FREE Rascal Flatts tix and new music calendar

The fall & winter months usually bring lots of new music, and this year is no exception!  Here's a look at what's coming in the next few months:

 

 

September 11th
Little Big Town - "Tornado"

September 18th
Dwight Yoakam - "3 Pears"

 

October 2nd
Blake Shelton - "Cheers, It's Christmas"



October 16th
Jason Aldean - "Night Train"
Scotty McCreery - "Christmas With Scotty McCreery"

 

October 22nd
Taylor Swift - "Red"

 

November 13th
Toby Keith - "Hope on the Rocks"

 

Brad Paisley and Keith Urban have both confirmed that they are working on new material, but haven't set a release dates.  Eric Church confirmed that his next project will be a Live CD.  He'll record his shows October 8th & 9th in Chattanooga, TN to use for the CD, and release it early in 2013.  Eric has stated several times that he does not like making records, and that the writing & recording process "nearly kills me" every time.  He'll continue to tour this year including a stop in Biloxi on October 19th.  The CD that I'm really looking forward to is Dwight Yoakam's "3 Pears".  DY is my all time favorite country artist.....there's not even a close second.  I have always loved his songwriting style, but I'm not sure why.  The music is great, but it's a lot of heartache stuff and I'd like to think that I'm a pretty happy-go-lucky person.  I can't relate to "Buenos Noches From A Lonely Room" (hopefully NOBODY can) or "Lonesome Roads", but they are great songs musically and lyrically, as most of his songs are.  I believe Dwight is one of the most underrated songwriters of our generation.  If you only know "Fast As You" and want to get acclimated to some Dwight, grab his CD called "dwightyoakamacoustic.net".  Best CD ever.  Anyway, I'm anxious to hear some DY love songs.  You can also catch him and Zac Brown Band live on Pensacola Beach later this month for DeLuna Fest.  Get tix and info at www.delunafest.com and keep listening to 102.7 WXBM for a chance to win free tickets!

Brad Paisley's wife, Kimberly has signed on to appear in several episodes of the new TV drama "Nashville".  Her role will be the old flame of the main characters husband.  As I said a few weeks ago, I usually don't bother with TV dramas, but this one caught my eye and I'll at least DVR it and see what it's all about.  Nashville debuts October 10th on ABC.

 

Wanna be front row and backstage at the Rascal Flatts concert at the Pensacola Civic Center??  We need to know why you & your significant other are the PERFECT couple!  Go to our facebook page:  www.facebook.com/1027wxbm and you'll see a post asking why you are the perfect couple.  Marty & Lindsey Marie will choose 5 couples to play "Battle of the Sexes" on the morning show.  Women will be asked questions about sports, vehicle jargon etc, and men will be asked questions about fashion and make-up.  The couple with the most points will win a pair of front row seats and backstage passes to the Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town and Eli Young Band from Your Country 102.7 WXBM!!!

 

 

New Aldean & Swift

For months now, Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift fans have been anxiously awaiting new music.  People like myself have been telling you that Jason & Taylor have been in studio working on new material for quite some time, and now we finally have some more info on what to expect from both artists. 

Jason's new CD will be titled "Night Train" and will have 15 new songs.  He said "There are some surprises on there that might raise a few eyebrows, and there's also some more traditional stuff too. I don't like being put in a box, and I think with every record, we've had a lot of variety. Night Train is no different".  All along, there have been rumors that Aldean was working with a hip-hop artist or artists, so that could be what the surprise is all about.  I'm not crazy about the country/rap thing that is going on now, but I can accept it as part of the ever-evolving genre of country music.  I really do like his first single "Take A Little Ride". 

Jason also confirmed that he recorded a song with Eric Church and Luke Bryan called "The Only Way I Know".  Here's a complete track list:

1. "This Nothin' Town"
2. "When She Says Baby"
3. "Feel That Again"
4. "Wheels Rollin'"
5. "Talk"
6. "The Only Way I Know" (with Luke Bryan and Eric Church)
7. "Take a Little Ride"
8. "I Don't Do Lonely Well"
9. "Night Train"
10. "1994"
11. "Staring at the Sun"
12. "Drink One for Me"
13. "Black Tears"
14. "Walking Away"
15. "Water Tower"

Night Train will be released October 16th.

