An Oklahoma native brought up in the Pentecostal church, which he’s since departed, 21-year-old Parker Millsap will make you a true believer with his self-titled debut album. Accompanied high school buddy Michael Rose on bass and fiddle-player Daniel Foulks, the young tunesmith delivers his religious-laced parables, character-driven narratives and relationship tales with the fire-and-brimstone fervor of a preacher, restoring our faith in the power of song.    

Influenced by the dust-bowl neutrality of John Steinbeck, Millsap’s memorable creations include the wife-murdering bible-thumper of “Old Time Religion,” the self- made church-on-wheels minister in “Truck Stop Gospel,” the questioning believer of “When I Leave,” the meth cooks in “Quite Contrary” and the gambler who spends all his money buying lottery tickets in “Yosemite.” Filled equally with ghosts and guilt, as well as an objectivity that invites listeners to paint themselves in each picture, Millsap’s songs teeter on the fine line between gospel and the blues, sin and redemption, God and the devil, heaven and hell… from the pulpit to the back pew.  

To view the video for "Truck Stop Gospel" visit here

Nashville, TN (October 20, 2014) -- With a gutbucket baritone that brings to mind Waylon Jennings and Jamey Johnson, James Carothers delivers stirring and hard-hitting songs of real life on his latest release, HONKY TONK LAND (Renegade Mountain Records).  A tour-de-force of traditionalism, the eight-track offering features seven Carothers' originals, and takes the listener back to a time when songs of life's triumphs and struggles filled the Country airwaves.  The disc, produced by Carothers, is available for purchase now at iTunes, Amazon, Amazon UK and GooglePlay. 

The newcomer's latest single, "I Must Be Alive," lands at Country radio today via PlayMPE and programmers can also find it at AirPlay Direct.  With honest simplicity, Carothers' words carve deep into the soul:

In the bitter cold of winter
The air burns my lungs outside
In the dead heat of summer
The sun brings the sweat and strife
It don't take a minute
To know that I'm alive

"I Must Be Alive" is just one of the compelling tracks on HONKY TONK LAND.  Standouts include the opener, "New Country Singers," a soft smack-down on the "lightweight Pop/Country tailgater" type of vocalist so predominant on today's airwaves.  His smoky morning-after vocals make "Mississippi Clay" as mysterious and riveting as Bobbie Gentry did in '67 with "Ode To Billie Joe."  The title track revs things up with a tale of bad women and late nights on the road, and the teasing fiddle and guitar make the cut a chase for that neon rainbow. "Trouble In Paradise," written by James' father, is a Country man's take on a dying marriage and the timeless battle between good and evil.  

A native of McNairy County, Tennessee, home of Walking Tall icon Sheriff Buford Pusser, James spent his boyhood leading the a cappellachoir at the local Church of Christ before the family moved out west. This laid-back entertainer now lives with his young family in Los Alamos, New Mexico.  A favorite in the honky tonks and casinos of the Southwest and throughout the Midwest for the last several years, James is now considered a star in the making by some of the music industry's top media pundits.  Carothers comes by his Country style honestly, counting Waylon, Willie, Merle and Johnny Cash as major overall influences, while naming Keith Whitley and George Jones as inspirations for his distinctive phrasing and singing.  As a writer, he admires the talents of Billy Joe Shaver and Hank Williams.  A talented lead guitar player ala Vince Gill, James is an engaging entertainer who leaves his audiences clamoring for more after every show.

http://jamescarothers.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JamesCarothersOfficial
https://twitter.com/James_Carothers
http://instagram.com/jamescarothersofficial

NASHVILLE, TN (October 20, 2014) – Multi-platinum recording artist Kristian Bush is saving the world from a zombie apocalypse in his new music video for Top 40 and climbing hit, “Trailer Hitch.” Catch the world premiere of the video for the infectious song exclusively across CMT, CMT Pure, KristianBush.CMT.com and CMT Artists App today (10/20). Following the 48-hour broadcast exclusive, the music video will be available on VEVO and all digital platforms.

Bush enlisted the help of Director Blake Judd of Judd Films (Shooter Jennings, George Jones, Jason Isbell) and famous Hollywood ‘monster creator’ and Special Effects Makeup Artist Robert Kurtzman, Creature Corps (Pulp Fiction, From Dusk Till Dawn, Texas Chainsaw 3D, Hostel Part III, Children of the Corn) to create the ‘walking dead’ for this captivating video.

