Saturday 31 January 2015

Playlist week of 24th January 2015

2015-01-24

24th January 2015 – BBC Playlist

Brand new music from The Shires and Jim Ed Brown, classics from Johnny Cash and Doug Kershaw, and a 4 track  tribute to one of the finest female songwriters of the classic era, Dixie Hall who died last week.

Dixie Hall, 80, affectionately known as Miss Dixie, and wife of songwriter Tom T. Hall, passed away in her home Friday after enduring a long illness. Dixie was born Iris Violet May Lawrence in her native Sutton Coldfield, England. Songwriters Dixie and Tom T. covered the country, bluegrass, folk and roots realm with their storytelling songs. The two of them put out song after song of great lyrics and music.
Dixie Hall - Click to ENLARGE

Miss Dixie was loved by artists and fans and she loved them as well. Dixie Hall was so much more than just a songwriter. She lived what she preached. She would put artists together to create collections of wonderful music like the Daughters of Bluegrass collection. Being that she was born in England and came to America in 1961. Appalachia and its music were not in her native roots. 

She had a strong appreciation for the music as a child and those roots were valuable once she set foot on the soil of those songs. Once she became a part of the music, the culture, the people and life of that region, her songwriting about these things really took off.
Hall met country-music avatars The Carter Family through Bill Clifton, who had been friends with A.P. Carter, and moved in with Mother Maybelle Carter (Photo) at Maybelle’s house in Madison, Tenn. “We’d write songs together and play canasta,” Hall told writer Skip Matheny in 2009. Johnny Cash cut two of the songs Hall and Carter wrote during this period. Hall also learned autoharp from Mother Maybelle, and in her spare time started a company that published the songs of bluegrass giants Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.
She met Tom T. Hall in 1964 after the two songwriters shared credits on a Mercury Records single by country singer Dave Dudley. The two married in 1968, but it wasn’t until Tom T. Hall decided to retire from the music business in 1990 that Dixie Hall began collaborating with her husband.
Dixie wrote hundreds of bluegrass songs that artists across the bluegrass spectrum recorded earning her and her husband ten Songwriter of the year awards from SPBGMA, the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America. She and Tom T. were awarded the 2004 IBMA Distinguished Achieve Award. - See more at: cybergrass & nashvillescene

Terri Clark - Just Add Water | Album: Some Songs CD - Amazon.com 
Doug Kershaw - Hey You There | Album: (Jan 24, 1936) BIRTHDAY
Dianna Concoran - Blame Carolina | Album: Love & Therapy  
Donna Ulisse & Pam Tillis - Daughters of Bluegrass - Pickin' Like A Girl (Box set) - CD Somewhere In Kentucky (Marking the death of Dixie Hall celebrating her life, a project she wrote and produced with husband Tom T Hall - PHOTO)
Johnny Cash - A Letter From Home | Album: Sings The Ballads Of The True West (written by Mother Maybelle Carter and Miss Dixie [Hall]) MP3
Becky Hobbs - Another Man in Black | Album: Songs From the Road of Life CD (Jan 24, 1950) BIRTHDAY
Steve Azar - The Sky is Falling (Patti Jo’s Prayer) (feat. Sophie Young) NEW Single 
Little Lapin - Over The Draft | Album: Remember The Highs (out 9th Feb 2015) NEW Single
Tracy Lawrence - Don’t Talk To Me That Way | Album: Alibis MP3  (Jan 27, 1968) BIRTHDAY
Oh Susanna - Millions Of Rivers | Album: Soon The Birds (2011) CD 
James Robert Webb - Daddy Made A Million NEW Single 
Lydia Miller - She Made The Devil Cry | Album: Lydia Miller (2002) CD
The Shires - Friday Night | Album: Brave (Out March 2015) CD NEW Single
Jim Ed Brown - You Again | Album: In Style Again NEW CD - Smart Choice MusicAmazon.com with Cheryl White (Jan 27, 1955) BIRTHDAY
Tanya Tucker - I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love| Album: Greatest Hits CD  
Callie Twisselman - Breathe  NEW Single 
Cahalen Morrison & Eli West – Loretta | Album: Our Lady of the Tall Trees (Sept 2012) MP3
Tammy Cochran - 30 Something and Single | Album: 30 Something and Single (2009) MP3 (Jan 30, 1972) BIRTHDAY
Stacy York Isaacs - Kentucky In The Rain | Album: Daughters of Bluegrass - Pickin' Like A Girl
Tom T Hall - Our Little World | Album: A Gift From Tom T. Hall (2011) CD - MP3
JD McPherson - Let The Good Times Roll | Album: Let The Good Times Roll NEW (out 9 Feb. 2015)  CD - MP3 
David Llewellyn & Ida Kristin - Only God Knows | Album: Songs Around the Kitchen Table (2014) NEW MP3 - UK iTunes - CD Baby - Amazon.com  
Norma Jean - Jackson Ain’t A Very Big Town (Single) (Jan 30, 1938) BIRTHDAY
Tim McGraw - Meanwhile Back At Mamas | Album: Sundown Heaven Town CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Special Consensus - Nothin’ But The Wheel | Album: Our Little Town (1998) MP3
Everly Brothers - Watching It Go (Single) MP3