Last Monday Taylor Swift held a live webcast and announced a few details about her new CD.  The project is called "Red" and will feature 16 new songs.  Taylor told her fans that all the songs on the CD were written about the "tumultuous, insane, intense, semi-toxic relationships I’ve experienced in the past two years".  Unlike her last CD, Taylor enlisted the help of other songwriters for Red.  The first single (which isn't about Joe (or whichever) Jonas) is called "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and you can hear that on 102.7 WXBM.  Taylor will release Red on October 22nd.

Thoughts & prayer going out this week to Wynonna's husband Cactus Moser, who was involved in a serious motorcycle wreck in South Dakota.  His injuries aren't life threatening, but doctors did have to amputate his leg above the knee.

Got a bunch of free concert tickets for you to win!  Keep listening this week to score free Lynyrd Skynyrd tix!  Two ways to win....listen to 102.7 WXBM and we'll let you know when to call in.  Also, keep an eye on our facebook page (www.facebook.com/1027wxbm) and we'll post on facebook when it's time to call and which caller to be.  We'll play all week for Skynyrd tickets.  We'll also be giving you chances to see Zac Brown Band and Dwight Yoakam at DeLuna Fest!!  More info to come on that on WXBM and at www.delunafest.com

Have a great week! Thanks for listening to Your Country 102.7 WXBM!!!

Aug/Sept Community Events Calendar

If you're looking for some good ways to serve your neighbor and your community, there are quite a few events coming up in August & September that you may be interested in.  Here's the WXBM Community Events Calendar:

August 15th

Operation Clothe 'Em:  Clean out your closets for a good cause!  Operation Clothe 'Em is looking for donations of clothing to benefit Gulf Coast Kids House, Pace Center for Girls and the Acute Stabilization Unit at Lakeview.  Looking for toddler - teen sizes.  Donate at Florida Blue Center at the corner of 9th & Airport from 10am-2pm this Wednesday, August 15th.  More info: breepittman@yahoo.com

August 18th

Back To School Bash:  Join WXBM next Pea Ridge Elementary School for the annual Back To School Bash!  Bring the kids out for free bags of schools supplies, free food, exhibits, demonstrations, door prizes and much more.  It's a great way to get the kids ready for school.  BTSB is Saturday, August 18th from 10am-1pm next to Pea Ridge Elementary School. 

St Rose of Lima Sale:  It's the annual Antiques & Uncle Junk sale!  Shop for household goods, books, music, clothing, arts, crafts, baked goods & more from 7am-12pm at St Rose of Lima Church.  More info:  995-7056

August 19th
Pensacola Roller Gurlz/pet adoption:  The Pensacola Roller Gurlz next bout is Sunday the 19th at Dreamland Skate Center on Olive Rd at 7pm.  If you show up early you can see some great critters that are up for adoption from the Junior Humane Society and other organizations.  They will hold their adoption event from 5-7pm before the Gurlz event at Dreamland.  Also, at halftime there will be a pet parade! 

August 23rd

Fiesta Forces happy hour:  You can become part of a Pensacola tradition by volunteering at the annual Seafood Festival!  Join Fiesta Forces Happy Hour to sign up for the shift of your choice.  There are new member dues.  More info:  (850) 433-6512

August 30th

Council on Aging meeting:  The Council on Aging will host a Pensacola caregiver support group meeting from 6p-7p on the 30th.  There is no cost and reservations are not required.  More info:  (850) 432-1475

Septmeber 8th

Strike Out Homelessness:  EscaRosa Coalition on the Homeless will hold their "Strike Out" bowling event at DeLuna Lanes on 9 Mile Rd on September 8th.  Cost is $125 for a five-person team.  More info:  Serene (850) 232-9548

September 9th

UCP Wine & Dine:  United Cerebral Palsy's "Wine a little.....dine a lot" event should be a fun one.  They will have a silent auction followed by a 5 course meal!  More info:  (850) 432-1596

September 22nd 

Steps for Autism:  Sponsors, team leaders and volunteers are needed to plan & organize Steps For Autism next month.  More info:  Susan at (850) 450-0656

If you wish to volunteer some time, the Northwest Florida Blood Services is always looking for blood and platelet donors.  You can get more info at www.nfbcblood.org or call (850) 473-3853.  And Habitat for Humanity is also desperate for volunteers.  It's hard work, but it really is rewarding to be part of something like a Habitat build.  No experience is necessary.  If you know ho to use a hammer, you can help out.  More info:  (850) 434-5456.

