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David Nail returns to The Bluestone in November for a special performance! Brothers Osborne and John Andrews will open the show.
TICKET AVAILABILITY
VIP Admission
- $200 per table (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- Private Bar Access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
- All VIP tables located in the loft area
- Table purchases do NOT include admission into venue
General Admission
- $20
- Standing room only
This event is open to all ages
Thursday, 11/07 | Doors at 7:00 P.M.
Chris Cagle will return to The Bluestone on Thursday, October 16th as part of the WCOL Miller Lite Concert Series.
Ray Scott and Wyatt McCubbin will be opening the show.
VIP Admission: VIP Table Purchases do NOT include admission tickets to the show. You must purchase your concert admission tickets separately.
- Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of stage
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Exclusive Private Bar access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
-
Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Private Bar Access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
*All VIP tables located in the loft area
*Table purchases do NOT include admission into venue
ACM Lifitng Lives Benefit Concert featuring singer of hit song, “All Over The Road”, Easton Corbin, will take place on Saturday, January 10th at The Bluestone.
Opening Artists: Dew Baldridge & Carter Winter
Doors for the Show open at 7pm
All Ages
BUY TICKETS
This year marks the 4th anniversary of the ACM Lifting Lives Club Benefit Concert, an annual event that supports ACM Lifting Lives mission to improve lives through the power of music. Since 2011, ACM Lifting Lives has partnered with Lifting Lives Board Member Ed Warm, owner of Joe’s Bar in Chicago, to coordinate benefit concerts with artists such as LeAnn Rimes, Gary Allan, and Lee Brice. Our partnership with Ed and Joe’s Bar successfully raised over $30,000 and spurred our 2014 “Club Benefit Show Run” in which clubs throughout the country replicated the Joe’s Bar model of the ACM Lifting Lives Benefit Concert. In just three months, these venues collectively raised more than $36,000 for ACM Lifting Lives.VIP Opportunities Available:
VIP TABLE PURCHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW.
Admission tickets must be purchased separately.
- Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of stage!
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Exclusive Private Bar access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
-
Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Private Bar Access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
- May be Obstruction in View
*All VIP tables located in the loft area
Cadillac Three will be performing live at The Bluestone on Thursday, February 12th.
Opening Artists: Clark Manson and Eldon Huff
Doors open at 7pm… (All Ages Event)
Tickets $15 in Advance and $17 day of show!
Performing live at The Bluestone on 02|12|15 The Cadillac Three are a country music trio out of Nashville, TN consisting of members Jaren Johnston, Kelby Ray, and Neil Mason. Wanting to mix contemporary country music with classic southern rock, The Cadillac Three have managed to become stars in their own right with the huge single, “The South,” featuring guest vocals from Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, and Mike Eli. Johnston has also co-written songs for artists such as Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and Jake Owen.
VIP TABLE PURCHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW.
Admission tickets must be purchased separately.
- Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of stage!
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Exclusive Private Bar access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
-
Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Private Bar Access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
- May be Obstruction in View
*All VIP tables located in the loft area
Brothers Osborne will be performing live at The Bluestone in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, February 28th.
Opening Artist: TBD
Doors open at 7pm
All Ages Event
BUY TICKETS
TICKETS: $15 ADVANCED | $17 DAY OF SHOW
For John and TJ Osborne, getting into music was unavoidable. Growing up in the water town of Deale, Maryland, their close-nit-family of seven spent most nights not in front of the television, but writing and playing songs. The Brothers’ father had a shed behind their home that he used for small performances for friends and family. John and TJ could be caught listening in on their father’s playing or fetching beers for pocket change. Later their father would convert that shed into a home studio where their parents would write and record songs.
As the brothers aged, they formed a band with their ever eclectic father named “Deuce & a Quarter.” The band played cover songs from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Dwight Yoakem to Merle Haggard to Bob Seger. They performed at local venues in the town, but it was here that the Brothers got the taste for performing live.
John (guitar) moved to Nashville first to play in other bands. Two years later, TJ (vocals/guitar) moved to Nashville. It was then they formed Brothers Osborne and began playing as many writer rounds as they could. In April 2011, Warner Chappell/King Pen Music offered them a publishing deal. A year later, Capitol Records offered them a record deal. The Brothers Osborne are currently in the studio finishing their debut album, an album they describe as “aggressive, bold and fragile at times.” More to come from Brothers Osborne in 2015.
