Posts Tagged ‘Beatwire’
Sandra Piller New Music Award Nominee
Sandra Piller - New Music Award Nominee for “Best New Country Artist”
Her latest single, “Mistletoe and You,” is currently climbing the AC and Country charts
Genuine lovers of real, honest-to-goodness country music are in for a treat this month with the release of ‘Kindred Spirits’ - the second album from Californian songstress Sandra Piller.
Sandra announced herself to the world with the release of ‘A Long Time Coming.’ This collection of 11 raw, emotionally intense but also fun and uplifting numbers was everything a great country record should be: A document of the artist’s life.
And Sandra continues the theme with her second effort which, if anything, improves and expands upon her impressive debut.
It is a more thoughtful acoustic record, reflecting a different stage in its creator’s life and career. Retaining the mixture of originals and cover versions, ‘Kindred Spirits,’ as the name suggests, takes Sandra’s music to a new level of intimacy.
Vandarth
Alternative Christmas puts a modern-rock spin on popular Christmas songs
Vandarth’s newest album, Alternative Christmas puts a new spin on traditional holiday songs. For many teens and adults, fresh and upbeat Christmas songs can be hard to find. Vandarth set out to make a holiday album for fans of rock music. The results are 10 original arrangements of popular Christmas songs in a style comparable to Green Day, Foo Fighters and Weezer. Vandarth: Alternative Christmas is currently available on iTunes.
Vandarth (Nathan Snyder, age 23) is a one-man-band from Indianapolis. He played every instrument heard on the album, including drums, guitar and vocals. Alternative Christmas is his third studio release. With this album, he hopes to provide some fresh new holiday music and reach a wider audience.
Vandarth: Alternative Christmas is currently available on iTunes. One free song is available for download at http://www.vandarth.com/www.vandarth.com/default.html
The accidental success story
With no record label, management company, or music industry connections, Steve Acho’s music has seen over 150,000 downloads and streams on iTunes and other pay-for-download music sites.
In a downturned economy, Acho consistently earns over $2,000 per month strictly from online music sales. He has found a way to use the Internet - a medium typically blamed for hemorrhaging music sales - to gain music sales. This is in addition to paid performances and appearances around the country.
He credits his continued success to his soulful, acoustic versions of popular songs. “I’m a huge fan of acoustic music”, Acho says. “If I hear an acoustic version of a song I love, I’ve got to have it! I had this idea to do acoustic covers, so I booked a studio, invited friends, and recorded a live concert featuring two hours of my favorite songs with just my piano and vocals.
After obtaining legal licenses to sell downloads of each cover song from their respective publisher, Acho used Tunecore to distribute and sell them via iTunes and other similar sites.
The Outlaws Announce Plans
The Outlaws Announce Plans to Release Once an Outlaw and More Band News
TAMPA, FL-November 24, 2009-The wait is over for fans around the world. The Outlaws, the storied band whose career has spanned four decades, completed their latest recording in the summer of 2007. On the verge of its release, band founder and legendary guitarist Hughie Thomasson passed away unexpectedly. The studio album Once an Outlaw, a true project of passion for Thomasson, was never released.
The family of Thomasson is pleased to announce it plans to release Once an Outlaw, a poignant and almost mystical piece of work produced and recorded by Hughie Thomasson in Tampa, Florida, in 2010.
“Hughie was special to everyone he met and his death in 2007 was tough on a lot of people-family, friends and the fans,” states Constance Cowez, daughter of Hughie Thomasson. “He was very proud of this record and the time is right to share it with longtime fans of The Outlaws and fans of great music everywhere. We are excited about the future of The Outlaws and the opportunity to continue my father’s legacy for many years to come.”
The group plans to release Once an Outlaw along with the launch of a new band, website, merchandise and supporting tour in 2010. Additional music and product releases are also in the works.
