Catching Up With Brandon Lay

Artist on the rise, Brandon Lay, is currently celebrating the release of his second single to country radio, “Yada Yada Yada.” In addition to brand new music, the singer/songwriter is also on tour with country superstar Kenny Chesney where he is showcasing his craft week after week at massive football stadiums and arenas across the U.S.

“Yada Yada Yada” serves as a strong follow up single to his debut track, “Speakers, Preachers and Bleachers.” “Some start with a title and some start with the music as far as the conception or idea” Lay shares with us in an exclusive interview. “With this song, I had the melody come first and put it in my phone as “yada yada yada” and used it as a filler. When I brought it in to Mikey Reaves and Heather Morgan , my co-writers, they liked it as a title and we came up with a way to write it.”

With the release of two singles to country radio, the country newcomer is also working on his debut studio album. “This first album for me is going to cover a lot of ground” Brandon reveals. “Some of the songs are 5 and 6 years old and some of them 2 and 3 months old. It covers a broad spectrum. You can only fit so much on your debut album. I’m really proud of it and I look forward to sharing the whole project.”

Not only is Lay co-writing the tracks for this album, but he is also co-producing the album as well. “I never set out to write them all or produce it by any means. I didn’t really see that one coming” Brandon shares. “Luckily I had the availability to go in when I got a publishing deal with Warner Chapel and it afforded me the luxury of cutting my demos. I was always producing my own demos so it got me a lot of studio time where I got to do a lot of trial and error that I’m very thankful for.”

“I got to co-produce with Paul Giovanni, who is really the master-mind. Working with him was very organic because we just started out writing. We had a few songs and were like what if we just do the whole album. Luckily Universal [Music] gave us the green light.”

Throughout the summer, Brandon has been able to highlight his new music on a massive platform being on Chesney’s Trip Around The Sun Tour. It’s been an amazing experience so far for Lay and he’s nowhere near ready for it to end. “Every week is like living in a dream. It’s been an unbelievable experience. We are nearing the middle point of the tour and I don’t even want to think about it ending.”

“Kenny and his guys have been so good to us. We are definitely getting a good education out there. Fans are showing up early to see our set which is amazing. As a new artist, how many guys get that kind of platform to get to bounce new music off and get going. It has been extremely helpful.”

If you haven’t seen Brandon Lay in concert yet, add it to your “to-do” list. He will be on Chesney’s Trip Around The Sun Tour throughout the summer, as well as multiple other shows throughout the year. For a full list of concert dates, click here.

To continue to get to know Brandon Lay, visit his Official Website, and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to contact your local country radio station and request his latest single, “Yada Yada Yada,” available now on all digital platforms.

Michael Ray’s Puma Collection Sells Out on Zappos.com With Proceeds Helping Animals In Need

Inspired by the generosity of his fans, country star Michael Ray knew he wanted to celebrate the release of his sophomore album, Amos by giving back. That philanthropic spirit resulted in a partnership with Puma and Zappos for Good, the charitable arm of Zappos, to design a special, one-of-a-kind sneaker. Proceeds from sales of the “Wrigley Cares Limited-Edition Puma Classic Suede” benefitted Ray’s charitable initiative, Wrigley Cares: Helping Animals in Need, which was inspired by his rescue dog Wrigley.

“One of the best things about the country music community is the fact that we are a community—when you ask fans for their help, they always show up,” reflects Ray. “I never dreamed that Wrigley Cares could turn into what it’s become, and I owe it all to my fans.”

Wrigley Cares was born from the outpouring of love from fans who began showing up to Ray’s concerts with more dog toys, food and treats than his puppy would ever need. As a result the country hitmaker began donating those toys to a local animal shelter in whatever city his 2017 Get To You Tour was playing. With the help of Zappos for Good, they were able to identify local shelters in need and set up donation stations at each tour stop.

Ray’s entire collection of custom Puma sneakers sold out on Zappos.com in one month, and all proceeds directly support Wrigley Cares and its partner North Shore Animal League America.

