A Look Ahead

Around this time every year, country artists are home with there families and are getting some well deserved r&r, so there's not much to talk about for country music news.  Since there's really not much going on, I thought I'd take this slow time to look ahead to what's going on in 2012 as far as CD releases & concerts in our area.  Also want to remind you about WXBM's Christmas Open House with Marty & Lindsey Marie, this Friday the 23rd.  Feel free to stop by the WXBM studio between 6am-10am and grab something to eat & drink.  We'll be cookin' up Thompson Sausage, Brew Hart BBQ, Biscuits from Waffle House in Milton, Maxwell House coffee, Pepsi soft drinks & more!  We'll also have free Christmas ornaments while they last and a big "thank you" to Boyette's for providing the facilities again this year.  Hope to see you at the open house.

Martina McBride will release a Greatest Hits compilation next month called "Hits & More".  It will feature 17 of her past hits and three new ones called "Surrender", "Straight To The Bone" and "Being Myself".  The first two will be included on all pressings of the CD and Being Myself will only be available if you buy the CD at Target for a limited time.  Here's your tracklist for Hits & More:

1. 'My Baby Loves Me'
2. 'Independence Day'
3. 'Wild Angels'
4. 'A Broken Wing'
5. 'Valentine'
6. 'Happy Girl'
7. 'Whatever You Say'
8. 'I Love You'
9. 'Love's the Only House'
10. 'Blessed'
11. 'Where Would You Be'
12. 'Concrete Angel'
13. 'This One's for the Girls'
14. 'In My Daughter's Eyes'
15. 'Anyway'
16. 'Ride'
17. 'Wrong Baby Wrong'
18. 'Surrender'
19. 'Straight to the Bone'
20. 'Being Myself'

More info at http://www.martinamcbride.com/

UPCOMING CD RELEASES

January 17th

Tim McGraw - "Emotional Traffic"

Martina McBride - "Hits & More"

January 24th

Kellie Pickler - "100 Proof"

February 7th

Dierks Bentley - "Home"

April 3rd
Rascal Flatts - TBD

Artists who are in studio working on projects for 2012

Carrie Underwood

Taylor Swift

Alan Jackson

Faith Hill

Jason Aldean

Darius Rucker

UPCOMING CONCERTS

January 7th

David Allan Coe - Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola

January 13th

Merle Haggard - Beau Rivage Biloxi

Little Big Town - Hard Rock Biloxi

January 28th
Blake Shelton, Justin Moore & Dia Frampton - Pensacola Civic Center

John Michael Montgomery - IP Biloxi

February 3rd

Connie Smith - Farmers Opry in Chumuckla

Rodney Carrington - Beau Rivage Biloxi

February 10th
Willie Nelson - Beau Rivage Biloxi

February 18th
Kellie Pickler - IP Biloxi

February 25th
Ronnie Dunn - Hard Rock Biloxi

March 2nd

Vince Gill - Beau Rivage Biloxi

March 10th

Eric Church & Brantley Gilbert - Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach

John Conlee - Farmers Opry in Chumuckla

Josh Turner - Hard Rock Biloxi

March 16th
Travis Tritt - BeulahFest @ Escmabia County Equestrian Center

March 17th

Rodney Atkins - BeulahFest @ Escambia County Equestrian Center

March 24th

Jeff Foxworthy - Wind Creek Amphitheater in Atmore

Thanks for making 2011 another great year!  God's blessings on your Christmas and we'll see you with more "News & Notes" in 2012.

Red Solo Cup, BeulahFest & more

So I gotta ask, what do you think of Toby's new song "Red Solo Cup"?  Toby himself said it's the dumbest song he's ever hear, but it's fun and it's catchy.  I can't argue with him on any of that.  Even though Toby didn't write this song, it's right up his ally since he has recoded a few light-hearted songs in his day.  So far, I've noticed that people aren't really "on the fence" with this song.  When people call me about it, they'll either say "I LOVE that song, play it again ASAP" or "I HATE that song, never play it again".  I gotta say, it's growing on me.  It's such a simple, goofy song, whenever I hear it I feel like I should be sitting around a bonfire with my buddies drinking beer at 3am.  So what do you think?  Does "Red Solo Cup" fill you up?

