Author: skye

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 29, 2016

Leslie Tom to release self-titled EP in February

Timeless music offers Tom’s traditional-modern spin on country music,

accompanied by a number of legendary Nashville session players

Denver-based country singer-songwriter Leslie Tom is scheduled to release her new, self-titled EP on February 17, 2017.  Produced by John Macy (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Richie Furay, Los Lobos) and recorded at Cinderella Sound in Nashville, the record features a veritable “who’s-who” of legendary session players, including Lloyd Green on pedal steel, Country Music Hall-of-Famer Hargus “Pig” Robbins on keys, and long-time Garth Brooks guitarist Chris Leuzinger, among others. The EP also features a dusty-road duet with rising country star Kevin Moon on the song “My Only Addiction.”

“What I love about the EP is that it’s the first record I’ve done where I’ve co-written all but one song on it,” says Leslie. “I have stayed very close to my traditional country roots.”

From the twangy slide guitar and fiddle interplay on the Dear John kiss-off “Hank You Very  Much,” to the honky-tonk-shuffle relationship reality check “Breakin’ My Own Heart,” to the familial bonds explored in both “Every Other Friday” (a nostalgic nod at Tom’s relationship with her dad) and “Hardest Thing I’ll Ever Do” (a tip of the hat to Tom’s daughter and navigating the difficulties and joys of parenthood), the self-titled release is, at its heart, about relationships, as viewed through a traditional country lens.

You can’t get much more traditional country than the artist Tom chose to cover on this release: her cover of Patsy Cline’s last single, “Leavin’ On Your Mind,” is a torch song rife with jazzy-bluesy piano that kicks up the tempo just a little bit without losing any of the emotional tug that made the original a powerful country classic.  In a case of full-circle rightness, Pig Robbins, who played on Cline’s version, also played keys on this version.

Says Tom about the EP: “I want people to realize that country music in the true sense of the definition is still very much alive and well.  I’m more proud of this EP than I’ve felt about any piece of work I’ve shared.  I have nothing left to prove.  These songs are the stories of my life written without worry if I’ll fit in to what is being played on mainstream radio and celebrated by today’s ‘country’ fans.  This is me… all me.”

Leslie Tom will come out on the heels of her latest single, “Didn’t Think Twice” (an alternate version of which will be available on the forthcoming EP).  “Didn’t Think Twice” was released on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2016.  The song is a moving tribute to her grandfather, Milton Smallwood Alexander, and his service during World War II in Normandy, as well as a document of the sacrifices those serving tours of duty in our armed forces still make today on behalf of their country; it features guest vocals by ex-Navy SEAL Pete Scobell.  All proceeds from the sale of the single go to the Travis Manion Foundation (www.travismanion.org), a non-profit organization empowering veterans and the families of fallen soldiers.

From the first few notes of a Leslie Tom song, you’re instantly taken back to a time when singers like Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn were winning the hearts of country music lovers everywhere. But keep listening, and you’ll hear a voice and a sound that are remarkably current, even timeless. Combining relatable lyrics with her bubbly, sassy personality and an unmistakable voice, along with fiddle and pedal steel guitar, Tom puts her own traditional-modern spin on country music.

Born and bred in the heart of Texas, she cut her teeth listening to Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Bob Wills on the radio of her father’s Ford truck. Her own musical journey began at age 7, picking up the violin and clarinet before settling on piano, and eventually developing her vocal skills and songwriting chops. In the years since, Tom has sung on stage in front of tens of thousands of people, appeared on television music competitions, released two critically acclaimed studio projects and performed for enthusiastic audiences around the world. Her musical journey has taken her from the honky-tonks of south Texas to a stint in Nashville, then back to Texas, before settling in Colorado in 2014.

www.leslietommusic.com

#UnapologticallyCountry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                               

November 3, 2016

LESLIE TOM TO RELEASE SONG TO HONOR

U.S. ARMED SERVICES MEN AND WOMEN ON VETERANS DAY

All proceeds from sale of the track to benefit Veterans’ charity

Denver-based country singer-songwriter Leslie Tom is scheduled to release her next single, “Didn’t Think Twice,” on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2016.  The song is a moving tribute to her grandfather, Milton Smallwood Alexander, and his service during World War II in Normandy, as well as a document of the sacrifices those serving tours of duty in our armed forces still make today on behalf of their country.  “Didn’t Think Twice” is the first single from Tom’s forthcoming EP, entitled Leslie Tom, which is scheduled for release February 17, 2017.

“When I began working on my third studio project, a tribute to my grandfather and his service to our country was important to document in a song,” Tom says.  “I wanted to write a song loosely based on his experience with WWII. With this generation of men and women quickly passing away, I wanted to craft a song that told their story but that other veterans and active-duty service men and women could relate to as well.”

