Playlist & News week of 26th April 2014

2014-04-26

26th April 2014 – BBC Playlist

Brand new music from The Oak Ridge Boys, The Trinity River Band, Erica Sunshine Lee and Tim McGraw. Plus Classics from Johnny Horton & The Gatlin Brothers.

Kari & Billy - Are You Ready for the Weekend MP3 (released April 14, 2014) NEW Single 

Billy Ray Cyrus with George Jones and Loretta Lynn – Country Music Has The Blues  NEW Single originally on the Album Wanna Be Your Joe CD ‘George Jones was not only a country music pioneer and superstar, he was my good friend. It was my privilege that he and Loretta Lynn honored me with this vocal collaboration. As we approach the anniversary of his death on April 26th, it is only fitting that we remind the country music world of our great loss.’ – BRC

Erin Enderlin - Finding My Voice | Album: I Let Her Talk MP3 - iTunes It’s just great ....now she’s found her voice and it’s music to my ears - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Herb Pedersen - Baby Had A Banjo | Album: Country Music For Kids (Disney; 1992) CD (April 27, 1944) BIRTHDAY

Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton - I Will Never Marry | Album: The Duets Duets (Rhino) CD - MP3 - UK iTunes

Rascal Flatts – Rewind  NEW Single  MP3 (Jay DeMarcus: April 26, 1971)  BIRTHDAY

Karen Brooks & Randy Sharp – He Loves Me | Album: That's Another Story (1992) MP3 (Karen Brooks aged 60; April 29, 1954) BIRTHDAY 

Bernie Heaney – Boots NEW Single

Birds Of Chicago - Sugar Dumplin' | Album: Live from Space (released 5 Dec 2013) MP3 A Duo Allison Russell & JT Nero from  Chicago, IL Genres: Americana / indie folk soul. Find them on FACEBOOK for current UK tour dates.  Really like her voice, the highlight for me

The Oak Ridge Boys – Trying to Love Two Women | Album: Boys Night Out MP3 - Smart Choice Music  NEW  (Duane Allen: April 29, 1943) BIRTHDAY

The Trinity River Band – I'll Love You Just the Same | Album: Better Than Blue MP3 This follow up is equally as strong... Music to my ears, that soft acoustic sound, beautiful.....Fabulous group, really great that they're back, super - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Johnny Horton - Honky-Tonk Hardwood Floor | Album: The Essential - MP3 (April 30, 1925; died November 5, 1960 (aged 35)) BIRTHDAY

Erica Sunshine Lee - Train Wreck | Album: The South Will Rise Again MP3 - UK iTunes A softer song that really suits her voice...Lovely Digi-pac with a great booklet with all the lyrics in -  Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

100 Mile House – Last Call | Album: Wait With Me (2013) CD Inlay The third full-length album from Canadian duo Peter Stone and wife, Denise MacKay originally from England, who moved to Edmonton

Willie Nelson and Miranda Lambert -  She Was No Good for Me | Album: To All The Girls (Sony Music CMG) CD - MP3 - UK iTunes  (April 30, 1933) BIRTHDAY 

Kelley Nelson - The Son Is Always With Me in the Mine | Album: In the Waiting (Dec 2012)  CD - UK iTunes

Small Town Pistols – Easy As Breathing | Album: Self Titled Album CD - UK iTunes  (Tyler Wilkinson April 30, (1984) BIRTHDAY

Delaney And Bonnie - Never Ending Song Of Love | Album: Best Of CD  >> YouTube

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill - Meanwhile Back At Mama’s | Album: Sundown Heaven Town (Out Sept 16, 2014) NEW Radio Single

Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman - Betelgeuse | Album: We Made It Home (Oct 2013) CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Joey & Rory - In a Cowboy's Dreams | Album: Made To Last CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com - Smart Choice Music  (Rory Feek April 25) BIRTHDAY

Ty Herndon - Lies I Told Myself  Album: Lies I Told Myself  (FUNL Music) MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com (May 2, 1962) BIRTHDAY

Larry Gatlin And The Gatlin Brothers - Sweet Becky Walker | Album: Pilgrimage CD (2009) (Larry Gatlin May 2, 1948) BIRTHDAY

Jennifer Nettles - Like A Rock | Album: That Girl CD - Amazon.com - US iTunes

Kevin Sharp -  Let Me Rock You to Sleep  | Album: Joey's Song: Country (Various artists) MP3  RIP Country singer Kevin Sharp died on Saturday (April 19, 2014) from past stomach surgeries and digestive issues, his website confirmed. He was 43. Sharp, best known for his hit song “Nobody Knows”, battled with cancer as a teenager in the Nineties.