VIP Opportunities Available:
VIP TABLE PURCHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW.
Admission tickets must be purchased separately.
- Loft Lower Tier (PRIME VIEW!): $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of stage!
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Exclusive Private Bar access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Private Bar Access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
- May be Obstruction in View
*All VIP tables located in the loft area
BRIAN DAVIS returns to The Bluestone on Friday, April 10th, 2015.
Opening Artists: David Adam Byrnes and Ray Scott
Doors for the show open at 7PM ( All Ages Event )
VIP Opportunities Available:
VIP TABLE PURCHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW.
Admission tickets must be purchased separately.
- Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of stage!
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Exclusive Private Bar access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
-
Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Private Bar Access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
- May be Obstruction in View
*All VIP tables located in the loft area
The Charlie Daniels Band will be performing live at The Bluestone on Thursday, April 30th, at 7pm.
Opener: Cliff Cody and Wyatt McCubbin will be opening the show!
Tickets are $40 Pre-Sale and $45 day of show.
CMA and Grammy award-winning country band, The Charlie Daniels Band, will perform live at The Bluestone on Thursday, April 30th, 2015. Charlie Daniels Concert Tickets are available online at www.liveatthebluestone.com for just $40.00 in advance and $45.00 day of show. Doors for the show will open at 7pm, this is an all ages event.
Charlie Daniels, born and raised in North Carolina, began playing the fiddle and guitar in several bands throughout his young adult life. At the age of 21 he decided to pursue a professional career in music. Daniels assembled his first rock and roll group named, The Jaguars. There was very little success with The Jaguars but Daniels continued to write songs including, One of “It Hurts Me”, which was recorded by Elvis Presley in 1963. In the late 60’s Daniels opted out of The Jaguars and after much practice, became one of the best fiddlers in Nashville, TN. He would focus his fiddle playing on the current day hits, including a lot of top songs from Bob Dylan, his popularity soared.
Mid 70’s was the year for his new band, The Charlie Daniels Band. After a run with the Southern Rock style, Charlie then decided to lean more towards a country music band, ultimately it was a career changing choice. Shortly after this decision, the single, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”, was released. It went straight to the number one spot and crossed over on to the pop charts at a number three spot. This song was named the Country Music Association’s Single of the Year. After this hit was released, their next album, Million Mile Reflections, became a multi-platinum success.
VIP Admission: VIP Tables do NOT include admission tickets to the show. Tickets must be purchased separately.
**VIP Tables for this show are sold out**
- Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of stage
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Exclusive Private Bar access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
-
Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes six bottles of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP waitress
- Private Bar Access
- Buckets (six bottles) available for purchase all night for $24
*All VIP tables located in the loft area
*Table purchases do NOT include admission into venue
WCOL’s youngest artist to perform at this year’s Country Jam is RaeLynn. Born and raised in Texas, RaeLynn got her break competing in the second season of NBC’s The Voice. Although not the winner of the competition, RaeLynn’s performance garnered the attention of both Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. After choosing to work with Blake Shelton, RaeLynn continued her success with the show, until her highly debated elimination in the quarterfinals. Since her appearance on the show, RaeLynn has released an EP and several singles like the popular song “God Made Girls” while touring with Shelton’s wife Miranda Lambert. She is currently working on the release of her debut album. RaeLynn is a great example of diversity, in both gender and age, of the artists performing at this year’s Country Jam!
The two- day festival will be hosted at the historic Legend Valley Concert Venue and Campground located on Buckeye Lake, just thirty minutes east of downtown Columbus. 2015 will mark the 3rd year that WCOL Country Jam has taken place at the venue. The festival is packed with a multitude of country music acts from classic country, southern rock country, and modern country artists.
General Admission tickets are currently available. There are several camping options available to patrons. Tickets and camping passes are on-sale now and available at www.LegendValleyFestivals.com. Camping passes are sold separately.
