​The Band of Heathens have announced an ambitious new project, a re-envisioning of Ray Charles' 1972 album A Message From The People, in its entirety. The band chose to re-record the often forgotten album because of its moving commentary on social justice, abuse-of-power, and its vision for a stronger, more-unified America.
 
Aptly titled A Message From The People Revisited, the record offers new takes on the original album's ten tracks including "Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong," “Heaven Help Us All,” “Hey Mister,” and "Take Me Home, Country Roads," presented in The Band of Heathens' own voice while staying true to the weight and tone of the originals - as well as Charles' own indelible interpretations. Also included is a gospel-infused version of "America The Beautiful," which the group has shared today. 

Iowa singer-songwriter, artist and author, Chad Elliott will release his new album, Rest Heavy: The Sun Studio Sessions on August 10, 2018. With Rest Heavy, Elliott shows his love of roots-rock, soul, and blues music with songs that weave love, loss, and forgiveness with timeless melodies. The self-produced album was recorded by Ples Hampton at the famed Sun Studio in Memphis with Hampton noting, “It was honestly one of the best sessions I've ever had up here. This is gold.”

​Today, TDC is pleased to premiere the album's title track, a modern gospel love song written on Easter Sunday that grabs your heart and soul with its classic harmonica-infused melody, tempered backbeat, and Elliott's gravelly yet warm delivery that nods to the memory of the greats who made their mark at Sun. 

"I rest heavy every night
Ever since you came to my life
I was so lost before that day
Now with you I know the way"

Enjoy, and share, the track above. For more information visit the links below.

Chad Elliott has released 22 albums including The Den Sessions in 2010 which is a ten-volume set. His most recent being RINGGOLD (2017) and Wreck and Ruin (2015). He has been featured on Iowa Public Radio’s Java Blend (“rootsy, gravely growl and impressive, tasteful guitar work”), showcased at Folk Alliance International, composed and performed music for several IPTV documentaries, and won prestigious awards, such as the Woody Guthrie Song Contest (2009).

Elliott performs more than 200 shows each year and is lauded as “Iowa’s Renaissance Man” by Culture Buzz. He has cultivated over 1,000 songs in his career while also honing his skills as a painter, sculptor, and children's book author/illustrator (Wilderman’s Treetop Tales). He recently published a poetry book, Rumble & Flash.

Rest Heavy Track Listing:
1. Rest Heavy  (3:12)
2. Shy of Shameless  (5:23)
3. Hills of Tennessee  (3:29)
4. Shining Stars  (4:22)
5. Cadillac Problems, Buick Times  (4:56)
6. Alberta  (4:20)
7. Slow Again  (3:47)
8. Dirty River (Catfish Blues)  (3:45)
9. Embarcadero Street  (5:08)
10. Water Under the Bridge  (7:06)
11. St. James Infirmary  (6:21)

Chad Elliott - vocals, electric guitar, harmonica
Tommy Lewis - electric guitar, harmonica, vocals, track 10 chorus
Travis McFarlane - piano, B3 organ, keys, track 10 chorus
Kevin Boehnke - acoustic guitar, trumpet, track 10 chorus
Joseph Cafaro -  upright bass, track 10 chorus
Jim Van Dorn - drums (all), track 10 chorus
Roger D. Feldhans - track 10 chorus

All songs written by Chad Elliott except “St. James Infirmary” (Anonymous)

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Forward-thinking folk rocker Reuben Bidez released his sophomore EP Something To Say. The EP was largely recorded with producer Jeff Saenz in Dallas, TX during a week-long session at Modern Electric Sound Recorders. with a group of instrumentalists that included past and present members of the Texas Gentlemen.
 
Last week, Reuben released the single "Don't Let Me Die" which was named one of Rolling Stone Country's "Top 10 Country & Americana Songs of the Week." Writer Robert Crawford said, "Like the rest of Bidez's new EP, Something to Say, "Don't Let Me Die" makes sure its heavy subject matter go down smoothly, with Bidez's musings about survival and self-identity sharing the spotlight alongside a funky, organ-led chorus and a melody that's deceptively upbeat."
 
The Something To Say EP is an analog album for the digital age where Bidez's elastic voice, which has earned comparisons to Jeff Buckley and Roy Orbison, tackles subjects that make the modern world tick: politics, sex, social media and more.
 
"On earlier records, I focused a lot on romance and relationships," says the songwriter, whose 2016 release, Turning to Wine, earned him a slot at the Bonnaroo Festival, as well as acclaim from outlets like American Songwriter, No Depression, and The New York Times. "But I've learned that great art is sometimes divisive, and I have thoughts about where the world is going and where our culture is headed. I've got something to say. This isn't the time for me to write love songs — it's time to take a stand and do something that, maybe, not everyone wants to hear."

