TRACE ADKINS

In his 25-year career in Country music, Trace Adkins has sold over 11 MILLION albums, charted over 20 singles, earned numerous awards and GRAMMY nominations, and garnered over TWO BILLION streams. A Grand Ole Opry member for nearly two decades, the Louisiana native is known for dynamic baritone and fiery, always-memorable live performances, and has expanded his Country career to include film and TV acting. He broke out in 1996 with the debut album, DREAMIN’ OUT LOUD, cracking the Top 5 of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart with “Every Light In the House Is On” and following with the #1 smash, “This Ain’t (No Thinkin’ Thing).” Since then, Adkins has pioneered a mix of classic Country minded traditionalism and adventurous, good-natured showmanship, breaking open new avenues in modern Country through fun-filled hits like “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and “Hillbilly Bone” (with Blake Shelton). He’ll celebrate the silver anniversary of his album debut in 2021 with THE WAY I WANNA GO, doing exactly what he always has – mixing pure-Country reverence with standout collaborations featuring Blake Shelton, Melissa Etheridge, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder on harmonica and more. Adkins’ newest video “Love Walks Through the Rain” (featuring Melissa Etheridge) is available everywhere now.

JERROD NIEMANN

Always willing to stretch country’s modern and elastic boundaries, Jerrod Niemann hit the ground running as an artist with a sound that stood out and a compelling visual presence. It didn’t hurt that he could count on the support of and synergy with friends like Randy Houser and Jamey Johnson, who both made cameos in the video for “Lover, Lover.” There followed a string of hits including “What Do You Want,” “One More Drinkin’ Song,” the chart-topping “Drink to That All Night,” and “A Little More Love” with his friend and sometimes touring partner Lee Brice.

He has always been one of a kind. Since the day his chart-topping major-label debut, “Lover, Lover,” announced him as a truly original voice, he has been that guy—a little edgier, a little cooler, maybe just a bit off-center in the best possible way. Ten years in, he is making some of the most compelling music of his career. As the world hits reset for a moment, Jerrod has done the same.

Lost and Found is music for a time when the world is ready to reemerge. “We’ve all been cooped up for a long time,” Jerrod says, “and everybody’d love to go on vacation. This is cabin fever music, something to let people escape for a bit, whether they’re venturing out yet or not.”

“I can’t wait to get back out on the road again,” he adds, “and that time will get here shortly. In the meantime, the way I connect with people is by turning life into music. I’m so glad to have this new work to share so we can renew that connection. It feels great."

WILLIAM MICHAEL MORGAN

William Michael Morgan has only just arrived in his mid twenties, but with a love of country music deeper than The Big River itself, the Mississippi native is the very definition of an old soul. H is pristine Southern vocal, timeless sound and honest lyric represents a new generation of hit makers in Music City modern day descendants of artists like Randy Travis, Alan Jackson and George Strait.

After signing his major label deal at the tender age of 19, Morgan began by hitting the top of the radio charts, landing at No. 1 on Mediabase with the Gold certified “I Met a Girl ..” He then released an acclaimed EP and earned a Billboard Top 5 with his 2016 album debut, Vinyl . He has performed more than 50 times on the Grand Ole Opry and was featured by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as a highlighted artist in the 2017 American Currents exhibit.

But now that he’s a few years older – and few hundred shows wiser – this old soul is looking toward a new horizon.

“I thought our first album was a very good representation of what we do and what we like, so we set the bar really high,” says Morgan of his next batch of country tunes. “My whole message with this project is that I want to show growth – not only musically, but also personally. … I feel like now I understand myself, and I understand the music I want to make.”

Produced once again by Scott Hendricks and Jimmy Ritchey, five new tracks show off the man Morgan has become. A hard worker and big-time dreamer, a single father and hopeless romantic, and a purecountry stalwart who’s not afraid to embrace the here and now. His new music is still drenched in twang and tenderness, but also infused with fresh energy from across the musical spectrum.

“We tried to diversify on this project,” Morgan says with an easy grin. “That can sound scary, like ‘Oh no, Willy’s changed,’ but it’s not that at all. … I’m from Mississippi, so I’ve got a lot of that rhythm and blues in my soul. I’m influenced by a lot of music. I could be listening to Frank Sinatra and switch over to Barry White, or go from Pink Floyd to the Isley Brothers and AC/DC to Merle Haggard. … We were trying to find a happy medium between what’s current and what we love.”

That happy medium shows up in full force on “Tonight Girl,” a grooving anthem about living in the moment that drips with the same casual-country soul Morgan grew up around. Think of it as the steamy second chapter of the “I Met a Girl” saga.

“Where I’m from in Vicksburg, a lot of the casinos down there get packed out every night with blues music and soul,” he says. “It’s everywhere, and they play right from the heart, so I wanted to put some of that sound on there.”

With plans to release a video alongside every new track, Morgan will paint pictures in fans’ minds to enrich each story. But according to him, the foot-stomping country rocker “Workin’” doesn’t need any help. He first heard the track while traveling through Mexico, and it immediately struck a chord.

“It was just a rough work tape, but I saw those pictures,” he says. “I saw the guy out there working and the girl with her feet up, drinking some red wine and waiting on me to call quitting time.”

“Gone Enough” features a wide open Texas Country feel – plus a full, orchestral string section. Three fiddles, two violas and a cello bring the heart wrenching breakup anthem to life. “I could get in the darkest room, drink the strongest drink, drive the longest road, but I’m not gonna get gone enough to get gone from you,” he says of the track.

