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Nashville Tornado: Ways You Can Help

 

We were devastated to wake up this morning to the news that a tornado touched down in our beloved second home of Nashville, Tennessee. We are praying for those who lost their homes, businesses, and most importantly loved ones.

We ask that you join in on sending light and love to Music City and if you feel inclined to help, here are a few ways.

You can directly donate to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee or Hands On Nashville.

In addition, the NYCountry Swag team will be donated 20% of all sales of our Hero Collection this month to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

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SHOP THE HERO COLLECTION

The Hero Collection by NYCountry Swag is inspired by the men and women of the Fire, Police and Military Departments across the country. A portion of sales from each purchase is donated to different foundations that support our heroes. We are dedicated to honoring their service and remembering their sacrifice.

Saturday Night Live Combs

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Clare Bowen Impresses Intimate Crowd at City Winery NYC

Clare Bowen

On Monday night, New York country fans kicked off the week at City Winery NYC with the uber-talented, Clare Bowen. To no surprise, her beloved “Nashies” came out in full force to support the singer-songwriter playing the opening night of her US Tour, which is continuing this week. Giving fans exactly what they wanted, she performed a mix of songs from the TV show Nashville as well as music from her newly released self-titled debut album.

Kicking off the night, Bowen ran up on stage looking stunning wearing a silk white top and a long flowing white skirt with her signature features in the hair and of course taking part in a tradition she has been doing for years, performing barefoot. Ready for the night the crowd gave her a huge warm welcome cheering as she jumped right into her song, “Lijah & The Shadow.” After the first song, Bowen took a moment to talk to the crowd saying, “It is such a pleasure to be here with you all here tonight! This is wonderful we’ve all traveled the whole world touring this album…we started in Germany then we went to the UK, Australia, and now we are here. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to be here with you tonight, it is such a pleasure and if you don’t mind I will sing the very first song I ever sang for the show Nashville.” Singing a fan-favorite and one we will never forget, she took the crowd back to the days of Scarlett O’Connor singing “If I Didn’t Know Better.”

With the night just getting started Bowen continued her set telling personal stories to the crowd while making jokes in between to lighten the heaviness. Before going into her next song, she wanted to take a moment to tell the crowd how she grew up in a hospital while being diagnosed with terminal cancer when she was four years old. Almost losing her life to the battle, she is still standing strong today and is here to tell her story to the world. Making this moment extra special she had her brother Timothy Bowen up on stage with her performing alongside her on the guitar. She wanted to dedicate a song to their parents saying, “Mom and Dad are two of the strongest people…they made a childhood that could have been real scary into one I wouldn’t change for the world, this is for them.” Singing her song “Door and Corridors” off her debut album, there wasn’t a person in the crowd who wasn’t in complete awe of the singer-songwriter.

As the night continued, the Bowen performed a mix of songs off her debut album, “Aves Song,” “Little By Little,” and “Lullabye,” while incorporating Nashville’s fan-favorite “Black Roses,” “It Ain’t Yours To Throw Away,” and “When The Right One Comes Along.” She even switched things up, handing over the spotlight to the people she loves on stage with her. Mentioning that she isn’t the only singer up there while taking a moment to talk about how wonderful the experience of being on a TV show like Nashville was. Before handing the spotlight over, she said “One of the best parts for me was watching my brother Timothy get to write this song that Deacon sang on the show. I would just love to hand over the stage to him right now because it’s a very special song and I do love to hear him sing it.” Giving Bowen a chance to be the audience she took a seat on the floor while she watched her brother sing an unbelievable rendition of “From Here On Out,” showing that she isn’t the only one in the family with incredible talent. In addition to Timothy taking over, she handed the stage over to her husband, Brandon Robert Young to sing one of his very own songs, “Hate It For You.” Bowen continuing to sit on the floor provided harmonizing backup vocals while watching in complete awe of the love of her life. Young showcased his pure talent and insane vocals with the crowd, making everyone watching fall for the artist.