If your non-profit organization has an event or announcement that you'd like us to air, email all the info to communityannouncement@wxbm.com.  Try to get the info to us at least three weeks before your event.  As always, if you have any questions, give us a buzz in the studio and we'll help you the best we can.

Thanks for listening to Your Country 102.7 WXBM!

Kenny and Tim in NOLA

I took a vacation day last Friday so Kim & I could go over to New Orleans and see the Brothers of the Sun tour with Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw.  It was an awesome show.  We got there a little late and missed Jake Owen, but got to see all of Tim & Kenny's performance.  Tim came out and sang most of his bigger hit songs and a couple new ones:  "Truck Yeah" and "Mexicoma".  The whole time he was singing Mexicoma it sounded like he was saying "Pensacola".  Good song though.  After Tim got done, they did a quick set change and Kenny started his performance by coming up through a smaller stage back by the soundboard in the back of the floor section.  At the end of the song, a chair that was rigged to a wire came up and he sat on that and rode it to the main stage.  Pretty cool stuff.  I noticed that it was a very up-tempo set by both artists.  Fine with me.  Considering the concert was in New Orleans and Kenny is good friends with several Saints players and coaches, we thought for sure he would bring someone out on stage with him, but it didn't happen, but Kenny did hold up a "FREE SEAN PAYTON" tshirt which the crowd loved.  That was definitely the loudest moment of the evening.  After Kenny's set, he came back out a started the song "Feel Like A Rock Star" and when it came to Tim's part of the song, Tim came up on the smaller stage where Kenny first appeared, but he didn't ride that chair to the stage, he walked through the crowd with some big beefy security guys around him.  They sang that song, Indian Outlaw, She Thinks My Tractors Sexy and Runnin' on Empty to close the show.  Funny moment during their last song, Tim started cracking up and pointing at a couple guys in the crowd and motioned for them to come up on stage.  When they got up and the camera zoomed in for the crowd to to see, the guy Tim brought up first was a dead-ringer for him.  Coulda been his twin brother and his buddy looked just like Kenny.  They goofed around on stage, took some pictures & had a few laughs, and that's how the show ended.  I thought that was pretty interesting considering what happened a couple weeks ago when security booted a guy who looked just like Kenny.  Coincidence?  Probably.  Pretty funny moment though.  This was my 5th time seeing Tim and at least my 5th time seeing Kenny, and both guys were at the top of their game.  I was very impressed.  Tonight (8/6) Tim is taping an episode of the PBS program Austin City Limits.  No word on when that will make it to air, but I'll keep you posted.

Couple weeks ago I mentioned that Blake Shelton was working on a Christmas CD, and now we have a little more info on that.  First of all the title will be "Cheers, It's Christmas".  Blake credits his wife Miranda Lambert with coming up with the title.  Very fitting because Blake has never been accused of turning down an adult beverage.  He didn't release a full track listing, but did say that he recorded a few duets.  One with Reba.  Another with Michael Buble, and a third duet with his mother, Dorothy Strickland.  Blake described the duet with his mother as an emotional song written about the special women in his life.  The last bit of info is the release date, October 2nd.  Blake is also working on the 3rd season of The Voice which starts next month on NBC.

Garth has signed on to appear in a CBS TV special called "Teachers Rock" later this month.  It's a back to school concert special that will also feature Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and several artists from other genres.  Look for that on Saturday the 18th at 7pm on CBS.

Have a great week and thanks for listening to Your Country 102.7 WXBM!!

Toby on American Idol? Nope. Brad Paisley....maybe

If you are an American Idol fan, you probably know that two of the three judges bailed out this summer.  Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler both left the show, and just a few weeks ago AI announced that Mariah Carey will fill one of the seats and the other is still open.  We could, possibly see a country star fill the open slot.  Toby Keith says he was offered the job but turned it down.  There have been rumors about Brad Paisley getting the call too, but that's just rumor for now.  Also heard Carrie Underwood could be considered.  The problem that most artists like Brad, Carrie & Toby face is that they tour SO much that it would be tough to do both, and the AI schedule is so demanding.  Blake Shelton is in the same boat with The Voice.  He and the other coaches talk frequently about how tough it is to do the show and tour at the same time.  I would look for a decision from the AI folks soon because I believe audition start soon. 

