PHIL VASSAR TEAMS UP WITH COUNTRY CARES FOR ST. JUDE KIDS RADIO STATION PARTNERS

Showdog-Universal Music’s Phil Vassar has teamed up with Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® radio station partners for a year-long promotion to benefit kids battling cancer and other deadly diseases at St. Jude.

The Country Cares radio station that secures the most “Partner In Hope” monthly pledges throughout the designated contest time will receive a free acoustic concert by Phil Vassar. The contest begins on February 3, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011.

The St. Jude Partner In Hope family is made up of a special group of loyal supporters who give monthly to St. Jude so the hospital has the necessary financial resources to ensure that no child is ever turned away because of a family’s inability to pay.

“St. Jude is such a fantastic and necessary organization,” states Phil, who recently visited with St. Jude patients during a visit to the hospital. “I want to do whatever I can to help these kids and we’re going to have some fun in the process.”

"St. Jude steps up to the plate every day,” says Bill Black, Program Director of WKSJ. “And now Phil Vassar steps up and supports St. Jude and country radio with a great incentive to grow your radiothon!"

Country Cares began in 1989 after Randy Owen, lead singer of the music group ALABAMA, met St. Jude founder Danny Thomas. Since its inception, Country Cares has grown to be one of the most successful radio fundraising events in the nation with more than 200 radio station partners raising more than $365 million in pledges. Visit www.countrycares.org to learn more about Country Cares and to support St. Jude’s groundbreaking research and lifesaving care.

LISA STEWART SEALS JOINS THE CAST OF “LOVE DON’T LET ME DOWN”

Lisa Stewart Seals, wife of country artist Brady Seals, joins the all-star cast of the new motion picture “Love Don’t Let Me Down” starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw.

Seals plays the mother of a 7-year-old son, Travis, a Leukemia patient who, as part of the Make a Wish Foundation, gets to meet Paltrow's country music artist character. Travis is played by Gabe Sipos, a real life cancer survivor.

“My role is a small one, but I’m so excited to have a few lines and to share a scene with an Academy Award winner, a country music icon and a brave soul like Gabe," says Lisa. “On my list of 'Things I Hope to Accomplish in My Life,' I get to check something off!"

Seals is no stranger to being on film. She starred in the film “Jericho,” winner of “Best Feature Film” at Naples Film Fest. She also appeared in "Nothing Lasts Forever," a CBS mini-series directed by Jack Bender of "Lost" fame. Formerly a recording artist for BNA Records, Lisa has been a red carpet correspondent for E! Entertainment and has hosted various TV show in national syndication for TNN, GAC and more. Lisa's voice is currently featured as the reader of Sara Evans’ audio book The Sweet By and By.

Love Don’t Let Me Down, which will star Tim McGraw, Gwyneth Paltrow, Friday Night Lights’ Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester, began production in Nashville in January. The film revolves around “a rising young singer-songwriter (Hedlund) who becomes involved with a fallen country singer (Paltrow). As they embark on a career resurrection tour with her husband and manager (McGraw) and a beauty queen-turned-singer (Meester), romantic entanglements and old demons threaten to derail them all.”

Look Mexico Video: "You Stay. I Go. No Following."

Look Mexico premiered the video for "You Stay. I Go. No Following." on Consequence of Sound. The video, directed by Bobby Marinelli and the band's own Joshua Mikel, can be seen below.

Look Mexico "You Stay. I Go. No Following." from Look Mexico HD on Vimeo.

"You Stay. I Go. No Following." is the first single off the band's sophomore album To Bed To Battle, which will be released March 23rd, 2010 on Suburban Home Records. The You Stay. I Go. No Following single, which includes an acoustic version of album track "They Only Take The Backroads" as a b-side, is also currently available in multiple formats via Suburban Home's website.

