Word on the Street – June 25
June 25, 2009 by Scott Winterroth, Editor
Filed under Chicago Country, News
Joe’s is turning up the heat with Lady Antebellum
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any hotter in Chicago, Joe’s Bar has added one of country music’s hottest new trio to their summer concert lineup. On July 10, Lady Antebellum will take the stage for a very special concert is sponsored by Verizon’s V-Cast Lounge. Ticket information is available by visiting joesbar.com.
On tap this Weekend:
Country music star, Keith Anderson will take the stage this weekend at Joe’s. Anderson’s dossier of hits includes “Pickin’ Wildflowers”, “Every Time I Hear Your Name”, “XXL” and most recently “Podunk”. Tickets for Anderson’s show are $15 in advance and available through Ticketmaster.com and Joe’s.
Taylor Mania!
The wait is over…. In a recent announcement, Country Music Chicago learned that Taylor Swift will bring her “Fearless” tour to the Northwest suburban Allstate Arena on Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10. Tickets for the shows will be available to the general public starting tomorrow at 10 a.m. and can be purchased through all Ticketmaster outlets.
Can’t wait till October? Catch Swift along with Kellie Pickler, Jack Ingram and Mark Chesnutt at Country Thunder on Thursday, July 16. For a full lineup and ticket information, visit countrythunder.com
New Music:
On Tuesday, country music star Brad Paisley will release his eighth studio album titled “American Saturday Night” which features Paisley’s current single, “Then.” Download it on iTunes: 
Sugarland announced the release of a live album perfectly titled, “Sugarland: Live on the Inside” on August 4. Available exclusively through Walmart, the 10 track album features live performances from their “Love on the Inside” Tour and includes a bonus DVD with recorded performances of some of the Duo’s biggest hits.
Looking Forward:
Sara Evans at Naperville Ribfest, July 3; Country Thunder (various artists), July 15 – 18; Rascal Flatts with Darius Rucker and Vince Gill at Wrigley Field, July 18.
Three “T” Ticket Update
June 20, 2009 by CountryMusicChicago.com Staff
Filed under Ticket Line
Toby, Trace and Taylor ticket informaiton.
Toby Keith and Trace Atkins will bring their “America’s Toughest Tour” series to town on Saturday, September 19 for the final country concert of the season at the Southwest suburban First Midwest Bank Amphitheater located in Tinley Park, Ill. Tickets range from $16 – $70 and are available through LiveNation.com.
Information for the October 9 Taylor Swift Chicago concert has finally been released. The country music teen sensation will bring her ”Fearless” tour, featuring Kellie Pickler and Gloriana, to the Northwest suburban Allstate Arena for a two night stay on Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10. Tickets range from $20 – $50 and will go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 26 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.com.
Prices listed my not reflect additional fees.
Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift big winners at CMT Music Awards
June 16, 2009 by CountryMusicChicago.com Staff
Filed under Country Music, FEATURED
Nashville – Brad Paisley and teen sensation Taylor Swift were among the big winners at tonight’s 2009 CMT Music Awards held at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. Hosted by actor and comedian Bill Engvall the awards show featured live performances from a host of country music stars including Trace Atkins, Dierks Bentley and Keith Urban. The winners of tonight’s 2009 CMT Music Awards were based entirely on fan submitted votes through cmt.com.
Swift picked up the CMT Video of the Year Award and Female Video of the Year for her music video “Love Story” while Paisley snagged Male Video of the Year for his video, “Waitin’ on a Woman” along with the Collaborative Video of the Year Award with Keith Urban for their video “Start a Band” and CMT Performance of the Year with Alan Jackson, Dierks Bentley and George Strait for their rendition of Jackson’s “Country Boy.”
Country music power trio Rascal Flatts, under no surprise, took home the award for Group Video of the Year for their video, “Every Day,” and Sugarland, while nominated for five separate awards two in the same category, only picked up Duo Video of the Year for “All I Want to Do.”
“Fans, you guys have defined and redefined country music. Thank you for following us wherever we’ve been going,” said Sugarland’s Kristian Bush during the duo’s acceptance speech.
The evening’s first honor was given to the Zac Brown Band for the USA Weekend Breakthough Video of the Year for “Chicken Fried.” Cross-over artist Kid Rock was selected for Wide Open Country Video of the Year for his video “All Summer Long.”
The show’s non-award highlights included an opening comedic skit where Swift shared her dream to rap in a music video with Rapper T-Pain. Paisley, with the help of his iPhone, tweeted, “Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!standing on stage in awards.. More later…” to his Twitter.com followers @paisleyofficial as he finished his acceptance speech for Male Video of the Year. Sugarland’s Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles surprised viewers with an unexpected performance of the 1989 hit “Love Shack” with the song’s original artist, the B-52’s.
Non country music celebrity appearances included actor Luke Wilson, news anchor Bill O’Reilly and Olympian and Dancing with the Stars winner Shawn Johnson.
For a complete list of winners and other show highlights, visit cmt.com.
Singing the Chesney Blues?
June 15, 2009 by Scott Winterroth, Editor
Filed under Concert Alerts, Events, FEATURED
If you’re like me, you’re probably still recuperating from the highly anticipated Kenny Chesney concert/extravaganza at Soldier Field and you’re thinking to your self, Saturday night was so awesome how am I ever going to top a concert like that! You’re in luck, staring as early as this weekend the month of June still offers plenty of star-packed, full-filled country music concerts where the parking doesn’t cost $40 bucks and the beer on tap is less that $8 a mug.