Speaking of Toby, he announced that he's hard at work on his next CD.  He has about 15 demos and said about 10 or 11 will make the final cut.  He didn't talk about a release date.  Jason Aldean has been working on his new project for a while now and expects an October release date.  In the mean time, you can hear the first single from Aldeans upcoming CD "Take A Little Ride" on WXBM.  Brad Paisley is also recording new material, and he's recording his music old-school, meaning there will be no editing done on his new record.  Most music is recorded piece by piece into a computer.  A lot artists use professional studio musicians to record the drums, lead guitar, bass guitar etc on separate tracks and they do quite a few "takes" on each song.  Then they can go back with a computer program and edit the best parts of the song together to make a very polished, final version.  From what I took away from Brad's interview about his recording process, he and his band are recording all the instruments and vocals at the same time to one master track, and there will be no edits.  I'm guessing you probably won't be able to tell when you listen to the CD, but it's definitely something that musicians will appreciate.  As with Toby and Jason, Brad hasn't given us an exact release date for his new project.

I'm not usually one for drama shows on TV (especially during baseball season) but ABC's new show "Nashville" caught my attention.  Here's a quick look at what to expect:

I'll DVR it just to check it out.  Could be interesting.  Producers of the show want everyone to know that the young singers character is NOT based on Taylor Swift, or on any one person.  Apparently there's been a lot of talk about that.  Look for Nashville to premiere October 10th on ABC.

Have a great week!!  Thanks for reading the blog and listening to Your Country 102.7 WXBM!!

Garth on tour.....maybe

Recently, Garth Brooks was asked (again) if he plans on touring in the near future, and he said, "Our youngest is a junior in high school now. Our oldest, we just celebrated her 20th. If God lets us do it and everything goes well, I would love to tour again".  I would love to have the opportunity to see Garth in concert again because his shows really do live up to the hype.  Back in 1998 I was the mid-day DJ at 105.3 WYNG in Evansville, Indiana and we got word that Garth was going to make a stop in our city.  Back then, Garth didn't show up, do a show and leave.  The demand for tickets was unbelievable.  He couldn't just do one show and pack up & leave.  He would often perform several shows in consecutive nights.  When tickets went on sale for the Evansville show, the first show sold out in less than 10 minutes, so they added another, which sold out in the same amount of time so they added another, and another.  A couple days before the concert my Program Director, Jimmy gave me tickets to the third show and told me that Garth was doing a press conference before the concert and asked me if I wanted to go.  Of course I said "yes" but figured I'd just be there so I could say I was in the same room as Garth.  I had no plans on asking any questions until that morning.  I was on the air and around noon I got a call on the request line from a florist in Nashville.  He asked me what the big occasion was, and I had no idea what he was talking about.  He said "some record company just ordered 14 dozen roses to be delivered to a 'Roberts Stadium' tomorrow night.  What's the deal?".  I told him I really couldn't even guess, and we small talked a little before I had to let him go.  A little while later, the wheels started spinning....I remembered reading that Garth would track his ticket sales, and often have a prize or gift for his 1 millionth, 2 millionth 3 millionth etc ticket holders during the show.  Since he was doing quite a few shows, those events happened on a somewhat regular basis, but it hadn't happened in a while, so I thought maybe that's it.  Maybe he's going to surprise his "X-millionth" ticket holder.  (I knew the number at the time.  I believe he was coming up on his 4 millionth ticket holder)  So I went to my PD, Jimmy, and ran my theory and he said "ask him".  I left his office with absolutely no intention of asking Garth anything, because I thought either someone would beat me to my question, or I would be too intimidated to speak up, look Garth in the eye and ask him a question.  Later that night I was in a conference room with a bunch of other radio/TV folks and Garth comes out & starts his conference.  In my head, I thought everyone in there would have 20 questions for him and I wouldn't even find a pause to interject with my question, even if I mustered up the courage to speak up.  To my surprise, there were few questions (and even fewer GOOD questions) so I decided that I was going to "man-up" and ask a legit question.  It took me a few minutes, but I found a spot to jump in and I said "Mr Brooks, I'm Ryan and I work at one of the country stations in town.  When I was on the air today I got a call from a florist in Nashville wondering why a record label ordered 14 dozen roses.  Is your 4 millionth ticket holder in the audience tonight and if so can you tell us what other gifts you have for that person?".  I noticed that as I was speaking he had a somewhat blank expression on his face.  When I finished, he crossed his arms and leaned back in his folding chair and didn't say a word.  He sat there for a good 5 seconds and slowly started to smile and said "you guys are soooooo sneaky.  No comment."  Then he looked over at the guy he walked in the room with and laughed & said "No comment.  I can't believe......no comment".  Apparently I ruined his surprise.  The first thing that went through my mind was "I hope I didn't just get a florist fired".  That portion of the press conference ran on all the news channels that night (of course they didn't credit me or the radio station for cracking the story) and they made a pretty big deal about it, and in fact, Garth's 4 millionth ticket holder was in the audience the following night.  I believe they won a new truck, 7 day vacation and, of course, 14 dozen roses.  I had the opportunity to do a phone interview with Garth in 2006 and was tempted to ask if he remembered the incident, but elected not to press my luck.  I think he was a little ticked at me.  Sorry G.