“Robert’s work is so detailed and so true to what your brain thinks it should be, that there is a moment where I’m really worried that there is actually a zombie apocalypse, because it’s so real,” said Bush.  
Filmed in East Nashville’s fooBAR, the zombies take over, pawing at the window and breaking down the door. Bush light-heartedly saves the day by hypnotizing the creepy creatures with his live performance and ensuing a monster mash dance party.

Zombies lurk in every corner of the music video and fans should keep an eye out for surprise celebrity cameos, including Canaan Smith, Larkin Poe, Annie Clements, Twang And Round and Tim Montana.  
For more behind-the-scenes action from this hilarious and creeptastically creative premiere, check out YouTube.com/KristianBush.  

"Trailer Hitch" brings Bush’s voice front-and-center and is the lead single from his forthcoming debut solo album. Executive produced by Byron Gallimore, the album will be released on Streamsound Records. 
For tour dates and more, visit KristianBush.com. 

The NRA announced that country music artist Granger Smith would be NRA Country's newest Featured Artist. Granger, who is a true outdoorsman, has said: "My passion for the outdoors is a reflection of who I am...It's my release between a busy schedule and my slow road when the world gets too fast. It's a deer blind with my brothers on a crisp December morning. It's a rattle trap hook, a lazy yellow dog, a hand-me-down Wingmaster 870 when the birds are flying in September..." 

As part of the promotion, fans can register to win the ultimate “Granger Smith – Earl Dibbles, Jr. Giveaway” at NRACountry.com. From now through October 30th, fans can register to win an exclusive prize pack including: a Yee Yee autographed Guitar and t-shirt, Remington hat, t-shirt, and 1816 jacket, a Pelican cooler, and NRA Country hat, t-shirt, and koozie.

For more information visit here

Jason Isbell has said that "Jon Dee Graham is the Titan of American songwriters.” 

From his official website: We’re not sure Jason Isbell was thinking about a specific race of Greek gods when he called Jon Dee Graham the Titan of American songwriters, but the comparison is apt. More deeply than perhaps any other songwriter working today, Graham works his way through the cracks and fissures of life to find the goodness and nobility of regular people — the gold inside them.

“There’s not one lyric that I’ve recorded anywhere that I cringe when I hear it now,” Jon Dee says. “Not one. Some are better than others, but there’s not one that I’m embarrassed about.”

Lyrics like those, from “The Orphan Song” on Graham’s latest LP, “Garage Sale,” are the sort that have long earned him the praise of critics and his fellow songwriters and the undying devotion of fans all over America. They demonstrate Graham’s ability to express empathy for his fellow humans with an incredible economy of words.

Come out and hear for yourself.
Where: Hill Country Live NYC
When: October 23rd
Time: 9pm No Cover

Their most recent album Bring Up The Sun was just released in March, but Sundy Best announced that they have a new music on the way in a brand new album Salvation City. The ten track album will be released on December 2nd and according to the twitterverse, their Kinfolk couldn't be more thrilled!

Salvation City will be their third eONe release with all of the songs written by the duo (Nick Jamerson and Kris Bentley) and produced by RS Field.
 
In a little over a year, Sundy Best has made practically every “One To Watch” or “Top New Act of 2014” list and has sold over 100,000 albums and tracks from their highly acclaimed Bring Up The Sun and the deluxe version of their self-released debut Door Without A Screen. The December 2 release features 10 new songs written by Sundy Best that is an evolution of their previous releases featuring the large sound of the cajon/ guitar combination of Appalachian rock and country blends into a full band featuring Kris on the full drum kit and Nick slashing the electric guitar. 
 
Additionally, the guys have caught the attention of Sirius XM’s “The Highway,” Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Paste, Country Weekly and numerous other media standouts for the unique sound and lyrical punch in telling a story as real as it can get.  With over 6 videos receiving significant airplay on CMT, CMT Pure and other network platforms, as well as Zuus Country and other nationally recognized outlets, the video babes have grown their “kinfolk movement’ to include well over 100,000 followers online, over 2 million video views on YouTube and Vevo and sold out shows across the US. 

Salvation City track listing:

1. Shotgun Lady
2. Distance
3. Southern Boy
4. Four Door
5. I Want You To Know (World Famous Love Song)
6. Fishin'
7. Piece Of Work
8. Do You Wanna Go
9. Get Back Home To You
10. My Sweet Thing

You can pre-order the album here
For more information visit their official website

Singer-songwriter, lover of tacos and big butts, and tweeter extraodinaire Rich O'Toole is bringing his Jaded Tour to Hill Country Live in Brooklyn on November 6th. His latest album of the same name was released earlier this past June and includes the single "Too Good To Call," as well as "Uncle Hank" and "Never Gonna Quit."
 