The WCOL Country Jam is a country festival that has occurred annually for the last 10 years. In 2013, WCOL and Bluestone Promotions formed a partnership to bring the show to the Legend Valley Music Center, a historic venue located near Buckeye Lake in Thornville, Ohio. Previous years included performers Hank Williams Jr., Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan and Tim McGraw. The venue boasts acres of campgrounds and a large field with great views of the stage. Legend Valley Music Center has functioned as a music venue since the early 1970’s, but has undergone some name changes since that time. LVMC has hosted a multitude of artists including: The Charlie Daniels Band, The Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, Alabama, Journey, and Jimmy Buffett.
WCOL‘s next up and coming country music star is Georgia born Thomas Rhett! His debut album It Goes Like This released at the end of 2013, sold over 200,000 copies and spawned several successful singles such as “Get Me Some of That”, “Something to Do With My Hands”, and the chart topping hit “It Goes Like This”. Following the release and success of his album, Rhett embarked upon a massive tour across the country, stopping in Columbus at The Bluestone in 2013. Rhett was recently nominated for ACM‘s New Artist of the Year, with the awards ceremony taking place in April and has made headlines with his country covers of popular Bruno Mars singles. Rhett returns to Ohio this summer for WCOL‘s Country Jam at Legend Valley to once again rock Ohio!
The two- day festival will be hosted at the historic Legend Valley Concert Venue and Campground located on Buckeye Lake, just thirty minutes east of downtown Columbus. 2015 will mark the 3rd year that WCOL Country Jam has taken place at the venue. The festival is packed with the best country music ranging from classic country and southern rock country to today’s biggest country hit-makers.
General Admission tickets are currently available. There are several camping options available to patrons. Tickets and camping passes are on-sale now and available at www.LegendValleyFestivals.com. Camping passes are sold separately.
The WCOL Country Jam is a country festival that has occurred annually for the last 10 years. In 2013, WCOL and Bluestone Promotions formed a partnership to bring the show to the Legend Valley Music Center, a historic venue located near Buckeye Lake in Thornville, Ohio. Previous years included performers Hank Williams Jr., Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan and Tim McGraw. The venue boasts acres of campgrounds and a large field with great views of the stage. Legend Valley Music Center has functioned as a music venue since the early 1970’s, but has undergone some name changes since that time. LVMC has hosted a multitude of artists including: The Charlie Daniels Band, The Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, Alabama, Journey, and Jimmy Buffett.
LOCASH will be performing live at The Bluestone on Thursday, November 10th, 2016
Opening Artist: TBA
Doors for the show will open at 7pm
Tickets: $20 in advance (day of show price will increase to $25 )
PURCHASE HERE
(Tickets on-sale Friday, October 7th, at 10am)
VIP OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE
VIP TABLE PURCHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW.
Admission tickets must be purchased separately.
- Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of the stage!
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP Server
- Exclusive Private Bar access
- Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP Server
- Private Bar Access
- May have an obstructed view
*All VIP tables located in the loft area
t’s an exciting time to be LOCASH these days. That might very well be one of the biggest understate
Recently signing with Reviver Records, the duo is joining forces with some of the biggest names on the Country Music business landscape.
Tucker Beathard will be performing live at The Bluestone on Friday, November 11th as part of his “ROCK ON COLLEGE” tour
Doors for the show will open at 7pm
Opening Artist: TBD
Tickets available for $15 in advance and will increase to $20 day of show
General Admission Tickets are standing room only!
PURCHASE TICKETS
Tickets on-sale Friday, September 2nd at 10am
TABLE SEATING
VIP TABLE PURCHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW.
Admission tickets must be purchased separately.
- Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of stage!
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP Server
- Exclusive Private Bar access
-
Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- VIP Server
- Private Bar Access
- May be Obstruction in View
*All VIP tables located in the loft area
At just 20 years old, singer-son
Aaron Lewis “Sinner Tour” at The Bluestone
**NEW MEET AND GREET PACKAGE AVAILABLE ** Does NOT include Admission to the Show
PURCHASE YOUR MEET AND GREET HERE
Opening Artist: Travis Marvin
Doors open at 7pm
Tickets are $35
Tickets on Sale Friday, April 7th at 10am
PURCHASE HERE
RESERVED LOFT TABLE SEATING
RESERVED TABLE PURCHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW.
