Press Releases - Page 125 of 171

May 20, 2021

NICK PERRI & THE UNDERGROUND THIEVES: Team Up With Gibson And Sweetwater Sound To Give Away 100,000 Free Digital Copies Of Their Debut Album ‘SUN VIA’—Band Shares New Single And Video

DATE: MAY 20, 2020

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/SRO PR

NICK PERRI & THE UNDERGROUND THIEVES:
TEAM UP WITH GIBSON AND SWEETWATER SOUND
TO GIVE AWAY 100,000 FREE DIGITAL COPIES
OF THEIR DEBUT ALBUM ‘SUN VIA’ HERE

WATCH AND SHARE VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE
“I WANT YOU”
VIA AMERICAN SONGWRITER.COM HERE

CO-HEADLINE TOUR WITH RICK NIELSEN OF CHEAP TRICK
TO KICK-OFF JUNE 3-22
PLUS, DATES WITH BLACKBERRY SMOKE

AND A JULY HEADLINE RESIDENCY
AT THE ARDMORE MUSIC HALL
IN THEIR PHILADELPHIA HOMETOWN

NICK PERRI & THE UNDERGROUND THIEVES are following the success of their debut single “Feeling Good” (which peaked at #45 on U.S. rock radio chart) with today’s release of the second single and video, “I Want You.” Coming off a round of tour dates with Blackberry Smoke (April 27-May 2), the buzzed-about Philadelphia-based soulful rock band noted for their powerhouse live shows have also announced a co-headline tour June 3-22 with Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick plus dates with Blackberry Smoke (6/25-7/1) and a month-long headline residency at The Ardmore Music Hall in their hometown in July (8,15,22.29).

NICK has also teamed up with Gibson and Sweetwater Sound to give away 100,000 free digital copies of his debut LP SUN VIA. The album giveaway is being hosted on NICK’s website and includes a download of album artwork. Says NICK: “The ultimate goal is for people to hear and enjoy the music…always. I’m very grateful to be teaming up with Gibson and Sweetwater to do this and share the album experience with as many people as possible. Although there are different moods and narratives throughout the record, I believe the takeaway message is one of hope, love, and good vibes. So yeah, let’s share it!”

Watch and share the new performance video and interview with Nick Perri and Mitch Gallagher of Sweetwater Sound for Tones & Techniques, out today, here. Nick plays through some riffs off his new album SUN VIA and takes viewers on a deep dive into all the trusted gear he uses on tour and in the studio.

Listen to the new single “I Want You” from their current debut album SUN VIA here and watch the new video premiering today, via AmericanSongwriter.com here.

The “I Want You” video was filmed in one continuous take (like the clip for “Feeling Good”) and co-directed (with Ari Halbkram and Derek Brad) by singer, songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire NICK PERRI. “I’ve always been a fan of that style of filming. I dig the foresight and preparation it takes, and it makes the shoot a performance in its own right,” he says. “Everything has to hit on cue. It’s challenging sure, but super fun. And…way less work in post.”

The video was filmed in Philadelphia and underlines their love for the city. Explains NICK: “Well I grew here so it’s hard to imagine life without the influence of the city, but after living in California for quite a number of years, it’s so incredible to be back. It was an obvious choice for me and the team, and the entire video is shot on the grounds of the Philadelphia Art Museum made world famous by Rocky. Philadelphia is a beautiful, and tough, city. It’s rich in history, but people keep it real. It’s a place that keeps you humble, and honest. And then there are the cheesesteaks.”

“I Want You,” written with NICK’s bandmates Anthony Montesano and Michael Montesano, has a big sound with driving acoustic guitars, merged with electric guitars and keyboards. “To be honest,” shares NICK, it’s my favorite song on the LP and probably my favorite that I’ve ever written. It was one of those that just came to me in a very organic and natural way. My bandmates Michael and Anthony helped me fine tune it and from the moment it was complete it’s just always given me a certain warm feeling. And to me that’s what all my favorite music does–it encapsulates us with feelings and memories and hopefully, joy.” **Read the full Q&A below. **

A person playing a guitar

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Photo credit: Austin Nelson

Q&A with NICK PERRI

For the “I Want You” video, you opted for one continuous take like your video for “Feeling Good.” This particular style definitely keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat and engaged. As the artist and co-director (with Ari Halbkram and Derek Brad), can you give your thoughts about this?

NICK PERRI: I’ve always been a fan of that style of filming. I dig the foresight and preparation it takes, and it makes the shoot a performance in its own right. Everything has to hit on cue. It’s challenging sure, but super fun. And…way less work in post.

The video was shot in your Philadelphia hometown. Which locations did you use and tell us about your love for Philly?

NICK: Well, I grew up here so it’s hard to imagine life without the influence of the city, but after living in California for quite a number of years, it’s so incredible to be back. It was an obvious choice for me and the team, and the entire video is shot on the grounds of the Philadelphia Art Museum made world famous by Rocky. Philadelphia is a beautiful, and tough, city. It’s rich in history, but people keep it real. It’s a place that keeps you humble, and honest. And then there are the cheesesteaks.