New on The Show

Dianna Concoran
“Blame Carolina” – “I think this one’s a great song...heard her voice and I thought WOW!” - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Home Town: Parkes
Global Records: Germany / Silent Gate Music USA / WJO Australia
Current Location: Australia / USA / Germany

Drawing on inspiration from love, life and her family, two time Golden Guitar Winner Dianna Corcoran is one of Australian country music’s most distinguished vocal and songwriting talents. Dianna released her first album – LITTLE BIT CRAZY – in 2003 and won the Australian
Country Music Golden Guitar for New Talent of the Year the following year. After numerous writing and recording stints in the US, Dianna’s debut was followed by her brilliant second release – THEN THERE’S ME. This album earned Dianna her second Golden Guitar – the prestigious title of Female Artist of the Year at the 2008 Australian Country Music awards.
With her “down to earth, country girl” approach to performance, two multi-award winning albums under her belt and over 400 awards throughout her career, Dianna released her fresh, upbeat, third album KEEP BREATHING to rave reviews . “Keep Breathing” was produced by two time Grammy Award winner Rebecca Lynn Howard & Elisha Hoffman.
Dianna returned in 2013 with LOVE & THERAPY, an album displaying the diverse talents of this unique artist.

Love & Therapy is available at physical retailers throughout Australia and New Zealand, or you can purchase on iTunes.au In 2014 Dianna’s hit "Therapy" was No.1 for five successive weeks on the national Country Tracks Top 30 singles chart.
Watch the >> Official single  Listen to the album at diannacorcoran.com
Although known in her homeland as a multi award winning vocalist and writer within the country music industry, Corcoran lives a life as a producer outside of the public domain producing projects both in the Pop and Country genre in America and Europe.
In Jan 2015 usually at this time of year she attends the Tamworth Country Music Festival in the summer heat of the beautiful Australian country. This year however, she is writing and producing pop music at the Schedler Music summit and snowy retreat in Austria!

CONNECT with Dianna Concoran:

Little Lapin

Current Location: Bristol, UK
Influences: Regina Spektor, Feist, Goldfrapp, Altered Images, The Cranberries,Sia, Florence & The Machine, Ladyhawke, Laura Marling, Bjork, PJ Harvey, The Cure, Pixies, The Killers, Kings of Leon

Blurb: Little Lapin is a prolific songbird originally from Cosey Caravan, Devon and is now based in Bristol (UK).
Her voice leaves a lasting impression with audiences. Her lyrics are carefully crafted and her music resonates emotion and honesty. She has been making her mark on audiences all over the world, from New Zealand where she was based for five years, to New York where she recently performed the last leg of her acoustic tour.
‘Waiting Room’, taken from Little Lapin’s 2013 debut eponymous 6 track EP (CD Baby), was featured on BBC Radio 6 Music’s Introducing Mixtape Show with Tom Robinson, and her sound was described by Tom’s team of music bloggers at Fresh on the Net as a “A Pretenders for the 21st Century”. Her highly anticipated follow-up album promised to deliver more of her infectious indie pop gems. Celebrated New Zealand producer, and ex member of Goldenhorse, Ben King guests on all of Little Lapin’s forthcoming tracks including ‘Remember The Highs’ (perhaps in the vien of Mrs Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa).

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David Llewellyn & Ida Kristin

“Only God Knows” -  A lovely duo ...a beautiful blend of music ...a great partnership, the music they create is beautiful, really devine this” - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Genre: Acoustic/Folk/Singer-songwriter
Home Town: Nashville, TN USA / Stockholm, Sweden
Record Label: Dabhand Records/Norna Music
Welsh and Swedish duo

In 2008, on the rugged coastline of Sweden, two acclaimed solo artists discovered a creative connection. Put together at a songwriting retreat, a musical journey in its most literal sense was inspired and turned into a finely honed songwriting and performing duo. They instantly found a chemistry, which set them off to record an album together at David's home in Nashville TN.
In 2014 Llewellyn & Ida Kristin issued their debut, SONGS AROUND THE KITCHEN TABLE (Norna Music/Dabhand Records) described as an exquisite toe-to-toe recording, that breathes intimacy and tenderness. - See more at: davidandida.com
Successful in their own rights as solo artists, Brazil born Swedish Ida Kristin has written and recorded two critically acclaimed solo albums. The debut on V2 records, included the title track and movie soundtrack >> "Stumble" and featured the duet "Love is how we stay alive" with Ryan Adams.

