MusicRow Magazine: In Pictures: Alabama, Sam Moore Join Music City Walk Of Fame


• May 27, 2016 • 
 
Alabama's Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen, BMG's Kos Weaver, and the band's Jeff Cook.

Alabama’s Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen, BMG’s Kos Weaver, and the band’s Jeff Cook.
Country Music Hall of Fame members Alabama and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Grammy Hall of Fame member Sam Moore were both honored by Music City with a newly revealed plaque in Nashville’s Walk of Fame Park.
A media gathering and unveiling took place May 26 with attendees Mayor Megan Berry, Bill Cody, Connie Smith, Alabama manager Tony Conway and the BMG Executive VP Kos Weaver. BMG Nashville released Alabama’s newest album, Southern Drawl, in 2015.
Photos: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser

Pictured (L-R): Connie Smith, Sam Moore's wife Joy, Sam Moore.
Pictured (L-R): Connie Smith, Sam Moore’s wife Joy, Sam Moore.

Alabama receiving a plaque on the Music City Walk of Fame.
Alabama receiving a plaque on the Music City Walk of Fame.

Pictured (L-R): Sam Moore with Nashville Mayor Megan Berry.
Pictured (L-R): Sam Moore with Nashville Mayor Megan Barry.

Pictured (L-R): Alabama's Teddy Gentry, the band's manager Tony Conway, Alabama's Randy Owen and Jeff Cook.
Pictured (L-R): Alabama’s Teddy Gentry, the band’s manager Tony Conway, Alabama’s Randy Owen and Jeff Cook.

Country Music Hall of Famer Connie Smith (L) presents Sam Moore with commemorative plaque on stage.
Country Music Hall of Fame member Connie Smith (L) presents Sam Moore with commemorative plaque.

Alabama pictured with family.
Alabama pictured with family.


MusicRow: Exclusive: Keith Urban Presents “Summery, Jubilant, Groovy Music” At Tour Preview


• May 26, 2016 • 
 
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal 5.25.16 (C) 5 Moments By Moser Photography
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

Keith Urban and his band welcomed several dozen fans and industry members to a preview of his Ripcord World Tour 2016 on Wednesday (May 25) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. For about an hour and a half, Urban’s concert showed off the tour’s sophisticated lighting production and multiple stages.
Urban estimated that nine songs from his eighth studio album, Ripcord will make it into the tour’s set list. Ripcord has already spawned the hits “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16,” “Break On Me,” and “Wasted Time.”
Urban launched the preview with Ripcord’s album opener, “Gone Tomorrow (Here Today),” the same song he will use to open each show on the tour.
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal 5.25.16 (C) 2 Moments By Moser Photography
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

“There is a huge amount of buoyant, summer songs that are just right for this kind of environment,” he told reporters. “That’s why I’m looking forward to this tour so much and I can’t wait to get these songs out in front of a live audience. We’ve never had this much of a summery, jubilant, groovy music to play before.”
The trek marks Urban’s first full-fledged, album-supporting tour in three years, and he’s anxious to bring fans a mix of previous hits and new material.
“You guys are like the real deal,” Urban told the audience. “This is like a real gig.”
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

Throughout the rehearsal, the superstar singer-songwriter also offered insights into what fans can expect. He offered a rendition of another tune from Ripcord, a much-buzzed about collaboration with Carrie Underwood, “The Fighter.” Urban noted that Underwood has recorded a special video for the tour, though only her vocal track from the album was showcased during his preview.
“It will be better when Carrie is on the screen,” said Urban.
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

Later in the set, Urban and two of his crew members reassembled on a smaller satellite stage for “You Gonna Fly.” The singer noted that tour opener Brett Eldredge will join him for a song on the satellite stage each evening, while fellow tour opener Maren Morris will handle Miranda Lambert’s vocal part on the 2013 collaboration “We Were Us.”
During the rehearsal, songs such as 1999’s “Where the Blacktop Ends” benefited from a grungier, extended guitar solo, while Urban stayed close to the center microphone, and was bathed in white lights during “Everybody,” a track from 2006’s Love, Pain and The Whole Crazy Thing.
Helping to bridge that sonic gap between the experimental, rhythmic fare found on Ripcord, and the grooves of his earlier hits is a custom bit of machinery constructed by Urban’s newest band member, Nathan Barlowe. Called “The Phantom,” the machine duplicates various musical elements from the album, but can also manipulate musical elements in real time, allowing for maximum musical flexibility.
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

