tour taking his music to the cities that have been overlooked on his massive million-tickets-a-summer treks. Having played 159 stadium shows – rocking over a million people at Gillette Stadium alone – Chillaxification 2020 promises to be everything No Shoes Nation has come to expect from the man who gave them “American Kids,” “Beer In Mexico,” “Out Last Night,” “Noise,” “When the Sun Goes Down” and more.

Blue Chair Bay Rum returns as tour sponsor. Chesney’s award-winning line of rum will again be the presenting sponsor, with activations throughout the summer.

Kenny Chesney’s Chillaxification 2020 Tour
with Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion and Michael Franti & Spearhead
April 18                  AT&T Stadium                                       Arlington, Texas
April 25                  Miller Park                                              Milwaukee, Wis.
May 2                     U.S. Bank Stadium                                  Minneapolis, Minn.                
May 9                     Raymond James Stadium                        Tampa, Fla.
May16                    Mercedes-Benz Stadium                         Atlanta, Ga.
May 22                   Minute Maid Park                                   Houston, Texas
May 23                   The Alamodome                                      San Antonio, Texas
May 30                   Heinz Field                                              Pittsburgh, Pa.
June 6                     Lincoln Financial Field                           Philadelphia, Pa.
June 13                   Busch Stadium                                        St. Louis, Mo.
June 20                   Ohio Stadium                                          Columbus, Ohio
June 27                   Nissan Stadium                                       Nashville, Tenn.
July 11                    Arrowhead Stadium                                Kansas City, Mo.
July 18                    CenturyLink Field                                   Seattle, Wash.
July 25                    Soldier Field                                            Chicago, Ill.
August 1                 SoFi Stadium                                           Los Angeles, Calif.
August 8                 Empower Field at Mile High                  Denver, Colo.
August 15               Ford Field                                                Detroit, Mich.
August 22               MetLife Stadium                                     East Rutherford, NJ
August 28               Gillette Stadium                                      Foxboro, Mass.
…and more dates to be announced.       
https://twitter.com/GilletteStadium/status/1176451541802393605

Brother’s Osborne Closes Out the Country Season at The South Shore Music Circus

Opening the show for Brother’s Osborne at the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, MA, Kendell Marvel treated the encompassing crowd to a ten song set that showed off his talents as a performing artist and as an accomplished songwriter. Before beginning with ‘Untangle My Mind,’ a song on Marvel’s 2017 album ‘Lowdown & Lonesome‘ he proudly declared that he would be playing some COUNTRY music tonight. Kendell certainly delivered on that promise with a more traditional country sound paired with some rock-influenced guitar playing. He followed up with 4 more original songs before, “Jumping into songwriter mode,” to play Gary Allen’s ‘Right Where I Need To Be.’ He told the audience, “I moved to Nashville from a small town in Illinois in 1998 and wrote this song the day I got into town.” He explained that Gary Allen changed his life when he recorded the song that went to number 5 on the country songs chart. Next, Marvel treated us to another song he wrote, ‘That Lonesome Song’ recorded by Jamey Johnson.

With the mention of Chris Stapleton before Kendell performed the next song, ‘Either Way, the energy of the crowd was then taken up a notch.’ Marvel described Stapleton as a good friend and revealed that he has penned about 60 songs with him. After, Marvel played the first release off of his upcoming album, “Solid Gold Sounds,” which will was just fully released on Oct 11th. Playing his worn guitar that displays his years in the business, Marvel completed his set with two songs from his first album, ‘Gypsy Woman’ and ‘Lowdown and Lonesome.’

After a quick intermission Brother’s Osborne entered the tent to a sold out crowd. They quickly jumped into a high energy version of ‘Drank Like Hank’ followed by ‘Shoot Me Straight.’ As always, the brothers delivered with talent and enthusiasm.

Slowing things down just a tad, the crowd swayed for a version of ‘Remember Me’ as T.J. Osborne welcomed the crowd to sing along with his arms open. Next a roaring crowd for ‘Weed, Willy, and Whiskey,’ prompted T.J. to deliver a toast before following up with ‘Greener Pastures.’ Beaming, T.J. asked the Crowd “How we feeling?” Only to be answered with even more applause and enthusiasm. He went on to tell us, “I can tell already this is going to be an awesome night” and gave accolades to Marvel for opening the show. “It’s a beautiful town; Cohasset is a very beautiful place; not sure I can afford it though,” T.J. joked. He went on to display his accent declaring that Cohasset was easier to say than Hyannis, where the duo had played just the night before.

Transitioning back into the music T.J. asked, “How many die-hard’s are here tonight? We are going to find out now.” The pair put the crowd to the test playing ‘Rum,’ but the audience certainly proved themselves; with their hands in the air, it seemed that everyone was singing the last verse. Feeding off that energy the lights turned red and a fast clap from the fans ensued as Brothers Osborne began to play their latest hit, ‘Burning Man.’ After telling the audience that they were loud out there, T.J remarked on how the little towns out here in MA remind him of the little quiet water town that they recorded ‘Port Saint Joe‘ in. He admitted that it was,”Trippy as hell being on a stage going around,” before getting everyone to sway and keeping them going for the entirety of ‘Tequila Again.’