Ray also made his late-night television debut earlier this week on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! performing his new single “One That Got Away.” The track is from his recently released sophomore album, Amos, which debuted in the Top 3 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart.  The summer smash has already become a staple in Ray’s live show and tied for most-added at country radio upon impact.

Fans can catch Ray performing at fairs and festivals including Cheyenne Frontier Days this summer. He will hit the road with Old Dominion this fall to play direct support on their Happy Endings World Tour. Amos is available everywhere now.

Kip Moore Returns To Road This Fall On His Headlining After The Sunburn Tour

Known for one of the most high-energy and captivating live-shows in the genre, Multi-PLATINUM singer/songwriter Kip Moore revealed he will hit the road this fall for a string of headlining dates across the country as part of his AFTER THE SUNBURN TOUR. The impressive trek will kick off in Silver Springs, MD on 9/20 and will make stops in major cities including Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City and more, as Moore’s fervent live fanbase continues to grow as “its the way he expresses what’s on his mind that draws sold-out audiences around the world” (CMT.)

Moore has invited a combination of special guests including Jordan Davis, Jillian Jacqueline, The Wild Feathers and Caroline Jones to join him across the dates, assembling one of the most stacked lineups this fall. Live Nation is the official tour promoter of AFTER THE SUNBURN Tour. Tickets for the tour will go on sale beginning Friday July, 20 at kipmoore.net.

“Anyone who knows me, knows that the live show means everything to us,” said Moore. “It’s where we get to thank our die-hard fans that show up to every show year after year, and it’s also where we get to lay all of our cards out on the table and win over new fans. I’m excited to get out to some cities we haven’t played a full show at in a while and with all the awesome acts we have joining us, it’s going to be a hell of a fall!”

AFTER THE SUNBURN TOUR DATES:

9/20/2018               Silver Springs, MD               The Fillmore Silver Spring**
9/21/2018               New York, NY                       Hammerstein Ballroom**
9/22/2018               Huntington, NY                     The Paramount****
9/28/2018               Birmingham, AL                    Avondale Brewing Co.***
10/4/2018               Fargo, ND                             Scheels Arena*
10/5/2018               Sioux Falls, SD                     The District*
10/6/2018               Madison, WI                          The Sylvee*
10/18/2018             Raleigh, NC                           The Ritz*
10/20/2018             Chattanooga, TN                   The Signal*
10/25/2018             Denver, CO                            The Fillmore Auditorium*
10/26/2018             Salt Lake City, UT                  The Complex*
10/27/2018             Reno, NV                               Grand Theatre @ The Grand Sierra Resort*
10/30/2018             Paso Robles, CA                   Vina Robles Amphitheater*
11/1/2018               Anaheim, CA                          House of Blues*
11/2/2018               Los Angeles, CA                    The Wiltern*
11/3/2018               San Diego, CA                       House of Blues*
11/5/2018               San Francisco, CA                 The Regency*
11/8/2018               Spokane, WA                         Fox Theater*
11/9/2018               Eugene, OR                           Hult Center for Performing Arts*
11/10/2018             Seattle, WA                            Paramount Theatre*
11/17/2018             Nashville, TN                         War Memorial Auditorium*

*Dates with Jordan Davis, Jillian Jacqueline // **Dates with The Wild Feathers, Caroline Jones
***Dates with The Wild Feathers, Jillian Jacqueline // ****Dates with The Wild Feathers

Kenny Chesney Celebrates 30th Career No. 1 Hit with “Get Along”

Fresh from breaking the attendance record he set in 2015 this weekend at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium with 57,528 members of the No Shoes Nation coming out for his Trip Around the Sun Tour, Kenny Chesney sets another record. As “Get Along” tops Billboard’s Country Airplay chart – his 30th career No. 1, the songwriter/superstar from East Tennessee becomes the artist with the most No. 1 hits in the history of the chart.

“I can’t think of a better song to set a record,” Chesney says. “Everything it says is everything I think makes the world a better place. To have something that has a groove that feels so good wrapped around a song that reminds us it’s the things that bring us together that will make us happy… When you get right down to it, “Get Along’ is a great way to have some pretty important life advice delivered.”