Clare Bowen City Winery

Before going any further in her set, she took a moment to say, “I’m so grateful for all the Nashies for sticking around and all the new people for coming along, it’s just a lovely big room of love this evening, I’m really enjoying it thank you.” Bowen continued to openly show her emotions throughout the night sharing her personal stories while keeping positive and showing the light at the end of the tunnel. She couldn’t continue her performance without dedicating one song to the children who weren’t so lucky and lost their lives at the hospital, where she spent her childhood. Telling the crowd, “This is the final one on the record, it nearly didn’t make it, we weren’t sure what to do with it and I wasn’t sure if I was brave enough to put it out…I know now that every time I walk on stage they are right here with me I know that and I love them for it…This is for everybody out there, this is “Warrior.” The singer-songwriter was a beam of pure light and hope, showcasing her talents and speaking words of encouragement to show everyone just how precious they really are. To learn more about the writing process behind “Warrior” watch our Swag Session interview below.

The singer-songwriter wasn’t done yet, she had a few more songs to share, one of which is her second favorite song from the show Nashville sung by the talented Lennon and Maisy Stella. The singer-songwriter did not disappoint singing a beautiful rendition of the song “Sanctuary” while everyone in the audience quietly sang along. Stepping up the energy she picked up her tambourine performing the lead single off her self-titled debut album, “Let It Rain,” as well as a cover of “That’s Alright” by Mystery Train. Getting the crowd moving, she danced on stage showing off her wild side. Before running off stage, she said “We love you very much, thank you for having us this has been absolutely magical. Thank you for being the first amazing first show of the US Tour that I could have dreamt up!”

Everyone was cheering, knowing that the show wasn’t over just yet, she came back running out on stage to perform a two-song encore. For the first time ever she sang the song “Forever,” that her character Scarlett sang on Nashville. With just one song left everyone knew exactly what it would be, the song that became one with the show Nashville and its true essence. Before going into the song everyone was waiting for she said, “People ask me all the time and I just gotta commit to it because it’s all about how we get to do all this cool stuff, we got to play the O2 arena, we played the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, and we play here. That’s the thing for me there’s no difference between standing in front of 20,000 people or whether I’m standing in front of 300 beautiful people, this is so special. It just shows you don’t have to have much to have a life that’s good so thank you.” Making it a moment to never forget she brought back out her entire band, and opener Imogen Clark to sing her favorite song “Life That’s Good.” The entire audience was ready for this moment and sang back every word without hesitation, harmonizing beautifully in unison.

Bowen didn’t miss a beat, showing that she is not only a force to be reckoned with but that she is a passionate, loving, and hilarious individual on and off stage. Keeping the crowd fully entertained the entire time, she shared personal stories showcasing her ability to speak openly as well as sharing her beautiful vocals with the world.

To keep up with Clare Bowen, follow her on InstagramTwitter, and Facebook.

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NYCS First Impression: Clare Bowen Self Titled LP

Clare Bowen

Australian born singer-songwriter and actress, Clare Bowen rose to fame on the popular television show Nashville, where she starred as singer-songwriter Scarlett O’Connor. She is now embarking on the role of a lifetime, braving the music industry as herself, emerging as her own artist in her breathtaking debut self-titled record.

Bowen’s latest project features eleven tracks, all produced by Josh Kaufman, with an all-star crew of collaborators contributing to the songwriting process, such as Lori McKenna and Nathan Chapman. Bowen also created many of the tracks alongside her husband, Brandon Robert Young. The record relies on the imaginative lyrics, story-telling aspects, and Bowen’s incredible vocal delivery.

It beings with her debut solo single, “Let It Rain,” a whimsical story about getting through and persevering after experiencing heartbreak. The story of resilience is evident throughout the mid-tempo song and stands out even more in the music video, which premiered months prior. “Tide Rolls In,” although more upbeat and theatrical, is another track off the album that features the same message, confronting adversity with resilience and letting life ebb and flow as it should.

Bowen continues captivating listeners with her enchanting voice throughout all of the songs on her record; however, the slower-tempo, more lyrically-driven songs prove to be her sweet spot. The folk-infused track, “All The Beds I’ve Made” creates empowering imagery, as she sings about wanting to stay in bed forever with her love. Although a seemingly simple concept, it’s relatable, yet intricate. The songstress’ husband lends his voice to the track too, which adds to its unique beauty.

Similarly, “Grace of God & You” showcases Bowen’s vocal ability yet again. The song focuses on the importance of God and love. She sings “all I need is the grace of God and you,” a beautiful sentiment that comes across powerfully. In “Sweet William,” Bowen channels her inner Regina Specktor, once again delivering a mesmerizing track with a simple melody. She sings about lost love in the simplistically striking song.