Additionally, Look Mexico will hit the road later this month for a three-week tour that begins with two Texas shows, at the Ten Eleven in San Antonio on February 20th and at Red 7 in their new home of Austin on February 21st, before heading east to the Club Downunder in their former hometown of Tallahassee, FL, on February 24th. The band will then travel up the northeast coast and back before playing Vino's in Little Rock, AR, on March 16th. Look Mexico is also set to perform at the 2010 Harvest Of Hope Fest in St. Augustine, FL, on March 13th and 14th, and at this year's SXSW Festival.

Look Mexico has also received some early glowing press about To Bed To Battle in a full-page 'AP Recommends' feature in the current issue (#260) of Alternative Press with writer Chris Parker describing the album as "meld[ing] prickly guitars in coursing tracks that sway and churn with the consistency of a taffy pull. The 10-song disc was polished throughout extensive demoing to fashion arrangements that twist and turn with the engulfing beauty of a winding Florida canopy road."

Look Mexico February/March 2010 Tour Dates

Look Mexico tour dates:

FEB. 20 SAN ANTONIO, TX THE TEN ELEVEN
FEB. 21 AUSTIN, TX RED 7
FEB. 24 TALLAHASSEE, FL CLUB DOWNUNDER
FEB. 25 GAINESVILLE, FL 1982 BAR
FEB. 26 ORLANDO, FL BACKBOOTH
FEB. 27 BRANDON, FL THE PORCH (early show)
FEB. 27 TAMPA, FL NEW WORLD BREWERY (late show)
FEB. 28 ST. AUGUSTINE, FL LIMELIGHT
MAR. 2 ATHENS, GA CALEDONIA LOUNGE
MAR. 3 COLUMBIA, SC NEW BROOKLAND TAVERN
MAR. 4 CHARLOTTE, NC THE CASBAH AT TREMONT
MAR. 5 RALEIGH, NC TIR NA NOG
MAR. 6 RICHMOND, VA THE CANAL CLUB
MAR. 7 PHILADELPHIA, PA THE TROCADERO (balcony)
MAR. 8 BOSTON, MA THE MIDDLE EAST
MAR. 10 NEW YORK, NY THE STUDIO AT WEBSTER HALL
MAR. 11 NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ COURT TAVERN
MAR. 12 WILMINGTON, NC THE SOAPBOX
MAR. 13 ST. AUGUSTINE, FL HARVEST OF HOPE FEST
MAR. 14 ST. AUGUSTINE, FL HARVEST OF HOPE FEST
MAR. 16 LITTLE ROCK, AR VINO'S
MAR. 17-20 AUSTIN, TX SXSW

Banjo Demonstration with Curtis McPeake with Andy May at the Country Music Hall of Fame

Sunday, February 7 1:00 p.m.
Banjo Demonstration: Curtis McPeake with Andy May
Curtis McPeake is a banjo player who has performed or recorded with Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Danny Davis, Lester Flatt, Bill Monroe, and others. Andy May will sit in on guitar. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

Country Music Hall of Fame Songwriter Sesson with Georgia Middleman and Dave Berg

Saturday, February 6 11:30 a.m.
Songwriter Session: Georgia Middleman and Dave Berg
Georgia Middleman wrote “Dearly Beloved” (Faith Hill); “Don’t Ruin It for the Rest of Us” (Mark Chesnutt); “Do What You Do” (Martina McBride); and songs recorded by Radney Foster, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Joe Nichols, and others. Dave Berg wrote “Don’t Make Me” (Blake Shelton); “If You’re Going Through Hell” (Rodney Atkins); “Innocence” (Sarah Buxton); “Moments” (Emerson Drive); “Somebody” (Reba McEntire); “Stupid Boy” (Keith Urban); “These Are My People” (Rodney Atkins); and songs recorded by Bucky Covington, Ronnie Milsap, Darius Rucker, and others. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

AARON WATSON BEGINS 2010 WITH CHARITIES, AWARDS, AND A NUMBER 1 SINGLE

Aaron Watson’s 2010 is off to a great start having already won two awards, provided aid to two different charities, earned a number 1 single for “The Road” and been honored with a day to call his own.