Co-written with Billy O’Rourke, the song was produced by John Macy (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Richie Furay, Los Lobos) and features singer Pete Scobell (of Pete Scobell Band) dueting with Tom.  Scobell is a Naval Academy graduate and an ex-Navy SEAL who became a musician and had an iTunes chart-topping song with Wynonna Judd (“Hearts I Leave Behind”) featured in “American Sniper,” the film about Scobell’s Navy SEAL teammate Chris Kyle’s life. A video to accompany “Didn’t Think Twice” will be released the same day as the song.

All proceeds from the sale of the single will benefit veterans in the form of donation to the Travis Manion Foundation (www.travismanion.org), a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations.  To celebrate the upcoming release of her single, Tom attended the Foundation’s 10th anniversary event in Washington D.C. on October 29th, where she entertained the crowd with two patriotic songs, including “Didn’t Think Twice.” Rounding out the weekend, she ran in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. on October 30th, where she accomplished a personal marathon record run-time and raised over $1000 for the TMF.  Says Tom: “I think the weekend was one of the most impactful of my life.  All of the blood, sweat and tears that I’ve poured into this project have been worth it since it is making a difference for the lives of veterans and their families.”

From the first few notes of a Leslie Tom song, you’re instantly taken back to a time when singers like Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn were winning the hearts of country music lovers everywhere. But keep listening, and you’ll hear a voice and a sound that are remarkably current, even timeless. Combining relatable lyrics with her bubbly, sassy personality and an unmistakable voice, along with fiddle and pedal steel guitar, Tom puts her own traditional-modern spin on country music.

Born and bred in the heart of Texas, she cut her teeth listening to Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Bob Wills on the radio of her father’s pickup truck. Her own musical journey began at age 7, picking up the violin and clarinet before settling on piano, and eventually developing her vocal skills and songwriting chops. Since those early beginnings, music has been an inescapable force in her life.  In the years since, Leslie has sung on stage in front of tens of thousands of people, appeared on television music competitions, released two critically acclaimed studio projects and performed for enthusiastic audiences around the world. Her musical journey has taken her from the honky-tonks of south Texas to a stint in Nashville, then back to Texas, before settling in Colorado in 2014.

Tom’s forthcoming self-titled EP was recorded at Cinderella Studios in Nashville, the oldest surviving independent studio in the Music City, and produced by John Macy.  It is scheduled for release February 17, 2017.  Says Tom about the EP: “I want people to realize that country music in the true sense of the definition is still very much alive and well.  I’m more proud of this EP than I’ve felt about any piece of work I’ve shared.  I have nothing left to prove.  These songs are the stories of my life written without worry if I’ll fit in to what is being played on mainstream radio and celebrated by today’s ‘country’ fans.  This is me… all me.”

www.leslietommusic.com

#UnapologticallyCountry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 19, 2016

Martha’s Trouble’s studio/creative space rehab project continues

Dedication to local community involves band members

in local March of Dimes event

Husband-and-wife folk/rock duo Martha’s Trouble (aka Rob and Jen Slocumb) purchased a historical Victorian house, originally built in 1910, in downtown Opelika, AL, earlier this year, and they have been working on rehabbing the abode into a creative studio space in their hometown over the past months. The renovation should be completed later this fall.

“We have a whole new front facade that’s been put on,” says Jen.  “Insulation and sheet rock have been put in.  The trim carpenters are currently trimming out the house and completing the rooms.  We hope to be finished by Thanksgiving! We have already had two events at the space. We had a front porch concert presented by East Alabama Arts there already and a living room show presented by Cotton Seed.  We have been getting great feedback from the community and are anxious to open!  We wanted something that would be part of the town, to help support and grow the arts scene here, to support the community, and a space that would inspire artistic endeavors and creativity.”

“We hope The Sound Wall will become an extension to the already existing and expanding arts community,” adds Rob. The Slocumbs moved to Opelika from Canada ten years ago.  “We are always asked, ‘Why did you move here?’” says Jen. “And really the short answer is we felt – and still do – that there is something special about the Auburn/Opelika area. Now that we are touring less and spending more time at home raising a family, we are very passionate about contributing to our local community.”

That dedication to the community has manifested in the pair’s involvement in a number of causes, including the upcoming March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction, of which Jen is a co-chair.  The fifth annual event is being held on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center (241 South College Street, Auburn, AL).  In addition to enjoying the culinary offerings of both signature and celebrity chefs, attendees can bid on one-of-a-kind auction packages.  Martha’s Trouble will be performing at the event.  All proceeds benefit the March of Dimes to give every baby a fighting chance.  Limited tickets are available online.

