Country Music People April 2017 | Page 3

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thinking the UK has gone country music mad . Fans love it and no sooner has the C2C weekend finished many will eagerly snap up tickets for the following year without even knowing who is going to be playing .

Good old boys , redneck girls , young mothers , line dancers , and refugees from their local CMCs all flock to the O2 for the annual hoedown . Whether it ’ s to see some bloke from Bromley hoping for a shot at the big time or arena-filling US acts , every March there ’ s no getting away from the sea of cowboy hats that has become Country to Country .

Anyone who has been involved in country music for any length of time probably could have predicted how successful this annual event was likely to become , but it ’ s the backing of the CMA and , as far as UK audiences are concerned , the BBC that has enabled it to reach this level . It doesn ’ t hurt any either that the BBC even launch a special popup digital station devoted to country music to coincide with the festival . There we find just about any BBC celebrity with any connection to country music , no matter how vague , pontificating about how exciting it all is , and as far as pretty much everybody who attends is concerned it is pretty darned exciting .

Whilst the pop up stages can throw up some nice surprises , any punters seeking the full C2C experience do tend to need fairly deep pockets , especially if they choose to purchase any official merchandise in addition to their already quite expensive tickets , and the logistics of seeing every artist you might want to see requires some hefty logarithms .

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By Duncan Warwick

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Brad Paisley Chris Young Jennifer Nettles CAM

Reba McEntire Darius Rucker Hunter Hayes Dan + Shay

Zac Brown Band Marty Stuart Marren Morris Brothers Osborne

IT ’ S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE HIS LAST ALBUM , BUT JOSH TURNER IS BACK TO TRY AND RECLAIM HIS PLACE AT COUNTRY MUSIC ’ S TOP TABLE . HE TELLS ADRIAN PEEL WHY IT ’ S TAKEN HIM SO LONG .

baritone that seems to elicit screams from ladies everywhere , if his well-attended live shows are anything to go by .

When Lay Low came out in late 2014 , it was the singer ’ s first new single in over two years . I enjoyed the song and its accompanying video and naturally assumed that a new long-player would soon be forthcoming . That proved to be rather wishful thinking , however , as only now is the album ( Josh ’ s sixth studio effort ) seeing the light of day .

Josh explains why it ’ s taken him a while to put out a new full-length CD : “ I released two records in 2012 - a studio record , Punching Bag , and then a live record for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store [ Live Across America ] a few months after that .

“ I started writing for this record in January of 2013 , thinking I was gonna get a good head start on it , but I had no idea it was going to take so long to get this record together and get it out there .”

It turns out that the reaction from the record-buying public to the aforementioned hit from 2014 ( it reached number 28 on the country charts ) brought about a drastic rethink .

he sound of the Southwest permeates the recent Embracing both the ‘ country ’ and ‘ Western ’ sounds in the release by RJ Daniel - Somewhere West Of Laramie best contemporary way it is one of those rare modern – which is the kind of record to thrill fans of a records really deserving of the ‘ Country & Western ’ traditional sound . With its nod not only to the moniker . Recalling how he found the song RJ says , “ A friend West , but to honky tonk , classic country , and standards , of mine , Joe Milazzo , is a terrific Western artist in California all delivered with the class of a singer who knows his way who runs in those circles . He passed a record on to me a around a song and basically ‘ gets it ’. few years back , by an American cowboy singer-songwriter The geography plays an important part in the sound , and named Dave Stamey . I was familiar with Dave ’ s work , and RJ finds this completely natural . “ All of us , no matter where really enjoyed what I had heard of him in the past , but didn ’ t we are from , are influenced by our environment . For me , it know this record . Somewhere West Of Laramie was one of was a treasure trove , as the South Western United States has the tracks , and I was immediately drawn to it . I remember historically been home to a pretty diverse population . And I listening to it in the truck and playing it over and over again . was exposed to many different types of music growing up . I loved the lyrics and the message they convey . Dave does it

“ I ’ ve always loved cowboy music , which of course acoustically , and I kept thinking it would translate well to played a role in my influences . But I also love Conjunto an electrified , full band version . So when I was offered the and Mariachi music , which is also well represented in chance to do the record , I knew I wanted to include it on the the region . In addition I have had the privilege of seeing project , and had it on the top of the list I provided to Joel .” many Hopi ceremonial dances , where large groups of