Also available for purchase is the Tacos With O'Toole pre-show VIP package. For $20 you can spend a few hours eating tacos with Rich & his band at soundcheck before the show. Rich will play a few acoustic songs, take photos, and sign merchandise. This VIP experience is open to all ages but will be limited to 20 attendees - tacos included!

Rich's shows are known to be a fun, high energy, country rockin' good time. Grab a tix or two (and a VIP package) and come out!

Who: Rich O'Toole with The Novel Ideas
Where: Hill Country Live Brooklyn
When: November 6th
Time: Doors 9 Show 930 $10/$12

For all of the Jaded tour dates and more visit here

In her new single, "He Ain't You," singer Joanna Mosca articulates both the passionate thrill and horrible ache of that all-too-common experience, but the song's got a twist - and it'll boost the ego of every man who's ever won a girl just by being a good guy.

Released to radio on Sept. 29, "He Ain't You," written by Jim McCormick, Bill McDermott and Houston Davies, appears on Mosca's new EP, Have A Little Mercy. McCormick's credits include hits for country stars Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert, Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood, Luke Bryan, Trace Adkins and scores of others. Mosca met him through his old college pal, who happens to be her next-door neighbor in New York.

On Friday, Nov. 7, Mosca will be performing at the Towne Crier Cafe in Beacon, NY with the proceeds from her ticket sales going to Guiding Eyes For The Blind. The non-profit organization is an internationally accredited guide dog school that provides superbly bred and trained guide and service dogs that expand horizons for people to achieve life's goals. All services are offered free of charge to people who are blind or visually impaired and to families with children with autism. Tickets for Joanna's concert can be purchased at: http://townecc.tunestub.com/event.cfm?id=177111&cart

Have A Little Mercy, on Dolce Diva Music, was produced by Rich Redmond, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy and David Fanning, known collectively as New Voice Entertainment. Those first three, also members of Aldean's band, play on the EP, which reinforces what fans of Mosca's earlier releases have known for some time: This sassy lady may live in New York, but she's got the soul of a country singer - with enough pop shine and rock edge to engage music-lovers of many persuasions.

Earlier this year, Digital Journal placed Mosca on its "Top 10 Female Country Singers to Watch in 2014" list, and Examiner.com's Nashville Country Music Examiner columnist named Mosca among the "Top 5 Female Country Newcomers" of 2014. Similar accolades came for Let It All Begin,including recognition on CMA Close Up magazine's 2012 "Who New to Watch" list and a showcase spot at the 2013 CMA Music Festival. Mosca also has opened for LeAnn Rimes, Martin Sexton and other well-known artists.

Whether singing her own tunes or giving voice to others' words, Mosca simply loves making music. "It's really about the best song," she says. "If I can relate to the song and think I can sing it and do it justice, that's all I need."

For more information visit:
joannamosca.com
facebook.com/joannamoscamusic
twitter.com/joannamosca

For more information on Guiding Eyes For The Blind, go to: www.guidingeyes.org

Three-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, guitarist and contemporary blues artist, Keb’ Mo’ will release his 12th studio album, BLUESAmericana, on vinyl Nov. 11, 2014. The vinyl package will be available through www.KebMo.com, Amazon, select retail and independent record stores, and will include a poster and an album download card with an exclusive instrumental bonus track that was not included on the CD.

Fans can pre-order BLUESAmericana vinyl special packages now exclusively through Keb’ Mo’s official website, www.KebMo.com.  TheBLUESAmericana bundles are offered in three options, including a very limited amount of autographed and numbered LP’s.  All bundles include a complimentary Keb’ Mo’ Spirit of the Holidays EP. The pre-order packages range from $20-$35.

Since it’s initial release through Kind of Blue Music on April 22, theBLUESAmericana album has remained in the Top 5 on the Soundscan Blues Album chart for 5 months, with 6 weeks in the #1 position. It will be one of the top-selling blues albums of 2014.

Recorded in Nashville, and produced by Keb’ Mo’ and Casey Wasner, the album features ten tracks, nine of which were co-written by Keb’, and has been described as having a mix of personal, raw honesty blended with folksy, upbeat roots rock-type material that is distinctly Keb’ Mo’. "I only make albums when I'm inspired to, and these 10 songs come from a very honest place," says Keb'. 