Jeffrey Steele might not be a name you immediately recognize but we’re sure you’re will be familiar with his work the moment he starts singing. Steele is the man behind some of country music’s biggest hits including “What Hurts The Most”, “International Harvester” and “Something To Be Proud Of”. Not only his he an awesome singer and songwriter, he’s one heck of a performer as he will have any crowd singing along to some of country music’s hottest songs in no time.
On Friday, catch Steele along with the Penny Mae Dixon Band at the Taste of Rockford, 4503 Interstate Blvd, Loves Park. Tickets range from $10 general admission to $75 VIP meet-and-greet. astarconcerts.com
Saturday night Steele will headline the WCCQ sponsored “Summer Bash 2009” held at the Timber Creek Inn and Suites, 3300 Drew Ave, Sandwich. Steele will perform with Cross County Junction, the Penny Mae Dixon Band, Johnny Grey, Genuine Drive and comedian Trenton Davis.
Grab your boots, the Midwest largest line dancing bash will take place at Summer Bash. From noon to 2 p.m. the Boot Kickin’ Country Contest will feature line dancing lessons and prizes for the best dressed male/female, the coolest cowboy hat and the biggest belt buckle. Winners will receive tickets and meet-and-greet passes to upcoming concerts. More information at Astarconcerts.com Tickets for Summer Bash range from $10 – $100 and are available through Ticketmaster.com. At any price, this event will be well worth it.
Also on tap for the rest of June:
Billy Currington in concert to benefit “Opportunity Through Baseball,” Saturday, June 20 at 9 p.m. Joe’s Bar, 940 W. Weed St, Chicago. $25 – Ticketmaster.com
Little Big Town with the Zac Brown Band, Concerts for a Cause, Saturday, June 27 staring at 3:30PM. Presented by Lou’s LaGrotto, concert is held at the Cedar Point Sportsman Club near Rt. 80 & 351, LaSalle, Ill. $30 – louslagrotto.com/concerts
Editor’s Note: This event will be well worth the ride but get your tickets early.
Keith Anderson with Her and Kings County, Saturday, June 27 at 8 p.m. Joe’s Bar, 940 W. Weed St, Chicago. $15 – Ticketmaster.com
Word on the Street – June 11
June 11, 2009 by CountryMusicChicago.com Staff
Filed under Chicago Country, FEATURED, News
Hut….hut….Kenny!
This is it! Saturday marks one of the biggest nights in Chicago’s country music scene as Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum transform the 61,500 seat, lakefront football stadium into the Super Bowl of country music concerts.
This concert is so big; it requires a pre-concert party to get it started! Starting at Noon, head down to the US99 Oasis for a free performances by Luke Bryan, Cross County Junction, the Penny Mae Dixon Band and Kate & Kacey.
Tickets to Saturday concert are still available through Ticketmaster.com
While in town Chesney will appear at another Chicago sports stadium. This time he’s going it alone. On Friday, Chesney has been asked to lead the ceremonial “Take me out to the Ballgame” during the 7th inning strech at the Chicago Cubs vs. Minnesota Twins game at Wrigley Field. Play Ball!
Miranda Lambert News…
Miranda Lambert is talking about a “Revolution.” A new album that is. According to the artist’s Web site, the follow-up to Lambert’s sophomore album is titled “Revolution” and is due out in late September.
“I think this record is truly the most artistic project I have ever done. I really put my entire being into the making of it. From the writing to the recording to finding the perfect mixture of things I wanted to say,” said Lambert on her Web site.
The album will include her current single, “Dead Flowers”, which is available for download on iTunes.
ATTN: Joliet Area Country Music Fans!
On June 20, the Joliet Area Historical Museum will kick-off their annual summer fundraiser titled “Boots & Bling” with a party on the rooftop featuring local country music band Lucky Town. Tickets are $50 and include a full barbeque buffet, a western themed bar, auction, raffle prizes, free valet parking and a chance to win a trip for two to Nashville. Proceeds benefit the Museum’s exhibits and collections departments.
Larry King has Gone Country
June 11, 2009 by CountryMusicChicago.com Staff
Filed under Country Music
Some of today’s hottest country music stars were on hand for a special country edition of Larry King Livethat aired Thursday night. Properly named Hottest Stars of Country Music, the hour-long special was broadcasted live from the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, TN.
The interviews were broken up by groups of girls consisting of Martina McBride, Gretchen Wilson and Julianne Hough and a group of guys, John Rich, Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton. King’s questions to the artists ranged from everyday life as a country music star, their opinions of country music today and what the music meant to them before they were stars.
While the ladies kept the interview process pretty serious and answered questions like how they have dealt with the competitiveness of the industry, the guys lightened things up with their semi-joking responses. When Blake Shelton was asked if he would consider appearing on the television show Dancing with the Stars, he answered with he would rather be homeless.
As expected, King asked Rich about how he is becoming the country bad boy as Rich has been making headlines over lawsuits from recent bar scuffles. Rich, best known for his half of Big & Rich, seemed to brush the question off and proceeded to proclaim he was considering running for Governor of Tennessee in 2010. King also asked Rich, do fans have the right to your personal life? Rich remarked with,” they love your music that much it’s important to give them everything you got.”
In conjunction with Thursday’s interview, in a blog entry titled, “Back to School for Country Music Star Gretchen Wilson”, the country music star touches on her personal experiences with adult education and stresses the importance for continued awareness of the difficult situation. Read the blog entry on the Larry King Live Blog.