Despite being involved with music for many years , singers accompanied by a drummer perform ( as part of amazingly , Somewhere West Of Laramie is actually RJ a religious rite ) ancient songs , which are the same songs Daniel ’ s debut disc and the first release on Red Mesa they have performed for hundreds , if not thousands , of Records . years . Quite beautiful and hypnotic to hear in person . Add “ I had known Jesse Allen years before while knocking to that the commercial country music and Western Swing around Southern California , and hadn ’ t seen him in quite I was exposed to on the radio , and you can see it was quite some time . I was in LA and out one evening to hear some a mixed bag . Put all that together and the sum of its parts music , when I ran into him in a restaurant in Burbank that colours what I do .” featured live acts . It was a surprise to see him , and as we

The title track of RJ ’ s Somewhere West Of Laramie is an caught up , he told me he was planning to retire , and that he absolute gem of a song and arguably the most indicative and a friend were kickin ’ around the idea of starting a small of the Southwestern influence on the music of RJ Daniel . record label .

The whole thing kicks off with the CMA Songwriter ’ s Series the night before C2C officially starts . This has become a big draw as people fill the Indigo2 to capture the magic of a Nashville Songwriters in the round feel . This year they were treated to Maren ‘ 80s Merecedes ’ Morris , Jimmy Buffet sideman and hit songwriter Mac McAnally , Texas native Liz Rose who is best known for her work with Taylor Swift and new face in the writing room Drake White who impressed with his recent album . The show was hosted by Kristian Bush who seems to have allied himself so closely to the CMA that it ensures him some regular work .

By Kelly Gregory

rad Paisley once said , “ If I get to heaven and the angels sing and they ’ re anything less than Alison Krauss I ’ m going to ask to come back .” And if you ’ ve ever heard an Alison Krauss record you ’ ll know what he ’ s talking about .

I ’ ve been a fan ever since I first heard the Now That I ’ ve Found You collection ( 1995 ) and through the years her music and silklike voice have been a constant companion to me because whether it ’ s bluegrass or something more mainstream she has the ability to make lyrics come alive .

Alison Krauss records have always been pure class , whether she ’ s singing country , bluegrass or even pop and the sheer amount of Grammys she has won attests to that . Now back , after a six year hiatus , with Windy City , Krauss has upped her game and made not only one of her best ever records but one of the most important of this year and one that will probably make sure that her trophy shelf needs reinforcing when Grammy time comes around next year .

“ I didn ’ t plan on waiting that long . It just was . I didn ’ t plan on it . You do what you ’ re inspired to do and it just wasn ’ t time to do it yet , I guess .” Then Alison began to feel the tug of inspiration … and Windy City sees her teamed up with Buddy Cannon in the producer ’ s chair and together they ’ ve produced something that is beautiful , sublime and yet still shows its roots clearly enough to not frighten off longstanding fans .

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The popup stages begin as soon as you enter the O2 with the Big Entrance Stage - more accurately it should be called The Very Small Stage In A Very Big Entrance Stage - and continues around the vast venue which every year seems to make one walk further than the previous year to get to where you ’ re going . Additionally there are other venues within the O2 offering country music , even the all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet , which normally plays jazz , becomes devoted to the sounds of Nashville . The main pop up stage can be found in the Town Square with music starting at around 10:30am until later afternoon .

The artists appearing on the pop up stages range from local to an occasional American and the music also covers the full spectrum of unlistenable through to really pleasant surprises and from folk to traditional country and even some rock / pop that could maybe pass for country if you squint really hard and stand far enough away .

To the fans in attendance , however , either they ’ re so determined to have a good time or so grateful that C2C even exists that they seem to relish in absolutely everything that ’ s thrown at them irrespective of the quality . If it ’ s part of C2C then the ‘ c ’ word must be relevant and that ’ s all they seem to need .

Among the more notable artists playing the Town Square stage this year were top songwriter Mac McAnally ; impressive up ‘ n ’ comer and multi-instrumentalist Seth Ennis who seems to be a name to watch out for ; Sarah Darling who has been winning over UK fans for the last year or two ; and Brit act Dana Immanuel & The Stolen Band who were different enough to stand out and very impressive indeed with their eclectically rootsy set .

With some good planning and an early start it was also possible to catch CMP fave Martha L Healy , as well as acts such as The Worry Dolls , Case Hardin and Gary Quinn amongst many others in Club WM at the Water Margin .

