Brad Paisley Returning to Mansfield

Jon Mael

Brad Paisley, courtesy of Schmidt PR

Brad Paisley is one of the most prolific artists in country music when it comes to touring. This year, he’s hitting the Bay State early with another date at the Comcast Center on May 17th.

The man behind modern hits like “Southern Comfort Zone” and “Remind Me” and recent classics like “Whiskey Lullaby” and “She’s Everything” is no stranger to New England. Paisley headlined Countryfest in 2010 and made sold out stops at the Comcast Center in 2009, 2001, and 2012.

This year around, Paisley will be touring behind his anticipated new record, “Wheelhouse”, which is due out later this year.

Joining Paisley will be Chris Young. One of the brightest up and comers in country music, Young has recently played gigs in Boston for country 102.5, and he was a part of Miranda Lambert’s “On Fire” tour, which stopped in Amherst last February. Young has struck gold lately with hits “Tomorrow” and “Neon”, so this will be a great chance to see him before he goes off on his own.

Paisley has continually shown that he can give the most consistent performances in country music night in and night out and his tours always have the best production, and best set lists in the industry. You can be sure that every tour Paisley gives is different, and there is a new experience to be had each time.

Boston Goes Country…Finally

Jon Mael

Yep, it’s really happening

It’s been making a steady push on all fronts for years, but finally today, October 18, 2012, country music has arrived in Boston. Gillette Stadium, the Mohegan Sun, Laconia, NH, and many other places around New England have embraced the genre but downtown Boston has given country the cold shoulder up until now. That all changed today when Jason Aldean held a press conference in the shadow of the Green Monster to announce that his first stop on his first career stadium tour will be at Fenway Park, one of the most iconic venues in the nation, on July 13^th.

While over the last ten years Fenway has hosted a multitude of concerts, it has never hosted a country headliner (unless you count Jimmy Buffett). Aldean’s show will easily be the largest country concert in the history of urban Boston, with the potential to draw nearly 40,000 fans to the 100 year old ballpark. The announcement comes on the heels of the release of Aldean’s 5^th studio album, “Night Train”, which is rocketing towards number one on the Billboard 200 chart. “Night Train” is a pretty adequate phrase to describe Aldean’s touring career in New England as well. He co-headlined Countryfest in 2010 with Brad Paisley, and has sold out the Comcast Center each of the past 2 years and played to enthusiastic crowds. Aldean is the perfect man for the job of bringing country downtown because no other Nashville artist has the local following that he has.

Joining Aldean will be Miranda Lambert and Jake Owen, two huge stars and Countryfest veterans in their own right. Lambert came through last year with a sell out show at the Bank Of America Pavillion, and Owen rocked Gillette Stadium last year as a part of Kenny Chesney’s “Brothers Of The Sun” tour.

This show is the next logical step since Countryfest has taken off wildly. It’s obvious that Bostonians have embraced Aldean and the entire country genre so why not put his show in Boston’s most hallowed site?  In essence, Massachusetts is being blessed with two Countryfests this year. All in all this is a slam dunk, and Aldean’s primed to make a little Boston history.

Tickets go on sale October 26th on etix.com

Here’s my review of “Night Train” http://newenglandcountry.wordpress.com/2012/10/17/jason-aldeans-night-train-review/

Big Things Are Brewin’

Jon Mael

If Aldean does come to Fenway Park, it would be a game changer for the country genre in the Northeast. It would mark the first big show in Urban Boston. Photo courtesy of The Green Room

Two absolutely game changing shows are rumored to be coming to Massachusetts this coming summer. Kenny Chesney and Eric Church will likely be teaming up and coming to Gillette Stadium for Countryfest, and Jason Aldean will possibly making a stop at Fenway Park, marking the biggest country show in urban Boston history. Both rumors are unconfirmed but seem to be solid, I’ll have more details when they become available.

Concert Updates

Man, there are more great concerts coming up then we can write previews for, so here’s a list.