Get ready for the BLUES!!!

Yall ready to see the Blue Angels fly over Pensacola Beach?  Just a few days until it happens!!  Hope you can join Your Country 102.7 WXBM at Casino Beach this weekend for the fun.  Since there is very little going on in the world of country music again this week, I'll give you a little info on the airshow in case you've never been.

Here's the schedule of events:
Wednesday, July 11th:  Blue Angels will perform circle/aerial maneuvers at 8am over Pensacola Beach

Thursday the 12th:  Blue Angels will practice at 2pm

Friday the 13th:  Full dress rehearsal with the Blue Angels flying at 2pm

Saturday the 14th:  Full air show starting at noon.  Blue Angels fly at 2pm

First of all, let me point out the obvious:  It's Florida, and it's July.  It will be a hot, so plan ahead.  Run to the store this week and get a bunch of sunscreen & water.  We usually throw a couple little dish towels in our cooler and when you get hot, take one of those out of the ice and put it on your head or the back of your neck.  Instant cool-down.  As far as traffic is concerned, Saturday will be the big traffic day.  We live in Cantonment and usually leave around 8am and by the time we get to the 3 Mile Bridge, it's backed up past the hump.  Kim's parents lost their home on Little Sabine in Ivan, but still own the lot, so we always watch the show from their empty lot.  Which is for sale, by the way.  So I would recommend leaving the house early and just plan on being at the beach all day.  The good thing is, unlike the fall show at NAS Pensacola, you can bring a cooler with you, so load it up with water and whatever else you feel like but keep in mind that they do no allow any glass bottles on the beach.  I have seen them enforce that rule too, so bring plastic bottles or cans if possible.  And no pets.  No critters on the beach.  As far as parking goes, the Casino Beach and Quietwater lots will fill up pretty fast.  There is parking available down Ft Pickens Rd and Via DeLuna & the trolleys will be running all day, so you can park & ride.  Also, be very careful where you park.  If you park illegally, you'll be ticketed or towed.  And every year, we see little compact cars park in loose sand on the side of the road and get stuck.  To me it would be worth it to walk a little further than risk it and have to get towed out.  After the show it'll take you a little while to get off the beach, so plan on traffic delays coming & going.  We'll have traffic updates for you all day on 102.7 WXBM.

We have more free Miranda Lambert concert tickets for you to win this week!  Not sure how, or when, but we'll have more for you and we'll let ya know how to win them when the time comes.  She'll be at the Amphitheater at the Wharf in Orange Beach this Thursday with Lee Brice and Thomas Rhett.  Still tix available at Ticketmaster.com if you're not lucky enough to win them.  If you're not going to that show, you can see the Sawmill Band in concert the same night at Evenings in Olde Seville Square!  It's a free show at the corner of Gov't & Alcaniz at 7pm. 

Have a great week!  I'm on vacation this Wednesday - next Tuesday, so have a great week.  Thanks for checking out the blog and for listening to Your Country 102.7 WXBM!

Community Events Calendar

Happy Independence Day!!  I hope that you're as proud to be an American as I am.  Not just this week, but every day of the year.  Thank you to all active duty and retired military men & women for what you do and for what you have done.  God bless America.  Hope you can join WXBM for an AWESOME fireworks show on Pensacola Beach or on the Riverwalk in Milton, Wednesday evening.  Also, be sure to tune in to 102.7 WXBM from 8:30pm - 10pm Wednesday evening for 90 minutes of patriotic country music!  Perfect music to listen to while you're watching fireworks.