Earlier this year, Rolling Stone reviewed the album and called it, “Tasteful, well-played and sung, and conspicuously respectful of tradition—mostly blues tradition—this new release from the former Kevin Moore is his 12th since abbreviating his name to Keb’ Mo’ 20 years ago and it, like the man himself, is sturdy and reliable. The instrumentation is precise, well arranged and deliberately subtle, and many of the songs echo a description he himself gives one song: ’where the blues meets the church.’ Inevitably this will turn up in this year’s Grammy nominations—Keb’ Mo’ generally does—and that will not be a bad thing. While he has made a living being all over the place—singing, acting, writing, playing—his music has never lost its core, authentic focus. Which is why ‘more of the same’ isn’t always a bad thing.“

Over the past two decades, Keb’ has cultivated a reputation as a modern master of American roots music through the understated excellence of his live and studio performances. B.B. King, Buddy Guy, the Dixie Chicks, Joe Cocker, Robert Palmer and Tom Jones have all recorded his songs. His guitar playing has inspired leading instrument makers Gibson Brands to issue the Keb’ Mo’ Signature Bluesmaster acoustic guitar and Martin Guitars to issue the HD-28KM Keb’ Mo’ Limited Edition Signature model. He’s collaborated with a host of artists including Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Brown, Cassandra Wilson, Buddy Guy, Amy Grant, Solomon Burke, Little Milton and many others. Keb’ also wrote and performs the theme song for the smash sit-com,Mike & Molly and was music composer for TV’s Memphis Beat.  

For more information on Keb’ Mo’ or to view a list of upcoming tour dates, please visit http://www.kebmo.com/ and follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Nashville, TN (October 15, 2014) -- The last album of Country Music Hall of Famemember Ray Price, BEAUTY IS  ... the final sessions, continues to generate praise from fellow artists, the media, and legions of fans.  The disc features duets with Vince Gill and Martina McBride and both artists were honored to participate in the project. 

Gill, who traded lines with Price on "Beauty Lies In The Eyes Of The Beholder" recently told Rolling Stone, "Ray was one of those guys who never lost a step with his voice - even well into the end of his life, he was still singing great.  You can hear that on the record: It's not manipulated, it's the real deal. Very few singers keep their voice intact like that their whole lives."

Martina admits to a being flattered by the invitation to sing with the Country legend.  "I was so honored and surprised to be asked to sing with him," she recalls.  "Ray carried himself so well and still had this amazing voice. That's the voice that we all loved." McBride and Price made magic on "An Affair To Remember." 

Even artists who didn't participate in the history-making recording are praising BEAUTY IS.  Merle Haggard, who recorded previously with Price, sums up his thoughts on Price and the disc, saying:   "Excellence personified from the beginning to the end." 

Lynn Anderson calls the album, "A fitting encore for those of us who want more from the Tony Bennett of Country Music."  She observes, "Among the beautiful string-laden ballads is an old-timey Shuffle with a steel guitar, a fiddle and perfectly understated harmony.  Sensitively produced by Fred Foster, timeless songs sung by the best.  Classic Country." 

Ray Benson of Asleep At The Wheel fame calls BEAUTY IS "an amazing record."  He adds, "Ray was one of my musical heroes and it's so wonderful to hear his voice again.  He proved that we can get better with age."

 The media has heaped accolades on Ray and the album, with Robert K. Oermann of MusicRow stating, "After one listen of this remarkable album, you will note that Price's flawless phrasing, vocal resonance and burnished warmth of tone create a glow that lingers long after the final notes have sounded."  Duncan Warwick wrote in Country Music People, "I can't imagine liking another album more this year ... and I'm not just saying that because it's Ray Price.  It's one of the most moving listening experiences I can ever remember."  SiriusXM Willie's Roadhouse on-air talent Dallas Wayne said recently, "Beauty Is is not only the name of this brilliant recording, Beauty Is Ray Price."

Produced by Grammy award-winning hit maker and friend Fred Foster, BEAUTY IS ... highlights the timeless, signature string and Shuffle sounds for which Price was so well known.  Released on Amerimonte Records, this iconic project is available at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations as well as Hastings, Walmart and online retailers including Amazon.

To stay updated on Ray Price visit www.beautyisrayprice.com.