Phil Vassar Releases 10th Studio Album, Stripped Down

Multi platinum-selling singer/songwriter Phil Vassar is releasing his long-awaited 10th studio album, Stripped Down. The album’s effortless production puts the songs front and center. It features songs written over the past 20 years but never-before recorded and new music, including “This is Where The End Starts”, co- written with daughter, Haley Vassar.

American Songwriter recently premiered the single. Vassar’s take on “Postmarked Birmingham,” a hit he wrote for Blackhawk, is also included on the project. Click HERE to download. Numerous hit songwriters collaborated with Vassar on the album including Ross Copperman, John Rich, Don Sampson, and Charlie Black to name a few.

“We’re peeling back the music to the core with this album. It’s how these songs were written and I’m really proud of how it turned out,” shared Vassar. “We all have a tendency to overproduce things sometimes and we really made a conscious effort not to on this album.”

2020 marks an important anniversary for Vassar, 20 years since his first No. 1 single, “Just Another Day in Paradise,” was released. To celebrate, Vassar is embarking on a very intimate, acoustic tour entitled  “Stripped Down” (more dates to be added, full list below). 

STRIPPED DOWN TRACK LISTING

  1. Postmarked Birmingham (Phil Vassar, Don Sampson)
  2. Takes Me Back Again ( Phil Vassar, Jack Tempchin, Lew Garrison)
  3. Where The End Starts featuring Haley Vassar (Phil Vassar, Haley Vassar)
  4. Perfect World ( Phil Vassar, Charlie Black)
  5. I Won’t Forget You (Phil Vassar, Charlie Black)
  6. Lemonade (Phil Vassar, Charlie Black, Tim Ryan)
  7. Polaroid (Phil Vassar, John Rich)
  8. High School (Phil Vassar, Tom Douglas, Ross Copperman)   

In addition to a new album and tour, Vassar’s T.V. series Phil Vassar’s Songs from the Cellar has launched on the Circle Network. The weekly series, produced by NashPhil Cellars and The Nice Kids, airs on the Circle Network Thursdays at 9 pm EST. Episodes will repeat the following Sundays at 4 and 7 pm EST.  For more information on Phil Vassar’s Songs from the Cellar visit SongsFromTheCellar.com and follow the show Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Click HERE to watch Phil Vassar’s Songs from the Cellar teaser video. Season Two will be available in early summer.

STRIPPED DOWN TOUR DATES:
Jan. 17 Tarrytown Music Hall – Tarrytown, N.Y.
Jan. 18 Infinity Hall – Norfolk, Conn.
Jan. 19 Greenwich Odeum – East Greenwich, R.I.
Jan. 23 Hippodrome Theater – Waco, Texas
Jan. 24 Arlington Music Hall – Arlington, Texas
Jan. 25 Dosey Doe – The Woodlands, Texas
Jan. 26 Texan Theater – Greenville, Texas
Feb. 06 The Attic – Tampa, Fla. 
Feb. 07 Lyric Theatre – Stuart, Fla. 
Feb. 08 Funky Biscuit – Boca Raton, Fla. 
Feb. 09 Southwest Florida Event Center – Bonita Springs, Fla. 
Feb. 13 The Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Feb. 14 Humphrey’s Backstage Live – San Diego, Calif.
Feb. 15 Canyon Lake Lodge – Canyon Lake, Calif. 
Feb. 16 The MIM – Phoenix, Ariz. 

HITSTERIA TOUR DATES:
Mar. 14 Harrington Raceway Casino – Harrington, Del.
Mar. 20 Wagon Wheel – Warsaw, Ind.
Mar. 21 8 Second Saloon – Indianapolis, Ind.
Mar. 22 Tangiers – Akron, Ohio  
Mar. 28 Welk Resort Theatre – Branson, Mo. 
Apr. 02 Richmond Community College Cole Auditorium – Hamlet, N.C.
Apr. 03 Riverfront Live – Cincinnati, Ohio 
Apr. 24 Capital Civic Centre – Manitowoc, Wisc. 
Jun. 13 Winstock Country Music Festival – Winstead, Minn. 
Jul. 03 Greeley Stampede – Greeley, Colo. 

Live Nation Offers the 2020 Country Megaticket for the Biggest Country Shows of the Summer

Live Nation announced the 2020 Country Megaticket and participating artists for this year’s hottest ticket in country music. Country Megaticket is exactly that – one megaticket that gets fans in to some of the biggest live country shows of the summer including Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Chris Young, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Old Dominion, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Thomas Rhett and Tim McGraw. See details and full lineups below.

Fans can select one of over 30 participating Live Nation amphitheaters nearest them and purchase the Country Megaticket for their venue. The megaticket will grant them access to any of the participating country tours that are appearing at their venue. Lineups vary. Country Megaticket also allows purchasers the ability to reserve the same seat for all shows at their chosen amphitheater from the front row or the lawn, depending on package choice.