George Jones - The Rock | Album: The Rock (2001) CD

New on The Show:

Kari & Billy

Members: Kari Nelson and Billy Arnold

Hometown: Roseau MN, and Mulberry FL  Record label: Unsigned

Current Location: Nashville Tennessee

Todays country with traditional country music influences.

Kari & Billy
CLICK to ENLARGE

While Kari and Billy have both experienced personal success in their music careers, they have recently started taking the stage as a duo and have begun to weave their personal, unique talents together to create something truly special. Coming from opposite ends of the country, with very different backgrounds, the two met in Nashville and were drawn together not only by their similar taste and love for music but also their views on life.

Kari Nelson is a native of Roseau, Minnesota and has played violin since the tender age of 7. Her background training was in classical music and she took many years of lessons at the Manitoba Music Conservatory in Canada. Kari grew up playing music with her sisters at local events in Minnesota and North Dakota including county and state fairs. Kari's first band experiences came from playing with the Nite Riders in her hometown of Roseau. Kari packed her bags and followed her dreams down to Nashville in September of 2006. Kari is currently a member of the John Rich (of Big & Rich) band and has also played with artists such as Gretchen Wilson, Steel Magnolia's, Trace Adkins, and Joanna Smith. She has appeared in several music videos with John Rich and Big and Rich. Kari also performed fiddle and backup vocals for John Rich on the Celebrity Apprentice Finale in May 2011.

Billy Arnold was born in Tampa Florida at MacDill Air Force Base. He left home at the age of 18 and move to Georgiana, Alabama, a small town in Southern Alabama. He spent a lot of time there as a kid visiting his grandparents and moved there to be closer to them. At 22 years old he started singing and knew right away that he had found his calling. Billy joined a local band called "The Backwood Boys" and began traveling the country playing music.

Since then he has toured the U.S. playing any honky tonk, fair or festival that would hire him, or sometimes just feed him and his band. After a few years on the road he joined a band called "Common Ground". Between playing with Common Ground, The Backwood Boys and going solo, Billy has played shows from Florida to Maine and from Georgia to California. Billy moved to Nashville to further pursue his dream of being a singer songwriter. He plays at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge on a regular basis along with road shows, charity events and acoustic dates. Over the years he has played shows with Craig Morgan, Tracy Byrd, Daryle Singletary, Rhett Atkins, Mark Wills, Vern Gosdin, Arron Tippin, Confederate Railroad, Chad Brock, David Kersh and many, many more.  Read More at www.kariandbilly.com

Check out Kari & Billy!   They released their debut album WHOLE LOTTA LOVE on May 25,  2012. It consists of 16 self written, self produced songs that range from high energy fiddle songs to beautiful ballads, saucy dance songs, and light hearted humorous tracks.

Kari & Billy announced the release of their second single to radio, "Are You Ready for the Weekend" (Amazon UK – UK iTunes) - "This song is different than anything else we have recorded together and yet it still has all the elements that we find important in maintaining our identity as a duo and as artists." noted Kari & Billy in reference to the new song. The song was released to radio nationwide on April 14th 2014 and has already created quite a splash. 

CONNECT with Kari & Billy:

Bernie Heaney

CLICK to ENLARGE Artwork

“Boots” - "I think she's great..I think her voice and vibe is absolutely superb on this one....Wonderful stuff" - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Genre:  Country & Irish  Hometown: Newbridge,Co.Kildare,Ireland.

Bernie lives in Newbridge Co. Kildare on the edge of the beautiful Curragh plains. She spent a lot of her childhood moving between Ireland and England like so many other family’s that emigrated to find work at that time. Her mother is from Kildare and dad comes from Dublin. She was raised on country music dad played the pedal steel guitar, acoustic guitar and sang in the local pubs. He was known as the yodelling cowboy.