About The Sound Wall:

With The Sound Wall, the Slocumbs are hoping to provide a small town recording experience in a premiere space. Two studio rooms are planned for the first floor; the rooms can be used for recording, rehearsals, writing sessions, post-editing video, photo shoots, video shoots, and will be available for special events.  A gourmet kitchen with a large family-style farm table will allow local chefs to prepare meals on-site for visiting artists and bands. A one-bedroom apartment will be housed upstairs, offering lodging to artists using the studios downstairs or to people who want an inspiring place to stay in town.

About Martha’s Trouble:

Martha’s Trouble, called “a hidden gem” by Billboard Magazine, is known for its signature sound of folk and country twang, which has been praised by some of the most influential and well-respected music critics of our time. Martha’s Trouble has been listed and featured in the aforementioned Billboard Magazine, as well as USA Today, AOL Music, Sirius XM Satellite Radio and Performing Songwriter. Their songs have received awards and have been featured in the show “Army Wives” and made-for-TV movies on Lifetime and CBS. The duo’s band name comes from a Bible story about Martha and Mary, one that they say is a reminder to stop and smell the roses and to keep an eye on the bigger picture and the important things in life.

Late last year, Martha’s Trouble offered some new additions to their holiday repertoire with two digital singles, “River” and “White Christmas,” which followed on the success of two independent holiday albums, Christmas Lights (2002) and This Christmas (2008). Prior to that, they also released: Jen Coates’ Seed Sessions (2014), A Little Heart Like You (2012), Anchor Tattoo (2011), EP (2008), Forget October (2006), Still (2003), Sleeping Dogs (2002), and The Road Ahead (2000).

www.marthastrouble.com

www.facebook.com/marthastrouble

@marthastrouble

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 18, 2016

SEVEN SIMONS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM, ‘POST,” ON NOVEMBER 11th

First new music from the band since the ’90s,

plus previously unreleased tracks

Nathan Webb last sang on record nearly a quarter century ago, back when the Internet was largely a plot point in cyberpunk novels and phones never left the home. Now, in the song “Light is the Empire,” he sings of a loved one’s face bathed in the glow of a cell-phone screen, a moment of incongruous 21st Century beauty offered up in a voice only vaguely familiar to those of us who used to follow his band Seven Simons way back when. Above and around these shimmering notes one discerns phantom traces of all the albums Seven Simons never made.

Well, they did in fact make two fine records: Clockwork in 1988 and Four Twenty-Four in 1991. And now, with Post, one of the great lost bands of the Athens, GA music scene has returned to deliver new material alongside the very best selections from the wealth of music they recorded but never released.

The band came into being in 1986 as an Atlanta, GA-based power-pop trio comprised of drummer Jeff Sullivan, bassist William Mull, and guitarist/singer/songwriter Keith Joyner. By 1987, the group had picked up Webb as lead vocalist along with a new drummer, Michael Zwecker. That same year, they relocated to Athens, lured both by that town’s fabled music scene and the ready source of funds provided by University of Georgia student loans. To be sure, they took themselves a bit too seriously—“brooders before our time,” as Joyner puts it—but their chops were strong enough to attract the attention of R.E.M.’s manager Jefferson Holt, who signed them to his fledgling label Dog Gone Records. Shortly thereafter, the band struck up a partnership with Ian Copeland’s F.B.I. Booking and began touring incessantly, opening for Flock of Seagulls, The Fixx, The Connells, and others. Sadly, the melodically gorgeous Clockwork, while locally popular, never did secure the wide audience it deserved.

The core of Seven Simons was the songwriting duo of Joyner and Webb—a classic yin-yang combination of introvert and extrovert with complementary musical and literary tastes. Joyner initially wrote the lion’s share of music and lyrics, though Webb’s creative contribution grew substantially over the years. By the time they began recording Four Twenty-Four, their darker, denser sophomore effort, they had acquired a new rhythm section in John Gusty (bass) and Travis McNabb (drums). The song “White Fox” from that album, may be the definitive Seven Simons track. Distinguished by its vaguely Arabic guitar pattern, hushed vocals, and lyrics referencing manors, hearths, and the titular white fox “blitzing through the headstones,” it strongly evokes a sense of place. But what place? If it’s the South, then it is surely the South of literary imagination—Poe’s crumbling gothic South—not the actual geographic Southeast of the early 1990s. Seven Simons were, at heart, Romantics and fabulists—about as far removed from Bruce Springsteen’s blue collar realism as you could get, preferring to navigate their own peculiar brand of inner space.

