William Michael Morgan
At 13-years-old William Michael Morgan and his band independently released an album, Always Country, and he worked part-time during the week to help finance his musical projects. When he was 16, he started visiting Nashville on a regular basis for songwriting sessions, and at 18, Morgan moved to the Music City to follow his dream. By 19, Morgan had landed a publishing contract with Warner/Chappell Music as well as a recording deal with Warner Music Nashville. Morgan’s first single for Warner, “I Met a Girl,” was released in last year and has been slowly making it’s way up the charts to the Top 30, this week.
The Vicksburg, Mississippi, is now 22 and has a voice that transcends time in country music. The classic country sound and more traditional style goes well beyond the music for Morgan, too. The cowboy hat, the western cut shirt, jeans and boots are the apparel for this young entertainer. His self-titled EP is available online at iTunes and Amazon, but is also available at Wal-Mart. Besides the song “I Met A Girl, other tracks that standout on the EP include “Vinyl” and “Cheap Cologne.”
William Michael Morgan will be performing at Thirsty Cowboy in Medina, Ohio on Saturday, April 30. For tickets and more information go to ThirstyCowboy.com
Frankie Ballard
In the summer of 2008 Frankie Ballard signed up for Kenny Chesney’s Next Big Star competition. After winning the competition for the state of Michigan, Ballard opened shows for Chesney at shows throughout the state.
Soon after he signed on with Reprise Records Nashville and released his debut single “Tell Me You Get Lonely. The song received a four-star review from Kyle Ward of Roughstock, who praised Ballard’s voice and called the song “an above average debut effort.” “Tell Me You Get Lonely” debuted at Number 59 on the Hot Country Songs charts dated for the week ending June 12, 2010 and peaked at Number 33 in early 2011.
On January 7, 2011, Ballard made his debut appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. Ballard released his second single, “A Buncha Girls”, in early 2011. This song has also made top 40. Both of his singles are included on his self-titled debut album, which was released in May 2011. Also in 2011, he opened for Lady Antebellum.
In 2013, Ballard moved to Warner Bros. Records and released his third single, “Helluva Life”. It is the lead single to his second album, Sunshine & Whiskey. It became his first number 1 single in early 2014. Later in the year, the album’s title track also went to number 1. “Young & Crazy”, the album’s third single, also went to number 1.
The first single from Ballard’s upcoming third album, “It All Started with a Beer”, was released to country radio last November.
With his new album, El Rio, ready to hit stores on June 10th, and hitting the charts with the single, “El Camino,” Frankie Ballard will make a stop on his tour at House of Blues in Cleveland on Thursday, May 5. For tickets and more information go to LiveNation.com
Vince Gill
Country Music Hall of Fame member, Vince Gill, is coming to the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park on Friday, May 6th.
The Oklahoma native first hit the music scene with Pure Prarie League in 1979, and since then has charted 40 singles and sold over 26 million albums. His 20 Grammy’s lead the way for male country singers and his 18 CMA’s include two Entertainer of the Year Awards. Aside from some of the sweetest vocals in country music, Gill, 58, is also an accomplished guitar, mandolin and banjo player.
Gill, received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012, and is currently touring in support of his 18th studio album, Down To My Last Bad Habit.
Vince Gill will be performing at the Hard Rock Rocksino at Northfield Park on Friday, May 6th. Tickets are on sale now at the HRR box office, Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com and livenation.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
Josh Thompson
Josh Thompson moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 2005. He worked as a songwriter, with his first cut being the title track to Jason Michael Carroll’s album Growing Up Is Getting Old. By 2009, Thompson had signed to Columbia Records Nashville division. He released his debut single “Beer on the Table” in late 2009. The song was a single on, Way Out Here, the Wisconsin natives debut studio album. The album’s first two singles, “Beer on the Table” and the title track charted in the Top 20 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, peaking at number 17 and number 15, respectively. “Won’t Be Lonely Long” was released as the third single, and it peaked at number 25 on the same chart.
In August 2011, Thompson and label mate Miranda Lambert transferred to RCA Nashville as part of a corporate restructuring.[10] He released his first RCA Records single, “Comin’ Around”, in late 2011. However, Thompson parted ways with RCA Nashville in 2012.
In September 2012 it was announced that Thompson had signed a recording contract with Show Dog-Universal Music and will release new music sometime in 2013. Also in 2013, he co-wrote James Wesley’s single “Thank a Farmer” with Dustin Lynch and Steve Bogard.
His first Show Dog single, “Cold Beer with Your Name on It”, entered the charts in late 2013 and reached Top 30 on Country Airplay. It is the lead single from his first Show Dog-Universal album, Turn It Up. The album’s second single “Wanted Me Gone” was released on April 28, 2014. Thompson parted ways with Show Dog in 2015.