Aaron took home two Gruene With Envy Awards on January 13: Songwriter Of The Year and Live Album Of The Year for Deep In The Heart Of Texas: Aaron Watson LIVE. The Gruene With Envy Awards, currently in their 10th year, are the largest fan voted awards in Texas. Aaron was the only other multi-award winner this year along with The Eli Young Band.

That same week, Aaron was among the artists visiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN and had a chance to learn about the program and meet some very special children. Aaron hopes to make this an annual trip saying, “I have helped a lot of local stations in the past with their St Jude’s telethons but actually going there, meeting the people involved, seeing the hospital and being a part of the whole event really made an impact on me and I want to be involved with this charity every year.”

Aaron wrapped up the week performing his first annual “Honky Tonkin’ For The Hungry” at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, TX and helped raise over $10,000 for Fort Worth’s initiative “Directions Home” and Union Gospel Mission homeless shelter of Fort Worth. These organizations help to provide necessities for the city’s homeless.

With help from the Fort Worth mayor’s office and Pam and Billy Minick, proprietors of Billy Bob’s, Aaron performed for over 3,000 people, the largest attendance for Aaron ever at Billy Bob’s, during which Mayor Mike Moncrief of Fort Worth proclaimed January 16 “Aaron Watson Day.” The show was attended by Aaron’s friends and authors of NY Times best selling book Same Kind Of Different As Me, Ron Hall and Denver Moore. The book is currently being adapted to film.

To cap off a great January, “The Road,” the lead single from Aaron’s upcoming record made it to number 1 on both the Texas Music Chart and Texas Regional Radio Report and is currently climbing both the Music Row Chart and Billboard Indicator charts. With the year now in full swing, Aaron is back to an active tour schedule with plans to play Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arizona, and California in the coming months as well as putting finishing touches on his new studio album due out later this year.

Rockhouse Partners Music Marketing Company Created by Former Echo Executives

Three former executives of Echo — a music marketing company and Music Row success story — today announced the launch of Rockhouse Partners, a similar company that will focus on connecting brands to sponsorship opportunities in the entertainment industry.

Echo was founded in Nashville 11 years ago by Mark Montgomery and Neil Einstman. It evolved into a marketing company that managed artists’ online presence. Echo was acquired by Ticketmaster in March 2007 for a reported $25 million. In April, Ticketmaster announced it would close Echo and fold the operations of the company into its Los Angeles headquarters.

That was the impetus for the formation of a new company, said Kevin Brown, who led the strategic marketing team at Echo and will lead digital marketing design and development for Rockhouse.

“Anytime you have a brand that wants to associate itself with entertainment, we help make all that happen,” Brown said of Rockhouse.

Brown said only about two of 80 Echo employees followed the company to Los Angeles last year. Joining Brown as co-founders of Rockhouse are Managing Partner Tawn Albright, who served as CEO of Echo after overseeing Ticketmaster’s acquisition of the company, and Joe Kustelski, who led the product and development teams at Echo and will oversee product and technology endeavors at Rockhouse.

“We kind of refer to it as the three-legged stool,” Brown said.

While Rockhouse’s work differs from Echo’s, Brown said it is an outgrowth of it. Echo focused on creating communities around artists and music festivals, and was approached more and more by corporations that wanted to participate.

“That’s where we really saw the future around music sponsorships,” he said.

Brown said Rockhouse aspires to do more than simply broker deals, and hopes to differentiate itself by also focusing on digital marketing strategy, technology and analysis. Rockhouse will measure the success of sponsorship deals by aggregating various online and offline data sources. Examples include social media analytics and surveys asking people which brands they remember from sponsored events and how their perception of that brand changed.