Not much going on in the world of country music, so I'll give you a quick update the WXBM Community Events Calendar and let you know about some volunteer opportunities.

Wildlife Sancturay of Northwest Florida:  The Sanctuary got flooded out with that massive rainfall in June, and they're still trying to get back on their feet.  They are looking for volunteers to donate time, money or items on their wishlist.  More info:  850-433-9453 or www.pensacolawildlife.com

Panhandle Butterfly House:  The PBH is now open and giving free tours Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.  They are located in Navarre Park on Hwy 98 in Navarre.  Might be something fun (and free) to do with the kids this summer!  The tours are free but donations are greatly appreciated, and the Panhandle Butterfly House is looking for volunteers.  More info:  www.panhandlebutterflyhouse.org or 850-623-3868.

Pints For Patriots:  The Latin American student association will hold their Pints For Patriots blood drive July 19th at UWF.  Donors are asked to show up between 9:30am - 2:30pm at building 72.  Donors are eligible for door prizes and free food.  More info:  850-474-2453

Doggie Bathe-In:  The Humane Society of Pensacola will hold their Doggie Bathe-Ins on the 3rd Saturday of the month July, August, September and October.  A great way to keep you critters clean and pest-free.  Humane Society is also looking for sponsors for the annual BarktoberFest event in October.  More info:  850-432-4250

Green-Up Santa Rosa:  The Green Up nursery has reduced the prices on their Crepe Myrtles.  One gallon plants are now only $4.99 and seven gallon plants are $7.99.  They are open Tues-Sat from 9am-4pm.  More info:  850-623-1930 or www.srclean.org

Strike Out Homelessness:  The Escarosa Coalition on the homeless will hold their Strike Out Homelessness bowling tournament on September 8th at Deluna Lanes.  Cost is only $125 for a five-person team.  More info:  850-232-9548

The following as a re-post from a few weeks back, but some good info if you're looking for some great ways to serve our community:

Northwest Florida Blood Services: Donating blood is a tough sell because so many people are uncomfortable around needles. You always hear us telling you that blood donors are needed because there is no substitute for blood. It cannot be created and it cannot be stored for long periods of time. Shelf life is a couple weeks for blood, and only a couple days for blood platelets. Yes, it takes time and yes, it can be somewhat uncomfortable, but it really is worth it. If you would like to get more info or schedule a donation, call: 850-473-3853 or go to www.nfbcblood.org

Habitat For Humanity: Can you hammer a nail in a board? If so, you are qualified to help! The great thing about working with HFH is that you don't need prior experience to help out. They have site directors who will help you learn how get the job done. Is it hard work? Yes. Is it rewarding to help build someone else's house? Absolutely. If you would like to volunteer, call: 850-434-5456

Ronald McDonald House: RMH is looking for individual or groups of volunteers to do everything from cook meals for families to doing light house chores like taking out the trash, vacuuming, sweeping etc. RMH houses families whose children are facing extended hospital stays. If you would like to volunteer, call: 850-477-2273

Children's Home Society: CHS is looking for volunteers to mentor young people between the ages of 14-21. If you would like to help out, call: 850-494-5975

Trauma Intervention Programs: TIP is a group of specially trained volunteers to counsel people immediately after a traumatic event. They have an extensive training program, an anyone can volunteer. More info: http://www.tip-ser.org/


Thanks for listening to 102.7 WXBM!  Have a great week.

Free Miranda tix, Martina's TV show and Kenny Chesney's twin

Martina McBride has announced that she'll be on a new reality show called "Opening Act" on the E! network.  Martina will be part of an Artist Development Team that will search the internet for up & coming talent, and then work with them & give them the opportunity to be the opening act for well known artists like Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Rod Stewart & others.  I'm a little surprised that there is another reality singing/talent show in the works because that audience seems to be spread pretty thin with shows like American Idol, The Voice, Duets, America's Got Talent, X-Factor etc.   I wonder if the networks are worried about reality show fatigue with their viewers.  I watched all of The Voice this year and parts of American Idol.  Both shows ended in May and just as they ended, ABC's "Duets" started and there was absolutely no chance that I was going to start watching it.  I'm sure it's a great show with talented singers & celebrity judges, but for me, I was (and still am) burned out.  Then again, their target audience probably isn't 37 year old men.  With that said, I'll probably end up getting suckered in and watching every episode of Opening Act!  The show will premiere July 9th on the E! network.