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BLAKE SHELTON PASSED ON CURTIS GRIMES IN THE US VERSION OF THE VOICE . NOW THE SINGER IS SET TO BECOME A HERO TO THOSE SEEKING SOME REAL COUNTRY MUSIC . He talks to Duncan Warwick

f you call your album Undeniably Country you darn well better be just that . Fortunately for Curtis Grimes he is … and he has . Raised on George Strait and Alan Jackson the Texas native is keen to keep it real - real country that is – and his album lives up to its title . “ I see so often these views of what ’ s country and what ’ s not country and I just kind of wanted to make a statement that I want to sing country music just the way it is , like it or leave it type of … I don ’ t care if it ’ s accessible because it ’ s more traditional and doesn ’ t have the modern day feel . And that ’ s kind of how I wanted to brand it . I wanted to make a statement that this is what I want to represent me ,” states Grimes , who won a contest to open for Kenny Chesney whilst still playing bars in Austin .

Something of a seasoned performer in his home state , Grimes was lured by the nationwide exposure of television and was a contestant on the first season of The Voice in the US .

“ The Voice opened the door and got us playing outside of Texas ,” admits Grimes . However , judge / coach Blake Shelton failed to turn his chair around , when for the blind audition Grimes sung Shelton ’ s hit Hillbilly Bone .

“ That was the catch ,” recalls Grimes . “ They told me what song I was gonna sing and so I had to go in and sing Blake Shelton ’ s Hillbilly Bone and when they told me that I started laughing . They were like , ‘ Seriously , you don ’ t like Blake ?’ And I was like , ‘ No it ’ s not that , but if I had to sing a Blake Shelton song it would not be this one . I ’ d pick one that I thought was a good song ’.”

Grimes ended up on ‘ Team Cee Lo ’ upon which he was coached by the RnB singer Cee Lo Green ( Forget You ) and made it to the quarterfinals of the show before being eliminated .

“ I made it through that round which is great because that ’ s why you kind of do the gig , for the exposure and to get your name out there nationally . So the next song I was assigned was a Lady Antebellum song Need You Now . My range is a little bit lower than Charles Kelly ’ s

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contents April 2017 cmp

Features

12 Alison Krauss

The most awarded female in Grammy history talks Windy City and more with Kelly Gregory .

20 Country to Country

What went on at London ’ s O2 on the biggest weekend in the country calendar .

26 Curtis Grimes

From the US version of The Voice to honky tonk hero . Curtis Grimes talks to Duncan Warwick .

54 Josh Turner

Adrian Peel investigates why it ’ s taken the deep baritone so long to release

his latest - Deep South .

60 RJ Daniel

Duncan Warwick finds it ’ s country all the way for RJ Daniel .

Reviews

30 Album Reviews 51 Book Review 52 Live Review

Regulars

4 News 8 Tour Guide 11 The David Allan Page 18 Nice To Meet Y ’ all - Jonathan Parker 25 Nashville Skinny 53 Americana Roundup 58 Nice To Meet Y ’ all - Erin Kinsey 59 CanCountry

Charts

64 Americana & UK Country Charts 65 Billboard Country Charts

Courtesy of Billboard Inc .

Country to Country

2017

ow its fifth year , C2C seems to go from strength to strength . With a seemingly unstoppable marketing

Nmachine behind it and the BBC fawning all over it , the uninitiated could be forgiven for

CURTIS GRIMES

Deep Rumblings from the Deep South

he South Carolina-born superstar - one of the biggest names in country music over the last 14 years or so , with four number one hits to date - is widely known and admired for his

Tsongwriting ability , his bridging of the gap between traditional and modern country and , most of all , that instantly recognisable

RJ DANIEL

No excuses . No apologies . No heavy metal riffs .

RJ DANIEL EVOKES STRONG SOUTHWESTERN IMAGERY ON HIS DEBUT ALBUM , SOMEWHERE WEST OF LARAMIE .

T

Friday 10th March

Saturday 11th March

Sunday 12th March

CMA Songwriters Series

POP UP STAGES

ALISON KRAUSS

B

TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT ME

I

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“ I ’ ve always liked the traditional sound . I became a singer because I can relate to those heartache songs .”

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“ Singing country has always been the goal for me . I never fancied myself anything but a country singer .”

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