“I wanted to create the feeling of the journey I’ve been on – hoping that one day I’d be playing live in front of as many people as can be jammed into a concert hall,” said Urban.  Of the boom box in the opening scenes of the new video for his latest single “Wild Hearts,” Urban says, “it represents the beginning, when I had no band, and I just played to a couple of people.”

But things didn’t stay that way for Urban and as the video and song reveals his was a steady climb driven by his own dream.  “The building I’m playing on starts rising higher, as my audience grows,” explains Urban.  “All of this leading to a starry sky becoming a sea of camera phones in the air – a phenomenal sight to see from any stage.”

And after nearly four years, Urban will have the chance to see them again.  “All of this gives me the same adrenaline rush. Knowing that we’re heading back out on the road again – it’s been so long since we’ve done that (because of COVID).  I feel like a caged animal kicking at the gate to be let out!”

THE SPEED OF NOW WORLD TOUR gets underway in April 2022 at the O2 Academy in the UK before launching in the U.S. on June and sending up in Australia in December.

“Wild Hearts” is quintessential Urban.

The fist-pumping, arena-ready, rise-up against all odds anthem is as musically intoxicating as it is infectious and relatable. It’s the follow up to his duet with P!nk, “One Too Many,” which to date has amassed over 400 million worldwide streams.

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Grammy-winning, entertainment icon, Dolly Parton, is helping to make 2020 a little bit brighter globally with the release of her brand-new Christmas album, A HOLLY DOLLY CHRISTMAS.

The album is Dolly’s first holiday album in 30 years. This festive collection of music includes some of the timeless Christmas songs we all know and love, as well as a few original tracks from Dolly.

Dolly solely wrote 5 songs on the album and 1 additional co-write with Kent Wells.  The album also features incredible duets with some of Dolly’s dearest friends including Michael Bublé, Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon and Willie Nelson, plus a special song with her brother, Randy Parton.

A HOLLY DOLLY CHRISTMAS is out now.

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When the four-time GRAMMY Award winner revealed the track listing for his upcoming album release ‘THE SPEED OF NOW Part 1’, little did he know that worldwide social media chatter would erupt because of faded yellow blocks placed next to songs, “Out The Cage” and “One Too Many.” Fans from around the globe, quipped, speculated about collaborators and exhibited the tell-tale signs of FOMO.

Today, the chatter ends as Urban reveals that “Out The Cage,” the album’s opening track, highlights a collaboration with Breland and the legendary guitarist Nile Rodgers, while “One Too Many” features the incomparable P!nk.  An alternate version of “We Were,” features the song’s co-writer, Eric Church.

As the collaborators were announced Urban explained, “When I collaborate, I’m always looking for that ‘third thing.’  There’s what I do, there’s what my collaborator does and then there’s this ‘third thing’ that I’m most curious about.  That’s what interests me the most – when the sum of the parts becomes even more than what I envisioned.  That’s what I love so much about it – finding common ground, shaping it and bringing it together.”

THE SPEED OF NOW Part 1 is due to release on September 18th, 2020.

Everyone that works on STG is a volunteer. If you like the site and it’s contents please think about donating. Even a small amount helps keep the servers running.

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Irish songstress AMANDA ST JOHN releases the 2nd single from her upcoming 2nd studio album; The Muscle Shoals Sessions, recorded in the world famous FAME Studios, (USA).

‘Made Myself a Name’, has now released and is an upbeat song about the struggles of trying to make it as a singer. I wanted a quirkier, more 70’s Tom Waits vibe on this one and thought a remix might be a good option to make it stand stronger as a single. I’m a big fan of collaborating and had wanted to work with Arvo Party for a while so thought it would be a good opportunity to see what he could bring to this track. I totally love what he’s done with it, he’s brought the song to a whole new level’ states Amanda.

