Great news for Hal Ketchum fans

If you are a fan of Hal Ketchum I just found out there is new music headed our way.  The talented singer-songwriter has a project due out in September.  It’s called “Father Time” and should be another in a long line of wonderful CDs by the man.  Hopefully we will be getting a copy soon to share with you so stay tuned.

Reckless Kelly headed for Gruene Hall

If you like Reckless Kelly here is some good news.  They are going to play a two-night stand in early August at the historical dance hall in New Braunfels as they tour behind the release of their new album, Bulletproof. If you haven’t checked out the CD yet you can hear some cuts by tuning in to our Americana Roots radio station.  The album has already reached #7 on the Americana radio airplay chart.

For the truly monster fans here is the upcoming summer schedule for the band.

July 2, Colonial Theatre, Idaho Falls
July 3, Dude Bra Brew Fest, Jackson, Wyo.
July 4, 4th on Fourth Street Party, Ketchum, Idaho
July 5, Tamarack Pavilion, Donnelly, Idaho (First Sorry For Partying Music Festival)
July 6, Sacagawea Center, Salmon, Idaho
July 10. Rabb’s Steakhouse, Ruston, La.
July 12, Lance Byrd Ranch, Graford, Texas
July 14, Mercury Lounge, Nashville
July 17-21, Cross Canadian Ragweed-Carnival Cruise
July 31, Brewster Street Ice House, Corpus Christi, Texas
August 1-2, Gruene Hall, New Braunfels, Texas
August 6, Bluebird Theatre, Denver
August 7-9, Braun Brothers Reunion, Challis, Idaho
August 12, Tractor Tavern, Seattle
August 15, Slim’s, San Francisco
August 22, North Texas State Fairgrounds, Denton
August 29, Sam Houston Race Park, Houston
August 31, Ziegfest at Lake Bryan, Texas
October 4, Ziegfest at Old Town, Spring, Texas
October 24, Tumbleweed Dance Hall, Stillwater, Okla.
October 25, Spanish Moon, Baton Rouge, La.
October 26, Soul Kitchen, Mobile, Ala

The new Hacienda Bros. CD is out

The new Hacienda Bros. CD hit the streets this week.  It’s called Arizona Motel and is on Proper American records.  As you know Chris Gaffney passed away recently and this is his and partner Dave Gonzalez’s last effort.

Dave Gonzalez of the Hacienda Brothers will be touring this summer to celebrate the life of his friend and musical partner Chris Gaffney.  The touring will be difficult yet cathartic for Gonzalez.  There hasnt’ been a tour in the past six years, since his days in the Paladins, that Gaffney hasn’t been there right by his side.  Yet there is no better way to honor the memory of Chris then to go out and play to the audience that loved him so.  This will be a chance for all of Chris’ friends and fans to gather and pay tribute to one of the greatest American music performers in the past 20 years. Gonzalez will also be out supporting the release of the last studio album from the Hacienda Brothers titled Arizona Motel.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to helpgaff.com to aid the family of Chris Gaffney.

Check out the band’s site to read more www.haciendabrothers.com

If you’re a fan of Solomon Burke

Great news for fans of Solomon Burke....oh let’s be honest, for all music fans!  Solomon is going to be on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on August 8th.  Get those DVRs and TIVOs ready to roll if you can’t stay up.

New Crooked Still album out now!

If you are a fan of the band Crooked Still you’ll be happy to know they are back.  If you aren’t aware of the band check this out.

Signature Sounds recording artist Crooked Still is releasing their highly anticipated third album titled Still Crooked today, June 24th. A world tour to support the record will follow. The band, made up of founding members Aoife O’Donovan, Greg Liszt and Corey DiMario, along with two new players, presents fluidity across musical genres: old time, folk, bluegrass and world music, on all of their recordings.

Ever Heard of Chattahippie?

There’s a festival that’s going to be held that looks like it might be a lot of fun.  They are going to have over thirty artists from ten states perform including some of our favorites like Two Tons of Steel, Elizabeth Cook, Buzz Cason, Chris Knight and Band of Heathens.  The festival will be happening September 18-21.

Chattahippie is located on a 55-acre riverfront venue just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Festival tickets are available in 3-day, 4-day and Stage/VIP package only; no single-day tickets will be made available to the public. Advance ticket pricing begins at $30, but for a limited time only.  Ticket prices are subject to change at any time.