Adding some depth to her record, Bowen shines on the unexpectedly catchy “Lijah & The Shadow.” The bluegrass-inspired track embodies a sultry flavor, while still painting a picture for the listener. Sonically similar, “Little By Little,” encourages fans to take it one step at a time, reminding people “to take that leap of faith / you’ve got what it takes / we’ve only just begun.”

Finally, Bowen’s self-titled project ends with “Warrior,” which is arguably the most poignant song on her record. It’s both a tearjerker and empowering, packing a quiet punch with every lyric. The song was inspired by Bowen’s experience with childhood cancer but can be uplifting for anyone who is going through something difficult.

The singer exclaims in the impactful chorus, “They’ll call you a hero, guardian angel, one in a million who didn’t stand a chance / call you a survivor / say you’re a fighter / turned this battle into a dance / warrior, warrior.”  Her determination and sheer will to survive through the trials and tribulations life throws at you make this one of the most impressive songs on the entire LP.

Although she may not fit the ever-growing country music ‘mold,” Bowen is a force to be reckoned with. As long as she continues to have something to say, we’ll continue to listen and be inspired, as other fans are sure to do as well.

Bowen will play a string of shows across the United States to celebrate the release of her new LP. She stops at the City Winery in New York City on July 29th. For tickets and more information, head to clarebowenofficial.com.

To keep up with Bowen, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Clare Bowen is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Your Guide to a Perfect Weekend in Nashville

This is the guide you’ve all been waiting for. One of the things many of our writers have in common is our love for Nashville, Tennessee, home to some of our favorite country singers and songwriters and where all of our favorite music is made. We decided to compile a list of some of our favorite Nashville spots to prepare you for the perfect weekend when you make your next trip to music city!

Nashville Guide

Good Eats.

1. The Sutler Saloon
This spot is perfect for all your southern food cravings, but we especially love it for their Sunday Bluegrass Brunch. Complete with live music and bottomless mimosas, you truly can’t go wrong!

2. Loveless Cafe
The Lovelace Cafe is an iconic and historic spot about 25 minutes outside of downtown Nashville. Situated on the outskirts and full of charm, the Lovelace Cafe property is a gem. Make sure to order some of their tasty sides (like Mac and cheese), as well as, their famous hot biscuits and country ham. The restaurant has the best food for any meal. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the little shops too, and maybe pick up some homemade jam!

3. Whiskey Kitchen
Situated right near the heart of the 12South area, Whiskey Kitchen is the perfect place to go for lunch, dinner, and even happy hour! The restaurant has the coolest rustic atmosphere, complete with indoor and outdoor seating and fire pits, but of course, the food is spot on. We especially love their spinach and artichoke dip and their wings. While you’re there, make sure to sample some of their cool cocktails, including their large collection of whiskey and scotch.

4. City House Nashville
If you’re looking for some Italian food in the south, look no further than City House Nashville. Their menu includes pizzas, pastas, salads, desserts, and of course delicious wines. Locals tend to frequent the place to get their Italian food fix.

5. Acme Feed & Seed
If you plan to spend a lot of your time on Broadway than Acme Feed & Seed is a great option. The three-story building is located downtown and their rooftop overlooks the entire downtown area. Each of their floors offers different food on their menus, which makes for a fun dining experience.

6. Proper Bagel
Rounding out some of our favorite food options is one of the best breakfast places in Nashville, Proper Bagel. As a New York-based company, we know our bagels and breakfast sandwiches, and Proper Bagel definitely does not disappoint! We recommend you go for a quick bite to eat to start your day off right.

Nashville Guide

What To Do.

1. Visit a museum.
If you’re into history or just love museums, Nashville has some that are worth checking out. For country music lovers, the ‘Country Music Hall of Fame’ is a must-see. It’s constantly changing, so even if you’ve been before, it’s worth checking it out again. Other museums worth considering are the ‘Johnny Cash Museum’ and the lesser known, ‘Musicians Hall of Fame.’

2. Walk over the Pedestrian bridge.
If you’ve ever seen a cool picture of a view of Nashville, that person was probably walking over the Pedestrian bridge. The bridge connects downtown to trendy East Nashville, and also gets you to the Nissan Stadium, formally LP Field. Make sure to take in the views, during sunrise, sunset or the golden hour- and you’ll be sure to get the perfect instagram-worthy picture.