“Brokenhearted” features a throwback, ‘90s-country sound and highlights how the genre Morgan loves so much is changing. “It is changing, the world is changing,” he explains. “Everybody is having a good time at their bonfires and, trust me, I love a bonfire and the whole idea of cold beers flowing, girls on the tailgate. But people also work, people have real lives and go through bad times. The whole message of the song is, ‘Ain’t nobody brokenhearted in country music anymore?’”

Meanwhile, “Talking to a Girl” puts a hopeful spin on that same emotional honesty. Co-written by Morgan and taken straight from real life experience, the uplifting ballad stands in classy contrast to a wave of hookup anthems – and as a reminder that every romantic cloud has a silver lining.

“I feel like we all have those moments in life where it just doesn’t go the way you thought,” Morgan says. “Sometimes it’s your fault and sometimes it’s nobody’s fault – and sometimes you’re just not ready. That was the case with me. … I don’t think you can truly love somebody until you love yourself, and I learned that.”

Clearly, Morgan has grown a lot since he first slid into the Music City mainstream. But no matter how much growing he does, some things will never change – like his passion for sharing country lyrics with pure, raw emotion with the fans who feel the same way.

“I think we all still feel like kids sometimes,” he says. “Every time I hit that stage I go back to my old Mississippi honky-tonk nights. Those four-hour sets, loading in and loading out in a smoky bar, sneaking a beer or two when mom and dad weren’t looking – just having a good time. Even today, it’s still for the pure joy of it.”

CANAAN SMITH

After years of writing, working and refining his craft, Smith first hit it big in 2015 with "Love You Like That," the lead single off The critically acclaimed album “BRONCO”. The PLATINUM-selling song skyrocketed to #1 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart and announced Smith as one of country's hottest young artists – one with serious musical chops and the kind of unique sound that could stand out in an increasingly crowded field. The BRONCO album spawned a second top 40 hit when “Hole In A Bottle” landed at #20. Smith’s high octane show quickly earned his spot on some of country music’s biggest tours, including an opening slot on Dierks Bentley’s 2015 Sounds of Summer Tour and direct support for Brantley Gilbert’s 2018 Blackout Tour. Recently, Canaan seized on the opportunity to sign a new record deal with his college buddies Tyler Hubbard & Brian Kelly of FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE and has been touring extensively with the superstar duo. In addition to putting out his own music, Canaan has been getting a TON of outside cuts lately- on top of multiple cuts on the latest Florida Georgia Line record and SEVEN songs on Brian Kelley’s solo record on Warner Nashville. Canaan is a writer on 2 songs on HARDY’s Hixtape Vol. II including the Morgan Wallen collaboration “Goin’ Nowhere” and has pending cuts with Jake Owen & Tyler Hubbard. Smith has earned a solid reputation for well crafted songs and one of country music’s most dynamic live shows.

CRAIG CAMPBELL

In a world fueled by the smoke and mirror act of overnight success, Craig Campbell has long been admired for his patience and persistence on the road less travelled. A consistent balancing act of traditional values and modern industry trends, Campbell is also considered by many to be one of the most talented yet under the radar stars, across all genres.

He put together a string of Top 10 hits on two labels before launching Grindstone Recordings with his “It’s About Time” single in 2020. The charismatic charmer co-produced the song, played acoustic guitar and piano, and sang his own harmonies. He also released “All My Friends Drink Beer,” the music video to which featured his notable friends like Jaren Johnson from The Cadillac 3, Randy Houser, Granger Smith and other familiar faces who recorded their own segments during the quarantine.

After focusing on his family and spending time writing and recording new music through 2020, he hit 2021 aggressively releasing songs like the touching “What A Girl Will Make You Do” and the raucous “Good Things Come To Those Who Drink,” the heart-wrenching “Never Mine,” and the fun “Things You Do In A Truck,” a rollicking duet with his Georgia buddy Trea Landon. His drive to release new music and hit the road stems not only from a desire to reach more and more fans but also satisfy his own aspirations to continue to grow as a songwriter, singer and performer.

That growth continued through 2023 with the release of the most ambitious recordings of his career…two double albums of “lost” songs he recorded for previous labels but never saw the light of day and a host of new songs he’s had in his pocket for an occasion such as this.

The Lost Files: Exhibit A, is a collection of 16 songs that hit February 17, 2023. “Tractor Songs,” was written by his good buddy Walker Hayes. The two played a show together in Orlando, and as Walker listened to Craig’s set, he recalls thinking, “…man, I forgot how unreal his voice is – one of my Top 5 favorite voices.” Walker met him as soon as he walked off the stage and pleaded with him “to let me send him a song or two.” ‘Tractor Songs’ was one of them. “He sings it like he wrote it,” said Walker, adding, “His voice and the song belong together.”

The Lost Files: Exhibit B, dropped six months later with 17 songs including “All My Friends Drink Beer” and “What I Thank (When I Drank).” Fan favorite “It’s About Time” receives an updated modern mix on the new album, and Craig’s wife, Mindy, an incredibly talented singer and songwriter, co-wrote the beautiful track “You.” The first single released from the new collection is “Summer Soundtrack,” a perfect, sultry season-ender written by Craig with Phil O’Donnell and Wade Kirby and produced by Mickey Jack Cones.

The good ole’ down home boy grew up playing his mother’s piano and singing in church. After graduating high school, he took a job as a corrections officer in his hometown of Lyons, Georgia. But music never left his side. Taking a cue from the sounds of classic country and idols like Travis Tritt and Randy Travis, Campbell started a band and played local and national bar gigs. When the guitar player quit, Campbell took that as a sign to chase his dreams all the way to Nashville, Tennessee.

