Music News Net

STAGECOACH Country Music Festival Announced for 2011

MUSIC NEWS- Organizers of the annual Stagecoach music fest have confirmed Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, 2011 as the dates for next year’s STAGECOACH: CALIFORNIA'S COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL.  It'll be the fifth annual music event; which has every year featured an impressive array of artists from the genres of mainstream country, bluegrass, folk, roots rock, country rock and alt-country, and will again take place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA. 

LYNYRD SKYNYRD Tribute Album Announced

MUSIC NEWS- A LYNYRD SKYNYRD Tribute CD has been announced for a summer 2010 release (July 20 exclusively at WalMart) with some of country music's top artist paying to the legendary southern rock band and their enduring legacy with Sweet Home Alabama – The Country Music Tribute To Lynyrd Skynyrd.

With a balance of bedrock Southern Rock and Outlaw Country roots, the new CD will represent a distinct collection of many of the band's most iconic tracks by the genre's brightest stars, including Eric Church, Randy Houser, Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Uncle Kracker, Randy Montana, Ashley Ray and Eli Young Band.

JIMMY BUFFET Assembles Gulf Coast Benefit Concert

MUSIC NEWS - Jimmy Buffett and some of his friends will be appearing at a Gulf Coast benefit concert on July 1.  The special Gulf Shores, AL beach concert will aid Gulf Coast residents affected by the April Gulf of Mexico oil spill will feature Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band, Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, Jesse Winchester, Sonny Landreth and Allen Toussaint.  The show will air live on the CMT network from 8-9:30pm EDT.

It's a free show, but the idea is to raise money, so pick up one of the t-shirt specially designed for the event.  It'll be sold online as well as at the event siteshow and you can expect other opportunities to help.

Additional details (more acts?) will be announced soon. More info Buffett’s website, here .

Jimmy Buffett Tickets

Country Music Legend (and Breakfast Meat King) JIMMY DEAN Dead at 81

MUSIC NEWS - Country music Hall of Famer, TV show host and country singer Jimmy Dean, best known for his hit 'Big Bad John', died on Sunday at his home in Henrico County, Virginia reports his wife,  Donna Meade Dean.  She said to the Associated Press that Mr Dean had some health problems but was still functioning well, and his death came as a shock. She said he was eating in front of the tv and left the room for a time.  When she returned to the room he was unresponsive. Dean was pronounced dead at 7:54PM.

His big hit, the tune, 'Big Bad John' was released in 1961, and later covered by Johnny Cash and Sammy Davis Jr.  Dean later began The Jimmy Dean Meat Company in 1969, selling the company in 1984 to the Sarah Lee corportation, but stayed on as their chairman and TV spokesperson (until 1983 when they dumped him). 

Texas born Dean should also be foundly remembered as giving The Muppets one of their early big breaks. He introduced Jim Henson to the public through the piano playing dog Rowlf who he featured regularly on his 1950s TV show.

Ingrid Michaelson and Mat Kearney Team Up for 2010 Tour

MUSIC NEWS - Singer/songwriters Mat Kearney and Ingrid Michaelson hae announced plans to team up and co-headline one of the top anticipated tours of 2010.

 

Ingrid Michaelson arrive with fanfare with her 2007 debut album Girls and Boys,that featured the hit, "The Way I Am".  Her latestrelease, Everybody, led by the infectious first single "Maybe," shot to #1 on the iTunes sales chart when it was released.   Remaining true to her indie roots, Michaelson's music is released on the label she founded, Cabin 24 Records.

 

Mr Kearney has spent the last five years traveling the country and establishing himself as a new artist with his first release, Nothing Left To Lose.  Mat Kearney has more recently put down roots into his new hometown of Nashville, TN, and cultivated the tracks for City of Black & White, released in May 2009 on Aware/Columbia Records. 

 

T Bone Burnett to Produce New Willie Nelson Rounder Records Release

MUSIC NEWS- T-Bone Burnett has announced he's on board with legend Willie Nelson for the new album,  "Country Music" the first release by Willie as part of his new deal with Boston, MA based Rounder Records.

The constantly touring Nelson, who regularly is out 200+ days a year touring, has said he'll include songs from the album at shows on his current tour. "Country Music" will feature musicians such as banjo player Riley Baugus, double bassist Dennis Crouch and Burnett himself, all veterans of the sessions for "Raising Sand", the award winner and popular album by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

LOVE AND THEFT, New Album & Contest

     MUSIC NEWS - To celebrate the release of their World Wide Open album, Nashville country rockers,  Love and Theft have teamed up with CMT for a cool giveaway. One L&T fan will get a chance to bring 7 of their friends along for a tour bus ride to one of the band’s upcoming concerts (who doesn't love a tour bus ride) !  Released last week, World Wide Open features the single, “Runaway” which the group recently completed a video for, with Kristen Barlowe (view it below).  Enter for your chance to win the contest here.