Category Archives: Country Music

Shania Twain Going on Final “Rock This Country” Tour

It’s real, y’all!  Rumors had been going around that Shania Twain would be heading out on tour, and she confirmed the news this morning with a huge announcement on GMA.  The Rock This Country  Tour kicks off in Seattle on June 5th, with dates across the US and Canada throughout the Summer, including a stop at Madison Square Garden!  It’s been 12 years since Shania’s last headlining tour, but after all these years, she’s still the one.  She also announced that this would be her LAST tour ever!

Her two year residency in Las Vegas ended last year, and if that show is any indicator of what to expect on tour, we are in for an AMAZING show.  Her Vegas show had everything: flying motorcycles, live horses, moving sets, leopard jumpsuits, backup dancers, and more.  If you missed it, you can pickup a copy of Shania Twain: Still The One on DVD and get ready to rock this country with Shania all summer.

Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday, March 13th, with pre-sales happening a few days before.  Come on over to ShaniaTwain.com for all the details and check out the dates below!

Shania Twain Rock This Country Tour Dates
June 5 — Key Arena – Seattle, WA
June 7 — Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC
June 9 — Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC
June 11 — Rexall Place – Edmonton, AB
June 12 — Rexall Place – Edmonton, AB
June 14 — SaskTel Centre – Saskatoon, SK
June 15 — MTS Centre – Winnipeg, MB
June 19 — Budweiser Gardens – London, ON
June 20 — Budweiser Gardens – London, ON
June 22 — FirstOntario Centre – Hamilton, ON
June 24 — Air Canada Centre – Toronto, ON
June 25 — Air Canada Centre – Toronto, ON
June 27 — Wesley Clover Parks – Ottawa, ON
June 28 — Bell Centre – Montreal, QC
June 30 — Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
July 1 — Nassau Coliseum – Uniondale, NY
July 3 — Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT
July 7 — Prudential Center – Newark, NJ
July 8 — TD Garden – Boston, MA
July 10 — CONSOL Energy Center – Pittsburgh, PA
July 11 — Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
July 13 — Bankers Life Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN
July 15 — Veterans Memorial Arena – Jacksonville, FL
July 16 — American Airlines Arena – Miami, FL
July 18 — Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Greenville, SC
July 19 — Time Warner Cable Arena – Charlotte, NC
July 21 — Verizon Center – Washington, D.C.
July 22 — Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA
July 25 — Palace of Auburn Hills – Detroit, MI
July 26 — iWireless Center – Moline, IL
July 28 — Target Center – Minneapolis, MN
July 29 — AllState Arena – Rosemont, IL
July 31 — Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
August 1 — Philips Arena – Atlanta, GA
August 3 — KFC Yum! Center – Louisville, KY
August 4 — Scottrade Center – St. Louis, MN
August 6 — Wells Fargo Arena – Des Moines, IA
August 7 — Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO
August 9 — Frank Erwin Center – Austin, TX
August 10 — American Airlines Center – Dallas, TX
August 12 — Chesapeake Energy Center – Oklahoma City, OK
August 14 — Pepsi Center – Denver, CO
August 15 — EnergySolutions Arena – Salt Lake City, UT
August 17 — SAP Center – San Jose, CA
August 19 — Honda Center – Anaheim, CA
August 20 — Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA
August 22 — Valley View Casino Center – San Diego, CA
August 24 — Save Mart Center – Fresno, CA

Be sure to follow Shania Twain & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Thomas Rhett Rocks The Paramount NY In Sold Out Show

Thomas Rhett played a killer sold-out show at the Paramount in Huntington, NY over the weekend.  It was one of those shows that you’ll always remember – everyone in the crowd could feel something special was happening.  Thomas had already been having a great week: he made history when his single “Makes Me Wanna” hit #1 on the Country Airplay chart, making him only the second country artist to ever have 3 #1 hits from a debut album, and the first to do so in over 20 years.

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When he played “Make Me Wanna,” just 4 songs into the set, the energy in the room went off the charts, as the already hyped up crowd dance and sang along to every word.  It was so overwhelming that Thomas had to pause a couple of times to wipe away tears before he could continue (as did we).  Which only egged the crowd on more, as everyone erupted into cheers and the usual chants of “USA! USA!.”  It was a touching and telling moment, and we get chills just thinking about it.  Ladies and gentlemen, Thomas Rhett has arrived.

