Music Blog

Young Valley Releases New Single

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The twang-a-rang has come back around again. Jackson alternative-country act Young Valley released its latest single, “Hang Me,” via YouTube on Wednesday, Jan. 24. The song, a longtime fan favorite at concerts, is the first new recorded material from the band’s core trio—lead guitarist Dylan Lovett, acoustic guitarist Zach Lovett and drummer Spencer Thomas—since their debut album, “No Filter,” in November 2014. “Hang Me” is the lead-off track from Young Valley’s upcoming self-titled sophomore album, which the band recorded at Dial Back Sound in Water Valley, Miss. The record is scheduled for release on April 20 and is currently available for pre-order on Dial Back Sound’s website. Continue Reading

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Hal’s St. Paddy’s Lineup Announced

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Jackson restaurant Hal & Mal’s and entertainment company Ardenland announced plans for the 2018 Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade & Festival, one of the largest annual events in the downtown area. This year, the grand marshal will be V.A. Patterson, a founding member of the Krewe of Kazoo parade group and 2017 Governor’s Arts Award recipient. The theme of the parade, which will take place on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, is “Artfully Alive at 35,” and celebrates the event’s 35th anniversary. Continue Reading

Music Blog

Brandon Amphitheater Announces Lineup

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The Jackson metro area may be covered in snow, but the City of Brandon has its eyes on warmer months. Officials from the City and music-promotion company Red Mountain Entertainment held a press conference on Tuesday morning, Jan. 16, to announce the first string of concerts at the incoming Brandon Amphitheater. The Jackson Free Press acquired the slate from the website for the 8,000-plus-capacity venue, which is scheduled to open in the spring. As many residents were anticipating, the schedule features plenty of country-music stars, including Chris Young on April 18, Brantley Gilbert on May 3, Hank Williams Jr. on May 12, and Alan Jackson on June 22. Continue Reading

Music Blog

Warped Tour Winds Down in 2018

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Kevin Lyman, founder of alternative music festival Vans Warped Tour, announced on Nov. 15 that the 2018 installment of the long-running national event will be its last. “I have been a very lucky person to have traveled across the country and sometimes around the world as one of the founders and producers of the Vans Warped Tour,” Lyman wrote in a press release on the tour’s website. “Today, with many mixed feelings, I am here to announce that next year will be the final, full cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour.” While the tour itself will not continue into 2019, the release does promise a special celebration for the event’s 25th anniversary, and it does not rule out shorter tour runs or one-off events. Continue Reading

Music Blog

OPINION: How Should Musicians Respond in Tragedy?

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At some point, I really should know better than to read YouTube comments and Twitter replies to celebrities. And yet, I have repeatedly stumbled upon and been disturbed by some of the fan responses following the shooting at a Jason Aldean concert in Las Vegas on Oct. 1 that killed almost 60 people and injured hundreds. I have never been a fan of Aldean’s music, but he has been on my mind a lot recently due to the shooting. As someone who also plays music—albeit on a much smaller scale than the country star—I can’t help but put myself in his shoes and wonder how I might react. Continue Reading

Music Blog

Interstellar All-stars

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Interstellar Boys may not transcend space, but it certainly has transcended time. Although the Athens, Ga.-based rock band officially formed in spring of this year, its members have been performing together for almost 30 years.

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Music Blog

Heart Society Wins Spot on Cayamo Cruise

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Jackson residents Ben Eichelberger and Teneia Sanders-Eichelberger won’t be the only married couple on the sold-out Cayamo music cruise in February 2018. However, fellow cruisers will certainly be able to tell them apart from the crowd—they’ll be the ones onstage. Sanders-Eichelberger and Eichelberger, who fans know as music duo Heart Society, won a sought-after spot on the 11th annual Cayamo through event company Sixthman’s Soundcheck competition. The cruise sets sail from New Orleans on Feb. 4 and returns Feb. Continue Reading

Music Blog

Indie Music Week Announces Third Year

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Brad “Kamikaze” Franklin, co-founder of Jackson Indie Music Week, stood in front of a small group of local musicians, influencers and media members, who were waiting for details on the festival’s upcoming third installment. Although much about the press conference mirrored last year’s announcement, which also took place in the second-floor dining room at the Iron Horse Grill, Franklin shared a few pieces of information that suggest new territory for the festival. For one, the 2018 JIM Week, which will run Jan. 7 through Jan. 15 around Jackson, has picked up a particularly notable sponsor, with more to be come. Continue Reading