For artist bios, ticket sales, and other information please visit the festival website at http://www.chattahippie.com.  You can also join the fan forum on Facebook!

Xbox & Music?

I received an email yesterday from Dierks people (yes, he has people now) about joining him for an online Xbox night of gaming.  I thought this was pretty cool given that I’m a Xbox junkie in my spare time (gamer tag: Fender if you ever want to play I would love to know if any Americana artists are Xbox junkies like myself so we could line-up a game with the fans night?

Platinum-selling country artist Dierks Bentley will take on Xbox LIVE® members in Halo® 3 on June 18, 2008. f you’re an Xbox LIVE Gold member, and you want a chance to play with Dierks Bentley, send a friend request to the following Gamertag (*Dierks GWF) and be online half an hour before (4:30 P.M. ET) the Game with Fame session starts at 5:00 P.M. ET

If you get a chance to play with Dierks Bentley, we want to hear about it! Send us an e-mail with the subject: “GWF - Dierks Bentley.” Be sure to include your Gamertag and home town.
visit Dierks Bently’s website at : http://www.dierks.com

The AMA Announces Nominees

The Americana Music Association has announced the nominees for the organization’s 2008 Honors and Awards ceremony, slated for September 18 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Esteemed roots music innovators Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn read the list of awards candidates to a crowd of industry executives, artists and tastemakers gathered in BMI’s Music Row lobby.

Selected by members of the Americana Music Association, the 2008 nominees reflect the genre’s penchant for harboring exciting roots artists capable of career longevity and enthralling reinvention. The nominees’ eligibility is based on work released between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2008.

The 2008 Americana Music Association Honors and Awards Nominees include:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
Raising Sand

Hayes Carll
Trouble in Mind

James McMurtry
Just Us Kids

Levon Helm
Dirt Farmer

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Steve Earle
Levon Helm
Jim Lauderdale
James McMurtry

INSTUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR

Buddy Miller
Chris Thile
Gurf Morlix
Sam Bush

NEW EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Justin Townes Earle
Mike Farris
Ryan Bingham
The Steeldrivers

SONG OF THE YEAR

“Broken”
Tift Merritt

“Cheney’s Toy”
James McMurtry

“Gone Gone Gone”
Alison Krauss & Robert Plant

“Poor Old Dirt Farmer”
Levon Helm

“She Left Me for Jesus”
Hayes Carll

DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR

Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
Drive By Truckers
Kane Welch Kaplin
The Avett Brothers

Are You A Songwriter?

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has begun accepting submissions for 2008. The highlights of this year’s competition are a new Music Video category and many new judges including: Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20); KT Tunstall; Chaka Khan; Buckcherry; T-Pain; Neil Finn (Crowded House); James Cotton; Mario, McCoy Tyner; and more. More than $150,000 in cash and prizes will be shared among the 62 winners, including an overall Grand Prize of $25,000 (US) cash and $20,000 in prizes. Feel free to check out the details below or let any songwriters you know.

Check out the website at http://www.songwritingcompetition.com for more detailed information or to enter your songs.

The ISC welcomes original songs from musicians, artists, and songwriters at every level from amateur to professional. Entrants may submit songs in any of the following categories: Pop/Top 40, AAA (Adult Album Alternative), Rock, Country, Americana, R&B/Hip-Hop, Blues, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Jazz, Gospel/Christian, Latin Music, Instrumental, Dance/Electronica, Comedy/Novelty, World Music, Children’s Music, Lyrics Only, Teen, Performance, and Music Video.

The Gougers Offer Free Album Download

The offer to music lovers by The Gougers—the Austin-based alt-country band whose fall 2007 album, the independently released A LONG DAY FOR THE WEATHERVANE, continues to wow club audiences and critics with its depth, energy and edgy sound—for a free download of the entire album started Sunday, June 1.

At http://www.freegougers.com, fans can follow simple directions to swiftly acquire the 11 tracks of A LONG DAY FOR THE WEATHERVANE, which spent more than a month in the Top 10 on the Americana airplay chart and the months since in the Top 60 accumulating 5,400 spins and counting. Fan favorites include “Everybody Knows,” “Manheim Station,” “Old Crow Scarecrow,” “Sleeping Pills” and “Michael.”

“We’re giving it away so that people can afford to get to the show,” says songwriter Jamie Wilson. “Really, we’re just proud of this record, and we want to get it in more people’s hands.”