With two rolls of quarters and a roll of dimes given to him by his mother for gas money, Campbell barely made it into town. Starting in 2002, the young hopeful would spend the next several years paying his dues as a demo singer by day and Lower Broadway gigger by night. Campbell was eventually connected to a soon-to-be-signed artist named Luke Bryan who needed a keyboard player. A year and a half long keyboard stint with Tracy Byrd soon followed, and on his non travel days, he took over as bandleader down at The Stage. His smooth chops and hot-blooded stage presence soon caught the eye of industry execs and in 2009, Campbell signed with Bigger Picture Group.

His first single, the sentimental ballad “Family Man,” hit Billboard’s top 15 in 2011. “Outta My Head” cracked the top 15, while the catchy tune “Fish” garnered more than 10 million on-demand streams. His 2014 breakout hit “Keep Them Kisses Comin’” was on its way up the charts when Bigger Picture closed. Campbell and his devoted team continued to press radio stations around the country, so much so that the single ended an impressive run well inside the Top 10, which is unheard of for a song with no financial backing.

Another door opened for Campbell in the form of Red Bow Records, a division of the Broken Bow umbrella. “Tomorrow Tonight” made it into the top 40, followed by perhaps his most poignant and well-known work to date, “Outskirts of Heaven.” “Outskirts” took on a life of its own, showcasing Campbell’s vulnerability and deep-rooted faith. The uplifting and remarkably personal ballad was praised by Rolling Stone, Taste of Country and others.

The impact of “Outskirts” prompted media appearances and memorable performances at nationally televised NFL games, the TODAY show, and the Grand Ole Opry, the latter of which he has made over 60 appearances to date. And in a full circle moment, the down home Georgia boy reunited with buddy Luke Bryan on his highly successful 2017 Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day Tour.

In the summer of 2018, Campbell released his first new music in five years with his See You Try EP on Broken Bow. The title track became an instant crowd pleaser with its confident, flirty lyrics and boot stompin’ melody. The EP also found a home for both an electric and acoustic version of “Outskirts of Heaven.” But by August of 2018, Campbell and Broken Bow had mutually parted ways, leaving the door wide open for new and long-awaited opportunities.

Those opportunities included realizing a longtime dream of opening a coffee shop – Grindstone Cowboy – with his wife Mindy and their daughters Preslee and Kinni Rose in their adopted hometown of Eagleville, Tennessee. He also started signing and producing new artists to Grindstone Records, including Cody Cozz and Ethan Payne.

“I’ve been recording and producing music my way, and that includes things I’ve never done before, like playing piano and producing. I’m not gonna even entertain the idea of recording any song if it doesn’t give me chills, and the same goes for artists we sign to Grindstone Records. I have to be proud of it. I have to answer for it and it has to get me fired up,” Campbell reflects in his deep-rooted Southern accent. “Man, oh man . . . . I love where I am!”

KIN FAUX

Based out of San Antonio, Texas, Kin Faux is a nationally touring, high energy Texas/Red Dirt Country band whose more obvious influences, along the lines of Charlie Daniels, Alabama and Restless Heart, show strongly through virtuosic fiddle and strong vocal harmonies. Their more eclectic influences come through via poignant, blistering guitar work and a thundering, solid rhythm section.

With most of the band having grown up in the shadows of the crumbling auto plants of Michigan, Kin Faux's music echoes the authenticity and desperation of places like Kentucky coal mines and other pockets of traditional American folklore where the livelihood of entire communities was swept out from underneath them, leaving people to fend for themselves to eke out a living for their families. This upbringing and experience brings a unique character to their brand of music that has been dubbed “Industrial Dirt” by some.

Native Texan, Rico Gonzalez, moved to Michigan in 2015 with his wife and found fiddle work with a Country band, playing the popular cover songs of the time, where he met Dan Currier. The two of them hit it off well on long drives to and from gigs around the region. At the same time, Jakey Black IX and Ross Barkey comprised half of a prolific Outlaw Country band that also made its way around the state. The two projects overlapped occasionally, and as the pair of duos overlapped more and more often, they discovered a mutual appreciation for Texas/Red Dirt music, contacts were made, and an experimental side project called Kin Faux was born. The band was inspired by the Texas/Red Dirt artists they all enjoyed such as Randy Rogers, Kevin Fowler, Roger Creager, Turnpike Troubadours and others. Unsure of how this brand of music would be received in Michigan, the band played sporadic off nights as more of a creative outlet, but it quickly became apparent that there was an unexpected and thriving Texas/Red Dirt scene in Michigan that was hungering for exactly the kind of music the boys were bringing to the table. Kin Faux shows rapidly made a name for themselves as high-energy, vastly entertaining events and the band found themselves being regarded as “the band to see” in the area. It was time to bring this group out of “side project” status and into the forefront.

Within a few months, the boys were regularly booked all over the Midwest and honed themselves into a juggernaut of raw live energy and musical performance that became ubiquitous throughout the state. Within six months of being formed, they garnered wins as Review Magazine's Best Country Band, and Rico as Best Country Musician in 2018. They began to forge relationships with influential artists such as Bobby Randall (Sawyer Brown, Confederate Railroad) and renowned songwriters like Bernie Nelson (Chris LeDoux, John Anderson, Confederate Railroad, Conway Twitty).