“I Want You” marks the second single and video from your debut full-length album Sun Via with The Underground Thieves. The song has a really cool big sound with those driving acoustic guitars, merged with electric guitars and keyboards. What inspired the song (which you wrote with Anthony Montesano and Michael Montesano) sonically and lyrically?

NICK: To be honest, it’s my favorite song on the LP and probably my favorite that I’ve ever written. It was one of those that just came to me in a very organic and natural way. My bandmates Michael and Anthony helped me fine tune it and from the moment it was complete it’s just always given me a certain warm feeling. And to me that’s what all my favorite music does–it encapsulates us with feelings and memories and hopefully, joy.

Can you talk about your relationship with Gibson, whom will be supporting the “I Want You” video through their social channels?

NICK: My first nice guitar was a Gibson SG, just like my first guitar hero Angus Young. From then on, Gibson has been ‘my brand.’ After all these years to be working so closely with the company and have them behind my artistic endeavors, is just so wonderful and I am extremely grateful.

You’re coming off a round of tour dates with your friends in Blackberry Smoke and a June co-headline tour with Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick—which must be such a relief for you since artists have been hemmed in by the pandemic. You and your band are a true rock group that thrives on playing live. Tell us your thoughts about being back on the road in the era of Covid?

NICK: Well of course it’s exciting, but I think it’s deeper than that on our end as artists, and the other end as fans. I think what we all miss most is that shared experience, a communion, if you will. It’s how we connect as people to each other. That’s the biggest missing piece since Covid has come around. Needless to say, we’re ready to break down that wall and revel in live music, big time.

Rick Nielsen is one of the true rock & roll greats. Did his guitar work and the songs of Cheap Trick inspire you and how so?

NICK: YESSS! Big time. Rick is a songwriting and guitar playing genius, and I don’t say that lightly. He is a true living legend who continues to inspire, and it’s going to be tremendous fun to link up with him this summer. I regularly spin Heaven Tonight, Dream Police, and Live At Budokan on vinyl. The songwriting and attitude are just next level. Pure American rock and roll!

Your itinerary also lists four shows, a weekly residency, throughout July at the Ardmore Music Hall in Philly. Can you talk about why you’re doing this?

NICK: Philadelphia is our hometown, and we haven’t done a public show since 2019 with The Struts. That was just before NYE and Covid. We wanted to do something bigger than just a one-off show, and I grew up doing a Thursday night residency down on South Street in the early 2000’s, so it just felt fitting. All four shows will be a little different and we have some special stuff planned, so we are greatly looking forward to those events. Also, The Ardmore Music Hall is an incredible live venue–the room sounds amazing, the stage is great, and the staff take wonderful care of the artists.

Looking ahead, are you thinking about your next album? Were you able to write songs through lockdown?

NICK: I have written a number of new songs that I really dig, but on the flip side it’s hard to fully comprehend album two when album one is still so fresh, and took such a long time to make. I have a feeling deep down that my next LP will be very special, but I hesitate to put a time stamp on it. I still want more time to explore the sounds and songs floating in the nearby ether.

Here are the current tour dates:

DATE		LOCATION	VENUE
*Coheadlining w/ Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick*
THU	6/3	Davenport, IA	Adler Theater
FRI	6/4	Hamilton, OH	RiversEdge Amphitheater
SAT	6/5	Roanoke, VA	Berglund Center
SUN	6/6	Huntersville, NC	Historic Rural Hill
*TUE	6/8	Macon, GA	Grant’s Lounge
FRI	6/11	Schaumburg, IL	Boomers Stadium
SAT	6/12	Mt. Carrol, IL	Rhythm Section Amphitheater
SUN	6/13	Kansas City, MO	Knuckleheads
TUES	6/15	Nashville, TN	Basement East
THU	6/17	Leesburg, VA	Tally Ho Theatre
SAT	6/19	Bethel, PA	Pat Garrett Amphitheater
SUN	6/20	Annapolis, MD	Ram’s Head On Stage
TUE	6/22	Belle Vernon, PA	Vinoski Winery
*Supporting Blackberry Smoke*
FRI	6/25	Sunbury, PA	Spyglass Ridge Winery
SUN	6/27	Middletown, NY	Orange County Fair Speedway
TUE	6/29	Lafayette, NY	Apple Valley Park
THU	7/1	Lewiston, NY	Artpark
*Headline residency at The Ardmore Music Hall*
THU	7/8	Philadelphia, PA	Ardmore Music Hall
THU	7/15	Philadelphia, PA	Ardmore Music Hall
THU	7/22	Philadelphia, PA	Ardmore Music Hall
THU	7/29	Philadelphia, PA	Ardmore Music Hall
*one-off headline show w/out Nielsen

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

For press inquiries about NICK PERRI & THE UNDERGROUND THIEVES, contact:
Mitch Schneider, SRO PR: mschneider@sropr.com

For Gibson, contact:

PRIME PR GROUP, INC.
Libby Coffey
+1 626-676-4993
LCoffey@primeprgroup.com

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May 15, 2021

Tour Books

With concerts coming back, today I reached into my pile of tour books of artists whose PR we’ve been lucky to handle. Along with the artists, road crew, managers, agents, accountants and other band handlers, we received these books at the start of every tour which list tour dates, hotels/amenities, etc. There’s a world of memories I tap into, and some drama too, when I look at these crown jewels from the #mitchmuseum.