David Llewellyn's self-titled debut CD was released in the US (2004) and quickly gained top 10 radio plays on the FolkDJ charts and has proved a fast seller at gigs and house concerts around this country and back home with tours in Wales, Ireland and the UK. He was the Grand Prize Winner of the prestigious 2008 International John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the 2007 Kerrville Folk Festival "New Folk" Competition.
"Songs Around The Kitchen Table" is essentially a live album recorded & produced in Blueprint studios Nashville TN, May 2011 and during 2012. They borrowed a couple of extra mics, set it all up in the livingroom toe-to-toe, and the songs just kinda chose themselves. It’s an acoustic recording that captures the spur-of-the-moment freshness of a live performance.
 “Coffee Shop Song” was the first song they wrote together, during their very first meeting at a songwriting retreat on Gotland, Sweden. It was followed up by the love ballad “This Morning Blues”, a transatlantic co-write. “Only God Knows” was written together on one of those hot May Tennessee evenings after a full day of recording as Ida caught her very first firefly. It was a magical time to write and put these down, hope you feel it too".

Watch the video >> Just Surrender
As a gift for the holiday season, on Dec 1, 2014 they promoted (via Trespass Music - See One Sheet ) and digitally released their cover of "In The Bleak Midwinter" available on Amazon UK, CD Baby and UK iTunes. The wonderful blend of voices and interwoven guitars makes this a unique rendition of the classic Christmas carol.
David & Ida's voices and sparse arrangement make a unique and beautiful rendition of this classic Christmas carol. "I think it's just perfect, and is worth listening to at any time of the year, bleak midwinter or not" - Frank Hennessy BBC Radio Wales

CONNECT with David Llewellyn & Ida Kristin:
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Playlist week of 17th January 2015

2015-01-17

17th January 2015 – BBC Playlist

Brand new music from Tim McGraw, Terri Clark, Teea Goans and The Zac Brown Band and classics from Bobby Goldsboro, Slim Whitman and Mac Davis.

Steve Earle - Promise You Anything | Album: The Definitive Collection 1986-1992 Double CD (Jan 17, 1955) BIRTHDAY
Amanda Wilkinson - One From Love Too Long | Album: Amanda Wilkinson (2007) CD  (Jan 17, 1982) BIRTHDAY
Bobby Goldsboro - I Am A Rock (Jan 18, 1941) BIRTHDAY
Jenna Paulette - George Strait Kinda Girl NEW Single (Nov 18, 2014) MP3 - Amazon.com - CD Baby - UK iTunes 
George Strait – Run | Album: The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium CD - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 
Vera Van Heeringen - In Love With Someone Else | Album: Standing Tall
Special Consensus - Route 10, Box 782 | Album: Route 10 (2002) CD
Caddy Cooper - Get Onboard | Album: Snapshot (Feb 2014) MP3 NEW Single
Tim McGraw - Diamond Rings & Old Barstools | Album: Sundown Heaven Town CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Terri Clark - Wheels Down | Album: Some Songs CD - Amazon.com 
Dolly Parton - Unlikely Angel | Album: Blue Smoke CD - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com  (Jan 19, 1946) BIRTHDAY
John Michael Montgomery - Cool | Album: The Very Best Of CD (Jan 20, 1965) BIRTHDAY + co-writer Harley Allen - (Jan 23, 1956) BIRTHDAY
Zac Brown Band – Homegrown NEW Single 
Willis Clan - Slow Me Down | Album: Chapter Two – Boots (Aug 2014) MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com  
Brady Honeycutt - Drinkin’ Straight Whiskey | Album: Nothing To Lose (May 2013) CD - UK iTunes -CD Baby - Amazon.com
Julie Roberts - Chasin’ My Whiskey | Album: Men & Mascara (May 2006) CD 
Mac Davis - Rodeo Clown (1984) (Jan 21, 1942) BIRTHDAY
Casey Weston - No Strings | Album: Young Heart (out Feb 14, 2015)  NEW Single 
Slim Whitman - From A Jack To A King (Single) MP3 (Jan 20, 1924; died June 19, 2013 aged 90 ) BIRTHDAY 
Teea Goans - Stranger Things Have Happened | Album: Memories To Burn (Nov 29, 2014) NEW MP3UK iTunes - Amazon.com
The Mulligan Brothers - City Full of Streets | Album: Via Portland NEW MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Allison Moorer - Alabama Song | Album: Alabama Song (March 1999) CD
Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley - More Than Roses | Album: Before the Sun Goes Down NEW CD - Smart Choice Music - US iTunes - Amazon.com 
Liv Austen - Rain On My Side | Album: Workin' Man's Dream (EP) MP3 - UK iTunes Hotdisc #193 January Single
Johnny Russell - Baptism of Jesse Taylor  (Jan 23, 1940) BIRTHDAY
Lydia Miller - You Could Have Used Me | Album: Lydia Miller (2002)  CD
Jon Randall - I Shouldn’t Do This | Album: Walking Amongst The Living (2005) CD