In the ensuing year, the boys made a trip to Mainframe Studios in Nashville to record their self-titled debut EP (produced by Bobby Randall) and began to expand their touring to include several tours of Texas itself to see how their brand of Texas music would be received. Each tour built on the successes of the previous tour and Kin Faux started to become regular fixtures at such iconic venues as Luckenbach, John T Floore's and Gruene Hall, and working with such acts as Kevin Fowler, Roger Creager, Rick Trevino and Trace Adkins, among others. Kin Faux's EP was released in the fall of 2018 to rave reviews, garnering five more wins from Review Magazine's Music Awards including Best Country Band, Best CD Release for the band and Best Multi-Instrumentalist, Best Country Songwriter and Best Country Instrumentalist for Rico.

Their four successful tours of Texas found them cultivating relationships with more legendary songwriters, such as David Lee (Cody Johnson, Montgomery Gentry, Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, George Strait), Brett Beavers (Lee Ann Womack, Toby Keith, Dierks Bentley) and Jim Beavers (Toby Keith, Dierks Bentley, Josh Turner, Blake Shelton, Chris Stapleton), and it began to be obvious that Texas offered opportunities that couldn't be found anywhere else, so, in true Kin Faux fashion, they once again piled into the van as a unit and hit the road, this time with permanence on their collective minds and relocated to San Antonio to pursue success full-time.

They released their first single, Teardrops on the Rocks (from their debut EP) in the summer of 2019, which peaked at #20 on the Texas Charts. While working this single, mid-tour and between dates, the boys went back to Nashville to record again, this time to Sony Tree Studios with Jim Beavers at the helm. This session produced their second single, Locked Up in Lubbock, released in March of 2020. Even with the COVID lockdown stymieing their touring and promotion efforts, Locked Up topped out at a respectable #26 on the Texas Charts. The boys released their third single, Honky Tonk in Heaven in October of 2020, and this song would become the band's breakout single, steadily working its way up the charts and finally delivering their first #1 hit on Texas Radio in March 2021. Locked Up and Honky Tonk would appear on the band's second album, with the latter serving as the title track, released in April of 2021.

Honky Tonk in Heaven would prove to be the album that would establish Kin Faux as a mainstay on the Texas music charts. The title track reached #1 for two consecutive weeks; followed by Plainview, which reached #3; and Wild Horses (a duet with Terry McBride), which also hit #1 for two weeks on the Texas Charts. The success of this album would garner the boys a couple Texas Country Music Association Awards as well, taking home trophies for Country Band of the Year in 2021, and Single of the Year (for Wild Horses) in 2022, as well as a Texas Regional Radio Award for New Band or Duo of the Year in 2022. This period also found the band dabbling into music videos, creating videos for Plainview, Wild Horses and Mas Tequila Por Favor.

In 2022, Kin Faux returned to Nashville to partner up with Jim Beavers once again, this time producing Kin Faux's most recent album, Cheaper Than the Truth, released in February of 2023. This album features the singles Grain of Salt, which topped out at #2 on the Texas charts, and a #1 hit for the boys with Sunny and 72. The 3rd single “Honky Tonk Honey”, is also the first Kin Faux single that the boys co-wrote on, teaming up with Jim and Brett Beavers. It reached #1 at the end of 2023 and stayed there for four weeks.

In November of 2023, the Texas Country Music Awards were held at Billy Bob’s Texas. The band was nominated for 6 awards and took home the top prize of Entertainer of the Year and drummer of the year.

2024 is set to be a big year for Kin Faux. With more extensive touring and the addition of Avery Castro on drums to replace the retired Currier, the band is seeing a level of growth that is very intriguing. With their headlining debut at the legendary Billy Bob’s and an opening slot for Luke Bryan in Tennessee, the bar is set for some exciting shows and opportunities. Kin Faux has also returned to the studio, this time keeping closer to home with award-winning producer, Stormy Cooper, of Stormy Cooper Media in Houston. The boys are working on new music and are super excited to get it out. The first single from these sessions, “My Kind of Weathered,” sets the stage for a bigger sound for the band. Written by Kensie Coppin, Barber Barrett and Thompson Garrett, “Weathered” is about appreciation for the kind of character that things and people acquire with time.

DIRTY GRASS SOUL

Proudly hailing from the musically rich foothills of Cleveland County (Shelby, NC), Dirty Grass Soul has been entertaining audiences across the Carolinas and beyond since their formation in 2011. With a sound that draws much influence from traditional music of the North Carolina foothills, Dirty Grass Soul manages to bring a new, refreshed, and re-energized sound to their music that falls somewhere between country, bluegrass, and southern rock & roll reminiscent of acts like The Charlie Daniels Band and The Marshall Tucker Band. Rather than simply relying on heavy guitar leads, Dirty Grass Soul offers instrumentation that mixes in a heavy dose of fiddle, pedal steel guitar, and banjo in addition to the guitar. DGS is lead by founding members Kevin Dedmon (Fiddle, Vocals, Guitar) and Lance Watson (Bass, Mandolin). They are joined by Tommy Smith (Electric Guitar),Dedmon's brother Kris Dedmon (Banjo), Glenn Miller (Pedal Steel Guitar), and Jared Miller (Vocals & Percussion).

After touring the Carolina's behind their self-released debut album "The Long Way", as well as shows alongside many premier national bands under their belt, Dirty Grass Soul has earned a reputation as one of the southeast's emerging Southern Rock/Alt. Country bands. Following up their 2016 release of The Long Way, DGS released their newest project "New Day of Work" on August 23, 2018 and currently touring in support of that release.