3. Go to a sporting event.
Nashville has multiple options for attending professional sporting events. If you’re there, during hockey season, we recommend you check to the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena downtown. For football lovers, Nissan Stadium is the place to be to check out a Tennessee Titans game. It’s also worth checking out the Nashville Sounds, Nashville’s minor league baseball team at First Tennessee Park. Bonus, we love getting a drink at the Von Elrod’s beer garden next store before or after a game.

4. Roam some of the cute neighborhoods.
Although we love Broadway, Nashville has so much more to offer! The Gulch is home to the famous “wings mural,” as well as, colorful whimsical mural and the new mural created for Taylor Swift’s latest music announcement. The Gulch also has some great eating options and shopping, such as Kristin Cavallari’s store ‘Uncommon James.’ The 12South area is home to the colorful “Nashville” mural and the floral one. We’re also loving the hip area of East Nashville, which houses some great coffee houses, thrift stores, and hidden gems, such as the “WhatLiftsYou” hot air balloon mural.

5. Have some fun outside.
We love Percy Warner park! It’s perfect for some hiking, to have a picnic or even just take in the views of nature, and it’s not too far from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Another option is getting off the land and on to the water. Get your friends together and rent a pontoon boat, so you can spend your day on the Percy Priest Lake. For those who want to stay downtown, we encourage you to rent scooters or even participate in a pedal tavern, so you can explore in style.

6. Attend Music Row Happy Hour
Radio personality, Buzz Brainard now hosts a first come, first served, happy hour at Margaritaville in downtown Nashville. You will have front row seats to a live SiriusXM and The Highway broadcast, and maybe even be featured on air!

Nashville Guide

For Your Nights Out.

1. Tootsies Orchid Lounge
The Broadway bars are always a fun time. We especially love FGL House, Honky Tonk Central, and Legends Corner, but Tootsies Orchid Lounge is one of our absolute favorites! Located in the alley across from the Ryman, Tootsies is a purple gem on Broadway. The laid back vibe and the killer rooftop is the perfect place to throw back some drinks and dance and sing all night long to some of the great musicians playing.

2. The Midtown bars.
Just a short Uber ride away from Broadway are some great bars located in midtown. Some favorites include Losers Bar & Grill, Winners Bar & Grill, Hopsmith Nashville, and The Red Door Saloon. All feature a good crowd, live music, and some great drink options.

3. Dawghouse Saloon & Tin Roof
Located on Demonbreun Street, locals love Dawghouse Saloon for its upbeat sports bar vibe and live music. Locals also frequent Tin Roof, which is located congenitally right next door.

4. Pinewood Social
For those looking to chill with friends, Pinewood Social is a fun alternative to the bar scene. Advertised as “a place to be morning, noon or night,” Pinewood Social is the perfect place to relax with a few drinks with friends. It is a multi-purpose space for dining and bowling, and at times, live music.

5. Artist Owned Bars
Over the past few years, artists have partnered with bars on Nashville to open new locations that include Luke Bryan’s 32 Bridge, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey RowJason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar, Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, and Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse. Each are great places to hang downtown and you never know who might show up, this past February we caught Luke Bryan when he performed at his place.

That wraps up the first part of our Nashville guide! For options to see live music on your trip, check out our post here.

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WME & Sony Music Nashville Present: A Celebration of Women’s History Month

She Is The Music Women

Seaforth and Rachel Wammack

On Monday night, Sony Music Nashville and booking agency WME teamed up to present “A Celebration of Women’s History Month,” a night benefitting She Is The Music, a non-profit organization that focuses on increasing the number of women in music and gender equality in the industry. The night’s spotlight artists were Carlton Anderson, Rachel Wammack, Seaforth, Robert Counts, and Hannah Dasher; some of Sony’s newest artists on the roster. And hosting the night were beloved media personalities and journalists, Hunter Kelly and Ashley Eicher, the duo behind the All Our Favorite People Podcast.

WME booking agent, Carrie Murphy, was invited to start off the night by introducing the crowd to what She Is The Music was, and how the organization creates a platform for women to hone their craft and be supported on their journey in the music industry. “Girls can’t be what they can’t see,” shared Murphy.

The night took us on a chronological musical journey through country music’s finest women’s hits through the decades, from the 1960s all the way to 2010. Kelly and Eicher not only hosted the night but provided valuable summarized facts on social issues and the songs’ commercial success in each focused era.