For Schneider Rondan Organization, the fun continues as we still work with Ozzy Osbourne and Joe Perry.

May 13, 2021

JACOB & THE DAZEY CHAIN Releases New Single Rallying “THE KIDS”

DT: MAY 13, 2021

FM: LYNDIE WENNER, SRO PR

JACOB & THE DAZEY CHAIN
RELEASES NEW SINGLE
RALLYING “THE KIDS”
LISTEN HERE TO THIS EMERGING ROCK ARTIST’S
INSPIRED MESSAGE TO YOUTH & GRADUATING STUDENTS
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO HERE

Description: Macintosh HD:Users:lyndiewenner:Desktop:The Kids Single Art.Jpeg .jpg

“I believe good art challenges people to think, but at the same time
I don’t feel musicians should tell people how to think.” -JRT

“THE KIDS,” the new single written, arranged and produced by artist/guitarist Jacob Reese Thornton of Jacob & The Dazey Chain, has been released today, May 13th, (listen here). The South Florida rock artist performs all instruments on this track except drums, which were laid down by session ace, Lee Levin (whose credits include Barry Gibb, Kelly Clarkson and more).

““The Kids” is a reflection of the world my generation is inheriting–-cynicism and a sense of peril,” says Jacob. “It feels like what I’ve read about the late 1960’s. Music had a huge cultural impact then. It was not disposable and it mattered.” Jacob goes on to say, “At the time I wrote this song, two things were going on really. The anger that came with this country’s last four years of political divide, and the awful school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School here in South Florida–20 minutes from my own high school. It left the entire South Florida community reeling. None of us really felt safe after that, and unfortunately these mass shootings continue. Our grandparents had to worry about a nuclear event and had fallout shelters in their high schools. My generation has to worry about the bullied kid with assault weapons shooting up the school. I thought the students who spoke out after that were very brave–‘no more thoughts and prayers.’” Watch the lyric video for “The Kids” here.

Jacob & The Dazey Chain will release a new single every other month leading up to the release of his forthcoming EP this Fall on his Gratuitous Noise label, which will be available on all streaming platforms. The EP features Rami Jaffee from the Foo Fighters and Bill Reynolds from Band of Horses on two of the tracks (“Traces” and the yet to be announced title track). A limited run of vinyl for this EP will also be made available.

Jacob & The Dazey Chain released the debut single “Traces” this past January receiving nods by Classic Rock Magazine (“Tracks Of The Week”) and garnering spins by industry tastemaker Rodney Bingenheimer on SiriusXM’s Underground Garage and NPR’s KOSU Radio/The Spy FM “New Music Weekly” playlist on Apple Music. Listen to “Traces” here and watch the lyric video here.

Jacob Reese Thornton
Photo: © Gratuitous Noise, LLC

Bio Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter

Press Contact: SRO PR
Lyndie Wenner, lwenner@sropr.com

May 13, 2021

Punk/Alt-Rock Trio KNIFES Announce Second EP, Reveal Lyric Video For Debut Single “Scammers”

DT: MAY 13, 2021

FM: KELLY WALSH, ANDREA FAULK / SRO PR

PUNK/ALT-ROCK TRIO
KNIFES
ANNOUNCE SECOND EP
‘REGRESSION TO THE MEAN’
OUT JUNE 11

SHARE LYRIC VIDEO FOR DEBUT SINGLE
“SCAMMERS”
OUT TOMORROW (MAY 13)
WATCH HERE

BAND FORMED OF TOUR/BACKLINE TECHS FOR TOP ARENA ROCK ACTS

Lineup (l-r): Warren Johnson, Ben Young, Brian Diaz
Photo Credit: Brian Diaz

Prior to the halt of live music due to the pandemic, punk/alt-rock trio KNIFES was formed after members BEN YOUNG (vocals, guitars), BRIAN DIAZ (bass) and WARREN JOHNSON (drums) met while working on tours for some of the world’s biggest rock bands including Linkin Park, Fall Out Boy, Guns N’ Roses, Slipknot, Deftones and Stone Temple Pilots. After YOUNG was asked to fill in for Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson on a series of dates, he started working on his own material and the rest is history. The band are back with their next installment of virulent riffs and contagious melodies on their second EP, REGRESSION TO THE MEAN, scheduled for release on June 11.