We could speculate all day about what ultimately doomed Seven Simons. Following the failure of Four Twenty-Four to achieve commercial liftoff, the band’s once-sizable local following dwindled. Whatever the reason for that decline, the musicians at the center never stopped putting in the work. They wrote, toured, and recorded incessantly. They seemed to enjoy what they were doing, and Nathan and Keith both maintain that they would have continued collaborating had geography and life events not separated them. Keith was the first to go, enticed by an impossible-to-refuse gig filling in for Johnny Marr on The The’s Dusk tour. By the time he returned to Georgia, Nathan had graduated from UGA and had drifted west. In time, Nathan abandoned the music industry altogether, returned to school, and eventually got married and started a family. His wife and kids are about the only people that have heard him sing with any regularity during this century.

Yet the creative bond between the two friends never fully waned, and at Nathan’s wedding in 2013, Keith found himself wondering if they might have some unfinished business to attend to. “There was a moment that really struck me,” Joyner says. “Nathan pulled out a guitar and just began singing a simple folk tune. I had forgotten how beautiful his voice is, and it felt like home, you know? Familiar. I think that went a long way toward motivating me to make this new album happen.” Webb, too, had always felt frustrated about the fact that Seven Simons had never released many of their best songs. The two began tentatively exploring the idea of finally releasing what amounted to their “lost” album. Both lineups of the band got on board, and by the end of the year several of the musicians—including Webb—congregated in a Los Angeles studio to track as much of the new material live as possible.

“To be singing again in a studio after so many years felt great,” Webb says. “But it was also terrifying in a way. I had to relearn the process. I had to relearn how to sing into a microphone.” The results belie any such trepidations. Taken in its entirety, Post mounts an argument for Nathan Webb as one of the strongest vocalists to have participated in the Athens music scene, and for Keith Joyner as one of its most inventive guitarists.

Their career may have been cut short, but more than a few discerning industry professionals  saw in Seven Simons the seeds of greatness. And it’s a testament to that erstwhile belief that a number of these people—longtime manager David Prasse; producer and multi-instrumentalist Don McCollister; former Mighty Lemondrop and Blue Aeroplane David Newton; and Travis McNabb, who, in the interim between his time in the band and now has played with everyone from Better Than Ezra to the Indigo Girls to Sugarland to Beyoncé—have all chipped in to help make Post a reality. The album is full of the music that animated that faith. And anyone who listens to it with fresh ears will hear what those of us who love this band never stopped hearing.

www.facebook.com/sevensimons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17, 2016

ALEX DEZEN ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF

SECOND SOLO ALBUM, II, IN FEBRUARY 2017

His former band, The Damnwells, officially calls it quits

It’s official. The Damnwells are done. “It was an amazing run,” says Alex Dezen of the band for which he was the lead singer. “But it’s time to move on.” 16 years, 5 albums, and countless miles later, Dezen is finally stepping out on his own with his second solo album in two years. Truth be told, the tenuous formation which has carried the Damnwells moniker over the last decade and a half has always featured Dezen’s voice and songs front and center. Both 2007’s One Last Century and 2010’s No One Listens to the Band Anymore employed a wide net of musicians and friends, often without founding members Steven Terry, Ted Hudson, and David Chernis. So, in many ways, II, the second solo album from Damnwells frontman, is just a continuation of what Dezen has been doing his entire career. Only it isn’t that at all.

From the fuzzed-out refrains of “When You Give Up” to the lush harmonies of “Everything’s Great (Everything’s Terrible)” to the acoustic folkie life lessons of “The Boys of Bummer,” II showcases the creative spark of an artist coming into his prime — a songwriter who has been able to deftly thread the needle between his past, present, and future. II, which is being released on February 3, 2017 on Poor Man Records, remains undaunted, pushing artistic boundaries like never before.

“In many ways,” says Dezen, “the job of an artist is to re-examine what came before. That informs what we do next.” Taken as a whole, II displays a penchant for blending both retro and modern sounds to forge something new, yet still creating something catchy enough to hook the listener on the very first spin. “My intention when I made this record was not to make an ’80s record,” Dezen clarifies. “But as soon as I got the guitar in my hands and started messing around with chords and getting further along into the production and the writing, it just went that way — and it felt very natural to me.”

Songs like “Holding On to You (Holding On to Me)” builds on the Lindsey Buckingham-esq sonic palette made famous on Fleetwood Mac’s magnum studio opus, 1979’s Tusk, and brings it into the modern age. “That music has been in my mind and in my ears as long as I can remember,” Dezen admits. “The late-’70s was an interesting time. Disco was dying, so there’s this weird combination of disco and rock & roll happening together, which produced some really cool stuff.” Dezen is pleased with the ways this album bridges the gap between then and now, and doesn’t shy away from the obvious comparisons. “I’m well aware of it,” says Dezen. “I welcome it. I wish I had been in that band! This song is the closest I’m going to get.”

