Tag: AmericanaFest

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Artists Worth Checking Out Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 33

Last night I had the privilege of working one of the best concerts I have ever experienced in the form of The Head and the Heart and The Avett Brothers.  It was an experience not to be missed.  We will be publishing our review shortly.  In the meantime, we have some news from the AmericanaFest and one of LA’s premier radio hosts, as well as five new singles and music videos to share with you.  Hope you have a great week.

17th ANNUAL AMERICANA HONORS AND AWARDS

The Americana Music Association recently handed out awards at their annual Americana Festival in Nashville.  Here are the winners:

Album of the Year:  “The Nashville Sound,” Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, produced by Dave Cobb

Artist of the Year:  John Prine

Song of the Year:  “If We Were Vampires,” Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, written by Jason Isbell

Duo/Group of the Year:  Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Emerging Artist of the Year:  Tyler Childers

Instrumentalist of the Year:  Molly Tuttle

“Spirit of Americana” Free Speech Award, presented in partnership with the First Amendment Center:  Rosanne Cash

Americana Trailblazer Award:  k.d. lang

Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist:  Buddy Guy

Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance:  Irma Thomas

Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive:  Cris Williamson and Judy Dlugacz of Olivia Records

LA TALK RADIO HOST SHEENA METAL LAUNCHES NEW COLOGNE

Long time Los Angeles concert promoter and personality Sheena Metal has always been a lover of all things that smell good, and secretly wanted my own fragrance.   Thanks to Scott Travis and CBT Candle LA, her dream has come true and she is celebrating the release of her own cologne, Ascend, on Sunday, September 23.

The launch will take place at the Hollywood Improv, alongside the celebration, of her 24-year radio host anniversary, and will feature celebrity guests, an audience interactive, live radio broadcast of my daily LA Talk Radio show, “The Sheena Metal Experience”, a red carpet before and a meet-and-greet after, as well as plenty of surprises. If you would like to attend, please send an email to her, and watch for more events leading up to her 25th anniversary.

NEW SINGLES

Our first single this week is from the amazingly talented duo Smoke Season.  Entitled “Hot Damn,” it is another smash from this hugely popular LA band, and we think it is the perfect song to kick off this new week.  Listen for it on your local radio station.

Our next single is the latest from multiple LA Music Critic Award winner and Blue Élan Records artist Rod Melancon.  We think you will love the autobiographical “Westgate” and we can’t wait to hear his next album.

Our third single comes from New York-based DJ/Producer The Afterprty, and features Nashville-based indie vocalist Harper Grae on “Wonder Woman.”  This one has an infectious beat and amazing vocals.  Let us know what you think.

Single number four is from The Textones from their forthcoming comeback album on Blue Élan Records.  We are so glad that this amazing band is returning to the music scene, and can’t wait for the release of Old Stone Gang, which we will be reviewing on Friday.  In the meantime, enjoy “20 Miles South of Wrong.”

Our final single this week is from the amazing MAWD, who sounds like a cross between Janis Joplin and Elle King.  Check out her song “Wandering Eye,” which we guarantee will get you up and dancing into the week.

https://soundcloud.com/soundx3music/mawd-wandering-eye-2

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

First up this week is the video for the third single, “Harlan,” from the award winning album Wow and Flutter by Amilia K Spicer.  This one brings back a lot of memories of small town living.

Our next video is very special, as it features our friends Raining Jane, who are currently on tour with Jason Mraz.  Enjoy this very special lyric video, “From Me to You.”

Next up is the video of a single we debuted here last month from LA indie rock artist, Kim Kline.  Listen to the words of her song “Stand Tall” and help us fight bullying.

Former country great Michael Peterson has returned in a big way in 2018, and has released a new video for his two time #1 song, “From Here to Eternity.”  This is one of the most beautiful and romantic songs ever written, and we think you will love this updated version.

We close out this week with another artist from Blue Élan Records.  We recently featured her previous video, and really love this new one from Roan Yellowthorn.  Here’s “Lie.”

 

 

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Artists Worth Checking Out Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Monday Mashup Women in Entertainment

Monday mashup 2018: vol. 8

The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival has come to a close, and it was a very successful run.  So many of the movies sold out, including a few that we had the pleasure of viewing, such as Dark Money, Fail State and the Greg Barker film The Final Year.  We’ll have more on the winners at the Festival later this week.  For now, here’s the latest news on the indie arts front.