Today, Thursday, May 12, KNIFES are premiering the lyric video for the EP’s debut single, “Scammers”—an aggressive ode to ignoring your intuition with instantly catchy riffs and beguiling vocals. The track will be available for streaming on all digital platforms on May 14. Watch the video streaming below and pre-save “Scammers” now at this link: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/knifes1/scammers

“You know that feeling when everything in you is telling you to run away in fear, but you don’t?” questions YOUNG. “That’s what ‘Scammers’ is about, but from the perspective of a gentlemanly serial killer that is full of charm, à la Ted Bundy.”

KNIFES – “Scammers” Lyric Video

REGRESSION TO THE MEAN was self-produced by KNIFES at various locations around Los Angeles and was mixed by Ethan Mates (Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Korn). The EP stays loyal to the 90s alt-rock influences that KNIFES are known for, continuing to subvert catchy pop melodies with time signature changes and monumental guitar riffs while showcasing a natural evolution into more transgressive themes and new approaches to songwriting. It consists of four original songs and a cover of the P.F. Sloan protest song “Eve of Destruction,” popularized by Barry McGuire.

“Serial killers, cocaine and car crashes,” exclaims YOUNG. “These are the themes that found their way onto Knifes’ second EP, ‘Regression To The Mean.’ It is a feral house cat pretending to play nice so it can come indoors. Don’t let your guard down.”

REGRESSION TO THE MEAN is not a quarantine album though—KNIFES had been working on recording these songs long before being confined to their homes. “We were supposed to be onstage tuning guitars with Green Day, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer last summer,” laments bassist Brian Diaz, “but then we suddenly found ourselves with extra time on our hands to finish these songs.”

REGRESSION TO THE MEAN Track Listing:

1. 1. 1. 1. “Scammers”
        
        “Shorter Way”
        
        “Sparky Wire”
        
        “Point of Impact”
        
        “Eve of Destruction”

For more information on KNIFES, please visit:
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY

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For press opportunities, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk – afaulk@sropr.com

May 11, 2021

Atlanta Rockers PISTOLS AT DAWN Release Debut EP; “Now Is The Time” Music Video Hits 100k+ Views

DT: MAY 11, 2021

FM: KELLY WALSH, SRO PR

ATLANTA ROCKERS
PISTOLS AT DAWN
BAND’S DEBUT EP
‘NOCTURNAL YOUTH’
OUT NOW

“NOW IS THE TIME” MUSIC VIDEO
HITS 100K COMBINED VIEWS IN THREE DAYS

WATCH HERE

Atlanta-based active rockers PISTOLS AT DAWN self-released their debut EP NOCTURNAL YOUTH last Friday, May 7 which coincided with the band revealing the music video for its third single “Now Is The Time.” In just three days, the video has garnered over 100k combined views—watch it streaming below or on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/BUpk_VMQiK4.

“Now Is The Time” follows recent video singles “Crown” (premiered April 9 via Ghost Cult Magazine) and “Voices” (premiered March 5), all of which were directed by Michael Mueller/M3 Creative.

NOCTURNAL YOUTH was recorded with producer Jeff Tomei (Smashing Pumpkins, Matchbox 20) and mastered by engineer Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More) and features four powerful and distinctive tracks which Outburn Magazine applaud for their “instantly catchy sing-along anthems and headbang inducing melodies.” Stream/download NOCTURNAL YOUTH now at http://smarturl.it/StreamNocturnalYouth.

PISTOLS AT DAWN – “Now Is The Time” Official Music Video

PISTOLS AT DAWN was originally formed in 2015 but disintegrated after the tragic passing of guitarist Mike Buffa in 2018. The band reformed in 2019 with founding members, drummer Adam Jaffe, guitarist Devin White and bassist Billy Sullivan while adding Tommy Richardson on guitars and VH1 Rockstar Supernova finalist Chris Pierson on vocals. Taking inspiration from universal hard rock acts such as Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin and Disturbed, the quintet headed to Cock The Walk studio in their hometown of Atlanta with Tomei in early 2020 to record three new singles that displayed their heart-pumping, radio-ready sound which they released later that year. Read more about the band’s history and upcoming plans in their chat with hometown daily paper, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, HERE.

Photo Credit: Michael Mueller/M3 Creative

Find more information on PISTOLS OF DAWN online here:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

SRO PR ASSETS: http://sropr.com/portfolio/pistols-at-dawn/

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For press inquiries, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com

May 6, 2021

PAPA ROACH Kick off Mental Health Month Awareness Month with “Help (Aelonia Remix)” Lyric Video

DT: MAY 6, 2021
FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER / SRO PR

PAPA ROACH KICK OFF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH WITH
NEW LYRIC VIDEO FOR “HELP (AELONIA REMIX)”
WATCH NOW

PART OF THE SECOND GREATEST HITS ALBUM
OUT NOW VIA BETTER NOISE MUSIC

As multi-platinum rock band PAPA ROACH continue to celebrate the release of their second greatest hits compilation, GREATEST HITS VOL. 2: THE BETTER NOISE YEARS—out now via BETTER NOISE MUSIC—the band have shared a lyric video for “Help (Aelonia Remix),” to celebrate the importance of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. The visual brings attention to the song’s vulnerable message, showing the importance of knowing when you need to help and having the strength to ask for it. WATCH HERE.