Brown said there is a need for such analysis because 30 percent of entertainment sponsorship deals — $6 billion worth in North America — aren’t being measured.

The company is currently located on Eighth Avenue South but is in the market for a larger office space. Initial clients include Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Lance Armstrong and the RadioShack Pro Cycling Team, Next BIG Nashville, the Tennessee State Fair and Redpepper.

Thanks to Brandon Gee

Video of Cadillac Sky - "I Will Follow You Into The Dark"

Video of Cadillac Sky - "I Will Follow You Into The Dark"

Video of Taddy Porter's "Railroad Queen" Live at a Private Show

Video of Taddy Porter's "Railroad Queen" Live at a Private Show

See them in Nashville at 12th and Porter on February 12th!

Lissie Announces February/March Tour Dates

On the heels of her recent tour with City and Colour, Lissie has announced new tour dates in February and March. She will travel to London this week for two shows - including a performance at the HMV Next Big Thing Festival - before returning home to headline two of her own gigs, on Valentine's Day at Muddy Waters in Santa Barbara, CA, and on February 16th at the Hotel Café in Los Angeles, CA. Lissie will then head out to sea to perform on the Cayamo 2010: A Journey Through Song cruise from February 21st - 26th alongside Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett, among others. Beginning March 11th, she will tour in support of The Low Anthem en route to SXSW. Lissie is also now confirmed to perform on select dates of the Lilith Fair tour later this year.

Lissie's Why You Runnin' EP was released November 10, 2009 on Fat Possum Records and has been earning the young singer high praise, with coverage in Bust, Filter, Marie Claire, Nylon, and Under The Radar, among others. In addition to the recent 'Best of What's Next' profile in Paste, the Boston Globe included her in their 'Names To Know' in 2010 feature, declaring she is "...not so much a soul singer as she is an incredibly soulful Americana artist who finds the sepia-toned sweet spot between Neko Case, Laura Marling, and the Shangri-Las."

Her live shows have been drawing acclaim, too, with Soundcheck Magazine's blog writing, "The first time I heard Lissie on Minneapolis' 'The Current' I had only one reaction: this is the breakout artist of 2010, I'm calling it now. Seeing her perform live at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX merely confirmed this assumption. Lissie, standing like a dirty angel under the cross performing...singing, wailing, about angels following her home - pretty freakin epic if you ask me."

Lissie tour dates:

FEB. 5 LONDON, UK CAMDEN JAZZ CAFE
(HMV NEXT BIG THING FESTIVAL)
FEB. 9 LONDON, UK THE SOCIAL (BBC Introducing Night)
FEB. 14 SANTA BARBARA, CA MUDDY WATERS
FEB. 16 LOS ANGELES, CA HOTEL CAFÉ
FEB. 21-26 CAYAMO 2010: A JOURNEY THROUGH SONG CRUISE
MAR. 11 WASHINGTON, DC 9:30 CLUB*
MAR. 12 PHILADELPHIA, PA FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH (Sanctuary)*
MAR. 13 CARRBORO, NC CAT'S CRADLE*
MAR. 14 ATLANTA, GA SMITH'S OLDE BAR*
MAR. 15 NASHVILLE, TN THE BELCOURT THEATRE*

* with The Low Anthem

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ROMAN CANDLE: FEBRUARY/MARCH TOUR DATES WITH RAVENNA COLT

Roman Candle has announced new tour dates in February and March, including a series of weekend dates with Ravenna Colt. The band will also headline the second night of WKNC's Double Barrel Benefit on February 6th in Raleigh, NC.

Roman Candle has toured steadily over the past nine months with Jason Isbell, Will Hoge, Rocco Deluca, Ha Ha Tonka, and The Deep Vibration, among others. Most recently the band toured in support of Alejandro Escovedo, moving My Old Kentucky Blog to declare after the Indianapolis, IN, show, "Skip Matheny's lyrics swing from serious and sad, to clever and witty without ever seeming disingenuous; thus disarming the crowd and leaving them at the mercy of the band's whim...Roman Candle is definitely a band that is on the rise, and after seeing them play last night - that's the most exciting thing I've heard in a very long time."