Merry Christmas from Tim McGraw!  Tim teamed up with The Boot (http://www.theboot.com/) to give fans a free download of his new Christmas song "Christmas All Over the World".  Download here:  http://serve.castfire.com/audio/813273/tim-mcgraw-christmas_2011-12-06-175613.128.mp3

Did you hear Marty & Lindsey Marie make the official BeulahFest announcement this morning?  BeulahFest 2012 will be March 16th & 17th at the Escambia County Equestrian Center on Mobile Hwy featuring Travis Tritt Friday night and Rodney Atkins Saturday!!  That's a great lineup plus there will be a ton of local bands, rides, arts & crafts and FOOD!!  As of today, there's nothing on their official website but you can find them on facebook at:  http://www.facebook.com/beulahfest

Bonfire Jam was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!  Thanks to Joe Lewis and all the crew that put the event on again this year.  I know some folks (myself included) still had to wait in traffic a little, but overall the traffic situation was way better.  If it would have been about 10 degrees warmer, it would have been perfect.  Haven't heard attendance numbers yet, but it was a huge crowd.  Looking forward to Bonfire Jam 3 next year and Joe mentioned something about concerts on Pensacola Beach when he was on stage too, so we'll keep you posted on that when we get some more info on Your Country 102.7 WXBM.

We have another whole week of Christmas Tree shaking to attend to this week!  Listen to WXBM and we'll let you know when to call in and what caller to be to shake the tree and see what prize comes out!  We have given out some great stuff like Eric Church concert tickets, ipod's, gift cards & lots more.  We still have lots of prizes to shake out including the Brad Paisley autographed guitar, so be sure to keep listening for your chance to win from Butler U-Pull It and Your Country 102.7 WXBM!

Tim, Garth & BONFIRE JAM!!!!!

Tim McGraw fans will finally be able to hear some new music from Tim since he won a legal battle with his record label last week.  A judge decided that Tim could release his "Emotional Traffic" CD next month!  Tim and Curb Records have been in at odds for quite a while over whether Tim lived up to the terms & conditions of his contract.  Emotional Traffic will be released January 17th.  In the mean time, Tim will release a Christmas song called "Christmas All Over The World".  Tim & Faith will also be heading out for an Australian Tour in March and then he'll be back in the U.S. for his "Brothers of the Sun" tour with Kenny Chesney which starts June 2nd in Tampa.  More info at http://www.timmcgraw.com/

Hank Jr recently went AWOL during a performance with Jason Aldean.  It happened during the taping of CMT's "Artists of the Year" special.  Jason & Hank were singing "Tattoos On This Town" when Hank walked off the stage!!  In a later press release, Hank said "I've heard people mess up my songs and screw up Daddy's songs.  I was here to honor Jason, a kid I really like. When I walked out there, it didn't feel right, it didn't sound right. I didn't want to disrespect him".  Sounds like Hank was unhappy with his own performance, not Jasons.  So, after Hank took off, they reset and Jason performed the song solo.  You can see Jason with Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift and Brad Paisley on the Artists of the Year show December 13th on CMT. 

In a recent interview with Robin Leach, Garth Brooks shed some light on his concert series at the Wynn hotel & casino in Las Vegas as well as his future plans.  When Kim & I got married in June, we stayed at Encore which is essentially the same as the Wynn, and we had an opportunity to see Garth's show, but tickets were $225 a piece, so we decided not to go.  It's a great interview if you have a few minutes:  http://www.vegasdeluxe.com/blogs/luxe-life/2011/dec/02/exclusive-garth-brooks-talks-wynn-residency-empty-/

We have some really fun contests going on this week!  Listen to Marty & Lindsey Marie each day this week between 6-10am and when you hear two Blake Shelton songs played back-to-back, be the 25th caller to win a pair of tickets to see Blake with Justin Moore and Dia Frampton at the Pensacola Civic Center on January 28th!!  We also have a bunch of chances for you to "Shake the WXBM Christmas Tree".  We'll let you know when to call in and which caller to be, and if you get through, we'll shake that tree and let you know what prize falls out for you.  You could win some great stuff like an ipod, gift cards, tickets to see Eric Church 3/10 at the Wharf, an autographed Brad Paisley guitar and much more!! 

Don't forget about Bonfire Jam!!  It's coming up this Saturday after the Chumuckla Redneck Parade with Josh Turner, Jamey Johnson & Lee Brice.  This Thursday, WXBM & Bonfire Jam will be broadcasting live at the Burger King on Hwy 90 in Milton with FREE tickets!  When you purchase a BK value meal between 11a-1p (Thursday only) you will receive a FREE ticket to Bonfire Jam!!  One value meal purchase = one free ticket.  Even though we have quite a few to give away, supplies are limited, so be sure to be there as early as you can for your free ticket!  To purchase tickets & camping packages, visit:  http://www.bonfirejam.com/  The parade is at 1pm & Bonfire Jam gates open at 3pm.  SEE YOU THERE!!!!