PAPA ROACH have continued to maintain their legacy as one of the leading music groups of the 21st century as they recently landed their eighth overall #1 single with “The Ending (Remastered 2020)” on the Mainstream Rock radio charts. With over 2.1 million views its music video features footage from the upcoming BETTER NOISE FILMS horror-thriller movie THE RETALIATORS which will showcase the acting debut of lead vocalist JACOBY SHADDIX’s. The song is also included on the film’s upcoming original soundtrack.

GREATEST HITS VOL. 2: THE BETTER NOISE YEARS commemorates PAPA ROACH’s continued success as a top-selling recording and touring act during their 2010-2020 tenure signed to Better Noise Music, Billboard’s #1 rock label of 2020. The compilation consists of 21 tracks including 13 Top 10 singles, previously unreleased remixes and acoustic recordings recorded Live at YouTube Studios in NYC. The album also includes a guest appearance from Asking Alexandria vocalist Danny Worsnop for a new version of “Broken As Me.” Watch the official music video HERE.

CONNECT WITH PAPA ROACH
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Website

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For press opportunities, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com
Mitch Schneider – mschneider@sropr.com

Better Noise Music
Jimmy Harney – jimmy@betternoise.com

May 6, 2021

TOMMY EMMANUEL Tomorrow (5/7) Releases New EP ‘Accomplice Series Volume 1 With Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley’ + Shares New Single & Video

DT: MAY 6, 2021

FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANDREA FAULK/LYNDIE WENNER
SRO PR (LOS ANGELES, NASHVILLE, LAS VEGAS)

TOMMY EMMANUEL
TOMORROW (MAY 7) RELEASES NEW EP
‘ACCOMPLICE SERIES VOLUME 1 WITH ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY’
ON CGP SOUNDS

SHARES NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO
“COPPER KETTLE” FROM THE EP
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
AND READ A Q&A BELOW

TOMMY, ROB & TREY TO PERFORM AT THE SOLD-OUT GRAND OLE OPRY
SATURDAY, MAY 8
AND SET LIVESTREAM FOR SUNDAY, MAY 9
TO EMANATE FROM 3RD AND LINDSLEY IN NASHVILLE

Acclaimed and Grammy®-nominated acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter TOMMY EMMANUEL—one of five people ever named a CPG (Certified Guitar Player) by his idol, music icon Chet Atkins—today (May 6) shares the video for “Copper Kettle.” It’s the third single + video from the EP ACCOMPLICE SERIES VOLUME 1 WITH ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY, out tomorrow May 7 on CGP SOUNDS. Watch the Zach Pigg-directed video here with TOMMY and powerhouse Grammy®-nominated acoustic duo Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley in the studio in Nashville when they recorded the EP. Pre-save and pre-add the EP here.

The “Copper Kettle” video was premiered yesterday at Bluegrass Today which praised the EP: “It features these three virtuoso instrumentalists in a spontaneous, freewheeling recording…” “Copper Kettle” follows the album’s first two videos, “Flatt Did It” and “Raz-Ma-Taz Polka,” premiered at The Bluegrass Situation and Glide Magazine, respectively.

ACCOMPLICE SERIES VOLUME 1 WITH ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY was born out of the deep admiration the musicians have for each other, also underlined by shows they’ve played together intermittently for nearly five years, the first of which was May 5, 2016 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco.

Creative sparks fly on the EP, which radiates good vibrations with white-hot picking virtuosity on acoustic guitars and Dobro—it’s all a welcome sanctuary from these upside-down times. There are three cover songs—the Chet Atkins/Doc Watson song “Flatt Did It,” Buck Owens’ “Raz-Ma-Taz Polka” and the standard “Copper Kettle”—plus a rendering of the Emmanuel composition, “It’s Never Too Late,” originally released in 2015.

To support the EP, TOMMY, ROB & TREY have announced they’ll perform together at the sold-out Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, May 8. The performance will be broadcast worldwide on www.wsmradio.com at 7 PM CDT that same night.

They’ve also announced a ticketed livestream event via nugs.tv for Sunday, May 9 at 8 PM CDT to emanate from 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville. Purchase tickets here.

Q&A WITH
TOMMY EMMANUEL
AND ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY

TOMMY EMMANUEL:

—Congratulations on the recording of the EP. It emanates good vibrations and an easy charm…with a whole lotta virtuosity… quite a welcome sanctuary from these upside-down times. Sounds like it was a lot of fun to record. What are your feelings about the sessions?

The sessions were very spontaneous and, in fact, I suggested “Flatt Did It” and “Copper Kettle” as pieces on the day we recorded them. That’s how it came about. It was very spontaneous.