Bernie married when I she was nineteen years old and shortly afterwards I moved home to County Kildare. She has three grown up children and they all play instruments. Music was never far away and she has been playing the pub scene as a one women band. She met Chuck and June Owens from Granard, Co. Longford. This led her to be introduced to their son Jonathan. She is now recording her first album with producer Jonathan Owens at Spout Studios. It has been a long time coming but she never gave up on her dream. Read more at Facebook/Bernie-Heaney/

Her new single “Boots” is a cover of the Joey+Rory song taken from their album THE LIFE OF A SONG (2008)

Bernie’s >> video is produced and directed by Michael Bracken (brackenentertainment.com)

CONNECT with Bernie: FACEBOOK - YOUTUBE

Kelley Nelson

“The Son Is Always With Me in the Mine” - Really like that little track there - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Genre: Bluegrass / Gospel / Contemporary Gospel 

Hometown:  Jonesville, VA  Current Location: Castlewood, VA

Record Label: Salvation's Song Music

Blurb: On December 18th, 2012 Kelley Nelson released her highly-anticipated all-gospel project, "In the Waiting" . This new album was produced by award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and recording artist Steve Gulley, and it includes the talent of many of the industry's top musicians and vocalists. The first gospel project from this talented Virginia native. With cuts from several accomplished songwriters, including Kim Williams, Mark Wheeler, and Marty Funderburk, among others, the songs on this album are sure to stand the test of time. The combination of top-notch songwriting, astonishing musicianship, fine production, and Kelley Nelson's heart-felt vocals prove that this album is well on it's way to establishing this artist in the realm of Bluegrass and Christian Music.

With roots that run deep through the Appalachian Mountains, Kelley Nelson was introduced to Bluegrass Music at a very young age by her grandfather, and learned to sing in her church choir as a child. She was also influenced by traditional Country Music of the 70's and 80's and now is a fan of many types of music, including Contemporary Christian. As a songwriter, she contributed one song to her current album entitled, "Call on Me". She co-wrote the song with Dave Woods, host of the "In the Country" radio program. Kelley is also co-writer on "Where My Darlin' Waits for Me", which was recently released by Rural Rhythm Records on Ray Edwards's Portrait of a Bluegrass Songwriter.

After performing in her own bluegrass band for the past 6 years, Kelley has decided to fully pursue Christian Music.

CONNECT with Kelley:

Playlist & News week of 19th April 2014

Playlist & News week of 19th April 2014

Brand new releases from Brad Paisley, The Sweet Lowdown, Carlene Carter and the late Johnny Cash & June Carter. Sharon Vaughn (Rice) is the featured songwriter.
Plus classics from The Louvin Brothers & Glen Campbell

2014-04-19

19th April 2014 – BBC Playlist

David Starr - Underneath The Clear Blue Sky NEW Single

Kris Tyler - Love Don’t Be A Stranger | Album: What A Woman Knows (1997) >> Audio (written by Sharon Rice/ Bill Rice) Featured Songwriter

Patty Loveless - Lonely Too Long | Album: The Trouble with the Truth >> Video (1996) (written by Mike Lawler, Bill Rice and Sharon Vaughn) Featured songwriter

Jace Everett – Pennsylvania terra Rosa CD - MP3 - UK iTunes

Erin Enderlin - Get That At Home | Album: I Let Her Talk MP3 - iTunes  “My favourite at the moment, loved her as a writer but as a singer she is just amazing”

Wade Hayes - I’m Still Dancing With You (April 20, 1969) BIRTHDAY

The Sweet Lowdown - Drink It Down | Album: May (2012) MP3

Hayley Oliver Band - Bright Side Of Life | Album: Abinger Grove Amazon UK , UK iTunes and CD Baby (April 24, 1976 Hayley Claire Band) BIRTHDAY

Lonestar - Just The Rain | Album: Life as We Know It (2013) CD NEW Single Play MPE  

The Louvin Brothers - I Won’t Have To Cross Jordan For Easter (Birth Ira Louvin April 21, 1924 died June 20, 1965 (aged 41)) BIRTHDAY

Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys - The River Jordan | Album: Here Between EP NEW

Glen Campbell - Houston (I’m Comin’ To See You) | Album: Houston (1974)  MP3 (April 22, 1936) BIRTHDAY

Trick Pony - Stand In The Middle of Texas iTunes | Album: CD - UK iTunes (writers Sharon Vaughn and Matraca Berg) Featured songwriter

Brad Paisley - River Bank  NEW Single Play MPE Amazon UK and Amazon.com >> Lyric Video 

Carlene Carter - Poor Old Heartsick Me | Album: Carter Girl CD - MP3 - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com  NEW

Johnny Cash & June Carter - Baby Ride Easy | Album: Out Among The Stars CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Reba McEntire - Once You’ve Learned To Be Lonely | Album: Room To Breathe CD (writers: Candy Cameron, Chip Davis, Sharon Vaughn) Featured songwriter

