Fresh Finds
Jagertown
ABOUT JAGERTOWN
“Line ‘em up, shoot ‘em down. There’s a party going on in Jagertown” - are the opening lyrics of “Jagertown,” self-titled first album and the title track released nearly ten years ago. This lyric had become synonymous with the band as their popularity grew across the West.
With the release of their second album, “Love On the Radio” they found their fan base rapidly growing and extending from California to South Dakota driven by amazing country festivals. Jagertown’s high-energy show, well-crafted originals, and a sound that the country scene hasn’t had in a decade delivers on the promise that there will be a party going on with Jagertown’s on stage.
Now with the release of “Small Town Superstars,” their fourth studio effort, Jagertown’s fans, the “Jager Nation,” continue to grow. Supporting their success and their latest charting single, “She Won’t Be Lonely,” Jagertown has expanded their “That’s Why I Drink” tour to include venues and festivals from Coast to Coast.
Abi Ann
ABOUT ABI
The Midland, TX native successfully balances a rigorous school schedule at Belmont University in Nashville studying Business Entrepreneurship, as well as her touring, songwriting and appearances.
Abi has an extreme passion for charity, is an anti-bully activist and has headlined several anti bully rallies across the United States. In 2015, Abi spent her summer after high school opening for Kelly Clarkson alongside Pentatonix and Eric Hutchison, and has since toured with Frankie Ballard and Eli Young Band.
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This summer, Abi performed at Nascar events across the country, and opened for Sam Hunt, Phil Vassar, Mo Pitney and more at the 30th Annual Country Fest in Cadott, WI. She is an avid scuba diver, surfer, swimmer race car driver, spinner and markswoman. She is also fluent in French and has traveled to well over 40 countries in her 19 years.
Tony McKee
ABOUT TONY
A native of Campbellsville, KY, it’s clear this artist always had music in his blood. His entire family sang or played a musical instrument. With his mother’s love of Elvis Presley and his father’s love for George Jones and Buck Owens, these three legends became a staple in his life. This lit a fire in McKee that could not be put out. Describing his style and sound as real, organic and country, his surreal feeling as a performer came at his high school graduation senior class show where he took the stage and performed Friends are Friends Forever by Michael W. Smith. As he gears up for an endless career, “I want to connect with everyone I meet. Sure, I have the starry-eyed goals of winning this award and that award and being adored by my fellow recording artists, but the main thing for me is to always be a person that the fans come up to me and say, ‘you’re real and that’s what I love about you.’
Country music and patriotism have always gone hand in hand. American anthems have been a fan-favorite for decades now and new country artist Tony McKee continues to push those boundaries with the release of his new single, Problem With Me (featuring Eric Lee Beddingfield). Fans can download the song now on iTunes and all digital platforms. Radio stations can download the song now on PlayMPE.
Ayla Brown
ABOUT AYLA
Having multiple talents and interests hasn’t deterred Ayla from achieving many significant hallmarks in her young career. Most recently on Valentine’s Day in 2017, Ayla Brown released “Take Your Name” on digital platforms as well as radio. The song is an upbeat, catchy country tune about being in love with someone so much that you want to take their last name. It can be downloaded now!
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Recognized as a pioneer and entrepreneur, Ayla founded and owns her own record company, Ambient Entertainment. Having a keen eye for business and building mutually successful partnerships, Ayla enjoys outstanding corporate relationships with the likes of Hilton Hotels, MAC Cosmetics, Texas Roadhouse and New Balance.
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Prior to Ayla’s latest milestones, she was a national news correspondent for The Early Show on CBS, was a Finalist on Fox Network’s, American Idol in 2006 as well as a full scholarship Division 1 basketball player at Boston College. Ayla is supported by her parents, former United States Senator of Massachusetts, Scott Brown and TV reporter, Gail Huff as well as her sister, Arianna.
Austin Burke
ABOUT AUSTIN
Austin Burke could write the book on being a millennial. Growing up in the 1990's in Phoenix, Arizona, Austin was a huge country music fan and began singing as soon as he could walk. At the tender age of of 3 he sang the national anthem for both the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks and at a chance meeting with his hero Garth Brooks at a Padre's spring training game, his destiny was set. He soon won a coveted spot singing "Friends In Low Places" on the Rosie O'Donell show, not once but twice and when Rosie asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up he said a "singing baseball player". Such are the early experiences that dreams are made of.
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​Austin is currently making words rhyme and serving his time waiting on tables (and waiting on the tables to turn.) He's singing at writer's nights and tearing up the honky-tonks, paying his dues and livin' the dream in Tennessee. To quote his grandmother and the title of one of his own songs, Austin says it's his job these days to just "Suit Up Show Up Shut Up And Get The Job Done".
Lexi Larsen
ABOUT LEXI
Lexi releases her sophomore EP Shankin' today and will be celebrating with a release party at The Country in Nashville, presented by Durango Boots. Lexi funded her first EP Good Memories through Kickstarter with the help of her fervent fan base. Before the 30 day time period was up, she had collected a veritable mountain of donations to make the album she’d dreamed of.
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The Nashville-based singer/songwriter has captivated crowds as far away as Xian, China with a combination of her unassuming charm and powerhouse voice. She has taken herself and her band on three summer tours that have taken her from the wild motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota to two sold-out shows in her home state of Nebraska. She has opened for Country Music Hall of Famer and music legend Ronnie Milsap, hitmaker Phil Vassar, Warner Bros recording trio Gloriana as well as acts like Grammy-nominated Emerson Drive and most recently the award-winning Restless Heart.