Reuben Bidez Online:
Website - Facebook - Instagram - Twitter

NASHVILLE, Tenn- Following their Top 10 debut on the iTunes Country Album chart, Country Artist and Wyoming native Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band announces release of their new single "Hair Trigger Heart". The new single off the album Rodeo Cold Beer is an upbeat track for the wild at heart and the perfect two-steppin' song for you and your summer fling. Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band are currently on a summer tour where they have been performing with artists such as Casey Donahew, Aaron Watson, Toby Keith, Easton Corbin, Tyler Farr and Scotty McCreery. 

Williams recently became the only country music star to enter into a multi-year endorsement deal with CINCH® Jeans & Shirts. As a former saddle bronc rider, Williams is a natural fit for the brand. Fans can expect to see more of CINCH® at many of the stops along Chancey Williams' tour. 

Chancey Williams, a Wyoming native, was recently chosen as one of the five artists who will be featured in a USA Through Music campaign that will air as a short film on BBC World News. 
Fans can purchase or stream Hair Trigger Heart on all digital stores and streaming apps including iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music. ​

Award-winning Irish troubadour Ciaran Lavery brought his brand of self-proclaimed “soft rock” to Rockwood Music Hall’s Stage 2 on Friday, June 22nd. Playing selections from his April release Sweet Decay, as well as a two brand new tracks and a cover of "Bloodbuzz Ohio," the singer-songwriter shared songs that were as heavenly as they were emotionally heavy.

While his voice carried almost weightless in the air, Lavery’s words impacted the heart leaving the listener moved and quite possibly, a bit of an emotional wreck. Easily alternating between piano and guitar Lavery allowed his songs, flush with poetic lyricism, breathe; exploring the human condition in ways vulnerable and delicate, with his words floating through the room and capturing the listeners attention in ways nothing short of magical.

While the songs were the focal point, Lavery proved adept at winning over the crowd with his witty stage banter and story telling that included anecdotes about his minivan rental (“I feel like a soccer mom.”), his love of dogs, and the importance of not watching emotional movies on flights.

Closing with his “most upbeat” tune, “Return To Form,” Ciaran Lavery left the crowd satiated, proving how music truly is food for the soul.
 
Listen to “13” HERE

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Following the exclusive streaming premiere with Nashville Country Club, Country Rock artist, Stevie Monce, releases his newest single, "Named This Town You." The single tells the story of breakups and "getting over you" stage, constantly being reminded of love lost and the little things you took for granted along the way.
​
"Growing up we all go through breakups and think it’s the end of the world – that we will never find another person to make us feel that way again," Monce said. "The truth is we do move on but this song is about that tough time between losing love and finding love again."
"Named This Town You" is the debut single off Monce's forthcoming concept EP titled Stay on Fire, which Monce co-produced with Love and Theft's Stephen Barker Liles. The EP is slated to release on July 13, 2018. Monce will host an EP release party on July 27, 2018, at Stoney's Rockin' Country in Las Vegas, NV. 
​
Fans can get the track on iTunes HERE or as an instant grat by pre-ordering the EP.

'King of the Road: A Tribute to Roger Miller,' out Aug. 31 via BMG, pays long overdue respects to one of American music's premier entertainers and songwriters. The two-disc collection contains new renditions of Miller's songs by Ringo Starr, Dolly Parton, Eric Church, Loretta Lynn, John Goodman and more than two dozen others, including Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard on one track. Produced by Miller's son, Dean Miller, and Colby Barnum Wright, 'King of the Road' offers a fresh look at the work of a creative giant who has been gone 26 years but whose genius continues to shape contemporary music in ways both overt and subtle.

Read more about the project in a new interview at The Tennessean: https://tnne.ws/2toJY7B
​
Before Miller's premature death of cancer at age 56, the Country Music Hall of Famer had 31 Top 40 Billboard country hits (10 of which crossed over to the pop chart), including his signature songs "Dang Me" and "King of the Road." He held the record for most GRAMMY wins in a single night until Michael Jackson and 'Thriller' broke it in 1984. Miller wrote songs and voiced a character for Walt Disney's 1973 Robin Hood film. He also wrote the music and lyrics for the Tony-winning Big River, helping launch the career of actor John Goodman, who reprises the musical's "Guv'ment" on 'King of the Road.' As Dean Miller writes in liner notes accompanying 'King of the Road,' "Roger Miller was too gigantic to be contained by genres and definitions."

On August 10, the Mississippi-bred singer & guitarist Jason Eady returns with a new album I Travel On. The album is his first to be recorded with his ace touring band who have been relentlessly touring behind Eady's critically acclaimed self-titled album that was released in 2017. GRAMMY-nominated musicians Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley accompanied Eady, his bandmates and wife Courtney Patton to round out the lineup that would execute the live, single-take sessions.
 
Today, Eady released "Always a Woman," the second single to be released from the forthcoming album. In a conversation with Billboard, Eady said, "Everything you hear on the record is the way it went down. There may have been multiple takes of a song, but what you hear is what we played from top to bottom -- no overdubs, no punch-ins. We just really wanted it to feel good and we wanted it to be a record you can put on and if you want to listen to the words and get meaning out of it you can." Enjoy the tune below.