Whether it is the hint of bluegrass, outlaw country, or rock & roll you hear in each song, their sound is uniquely Dirty Grass Soul. From Dedmon's down home/working class lyrics to the blazing instrumental breaks, Dirty Grass Soul is sure to offer a little something for everyone. Be sure to visit www.DGSoul.com & follow or “like” Dirty Grass Soul on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates about the happenings of the band.

RAY SCOTT

The term ‘country music’ may have changed over time, but Ray Scott’s definition of it has not. Whenever you press play on a Ray Scott song, you know exactly what you are going to get: tried-and-true, dyed-in-the-wool, salt of the earth, country music. That’s how the country music traditionalist built his first ten albums and that’s how he’ll build the next ten - which conveniently starts right here.

Billboards and Brake Lights, Ray Scott’s 11th release, is a collection of twelve songs by the North Carolina native that remind real country music fans what it’s like to go on a journey through song. Rooted in his signature traditional sound, Scott straddles the line of growing as an artist and standing on that firm foundation of being exactly the same guy his fans have come to love. Self-effacing, self-aware, and vulnerable and with a humble confidence that stops shy of arrogance, Ray’s methods of storytelling shine brighter than ever before.

“I just write songs and then see where they fall. With this album, just like some of my older projects, it’s got a lot of songs that were written fairly recently and then it's got a couple that are 10 or 15 years old. I don't really know what the rhyme or reason is. I just always have songs in my back pocket, and they seem to resurface and want to be recorded at certain times. For the new songs, I see an evolution in me for sure, but then again, I've been this same person for a long time.

“I wrote the first single ‘Ripples’ with Tony Mullins five years ago but now was the time to record it. It’s got kind of an almost bluegrassy feel about it which is not something folks are used to hearing, but it was exciting to me. ‘Long Black Cadillac,’ that's an old one people have always liked, and I thought it fit in well with this group.”

This group consists of songs like the album’s title track which paints the stark reality (or is it Ray-ality) of what life on tour is really like while ‘Keeper’ highlights a different kind of peril of the road. It takes a real man to stand strong in the eye of temptation and while most everyone has faltered in that moment at one time or another, Scott’s lyrical masterclass on the art of polite decline is one for the ages.

No stranger to delving into dark and/or intensely personal times and misdoings for song material, the new batch on Billboards and Brake Lights is no different. Even when he didn’t mean to, different life events, such as the recent passing of his parents, make songs like ‘Old Roads and Old Friends’ hit harder and in ways that now cut to the core. Rather than omit those songs from the album, he once again chose to include them knowing full well that for the rest of his life, he’ll have to pour a refresher on the pain when he plays them in concert.

Also born from the depths of his pain and serving as the album’s final offering is “I’ll See You Again.” Written on the morning of his dad’s funeral and sung later that afternoon at the actual event, this deeply personal song simply stuns you silent. As intimate as the song itself is, the recording was just as personal as Ray’s three young nieces came in from North Carolina specifically to sing background vocals on the track.

“Honesty in songwriting is what it's all about. People respond to that, and you realize there are a lot of kindred spirits in the room. It's just necessary. As for performing them, I think it's gotten easier for me over the years to be able to go onstage and rip the scab off.”

Honesty in music is a calling card Ray Scott has held firmly throughout his career and has defined him in more ways than one. Back in the 00’s when Ray was a staff songwriter on Music Row pulling in a salary to write songs for other artists, the radio ‘Bro-Country’ tide was on the rise. It didn’t sit well with Ray’s stomach as it wasn’t authentic to him, and he’d be damned if he was going to sell himself out to discredit the music that he loved so much. Not only did he walk away from that staff writer life, that walk-off was also the catalyst that drove him back to writing for himself and striking out on his own.

Lucky for Ray, he packed his bags when he left that life because inside that sack of songs was ‘I Fall in Love with You Again.’ Written in 2001 and promptly discarded by his publisher as ‘too dated for radio,’ the song was forgotten by Ray until the summer of 2023. That’s when a buddy asked what happened to that song he played for him a couple decades ago. After blowing the dust off the DAT tape demo, Ray fell in love with it all over again and twenty plus years later it has taken its rightful place in the lineup and is ready for world to hear.

One benefit Scott has with Billboards and Brake Lights is the ability to release and promote it however he likes. His last two albums, 2020’s Nowhere Near Done and 2021’s Cover the Earth, both fought Covid in one way or another. Ironically, that same pandemic gave Ray his new research tool, the award-winning Ray-ve In the Cave, Scott’s then weekly livestream show where he and guitarist Joe Cook would hang out in Ray’s basement with their guitars, a beverage or two, and perform. Named one of Pollstar’s Top 50 Livestreams, that outlet gave him more of a one-on-one, interactional relationship with his audience than he ever had before.

“I’m really excited about the album because there's some new sounds on it. The instrumentation production is a little different and I was able to get some more country sounds on it. We’ve got some fiddle and mandolin and they’re played by some truly incredible players.”

Incredible players is quite the understatement. A quick look up and down the roster of musicians on this album and you’ll see names like 3x / current CMA Musician of the Year Jenee Fleenor on fiddle and mandolin, Musicians HOF Member / 14x ACM Drummer of the Year recipient Eddie Bayers along with a litany of other musical giants. Those players, paired up with producer Jim “Moose” Brown helped shape Billboards and Brake Lights.

“Jim is a really good songwriter himself and an extremely talented musician. He just knows how to bring it together and that’s what a good producer does. I mean, I do write these songs, but you start with that shell and it grows from there. Moose is a great one to lead the musicians and these players, well they’re all just killer and that comes through in the finished product.”