—What led to this collaboration with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley and what are your thoughts about their playing? There’s a lot of creative sparks here.

I have been a fan of Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley for a long time. I love working with them. There’s a lot of creativity around us, and those guys are willing to just fly it. I need people like that to just bounce off and have a creative time with.

—There are songs by Chet Atkins, Buck Owens, one by Atkins + Doc Watson, and the final one on the EP is an older one of your songs that was recently recorded for ‘The Best of Tommy Songs’ album. Why were these particular songs chosen?

They were chosen because we didn’t have a lot of time. That’s what really helped this project come together. We could record the whole thing in just one day. I also felt “Flatt Did It” was a wonderful piece that is simple, and it’s one of Chet’s tunes. It’s a tribute to Lester Flatt of course. And the “Raz-Ma-Taz Polka” was fun and a part of my childhood. We had four songs to do and each one had to be different and special.

—Of the four songs, two are you with Rob and Trey; there’s one with you and Rob; and another with you and Trey. Can you talk about why two of the songs were done as a trio and the other two as a duo?

The reason I recorded two songs as a trio is to feature both the guys and for us to do that. And then I wanted a song each with Rob and Trey. There would have been nothing for Rob to do in “Raz-Ma-Taz Polka.” It’s just me and Trey. And then in “It’s Never Too Late,” Rob and I have everything covered in that song so there would have been nothing for Trey to do. That’s how that came about.

—The first track and video from the EP is “Flatt Did it.” Can you talk about recording this one?

As I said before, “Flatt Did It” is a tribute to Lester Flatt and some of his classic kind of licks. We had the film crew in there for the day and they just rolled the cameras. We actually just played and ignored them almost.

ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY:

—Congratulations on the recording of the EP. It emanates good vibrations and an easy charm…with a whole lotta virtuosity…quite a welcome sanctuary from these upside down times. Sounds like it was a lot of fun to record. What are your feelings about the sessions?

Rob: Well, it’s always great to work with Tommy. He’s such a great artist, and such a great person. There are always a lot of sparks flying when we play together, and all three of us are into lots of different musical genres, so that’s always fun to explore different musical territories when we get together.

Trey: Getting to pick with Tommy and Rob any time is always a blast! Working in the studio with Tommy was so much fun, which I think is evident throughout this EP. The great vibe in the studio that day is prominent in the recordings. It was really just the three of us hanging out and playing tunes…what could be more fun?

—What led to your collaboration with Tommy and what are your feelings about his playing?

Rob: When Trey and I first started working together, I just thought it would be a great combination to tour with Tommy. I mentioned this to our booking agent, and he told me that a good friend of his had just started managing Tommy and he would reach out to him. A few days later we had some offers to open some shows with Tommy on the West Coast, and they fit in perfectly to our schedule that was already in place out there. Our first show was in San Francisco, and it was just an amazing night! We’ve been friends ever since, and we have done a lot of shows together. Tommy is the “whole package.” Obviously, he’s a brilliant technician, yet he always puts so much emotion and feeling into it. His love for the guitar comes out of that instrument and really has a profound effect on people–myself included.

Trey: Rob and I have worked with Tommy several times through the years, which is always amazing. I mean, Tommy is definitely one of my biggest guitar heroes and to be able to call him a friend has been such an incredible thing. Getting to record this EP with Tommy is one of the proudest moments of my musical career for sure. Tommy is the best. His playing is the high-water mark that all of us guitar players strive for. To work with such a legendary and important musician is just insanely cool. And he’s the nicest dude on the planet.

—Two of the songs here were recorded as a trio, and the other two as a duo. There’s a lot of creative sparks here. Can you talk about your experience of playing with Tommy?

Rob: I remember the first night we played with Tommy I had mentioned that I loved the title cut on his new album at the time called, “It’s Never Too Late.” He asked if I wanted to play it on stage that night and I said “sure!” What a moment, it felt so great to play that one on stage. His rhythm is impeccable, and I just felt like I was riding on a really great groove that I could not fall out of! We’ve played that same song live many times since then, so it’s great to document it on this record. Such a beautiful piece.

Trey: The song that Tommy and I play together is a Buck Owens Polka tune. The first show that Rob and I played with Tommy was in San Francisco, and Tommy had just played in Bakersfield, so the conversation immediately went to Buck Owens and Merle Haggard. Tommy played a bunch of those polka tunes during his soundcheck. So, when Rob and I played on the Tommy Emmanuel/David Grisman tour a year or so later, Tommy and I jammed on “Raz-Ma-Taz Polka” after one of the shows and ended up playing it on the show the next day. We’ve played that one a ton since then, so it’s cool to have it on tape! I love playing it with Tommy…and the energy is always through the roof. I’d like to think Buck (up there in heaven) digs it too…

—The first track and video from the EP is “Flatt Did it.” Can you talk about recording this one?