She Is the Music Women

Robert Counts

Kicking the night off was Robert Counts, who covered Loretta Lynn’s hit song, “You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man,” that was originally recorded in 1965. “This might get weird…I feel weird,” joked Counts before he sang. “[Loretta] taught me a lot about songwriting. She has done a lot for my career [and] is a huge influence.”

Up next they focused on the 1970s, a time period where the feminist movement took place. In fact, because of the inundation of this movement, TIME awarded its “Man of the Year” award to “American Women” in 1975. Covering Dolly Parton’s second single and one of Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” was Rachel Wammack and Seaforth. The soaring harmonies from both acts almost gave “Jolene” a hauntingly different version that’s been never heard before.

She is The Music Women

Hannah Dasher

The 1980s was a time when women were not getting fair wages, and part of the movement against inequality was Parton’s “9 to 5,” which was featured on the movie of the same title. The movie aptly depicted the social circumstances women were in the and workforce of that era. Hannah Dasher lent her voice to a rocking, feet-tapping cover of it.

Still keeping it in the 80s, Carlton Anderson came up on stage to pay tribute to Barbara Mandrell and her song that became a hit at the height of the urban cowboy craze, or as Kelly jokingly called it, “the early version of bro-country.” Anderson, the most traditional country-leaning act of the night, undeniably shined in his element as he sang Mandrell’s 1981 hit song, “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.”

SHe Is the Music

Carlton Anderson

The next half of the night transitioned to the beloved 1990s onwards, and it was that era that saw a promising record number of women elected into congress. Dasher returned on stage to cover Reba’s “You Lie,” with Big Machine Record’s Dan Smalley, who she introduced as “the closest thing to Vince Gill.” Following their performance was Anderson, who came back with his rendition of Patty Loveless’ “You Don’t Know Who I Am.” “I grew up listening to this song. […] When you figure out what it’s really about, it kinda hits you in the chest, and I think that’s the beauty of this genre.”

Perhaps two of the biggest highlights of the night were both from Wammack. The Muscle Shoals, Alabama native shared how several people told her when she first moved to Nashville that she “sounded like Deana Carter when [she] spoke.” Wammack played the keys and sang two of country’s timeless ballads of the 90s: Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” and LeAnn Rimes’ “How Do I Live Without You.” Introducing the latter song, Kelly shared the history of its release, and how two of country’s women, Rimes and Trisha Yearwood, both had released the single at the same time. Unsurprisingly, the 23-year-old really captivated the crowd as soon as she started playing.

She Is the Music Women

Seaforth

One of our 2019 Artists to Watch, Seaforth’s Mitch Thompson and Tom Jordan were back, and gave a refreshing cover of Shania Twain’s 1997 hit, “You’re Still The One.” Again, the duo’s harmonies packed a punch and proved why they’re Nashville’s next biggest Australia transplants in country music.

Closing the nostalgia-filled night was Counts, whose unique and raspy delivery invigorated the wistfulness of Miranda Lambert’s first number one song and her fastest-rising single to date, “The House That Built Me.”

What a night that took everyone a trip down memory lane, visiting decades of iconic hit songs from trail-blazing women in country music! If there’s one thing we’re hoping for after the show, it’s that somehow, these young acts record each of their spins on the songs they covered and share it with the world. One thing’s for certain: Sony’s newest exceptionally-talented class of acts are here to stay.

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‘Nashville’ TV Show Being Adapted Into A Broadway Musical

Nashville Broadway

Look out bright lights of Broadway, country music is moving in. Announced today, the Lionsgate/ABC Studios series Nashville, which ran for six seasons on ABC then CMT and Hulu will be adapted into an original Broadway musical. 10-time Tony Award winner, Scott Delman will be the lead producer for the show, following 55 other Broadway productions that he has worked on including major hits such American Idiot, Ragtime, Book of Mormon and Hello, Dolly!.

Nashville will be the first of several live stage productions that are based on Lionsgate film and television productions. “Nashville, with its complex, relatable characters, and sweeping emotional gestures, has all of the narrative elements that I look for in great theatrical source material. From that rich DNA, we will be building an original story with entirely original music written by major Nashville and Broadway songwriters,” says Delman in a recent press release. “We are particularly excited to deliver Broadway’s first score of true contemporary country music — a genre that has exploded with mainstream audiences in recent years.”