Chris Hicks, who played with The Outlaws from 1990-1996 before embarking on a successful solo career and stints with Marshall Tucker Band, will lead the new band line-up that is in development today.
"Liz Nash and the Cockpit" in Support of Flight Attendant
Flight attendant by day, singer songwriter by night, Liz Nash and her stellar band the Cockpit are creating a major buzz with her hook driven music, charismatic good looks and flight crew cult following.
Just after returning from her performances at MusikMesse’s Music China, the biggest annual music fair in Asia with over 100,000 visitors, she will rally with her fellow flight attendants to to fight for a new contract.
Flight attendants have taken over 30% pay cuts, loss of pensions, and benefits in order to help keep the company afloat during bankruptcy. The company has now turned around . The contract is due for a renewal and the flight attendants are eager to do whatever it takes for their well deserved fair share back.
She’s looking forward to help rally fans and perform in support the flight attendant’s plight to do what is right.
On January 7th, 2010, crew members are gathering in record numbers at LAX to picket outside of terminal 7. In support of this event, “Liz Nash and the Cockpit” are performing a free show that evening at the Liquid Lounge in Long Beach at 9:30 p.m. 3522 E. Anaheim Street, Long Beach CA. All are welcome. Come early for choice seating.
www.liznash.net
www.myspace.com/liznash
Luna Blanca Guitar Island
The German Dutch border town of Bocholt is not where you would expect to find the birthplace of one of the freshest and most innovative flamenco guitar sounds to hit the airwaves in many years. But, luckily, music knows no geography.
Luna Blanca was formed in 2000 by virtuoso classical guitarist Richard Hecks and was inspired by German guitar legend Ottmar Lieberts Nouveau Flamenco project of a decade early.
Now, with the release of its third album the sublimely brilliant Guitar Island the band has reached new heights. The recent additions of Bino Dola on guitar and percussionist Sascha Popping has given the sound of Luna Blanca even more richness and diversity.
Jennifer Brantley
Jennifer Brantley releasing uncut, unrecorded Hank Williams, Sr. and Glenn Douglas Tubb co-written song titled “Heartbroken, Forsaken and Alone
Jennifer Brantley is digitally releasing an uncut, unrecorded Hank Williams, Sr. and Glenn Douglas Tubb co-written song titled “Heartbroken, Forsaken and Alone,” before releasing her new EP CD, The Little Things.
The story behind the song began when Glenn was approached in 1958 by Hank’s first wife, Audrey, who told him that she had found some old lyrics of Hanks that he never finished writing. She asked Glenn, who was a big fan of Hanks, to finish writing the lyrics and to come up with a Hank Williams’ style melody for the song. Although Glenn was young at the time, he had already written songs for Johnny Cash, Kitty Wells, Ernest Tubb, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and others. George Jones had just taken two of Glenn’s songs to record. But the main reasons Audrey chose Glenn were because she knew that Glenn sang a lot of Hank’s songs on his personal appearances and that he would probably come closer to finishing the song as Hank would have wanted. Glenn waited until he had written more songs for Johnny Cash, George Jones, Bob Dylan, Tammy Wynette, Tennessee Ernie and many others before he attempted to finish writing the song Hank had started. In 1974, he was living in Tucson, Arizona, when he completed the song and mailed it to Acuff-Rose, Hank’s publisher. He sent them a copy of the original Hank Williams lyrics along with a demo of the song. They had the handwriting checked by a hand writing expert, who concluded that it was indeed Hank William’s handwriting. In June of 1974, Fred Rose Music issued a publishing contract on the song, showing the writers as Hank Williams and Glenn D. Tubb. Before Glenn moved back to Nashville, Audrey died in November of 1975. He doesn’t know if Audrey ever heard the finished product. After Glenn returned to Nashville, he went to Acuff-Rose and had a meeting about the song. Because of some disagreements, the song was essentially buried until now.