Dezen, who wrote, performed, produced, and mixed this record almost entirely on his own, thoroughly enjoyed the time he spent in a band. “The beauty of being in a band,” Dezen explains, “is you’ve got all these different influences coming in. But when you’re making a record by yourself and you’re producing it by yourself, you can chase down any and every idea to its most perfect conclusion. You can really explore all the things and ideas you want.”

Dezen knows what lane he’s in as an artist — and he’s totally cool with it. “I’m not trying to rewrite the history of music. I’m not Radiohead, and I’m not trying to do something that has never been heard before,” he says. “I do very much like familiarity in my music. It’s whatever originality you bring to it that ultimately makes your music special.”

One song Dezen expects will push a few hot buttons with listeners is “I Am a Racist,” which also features backing vocals from one of the album’s key collaborators, Amber Bollinger. “I think the most dangerous form of racism,” says Dezen, “is the racist who doesn’t even realize what they are, that their racism is so systematically engrained, they don’t see what a huge part of the problem they are.” For Dezen, change is something that has to start from within. “Saying that the problem is me,” Dezen explains, “as opposed to pointing a finger and saying that it’s something else, is a lot more powerful. I guess I’m asking for a ‘Man in the Mirror’ moment. We need to look deeply at the way we engage with each other. We need to start there.”

Though the first song on the album, “When You Give Up,” highlights the darker side of hope, Dezen himself has an internal drive that just won’t quit. “The only thing I feel pretty confident about being able to do is write a song,” Dezen says. “Whether or not that song is any good, who knows. But this is what I’ve been doing for so long. I do know it brings me a tremendous amount of joy.”

That joy is what keeps him going. “Just when I thought everything had fallen apart, something positive would appear in my life, inviting me to continue to do what I do,” Dezen says. “I guess I just do it because I really, genuinely love it. It challenges me. It keeps me sharp. I think that’s why the arts are so important. The arts ultimately make you active, smart, and more aware and more empathetic towards the people in the world around you.”

The overall takeaway from II is an artist forging ahead with an uncompromising, singular vision. “You’ll get that I’m saying, ‘Here I am as me, and I’m now moving into this phase.’ And you know what? That’s not a bad place to be.” It sure isn’t. If anything, II is the clear sonic signpost for where the ever-searching singer/songwriter is headed next.

Plans for a North American tour with a full band are currently underway for 2017, which will feature a good mix of Damnwells and Alex Dezen tunes.

Dezen’s prowess for writing celebrated songs of every ilk is undeniable. In 2010, he earned his master’s degree from the University of Iowa after completing two years at the institution’s Iowa Writers’ Workshop. In 2014, Dezen released a series of four solo EPs. In March 2015, following a seven-year split, the original Damnwells lineup reunited and released their fifth studio album, a self-titled collection featuring 11 tracks. In addition to his contribution to The Damnwells’ vast canon of songs over the 15 years the band recorded, Dezen has written for others and worked with a variety of superstars, including Dave Grohl, The Dixie Chicks, Justin Bieber and Kelly Clarkson, among many others. In 2015, he collaborated with the American dance company Pilobolus Dance Theater, composing the music for the dance piece “Wednesday Morning, 11:45 (2015),” which was performed at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.  In February 2016 to celebrate the release of his first, self-titled solo album which came out that month, Dezen hosted a day-long livestream during which he played virtually every song he ever recorded from a series of locations in Nashville.

www.alexdezen.com

For Immediate Release

September 1, 2016

LESLIE TOM TO RELEASE SONG TO HONOR

 U.S. ARMED SERVICES MEN AND WOMEN ON VETERANS DAY

All proceeds from sale of the track to benefit veterans’ charity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 11, 2016

Indianapolis-based singer-songwriter Brett Wiscons

to release album on October 28th

Album produced by Mark Bryan of Hootie & The Blowfish

Indianapolis-based singer-songwriter Brett Wiscons is releasing his latest album – The Heineken Sessions Deluxe – on October 28, 2016 via his own label, MAD Diamond Entertainment. Wiscons was born in Chicago and raised in Plymouth, IN on a unique mélange of music ranging from vocal powerhouses Sade and Edwin McCain to rock bands Pearl Jam, the Eagles, and Hootie & the Blowfish. Within these influences, listeners will find his musical marriage – jangly pop, a dash of soul, and moody acoustics – creates a sound all his own.

For HSD, Wiscons paired up with two-time GRAMMY-winning producer, guitarist, and songwriter Mark Bryan in Awendaw, SC. (Bryan is a founding member of rock band Hootie & the Blowfish.) Containing ten tracks running the gamut from Americana to pop to rock to alt-country, HSD was written and recorded over a two-year period. “Writing and producing with Brett has been fun, and he’s become a good friend,” says Bryan.  “From the first time I heard the hook of ‘Don’t Be the One,’ I knew people would be feeling it. I just listened to it for the first time in a while, and I feel like we did a nice job with it. Brett really found his voice on this recording.”