Admission tickets must be purchased separately.
- Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of stage!
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- Server
- Exclusive Private Bar access
-
Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- Server
- Private Bar Access
- May be Obstruction in View
*All Reserved tables located in the loft area
ALL SALES ARE FINAL
Grammy nominated and multi-platinum artist, Aaron Lewis is set to release his sophomore solo album later this year on Big Machine Label Group’s DOT Records.
The former Staind front man first made his country debut in 2011 with certified gold single “Country Boy” followed by the release of his first full length solo album, The Road. “Country Boy” featured Charlie Daniels on fiddle and a booming verse from George Jones as well as Chris Young striking a balance between classic and modern country.
Lewis’ introspective, personal and relatable lyrics are proof that country music is about lifestyle and values, not necessarily where you were raised. And as Country Weekly exclaims “…make no mistake, he is a truck-drivin’, gun-totin’ country boy.” Lewis attributes country as something that has always inspired him. Growing up in rural Vermont the singer/songwriter spent summers with his WWII veteran grandfather hunting and fishing. During that time, he developed a love for the land, the woods, and the simple life, which still permeates everything he does.
And there was one specific soundtrack to those times. “I was raised on Country music,” Lewis says. “My grandfather listened to Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Hank Jr., and all of the greats.”
And those influences are evident on stage in his new songs and in Staind hits he often performs such as “Outside,” “It’s Been Awhile,” and “So Far Away.”
EASTON CORBIN, will be performing LIVE at The Bluestone
on Thursday, August 24th, 2017
Doors for the show will open at 7pm
Opening Artist: TBD
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 day of show
Tickets will go on-sale Friday, June 30th at 10am
PURCHASE HERE
RESERVED LOFT TABLE SEATING
RESERVED TABLE PURCHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW.
Admission tickets must be purchased separately.
- Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of stage!
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- Server
- Exclusive Private Bar access
-
Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- Server
- Private Bar Access
- May be Obstruction in View
*All Reserved tables located in the loft area
ALL SALES ARE FINAL
With two No. 1 singles, multiple awards and nominations, plus performances on some of the biggest stages in the world, Mercury Nashville’s Easton Corbin has made a lasting impression on the country music landscape. He is lauded for his traditional country sound, authentic lyrics and mastery of understatement. American Songwriter says, “Easton Corbin has one of those rare, glorious voices that was made—just made—for singing country music.” His self-titled debut album released in 2010 and spawned back-to-back hits “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It;” making him the first country male artist in 17 years to have his first two consecutive singles reach No. 1. In 2012 the Gilchrist County Florida native released his sophomore album, All Over The Road, which included the Top 5 hits “Lovin’ You Is Fun” and “All Over The Road.” Corbin set a career-best debut on Country Airplay with his top 5 hit single, “Baby Be My Love Song,” from his No. 1 debuting album About To Get Real. His latest single, “Are You With Me,” was most added song at country radio the day it was released. “Are You With Me” first appeared on All Over The Road and was such a special song to Corbin he carried it over to About To Get Real in hopes it would be a radio single. Corbin spent 2016 on one of the biggest tours in country music -Carrie Underwood’s The Storyteller Tour. Corbin is currently in the studio working on new music for his fourth studio album. Get “A Girl Like You” now: umgn.us/GirlLikeYou
Country Rocker Brian Davis
will be performing LIVE at The Bluestone on Friday, September 22nd
Opening Artist: TBA
Doors for the show will open at 7pm
Tickets are just $15 in advance and $20 day of show
Tickets on-sale Friday, May 5th at 10am
PURCHASE HERE
RESERVED LOFT TABLE SEATING
RESERVED TABLE PURCHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW.
Admission tickets must be purchased separately.
- Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of stage!
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- Server
- Exclusive Private Bar access
-
Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- Server
- Private Bar Access
- May be Obstruction in View
*All Reserved tables located in the loft area
ALL SALES ARE FINAL
How does a country boy from tiny Bilboa, North Carolina find himself an apprentice to one of the greatest songwriters in country music? Ever heard of Bilboa? Yes, it’s that small. But you’ve heard of Harlan Howard, right? “I Fall to Pieces?” THAT Harlan Howard.