New on The Show

Jenna Paulette

“George Strait Kinda Girl” - “I think she’s going to do really well..I think she’s great...I think that’s absolutely great... a cross between LeeAnn Womack and Kellie Pickler on the vocal- Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Genre: Country
Home Town: Lewisville, TX
Record Label: Independent
Current Location: Nashville, TN by way of TEXAS.
Influences: Jay Joyce, Hillary Lindsey, Eric Church, George Strait, Keith Urban, Ashley Gorley.

Country, Western, Pop with a sweet edge.
I was born, then born again, then lived a little and went to college. Pursued Music. Met Tim, loved TIm, married Tim. Got some more experience, then some more exposure, now we are all waiting to see what happens... including me. HA But I'll keep singin' till the day I die!

Jenna, who was born in Texas, recently relocated to Nashville, Tennessee. She has quickly become a respected writer and performer who has industry insiders taking notice and paying attention. She has a unique voice that sets her apart from other singers currently in Nashville. Her singing and writing talents have attracted some great writers and performers who have collaborated with Jenna on some exciting new projects.

Nashville insiders such as Jason Matthews, Johnny Bulford, Trent Summar, Greg Crowe, (award-winning songwriter, producer, recording artist and performer) Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty) and, most importantly, songwriter/producer Ashley Gorley. He has mentored Jenna as a writer over the last three years.“I have watched Jenna grow as artist and writer over the past few years,” Gorley said. “She makes songs her own and her personality comes through. She has a great shot at this; I’ve loved her versions of my songs and I’m looking forward to hearing more.”
After moving to Nashville in July 2014, Jenna continues to grow and expand industry relationships critical for success while cultivating new ones. Jenna and the team are focused on taking her music to a national stage. Her work ethic, team, relationships, talent and unique voice have positioned her to be in the right place at the right time to be country music’s next down-to-earth, “it” girl.
Jenna released her single "George Strait Kinda Girl" digitally on 18th November 2014 (Watch the video at >> YouTube )
The song, written by Paulette, Adam Wheeler and Robyn Collins, and produced by Clayton Corn, was written as a tribute to Strait, the "King of Country Music".
"I have always loved George Strait," Paulette said. "There is something in his voice that people just respond to. He is true to who he is I have always admired that." See Behind The Scenes: George Strait Kinda Girl Blog Post

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Brady Honeycutt

“Drinkin’ Straight Whiskey” - “I’ve heard rave reviews about him.....beautiful release, one for the traditionalists, a great hardcore release- Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

DOB: February 14, 1986 (age 28)
Hometown: Rosebud, Texas
Occupation: Singer/Songwriter
Instrument: Vocals, Guitar
Label: Unsigned/Independent
Influences: George Strait, Bob Wills, Jody Nix, Jake Hooker, Mel Tillis,
"TRUE" Texas dancehall and honktonk music. Brady Honeycutt delivers his debut album "Nothin' To Lose" staying true to his traditional and western swing roots.