Oh Tall Tree In The Ear, the band's third album, was released in May 2009 on Carnival Recording Company and landed on the year-end lists of some notable blogs such as I Am Fuel, You Are Friends, which noted, "I like the way the world looks through a Roman Candle album. You stop to listen to the birds and frogs and cicadas, and see the beauty in every streetlight and every moth, and notice the millions of stars. Oh Tall Tree In The Ear is a fine bluesy Americana album full of richly literate lyrics that keep giving to me, even as I've listened to this album dozens of times." Album track "They Say" can be downloaded here.

Roman Candle Feb/Mar tour dates:

FEB. 6 RALEIGH, NC THE POUR HOUSE (WKNC Double Barrel Benefit)
FEB. 19 LOUISVILLE, KY ZANZIBAR*
FEB. 20 LEXINGTON, KY NATASHA'S*
MAR. 11 KNOXVILLE, TN SQUARE ROOM**
MAR. 12 ATLANTA, GA THE EARL**
MAR. 13 BIRMINGHAM, AL BOTTLETREE**
MAR. 25 CHICAGO, IL SCHUBA'S^
MAR. 26 INDIANAPOLIS, IN RADIO RADIO**
MAR. 27 NASHVILLE, TN MERCY LOUNGE**

* supporting Ravenna Colt
** with Ravenna Colt in support
^ with Locksley in support

Formed in Chapel Hill, NC, in 1998, Roman Candle is Skip (vocals, guitar), Logan (drums), and Timshel (Wurlitzer, Farfisa) Matheny - Skip and Logan are brothers; Skip and Timshel are married.

Cadillac Sky Enters Into Exclusive Partnership Deal with Dualtone Music

After considering traditional offers from a handful of labels, Cadillac Sky will release their new album in early summer through a unique partnership deal with Dualtone Music.

“After weighing all the opportunities for releasing this phenomenal new CD, remaining independent is without question the best option," said the band's manager Evert Wilbrink who is optimistic about the partnership. "Dualtone shares our vision and their track record speaks for itself. With Dualtone, we will optimize our national and international momentum while still owning and controlling our music."

Scott Robinson, President of Dualtone, is excited about working with the band that brings progressive ideas not just to their music, but also in the fresh way they think about and do their business. “I really believe Cadillac Sky has the potential to be one of the big breakout artists of 2010. The direction they took with this new album puts them in a unique position to cross many genre boundaries that still exist out there and we’re pleased to be partnering up with these guys."

The new album Letters in the Deep, produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, is anything but traditional and marks the metamorphosis of Cadillac Sky from a critically-acclaimed Bluegrass band to a band without boundaries. Over the past year, Cadillac Sky has explored a lot of new terrain live on stage and with the recent addition of David Mayfield on guitar the band has developed into one of the most exciting rock-shows around. That new energy also translated into the studio as Cadillac Sky began recording the new album in Auerbach’s studio, Akron Analog. The Akron sessions proved to be a pivotal moment for the band and Auerbach played an instrumental role with a hands-off production approach, totally concentrating on shaping the sound of the record. The result is an honest, breathing piece of art that is amazingly authentic and gut-wrenchingly real.

Producer Dan Auerbach: “They rose to the occasion. There’s some really beautiful sounds on Letters In The Deep, it is as much of a living album as it is an art piece and I’m definitely proud to have my name attached to this project. Whatever genre it is, it’s a really great album, and I’m happy that I got to make it.”