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Thomas kicked off the night with a newer track, “South Side,” encouraging the audience to shake their “south sides.”  Thomas proved again and again during his set that he is indeed very good at shaking his south side.  He’s mentioned wanting to bring soul and funk back into country music, and he’s certainly doing just that.  Like most of country’s new artists at the moment, Thomas was influenced by a wide range of music, not just country.  A cover of Lee Brice’s “Parking Lot Party,” (which Thomas co-wrote) included a medley of Weezer’s “Beverly Hills” and David Lee Murphy’s “Dust On The Bottle.”  His intro music was Jason Derulo’s “Trumpets,” and he broke into a little of Justin Timberlake’s “Suit and Tie.”  He ended his set with a cover of Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ hit “Uptown Funk,” further showcasing his funky side.

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Thomas has the unique ability to make every person in the room feel like they are a part of the show – pointing out fans in the front rows and the rafters, signing hats and taking selfies mid-song, and calling out to one fan in the audience who was standing there with his arms crossed.  Boy, you can’t do that at at Thomas Rhett show.  He got the surprise of his life later in the night when Thomas pulled him onstage during his cover of “Friends In Low Places,” handed him his guitar and encouraged him to sing, “play guitar,” and yes, shake his south side.  After spotting a Birthday poster in the crowd, Thomas made sure to get the Birthday Girl’s name before leading a “Happy Birthday” singalong. He asked the girl if she was having a great time – we think it’s safe to say best Birthday, ever.

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All in all, we went in to the show not knowing what to expect, just that we liked his album. And we walked out much bigger fans than before.  We’re not sorry for partyin’ with Thomas on Saturday night.

Thomas Rhett is currently on tour with Florida Georgia Line and Frankie Ballard.  Check out all of his upcoming tour dates HERE!  And if you have the chance to see him, GO!  He’ll be the one headlining Madison Square Garden one day.

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Set List:
Intro
South Side
Something To Do With My Hands
What You Got In That Cup
Makes Me Wanna
Parking Lot Party Medley
It Goes Like This
T-Shirt
Front Porch Junkies
Sorry For Partyin’
Take You Home
Beer With Jesus
Round Here
Get Me Some Of That
Uptown Funk
Friends In Low Places (encore)

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Pickup a copy of Thomas Rhett’s debut album “It Goes Like This” on iTunes now!  Visit our Tumblr for more photos from the show.

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Be sure to follow Thomas Rhett & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Nash FM 94.7 Presents Nash Bash 2015 at Barclays Center with Cole Swindell

Get ready Brooklyn, because Country music is about to takeover.  Nash FM 94.7 just announced that their Nash Bash 2015 will be at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn this year!  The show, held on March 24th, will feature headliner Cole Swindell, along with Gloriana, Jana Kramer, and Michael Ray.  Tickets go on sale Wednesday, February 25th, with pre-sales starting Tuesday, February 24th.  Head over to Nash FM 94.7 for more info!

NASH BASH 2015 flyer

Nash Bash 2015
Barclays Center – Brooklyn, NY
March 24th at 7pm
Buy Tickets

Listen to Cole Swindell’s latest single, “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey” below.

Be sure to follow Nash FM 94.7 & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

The Friday Five: Country Artists To Watch in 2015

1. Cam – “My Mistake”
We’ve never had as much fun watching an unfamiliar opening act as we did during Cam’s set on the Where It All Began Tour with Dan + Shay.  She just launched her first single, “My Mistake,” and we’re sure we’ll be catching her on a headlining tour very soon.

2. Canaan Smith – “Love You Like That”
Canaan scored opening spots on some of the hottest tours this year, including Dierks Bentley’s Sounds of Summer Tour. His self-titled debut EP will be released in March, just in time to learn all the words before seeing him on tour! 

3. Chris Lane – “Broken Windshield View”
Chris has played shows with some of the biggest names in country, making a name for himself on the road in the process.  He’s currently working on an EP following the release of his single “Broken Windshield View.”  

4. Michael Ray – “Kiss You In The Morning”
2015 is shaping up to be Michael Ray’s year – his first single “Kiss You In The Morning” was the highest debuting single on the Country Airplay chart when it was released.  You can also see him on the Lipstick Graffiti Tour with possibly the hottest country singer of the moment, Sam Hunt, this Spring.