As Scott’s musical career has now eclipsed the twenty-year mark, something few artists get to experience, the whiskey-tinged baritone expresses a gratitude, even if he doesn’t completely understand it all.

“It’s all been a blessing, not just here but all over the world, which blows my mind. I recently went to Switzerland, Austria, Norway, and Spain and we’ve been playing overseas for years. This might sound cliché, but it really is a blessing to be able to do that and to expand out into the world that way. When I first got to town, I never would've thought that I'd be going to Europe on a regular basis playing my music for people. Not to mention being able to run up and down the highways here at home in the States, but here I am.

“I'm still doing what I love for a living. I'm doing what I feel is my calling. Of course, there's some rough days and the traveling can beat you up, especially as you get older. But anything this life or this business has thrown at me in all these years, nothing has made me think anything other than this is still a dream job.”

BOOMTOWN SAINTS

BoomTown Saints knows how to bring the party and entertain the fans. Their innovative artistry, elite musicianship, and precise multi-part harmonies makes their high-energy show exceptional from the very first song. Their brand of southern rock/rocking country continues to resonate with a growing fan base as they crisscross the country entertaining audiences nationwide.

Signed to Muscle Shoals-based 8 Track Entertainment, BoomTown Saints is composed of Chris Ramos and Ben Chism. The fusion of Chris’ energetic stage presence and broad vocal range with Ben’s smooth voice and distinguishable southern drawl yields an undeniable charisma between the two. Consummate entertainers and true road warriors, they have honed their live performance skills playing clubs, frat houses and festivals with the number one objective being “for people to have fun.”

Talented songwriters, singers and musicians, With their debut single “All Trucks Go To Heaven” climbing into the top 30 the Billboard charts followed by their sophomore release "Blacktop Don't" becoming the #1 independent song on country radio for 12 weeks (reaching #13 on the charts)

Ben’s paths first crossed at a gig when they were both performing as solo artists. An immediate synergy between the two quickly developed and led to the formation of BoomTown Saints in 2018. Both proud “girl dads,” the two initially pursued careers outside of music -- Chris, as a healthcare consultant climbing the corporate ladder in the pharmaceutical industry, and Ben, who was headed to medical school after graduating with a degree in Biology on a full academic and baseball scholarship. After Ben finished top 10 in the Southeast USA in a nationwide singing competition (Texaco Country Showdown), the tide turned and he decided to take “music over medicine.” Likewise, after getting multiple cuts as a writer on albums ranging from pop, to country, to electronic music, Chris decided to pursue his dream in music and form a band. Like they say, the rest is history.

A multi-instrumentalist by the time he was 10 years old, Chris mainly plays piano and guitar while Ben mostly plays acoustic guitar. “Boyz II Men and Brian McKnight have always been my favorite two artists,” commented Chris. “I was raised around a lot of blues and jazz, so moving toward the R&B side of music was a fairly natural step. Anybody who hears me play even country songs on an acoustic while singing alone will hear those influences come through.” Ben added, “I've always loved Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks, Brooks and Dunn, Eric Church, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan. I've always wanted to be an entertainer like these guys. they have a way of bringing you into the show on the first note.

JB AARON

Country Recording Artist JB Aaron was born and raised in Niagara Falls, NY in the Town Of Niagara. He served 18 years as a volunteer firefighter and a medical technician for the Town of Niagara with the Active Hose Fire Department.

Through the years and during his childhood, he would sing for small festivals and enter singing competitions where he would bring home top prizes for his vocal abilities.

Now based out of Nashville, TN, JB continues to follow and chase his dreams to become a well known staple in the country music scene.

JB has shared the stage with or has opened shows for various artists over the years including Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Chris Young, Kid Rock, LoCash, Frankie Ballard, The Cadillac 3, Big N Rich, Phil Vassar, Darryl Worley, Eric Paslay, Brian McComas, Brothers Osborne, Craig Morgan, Joe Diffie, Mark Wills, Easton Corbin, Kellie Pickler, Chase Rice, Josh Thompson, Tanya Tucker, Terri Clark, Wade Hayes, Jeff Carson, Andy Griggs, Gloriana, Molly Hatchet, and more.

When not on the road touring and performing, he is continuously writing new material and working with top hit Nashville songwriters.

JB just recently cut a new record, “If Heaven Has A Back Door”, with top Nashville producer Kent Wells who also produces Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton and many others..

JB is a proud active CMA member and ISSA member. His passion for singing and performing inspires him to continue to entertain and support the country music industry. JB has many inspirations that help him do what he does. Some of his inspirations come from his parents, God, sick kids that he works with and many others including Country Artists no longer with us. He wishes to share his love of music with the world for as long as he can.

FLAT RIVER BAND

Think back to a time of porch swings and simpler things. The pace slower – the tempo easier. The back-porch beats of the Flat River Band have harmonized their way into the hearts of many Americans. Originally from Fredericktown, Missouri the born to sing Sitze Brothers started as a family band with Dad on rhythm guitar and Mom on lead vocals. A fan favorite at blue grass festivals and numerous other amusement parks the Flat River Band - Chad, Dennijo, and Andy Sitze - have picked their way through their blue-grass, gospel roots to their now established sound, Americana Country.