Waylon Jennings - My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys

North 40 - Not As Good As I’m Gonna Be | Album: Sing Your Own Song CD - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Cleve Francis - Love Light | Album Tourist In Paradise MP3 (April 22, 1945) BIRTHDAY

Roy Orbison - The Same Street

Rebecca Lynn Howard - It Didn’t Look Like Alcohol | Album: Forgive (2002) CD (April 24, 1979) BIRTHDAY

The Oak Ridge Boys - Y’all Come Back Saloon | Album: Boys Night Out MP3 - Smart Choice Music - Amazon.com  (Richard Sterban April 24, 1943) BIRTHDAY (writer: Sharon Vaughn) 

Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman - Black Grace | Album: We Made It Home (Oct 2013) CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

Rob Crosby - Love Will Bring Her Around (April 25, 1954) BIRTHDAY

Jamie O’Neal - The Sweetest Gift  NEW Single (a cover of the Juice Newton hit)

New on The Show:

Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys

“The River Jordan” - Really nice tight harmonies - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

About: Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys

Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI  Genre: Americana/ Bluegrass / Folk

Members: Lindsay Rachel Petroff (singer/songwriter, guitar, clawhammer banjo), Joshua Rilko (mandolin, vocals), PJ George ( upright bass), Mark Lavengood (resonator guitar, vocals)

Hailing from all corners of the Great Lakes State of Michigan, Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys are giving a nod to American traditional music, while boldy taking their own songs in new directions. Distinct vocals, tight harmonies, instrumental expertise, and creative arrangements are all essential characteristics of their unique sound. The group focuses on the original tunes of Lindsay Lou Rilko, which include true-life tales of bank-robbing aunties, moonshinin' grandpas, and celebrations of love, life, and nature. It's an infectious vibe that could only have been born in the heart of America's Fresh Coast!

Blurb: "Lindsay Lou and the Flatbelly's are an ideal festival band. They can rock the stages with their heartfelt, rootsy sound and offer wonderful workshops as well as invigorate campground and campfire song circles. At the Earthwork Harvest Gathering this year, they were a favorite of the attendees because of their fantastic performances, and they were also a favorite of the festival organizers because they pitched in with volunteer work and spread music and good cheer the whole time they were here."

Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys recorded the Here Between EP in one day at The Record Company in Boston, MA. Cast includes veteran Flatbelly, Joshua Rilko on the mandolin, dobro master and master hugger, Mark Lavengood, the newest Flatbelly, PJ George on bass, and Patrick M'Gonigle on fiddle. The 4 track EP has three new original songs, and one May Erlewine classic.

BUY Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys music at: earthworkmusic Previous release "Release Your Shrouds"is available as a FREE Download at Noisetrade or lindsayloumusic.com

CONNECT with Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys - WEBSITE - FACEBOOK - TWITTER

Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman

“Black Grace” - I love her voice, one of the picks of the evening, really like this band...I think it’s great - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

Hail from the San Francisco Bay Area and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, respectively

Melody and Jacob have toured all over the US as a duo and in up-and-coming progressive bluegrass band Front Country.  Melody's critically acclaimed debut album GOLD RUSH GODDESS, was named one of No Depression's top 50 albums of 2012, and Melody won the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest for her secular humanist gospel song "Black Grace".  Front Country took home the gold in both the RockyGrass and Telluride band competitions and is up for an IBMA Momentum Award this fall.  Between these triumphs, Melody and Jacob occasionally make it back to their San Francisco Bay Area home, rebuilding their lives together as two people whose bond has only tightened with all this travel and success.

Blurb: In October 2013, Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman released their first duo album WE MADE IT HOME, capturing the essence of their experiences on the road and of returning.  Produced by Grammy-winning bluegrass/roots music legend Laurie Lewis, the album projects comfort and intimacy.  Their voices raised in harmony, their instruments intertwined, Melody and Jacob’s original songs and carefully chosen covers tap into their collective eclecticism.  Under the layers of rich acoustic tones and powerful vocals, the songs draw from the realms of astronomy, ethnomusicology, feminism, folklore, and family history.  The power of Melody and Jacob’s duets make these different topics seem natural together, like a fascinating dinner table conversation, and the ease with which they create music together can only be born from two people who’ve traveled long miles, finding home wherever they are.

Before meeting in Northern California, Melody Walker and Jacob Groopman both grew up surrounded by sound.