The critics are starting to take note. Current Night & Day in Indianapolis writes, “If a smart radio programmer out there hears Wiscons and vocalist Anne Balbo harmonize on the poignant ‘Don’t Be the One,’ the first single from his new LP, The Heineken Sessions Deluxe, they’d be wise to place it in rotation.”

Wiscons says, “Growing up, I always heard the vocals first. That’s what drew me in to music to begin with – killer, and in some cases, haunting vocal melodies and lyrics.” Wiscons didn’t have any formal training – unless you count eighth grade choir – when it came to learning the craft of singing. He would merely listen to whatever was on the radio at that time as well as digest countless tapes and CDs of his favorite artists. “I just sang along to the melody,” Wiscons says.  “That’s probably why I am lost whenever anyone asks me to sing harmony – I only know how to sing lead!”

The tracks on HSD hit on personal sagas, but also contain works of pure fiction – he leaves it up to the listener to decide which is which. After all, Wiscons has written three private detective novels in the Bear Whitman series. “I’ve always enjoyed writing songs and lyrics,” Wiscons says.  “It was a great way for me to escape into my own head when I was a teenager. However, it wasn’t until I started working with Mark back in 2013 that I began to truly grasp the concept of songwriting and storytelling. It’s time for these tunes to be released as a full collection. These are the best songs of my career and I am eager to share them with a wider audience.”

Wiscons has shared a bill with Darius Rucker, Zac Brown Band, and Katy Perry among others; he averages nearly 200 gigs a year. He’s performed at the Vans Warped Tour in Virginia Beach, the Bluebird in Nashville, and the Elbo Room in Chicago to name a few. Aside from his music being featured on Australian television, the new single (“Don’t Be The One”) has been added to stations in Knoxville, TN, Des Moines, IA, Flagstaff, AZ, Burlington, WI, and Indianapolis, as well as garnering specialty spins in a half dozen other markets including Tampa, FL and Boise, ID. He plans to tour heavily in support of The Heineken Sessions Deluxe.  (See tour dates below, with more to be announced.)

Brett Wiscons Tour Schedule:

8/11/16 – Indianapolis, IN – Indiana State Fair

8/18/16 – Indianapolis, IN – Union 50

8/19/16 – Wabash, IN – Green Hat Lounge

8/24/16 – Coon Rapids, MN – Anoka Ramsey Community College

8/25/16 – Cambridge, MN – Anoka Ramsey Community College

8/26/16 – Zionsville, IN – Rush on Main

8/27/16 – Indianapolis, IN – Marian University

8/31/16 – Zionsville, IN – Cobblestone Grill

9/01/16 – Beaver Creek, OH – The Greene

9/02/16 – Speedway, IN – Foyt Wine Vault

9/03/16 – Carmel, IN – House Concert

9/07/16 – Zionsville, IN – Cobblestone Grill

9/09/16 – Indianapolis, IN – An Evening With Penrod

9/12/16 – Nashville, TN – Belcourt Taps

9/13/16 – Kankakee, IL – Kankakee Community College

9/17/16 – Indianapolis, IN – Easley Winery

9/17/16 – Wabash, IN – Green Hat Lounge

9/22/16 – Greenwood, IN – Flashbacks

9/24/16 – Plymouth, IN – Swan Lake Resort (full band)

9/30/16 – Indianapolis, IN – Evermore Music Festival

10/01/16 – Largo, IN – House Concert

10/28/16 – Wabash, IN – Green Hat Lounge

10/29/16 – Plymouth, IN – Swan Lake Resort (full band)

11/02/16 – Awendaw, SC – Barn Jam

11/04/16 – Charleston, SC – Palmetto Brewing

11/05/16 – Punta Gorda, FL – Scotty’s – Fisherman’s Village

11/11/16 – Speedway, IN – Big Woods

11/12/16 – Wabash, IN – House Concert

11/25/16 – Zionsville, IN – Cobblestone Grill

12/10/16 – Zionsville, IN – Cobblestone Grill

12/16/16 – Wabash, IN – Green Hat Lounge

www.brettwiscons.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JULY 27, 2016

ROCK RIDGE MUSIC SIGNS MANAGEMENT DEALS

WITH MATT HIRES AND GRANVILLE AUTOMATIC

Nashville-based music company Rock Ridge Music, which has both label and management arms, has signed two artists to management deals: alternative singer-songwriter Matt Hires and Americana duo Granville Automatic.  They join a management roster that already includes such artists as Christian Lopez, Tony Lucca, Ike Reilly, JD Eicher, Matt Brown, Kyle Cox, and Riley Etheridge Jr.