“In short, we’re giving it away because we can,” adds co-writer Shane Walker. Wilson and Walker are backed by bass player Cody Foote, drummer-percussionist John Ross Silva and lead guitarist Lance Smith.

Chris Gaffney, 1950-2008

I don’t usually post press releases verbatim, but this one sums it up. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family.

Chris Gaffney, a beloved husband, revered entertainer, precious father, dear uncle, trusted friend, cherished brother has succumbed to liver cancer

Chris Gaffney passed away yesterday morning, April 17, 2008 in the Orange County hospital in California with his wife Julie at his side. He suffered a fall at home last night and died in his sleep after being admitted to the hospital. Further details are unavailable at this time. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.

“Chris Gaffney grew up in Arizona, where he learned to play the accordion as a young child. The instrument would later influence the performer’s mix of norteño with country and rock & roll. Gaffney eventually mastered guitar as well and spent his teen years gigging in cover and house bands. In 1977, he formed a partnership with keyboardist Wyman Reese, who also produced Gaffney’s initial solo efforts. Road to Indio appeared in 1986; it featured 1950s rock, soul, and dusty Bakersfield honky tonk. Chris Gaffney & the Cold Hard Facts followed in 1990, and delved into Gaffney’s Hispanic heritage. His third solo effort, Mi Vida Loca, was issued in 1992. Loser’s Paradise appeared in 2003. The album was produced by blue-collar stalwart Dave Alvin and featured contributions from Lucinda Williams and Jim Lauderdale.” – Johnny Loftus, AMG. Gaffney also recorded and toured extensively as a member of Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men. Gaffney & Alvin formed a bond of brotherhood that has been a cornerstone in each of their lives.

Gaff’s most current project, The Hacienda Brothers is a collaboration between singer and songwriter Gaffney and Dave Gonzalez, best known as the guitarist, singer, and songwriter with the veteran blues-rockabilly combo the Paladins. “Longtime friends Gaffney and Gonzalez first performed together when they played an informal set for a mutual friend’s birthday party in 2002; Gonzalez was impressed with the results, and as he was looking for an outlet for the country-style songs he was unable to perform with the Paladins, he proposed a more formal collaboration. Teaming up with David Berzansky on pedal steel, Hank Maninger on bass, and Dale Daniel on drums, the duo adopted the name the Hacienda Brothers, and set up a base of operations in Tucson, Ariz. Gonzalez, who has a passionate interest in vintage cars, struck up a friendship with fellow gearhead Dan Penn, the legendary producer and songwriter who was a key figure in the Muscle Shoals sound, and he persuaded Penn to produce the debut Hacienda Brothers album, the eponymous Hacienda Brothers. Penn also contributed two songs to the sessions, which appeared on the group’s self-titled 2005 release. What’s Wrong with Right was released the following year.” –Mark Deming, AMG. A live CD, Music For Ranch & Town, was released unofficially in August of 2007. Their sound, dubbed “Western Soul,” culminated in the 2007 nomination for the Americana Music Association Duo/Group of the Year. In January of 2008 The Hacienda Brothers recorded their 4th CD, Arizona Motel, that will be released nationally on June 24th.

Plans are in the works for the band to tour in support of the CD in tribute to Chris Gaffney.

Chris Gaffney lived his life as a dedicated musician with little fanfare or ego. The industry recognition that had so long eluded him finally came with sincere praise & genuine respect for the quality of his work in The Hacienda Brothers. His fans worldwide have overwhelmingly shown their loved & appreciation. The HelpGaff.com website has raised tens of thousands of dollars before a single benefit show has even been played. Gaff was universally loved for his quick smile, even temperament, keen observations and dry wit. He will be missed as much for those qualities as for his incomparable talent as a singer, songwriter and musician. And we will surely miss hearing the girls scream, “Gaffney! Gaffney! Gaffney!”

Gaff’s favorite month of the year? “April, because it always brings hope.”

–Dianne Scott

Jim Lauderdale on Jay Leno!

A good night for Americana on late night tv tonight. Jim Lauderdale and The Dream Players will be performing a cut from their new Yep Roc release HONEY SONGS on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, TONIGHT 3/19. Also, Paul Thorn will be on Conan O’Brien.

Paul Thorn on Conan O’ Brien

Paul Thorn will appear on the Late Show with Conan O’ Brien tonight 3/19/2008.