“The middle of last year when I was making Ripcord, even though I was a long way off from finishing, I could tell I was going to need a new guy in the band, but it wasn’t a role I could put a title to. I said to [band leader] Jerry Flowers, ‘We need this other person in the band. It’s not a DJ, it’s not a keyboard player, it’s not a percussionist, it’s not a utility guy, but it’s somehow all of those things wrapped up into one role. It’s not a programmer either, because everything is being done on the fly. Everything can happened in real time.’ He suggested Nathan, who started creating that thing which he calls the Phantom to do all the things we are able to do.”
Urban wrapped the preview with his current single, “Wasted Time.” His Ripcord World Tour 2016 will launch June 2 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Keith Urban Ripcord Rehearsal. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

MusicRow Magazine: Songwriter Ray Stephenson Exhibits Paintings At Bluebird Café


• May 25, 2016 • 
Ray Stephenson. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Ray Stephenson. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

The Bluebird Café has installed a new art exhibit featuring the work of Nashville songwriter Ray Stephenson. The exhibit features his paintings of legendary songwriters, both past and present.
Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

The paintings Stephenson selected – and in some instances specifically painted – for the walls of The Bluebird Café concentrate exclusively on renowned figures in songwriting history. Some of these esteemed songwriters – from Willie Nelson to John Prine – have actually played The Bluebird Café.
Pictured (L-R): Renee White, Tennessee State Museum; Ray Stephenson; Dane Gorman, speakcasting; Susan Heard and Jill Block, co-managers of Ray Stephenson. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Pictured (L-R): Renee White, Tennessee State Museum; Ray Stephenson; Dane Gorman, speakcasting; Susan Heard and Jill Block, co-managers of Ray Stephenson. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

In addition to paintings of Nelson and Prine, the exhibit also features paintings of Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Townes Van Zandt, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Lennon & McCartney, Guy Clark and Johnny Cash.
Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

Stephenson joined songwriter friends Buddy Owens and Steven Dale Jones on Friday (May 20) for an in-the-round performance and exhibit opening party.
Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

“Music and painting for me are both sides of the same coin. They both are lyrical, both involve singing, both tell stories, and reach inside and speak to others from what is coming from inside of me,” Stephenson explains. “It’s an incredible opportunity to share both sides of my creativity in one venue, The Bluebird Café, which is where I began my songwriting career many years ago.”
Ray Stephenson and Erika Wollam Nichols. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Ray Stephenson and Erika Wollam Nichols. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

Bluebird Café GM Erika Wollam Nichols said, “These ‘heroes of song’ that Ray brings to life through his paintings represent the shoulders on which today’s songwriters stand. Having them here at The Bluebird is both an homage to musical history and an inspiration for the current generation of writers who play here today. His work not only portrays these iconic figures but also reflects their spirits and their characters, through his use of composite imagery and text, in a way that no photograph can duplicate.”
Steve Tolson and visual artist Rob Hendon. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Steve Tolson and visual artist Rob Hendon. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

Stephenson’s songwriting credits include the title tracks of Kenny Chesney’s Hemingway’s Whiskey and Blake Shelton’s Red River Blue.
Pictured (L-R): Tommy and Joyce Stephenson with son Ray Stephenson. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Pictured (L-R): Tommy and Joyce Stephenson with son Ray Stephenson. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

MusicRow Magazine: Chris Janson To Launch 100+ City Buy Me A Boat Tour


• May 19, 2016 • 
 
Chris Janson performs at Nashville's All For The Hall event in 2016. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography
Chris Janson performs at Nashville’s All For The Hall event in 2016. Photo: Moments By Moser Photography

Chris Janson will bring his Buy Me A Boat Tour to more than 100 cities throughout the summer.
Approximately half of the tour dates were announced on Thursday (May 19), including dates in Maryland, Kentucky, California, Missouri, Washington, Michigan, Mississippi, and more.
The remaining tour dates will be announced separately throughout the summer, according to a Warner Music Nashville representative.
“I’m extremely excited about the Buy Me a Boat Tour this summer,” Janson said. “Performing is one of my favorite things to do. I love to be on stage and thrive on the energy from the crowd. With more than 100 dates on the tour this summer, it’s going to be in full swing. I’m looking forward to it!”
Janson is nominated for Breakthrough Artist and “Buy Me a Boat” is nominated for Song of the Year at the upcoming 28th annual MusicRow awards.
For a full list of announced dates, visit chrisjanson.com.

Yahoo News ..