AMERICANAFEST IS ACCEPTING SHOWCASE APPLICATIONS

Showcase submissions for AMERICANAFEST® 2018 are now open and will be accepted through Monday, March 26, 2018. There are two ways to submit:
  • Submissions are open to anyone via our digital platform for a small fee of $25.  Digitally submit here.
  • Become an artist member of the Americana Music Association® today and take advantage of free submissions, access to our expansive artist and industry global community, discounted conference registration rates and more!  To join, click here.  Once you join, you will find a free submission form link in your welcome letter.
Selected artists will showcase Tuesday, September 11 through Sunday, September 16 at many premiere venues throughout Nashville, Tennessee.  For more information, go to our website.
MONTANA REP ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR

Montana Repertory Theatre, the professional theatre-in-residence at the University of Montana School of Theatre & Dance, has selected Michael Legg to become its next artistic director.

Legg is currently the director of the Professional Training Company at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky.  He will start his new role at the University of Montana on July 1.

Montana Rep celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017.  Greg Johnson, whose tenure with Montana Rep began in 1990, is delighted with the choice.

“Mr. Legg brings youth, vision and vitality at a time when the Rep is poised not only to continue its tradition of touring nationally, but also to be a strong artistic presence in Missoula and the region, as the University of Montana begins its renaissance under our new president.”

BLUE ÉLAN RECORDS ARTIST KEITH HARKIN TO PLAY SPECIAL PRE-ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION AT LA’S HOTEL CAFE

Irish singer/songwriter Keith Harkin (of Celtic Thunder fame) is currently on a Stateside tour in support of his new live solo release, In The Round, his fourth album on Blue Élan Records.

He will perform at Los Angeles’ famed indie listening room The Hotel Cafe (1623 Cahuenga Boulevard, Hollywood) on Saturday, March 5 at 7 p.m.  Tickets are available here for $35 in advance.  We strongly encourage you to attend this show.

NEW SINGLES

 Our first single today comes from Ruby Friedman and Two Beards.  It is an amazing Americana song called “Un4gvn.”  We truly dig it and hope you will too.

We just discovered an amazing British country pop band called Delaware.  They have a new single called “Fire,” and we think it is really hot.  Please let us know what you think.

Our final new single today is a rocking number from Australian artist Reichelt.  Here is “Seduced by the Light Side.”  Let it get your new week off to a great start.

NEW MUSIC VIDEOS

First up today is the title track for the forthcoming EP from Keaton Simons, one of Los Angeles’ elite indie artists.  His new EP will be released on March 9 and is being produced by Nashville legendary producer Marshall Altman.  It will have more of an Americana feel than his previous material.  Let us know what you think.

Last week we reviewed the new EP from Marieme, and were truly impressed with her voice and her message.  Here’s the music video for her most personal and powerful song, “Leave.”  This one will move you.

Our final video today comes from another Blue Élan artist, Cindy Alexander.  She has released a lyric video for her song “Passenger,” from her latest album, Nowhere to Hide.  Have a wonderful week.

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Artists Worth Checking Out

Americana artist Annette Conlon to embark on ‘Compassionette Tour’

Los Angeles based singer/songwriter Annette Conlon is hitting the road in support of her critically-acclaimed debut solo album, Life, Death, and the Spaces Between.  Conlon is also seeking to raise awareness of animal cruelty, factory farming, and the many vegan options in music, fashion and food.  The Compassionette Tour will wind through Alabama and North Carolina, head up to Chicago for an evening show in Chicago, then back to Los Angeles, where she will wrap up this fall tour with a Halloween performance at SoCal VegFest in Costa Mesa on October 30.

“I am so excited to share my love for animals and vegan-ism with folks across the country, to show them how easy it is to live more compassionately, from what you eat, to what you wear, and to help folks make the connection that our animal friends are not food,” states Conlon.

Her husband Doug will accompany Conlon on the tour, playing mandolin and banjo and providing background harmonies.   Conlon will be performing on two of her favorite guitars, her Bedell Blackbird Vegan Parlor and her Seagull Artist Studio Concert Hall. Both instruments are made from sustainably-sourced woods and found tone-woods, and the Bedell is 100% vegan, containing no animal products.  Conlon is endorsed by both of these companies.

“We are thrilled to have Annette perform at Chicago VeganMania this year,” says CVM co-founder, Marla Rose. “Annette’s approachable, warm and welcoming style along with her passion for vegan-ism help listeners imagine themselves making steps in this direction. There is so much progress and movement in the mainstreaming of vegan-ism happening today and Annette and her music speaks to that so beautifully.”

The tour kicks off in Nashville at the AmericanaFest on September 24 (Antique Archeology Pickin Corner), before hitting Birmingham the next day (Bluff Park Shopping Center) for Moonlight on the Mountain.  The tour continues with stops in Asheville, North Carolina on September 28 (The Block off Biltmore), Hendersonville, North Carolina on September 29 (Santuary Brewing Company), Chicago for Chicago Veganmania at the Broadway Armory on October 1 and at the Red Line Tap that evening (Heartland Veg Café).

Check out her website and Facebook pages for more info.