“Even when Kenny does ‘art,’ he understands the soul of people — and how to connect,” enthuses Warner Nashville Chairman John Esposito. “‘Get Along,’ as he said, is a song for times like these — and radio’s response shows it.”

“It feels great to hit No. 1, but ‘Get Along’ also reminds us: we have more in common than we think, and if we start there, if we get along, we can make this world a better place. As our first — and one of his fastest – No. 1s, I can’t think of a better way to kick-off this relationship.”

“In some ways, ‘Get Along’ is very different from the rest of Songs for the Saints,” Chesney says. “But in a lot of ways, it boils down every other subject onto the record – and ties it up with a perfect bit of the euphoria that defines the people of the Saints. It was an obvious choice for radio, but it also embodies everything else on a record which lifts up everything that has inspired my music over the last eighteen years.”

Just coming off the David Lee Murphy “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” there’s a definite energy coming off Chesney’s creative zone. Tapping into feeling good and embracing the best of what’s possible, he’s having an unprecedented summer.

Starting as a few songs written in the throes of Hurricane Irma and the wake of Hurricane Maria, Songs for the Saints quickly evolved into a deeply personal and absolutely in-the-moment song cycle. Featuring Ziggy Marley, Mindy Smith and Jimmy Buffett, the project considers humanity, hope, resilience and how we all can and do get along.

“This didn’t come from anywhere but my heart, my soul and my concern for a lot of people who’ve given me a lot of their life. When it’s good, lots of people get inspired, get in gear and find their better selves. To start Songs for the Saints this way feels like a really good beginning.”

Kacey Musgraves Reveals North American Dates For Her Headlining “Oh, What A World” Tour

In support of her critically-acclaimed #1 album Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves announces North American dates on her headlining Oh, What A World: Tour. The North American leg of the tour will kick off on January 9th in Indianapolis making stops in major cities across the U.S. and Canada, including Toronto, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Nashville before concluding on March 21st in Birmingham (see full list of tour dates below). 

Artist pre-sale for the North American dates is available now via kaceymusgraves.com/tour, with tickets going on sale to the general public this Friday, July 20th at 10am local.

These North American dates follow Kacey’s previously announced European dates. The Oh, What A World: Tour will begin October 13th in Oslo, running through November 6th in Dublin, with Kacey headlining London’s legendary Wembley Arena on October 27th.

Oh, What A World: Tour North American Dates

1/9/19
Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
Indianapolis, Indiana

1/10/19
Royal Oak Music Theatre
Royal Oak, Michigan

1/11/19
Danforth Music Hall
Toronto, Ontario

1/12/19
Corona Theatre
Montreal, Quebec

1/15/19
State Theatre
Portland, Maine

1/17/19
The Capitol Theatre
Port Chester, New York

1/18/19
The Fillmore Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1/19/19
Boch Center Wang Theatre
Boston, Massachusetts

1/24/19
The Anthem
Washington D.C.

1/25/19
Beacon Theatre
New York, New York

1/29/19
Express Live!
Columbus, Ohio

1/31/19
Chicago Theatre
Chicago, Illinois

2/1/19
The Sylvee
Madison, Wisconsin

2/2/19
Palace Theatre
St. Paul, Minnesota

2/13/19
The Van Buren
Phoenix, Arizona

2/14/19
The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Los Angeles, California

2/15/19
The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Los Angeles, California

2/16/19
The Masonic
San Francisco, California

2/18/19
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Portland, Oregon

2/19/19
Paramount Theatre
Seattle, Washington

2/22/19
Paramount Theatre
Denver, Colorado

2/28/19
Ryman Auditorium
Nashville, Tennessee

3/1/19
Ryman Auditorium
Nashville, Tennessee

3/2/19
Ryman Auditorium
Nashville, Tennessee

3/8/19
The Bomb Factory
Dallas, Texas

3/9/19
Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
Austin, Texas

3/10/19
Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
Austin, Texas

3/19/19
Tennessee Theatre
Knoxville, Tennessee

3/21/19
Alabama Theatre
Birmingham, Alabama