July 14th- Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan (Comcast Center)

July 15th- Josh Turner (South Shore Music Circus)-Also playing in Holyoke on August 3rd

July 27th- Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, and JT Hodges (Bank Of America Pavillion)

August 24th-25th- Countryfest (Kenny Chesney, Tim Mcgraw, Jake Owen, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals)- Gillette Stadium

September 9th- Zac Brown Band (Comcast Center)

September 13th- ERIC CHURCH with Justin Moore and Kip Moore (Mullins Center

September 17th- Carrie Underwood with Hunter Hayes (DCU Center)

September 22nd- Toby Keith with Brantley Gilbert (Comcast Center)

Tickets for all of these shows can be purchased at ticketmaster.com

Carrie Underwood Tour Announcement

From carrieunderwoodofficial.com…

CARRIE UNDERWOOD ANNOUNCES “THE BLOWN AWAY TOUR”

"Blown Away" was released today in the US, photo courtesy of Carrie Underwood

North American Arena Tour Kicks Off In September -

London Show Sells Out in 90 Minutes – More International Shows To Be Announced Soon

Superstar Carrie Underwood announced this morning during her appearance on Good Morning America to promote her new album, Blown Away, in stores today, that she will launch a headline North American arena tour this fall, “The Blown Away Tour.” The tour will also include an international run of shows this summer sponsored by Olay, including her first-ever United Kingdom concert taking place at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London on June 21, which sold-out in 90 minutes. Additional international concert dates will be announced soon.

The North American tour dates will be presented and hydrated by vitaminwater®, sponsored by Olay, and promoted by AEG Live. Special guest Hunter Hayes will open. Tickets will be available for “The Blown Away Tour” beginning Friday, May 11. Please go to http://www.carrieunderwood.fm for additional on sale information.

“I can’t wait to get back out on the road and perform new music from my new album for my fans,” says Carrie. “We have a lot of exciting things planned!”

Carrie is donating $1 from each ticket sold on the North American leg of “The Blown Away Tour” to support Red Cross disaster relief. Every year, the American Red Cross prepares for and responds to nearly 70,000 disasters across the United States. This donation will help the Red Cross provide shelter, food, and emotional support for those in need after a disaster. Proceeds from her Canadian concerts will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross.

Carrie’s two previous headline tours, 2008’s“Carnival Ride Tour” and 2010’s “Play On Tour,” performed for a combined total of nearly 250 shows with 2.2 million fans in attendance, and she wrapped both years as the top-ranked female country touring artist.

Since releasing Some Hearts in 2005, Underwood has sold more than 14 million albums with Some Hearts, 2007’s Carnival Ride, and 2009’s Play On. She’s amassed 14 No. 1 singles, six of which she co-wrote, and became the first country artist in history and the only American Idol winner ever to achieve 10 No. 1 singles from their first two albums. Underwood currently leads the nominations for the upcoming CMT Music Awards with five. She is a five-time Grammy winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, a three-time Country Music Association and ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Hunter Hayes, the multi-talented writer, musician, producer, and performer, is the only country artist to play every instrument, write/co-write every song, and co-produce his critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. As the 2012 ACM New Artist of the Year nominee, Hunter has been touring and performing live for decades, most recently selling out venues across the US and Canada on his MOST WANTED headline tour. This multi-instrumentalist continues to garner praise from fans and critics alike as he made his world-premiere national television debut on CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman and also performed with The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and on Good Morning America. The Louisiana native has shared the stage with Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, and Hank Williams, Jr. to name a few. His current Top 40 hit “Wanted” is quickly climbing the radio charts and holds the unprecedented #1 slot for three weeks in a row on GAC’s Top 20 Countdown. For more information on Hunter Hayes, please visit http://www.HunterHayes.com.

Please visit http://www.carrieunderwood.fm for up to date information on “The Blown Away Tour.”

Full schedule of 2012 shows listed below including “The Blown Away Tour” dates and additional festival* shows. (International summer dates to be announced soon.)