5. Jackie Lee – “She Does”
With his raspy southern drawl and electric guitar in hand, Jackie Lee is ready to make you fall in love with him.  Like he sings in his debut single, “She Does,” he may not like the same things you do, but he’s willing to love them for you.  Jackie is currently working on his debut album and landed the Nashville Lifestyles’ 2015 Most Eligible Singles cover.

Canaan Smith To Release Debut EP in March

Country singer Canaan Smith just announced he is releasing his self-titled debut EP on March 24th!  His single “Love You Like That” has been steadily climbing the charts.  Canaan just wrapped up a tour with Kip More, but you’ll have lots more chances to see Canaan on the road this year!  First up is Dan + Shay’s Where It All Began Tour, which kicks off next weekend (!!!), followed by Dierks Bentley’s Sounds of Summer tour.  Canaan is also part of the lineup of the inaugural Farmborugh Festival in NYC, New York’s first ever country fest.

Check out the EP tracklisting below and watch the video for “Love You Like That!”

Canaan Smith EP Tracklisting
1. Love You Like That
2. Two Lane Road
3. Mad Love
4. Hole In A Bottle
5. Stuck

Pickup a copy of “Love You Like That” on iTunes now!

Be sure to follow Canaan Smith & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Listen to Michael Ray’s Debut Single “Kiss You In The Morning”

Country singer Michael Ray just premiered his first single, “Kiss You In The Morning.”  Michael scored an opening slot for Sam Hunt’s sold out Lipstick Graffiti Tour, and he’s definitely working his way into our hearts and our playlist!  Listen to  “Kiss You In The Morning” below.

https://soundcloud.com/michael-ray-80/02-kiss-you-in-the-morning

Grab a copy of Michael Ray’s new song on iTunes and Amazon now.

Catch Michael on tour with Sam Hunt this March!  Check out the dates below.

Lipstick Graffiti Tour Dates
March 20th – The Bourbon Theater – Lincoln, NE – SOLD OUT
March 21st – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO – SOLD OUT
March 29th – Iowa State University – Ames, IA – SOLD OUT
April 2nd – Majestic Lounge – Fayetteville, AK – SOLD OUT
April 3rd – The Blue Note – Columbia, MO – SOLD OUT
April 4th – The Rave – Milwaukee, WI – SOLD OUT

Be sure to follow Michael Ray & Secret Fangirls on Twitter.

Sam Hunt’s Lipstick Graffiti Tour Hits NYC

Sam Hunt brought his first headlining tour, The Lipstick Graffiti Tour, to NYC last night.  The show, which took place at Irving Plaza, sold out within minutes of going on sale.  And who said New Yorkers don’t like country?  It’s been a whirlwind 8 months for Sam since he signed with MCA Nashville and released “Leave The Night On” last summer.  He gathered support by working as a songwriter in Nashville, writing tracks for Keith Urban, Billy Currington and more, before releasing his “Behind The Pines” mixtape for free online last year.

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His set included tracks from that mixtape and his debut album, “Montvallo,” as well as the songs he penned for other artists.  Do “Cop Car” or “We Are Tonight” ring any bells?  We love going to country shows because they are usually one big singalong – the audience knows every word, and last night was no exception!  You could see how much it meant to Sam to have so many people singing along to the songs he wrote – he seemed genuinely touched.  It’s one thing to be a good songwriter, but Sam is also a talented performer. You can tell how passionate he is about music, and how much he loves being on stage.  It’s just not a good concert unless you get chills at some point, and despite the hot venue we had chills over and over again.  Throughout the set he interacted with the crowd, even coming down to the floor to have a “House Party” with the lucky fans in the front row!  And we’re pretty sure the girls he sang “Take Your Time” to are still recovering from their fangirl coma.

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There is a lot of talk about what country music is now, and if Sam should even be considered a country artist.  But fans aren’t so concerned with what genre an artist is – they just want good music! And he introduces new fans to the country genre, is this such a bad thing?  We’ve all grown up listening to a variety of artists, Sam included, and you can hear the range of influences in his music. Between each song he played, he sampled tracks from everyone from R Kelly to Jay Z to Miley Cyrus, yet this all worked together.  An acoustic medley of 90s songs was also a highlight of his set.  The band led a singalong of hits by Reba, Mariah Carey, Destiny’s Child and Deana Carter.