While specific details will be announced at a later date, fans of the award-winning television musical drama can relive or watch the series for the first time via Hulu.  To keep up with all things country music in New York City be sure to be following us on our social media platforms (InstagramTwitter & Facebook) and sign up for our Weekly Round-Up email so you don’t miss a thing!

 

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Teddy Robb Hosts Intimate Evening with Friends in Nashville

Teddy Robb Ryan Beaver Heather Morgan

Ryan Beaver, Teddy Robb, Heather Morgan (Photo Credit: Molly Holmberg for NYCountry Swag)

Teddy Robb, our Swag Spotlight this week hosted an intimate evening with fellow songwriters Ryan Beaver and Heather Morgan at the Douglas Cafe in Nashville, TN last night. Set to play at 6 o’clock, friends and co-workers joined together for drinks, food, and a good time.

Heather Morgan

Heather Morgan (Photo Credit: Molly Holmberg for NYCountry Swag)

Morgan played “We Were A Fire” that is the first track off her recent album Borrowed Heart. Morgan has written songs for artists like Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, and more. Alongside songwriter Ross Copperman, Morgan and Brett Eldredge have become quite the writing trio, penning almost a dozen songs for Eldredge’s albums, including ”Lose My Mind.” She finally put out her own music after years of just songwriting and we are in for a treat every time we listen.

Teddy Robb Ryan Beaver

Ryan Beaver, Teddy Robb (Photo Credit: Molly Holmberg for NYCountry Swag)

Beaver also performed a few songs of his including “She Turns On The Sunset”. He has already been acclaimed as an artist to watch as his new EP is making waves in the industry. He’s received public praise from Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Lee Ann Womack and more.  Announced yesterday, Beaver will be joining Ryan Hurd on tour in 2019.  The tour heads to the Bowery Ballroom on January 25th.

Teddy Robb

Teddy Robb (Photo Credit: Molly Holmberg for NYCountry Swag)

Teddy Robb followed the trend and played some of his new music that is slated for his forthcoming debut EP that he hinted at was coming in the new year. “Me On You”, “Tell Me How”, and “Longer Goodbye” were all sung and are now on top of the list of highly anticipated songs. “Tell Me How” is the story of getting over a breakup. All he wants is to hear from his ex, how she is doing, where she is, and if she has gotten over him and then how he can do the same. Another favorite is “Longer Goodbye”, a song about how each time you head back home for a visit, your goodbyes get a little bit longer, noticing how quickly time passes.

Robb has been working with some of the best songwriters and producers, including SmackSongs, as he gets ready to release new music. Between being featured on multiple Spotify playlists, including New Boots, Wild Country, and Hot Country, and playing more shows than ever around Nashville, he is gaining recognition from around the country music industry. Check out our highlights from two other events he played at here and here.

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SMACKSongs Stuns Nashville With The Ultimate Writers Round

SMACKSongs Writers Round

Photo via SmackSongs Instagram//Taken by Rachel Deeb

 

What is better than a concert on a Monday night? Nothing. Although this concert was unlike any other for multiple reasons. One, it was at the Listening Room Cafe which is known for its intimate setting and finding new upcoming singers and songwriters. SMACKSongs took over the night for a round called SMACK and Friend’s making it the ultimate writers round. SMACKSongs is a Nashville-based music publishing company founded in 2012. They are proudly home to some of the industry’s top songwriters, producers, and artists, including Shane McAnally himself, as founder and CEO. The show featured McAnally, Josh Osborne, Teddy Robb, Aaron Eshuis, Matt McGinn, Ryan Beaver, Josh Jenkins, Kylie Morgan, Renee Blair and many more!

McAnally and Osborne got the night started by singing some of their hit songs including “Drinking Problem” and “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16”. Bringing out their first set of writers, including Renee Blair and Teddy Robb, each singer performed a new single or one that has previously been cut. Teddy Robb previewed a new song called “Tell Me How” that has not yet been released but never the less got the crowd on their feet applauding. Renee Blair also took the same approach singing a new song called “Me Tonight”.

In between each set of writers, McAnally and Osborne shared stories of their journey without forgetting to add some jokes along the way. Talking about how they once played a song for Kenny Chesney on his plane that was already taken but he loved it so much they had to steal it back from no other than Little Big Town. “American Kids” then became Chesney’s #1 single off his album The Big Revival. Other artists that played included Brandon Radcliff singing his song “Rules of Breaking Up” and Josh Jenkins sang “21” which was cut by Jimmie Allen on his latest album Mercury Lane and “Thinking About You”.