Young country singer and songwriter Brady Honeycutt is a debut Traditional Country Music and Western Swing artist from the Lone Star State of Texas! Brady was born in 1986 and grew up listening to the tunes of George Strait, Bob Wills, Faron Young, Jody Nix and many others alike. 
At 5 years old, Brady performed live on stage with Western Swing Hall of Fame singer and fiddle player Jody Nix & The Texas Cowboys in Midland, Texas. Little did he know, one day he would be following the footsteps of those big names that he had grown up loving.
Based out of south Texas, Brady provides some of the best honky-tonk and dancehall music as he travels from show-to-show. He is known for putting folks on the dance floor with his honky-tonk & 2-stepping country music.
Fans, friends, family, venue owners and employees all associate his sounds and style of music to that of the late Bob Wills, Merle Haggard, George Strait and Aaron Watson. The enjoyment of taking the stage, watching the people dance and having a good time are highs Brady can’t get enough of. He always makes a point during the breaks or at the end of the show/dance to stick around and mingle with the crowds.
Brady released his debut album NOTHIN’ TO LOSE (Brady Honeycutt Music), in May of 2013 consisting of both original music and cover tunes Brady grew up loving. It was reviewed by UK publication Country Music People in their February 2014 issue and received 5 STARS and was named one of five albums highlighted as the editors (Duncan Warwick) pick for the best traditional/ dancehall albums of 2014!
Brady’s music has been receiving airplay all over from various radio stations such as Texas Proud Radio (San Antonio, Texas), 98.5FM/1420AM Swingin’ Country (Lubbock, Texas), Bus of Real Country – LIVE365 (Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania) as well as stations overseas.

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Casey Weston
“No Strings” – “I do think she’s got a good voice, I did enjoy the tracks, I think this album is going to do very well for her” -  Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Casey is recognized as one of the young stars whose combination of talent, personality and charisma helped launch the hit television show The Voice.  Casey’s performances on that break out season for The Voice led her all the way to final 8 where she eventually bowed out in the semi-finals in a head-to-head contest with the show’s ultimate winner. 
In that first season the fans were not allowed to put two members of the same team into the finals together.  While on The Voice Casey was called “little Stevie Nicks” by pop music star Cee Lo Green; lauded by country music star Blake Shelton and told she was a musical “Bad Ass destined to be a star” by her coach and mentor Adam Levine.
That time spent in the national & international TV spotlight provided very valuable experience and significant exposure but doesn’t define Casey as an artist.  Casey’s songwriting, singing and music started far from the spotlights in local coffee shops and honky-tonks in her hometown of Naples, Florida.  It is in that sleepy beach town in Florida that Casey developed her unique singing style and songwriting.
She began opening concerts and music festivals for major recording artists like James Otto, Justin Moore, Craig Morgan, and John Anderson, Brantley Gilbert, Kellie Pickler, Blackberry Smoke, Maggie Rose, Randy Houser and Tim McGraw. Casey has performed the National Anthem in front of tens of thousands of fans for NASCAR at the Bojangles 500 at Darlington, for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and Major League Baseball’s Minnesota Twins.
Casey has written, produced and released two albums; a self-titled release at the end of 2009 with 10 tracks and the second at the end of February of 2013; a 13 track album called FIND THE MOON (Amazon.com). Both albums contain music & lyrics that Casey wrote or co-wrote. 
In 2015 Casey is releasing the single “Fallin for a Lie”, and then her next full album (her 3rd), YOUNG HEART, which was sent to country radio in mid January with an Impact date of Feb 14, 2015 as it will be released on Valentine’s Day!
Casey’s musical style has begun to center into the Fleetwood Mac & Eagles side of country music.
To date, Casey has produced three music videos, “Ain’t Life Beautiful that Way”, “The Good Times”, (directed by Bill Rogers), and “Back to the Start”, (directed by Patrick Tohill). 

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The Mulligan Brothers

“City Full of Streets” - “I think they’re very good definitely alternative country music but very well done...harmonies really nice” - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Home Town: Mobile, AL/Baton Rouge, LA
Record Label: Southern Routes Records
The Mulligan Brothers are an Americana group based out of the Mobile, Alabama area.
The Mulligan Brothers play their own blend of Americana/Alt. Country influenced by the musical heritage of the south.

The Mulligan Brothers are: Ross Newell (lead vocals, guitar, and songwriting); Gram Rea (fiddle, mandolin, viola, harmonica and vocals); Ben Leininger (bass and vocals) and Greg DeLuca (drums and vocals).
Via Portland is the second album for the band from Mobile and Baton Rouge that met playing in bars in Mobile and took a name that means second chances. Expectations are high for the follow-up to The Mulligan Brothers, their popular debut album released in June 2013 that created passionate fans across the country and was in the Top Ten of CD Sales at the 2014 New Orleans Jazz Fest. 
The road to the Mulligan Brothers December 10th pre-release CD show at the Joe Jefferson Playhouse in Mobile, Alabama, began  this past Fall when the tour bus, loaded with instruments and a portfolio full of new songs, took The Mulligan Brothers west from Mobile, Alabama to Portland, Oregon. Here, the work would begin on their sophomore album, ‘Via Portland’, with producer Steve Berlin.
The music is still a blend of alt-country, blues, and folk that sounds like the Lumineers with a hot fiddle and the song writing of Townes Van Zandt, but Via Portland is a smoother album with more harmony and background vocals and dynamics in the instrumentation. The lyrics in Via Portland are once again built on Newell’s poetic imagery and storytelling in a warm, sincere voice that is full of feeling whether it is relaxed or strained.