Rob: This song comes from an album that Chet Atkins did with Doc Watson. I love to hear Tommy and Trey play together. There’s a great respect between the two of them. They are both so brilliant. It’s great to hear them feeding off each other. And this song is just the perfect vehicle for a Dobro, so I’m enjoying the whole thing!

Trey: Yeah, this one was Tommy’s idea, and it’s a tune from the Doc Watson and Chet Atkins duo record. Rob and I both have a bluegrass background, and this song was written with the great bluegrass icon Lester Flatt in mind. (Hence the title.) It really was a natural fit and recording it with Tommy was so much fun!

Full Track List for Accomplice EP #1:

1. Copper Kettle (featuring Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley)

2. Raz-Ma-Taz Polka (featuring Trey Hensley)

3. Flatt Did It (featuring Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley)

4. It’s Never Too Late (featuring Rob Ickes)

L-R: Trey Hensley, Tommy Emmanuel, and Rob Ickes
Photo Credit: Brian Penix

Artist: Tommy Emmanuel:
Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen

ABOUT TOMMY EMMANUEL:

TOMMY EMMANUEL has achieved enough musical milestones to satisfy several lifetimes. At the age of six, he was touring regional Australia with his family band. By 30, he was a rock n’ roll lead guitarist burning up stadiums in Europe. At 44, he became one of five people ever named a CPG (Certified Guitar Player) by his idol, music icon Chet Atkins. Today, he plays hundreds of sold-out shows every year from Nashville to Sydney to London. He’s piled up numerous accolades, including two Grammy Award nominations, two ARIA Awards from the Australian Recording Industry Association (the Aussie equivalent of the Recording Academy); repeated honors in the Guitar Player magazine reader’s poll including a cover story for their August 2017 issue; a cover feature for Vintage Guitar’s July 2020 issue; and was Music Radar’s reader’s poll #1 winner of the Ten Best Acoustic Guitarists in The World (December 2019). A noted fingerstyle guitarist, EMMANUEL frequently threads three different parts simultaneously into his material, operating as a one-man band who handles the melody, the supporting chords and the bass all at once. His talents, which translate in any language, carry him to the far corners of the globe, but EMMANUEL never plays the same show twice, and he improvises big chunks of every date. That leaves him open to those technical imperfections, though they also provide some of the humanity to an other-worldly talent. On May 8, 2020, he released a newly recorded career-spanning double album, THE BEST OF TOMMYSONGS, via CGP Sounds/Cruzen Street Records). Watch the album trailer here which focuses on TOMMY’s unique ability to tell stories without words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SOQEMWYAQ4&feature=youtu.be

L-R: Trey Hensley, Rob Ickes
Photo Credit: Chad Jenkins

ABOUT ROB ICKES AND TREY HENSLEY

Take a 15-time IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year and a Tennessee-born guitar prodigy called “Nashville’s hottest young player” by Acoustic Guitar magazine, and you have Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, a powerhouse acoustic duo that has electrified the acoustic music scene around the world. Known for their white-hot picking and world class musicianship, as well as their soulful stone country vocals, the GRAMMY® nominated duo cleverly and uniquely melds bluegrass, country, blues, rock, jamgrass, and string band music of all kinds to create a signature blend of music that defies restrictions of genre. NPR has called Ickes and Hensley “two musical phenoms”; Vintage Guitar raved they’re an “acoustic firestorm” who “are changing the rules”; Acoustic Guitar describes their sound as “steel-string bluegrass with all the intensity of rock ‘n’ roll” and No Depression observed they’re “two of the finest musicians playing today.” Ickes and Hensley have shared the stage or collaborated with Tommy Emmanuel, Taj Mahal, Vince Gill, David Grisman, Jorma Kaukonen, Marty Stuart, and Steve Wariner—all admirers of the duo. Ickes, former founding member of bluegrass “supergroup” Blue Highway and highly sought-after Dobro master, has graced the recordings and concerts of artists such as Earl Scruggs, Merle Haggard, Alison Krauss, Tony Rice and more. Hensley, who earned his first IBMA Guitar Player of the Year nomination in 2020, made his Grand Ole Opry debut at the age of 11 (thanks to an invite from Marty Stuart with Earl Scruggs) and has appeared on stage with the likes of Johnny Cash, Peter Frampton and Old Crow Medicine Show. All three of the albums released by Ickes and Hensley have received widespread acclaim, including their debut Before The Sun Goes Down, which garnered a GRAMMY® nomination, and the combo’s most recent release World Full of Blues, which features collaborations with Vince Gill and Taj Mahal.