Each time McAnally introduced a singer you could tell in his voice how proud of each one of them he was. He even said himself that the only people he could be more proud of are his kids, showing genuine gratitude and emotion as the night progressed. Throughout the night he talked about how important it was to “find your tribe” and the people that are willing to hustle with you in order to chase your dreams. Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne have created not only a powerhouse of songwriters, producers, and artists but a community that displays the true meaning of family within the country music business.  Head to our Instagram and check out exclusive videos from the night.

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Song Suffragettes Raise $10,000 For TIME’S UP Movement

TIME'S UP Song Suffragettes

Pictured L to R: Jenna McDaniel, Candi Carpenter, Jenny Ray, Tasji Bachman, Kalie Shorr, Jenna Paulette, Emma White, Chloe Gilligan, Gracie Schram, Regan Stewart, Emma Lynn White Photo: Quinton Cook

Every Monday night, Nashville’s all-women singer-songwriter Song Suffragettes, perform at The Listening Room Café to showcase hundreds of talented women. This Monday night was a little different as they celebrated raising $10,000 to donate to the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund.

TIME’S UP is an initiative founded by a small group of Hollywood celebrities to support victims of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. Dozens of actors, actresses and artists have participated in this movement by not only donating to their Legal Defense Fund but by dressing in a specific color or adding a certain accessory to their ensembles at particular award shows. The first of this was seen at the 75th Golden Globe Awards where many actors and actresses wore all black to support the movement. Another event in which the support took place was at the 60th Grammy Awards where artists wore or added, white roses to their attire.

In January, the twenty-three members of Song Suffragettes released a powerful song along with a music video called “Time’s Up,” which directly addressed the message of the original movement. The money curated from digital sales and streams were added together for this incredible donation.

In a recent press release, a spokesperson for the TIME’S UP movement shared, “We are inspired by the Song Suffragettes’ commitment to addressing gender inequality across the music industry and we are so grateful for their support of the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, which connects those who experience sexual misconduct and related retaliation in the workplace with legal and public relations assistance. Together, we can create a world that insists on safe, fair and dignified work for women across industries.”

Though this was an immense donation, the group does not plan on this being their last to the fund. Todd Cassetty, the founder of Song Suffragettes, recently shared, “As the song and music video continue to be embraced, we look forward to writing even more checks to the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund. Hopefully, more media outlets and social media influencers will continue to help spread the word about the song, the organization and most importantly, discrimination issues against women.”

You can stream “Time’s Up” below or download the song here.

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Lee Brice Hosts Charity Songwriter Round in Nashville

Lee Brice Charity

Last night in Nashville, Lee Brice held a fundraiser for Women of Country at the Analog at Hutton Hotel. It was a “Lee and the Ladies” kind of night. Brice is hosting a series of three special shows supporting charities that are important to him in partnership with SESAC. The first of the series was a benefit for the military and first responders and last night NYCountry Swag was lucky enough to attend the second event supporting Women of Country.

The country superstar had by his side Maddie & Tae, and songwriters, Liz Rose, and Victoria Shaw. Maddie & Tae played their new single “Friends Don’t”  and their hit “Girl In a Country Song” while Rose had the entire crowd jamming out to her Taylor Swift cuts “Tim McGraw” and “You Belong With Me.”  Shaw, who we saw earlier this year in NYC at Birdland played the smash hit song she wrote for Garth Brooks “The River”.

We can’t forget about Brice in the mix of the outstanding women on stage last night. He sang his beautiful ballad “Boy” and also his upcoming single, “Rumor.” A special guest he brought out was the one and only Neal McCoy. The two started jamming out together to McCoy’s track “They’re Playing Our Song.”

All of the proceeds from the tickets went to the nonprofit organization Thistle Farms. Amy Paige, DJ from the BIG 98 explained their mission is to “heal, empower, and employ so many women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction, it has changed their lives so profoundly.”  Thistle Farms has a store located in Nashville, Tennessee selling handmade natural body & home products. If you’re interested in reading more about Thistle Farms and their mission, you can click here.

Brice’s last event is set for Oct 1, 2018, remembering Route 91 on the one year anniversary of this tragedy.

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