Nashville has been cancelled after four seasons.
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Copyright [ABC]
According to Variety, the ABC series will come to an end after the current fourth season.
The country music soap stars Connie Britton as the main character, country music legend Rayna Jaymes, and Hayden Panettiere as rising star Juliette Barnes.
Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Will Chase, Charles Esten and Jonathan Jackson have also appeared in the show.
View photos
Copyright [ddp USA/REX/Shutterstock]
The programme was created by Academy Award winner Callie Khouri and attracted an immediate fan base both in the US and in the UK, where it aired on More4 and E4.
But Nashville is not the only show to appear on the ABC cutting room floor following an announcement on Thursday as the network also decided to axe The Muppets and Galavant.
View photos
Copyright [Bev Moser/AdMedia/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock]
Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy will not star in a second series of their spin-off show, despite all the hype surrounding the first series last year.
The Muppets wasn’t able to match its nine million premiere viewers on a long-term basis so has ended up on the ABC scrap heap.
Medieval comedy show Galavant, which starred ​Joshua Sasse as a hapless knight, has gone the same way and Castle has also been axed by ABC.

MusicRow Magazine: Musicians On Call Benefit Series Confirms Lineup For June Shows

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• May 6, 2016 •
Musicians on Call
Digital RodeoTV and simulcast partner Renegade Radio Nashville have announced four days of shows at The Valentine on Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville next month. The charity event will take place June 9-12 and will benefit Musicians On Call.
“Musicians On Call is grateful to Digital RodeoTV and The Valentine for their support of the healing power of music,” said Pete Griffin, President of Musicians On Call. “With the funds raised we can bring more live music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities in Nashville and across the country. We’re looking forward to an incredible party for a great cause!”
The lineup is as follows:
Thursday, June 9: Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye, Jimmy Fortune, Johnny Lee, Lorrie Morgan
Friday, June 10: Ronnie McDowell, Jeannie Seely, Darryl Worley, Bill Anderson, Ty Herndon
Saturday, June 11: Surprise Guest, Exile, John Berry, Moe Bandy, Lila McCann
Sunday, June 12: Jamie O’Neal, Andy Griggs, Bucky Covington, Confederate Railroad
Guest host for the event is Caroline Cutbirth Hobby from The Amazing Race. She is also a character on CMT’s I Love Kellie Pickler and a correspondent for CMT. She hosts a podcast called Hyper Caroline Hobby that spotlights artists, behind-the-scenes figures, songwriters, athletes, and others in the entertainment industry. Her guests have included Darius Rucker, A Thousand Horses, Old Dominion, LIT and Who Is Fancy,

MusicRow Magazine: In Pictures: Keith Urban Unleashes ‘Ripcord’ On 10,000 Fans


• May 9, 2016 • 
Keith Urban performs for fans in Nashville on May 9, 2016. Photo: Andy Snyder
Keith Urban performs for fans in Nashville on May 9, 2016. Photo: Andy Snyder

As Keith Urban celebrates the release of his eighth studio album, Ripcord, he previewed tracks from the project, along with renditions of many of his biggest hits, for approximately 10,000 fans during a free concert Monday afternoon (May 9) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Plaza.
The event is part of a three-city Ripcord release celebration that included a sold-out performance in New York City last Wednesday at Stage 48, as well as a special Grammy Museum presentation titled Keith Urban: Inside The Songs Of Ripcord tomorrow night (May 10) in Los Angeles.

Pictured (L-R): UMG Nashville Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan, Keith Urban and UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe. Photo: Courtesy UMG Nashville
Pictured (L-R): UMG Nashville Chairman and CEO Mike Dungan, Keith Urban, UMG Nashville President Cindy Mabe. Photo: UMG Nashville

Keith Urban Free Bridgestone Concert 5.9.16 (C) Moments By Moser Photography
Keith Urban Free Bridgestone Concert 5.9.16 (C) Moments By Moser Photography

Keith Urban Free Bridgestone Concert 5.9.16 (C) Moments By Moser Photography
Keith Urban Free Bridgestone Concert 5.9.16 (C) Moments By Moser Photography

Keith Urban Free Bridgestone Concert 5.9.16 (C) Moments By Moser Photography
Keith Urban Free Bridgestone Concert 5.9.16 (C) Moments By Moser Photography

Keith Urban Free Bridgestone Concert 5.9.16 (C) Moments By Moser Photography
Keith Urban Free Bridgestone Concert 5.9.16 (C) Moments By Moser Photography

Keith Urban performs in Nashville on May 9, 2016. Photo: Andy Snyder
Keith Urban performs in Nashville on May 9, 2016. Photo: Andy Snyder

Keith Urban Free Bridgestone Concert 5.9.16 (C) Moments By Moser Photography
Keith Urban Free Bridgestone Concert 5.9.16 (C) Moments B