5-26 Baton Rouge, LA Bayou Country Superfest*
6-21 London, England Royal Albert Hall
8-12 Toronto, ON Canada Boots & Hearts Music Festival*
9-14 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
9-15 Bridgeport, CT Webster Bank Arena
9-17 Providence, RI Dunkin’ Donuts Center
9-19 Worcester, MA DCU Center
9-20 Reading, PA Sovereign Center
9-22 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
9-23 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
9-26 Green Bay, WI Resch Center
9-27 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
9-29 Fargo, ND FARGODOME
10-1 Saskatoon, SK Canada Credit Union Centre
10-2 Calgary, AB Canada Scotiabank Saddledome
10-4 Vancouver, BC Canada Rogers Arena
10-6 Seattle, WA Key Arena at Seattle Center
10-7 Portland, OR Rose Garden
10-10 West Valley City, UT Maverik Center
10-12 Reno, NV Reno Events Center
10-13 Sacramento, CA Power Balance Pavilion
10-14 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
10-16 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center
10-18 Bakersfield, CA Rabobank Arena
10-20 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center
10-21 Glendale, AZ jobing.com Arena
10-24 Dallas, TX American Airlines Arena
10-25 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena
10-27 Wichita, KS INTRUST Bank Arena
10-28 Springfield, MO JQH Arena
11-3 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena
11-4 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
11-7 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
11-9 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall
11-10 Hartford, CT XL Center
11-13 University Park, PA Bryce Jordan Center
11-15 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
11-16 Moline, IL i wireless Center
11-20 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
11-21 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
11-24 Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse
11-25 Auburn Hills, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills
11-27 Pittsburgh, PA Consol Energy Center
11-28 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
11-30 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum
12-1 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
12-4 Albany, NY Times Union Center
12-6 London, ON Canada John Labatt Centre
12-8 Kanata, ON Canada Scotiabank Place
12-11 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
12-12 Chicago, IL United Center
12-14 Des Moines, IA Iowa Events Center
12-15 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
12-18 Memphis, TN FedExForum
12-19 Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center
12-21 Orlando, FL Amway Center
12-22 Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center

Jimmy Buffett Returns To Mansfield June 23rd

Jon Mael

Buffett is one of the all time country staples, photo by Julie Skarratt

Well folks, it’s that time of year again, Jimmy Buffett is coming to Mansfield. The show will be June 23^rd, and you can bet your country asses that it’ll be a great one.

Buffett is right up there with the greatest country artists to ever play a guitar. He has 26 studio albums to his credit, and too many hit singles to count. He has shifted his focus to touring over recent years, and 2012 is no different. His “Lounging At The Lagoon” tour has been selling out arenas all winter, and he’s kicking it into high gear when summer comes around.

Buffett and MA have a long, storied relationship. He makes annual stops at the Comcast Center, which he still lovingly refers to as “Greatwoods” (it’s original name). While the three night runs of previous years are things of the past, Buffett can still draw a massive crowd for one night. In 2008, Buffett strayed away from “Greatwoods” for two sold out nights at Gillette Stadium but has since returned to his old stronghold. Last year, he played a marathon set in front of 19000 Parrotheads at the amphitheater.

Buffett doesn’t shortchange fans. Double encores and three hour shows are standard, and guitarist Mac Mcanally is one of the best in the industry. The Jimmy Buffett show is as much of an annual event in Boston as the Beanpot, and it’s truly something to behold.

Tickets go on sale on Saturday at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at http://www.livenation.com/event/0100486FE4BCD033?artistid=734667&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

You can read my review of Jimmy’s show last year here http://newenglandcountry.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/jimmy-buffett-61811/

Comcast Center Country Calender

June 3rd: Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, and Easton Corbin

Tickets: http://www.livenation.com/event/010048667A492D69?artistid=714837&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=2

June 5th, 6th: Dave Matthews Band

Tickets: http://www.livenation.com/Dave-Matthews-Band-tickets/artist/746531?tm_link=tm_homeA_popular9

June 16th: Country 102.5 Festival featuring Rascal Flatts, Eli Young Band, Little Big Town, and Eden’s Edge

Tickets: http://www.livenation.com/event/01004843E1C9DD92?artistid=806203&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=2

July 14th: Jason Aldean with Luke Bryan

Tickets: http://www.livenation.com/event/01004866016DC494?crosssite=TM_US:984829:8213

September 22nd: Toby Keith with Brantley Gilbert

Tickets: Not on sale yet

DISPATCH Is Back…Again. (Agganis Arena show booked for October)

Jon Mael

From left to right-Brad Corrigan, Pete Francis, Chad Stokes. Photo courtesy of Spinlab

DISPATCH, the most popular unsigned band in music history, is back with a vengeance. Since they ended their eight year hiatus in the fall of 2010, the three piece legendary jam band has been hard at work, first with an EP, then a massive tour, and exploits for 2012 that they just announced today, including a full length album and new tour.