“We’re thrilled to be adding both Matt Hires and Granville Automatic to the RRM family,” says Rock Ridge Music President Cynthia Cochrane.  “We’ve been a fan of Matt’s for a long time and his new album exhibits so much depth and pure talent; it’s the perfect evolution in an already strong catalog and we’re excited to help him shape the next phase of his career. The addition of Granville Automatic brings us two individuals who are equally talented as writers as they are performers. We were incredibly impressed by Elizabeth Elkins and Vanessa Olivarez’s passion, intelligence and unique approach to storytelling.”

Rock Ridge Music CEO Tom Derr agrees: “The foundation of Rock Ridge Music is based on the talents of our roster of artists.  Matt Hires and Granville Automatic only strengthen that foundation.”

“It’s been a couple of years since I’ve had management,” says Hires, “so I’m really pumped to have a team in my corner again. Especially a team of people that are so artist friendly and easy to work with.”

Says Elizabeth Elkins of Granville Automatic: “Signing with Rock Ridge provides a great opportunity to expand our writing and artist careers. We are lucky to join an incredible roster, which includes bands we admire. We feel fortunate to have Tom’s, Cynthia’s and the rest of the team’s expertise, and we’re excited that they believe in what we do as songwriters.”  Her partner in Granville Automatic, Vanessa Olivarez, concurs, saying, “I am thrilled to be a part of the Rock Ridge family! Tom and Cynthia are business sharks, and have a great understanding of what we do, and how to take us to the next level. We are so lucky to have them guiding us through the next steps in our musical endeavors.”

About Matt Hires:

Alternative singer-songwriter Matt Hires will release his third, full-length album, American Wilderness (via Rock Ridge Music’s label division), on October 14, 2016. At 30-years-old, Hires finds himself at a crossroads contemplating life, growth, faith, culture and his own place in the world. Hires recently moved to Nashville (from Tampa, FL), and it was there, in the Music City, that he quickly linked up with like-minded creatives who inspired him to set aside pre-conceived notions of who he was as an artist and tap into his own instincts and intuition. Setting his writing into overdrive, Hires discovered his new ‘voice’, driven by personal conviction and an unwavering honesty.

American Wilderness was recorded in Nashville and produced by Randall Kent. The album is the follow up to two previous, major label releases including This World Won’t Last Forever, But Tonight We Can Pretend, and Take Us To The Start, which hit the Top 10 on iTunes’ overall Top Albums chart. Hires’ songs have been heard in TV series such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice,” “Cougar Town,” and more. Hires is set to tour in support of the new album this fall.  www.matthires.com

About Granville Automatic:

With a publishing deal with BMG Nashville, artists/songwriters Elizabeth Elkins and Vanessa Olivarez, who compose the Americana duo Granville Automatic, are starting work on their next album, which will be Radio Hymns – a collection of songs inspired by Nashville’s vanishing history. Similar in concept to the duo’s lauded 2015 record, An Army Without Music: Civil War Stories from Hallowed Ground, the album will focus entirely on Nashville and its historic buildings and spaces that are threatened or have disappeared – replaced by towering condos, highways, industry and commerce.  Associated Press called An Army Without Music “haunting tales of sorrow and perseverance,” while No Depression applauded the album’s “almost magic transformation of history into modern songwriting. A quiet, intricately researched and captivating effort that haunts long after the first listen. This is storytelling, songwriting, and musicianship at its creative best.” The New York Times praised the concept, writing, “Music is one way the stories of the war can be told and re-told, even if many of the battlefields in Atlanta, Nashville and other cities are now buried by neighborhoods and business districts.”  www.granvilleautomatic.com

About Rock Ridge Music:

Rock Ridge Music is an artist management company and independent record label with worldwide distribution through ADA (WMG). Founded in 2004 and with their office in Nashville, TN, Rock Ridge Music is focused on artist development at every level, working collaboratively to build long-term, sustainable careers.

www.rockridgemusic.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 26, 2016

TONY LUCCA TO RELEASE A NEW EP IN AUGUST

Digital EP includes three tracks recorded in Muscle Shoals

Busy touring schedule planned this fall

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tony Lucca is set to release a new digital EP on August 5, 2016 via Rock Ridge Music entitled Tony Lucca: Sessions Vol 2: Muscle Shoals.  The three tracks on the release came from a day-long session Lucca did in Muscle Shoals, AL 10 years ago when he went to the music town to explore the area and get to know some writers and players in that scene.

“Muscle Shoals is far and away one of the most unassuming places I have ever been, much less written or recorded at,” says Lucca.  “At the same time, when folks say there’s something in the air or the water, you can’t help but believe them. There truly is an inspired energy there and you get the sense that everyone there is hip to it, as if in on some really well-kept secret. I remember trying to stay as present as possible, taking in what was easily one of the most memorable sessions of my career.”