Lucia Studio 71
INDIE ARTIST, LUCIA, DEBUTS ALBUM AND RECORD LABEL: STUDIO 71
Miami, FL (November 19, 2009) — Sultry songstress and entrepreneur Lucia http://www.livelovelucia.com has just released her debut album, Studio 71, and simultaneously partnered with producer Bobby MacIntyre to launch an independent record label of the same name. Her organic psychedelic/soul/pop sound and angelic voice have already captured many followers in her hometown of Miami. Studio 71 blends Lucia’s soulful poetic lyrics with her band’s rhythmic innovation and charisma to introduce this unique grounded artist. In her own words, “this album is a reflection on my journey to live love to the fullest.”
As a writer, Lucia’s music strikes a genre that questions human nature and our eternal struggle to find happiness, truth and peace in the chaos of life. Studio 71 is the aptly named studio where she recorded her debut album, and also where she met industry guru Bobby MacIntyre (Twilight Singers) in 2006 at a songwriter’s showcase. Shortly thereafter they teamed up to work on a full length LP with Bobby recording out of Studio 71. MacIntyre brought in long-time friends Shane Soloski, Scott Bennett (Brian Wilson), Adam Zimmon (Shakira, Spam Allstars), and Ben Peeler (Wallflowers) to contribute to the album. “In a world full of manufactured pop, it’s refreshing to hear a record with such emotional honesty and vulnerability,” says Scott Bennett.
Cathryn McGill The Spirit of Christmas
Emerging Southwest songwriter can beat WalMart’s price challenge this holiday season with lyrics from newly released Christmas tune.
ALBUQUERQUE - November 19, 2009 - WalMart has just spent millions of dollars on its holiday ad campaign - “Christmas costs less at WalMart.” Emerging songwriter and seasoned artist, Cathryn McGill has just released a new holiday song called the “Spirit of Christmas” that disagrees with the mighty retail giant. The premise of the Spirit of Christmas is that if we are really in the right zone-Christmas is free! McGill’s insightful and inspirational lyrics remind us that Christmas doesn’t have to “cost” anything at all when she sings - “I know the Spirit of Christmas, it lives inside of me. And though it is priceless, it is unlimited and free. If you’ll just share your love, whether you’re a rich man or a peasant, the life you live at Christmas time will be the perfect present.”
The Spirit of Christmas will appeal to listeners of all ages and music lovers in all genres. Cathryn McGill has a classic voice and a universal and timely message for the upcoming holiday season. And don’t get her wrong, she’s not saying that you shouldn’t buy anything this holiday season. Not at all, in fact, she’s hoping that you’ll play her music and visit her website at www.cathrynmcgill.com to learn more about this artist who not only has a great voice but who has something to say.
Cathryn McGill is an indie artist living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. You’ll find her lighting up stages all over the United States performing her original music and inspiring audiences to know better and do better as we all figure out how to make this thing called “life” work!
Muskogee Spruce Publishing/ASCAP
Susan Wylde
Singer/Songwriter/Jazz musician Susan Wylde releases CD, Shambhala, launches second tour of Asia
TORONTO - Susan Wylde, a classically trained pianist/vocalist/songwriter, is pleased to announce the official release of Shambhala, her new CD. Shambhala, which has been nominated for an indie music award, contains 14 tracks drawing from traditional and contemporary jazz, blues, pop and R&B. “Driven to Shine”, one of several tracks co-written with Juno winner Eddie Bullen, is about the life of Frank Sinatra, inspired by Susan first arriving in Vegas the night Sinatra died. Susan has been invited to perform on mainstages in and outside Canada, and has toured Canada, USA, Japan, China, Cuba, Bahamas. Susan is heading to Asia for her second tour in November. This year, Susan had a great experience opening for Grammy winner Delfeayo Marsalis. Susan is the creator/producer/artistic director for Goddess Festival Charity Events (similar to Lilith Fair). These events have raised thousands of dollars for various charities.
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