Thompson announced in August 2015 that he would be releasing his unreleased second album for RCA as a pair of extended plays. The first of the two, Change: The Lost Record, Vol. 1, was released in October.
Josh Thompson will be performing at Thirsty Cowboy in Medina, Ohio on Saturday, May 7. For tickets and more information ThirstyCowboy.com
Josh Turner
The deep voiced Josh Turner will be making his debut at The Goodyear Theater in Akron, Ohio on Thursday, May 12th. The 38-year-old singer and actor released his debut in 2003 and broke through with the album’s title track, “Long Black Train.” His second album, Your Man in 2006 garnered the singer his first two number one hits: “Your Man” and “Would You Go with Me,” while in 2007 the release, Everything Is Fine included the fun little song “Firecracker.” Turner’s next album, Haywire in 2010 produced the South Carolina native’s biggest hit and another number one “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and another number one in “All Over Me”. It was followed by Punching Bag, whose lead-off single “Time Is Love” was the biggest hit of 2012 according to Billboard Year-End.
The CMA, ACM and Grammy nominee grew up in the church, he founded a gospel quartet called Thankful Hearts, where he, of course, sang bass. He made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry in 2001 and his career got a huge boost when he sang a song he wrote called, “Long Black Train.” Before he could finish the audience was already giving him a standing ovation.
Josh Turner will be performing at The Goodyear Theater on Thursday, May 12. For tickets and more information about the new venue, go to goodyeartheater.com
Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper will be performing at the Hard Rock Rocksino on Tuesday, May 17th in support of her new album Detour.
Detour showcases Lauper’s unmistakable voice on country classics from the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s and features guest appearances from county music stars Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Willie Nelson. Lauper recorded the album in Nashville alongside a band comprised of the city’s top session players.
The album is Lauper’s first for Sire Records and executive produced by legendary Sire founder, Seymour Stein. Detour will be available May 6th on CD, LP , and digitally.
For the album, Lauper duets with several special guests, including country music royalty: Emmylou Harris (on the title track), Willie Nelson (“Night Life,” a song he wrote over 50 years ago), Vince Gill (Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty’s “You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly”) and Alison Krauss (Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas.” Jewel also makes an appearance on Detour, showcasing her prodigious yodeling skills on “I Want To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” which was the first country song by a woman to sell one million copies.
Cyndi Lauper will be performing at the Hard Rock Rocksino at Northfield Park on Tuesday, May 17th. Tickets are on sale now at the HRR box office, Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com and livenation.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood is bringing ‘The Storyteller Tour’ to the Q Arena on Wednesday, May 18th. Special guests Easton Corbin and The Swon Brothers will be opening the show.
It started with American Idol, since then she has been inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and is a best-selling artist with 23 number one singles and seven Grammy awards.
The in-the-round arena tour launched to rave reviews last yearand has already played sold out shows across the U.S., and in Europe where she played five shows in five countries, each part of Country to Country Festival (C2C).
“I always love being on the road performing for my fans,” shares Underwood, “but something about this tour feels more magnetic than ever. Having a 360-degree view of the audience gives me the opportunity to connect with more fans and feed off their energy. I can’t wait to continue this tour into the fall!”
Concert review critics have applauded Underwood’s confidence and command over the massive stage that spans the entire length of the arena floor. The Washington Post claimed she’s “at the top of her game,” and the Hampton Daily Press said the show’s “presentation is overwhelming, from start to finish- a spectacular sensory overload that had the crowd roaring all night long.” Rollingstonecountry.com praised “the in-the-round setting provides each concertgoer with the best experience possible. Simpler still is the storytelling aspect of the show and country music’s reliance on conveying memorable stories in song.” The Boston Globe stated, Underwood “demonstrated that she now truly can stare unflinchingly into those lights and dominate a stage, with a confidence, defiance, and a sense of ownership that have been a treat to watch come to fruition. A rock-solid, deftly sequenced hour-and-45-minue long set, which moved from playful to solemn, smooth to twangy, and from cinematic scope to smaller, intimate moments. The most stunning part of the production however, remains Underwood’s voice, strong and nuanced.”
The North American tour, promoted by AEG Live, will include special guests Easton Corbin and The Swon Brothers. The tour is in promotion of Carrie’s new album, Storyteller, which was heralded by Rolling Stone as “the most anticipated country album of the year.” The album was produced by Jay Joyce, Mark Bright, and Zach Crowell with six of its 13 songs co-written by Carrie, including the #1 hits “Smoke Break” and “Heartbeat.
