|
Introducing Kata Hay
Kata Hay is originally from Oklahoma and now lives in Tennessee. She was the youngest person ever to win the US TV talent show Star Search - she was just 5 years old at the time. She is the reigning Dolly Parton Mountain Soul Vocal Champion and performs solo and with the bluegrass/rock fusion band The Grassabillies.
March is a big month for Kata, as she embarks on a UK tour and releases her first solo album for seven years. Read on, because in this month's Exclusive Listeners' Club Newsletter Competition, we are giving away a pair of tickets to see her live in concert, and a copy of her album.
|
|
|
Lynne Butler plays our Doncaster Live Music Night.
This month sees our next Live Music Night at Kenny's Fish & Chip Restaurant, Conisborough, Doncaster. Our first two shows there have been fantastic, and we are looking forward to another good turnout this time.
Our artist on Sunday 30th March will be The Lynne Butler Band, playing a smooth mix of country, blues, rock 'n' roll and all things in between. It's a chance for us to hear for the first time some brand new songs which Lynne is including on her fourth album which she is working on at the moment.
See you there for a fabulous night of music, fish and chips.
|
|
|
Introducing Derek Ryan
Derek Ryan is one of Ireland's biggest country stars. He was the lead singer of Irish pop band D-side, which had three top 10 hits in the UK, but his real love is country music.
This month, Derek releases his first country single in the UK, "100 Numbers". It's a self-penned track, about being popular and busy, having 100 numbers in your phone, but still feeling lonely and isolated.
The song is one of 14 tracks on Derek's album "Country Soul" which contains a mix of originals, old-time favourites and chart covers. It is available for £13 from our Online Music Store.
|
|
|
Exclusive Listeners' Club Competition
For this month's competition, we are giving you a chance to win the brand new album from Kata Hay, and a pair of tickets to see her on her UK tour later this month. You have the choice of the following venues....
Thu 20 Mar – The George IV, Chiswick
Fri 21 Mar – The Scream Lounge, Croydon
Sat 22 Mar – The Camden Enterprise, Camden
Sun 23 Mar – The Railway, Winchester
Mon 24 Mar – Sticky Mikes, Brighton
Thu 27 Mar – 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff
Fri 28 Mar – The Louisiana, Bristol
Sun 30 Mar – Colchester Arts Centre, Essex
To win, simply tell us which US state does Kata come from originally.
Email your answer to club@ukcountryradio.com or simply reply to this Newsletter email. The closing date is March 10th and the winner will be notified by email shortly afterwards.
|
|
|
New song from Wayne Jacobs
The latest song from the pen of East-London based songwriter Wayne Jacobs is "Saints and Sinners". It tells the story of a cowboy with a gambling addiction which was upsetting his girlfriend called Angel.
Wayne is no stranger to UKCountryRadio.com, and is the current holder of our Listeners' Club Song Award, thanks to his song "I Want My Daddy". He is always keen to hear from artists and producers who are interest in recording his original songs.
|
|
|
Welcome to the following who are among those receiving our Newsletter for the first time....
Becky Hobbs, Ray Noon, Sharon Anderson, Robert Hosking, Julia Grant, Roger Carter, Jo McAllen, Teddy Grimstad, Al Leblanc, John Morgan, Lacey Mai, Robbie Helton, Brandy Alan, The New Madrids, Rhett Clark, Sandy Brewis, Old West Trio, Markus Wolff, John Martin, Derek Anthony, Bob Sellar, Hope Cassity, Torri Melhart, David Hoyle, Johnny Mander, Troy Ross, Janette Jones, Claydon Connor, Adrian Tredinnick, Terry John, Erich McMann, Tim Barnes, Roy Davies, Billy Davies, Charles Kelly, Carol Hedley, Richard Prendiville, Hannah Gimeno, Dusty Silvers, Stan Webster, John Maddison, Ben Powell, Dale Libby, Andy Moore, Colin Bradshaw, Carolyn Wilkinson, Shirley Francis, Claire Salter, Maggie Sainsbury, Carolyn Dibben, and many many more....
|
|
|
Spotlight UK Artists
Here are the artists we will be featuring each weekend during March....
March 7-9: The Proposition
March 14-16: Adrian Duffy
March 21-23: Lynnette Marie (pictured)
March 28-30: Derek Ryan
|
|
 Final Word
That's it for this month everyone. Enjoy Country To Country if you are going, and I look forward to meeting some of you at our new Live Music Night in Upton Upon Severn on March 22nd.
Best Wishes,
Allan Watkiss,
UKCountryRadio.com
|
|
|
|
|
Country To Country
This month sees one of the highlights in this year's country music calendar - Country To Country at the O2 Arena, London. A host of big name country stars will be filling the venue over the weekend of 15th and 16th March.
The Zac Brown Band are headline artists on the Saturday, supported by the Dixie Chicks, Dierks Bentley and Martina McBride. Brad Paisley tops a bill on the Sunday which also includes Rascal Flatts, Chris Young and The Band Perry.