Now residing in Tennessee the trilogy of brothers are writing lyrics that are not shy of depth, intellect or meaning. Their strong family ties not only resonate in their harmonies but also in their lyrics. The guitar, bass, and mandolin capture the identity of each brother but when played together a pulse is heard with three different beats, three different personalities, three different rhythms, playing, harmonizing, and modulating into what can only be captured

MAGGIE BAUGH

With roots from Boca Raton, FL Nashville artist Maggie Baugh started her music career by playing the fiddle on stage with Charlie Daniels when she was 13 years old. Baugh has over 30 million views on her TikTok series "Finish The Lick". She released her debut album "Dear Me" in October 2023 which gained over 500k streams in its first day. Baugh is a touring musician and has opened for other artists, including Home Free, Luke Combs, Kip Moore. She recently wrapped up her National Vinyl Store Tour sponsored by Taylor Guitars and was announced as part of Tidal's "Rising" Class for 2024. This year, 2024, Maggie is set to go on her First International Tour as well as releasing new music, starting with her latest single “24", with a follow up single and EP to release in the Spring.

ALLIE COLLEEN

Allie Colleen is a Country Artist, singer and songwriter who recently released her well-received debut album, STONES. Her music style defines how life shaped her, alongside the personal lyrics and transparency in her vocals and performance. Allie Colleen is no stranger to the music industry and has a passion for singing and songwriting since a young age has garnered her a reputation of being a notable songwriter with an iconic-sounding voice. Her impeccably strong voice with hints of timeless tradition falls between classic and emerging country sounds. The room never fails to silence as Allie Colleen begins to sing about the layers of love and heartbreak that have shaped her. Unlike most today, some of her newest songs bring well-thought-out lyrics and a special connection to the song. With more than 351K followers on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok combined, she is one of the most powerful and popular female independent label acts on a trajectory to stardom.

CLARK HILL

“I know it sounds selfish but I’ve always wanted to leave a legacy.”

Clark Hill speaks clearly, his eyes locked on yours. He’s tall, with an athletic build. His hair, once a curly tumble, is clipped short. He answers questions with a crisp but respectful “Yes, sir.” At age 31, he stands at the crossroads of youth and experience, each enhancing the other. Without even trying he projects a sense of who he is and why he’s here.

“Up until just a few years ago, I hadn’t really found myself. I was a young parent with two kids and a wife. I excelled at every job I got but every day I walked out of my house feeling like I wasn’t doing anything with my life. But even then I knew what it meant to leave your mark on the world. I knew I wouldn’t be here today without my parents. We weren’t a wealthy family but they helped me in every way. My dad worked for 25 years in a prison; he hated it but he did it so we could live comfortably.”

He glances downward but just for a second. “So I kept searching for something I could achieve, some mark I could leave. That would be the greatest thing I could do for my kids.”

In some ways, Clark will acknowledge, things had come to him too easily. Growing up in northern Florida, on the land his grandparents once called home, he worked on the family farm, planting and harvesting corn, black-eyed peas, maybe some okra and tomato plants. In school he earned high grades almost without trying. Following the footsteps his dad had made as a college football star, Clark played linebacker and then tight end on his high school team, always as a starter, never experiencing a losing season. Shortly before graduating he passed his exam as an EMT fireman; after earning his diploma, he went to work.

“Basically, I was a paramedic except I couldn’t push meds,” he explains. “I could run an IV, pull a line, do advance cardiac. And I was 18 years old.”

Clark showed his musical gift early too. As far back as second grade, he performed in talent shows and dressed as Elvis. (“I dyed my hair and everything,” he confesses, chuckling.) In church he sang with the children’s choir and later was appointed to lead the praise band on Wednesday night services. For several years just before Christmas he performed at Disney World with the high school chorus.

“It was funny because my main interests were football and weight lifting,” he says. “I mean, I enjoyed music — I was a huge Vince Gill fan and I loved Johnny Cash and Hank Jr. But I never thought that music would have anything to do with my future.”

That would change. One fateful day, at a moment of difficulty in his marriage, he went to have a wisdom tooth removed. First, the anesthesia wore off in the middle of surgery. Right after that, the dentist accidentally broke Clark’s jaw. He went home, hoping to just weather the pain alone. By the way, it was his birthday too.

After a while his brother-in-law showed up and insisted that Hill come along as he headed out to play a gig with his cover band. Never mind that Clark hadn’t touched a guitar for several years. “Just watch my hands,” he was told. “If you sound bad, we’ll turn you off. Enjoy yourself.”

He did. Clark began sitting in frequently, getting his guitar chops back, singing backup and even taking the lead on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” and a few other tunes. He began writing as well, beginning with “Papa’s Song,” an appreciation of his late grandfather. Eventually, the band’s lead singer invited him to play it as a solo acoustic performance during intermission.

“Long story short, people liked it,” Clark says. “Almost that quick, man, they became fans and started coming to shows just to watch my acoustic set an hour and a half into the show. I noticed that people were listening to me. They paid attention to the stories I wrote into my songs, they wanted to know more. Right then, I felt I’d found what I’d been looking for.”

It didn’t take long for Clark to pack up and head with his father and brother-in-law to Nashville. CMA Music Fest 2012 was in full swing as they arrived. “It was a horrible time to pound on doors,” he remembers, laughing. “But I’m not kidding; we went into every building on Music Row and dropped off my homemade business cards. I came in with nothing but my passion, like, ‘Hey, man, let’s do this!’”

When not visiting empty offices, Clark caught every performance he could at the Festival. “I stood in the back and dreamed about what I would do if I was the one on that stage,” he says. “Pretty quickly I realized this was something I could do. I wanted that stage. I wanted the crowds. I wanted to keep asking myself how I could get more creative.”

