email : Webview : CA's Artist News (5/30)

This is an industry-only version of an email that Country stations in dozens of top markets deliver
to their loyal listener databases.

May 30, 2014

» Toby Fills You Up:

Everyone knows when you go to a Toby Keith concert you will proceed to party. Everyone. Even the cops, who recently pulled over a vehicle wrapped with the logo of Toby's signature Wild Shot Mezcal, but not for the reason you might think. Turns out this particular officer had entered Toby's "Drinks After Work" contest and wanted to let the driver know. You can enter that contest here, and while you wait for the phone call telling you that you've won, look for the inflatable Wild Shot bar at Keith's shows — specials include the Blue Mezcalita, but shots will work, too. See tour dates here.

» Fest Friends:

Little Big Town will return to host ABC-TV's CMA Music Festival: Country's Night To Rock for the second year. Filming June 5-8, the special airs Aug. 5 at 8pm CT. "It is great to have Little Big Town back to host Country’s Night to Rock," says executive producer Robert Deaton. "They have impeccable timing, a terrific sense of humor, the respect of the artistic community, and the admiration of the fans. They are the perfect ensemble cast to host this special." Artists appearing on the special have not yet been revealed, but some of the bigger names performing at the festival include Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Florida Georgia Line, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum. Pretty safe bet you'll see a good number of them on the telecast.

» Eat & Greet: Great American Country Breakfast Series concerts will open each day of the 2014 CMA Music Festival as part of the AT&T U-verse Fan Fair X June 5-8 in Nashville. Seventeen artists will perform inside the Music City Center, with #CMchat's Jessica Northey hosting and special appearances by GAC reality stars Amie and Jolie Sykes of Junk Gypsies and Dan and Pete King of Farm Kings. The lineup:

Thursday (6/5): Canaan Smith, Lauren Alaina, Dustin Lynch and Neal McCoy.
Friday (6/6): Native Run, Brothers Osborne, Corey Smith and Scotty McCreery.
Saturday (6/7): Natalie Stovall and The Drive, The Henningsens, Laura Bell Bundy and RaeLynn.
Sunday (6/8): Rose Falcon, Leah Turner, Jamie O'Neal and Kristian Bush.

Though Thursday is sold out, tickets for the remaining days are available for $50 each. Breakfast, autographed photos and photo meet-and-greets are included in the price. Doors open each day at 7:15am CT; performances begin at 8am. More here.

» Fit To Sprint:

Luke Bryan has been named grand marshal for the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway Sunday (6/1). Joining Bryan as a grand marshal is Joey Principle, a 17-year-old NASCAR fan with Asperger Syndrome. The race airs at 1pm ET on FOX-TV.

» Present Company: Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Cassadee Pope, actresses Beth Behrs, Brooklyn Decker and Kate Walsh, actor James Van Der Beek and CMT's Broken Skull Ranch host Steve Austin will be among the presenters at the 2014 CMT Music Awards. The show airs live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena June 4. More here.

» Rough And Ready:

After taking time away from the stage for personal reasons, Trace Adkins will launch a summer tour June 5 in Sayreville, NJ. The 32-date run wraps in Rohner Park, CA in late September. "I'm excited, recharged and ready to get back on the road," says Adkins. "I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone for the outpouring of encouragement and support over the past few months. It's hard to put into words how much comfort you take from hearing, 'We've got your back.' So these shows are for you guys – thanks." Full list of dates here.

» If You're Gonna Play In Nashville: Alabama will kick off the nightly LP Field concerts at the 2014 CMA Music Festival in Nashville June 5. It's their first full performance at the event in 19 years. In a statement, the group's Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen say, "It has always been about the fans with us, and we realized that the best way to celebrate and share our 40th anniversary was to do what we do best – play live music for the fans that we love at the biggest country music festival in the world." More here.

» In Case You Missed It: Tim McGraw joined YouTube basketball trick shot guys Dude Perfect to get a birthday bacon bowl and a fake mustache, and to make a basket using his guitar. Watch here.

Keith Urban stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and played "Cop Car" Tuesday night (5/27). Watch here.

Birthdays

Friday (5/30): Wynonna Judd.

On TV

Monday (6/2): Jon Pardi performs "Happens All The Time," The Bachelorette (ABC); Miranda Lambert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (NBC); Kip Moore, Late Night With Seth Meyers (NBC).

Upcoming Album Releases

Jun. 3 Miranda Lambert Platinum

Jun. 3 Lucy Hale Road Between

Jun. 3 Joshua Scott Jones The Healing

Jun. 3 Big Smo Kuntry Livin'

Jun. 10 Gene Watson My Heroes Have Always Been Country

Jun. 10 Demun Jones Jones County

Jun. 10 Danny Boone Fish Grease

Jun. 17 Willie Nelson Band of Brothers

Jun. 24 Breelan Angel Dirty Little Secret