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Liv Austen

“Great talent, lovely song.....Some really strong talent coming out at the moment, very nicely produced and written herself, a lovely song, you only need to hear it once and it’s a keeper...beautiful track there” - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

UK Actor, singer and songwriter
Current Location: London

Norweigian singer songwriter Liv grew up in Norway and trained as a musical theatre performer. In her final year of training she was simultaneously performing in  Jesus Christ Superstar at DNT (The Norwegian Theatre, 2009-2010).
She moved to the UK in 2010 to train at the Guildford School of Acting.
She graduated in 2013 with a first class honours degree and is now based in London.
Since graduating she has appeared in the musical Scandinavian Heart, written by Dike Okoh, as the passionate and idealistic Swedish student Brigitta Häggström who gets involved with the occupy movement in London, it was first put on at the Tristan Bates Theatre in 2013 and then recast and performed Upstairs at the Gatehouse in 2014.

Liv Austen grew up in a musical home and sang from a very early age. As a teenager she started writing her own songs, but it wasn't until the 16th August 2014 that she released her first record, the four track EP WORKIN' MAN'S DREAM (Amazon UK - UK iTunes.
Why the wait? Five years of acting and musical theatre training caused that. Liv graduated from drama school in 2013, and is currently combining acting and singing.
She teamed up with the website Pledgemusic to raise the funds to record her debut EP, and approached producer Sean Kenny at Ten21 Studios to record the songs. The result is an EP with great production value, pop/country songs that have a girly singer/songwriter feel to them but with an edgy production, with drums and guitar giving it that great country feel of the artists that have inspired Liv over the years. In the past year she has performed at venues around London and will continue to expand in the new year.
The first track on the EP "Rain On My Side" is described as a feel-good pop song with a train shuffle beat that will stay in your head for a while. The second track "Breathe Out", is slated as being a potential single in 2015. It’s target audience is a hard-hitting anthem for single people everywhere, with a heavy beat and great backing vocals. The third song on the EP, "The Guts You Always Had", is a piano driven ballad inspired by Liv's relationship with her sister – a song about learning to respect and love the people in your life and understanding the struggles they have gone through. When performing live, this song has had enormous response from the audience. Finally, the title track from the EP, "Workin' Man's Dream", is a fun and upbeat country song and the only song that isn't autobiographical in terms of lyrics.
Liv has just recently got together with a brand new band and 2015 is likely to be a very exciting year - as she is already booked to open for two quite well established UK country acts.
The new band comprise former members of the Hayley Oliver Band who split with lead singer Hayley Oliver officially announced via Facebook in July 2014 (See Blog Post The Hayley Oliver Band Call It Quits ) with the band looking to concentrate on a more Americana/ Country rock sound.
The former band is now called The Banned, and the first single titled >> "Rain On My Side" was released in January on the promotional Hotdisc #193 drawn from Liv’s debut EP, produced by Ten21studios, an establishment that The Hayley Oliver Band recorded their albums in with along with mutual producer Sean Kenny. The single is being promoted by Lee Williams (CEO and owner of CMR Nashville, Django Promotions and President of the British Country Music Awards) and has so far reached #20 on the Hotdisc Top 40 Chart (issued Jan 18, 2015)
Band member Nigel Nesbitt describes Austen as being “superbly talented” having a “beautiful voice” with “great lyrics” as well as being a talented piano player, “beautiful” (see Image) and that this young lady will make a “BIG impact on the British Country Scene” due to her modern country penning “really catchy songs”.
Liv Austen & The Banned are working on the new material with 4 track EP in the pipeline.
Watch Liv's cover of "Two Grey Rooms" (Joni Mitchell) and her take on "Black Roses" (written by Lucy Schwartz) and made famous by the TV drama Nashville, performed on the show by Clare Bowen (aka Scarlett O'Connor).