Arista Manning
ABOUT ARISTA
Today at 22, Arista has already recorded and released her debut EP, Ride This Night, blending traditional country influences with her youthful and inspired vocal tenacity. “Ride This Night has been such a blessing in my life,” said Arista of her first project.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve dreamed about making my own music, and to be able to see that process unfold before my eyes is an experience that I’ll always hold close to my heart.”
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With five original songs, Ride This Night, takes listeners on a journey of both nostalgia and adventure. From lyrics about spirituality and trusting God to deliver your dreams (“Amen to That”), to living in the moment and seeking the unknown (“Ride This Night), Arista pays homage to the sound and storytelling of the classics from the genre, while beautifully reflecting her own experience as she begins to carve her path as a new artist – one that will resonate with listeners who have answered the call of their dreams.
Jacob Davich
ABOUT JACOB
Davich’s first studio album, Between the Lines, displays just this. The 11 folk and Americana tracks possess a twinge of classic country, and weave the story of love, loss, and triumph as told through Davich’s voice, which serves as an eerily similar hybrid of James Taylor and Jackson Brown. Track’s such as “My Father’s Gun” and “Cold Heart” stand out, with tales of revenge, anger, and heartbreak, as Davich’s voice explodes and swoons over an orchestral arrangement.
When a star is born, its life span is impossible to predict. It will burn bright and explode, ultimately disappearing in thin air. Or, there are the slow burners, the ones that once seem like a dot in your farthest consciousness, until they turn, and grow until they are so bright they are etched in the skyline forever. Jacob Davich seems to be the latter.
Sarah Darling
ABOUT SARAH
Sarah Darling is sure to take you on whimsical ride through songs about stars, and when cowboy’s use to ride away into the West. She calls her sound Dream Country.
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Over her career Darling has released several albums with 1/2 million downloads worldwide and two number 1 videos on CMT and GAC. Her biggest hit, ‘Home to Me’ lead to performances on Conan O’Brien, Fox & friends, and opening for artists like Carrie Underwood and Kacey Musgraves.
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The dream of playing the Grand Ole Opry came pass Feb 2011, when Sarah debuted. Her next Grand Ole Opry appearance will mark her 83rd performance on the historic stage.
Darling is getting ready to release new music this January. From wishing on wandering stars, to never giving up, it really captures the spirit of the ones who love to dream.
Megan Fowler
ABOUT MEGAN
For Megan Fowler, music has always been a thread that has woven through her life, becoming not only what she does, but also who she is. "Music has always been a part of me," Megan says. "It's always been something I've loved." Sharing that music with others comes naturally to this petite but spunky brunette, who proves the adage that good things come in small packages. This time it's a singer/songwriter/musician package, one who puts her heart into all of her performances.
Megan is the daughter of Glenn and Tracy Fowler. She and her brother Jacob were raised in the quiet countryside of Taylor County, Georgia, where they have been taught to love God and family. The simple, country life helps keep her grounded while reaching for her dreams of being a successful entertainer who will be a positive example and encouragement to people through her music and life.
Shane Owens
ABOUT SHANE
The music business has knocked Shane Owens down, but this tough country boy is back on his feet with a triumphant debut album. The staunch country traditionalist has survived career setbacks that would have defeated most performers. Instead, he has recorded a group of songs that will make him the most applauded newcomer of the year.
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“I think of myself as a crusader for traditional country music,” says the Alabama stylist with the burnished baritone. “A lot of the music that’s on the radio now is not traditional country. They’ve kinda gotten away from that. I’m country, and there ain’t no other way I can be. That’s just what I am and I think the traditional style is coming back around. At some point in time, this younger generation is going to start catching on. You can already see that they are. I see it at my shows.”
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The fact that this new project exists is something of a minor miracle. Every other time he tried to make a record, the music industry burned his dream to the ground. Until this year, all his hard work had always seemed to be in vain.
Hicks
ABOUT HICKS
Hicks kicked off 2013 with two European hits on the European Country Top 40, he then represented Sweden at the CMA Global Show in Nashville as part of the CMA Fest week in June along with various acts from around the world and all the top American country artist such as Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum Tim McGraw and many more. This event were beamed live around the world via the Internet and audio streams to over 10 stations in the USA, Europe, and Australia.
He then was asked to appear at two of CMR Nashville’s International Shows on Broadway at the Whiskey Bent and The Bridgestone Arena, if this wasn’t enough he was invited to be part of the CMA Fest Autograph signings at the Digital Rodeo booth with thousands of fans walking around in the brand new Music City Venue one of the biggest exhibition venues in the world.
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Hicks is also an accomplished songwriter with most of his live material being written by himself and other co-writers. Whilst in Nashville he was able to co-write with top songwriters Anthony Smith, Dallas Rogers, Dennis Morgan and Sharon Vaughn.
The Darlins
ABOUT THE DARLINS
We’re sassy, rootsy and country,” says Erinn Bates. “Let’s just call it bluegrass with a smoky eye,” continues Jude Toy. Separately, Jude and Erinn had won competitions, booked major gigs, and turned many heads on Music Row before they established their duo adventure as The Darlins. The soulful guitar playing and rich harmonies of Jude paired with the rootsy mandolin strumming and the hauntingly-beautiful voice of Erinn makes one hit-making team.
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Their unique blend of rocking’ country guitar riffs tinged with bluegrass-infused mandolin and vocals, make this hot female duo a force to be reckoned with on the country scene. Their hippy-chic image, powerhouse songwriting, high energy performances and soulful mountain harmonies elevate these girls high above the rest. Not only are they multi-talented instrumentalists, but their competitive songwriting skills have helped round up a posse of superstar hit songwriters who they have collaborated with over the years.
CHECK OUT MORE FRESH FINDS BELOW:
Jacob Stiefel