In May 2018 Amanda became the 1st independent Irish artist in history to record in FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Following in the footsteps of her musical heroes Aretha Franklin & Etta James she took a huge leap of faith (and financial risk) to record her 2nd studio album in this legendary studio.Talking about the experience, Amanda reports “It is was a dream come true for me and my band members (Paul Tierney and Producer Michael Mormecha) to get the opportunity to record in FAME along with “swampers” bass player
David Hood (Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Percy Sledge, Paul Simon, Alicia Keys etc) and piano / keys / hammond player Clayton Ivey (Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Joss Stone, The Supremes etc).

Amanda St John is a soulful singer-songwriter from Northern Ireland. She is a mainstay on the Irish radio, festival and gig circuit and has been described as a “Head-turning vocalist with serious song writing prowess………a sensational artist” (Visit Dublin).

She has worked with artists like Brian Kennedy, Eddi Reader, Mary Coughlan, Gareth Dunlop, Ciaran Gribbin
(of INXS) and Jon Tiven (Grammy winning Nashville writer/producer whose CV has included BB King, Van Morrison and The Rolling Stones etc…). Gaining substantial media interest in Ireland and the UK including extensive airplay on the BBC and RTE as well as reviews in Hot Press Magazine & The Irish Times. Amanda is known for her passionate and powerful live performances and is fast establishing herself as one of Ireland’s leading vocalists. With live sessions with ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris and Gaby Roslin on BBC Radio London, various other live performances/interviews across BBC regional’s, U105, Downtown/Cool FM, UTV Live Television etc, as well as many festival slots and tours of the UK, Ireland and the USA (which included the prestigious Folk Alliance Festival and a private event for the US President) under her belt, the future is looking very bright indeed for this talented musician.

Her debut album “Grow”; was launched in May 2016 at the prestigious Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in Belfast and has received rave reviews and worldwide airplay including a national advert campaign for The Rio Olympics for the title track ‘Grow’.

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Nine-time Grammy Award-winner Sheryl Crow gives another glimpse into her highly-anticipated collaborations album entitled THREADS with the release of “Prove You Wrong” featuring Stevie Nicks and Maren Morris.  Watch Crow and Morris’ performance of “Prove You Wrong” during the 2019 CMT Music Awards last week.

 THREADS is due out August 30th, 2019 through The Valory Music Co (via Universal Music Australia).

Crow wrote the fierce anthem of empowerment and joins forces with two strong female artists – double Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Nicks and GRAMMY favorite Morris. “Prove You Wrong” has the sound of her trademark rock classics, yet speaks to the current moment in time for women.

“Stevie exudes art, she is at all times authentic. She’s the sister I don’t see enough, but she never leaves my heart,” said Crow. “I invited Maren to perform on ‘Prove You Wrong’ with Stevie and I because she belongs in our ‘club’ of strong female rockers who tell it like it is.”

Admired musicianship abounds even beyond the notable vocals with the driving guitar of Waddy Wachtel, longtime sideman to Nicks, Keith Richards, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Warren Zevon and Jackson Browne; Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill and rock legend Joe Walsh.

“This is where my story begins; in the imagination of a young girl from Missouri who began to feel a part of a beautiful and inspiring universe of art, created by musicians who made me want to leave my small town and embark on something bigger than anything I could possibly imagine.” muses Crow. “As I became a mother, I’ve explored life through my children and seen the greater impact of our actions and voices. This collection is the THREADS of both my inspirations and younger artists carrying the torch for humanity with their stories.”

Over the weekend Crow performed “Still The Good Ol Days” with Joe Walsh of the Eagles on the Graham Norton Show to mark the beginning of the pre order.

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It has been a monumental year for critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves, who took home four GRAMMY Awards including Album of The Year and Best Country Album for her #1 third studio album Golden Hour, Best Country Solo Performance for “Butterflies”, and Best Country Song for “Space Cowboy”.  Kacey has now made history as the first female solo artist to win Best Country Album twice. These wins bring Kacey’s career total up to six.