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Playlist week of 10th January 2015

2015-01-10

10th January 2015 – BBC Playlist

Brand New Music from Reba McEntire, Maddie & Tae, Jeff Bates and Billy Yates.
Plus classics from Ricky Van Shelton, The Gatlins and Billy Walker

Rachele Lynae - Whole Lotta Nothin’ | Album: Rachele Lynae MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com    NEW Single (Jan 7) BIRTHDAY
The Judds - Young Love | Album: Number One Hits MP3 (Naomi Judd Jan 11, 1946) BIRTHDAY
Robert Earl Keen - Daddy Frank | Album: Tulare Dust: Tribute to Merle Haggard (2000) CD (Jan 11, 1956) BIRTHDAY
The Willis Clan - Since I Left Home | Album: Chapter Two – Boots  (August 2014) NEW MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Ricky Van Shelton - Where The Tall Grass Grows (Jan 12, 1952) BIRTHDAY
Johnny Orr Band - You Can’t Hide Love | Album: Down South MP3 (March 2014) - NEW Single 
Lainey West - Whenever You Come Around | Album: At Last
First Aid Kit - Master Pretender | Album: Stay Gold (June 2014) CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 
Claudia Church - Streets of Nashville | Album: Claudia Church (2005) MP3  (Jan 12) BIRTHDAY
Larry Gatlin - Sweet Becky Walker | Album: The Pilgrim / Rain Rainbow CD 
Maddie & Tae – Fly | Album: Self Titled EP MP3 - US iTunes - Amazon.com  NEW Single 
Ray Price - This Thing of Ours | Album: Beauty Is..The Final Session CD - MP3 - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com  (Jan 12, 1926; died December 16, 2013 (aged 87) ) BIRTHDAY
Billy Yates – Zeros | Album: These Old Walls Artwork - CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com  Hotdisc #193 January Single
Reba McEntire - Going Out Like That NEW Single 
Trace Adkins - One Nightstand | Album: Comin' On Strong (2003) MP3  (Jan 13, 1952) BIRTHDAY
Teea Goans - What’s Forever For | Album: Memories To Burn NEW UK iTunes - Amazon.com 
Billy Walker - I’ve Got Leavin’ On My Mind  (Jan 14, 1929; died May 21, 2006 (aged 77)) BIRTHDAY
Crash n Recovery - Since We Went To Sleep | Album: Hotdisc #192 December Single
Terri Clark - Bad Car | Album: Some Songs CD - Amazon.com 
Jeff Bates - If Heaven Had A phone | Album: Me & Conway (Nov 2014) CD - US iTunes - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com
Luan Parle - Day Is Done (Single) MP3UK iTunes
Byron Hill - Good News | Album: Red Leather Couch MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 
Billie Jo Spears - Lonely Hearts Club (Jan 14, 1937; died Dec 14, 2011 (aged 73)) BIRTHDAY
Ronnie Milsap - I Can’t Help it (If I’m Still In Love With You) | Album: Summer Number Seventeen CD - UK iTunes - Amazon.com   
Karyn Rochelle - Let The Wind Take You | Album: Karyn Rochelle (2 Sept 2014) MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
Ricky Skaggs - Hold on Tight Let It Go | Album: Hearts Like Ours CD - Amazon.com - US iTunes
Curtis Braly - Doors Closing Everywhere (Jan 5, 2015) NEW Single | Album: 6 Song EP due Feb 2015) MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com   
Janie Fricke - He’s A Heartache | Album: Hotdisc #193 January Single

New on The Show

The Willis Clan

“Since I Left Home” – “Real blend of old and new, whole album is very nice...I’m already a huge fan, I think they’re great” –
 Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Bluegrass/ Country / Folk

The Willis Clan is a family of amazing musicians, dancers, athletes, writers, and artists.  Living near Nashville Tennessee, they merge their Irish roots with other music and dance genres to create a unique blend of the old and new....Read more
If ever one believed in the power of music to sear the soul and raise it from the ashes of tragedy, the 12 home-schooled Willis children from middle Tennessee, ages 3 to 21, fit the bill.
They are the grandchildren of the Rev. Duane “Scott” Willis, former pastor of Parkwood Baptist Church in Mt. Greenwood, and his wife Janet. They lost their six youngest children in a fiery 1944 crash that led to the scandal and downfall of former Illinois Gov. George Ryan.
The wish of the Willis Clan, however, is to concentrate on their talents and performances and to leave the past in the past.
They moved on to wow the judges on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” show in the summer of 2014 with an Appalachian-themed version of “My Favorite Things.”
They are children of Toby Willis and his wife Brenda, one of the three older siblings who was not in the family’s minivan at the time of the crash.
From their home on the South Side, they were immersed in Irish culture from an early age, and it continued with their move to Nashville, Tenn.
They are all gifted singers of Irish, folk and country music and include internationally ranked Irish dancers, national swing dance champions and wrestling champions. In 2012, the Willis kids won the Fleadh Cheoil in Ireland.
The Willis Clan may have its roots in Irish music, but when they go to Ireland - they play bluegrass!! The Irish music audiences love Nashville, country music, the Grand Ole Opry and bluegrass music so when The Clan tours Ireland they deliver the Nashville sound. It is especially interesting to compare the genres and note the similarities and realize that the roots of bluegrass and country come from Celtic music brought over by Irish, Scottish and English settlers.
The next Willis Clan Fan Tour is scheduled for June 20 - 28, 2015.