The EP includes a cover of the Paul Simon tune “Still Crazy After All These Years,” as well as “Longing” (a song which first appeared on Lucca’s album Canyon Songs) and “It’s You” (one of the very first songs Lucca ever wrote, which appeared on both his first album, So Satisfied, and his second album, Strong Words, Softly Spoken, in two different incarnations).  Says Lucca, “There is no other way to get my first two albums online right now unless you’re one of my Patreon supporters, so I thought this would be a fun way for fans to get a new version of one of my very first songs.”

Earlier this year, Lucca appeared in the season 7 premiere of “Sun Studio Sessions,” the show that features performances recorded at the legendary studio in Memphis, TN, which airs on PBS stations across the country.  He then released a digital EP, Tony Lucca: Sessions Vol 1: Sun Studio, which included three songs from the performance (“Delilah,” “Anchored,” and “Smoke ’Em”), in February.  The previous EP and forthcoming EP are appropriate companion releases, each exploring time Lucca spent in important music hot-beds:  Memphis and Muscle Shoals.

Last month, Lucca played a show in his hometown of Nashville at 3rd & Lindsley in celebration of his album Canyon Songs’ 10th anniversary this year.  He performed the album in its entirety track-for-track, as well as a second set of Lucca classics from over the years.  Joining him onstage at this very special event were “American Idol” winner and recent tour mate David Cook, Lady Antebellum guitarist Jason “Slim” Gambill, Nick Bearden of Jamestown Revival, Tim Jones of Truth and Salvage Co., and tour mate Christian Lopez.  A recording of Canyon Songs live will be mixed by the legendary Sun Studio and released later this year.  Many fans and critics concede the crown jewel of Lucca’s catalog is the emotive Canyon Songs, a touching 10-track tip of the cap to the legendary Laurel Canyon sound immortalized by master musicians including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne.

For Lucca, who was raised in a very large musical family in Detroit, a short stint doing the Hollywood shuffle/auditioning actor thing led him to recognize his true passion: music.  A number of albums and EPs followed.  Lucca has made myriad television appearances on popular shows such as “Parenthood,” “The Tonight Show,” “Last Call with Carson Daly,” “The All New Mickey Mouse Club,” the Aaron Spelling-produced “Malibu Shores,” as well as small roles in some independent features.  He was also the source of tabloid fodder during his years dating actress Keri Russell, as well as when he was a third place finisher on Season 2 of “The Voice” (which served as a springboard for a series of additional key career milestones, including the signing of a recording contract with Adam Levine’s 222 Records, as well as high profile stints on tour with the likes of Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson and Sara Bareilles, among countless others).

Lucca is set to hit the road this fall for an extensive cross-country tour (see full tour schedule below).  Lucca has planned a Southeast, Northeast and Midwest series of co-headlining dates with Alex Dezen (of The Damnwells) which they are billing as the “Heads or Tails Tour.”  (Joining Dezen and Lucca on their run will be Christian Lopez.) Lucca also plans to head out after that with Tyrone Wells for a series of twelve West Coast and Texas shows.

TONY LUCCA TOUR SCHEDULE:

7/30/16 – Oswego, IL – Oswego Beats & Eats Festival

8/2/16 – Los Angeles, CA – Hotel Café (w/Keaton Simons and Christian Lopez)

8/20/16 – Nashville, TN – Musician’s Corner, Centennial Park (w/Christian Lopez)

9/11/16 – Spring Lake, MI – Courtyard Sessions

Tony Lucca/Alex Dezen co-headlining “Heads or Tails Tour” (with Christian Lopez):

9/25/16 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic

9/26/16 – Norfolk, VA – Work|Release

9/27/16 – Vienna, VA – Jammin Java

9/28/16 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live Upstairs

9/30/16 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom

10/3/16 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Café

10/4/16 – Columbus, OH – Rumba Café

10/7/16 – Chicago, IL – City Winery

10/8/16 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club

10/9/16 – Cedar Falls, IA – Cedar Valley House Concerts

Tony Lucca tour dates with Tyrone Wells:

10/21/16 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom

11/4/16 – Dallas, TX – Kessler

11/5/16 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Jr.

11/6/16 – Houston, TX – HOB Bronze Peacock

11/9/16 – Denver, CO – Soiled Dove

11/11/16 – Spokane, WA – Bartlett

11/12/16 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater

11/13/16 – Seattle, WA – Triple Door

11/16/16 – San Francisco, CA – Chapel

11/17/16 – Santa Barbara, CA – Soho

11/19/16 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour

11/20/16 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – The Coach House

www.tonylucca.com | www.facebook.com/TonyLucca  | @luccadoes  | www.instagram.com/Luccadoes