Luke Bryan’s “Crash My Playa” Returns To Mexico

Four-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan, along with CID Presents, announces the third year of Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa, an all-inclusive concert vacation set for January 19-22, 2017 in Riviera Maya, Mexico. After two sold-out years, the hottest country music destination event is back for 2017. The Caribbean beach vacation features Luke headlining two of the four nightly concerts, with additional performers to be announced soon.

“This experience for my fans has more than exceeded our expectations,” said Luke. “From start to finish, everyone has the best time and it’s something my band, crew and I look forward to all year-long. We love kicking off the New Year this way!”

Fans can choose from eight tropical resorts including the newly added Dreams Tulum, Grand Velas and Secrets Akumal and enjoy royal treatment all weekend long – all-inclusive food and drink, 24-hour concierge service, daily onsite activities, offsite adventures like deep sea fishing, zip-lining, and ATV tours, excursions including day trips to Tulum, official Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa merchandise package, and more. To see highlights from 2016’s event go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tVifNAb1bY.

“We can’t wait to return to the beautiful coastline of Riviera Maya Mexico with the most passionate country music fans in the world for the third installment of Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa. Luke has been an incredible partner and co-producer for the past two years and we are looking forward to sharing what we have in store for 2017,” said Dan Berkowitz of CID Presents.

Citi is the official card of Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa. Citi cardmembers will have access to all-inclusive packages with presale tickets through Citi’s Private Pass Program beginning Monday, April 25 at 1pm EDT and tickets will be made available to the general public on Wednesday, April 27 at 1pm EDT. “We are thrilled to continue our relationship with Luke Bryan and offer Citi cardmembers early ticket access to these much anticipated live dates,” said Jennifer Breithaupt, Managing Director of Media, Advertising & Global Entertainment, Citi. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com.

For more information about Luke Bryan’s Crash My Playa 2017, how to book four or five night all-inclusive packages, and details on new payment plans, please visit: www.crashmyplaya.com.

Blake Shelton Reveals “If I’m Honest” Album Cover

With the release of his new album If I’m Honest just two months away, Blake Shelton revealed the striking cover during an episode of “The Voice.” The stunning black and white cover image will also be available in a limited-edition 3-D/ lenticular cover insert.

Blake Shelton If I'm Honest - CountryMusicRock.netWith the album’s lead single, “Came Here To Forget” Top 10 on the country singles chart and Top 5 on the sales chart, Shelton is excited to release new music.

“I’ve had a lot of music over the years but I don’t think I’ve ever had a song before that’s such a direct look into my life,” Shelton has said of the single. Written by Craig Wiseman and Deric Ruttan, “Came Here To Forget” is an intimate snapshot of a couple’s encounter at a bar.

The new album also includes the recently released “Savior’s Shadow” which Shelton co-wrote with Jon Randall and Jessi Alexander. “In all the years I’ve been doing this, I’ve never received this kind of reaction to a song,” said Shelton of the track, which reached No. 1 on the iTunes Christian & Gospel Chart this past week.

For more information and upcoming tour dates, please visit www.BlakeShelton.com and follow @BlakeShelton.

Brooks & Dunn to Receive NASH Icon Award at the American Country Countdown Awards

Superstar country duo Brooks & Dunn will receive the NASH Icon Award Presented by Ford F-Series, and will perform at the 2016 AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS airing live from the Forum in Inglewood, CA, Sunday, May 1 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Reba McEntire, recipient of the 2014 NASH Icon Award and longtime friend of Brooks & Dunn, will present the award, which is given to an artist whose extraordinary talent has influenced generations of musicians and honors the accomplishments and artistry of the recipient.

“Brooks & Dunn have indelibly etched their legacy as the biggest-selling duo in country music history,” said executive producer Mark Bracco. “Their outstanding career achievements have influenced legions of artists and fans alike, and we’re proud to recognize their tremendous success and ongoing musical impact with this well-deserved award.”

Brooks & Dunn join previously announced performers Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Cam, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Martina McBride, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell and Carrie Underwood.

“Many Ford customers – especially our F-Series truck customers – are fans of country music,” said Matt McDonnell, Ford Truck Experiential Marketing Manager. “Country music is part of Ford’s heritage, and we are pleased to support the Nash Icon Award Presented by Ford F-Series and this incredible showcase of talent.”