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Luan Parle

“Day Is Done” - I think she’s absolutely great - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Origin:Wicklow, Ireland
Genres: Pop rock, Alt rock, Folk rock, Country rock, Acoustic
Occupation: Singer/Songwriter/Producer
Instruments: Guitar, Piano, Harmonica
Years active: 1998–present

FIRST IMPRESSIONS was Luan Parle’s début album release after signing to Anim Records at the age of 12 following an appearance on The Late Late Toy Show.
In 2002 Luan signed to Sony Music Ireland. Her first single release was a Diane Warren penned cover titled 'When I See You Smile' followed by a self penned single 'More Than A Ghost'
Parle later went onto re-record the song changing the title to 'Ghost'. The song went on to become one of her most successful singles spending 12 weeks in the Irish Charts, peaking at no 10.Luan recorded 'Ghost' in her native language titled 'Taibhse' for a charity album which reached No.1 in the compilation Irish Album Charts.
She has worked with some of the most successful songwriters & producers in the UK & US including Billy Steinberg, Chris Kimsey, Stephen Lironi, & Bill Bottrell. She joined James Blunt on his UK & Irish tour & opened for Elton John at The Hammersmith Appollo.
In 2010 Luan released the 12 track country/pop/rock set THE FULL CIRCLE Amazon.UK to critical acclaim. One of the tracks from the album “Sexy Sita” featured on Disc 2 of A WOMENS HEART THEN & NOW (Amazon UK).
In 2013 'My Hero' a song written with Luan during one of her songwriting workshops with a group of Transition Year School Girls was released. The song went on to top the itunes charts and reached no 7 in the Official Irish Charts.

November 7th 2014 saw Luan release “Day Is Done(LPR Records) written with Tupelo’s front man James Cramer . The song topped the iTunes chart for a number of weeks and received rave reviews.
Test drive & Watch the >> video This folk/pop floor stomper Available from Amazon UK MP3UK iTunes - iTunes.ie
The song is taken from her forthcoming EP ROLL THE DICE (Image ) produced by Gavin Glass, mixed by Ingmar Kiang. Luan is currently on a nationwide tour with European dates to be announced.
On January 30th 2015 she released her video >> “Roll The Dice” for her brand new single made digitally available via UK iTunes and iTunes.ie
Parle is one of the directors of ‘IASCA’, Irish Association of Songwriters, Composers & Authors.
Luan Parle is quite simply one of the most exciting singers to emerge from Ireland, or any other country for that matter! She is a superb song smith as well” - Evening Herald

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Curtis Braly
“Doors Closing Everywhere” -  It’s a good one - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Genre: Country / Pop
Home Town: Houston Texas
Record Label: Studio Gold Nashville
Influences: Reba McEntire, Clay Walker

Curtis Braly was born into a family where the love of music was a part of his life from the moment he could walk.  Recalling memories from his early childhood, his first exposure to performing was singing with his mother in the church choir.  That led to his first solo performance at the ripe old age of five.
Country music became Curtis' first love. While in school, Curtis took advantage of every performing opportunity allotted to him. In the eighth grade, he won first place in a talent contest singing "Old Time Rock-n-Roll".  That set things in motion for Curtis to seriously pursue performing live. 
He was also afforded the opportunity to be the opening act for Country Artist, Daryl Singletary, at the dedication of the new Humble Civic Arena in Humble, Texas.  That led to another engagement as the opening act for Johnny Rodriguez.
After a couple of years learning the ropes, Curtis was living in Nashville spending his time rehearsing and performing with his own band.  In October, 2000, Curtis was asked to return to Humble, Texas to put on a benefit concert. 

On July 1, 2010 he released a 10 tracks album titled 
SECOND CHANCE - Amazon UK - Amazon.com

On 22nd Nov, 2013 he dropped a single titled “Live Laugh & Love” MP3
Curtis now resides in Texas where he is able to travel back and forth to Nashville and continue to work hard on his career. Curtis has revamped his entire image, recorded brand new music that he claims tells a story from his heart.
He released his new single “Doors Closing Everywhere” (Artwork Studio Gold Nashville) to country radio on January 4, 2015 and it was made available at online retailers MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
A 6 Song EP is slated to drop in February, 2015.

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