Melody was the daughter of a blue collar songwriter father and grew up listening to everything from the Beatles to Bill Monroe.  After studying percussion and voice at Humboldt State University and in India and Brazil, she co-founded the women’s world fusion a cappella group AkaBella.

Originally from Richmond, VA with Appalachian musical ancestry, Jacob fell hard for his first love, rock ‘n’ roll, but it was the West Coast stylings of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead that turned him on to American folk music. He studied jazz guitar at Oberlin College, dabbling in jug band music before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area and jumping into the local bluegrass scene. Before teaming up with Melody, Jacob toured extensively with the Afrobeat band Albino! and country-rockers The Real Nasty....Read More

YOUTUBE >> “We Made It Home” 

Listen to Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman’s latest duo record and download (Pay-What-You-Like, $0 +) at Bandcamp.com

BUY Melody and Jacob’s music on: Amazon UK - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

CONNECT with Melody and Jacob - WEBSITE - FACEBOOK - TWITTER

Playlist week of 12th April 2014

Playlist week of 12th April 2014

Music from ACM Award winners, brand new music from Don Williams, Radney Foster and Tim McGraw. Classics from Sweethearts of The Rodeo & Roy Clark. Songwriter Jesse Winchester who died earlier in the week is made the featured songwriter. A few country gospel tunes for Palm Sunday.

2014-04-12

12th April 2014 – BBC Playlist

Keith Urban & Miranda Lambert - We Were Us | Album: Fuse CD -  MP3 ACM Awards 2014 Vocal Duo Event of the Year

Dale Ann Bradley - Palms Of Victory | Album: Songs of Priase And Glory (2001) MP3

Vince Gill - Together Again | Album: Bakersfield CD - Vinyl  (April 12, 1957) BIRTHDAY

Stephanie Quayle - Sugar High MP3 See her March Newletter NEW Single

Deryl Dodd - Somewhere Down The Road | Album: Deryl Dodd CD - MP3 (April 12, 1964) BIRTHDAY

Jesse Winchester - My Songbird | Album: (Died April 11, 2014, age 69) Featured Songwriter

Wynonna - That’s What Makes You Strong | Album: New Day Dawning CD (Jesse Winchester featured songwriter)

The Sweet Lowdown - Please Take Me Home  May (2012) MP3 

Ags Connelly - I Saw James Hand | Album: How About Now CD - MP3 - UK iTunes

Allison Veltz - Bright Side | Album: Allison’s Wonderland (upcoming album) NEW Single

Merle Haggard, George Jones & Johnny Paycheck - I Haven’t Found Her Yet | Album: Double Trouble CD  (Merle Haggard was honoured (image) with the Crystal Milestone Award at the ACM Awards 2014)  

George Strait - A Showman’s Life | Album: Here For A Good Time (2011) CD – MP3  (Jesse Winchester featured songwriter) The Alley Family - By The Nails | Album: There Is A God 

Breelan Angel - Double Standards | Album:  NEW Single

David Nappa & Jimmy Wayne - Wine Country Cowboy | Album: Napa Crossroads (Concord Music Group) Read The Press Release  

Erin Enderlin - Ain’t It Just Like A Cowboy | Album: Erin Enderlin (2011) MP3 – UK iTunes My favourite song of the evening, from a lady who I think is great..I think its breathtaking, wait till you hear it, it’s got all the charm of Joey+Rory.. didn’t want to cut one note short, just the sort of country music that I love, Erin Enderlin, a fabulous writer – Marie Crichton

Don Williams - If I Were Free | Album: Reflections CD - UK iTunes - Smart Choice Music  (Jesse Winchester featured songwriter)

Sweethearts Of The Rodeo - Brand New Tennessee Waltz | Album: Rodeo Waltz (Jesse Winchester featured songwriter)

Toby Keith - Good As I Once Was | Album: Honkytonk University (2005) CD

Kacey Musgraves - Keep It To Yourself | Album: Same Trailer Different Park CD - MP3 ACM Awards 2014 Album Of The Year

Radney Foster – California | Album: Everything I Should of Said CD  NEW
 (Released on May 13, 2014)

Patty Griffin – Highway Song  Album: American Kid (2013) CD

Lee Kernaghan - Cowgirls Do | Album: The Most Awesome Line Dance Album 3 CD (April 15, 1964) BIRTHDAY

Loretta Lynn - Take Your Guns and Go, John | Album: Divided & United: the Songs of the Civil War 2-CD Box Set (Comprehensive Booklet) CD - MP3 Listen to the whole project on soundcloud.com