It’s always been hard to fit the trio of Chad Stokes, Pete Francis, and Brad Corrigan into a genre, because the guys draw on influences from acts across the industry (including country!). The guys have songs that fall very close to the country genre (“Flying Horses”, “Past The Falls”), some that can be classified closer to reggae (“Open Up”, “Outloud”), and some that just can’t be classified (“Beto”, “Cut It Ya Match It”). One deifinite is that the guys have only gotten better with age. Fantastic harmonies and good songwriting set the guys apart from other jam bands, and an insanely loyal fan base has stuck with them even over hard times.

Those hard times are a thing of the past, and the now full time band will be releasing their first full album in 12 years, “Circles Around The Sun”, in August. In addition to the release, the guys will embark on their longest tour since 2002, which will include a stop at the Agganis Arena in Boston on October 6th. A DISPATCH show is one of the best concerts you can ever hope to see, and in their adopted hometown of Boston, you’re getting something truly fantastic.

Last year, the guys sold out the TD Garden three nights in a row, so seating might be hard to grab at this one night only show. Tickets go on sale May 1st (presale) and May 4th (general. They can be purchased at http://dispatchmusic.com/

You can read my interview with Chad Stokes last year at http://www.umassmedia.com/old_issues/spring_2011/article_07ef0401-77d7-59bd-a51e-589300aae8e8.html And my review of the guys’ TD Garden show at http://www.umassmedia.com/old_issues/spring_2011/article_2f56bcba-55c9-5da9-8595-cdb094b49658.html

Eric Church Returning to NE This August

Jon Mael

Church's third album "Chief", shot to number one upon it's release last summer. Photo courtesy of EBMedia

Eric Church has already brought his acclaimed “Blood Sweat and Beers” tour through New England this winter, and he’s planning to outdo himself this summer with an encore trip through the region, including 2 August shows at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and the US Cellular Pavilion in New Hampshire.

Church is getting huger by the day, and his venue sizes are reflecting his success. He sold out the 7500 seat Tsongas Arena earlier this month, and will be playing a number of NBA arenas in addition to headlining some major country festivals in the south in the coming months. Church is currently riding the success of his most recent single “Springsteen”, which is currently one of the top 20 most downloaded songs on Itunes.

There is nothing like an Eric Church show. His lengthy sets, no frills attitude, and uncompromising speed are truly unique in the world of country music. Church’s delivery is not something that should be missed, but once you see it, you’ll be hooked for life.

Tickets are already on sale for the CT and NH shows, and can be purchased at http://ericchurch.com/tour

You can check out my review of his Tsongas Arena show here http://newenglandcountry.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/eric-church-32/

Aldean, Bryan Coming Back To Boston, 7/14

Jon Mael

Jason Aldean is Country's ultimate crowd pleaser. Courtesy of Reid Long

Jason Aldean is arguably the biggest name in country music, and today, on the eve of the ACMs, where he’s nominated for entertainer of the year, it was announced that he is coming back to the Comcast Center on July 14th.

Aldean has a long history of fantastic shows in New Engand. He played at the House of Blues for the Beckett Bowl in 2010, Countryfest that same year, and at the Comcast Center with Eric Church last June. He has shows scheduled in Connecitcut, Vermont, and Maine this summer in addition to Mansfield.

Aldean has too many hits to list, but he is known for anthems such as “She’s Country”, “Big Green Tractor”, and “Dirt Road Anthem” among many others. His fourth album, “My Kinda Party”, shot to #1 on the country charts upon it’s release in 2010. He is one of the biggest draws in Country, and he’s been smashing attendance records in most cities he’s visited this winter.

Joining Aldean will be Luke Bryan. Bryan is one of the hottest young country stars of his generation. He exploded onto the scene last year with “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” and has ridden that success into other mega hits like “Drunk On You” and “I Don’t Want This Night To End”. Bryan will be headlining in the very near future, so this is a rare chance to see him with another heavyweight in the industry.

Don’t miss this one. If there was one show to hit at the Comcast Center this summer, this is it. Aldean is one of the best performers in the industry, and Bryan’s not far behind, so this could very well be the show of the year.

Tickets go on sale on 4/8, and can be purchased here http://www.jasonaldean.com/event/featured-ticketmaster/july-14-2012

To see a full calendar of shows that have been announced for this season at the Comcast Cetnter, visit http://www.livenation.com/Comcast-Center-tickets-Mansfield/venue/8213