Video of Josh Turner Discussing His Highly Anticipated Album "Haywire"

Josh Turner will release a deluxe version of his new album, HAYWIRE, on February 9th. The deluxe version will include the 11 songs that appear on the standard version (also in stores on February 9) PLUS two previously unreleased songs as well as live audio tracks of his hits "Your Man" and "Long Black Train." There will also be digital elements that include the music video for the debut single "Why Don't We Just Dance" and behind the scenes footage of Turner in the recording studio discussing every song on the album.

In addition, Turner will be featured on the Great American Country network's one-hour Origins series (airdates/times below). During the special, Turner shares personal stories about his musical journey from Hannah, SC to Nashville and how he and his wife Jennifer have adjusted to touring with their two sons, Hampton (age 3) and Colby (7 months). The show also features an intimate performance taped at the famed Loveless Barn.

Turner's "Why Don't We Just Dance," the first single from HAYWIRE, broke into the Top Ten this week. It currently sits at #7 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart.

GAC's Origins airdates/times:

* February 09, 2010 10:00 PM ET
* February 10, 2010 2:00 AM ET
* February 10, 2010 10:00 AM ET
* February 10, 2010 5:00 PM ET
* February 14, 2010 11:00 AM ET
* February 14, 2010 8:00 PM ET
* February 14/15, 2010 Midnight ET

NAMM Show New Products!

Billy Currington on the Red Carpet at the Grammys

We wish country star Billy Currington would have had someone straighten his tie and give him a shave before he hit the red carpet!

Ke$ha on the Red Carpet at the Grammys

Wild child Ke$ha dared to wear a golden flapper frock for her Grammy debut, but would have wound up with an 'A' had she opted for a sexier pair of pumps.

Sheryl Crow on the Red Carpet at the Grammys

47-year-old singer Sheryl Crow accentuated her buff arms in a basic brown Bottega Veneta gown and chunky gold jewelry.

Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland on the Red Carpet at the Grammys

The Sugerland songstress, Jennifer Nettles, stole the spotlight in a crimson-and-black Victoria Beckham cut-out dress, metallic bracelets, and flirty bob.

Carrie Underwood on the Red Carpet at the Grammys

Country cutie Carrie Underwood stepped out in an updated 'do and a fashion-forward frock from one of her favorite designers, Georges Chakra.

Miley Cyrus on the Red Carpet at the Grammys

Tween queen Miley Cyrus misfired in mismatched hair extensions and a shoulder pad-enhanced Herve Leger by Max Azria mini.

American Idol Runner-Up Adam Lambert on the Grammys Red Carpet

Glam rocker Adam Lambert delivered a bevy of fashion faux pas including caked-on makeup, a bedazzled blazer, a tacky bolo, excessive accessories, and heeled boots.

Taylor Swift Grammys Red Carpet Gown

The Album of the Year winner, Taylor Swift put her recent red carpet failures to rest in a fabulous sapphire, off-the-shoulder Kaufman Franco gown, chandelier earrings, and sideswept 'do.

Save $100 on SoundWorks i765 CD-DVD-iPod

Save $100 on SoundWorks i765 CD-DVD-iPod radio with SoundBlaster wireless for iTunes bundle This week only $299.99! No coupon necessary. Expires 2.8.10.

Nashville Zoo is Half-Price on Super Bowl Sunday!

The Nashville Zoo is offering half-priced admission to all visitors on Super Bowl Sunday.

The Feb. 7 promotion, known as Zooperbowl, means guests will pay $7 for adults, $4.50 for children 3 to 12 and $6 for seniors 65 or older. Zoo members and children 2 and younger are admitted free.

Zooperbowl encourages guests to get outside and see the zoo before sitting down for the big game.

Animals normally displayed during this time of year will be on exhibit as well as animals in the indoor Unseen New World exhibit. Most animals are acclimated to Nashville's climate except in extreme weather conditions, and some species are more active during cooler months.

Rides on the zoo's Wild Animal Carousel will be offered for $2 each, weather permitting. The zoo's gift shop, café and Jungle Gym playground will also be open during Zooperbowl.