Brian Davis isn’t one to push himself or his music on someone. It just isn’t his style. Fortunately, what is his style is writing great rockers and party anthems full of hot screaming guitar, booming bass and thumping drums. Sometimes.
On the other hand, his style is also writing emotive ballads laden with picturesque lyrics that twist and turn phrases to carry the listener on a musical journey of their own or Brian’s life. Those…those are best interpreted by Brian’s pure masculine baritone and an acoustic guitar.
So, it’s really not a case of having to force himself on anyone. It’s more like, “If you build it, they will come.” If you write great songs, make great music and sing from your heart, they will come. And they have most definitely come. From playing all over his home state of North Carolina, to opening for pal and frequent co-writer Brantley Gilbert on the Hell On Wheels tour—last year and this year, Brian has taken his brand of rockin’ country music from a regional to a national level. His Tarheel fans are sitting back enjoying knowing that they saw the evolution of one of the hottest new artists in the format, while new fans are digging voraciously into his catalog that is already six albums deep.
Almost as if he could forecast the future when he recorded it, his newest album, Under the Influence, is almost a musical biography of Brian – both his life and the evolution of his music. “I’m really proud of it,” he beams. “We managed to put a lot of things that are extremely important to me on this record and tried to kind of balance it out. We’ve got things all the way from ‘Under the Influence,’ which people would assume, based on previous projects, that we were talking about going out and just getting hammered, but it’s not.”
DAVID NAIL will be performing LIVE at The Bluestone
on Friday, November 17th, 2017
Doors for the show will open at 7pm
Opening Artist: Jimmie Allen
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of show
Tickets will go on-sale Friday, August 18th at 10am
PURCHASE HERE
RESERVED LOFT TABLE SEATING
RESERVED TABLE PURCHASE DOES NOT INCLUDE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW.
Admission tickets must be purchased separately.
- Loft Lower Tier: $250 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Prime view of stage!
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- Server
- Exclusive Private Bar access
-
Loft Upper Tier: $200 (seats four people-no exceptions)
- Includes first bucket of Miller or Coors Light
- Server
- Private Bar Access
- May be Obstruction in View
*All Reserved tables located in the loft area
ALL SALES ARE FINAL
ABOUT
During the making of his fourth MCA Nashville album, David Nail underwent a transformation – and so did his music. Fighter is the most vulnerable, personal record the Missouri native has ever made, and it signals the beginning of a new phase in his career.”
“Six months ago, people would ask me about the record and I would jokingly say ‘It’s my love-making record,’” Nail explains. “But what it meant to me then and what it means to me now are completely different. … Having been a father for about five months, it definitely changes the dynamic of things.”
Following the birth of he and wife Catherine’s long-hoped-for children (twins born in December 2015), the singer-songwriter found his world turned upside down. The mark he wanted to leave and things he wanted to say had changed, and despite an early version of Fighter being already finished, he decided to record four new songs, completely changing the project’s tone.
In short, Nail decided to get real in a way he never would have allowed himself before. Already known for powerful, emotionally-charged vocals, he took the same approach to choosing Fighter’s 11 tracks (seven of which were written or co-written by Nail himself), celebrating life’s victories but also exposing the knock-downs he’s endured – and it wasn’t always flattering.
“[I was] like, ‘Am I ready to sing this? Am I ready to tell this story?” Nail says. “[But] they come from a genuine place that you can kind of say, ‘Okay, I’ve said that. I’m at peace with that.’ I think that’s what this record is.”
Writing and singing in courageous personal detail, Nail confronted some of his deepest troubles, revealing the clarity he’s achieved about his hometown, the true struggle depression caused in his marriage, the answered-prayer of his children’s birth and the things he never told his own father.
Meanwhile, producer Frank Liddell (who also guided Nail’s first three albums, I’m About to Come Alive, The Sound of a Million Dreams and I’m a Fire) made sure Fighter’s musical tone was just as authentic, backing Nail’s volcanic vocals with a melting pot of Mississippi-delta sounds — a mix of classic-country balladry and sweaty Memphis soul, with touches of in-the-moment modernity sprinkled throughout.