In tandem with her breathtaking performance of new single “Rainbow” on the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards, Kacey has shared the song’s official video. The cinematic visual is a heartfelt message of hope for anyone facing adversity, echoing the song’s lyrics that “it’ll all be alright”. Upon Golden Hour’s release, GQ declared the track “arguably the best song she’s ever recorded,” describing it as “an emotional wallop that’ll knock you sideways if you’re not prepared,” and Noisey pronounced it “a stunner, which makes majesty out of familiar balladry.” The single has been serviced simultaneously to AC, Hot AC, Triple A and Country radio.

Golden Hour has received overwhelming praise and support since its release in March 2018. Kacey made her debut on Saturday Night Live with “High Horse” and “Slow Burn,” and made additional high-profile TV appearances surrounding Golden Hour’s release, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, TODAY, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and Jimmy Kimmel Live!  

Golden Hour, which earned Kacey her third #1 debut on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, was named Apple Music’s Global Album of the Year. The album continues to break boundaries, historically winning Album of the Year at the CMA Awards, with Kacey becoming the first female to win the category in four years and only the sixth female to do so in the show’s 52-year history. This April, Kacey will become the first-ever female country artist to play Coachella.

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Newly-minted GRAMMY Award nominees FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE have announced that their long-awaited fourth studio album is titled Can’t Say I Aint Country and will be released February 15th, 2019 on BMLG Records.

“We’re excited. In February, we’re releasing our fourth album,” FGL’s Tyler Hubbard shared with Entertainment Tonight. “I think February 15 is the official date, so we’re really excited. We’ve been working on that album for over a year now, so BK and I are definitely ready.”

FGL’s Brian Kelley added, “You can say a lot of things. You can call somebody a lot of different names and have a lot of different opinions, but at the end of the day, when it comes to me and Tyler, you can’t say we ain’t country.”

After earning their first GRAMMY Award nomination for “Meant to Be” in the Best Country Duo / Group Performance category ahead of the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 10th, 2019, the global entertainers continue to be celebrated, as Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman will declare today “Florida Georgia Line Day” at City Hall in Sin City.

FGL will be in Australia headlining CMC ROCKS March 2019, plus headline shows in Sydney and Melbourne.

AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES
14 – 17 March – CMC ROCKS, Willowbank, QLD
15 March – Convention Centre Hall, Cairns, QLD (sold out)
18 March – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, NSW​
20 March – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC

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Australian Newcastle singer-songwriter Ben Leece will release his brand new single Villains Friday the 27th of July, 2018.

Villains is the first track to surface from Ben’s recent recording sessions with Australian music stalwart Shane Nicholson, and draws upon a real experience of returning to the home of his youth in North West NSW. Ben discusses the romance of nostalgia pitted against realities of the present, and the feeling of coming up short when comparing career and life accomplishments of childhood friends to that of his own. Sonically Villains references modern Americana and was recorded in Nicholson’s Sound Hole Studio on the Central Coast featuring musical performances from Shane, Pete Drummond, Katie Brianna and the unmistakable steel of Jason Walker.

Raised on Kamilaroi country, Ben Leece grew up on a small farm in the North West of New South Wales. He first picked up his father’s Maton guitar as an early teenager and began writing songs before he even knew how to play. Ben references artists like R&B king Sam Cooke, The Replacements, Son Volt and Lucinda Williams amongst his influences but he really does offer something genuinely unique. His vivid story-telling paints the landscape of his current home in Newcastle and traces back to the black soil plains of his childhood. His resonant voice and dynamic playing intertwine to offer up a rare honesty that commands attention, opening up his heart and leaving it on the table. He is carving himself a niche, touching on subjects that other songwriters wouldn’t dare attempt. Fragile yet confronting and always honest, Ben will make you run the gamut of emotion.