With 23 career chart-toppers and 30 million albums sold, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, of the country duo Brooks & Dunn, are the best-selling duo in country music history. They have amassed more than 80 industry awards, including two Grammy® Awards, 20 Country Music Association trophies and 27 Academy of Country Music honors, making them the most-awarded act in ACM history. They have been named Entertainer of the Year four times collectively by the ACM and CMA. Since their debut in 1991, Brooks & Dunn have remained among country music’s most popular touring acts, a testament both to their showmanship and to their status as one of the true bedrock artists of country music.

Tickets for the AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS at the “Fabulous” Forum are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.

Chris Young, Kelsea Ballerini and LoCash To Set Sail with Country Cruising

Many of the top Country stars in the format are taking part in the Country Cruising experience, set for January 14-19, 2017. Fans will be travelling aboard the Brilliance of the Seas®, a beautiful Radiance-class ship that combines sleek swiftness, panoramic vistas, and wide-open spaces. With acres of glass enclosing the nine-story central atrium, elevators facing the sea, and floor-to-ceiling windows throughout, cruisers will never be at a loss for an incredible view.

Country Cruising will set sail on January 14, 2017 from Tampa, and will stop in Key West before making its’ voyage to Cozumel, Mexico. The ship will arrive back in Tampa on January 19. Among the initial artists announced to participate in the cruise include hit-makers Chris Young, LOCASH and ACM’s New Female Vocalist of the Year winner Kelsea Ballerini.

Country Cruising offers the Country Music fan an amazing experience – a five night cruise, with accommodations and all meals taken care of during the event, as well as autograph sessions, photo opportunities, daily musical performances, and songwriter workshops. For more information about cruising, call 800-376-2504 or visit www.CountryCruising.com.

LANco Releases “Extended Play” EP

As country radio anticipates the official impact of their debut single, “Long Live Tonight,” compelling new Arista Nashville band LANco releases its 4-song EP, Extended Play! Produced by Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Emmylou Harris, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown Band), the featured tracks include the lead single and “We Do,” “American Love Story” and “Trouble Maker.”  Download “Extended Play” here.

Starting with a performance at Tortuga Music Festival in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on April 17, the 5-man band hits the road for a number of outdoor festival and concert events to showcase what Billboard refers to as their “exuberant concert persona and progressive brand of country.” Other festival stops include the Watershed Festival in George, WA on July 29, and Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL on July 31, with more to be announced.

As its official country radio impact approaches, “Long Live Tonight” is poised to become an important song in the soundtrack to the summer of ’16. Tempo and lyrically appropriate, the song which was co-penned by Jason Reeves and LANco lead vocalist and group founder Brandon Lancaster,  is “an anthem that pulls liberally from modern rock,” reports Rolling Stone Country which named the group one of their 10 New Aritsts You Need To Know! “The five guys who make up LANco…bring their own unique influences to the table, resulting in a rich mash-up of contemporary country and gleaming pop,” Rolling Stone Country went on to report. “No less than Jay Joyce jumped at the chance to produce them, putting the focus on anthems, the bands specialty.”

Well-timed with the release of LANco’s EP, the track “American Love Story,” is included in an episode of the newly-launched Netflix original series The Ranch.  Episode 9 “There Goes My Life” is the one in which this song, written by Brandon Lancaster, is featured.  The Ranch stars Ashton Kutcher, Debra Winger, Sam Elliott, Danny Masterson and Elisha Cuthbert.

Formed in 2012, LANco already been pegged as an artist to watch, chosen for CMT’s 2016 LISTEN UP campaign, which recognizes new stars on the verge of breaking out, while Spotify selected LANco among its Spotlight on 2016 Country artists, its annual list of the best new artists that they believe fans will come to love this year. Stream “Extended Play” on Spotify here.

LANco recently attended SXSW and literally performed all over Austin, TX. Key highlights included the Spotify House, Cumulus’ NASH Live!, the PlayStation House and Audience Network’s roof top concert series which will air in the future on AT&T DirecTV.  LANco also was featured in SONY PlayStation’s Road to SXSW series which is available to 36 million PlayStation users.

Five best friends, LANco is Brandon Lancaster (lead vocals), Chandler Baldwin (bass), Jared Hampton (keyboards, banjo), Tripp Howell (drums), and Eric Steedly (lead guitar), and you can get a snapshot of the band in a special “Meet LANco” video online at smarturl.it/MeetLANco.

Find the band online at LANcoMusic.com.