For more information on TOMMY EMMANUEL, visit:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

SRO PR Assets + Press Releases:
http://sropr.com/portfolio/tommyemmanuel/

For more information on ROB ICKES & TREY HENSLEY, visit:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

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For press inquiries regarding TOMMY EMMANUEL, contact:

SRO PR
(Los Angeles, Nashville, Las Vegas)
Mitch Schneider // mschneider@sropr.com
Andrea Faulk // afaulk@sropr.com
Lyndie Wenner // lwenner@sropr.com

May 4, 2021

PURPOSE DRIVEN EVENTS Announces Expansion And Details For 2021 Blue Ridge Rock Festival

DATE: MAY 4, 2021

FROM: MARCEE RONDAN

VIRGINIA-BASED
PURPOSE DRIVEN EVENTS
EXPANDS FOOTPRINT TO INCLUDE
‘BLUE RIDGE AMPHITHEATER,’
ENTERTAINMENT VENUE ‘THE RIDGE’
‘BLUE RIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL’
AND MORE EVENTS IN 2021

Following their announcements about a new amphitheater, an updated entertainment complex and their signature event, the Blue Ridge Rock Festival, PURPOSE DRIVEN EVENTS have announced plans for a wide-ranging series of events in Fall 2021.

Earlier this year, PURPOSE DRIVEN EVENTS revealed plans to open the Blue Ridge Amphitheater, a long-awaited large-scale concert venue in Southwest Virginia. The 35,000-capacity outdoor festival site will be developed on nearly 300 acres of land (just off Route 29 on the Chatham-Danville line) and will be convenient for fans from neighboring cities including Lynchburg, Roanoke, Danville, and Greensboro. The layout for the event space will be scalable, allowing for capacities from 5,000-35,000 attendees in order to accommodate music festivals and full-scale tour stops from leading performers. Visit the site’s website and social media to sign up for up-to-the-minute news and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

PURPOSE DRIVEN EVENTS’ Chief Executive Officer JONATHAN SLYE says, “Blue Ridge Amphitheater is a massive game-changer for this market. While we have been able to bring many notable acts to this region in recent years, the launch of this venue will allow us to deliver a tier of talent many did not believe could routinely come. It also gives us the opportunity to unlock a higher level of event features and experiences, beyond just music, due to the significant volume of land we now have to work with year-round. This is another exciting, massive step to provide the highest quality of entertainment to a community that I have grown to love so dearly.”

The amphitheater news came on the heels of PURPOSE DRIVEN EVENTS’ purchase of THE RIDGE (formerly known as Phase 2 and Cattle Annies), a 31,000 square-foot entertainment venue. Beyond significant improvements to the space, the facility will embody four key principles–passion, integrity, sustainability, and the fans–while also plotting a more diverse portfolio of events including non-music events (comedy, car shows, and mixed martial arts). Additional updates to improve the customer experience include an updated and expanded stage and enhanced backstage area, an all-new sound and lighting system, additional bartenders and bar stations, faster internet and point of sale systems which will elevate serving speeds significantly, enhanced security to drastically improve the safety and hospitality of the venue, along with a complete redesign of the box office and entry process reducing wait times for patrons. Stay tuned for updates about the venue via the website and social media: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Meanwhile, the company’s signature event, the BLUE RIDGE ROCK FESTIVAL, is poised for its largest year yet. Set for September 9–12, 2021, the festival’s initial line-up is being revealed via social media. Acts are being announced daily via the festival’s social media, with the full lineup set to be announced in late May. Some of the already confirmed bands include Five Finger Death Punch, Limp Bizkit, Shinedown, Megadeth, Lamb of God, The Ghost Inside (Rare Comeback Show), Cypress Hill (30th Anniversary), Gojira, Skillet, Theory of a Deadman, Anthrax (40th Anniversary) and Black Label Society. Tickets for the event can be purchased here. Follow on social media Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Beyond Blue Ridge Rock, PURPOSE DRIVEN EVENTS is building on their brand with plans to announce a series of Fall events at the Blue Ridge Amphitheater. These include Blue Ridge Country Festival and Blue Ridge BBQ & Bourbon Festival as well as additional festivals. News on the upcoming events and further details on the aforementioned festivals will be revealed in the coming months.

“I have spent the last several years studying, and most importantly, listening to entertainment lovers in this area,” SLYE explains about the company’s growth plans. “I believe wholeheartedly we are going to present them with a venue that encapsulates all of the many components they have longed for, while staying true to the heart of this local community.”

About PURPOSE DRIVEN EVENTS

PURPOSE DRIVEN EVENTS is the new umbrella organization for events led by Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Slye. The name of the entity falls in line with their mission to provide a purpose behind each event produced that goes far beyond just music. With their headquarters in small town Virginia, and originating from a decade of very humble beginnings, the group continues to expand its footprint and is developing into one of the fastest rising promoters in the industry. The company and Slye are best known for producing the annual Blue Ridge Rock Festival, a locally developed event founded at DeVault Vineyards, and known as “The Fan Driven Rock Experience.” Following the event’s breakout year in 2019, Blue Ridge became a full-time operation heading into last year. Though the top eleven acts were never announced for the 2020 iteration, the festival forced to postpone due to the pandemic. While live events have largely disappeared over the last year, Purpose Driven Events has expanded significantly in that time. The company now has a full staff successfully recruiting over a dozen major players in the music business from across the country, to join their team locally to maximize results.

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