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Opening act Native Run got the crowed pumped up with an energetic set, including a cover of TLC’s “Waterfalls.”  We were majorly impressed by Rachel Beauregard totally crushing Lisa’s rap. TLC, if you need some help on the Main Event Tour this summer, give Rachel a call!  If you’re heading to a Lipstick Graffiti Tour stop, make sure you get there early to check them out.

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Lipstick Graffiti Tour Setlist
Intro: Speakers/Breakup In A Small Town
Ex To See
Leave The Night On
Raised On It
Saturday Night
Cop Car
Single For The Summer
Take Your Time
We Are Tonight
Acoustic 90s Medley
Speakers
House Party
Make You Miss Me
Breakup In A Small Town

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The Lipstick Graffiti Tour continues through April (and is mostly sold out), but you can catch Sam alongside Hunter Hayes and Lady Antebellum on the Wheels Up Tour this summer. Can you say dream tour lineup? If you have a chance to see Sam on tour, GO! He’ll be headlining much bigger venues, very soon.

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Be sure to follow Sam Hunt, Native Run & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Cam Premieres Debut Single “My Mistake”

Rising country star Cam, whom you might remember from the Where It All Began Tour with Dan + Shay, just released her first official single!  The track, “My Mistake,” is something we all can relate to.  The single is her first since signing a deal with Sony Music Nashville earlier this year. We are looking forward to hearing more from Cam this year – her opening set on the Where It All Began Tour was a blast!  She had the crowd pumped up in no time, with tracks like “Country Ain’t Never Been Pretty,” “Fireball Whiskey,” and “Go Get ‘Em, Cam.”   We love her clever, honest lyrics paired with classic country stylings.

Cam is currently working on her debut album.  Get to know Cam and listen to “My Mistake” below.  Pickup a copy of the single on iTunes now!

Be sure to follow Cam & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Sam Hunt Announces London Show March 9th

Country music is everywhere these days: from Nashville to NYC, and every US city in between.  It’s even making it’s way to Europe, with more and more artists heading overseas for shows.  Sam Hunt is the latest to announce a gig in the UK.   His first UK show will be at the Borderline in London on March 9th!

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The show is part of Sam’s first headlining tour, the Lipstick Graffiti Tour, which kicks off later this month in Los Angeles.  (Nearly every date sold out within minutes of going on sale).  Tickets for the London show go on sale January 20th at 9am local time.  Get ’em while you can!

Sam Hunt
Borderline – London, U.K.
March 9th at
Buy Tickets

Watch Sam performing his latest single “Take Your Time” in NYC last Fall.

Be sure to follow Sam Hunt & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Kacey Musgraves Adds “Same Tour, Different Trailer” Dates For 2015

Country star Kacey Musgraves just extended her “Same Tour, Different Trailer” with dates in 2015!  We love a tour with a good name.   While we still don’t see NYC on this list, we’re glad that we caught Kacey earlier this month as the surprise guest at My Country 96.1’s Holiday show!   Her album “Same Trailer, Different Park” is one of our favorite recent country records.  Kacey also has the best hair, and best dressed band, in country music. Check out the dates for the tour  below!

Kacey Musgraves “Same Tour, Different Trailer” 2015 Tour Dates
February 12th – The Norva – Norfolk, VA – Buy Tickets
February 13th – Carolina Theatre – Durham, NC – Buy Tickets
February 14th – Rams Head Live! – Baltimore, MD – Buy Tickets
February 19th – Orpheum Theatre – Madison, WI – Buy Tickets
February 20th – State Theatre – Minneapolis, MN – Buy Tickets
February 21st – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI – Buy Tickets
February 26th – Brown Theatre – Louisville, KY – Buy Tickets
February 27th – Tennessee Theatre – Knoxville, TN – Buy Tickets
February 28th – The National – Richmond, VA – Buy Tickets

Ticket pre-sales and VIP packages are on sale today!  Public on sales start this Friday, December 19th.  Concert tickets make great stocking stuffers!  Visit KaceyMusgraves.com for more info.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ugS08zy1cA

Be sure to follow Kacey Musgraves & Secret Fangirls for more updates!