Tickets for the highly anticipated offer will be available in select cities starting Friday, January 24 at 10am local time. Additional participating venues and their respective lineups will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit www.megaticket.com to purchase the pass and receive updates.

“The 2020 Country Megaticket really packs a punch and truly delivers on its value,” said Brian O’Connell, President of Live Nation Country Touring. “The opportunity to be up close in the same seat for every show in the program, or out on the lawn where summer fun really happens, takes it up a notch. I am looking forward to another great summer with all of these amazing artists.”

Citi is the official presale credit card of the Live Nation Country Megaticket. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets through Citi Entertainment®. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.

Participating Artists/Tours in Select Cities:
*Full list of artists for each venue will be available at Megaticket.com

  • Brad Paisley with special guest Jordan Davis and Gabby Barrett
  • Brooks & Dunn with special guests
  • Chris Young with special guests Scotty McCreery and Payton Smith
  • Jason Aldean with special guests Brett Young, Mitchell Tenpenny and Dee Jay Silver
  • Kenny Chesney with special guests Michael Franti & Spearhead
  • Lady Antebellum with special guests Jake Own and Maddie & Tae
  • Luke Bryan with special guests Morgan Wallen and Caylee Hammack/Runaway June *support varies by market
  • Old Dominion with special guests Dustin Lynch and Carly Pearce
  • Rascal Flatts with special guests
  • Sugarland with special guests
  • Thomas Rhett with special guests Cole Swindell and HARDY
  • Tim McGraw with with special guests Midland and Ingrid Andress

Megaticket is a limited, exclusive offer only available at participating Live Nation amphitheaters across the country that are dedicated to providing guests with best-in-class hospitality. Incredible food and beverage offerings, sustainability programming, exclusive VIP clubs, state-of-the-art lighting and sound and more make Live Nation amphitheaters the premiere destination for summer concerts.

Ashley McBryde To Release Sophomore Album NEVER WILL April 3

Reigning ACM New Female Artist of the Year, CMA New Artist of the Year and CMT Breakout Artist of the Year Ashley McBryde is set to release her sophomore album Never Will, the follow-up to her critically-acclaimed GRAMMY-nominated debut Girl Going Nowhere and named as one of the year’s most anticipated albums by NPR and Rolling Stone, on April 3 via Warner Music Nashville.

“The significance behind the album title comes from the lyrics in the title track: ‘I Didn’t, I Don’t and I Never Will,’” McBryde says with the same conviction that fueled Nowhere. “Before we recorded it with Jay [Joyce] in the studio, I said to my bandmates, ‘If we’re going to cut this and put it on the record, you’re promising anyone who ever listens to our music, we don’t listen to the noise in the background. We didn’t, we don’t and we never will. Don’t cut it unless you’re willing to promise it.’ And we cut it right then.” 

Never Will, produced by Jay Joyce, boasts 11 tracks including lead single “One Night Standards,” which McBryde will perform tonight (Jan. 17) on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, serving as the song’s late-night debut.

Earlier this week, McBryde performed her two-time GRAMMY-nominated smash “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” on the third hour of TODAY and released “Martha Divine,” the second song from Never Will, with an accompanying video that premiered exclusively on NPR stating, “Mark It Down: Ashley McBryde Is In For A Massive Year.” The video for “Martha Divine” is the second in a three-part storyline, following the release of “One Night Standards” in December.

Later this month, McBryde is set to perform at MusiCares honoring Aerosmith January 24 in Los Angeles and kicks off her One Night Standards Tour in Birmingham, Ala. on January 30. For more information and additional tour dates, visit AshleyMcBryde.com.

Pre-order/pre-save Never Will, HERE.

Never Will Track Listing:

  1. Hang In There Girl (Ashley McBryde, Jeremy Bussey)
  2. One Night Standards (Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford, Shane McAnally)
  3. Shut Up Sheila (Nicolette Hayford, Charles Chisholm)
  4. First Thing I Reach For (Ashley McBryde, Randall Clay, Mick Holland)
  5. Voodoo Doll (Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford, Brandy Clark, Connie Harrington, Jake Mitchell, Aaron Raitiere)
  6. Sparrow (Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford, Brandy Clark, Connie Harrington, Jake Mitchell, Aaron Raitiere)
  7. Martha Divine (Ashley McBryde, Jeremy Spillman)
  8. Velvet Red (Ashley McBryde, Patrick Savage, Daniel Smalley)
  9. Stone (Ashley McBryde, Nicolette Hayford)
  10. Never Will (Ashley McBryde, Chris Harris, Blue Foley, Matt Helmkamp, Christian Sancho, Victor Quinn Hill)
  11. Styrofoam (Randall Clay)

LoCash Shares Recap From USO Holiday Tour

The acclaimed Wheelhouse Records/BBR Music Group Country duo, LOCASH recently returned from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 2020 USO Holiday Tour where they visited US troops in Romania and Poland. The twosome responsible for the Top 30 and climbing single, “One Big Country Song” performed for our military members, participated in troop engagements and shared meals with our servicemen and women.