Making friends quickly, Clark got to know Craig Morgan, who introduced him to his drummer Mike Rogers. They hit it off and agreed to work together on a full-length album, with Rogers serving as producer. Creatively, they clicked from the start. “We agreed that this would be about me finding my natural sound without forcing anything,” Clark says. “Mikey grew up in the outskirts of Myrtle Beach, so we both came from the same small-town, family-oriented place.”

They emerged from the studio with an album Clark calls People Like Me. It’s a varied package, with tracks that rock hard like they do it in the South (“Stage Song”), honor the love of his life (“Swerve”), celebrate (the reggae-flavored “Don’t You Worry Bout’ Me”) and mourn (“I Hate That Car”) a romantic breakup, testify with dignity and deep emotion (“How Great Thou Art”) and proudly proclaim the small-town virtues that define who Clark is, musically and personally (“Those Were The Days”).

“The album touches on every element of who I am,” Clark affirms. It’s that simple. It’s that profound.

JESSE BYERS

“Jesse Byers is a raising Country Musician from Florida. Known for his intriguing vocals & warm sound. He has gained popularity throughout Florida; performing with the Jesse Byers Band, as well as a solo acoustic musician. His hometown presence will captivate you & his sound will entertain you all night. Jesse Byers has plans to release new original music this upcoming year, so keep an eye out for that! Jesse has become a local favorite & has gained so many fans along the way. Performing upwards of 200 shows a year in his hometown in Florida, as well as his new town in Bobcaygeon, Ontario. Jesse Byers is a raising star in many people eyes. You won’t want to miss him!”

JESSIE LEIGH

Before she could talk, Jessie Leigh would hum. As she grew, humming turned to singing which soon turned into a love for performing. From the time she started school, Jessie Leigh performed wherever she could – choir, musicals, talent shows, or for family in the living room. In high school she participated in solo and choir competitions which took her to places across Oregon as well as Disneyland in California.

After high school, Jessie Leigh went to college to get her teaching degree and focused her musical energy on gospel music while learning to lead worship at church. “This time of ‘less intense’ musical schedule really helped me grow musically and hone in on a lot of important skills. It also reaffirmed my passion for music as I realized sharing this part of me once a week simply wasn’t enough.”

A few years ago she participated in a singing competition that took her to Vegas where she got to perform in The House of Blues in Mandalay Bay casino. “Making it to Vegas after being out of “performance” music for a few years gave me a boost of confidence about what I was capable of musically. I knew I needed to do more.”

Jessie Leigh spent some time building her guitar and performance skills and last summer she decided to team up with the Ryan Oetken Band while he was home from Nashville. They spent the summer touring Oregon and Washington and ended the summer with a number of performances at the Clackamas County Fair. Jessie Leigh is now breaking out on her own as a singer/songwriter/musician. “Music has always been a part of who I am. It has manifested itself in a number of ways over the years, but nothing can compare with performing and sharing something I am so passionate about with others. Nothing compares to the feeling I get when I see a song impact someone on an emotional level. It’s also pretty great to see people out line dancing or rockin out to a song I’m singing.”

ZAC GROOMS

Zac Grooms is an original northwest country music artist and bandleader who specializes in creating an energetic, captivating and comfortable musical conversation with anyone who lends an ear.

After winning his first local singing competition in 1998, Zac Grooms has become not only a locally known singer/songwriter/guitarist, but also a Nashville and Northwest recording artist, music producer, and band leader for Northwest country music group Brewer’s Grade Band. Zac has written/co-written over 60 songs including a number one on the independent country charts in 1999 (If I Had My Way), a Christmas song for “The Least Of These” a wonderful independent Christmas movie released in 2019 (Kid at Christmas Time), and a single release by fellow country artist Jessie Leigh called “irresistible”. Zac continues to make a name for himself on the northwest music industry by always finding new ways to create, share, and connect country music in the northwest and west coast.

CHAD BUSHNELL

If there was a true authentic spirit to cross the threshold of Country Music with Christian standards, it would be Chad Bushnell. His roots date back down his family lineage the past 4 generations made of cowboys and singers, some of which shared the stage with the late Bob Hope. He exudes the Americana spirit wrapped up into his lyrics and melodies.

Chad has opened for country legends such as Kris Kristofferson, Dwight Yoakam, Scotty McCreery, Lee Brice, Neal McCoy, Billy Currington, Mark Wills, Collin Raye and many others over the years. His first Christian Country single “What Would Jesus Do” hit #1 on the Christian Music Weekly charts for December 2019 right by George Strait and Lauren Alaina. His latest Christian Country single “Thank God” recently hit #1 as well following the premiere of his first documentary on KIXE PBS titled “North State Roots”. His latest record “Whiskey to Work” was produced by Nate Coon (Rosewood Studios in Tyler, TX), Derek Boone (Edgewater Studios in Houston, TX) and Dave Gibson (Beaird Music Group in Nashville, TN). It features songs written by Chad himself, songs co-written with some of his favorite songwriters and even a few written by hit songwriters out of Nashville, TN.

Chad has participated in a number of contests such as American Country Star in Nashville, TN. where he became a top 3 finalist and won the Horizon award. He was the Contemporary Country Vocalist of the Year at the Josie Music Awards for 2020 in Pigeon Forge, TN and recently won Modern Country Song of the Year for one of his latest singles “Fallin’ in Love With You”. He was the "1st" place winner of the Inspirational Country Showdown in "Yuba City, CA” for 2018 and won New Artist of the Year for Inspirational Country Music Association in 2019. He was recently nominated by Country Evolution as one of the 2023 Artists to Watch. You may have also caught a glimpse of Chad on TV shows such as The 700 Club and Universal Huntress.