“I grew up listening to all this music that my father listened to,” says Nail. “A lot of it was classic, huge songs and artists from the ‘60s and ‘70s – and even the ‘80s – so I think there’s always part of me that just falls toward that type of sound, rather than fighting it and trying to say ‘Whoa! No-no-no, we need to stay 2016.”
Big-name collaborations abound, with Nail inviting Vince Gill, Brothers Osborne, Lori McKenna and Logan Brill to help tell his story, as well as Bear and Bo Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATE.
“When I’m making a record I selfishly want to push my buttons so I try to approach it as my swan song, it could be the last piece of music I make. I want to fulfill some life goals in the process and one of my biggest influences in the word is Vince Gill so I’m thankful he said yes”
Brothers Osborne kick the project off in star-crossed revelry on “Good at Tonight,” McKenna joins “Home” to quietly uncover Nail’s love/hate relationship with his hometown, Gill adds stunning harmony vocals to the country-soul “I Won’t Let You Go” – a promise to David’s wife Catherine – and the Rineharts help close the album in tender admiration with “Old Man’s Symphony,” an overdue thank-you note to Nail’s dad.
Along the way, he toasts to the passion of youth in the upbeat hit “Night’s On Fire,” pledges romantic relief in the raw Chris Stapleton co-write “Ease Your Pain,” delivers a desperate double entendre in the indie-rocking “Lie With Me” and crafts a loving, rock-a-bye origin story for his new family in “Babies” – an instant classic.
Then there’s the project’s title track, “Fighter,” a heartfelt ‘80s-country throwback ripped from Nail’s real life that holds his wife up as an unshakable supporter – even when he was at his worst.
“’Fighter’ is about as honest as I’ve ever been in a song,” Nail admits. “I mean, when you’re quoting your wife saying things that are not pleasant [about you], you know it was our story. … But it also, I think, tells the story of me.”
Nail and Catherine have had to fight their whole lives, he explains – for his career, for their marriage, to battle back inner demons and to conceive their beautiful kids – but their ultimate success in those battles has led them to a better place. And it also gave the album a mission.
Fighter is more than a bookmark in Nail’s life and career – it’s a period on the final sentence of a difficult chapter. Penned during dark times that have given way to a new sunrise, these are some of the most meaningful and personal songs he’s ever recorded. And now that they exist for all to hear, he can finally move on.
“I feel like I’ve told the main aspects of my career, and my life, up to this point,” he explains. “So I really think whatever we do in the future, we’ll be able to start just completely fresh. It’ll be a new story, a new part of my life.”
-Chris Parton
Cody Johnson will be performing LIVE at The Bluestone on March 1st, 2019
Doors for the show will open at 7pm
Opening Artist: Randall King
Tickets are $20 in advance
THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT
PURCHASE HERE
It’s Cody Johnson’s time.
After landing two releases in the Top 10 of Billboard’s country albums chart on his own CoJo label and selling 74,000 tickets for a single show, to earn recognition as the only unsigned artist in history to sell out NRG Stadium at RodeoHouston, one of Texas’ most-sought-after talents finally agreed to sign with a major label. Warner Music Nashville won a Music Row sweepstakes and enticed Johnson – who’d turned down several majors before – to join the team and take a shot at turning a concert success story into one with multimedia, national hit-making cred.
Johnson’s passionate, rowdy concerts have already drawn comparisons to Garth Brooks, and the music from his previous albums – inspired by ‘90s country foundations, but built for the 21st century – has made him a familiar presence on Texas and Oklahoma red-dirt radio.
Johnson’s introductory Warner project, Ain’t Nothin’ to It, ups the ante. After writing the bulk of his previous material, he put out word in Nashville that he was open to songs from other sources, and the results were astonishing. A-list writers – including Chris Stapleton, Radney Foster and Brothers Osborne guitarist John Osborne – came to the table with songs that suited Johnson’s life and disposition. Music fans who are just now coming to the table will get a quick understanding of Johnson, from the rowdy troublemaker in the swampy “Doubt Me Now” to the devoted family man in the title track to the self-penned ex-bull rider in “Dear Rodeo” to the devoted Christian in “His Name Is Jesus.”