Carrie Underwood with special guests Easton Corbin and The Swon Brothers will be performing at The Q Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday, May 18. For tickets and more information go to theqarena.com or call 1-888-894-9424.
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Ricky Skaggs has racked up dozens of number one hits like “Crying My Heart Out Over You,” “Country Boy,” “Cajun Moon” and “Uncle Pen,” he has won 14 Grammys, eight IBMA, eight CMA and two Dove awards plus he is credited by Chet Atkins for single handedly saving country music. Skaggs got his start performing with the legendary Flatt & Scruggs and then played for bluegrass patriarch Ralph Stanley, J.D. Crowe & the New South and Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band. He’s also collaborated with musicians of other genres including Barry Gibb and Bruce Hornsby. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, expect Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder to perform familiar favorites and time honored classics.
Ricky Skaggs at The Kent Stage in Kent, Ohio on Thursday, May 19. For tickets and more information www.thekentstage.com
Dierks Bentley
After the release of his eighth studio album Black, Dierks Bentley and with another hit on his hands with the album’s lead single “Somewhere On A Beach.” The singer also announced that the US leg of his Somewhere On A Beach Tour will begin on May 12 in Holmdel, NJ at the PNC Bank Arts Center with Randy Houser and special guest Cam. The show at Blossom Music Center also add new comer Tucker Beathered to the bill.
“This album is about ALL phases of a relationship, including the breakups,” said Bentley. ”’Beach’ is a pretty blunt take on that wild rebound we’ve all had or maybe imagined having. The carefree attitude is exactly the spirit we wanted to bring out on the road this year. I’ve toured with Randy before, and he’s just a great dude – on stage and backstage. And I’ve gotten to know Cam a little over the last year, and she’s fun as hell too and so talented. It’s going to be a big summer for sure.”
While Black sets a new artistic course, it’s “Somewhere On A Beach” that first breaches the candid message of the highs and lows romantic relationships face.
Bentley sets the tone for this year’s Somewhere On A Beach Tour by hand-selecting breakout Grammy nominee Cam who will kick things off before powerhouse vocalist Randy Houser takes the stage.
Since moving from Phoenix to Nashville in the 1990s, Bentley has established his own artistic trail in country music. Instead of rehashing proven formulas, he’s reinvented his sound and subsequently developed an uncommon mix of commercial success and critical respect. Riser debuted at #1 on the Billboard country album chart, and its trio of chart-topping singles upped his career tally to 13 No. one songs as a songwriter and artist. He’s now amassed 13 Grammy nominations and dozens of other award show nominations. Additionally, Bentley has been a Grand Ole Opry member for over a decade and co-hosted the 51st Annual ACM Awards in April.
Dierks Bentley with special guests Randy Houser, Cam and Tucker Beathered will be performing at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio on Friday, May 20. For tickets go to Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com and livenation.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
Kenny Chesney
After only 57 dates last year, Chesney found himself the only country artist making Billboard’s Top 5 Touring Acts of 2015 for the Big Revival Tour. This year’s Spread The Love Tour shouldn’t take him off that list.
“This year, the No Shoes Nation was at a whole new level in terms of the energy they threw at us,” Kenny says. “Every night when the screen would drop, when they’d hear the music, they almost knocked us back a few feet. That’s powerful – and we found ourselves talking about it after the shows a lot of nights.”
Kenny’s Big Revival 2015 tour played to the third highest number of fans this year, a whopping 1,335,022. He believes the key to continuing to attract those numbers is really taking in what the fans give him and the band, and always reflecting that back.
“It spoke pretty loudly to me as we were looking at renderings, thinking about the tricks. Because in the end, it was the music and the moment they were responding to – not the flying, not the lasers, not the videos, but the songs. So when we got to decision-making we all realized: what the No Shoes Nation really wants is… the music.”
Pausing, he continues, “So this year, we are as lean as we’ve ever been! The stage is clean. Nobody’s flying. The sound is building on last year’s incredible system – and the lights are going to be really focused on making the music stand out. I want as little between me and the fans as possible, and I think we’ve managed to achieve that in a really good way. It’s going to be more intense than ever, but it’s going to be about the songs, the band, the moment and the energy we give each other. This is going to be a year to remember… and we’ve not played the first note.”
Kenny Chesney with special guests Old Dominion will be performing the Spread The Love Tour at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio on Thursday, May 26th. For tickets go to Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com and livenation.com and by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
Some of the recently announced country shows at the Hard Rock Rocksino at Northfield Park include Dolly Parton’s Pure & Simple Tour on Friday, June 10th; Trace Adkins on Sunday, June 26th and Lyle Lovett and His Large Band on Sunday, July 27th. The Goodyear Theater added Sara Evans to the upcoming shows at the new theater in Akron on Thursday, September 8th.