Turns out you can get booted from a Kenny Chesney concert if you look too much like Kenny.  So says Nathan Blankenship.  Nathan was asked to leave Kenny's concert in Nashville over the weekend for "purposefully trying to impersonate a celebrity", and here's what he says happened:

I'm not sure what to think about this story.  I could understand if they ask him to leave because he's trying to pass himself off as Kenny or being a distraction.  But if he's up-front with people and tells them he's not Kenny right off the bat, then there should be no problem.  I can tell you that if I knew I was a dead-ringer for Kenny Chesney, I wouldn't be caught dead in that hat at his concert, but do my best to not draw attention to myself when I'm in public.  What do you think, should they have booted this guy?

Got a chance for you to win tickets to see Miranda Lambert, Lee Brice and Thomas Rhett all week!  Whenever you hear any song by any of those artists this week between 5am - 4pm, be the 25th caller to qualify to win tickets and backstage passes to meet Miranda!!  Then in the 4 o'clock hour, I will call one qualifiers name on the air and if that person calls back within 10 minutes, they'll win a pair of tickets to the concert and be qualified to win the backstage passes!  Should be fun!  Congrats to Brandy Overstreet for winning today.

Have a great week and thanks for listening to Your Country 102.7 WXBM!

No reality for Kenny

Over the last couple years, I have wondered if some of the bigger names in country music would participate in the reality TV craze. I've always thought that because of Kenny Chesney's hectic tour schedule and good personality, he would be a perfect candidate for a "behind the scenes" type of reality show, but Kenny disagrees. He says he has not interest in being on any reality shows or even being part of the social network craze like facebook and Twitter. Understandable. He seems to avoid extra attention at all cost, and I can't say I blame him. Kenny says "no" to reality TV, but he did say "yes" to ESPN. He's in a new promo for the sports network:

 

In other Kenny news, there are still tickets available for his concert with Tim McGraw at the Superdome on New Orleans, August 3rd.  Sounds like the boys are having fun on on and off the stage with this tour.  Tim said that he & Kenny are both on strict workout schedules, which is obvious when you look at this photo of Tim that he put on Twitter last week:

A little something for the ladies there.  Anyway, Tim said that Kenny's day to splurge and go off his diet is Sunday, so all week, he is tempting Kenny by sending him red velvet cakes and all kinds of desserts to test Kenny's will power.  So far, so good for Kenny.  Hopefully he won't come off tour with any extra chins! 

Gary Allan announced that he is all done recording his new CD, and it's in the process of being mastered.  Gary described it as "up, and really rockin".  I have always been a huge fan of Gary.  In fact, he's on my "stranded-on-a-deserted-island" list.  You know, the "if you were stranded and could only take 5 CD's with you" game.  Gary and Dwight Yoakam (who is also working on a new CD) would account for all five of those CD's.  The first single from his new project will be called "A Tough Goodbye".  No album title or release date is set as of now.

Congrats to Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland and her husband Justin Miller who are expecting their first baby in November!  Exciting news for them. 

Not much going as far as contests this week, but I will have a chance for you to win a UFC prize pack from Cox and WXBM each day this week.  Listen at 4:50pm for a chance to call in and win a UFC tshirt and DVD from Cox and qualify to win a free pay-per-view coupon to see UFC 147 Silva v. Franklin live on Cox ppv this Saturday from WXBM.

Have a great week!  Thanks for listening to Your Country 102.7 WXBM!

Blake is in the studio and Eric is going paperless

Hope you made it through the flooding over the weekend with minimal damage.  What a crazy couple of days.  We live in Cantonment and got out of it with only a muddy back yard.  No complaints.

Blake Shelton has been a busy man lately.  Not only touring, but working on a Christmas CD's and getting set for another season of "The Voice".  Blake recently announced that he's in studio working on his first Christmas CD which should be out later this year.  So far, he hasn't spilled any details on what songs he'll include on the project or a release date.  I'll keep you posted on that.  Also heard that Blake will be back in LA to start work on a new season of NBC's The Voice in the next couple weeks.  Didn't that show just end?  Kim & I watched it this past spring and really enjoyed it, along with American Idol.  Now there's this new show "Duets" with Jennifer Nettles on ABC.  I'm not knocking Duets, but I can't say I'm gonna watch it.  I'm a little "reality-singing-show'd-out" for a while.  I know they do a lot of pre-taping with The Voice, so I'm guessing that's what they're going to start on.  When I hear an air date for the new season, I'll let you know.