In addition, 30 artists will entertain the crowds on the "pop-up" stages - these include UK artists Alan West, Gary Quinn, Luke and Mel, McKay, Raintown, The Diablos, The Sonny Walters Band, Thorne Hill and Ward Thomas.
Several UKCountryRadio.com presenters will be at the event - and, if you're not going, you can listen out for regular updates throughout the weekend. Shortly afterwards, we will have a highlights programme featuring interviews with some of the performers.
|
|
|
Introducing Lynne Taylor Donovan
Canadian Lynne Taylor Donovan got her first guitar when she was just nine years old and began writing songs shortly afterwards. She has had several hits in Canada, and several number ones on the Hotdisc charts here in Europe. In addition, she has had many TV appearances, opened shows for artists including Loretta Lynn and Alan Jackson, and toured the UK.
Listen out this month on UKCountryRadio.com for one of the most successful singles of Lynne's career. "Angel In Your Eyes" was first recorded in the mid-1990s. It is available, along with all of Lynne's music, from all the popular online stores including iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby.
|
|
|
UKCountryRadio.com Awards
Thank you to the hundreds of people who have voted in the first month for this year's UKCountryRadio.com Awards.
For the first time, we have two Awards up for grabs this year: The UK Country Artist Of The Year Award, will be given to a UK artist who has demonstrated an outstanding achievement during the last year. And our traditional Listeners' Club Song Award will go to one of the songs promoted by a UK artist or songwriter through UKCountryRadio.com last year.
All the details are on our website where you can cast your vote. The voting runs until the end of May and the winners will be announced at our Seventh Birthday Party and Awards Ceremony in September.
|
|
|
New music from Mark Newberry
We are currently featuring the first single for 2014 from the pen of London policeman turned songwriter Mark Newberry. Most of our readers will be aware by now that Mark took up songwriting after retiring from the Metropolitan Police where he worked as a custody sergeant.
Mark has had his songs recorded and produced in several studios, including some in Nashville, but most recently has been working with Bristol-based Pete Dymond. And that is the case for his latest song "The Country Singer" which is available as a CD single from our Online Music Store.
|
|
|
What's on The Wall
Time now for our Newsletter check on The UKCountryRadio.com Wall - with some more bits and pieces of news obtained by clicking The Bricks...
* See Boxcar Kelly And The Railroaders, fronted by Tennessee, at Roddington Forge, Southampton (March 1st), Ocean View, Westward Ho (4th), Bournemouth (18th), Chichester (22nd) and at the Country Sounds Country Music Club in Kent (29th)
* There are just four months to go to Americana 2014 which moves to a new venue in Leicestershire. Good luck to all the team
* Look out for The Ian Highland Band this month at the Chapperal, Lost Leader, Western Avenue, Best Of British, H Bar C, Carolina, Wind Whistle, Carterton and Wild Stallion country music clubs. They are also playing the Jager Festival in Gloucstershire.
Click the bricks yourself to find out more. And, if you have a country music website, make sure we linking to it and mentioning it on air and in our Newsletter by clicking here...
|
|
|
Gig Guide
Time now for a check in our Gig Guide for some of the highlights this month....
* Top billing has to go to Country To Country at the O2 Arena, London on 15th and 16th March. Artists appearing include Brad Paisley, The Zac Brown Band, The Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, Chris Young, Dierks Bentley, The Band Perry and Martina McBride.
* As well as her show at Country To Country, Martina McBride also plays Academy 2 in Manchester on Sunday 16th March.
* As mentioned previously, we have two of our own Live Music Nights this month - with The Good Intentions at Ye Olde Anchor Inn, Upton upon Severn on Saturday 22nd March, and The Lynne Butler Band at Kenny's Fish & Chip Restaurant, Conisbrough, Doncaster on Sunday 30th March.
* Touring artists include Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, Georgia-based band Blackberry Smoke, Jarrod Dickenson, Tom Paxton and Janis Ian, Kata Hay, Charlie Landsborough, and Peter Mulvey.
* And weekend events include Jager's Country Music Festival near Cirencester (March 6th to 9th), A St.Patrick's Celebration Weekend at Seacroft Holiday Village near Great Yarmouth (14th to 16th) and A-Line Holidays' Line Dance Weekend in Skipton (21st to 23rd),
For all the details and more, tune into our on-air gig guides with Denis Hodge and Peter Fairhead, on the half hour throughout each day.
|
|
|
Thank you to everyone who now voluntarily subscribes to UKCountryRadio.com. Without your help, we would not be able to afford our ever-increasing music licensing costs.
Subscribers receive priority seating at each of our events, and are eligible to vote in the latter stages of the UKCountryRadio.com Awards.
If you want to join the growing number of people willing to financially support what we do, then just click the button below. Our subscriptions start from just £2 per month.
|
|
|
|