Again, T.J. complemented on how lively the crowd was before delivering a broken down version of ’21 Summer’ under a spotlight. At the end of the song the band came back on stage to lead into a cover of Steve Earle’s ‘Copperhead Road.’ The band’s energy led perfectly into ‘Stay A Little Longer’ featuring John’s signature guitar solo. T.J. then took the vocal break as an opportunity to head into the crowd to take a photo with a young fan. After, a rendition of ‘A’int My Fault’ brought back the red lights and T.J. once again asked the crowd if they were ready to kick it up one more notch. A long instrumental with T.J. playing shakers and the tambourine gave the band time to shine as they showed off their talent. Throughout the engaged crowd had their hands up clapping.

T.J. took another moment to acknowledge how awesome the crowd was and joked that it was odd to know that there were people watching his backside for the entire show. He also reflected, “Typically one other weird thing about how this is right now, we would walk off stage and sit somewhere and try to egg on the crowd. You guys have been awesome and it would have been very awkward to walk off in plain sight where you guys can see us.” T.J. admitted that they do not always do encores, but halfway through the set he knew that this crowd was ready. At that time the band truly took a moment right on stage to discuss what they were going to play next.

The Brothers began to close out the show with ‘Pawn Shop’ followed by ‘Pushing Up Daisies.’ T.J. joked about not seeing any pawn shops up here while exploring the area and commended the crew for their work to make the unusual set with the spinning stage a success. The final song was a cover of ‘Hard Workin’ Man’ by Brooks and Dunn. The cover featured a unique moment with John’s lead vocals, rather than T.J.’s.

The South Shore Music Circus is now closed for the season, but you can keep tabs on upcoming shows for next season on their website. You can learn more about Kendall Marvell and his recently released album, ‘Solid Gold Sounds‘ on his website, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Brother’s Osborne currently does not currently have any New England shows scheduled, but you can keep up with them on their website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

All You Need is a ‘Six String Session’ to Know Southerland

Matt Chase and Chris Rogers started their careers as two solo acts that often shared a stage at bars in college towns around the country. Eventually, the inevitable happened as they officially linked up to form the duo, Southerland. The pair’s debut EP, ‘Six String Sessions’ was released Friday, August 23rd and serves as an introduction of the band to the world. The acoustic, three-song collection is lyrically driven, as Matt and Chris view themselves as songwriters first, artists second. “We wanted the songs to speak for themselves,” Chris said. “It all goes back to how we started this.”

Chase and Rogers met in the writing room and quickly became buddies. After a couple of years playing small gigs together, the guys decided to head down to Florida for the Key West Songwriters Festival. They secured a late night residency at a local spot to perform for a few hours after the BMI shows wrapped up each night. “We had a lot of buddies down there so we had them come show up and hop on stage and play some songs,” Matt said. One of these guys was Luke Combs, who was right in the middle of his ‘Hurricaine’ success. Combs was accompanied by an explosive energy from the crowd and Lynn Oliver-Cline, the founder of River House Artists. She was so blown away by Chris and Matt’s performance that night, she offered up a deal on the spot for the pair to be signed as a duo. Although flattered, Rogers and Chase politely declined the offer. 

“Neither one of us wanted to be a duo,” Matt said firmly. They had both put so much time and effort into their own careers. Chris added, “It almost felt like you were throwing away those five years, which is not the right way to look at it, now that we know what we know now. Everything I did up to that point was preparing me for this. We were slowly developing ourselves as a duo without knowing it.” So a couple years later, after Lynn’s unwavering persistence, they ended up caving in and signing on to officially give the duo thing a shot. 

Through  songwriting and putting together their debut EP, Matt and Chris knew they wanted to be 100% authentic. “The songs that we have been writing have leaned towards that lyric-based music. We wanted that to shine through and not to get the songs muddied up with a ton of production,” Chris said, supporting the decision of releasing an acoustic EP. The stories that live within country music songs are what Matt and Chris fell in love with at the beginning. It’s what drove each of them to move to Nashville and pursue this career. Putting out this acoustic collection shifts the focus to truly allow fans to fall in love with their songs. 

As the writers behind all of Southerland’s music, fans are getting an honest glimpse into Chris and Matt’s  lives and personalities. On the ‘Six String Sessions’ EP, each of the three songs are slightly different in subject, “All of them still make sense to our voices, we’re not trying to do something we’re not. Being songwriters we want to write about so many different things.” Matt described. “This is our showcase for the world, you only get one chance to make a first impression… We wanted to show people a little bit of a 360 view.” The three tracks most authentically showcase who Southerland is. “I want people to walk away knowing who we are and what type of music to expect. The thing that we pride ourselves on is that we want to sound exactly how we do on that EP in a live setting,” Chris said. 

What you hear is what you get with Southerland and some local fans can account for that. The pair recently made a stop with Ray Fulcher and Faren Rachels at Six String Grill and Stage in Foxboro, MA. “Thing is about being the opening slot is you do you 40 minutes then get to hang out,” said Chris. “We love performing but we almost love even more watching other people do their craft,” Matt added. The guys had the chance to do a formal Meet & Greet before their set, and stuck around during the show giving them plenty of opportunities to get to know some of their New England fans. The two raved about the venue and it’s proximity to the legendary Gillette Stadium. If you missed out on this show, be sure to catch Southerland next time they’re in the neighborhood. 

To listen to Southerland’s ‘Six String Sessions’ click here. 

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