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill - Meanwhile Back At Mama’s | Album: Sundown Heaven Town (Out Sept 16, 2014)  NEW  Radio Single ACM Awards 2014 performance

Roy Clark - Ole Time Religion (April 15, 1933) BIRTHDAY

New on The Show:

Allison Veltz

“Bright Side” - This is just a feel-good - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire

About: Allison Veltz

Blaster Records artist Allison Veltz released her debut single “Bright Side” to country radio. The upbeat, feel-good-even-when-you’re-down tune “Bright Side” is penned by Allison with creative partner Dan Muckala and produced by Mark Bright (Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Sara Evans) and ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Mucka. >> Listen HERE.

Born in Mobile, Alabama to a unique travelling musical family, Allison started singing at the age of four and quickly learned to play guitar and mandolin, relying on music as her only constant as her family moved across the country to follow their passion. A child of the radio, Allison’s musical influences include Allison Krauss, Jason Mraz, Tom Petty, Nickel Creek, and Dixie Chicks.

As a New Yorker in 2010, she was working as a singing waitress when she received an email inviting her to travel to Nashville to meet Bright, who had heard demos Allison had posted online. In January 2011, Allison booked a one-way ticket to Nashville and never looked back.

Allison’s debut album, Allison’s Wonderland, is an intensely personal journey of eleven songs co-authored by the artist.  It is scheduled for release later this year through Blaster Records.

Press Blurb: Blaster Records released her debut single “Bright Side” to country radio In March 2014. The upbeat, feel-good-even-when-you’re-down tune “Bright Side” is penned by Allison with creative partner Dan Muckala and produced by Mark Bright (Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Sara Evans) and ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Muckala. Whistles and mandolin, along with Allison’s breezy and flawless vocals, inspire listeners to take a deep breath and inhale some perspective when dealing with life’s ups and downs.

"I have lived this song so many times in my life,” Allison says of the song.  “If you've hit the bottom you can stay there or you can choose to move. Sometimes it's a beautiful act of defiance to look at the bright side.”.

Bright Side’ from the upcoming album, ALLISON’S WONDERLAND will be available on iTunes on April 29 ....Read More at The Boot

Read the Press Release

>> Listen to “Bright Side” at Soundcloud

On Facebook Allison posts: It keeps getting realer and realer. That's not a word. #eeek #BrightSide - Image (Jewel Case)

CONNECT with Allison: FACEBOOK - TWITTER

Ags Connolly

“I Saw James Hand” - I think he is brilliant...what I loved about it they are all original songs, they’re brilliant, short and perfect for radio” –   Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire  

About: Ags Connolly

Genre: Ameripolitan  Hometown: Finstock, Oxfordshire  Record label: Drumfire Records

He is a traditional country singer-songwriter hailing from West Oxfordshire in the UK. Country is the simplest description, but Ags is a proud supporter of Dale Watson’s ‘Ameripolitan’ movement, which supports new music with a roots influence, away from the modern incarnation of country that exists today (you know the stuff…).

Having attempted to write songs for years, Ags found the confidence to take it seriously after attending a workshop with Nashville super-musician Darrell Scott. Since then he’s performed his own songs at events like the 2013 Country2Country Festival at the O2 in London and shared the stage with artists like Fred Eaglesmith, Paul Kelly, Dean Owens and Dale Watson; the latter being at the Continental Club in Austin, Texas.

Ags’s influences come essentially from hardcore country like David Allan Coe, Johnny Cash, Johnny Paycheck, Robert Earl Keen and Chris Knight. However, he also takes major non-country influences from the likes of Loudon Wainwright III and Ron Sexsmith.

Ags’ debut album HOW ABOUT NOW, produced by Dean Owens, was released on Drumfire Records in February 2014, receiving rave reviews.

 “One of the best records you are likely to hear this year…so strong is Connolly’s writing, dare I suggest that Ags Connolly is the closest we’ve ever come to an English Willie Nelson? Yes, he’s really that good, and his voice is unique.” - Duncan Warwick, Country Music People (5/5, Album of the Month) Read the 5 STAR CD of the Month Review

“‘How About Now’ is a masterpiece of British country” - Maverick

>>Watch “How About Now” performed at The Bullingdon Oxford 

BUY Ags Connolly’s music on: Amazon UK and UK iTunes

CONNECT with Ags: WEBSITE - FACEBOOK - TWITTER