In May 2017 Ben released Hank Volume 1, the first in a series of limited edition 7” vinyl / digital singles to much praise. From a session engineered and produced by sought-after multi-instrumentalist Trent Crawford, Hank 1 features songs Drinking Youth and Trace. Both Trent and rising Australian singer-songwriter Tori Forsyth accompany Ben on the release, both tracks receiving positive support and airplay from Triple J’s Roots N All host Nkechi Anele as well as Johanna Roberts of FBI Radio’s In The Pines.

This year Ben was a Finalist in the first annual Australian Americana Music Prize, while Trace has been awarded an Independent Music Award, for Best Alternative Country Song. The IMA is an international prize recognising the work of independent artists whose previous winners include Ben Kweller, Bright Eyes, Jackson Browne and Passenger.

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Tori Forsyth has now released her eagerly awaited debut album Dawn Of The Dark via Lost Highway Australia / Universal Music Australia.

Tonight, she will launch Dawn Of The Dark close to her hometown of Kurri Kurri at The Wickham Park Hotel in Newcastle. The alt-country artist will be performing songs from her new album and her standout debut EP Blackbird which kick started her music career in 2016. Tori is also thrilled to announce she’ll be supporting Eilen Jewell in Sydney at Leadbelly on Wednesday May 30th and Thursday May 31st, 2018 and at the Hardy’s Bay Club on Friday June 1st in Hardy’s Bay. 

Dawn Of The Dark beams with honest song writing and musical maturity far beyond her 22 years and includes singles ‘In The Morning’ and ‘Grave Robber’s Daughter’. 

Produced, mixed and engineered by award-winning Shane Nicholson, the 11 songs off the album were recorded at Shane’s studio Soundhole on the Central Coast. In The Morning video peaked at #26 on CMC and first single Grave Robber’s Daughter reached #20 on The Music Network Country Airplay Chart and #5 on the Hottest 20 on KIX Country Network where it remained in the chart for 8 weeks. The success of singles from her debut EP include hitting #1 on the Spotify most viral chart and now over 3 million streams with single ‘New Wall’. 

With a sold-out Tamworth show behind her and a post SXSW buzz, Tori Forsyth will be taking her album out on the road with more tour dates to be announced soon including Gympie Muster and Gundaroo Festival.

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The biggest-selling UK country act of all time, The Shires, have released their new single Guilty, the first track taken from their highly anticipated third album ‘Accidentally on Purpose’, due for release on 20th of April 2018 through Decca Records and Universal Music Australia.

The infectious Country / pop track Guilty was written by the band during their trip to America last year. 

 “This song encapsulates our writing trip to Nashville back in October. Nashville really is a party town and there were parties almost every night, it was hard to turn down the invites. We were certainly Guilty of having a good time out there!! As soon as we received the demo back from our co-writer & producer Lindsay, Crissie played it as her warm up track while she got ready to go out! It always got her in the mood for a night of partying!” – Ben Earle, The Shires.

“As a songwriter, you always write down any ideas that come to mind so that when you go into a writer’s room, you can look back for inspiration.  Ben had the title Guilty written down and threw it out to us in the session. We all loved it and knowing the party scene of Nashville, it flowed quite easily to us all”. – Crissie Rhodes, The Shires.

Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, The Shires’ new album combines massive Country-pop choruses and emotive words about their whirlwind journey, relationships and their time in the States. Increasingly, US Country music is taking influence from the mainstream with pop-inspired hooks, a sound that The Shires’ new album reflects.

“Accidentally on Purpose is full of personal songs that really sums up the whirlwind journey we’ve been on together. From the day we met, we’ve been crazy dreamers with big plans, who really believed that Country could break into the UK mainstream. We never imagined it would all happen so quickly and we’re so proud and excited to be releasing our third album.” – Ben and Crissie, The Shires.

The new album also features a track written by Ed Sheeran, a beautiful anthemic love song called Stay The Night which was written by Ed after he met the band on a night out in America. 

After an incredible two years, Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes – hailing from Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire – have fast become a firm favourite in the music world. And now they’re making their mark in Nashville too.

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