Joining LOCASH on their journey were comedians Matt Walsh (HBO’s Veep, The Hangover), Scot Armstrong (writer: Old School, Semi Pro, Hangover 2) and Brad Morris (NBC’s Great News, Dice, Second City), star athletes Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (Bellator Women’s Flyweight World Champion), Felice Herrig (UFC Top 10 Strawweight Division), Adam Eaton (Washington Nationals 2019 World Series Champion) and Aaron Barrett (Washington Nationals 2019 World Series Champion) and DJ J.Dayz along with General John E. Hyten (11th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) and SEAC Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez (Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff).

“The USO is an amazing organization and we want to thank them for taking us overseas and straight into the daily lives of our United States service members,” said Preston Brust (of LOCASH). “Thanks to the USO, we were able to bring a little piece of home to the men and women in our military who train, work hard, fight and protect our freedoms. Chris and I were humbled to be able to speak on behalf of our entire country and say ‘THANK YOU’ to them in person!”

U.S. Army Soldiers from 1st Battalion 5th Cavalry Regiment meet and show off some of their equipment to include a Bradley fighting vehicle and Abrams tank to USO Talent as part of the Chairman’s USO New Year’s Tour 2020, at Mihail Kognalniceanu Air Base, Romania, Jan. 7, 2020. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John E. Hyten and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez host the Chairman’s USO Tour on behalf of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley to bring Washington Nationals Aaron Barrett and Adam Eaton, comedians Scott Armstrong and Matt Walsh, actor Brad Morris, country music band LoCash, MMA Fighters Illima-Lei Macfarlane and Felice Herrig; and DJ J Dayz to show service members in the U.S. European area of responsibility that America remembers them and values their service. (DoD Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. James K. McCann)
LOCASH performs for the troops, inviting tourmates onstage for their final song in Powidz, Poland
Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visits the USO Warrior and Family Center at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, Jan. 5, 2020. The event kicked off the annual 2020 USO New Year’s Tour where performers volunteered to travel to various locations where they could show service members that America remembers them and values their service. (DOD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Chuck Burden)

Luke Bryan Announces New Album And New Tour

After playing to over 1 million fans in 2019 and being named the “Most-Heard Artist of the Decade” by Country Aircheck, Luke Bryan is back with the announcement of a new album AND new tour. The arrival of his seventh studio album, BORN HERE, LIVE HERE, DIE HERE is set to release on April 24 followed by his “Proud To Be Right Here Tour” kicking off in May.

Bryan announced first to his fans today in a live stream video — see it here.

Joining Bryan on the 32-date tour will be openers Morgan Wallen along with Caylee Hammack and Runaway June at select dates. Kicking off in Cincinnati, OH on May 28, the full list of cities and dates can be found below and at LukeBryan.com.

“PROUD TO BE RIGHT HERE TOUR”
5/28/2020 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
5/29/2020 St. Louis, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
5/30/2020 Brandon, MS Brandon Amphitheater
6/5/2020 Orange Beach, AL The Wharf Amphitheater
6/18/2020 Darien Center, NY Darien Lake Amphitheater
6/19/2020 Hartford, CT Xfinity Theatre
6/20/2020 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
6/25/2020 Milwaukee, WI Summerfest at American Family Insurance Amphitheater*
7/16/2020 San Diego, CA North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/17/2020 Mtn View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
7/18/2020 Sacramento, CA Toyota Amphitheatre
7/23/2020 Bend, OR Les Schwab Amphitheater
7/24/2020 Bend, OR Les Schwab Amphitheater
7/25/2020 Portland, OR Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
7/30/2020 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
7/31/2020 Little Rock, AR Simmons Bank Arena
8/4/2020 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
8/5/2020 Gilford, NH Bank of NH Pavilion
8/6/2020 Gilford, NH Bank of NH Pavilion
8/14/2020 Bangor, ME Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
8/21/2020 Virginia Beach, VA Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
8/23/2020 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
8/28/2020 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
8/29/2020 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
8/30/2020 Charleston, SC to be announced….
9/24/2020 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
9/25/2020 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
9/26/2020 Green Bay, WI Resch Center
10/1/2020 Bossier City, LA CenturyLink Center
10/2/2020 Lafayette, LA Cajundome
10/8/2020 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
10/9/2020 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center**
10/10/2020 San Bernardino, CA Glen Helen Amphitheater**

Morgan Wallen on all dates except **
Morgan only*
Caylee Hammack May 28- July 31
Runaway June August 4- October 10