Eric Church is coming back to the Gulf Coast and we have free tickets for you to win!  If you missed him in March at the Wharf, be sure to catch him in Biloxi on October 19th.  Interesting side note about Eric....he has officially waged war against ticket scalpers.  He noticed that when tickets for his shows go on sale, professional ticket scalpers will buy hundreds of tickets at a time for regular price, and then turn around and re-sell them for huge profits.  Not cool.  Eric is peeved because his true fans have to pay much higher prices to get tickets to his show.  He says she keeps his ticket prices reasonable (tix for his Biloxi show start at $37.50) so people can afford to go to the shows, but these scalpers will get online and buy up 75% of the floor seats before anyone else has a chance to get them.  To fight this, Eric is going paperless.  Here's how it works.  When you buy your tickets online, you have to use a credit card, and when you get to the show, instead of handing them a ticket to get in, you give them the credit card you used to purchase the tickets online and an ID.  They swipe the credit card, and you're in the door.  I'll post a link with more info.  This will put the scalpers who buy 295 tickets out of business unless that scalper wants to give his credit card to everyone who buys tickets from him.  Sounds like it may be a bit of a hassle for some people, but at the end of the day, Eric's fans will have better access to his shows at reasonable prices.  If the paperless thing works, I'm willing to bet we'll see quite a few other artists do the same.  Tickets for Eric's Biloxi show with Justin Moore and Kip Moore will be on sale this Firday, June 15th.  Here's the link for more "paperless" info:  http://www.ticketmaster.com/paperless

We have plenty more chances this week for you to win a free $50 gas card and qualify for that Country Cruise with Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Neal McCoy and Easton Corbin from Pace Coins!  Just like the last couple weeks, we'll let you know when it's time to play.  Also keep an eye on our facebook page (www.facebook.com/1027wxbm) for a chance to win tix to see that Eric Church concert in Biloxi.  We'll let you know on facebook when to call in and which caller to be to win.  Also, this Saturday we're going to give away a new John Deere D-100 series lawn tractor at Beard Equipment.  Listen for your chance to call in and win a John Deere cap and qualify to win that JD lawn tractor!  You can also stop by Beard Equipment on 9 Mile Rd before the close of business Wednesday and put your name in the registration box, and then we'll get all our qualifiers out there for the giveaway this Saturday the 16th.  Good luck on those contests!  As always, don't hesitate to pick up the phone & call if you have any questions.

Thanks for listening to WXBM & for taking time to check out the blog this week!

CMA MusicFest and TONS of prizes for you

It's gonna be a busy week!  We have a ton of great prizes for you to win & qualify for.  Gas cards, Country Cruise with Blake Shelton, win 'em before you can buy 'em for Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw tix and lots more!  I'll give you the details shortly.  Also have a couple news items.

First off, condolences to Dierks Bentley and his family on the passing of his father, Leon.  Dierks made the announcement of his fathers passing via Twitter over the weekend.  Leon Bentley is WWII veteran who served as a second Lt. in the Army. 

ABC will film it's annual CMA MusicFest TV special this week in Nashville.  It's MusicFest week in Nashville (formerly Fan Fair) and ABC will be filming the concerts at this Thursday - Sunday at LP Field.  Over 450 artists and celebrities will spend a few days in Music City to meet thier fans and put on some big concerts.  Luke Bryan and Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry will co-host "CMA Music Festival:  Country's Night to Rock", September 17th on ABC. 

Chris Cagle has another hit on his hands with the song "I Got my Country On".  Chris says making his latest record "rekindled" his passion for music, and he's ready to roll!  Cagle is currently out on tour to support his new project "Back in the Saddle" which will be released June 26th.

Hope you've had a chance to win your $50 gas card and qualify for the Country Cruise with Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Neal McCoy and Easton Corbin from Pace Coins!!  If not, listen all week for us to tell you to call in.  If you're caller 25 at that time, you'll score that $50 gas card and if you're caller 26 you'll qualify for the Country Cruise from Pace Coins in Pace and East Brewton and Your Country 102.7 WXBM!

A new contest we started this week gives you a chance to win a brand new John Deere D-100 lawn tractor from Beard Equipment!  Listen for your chance to call in and win a John Deere cap and an entry into the "Draw Down", June 16th at Beard Equipment on 9 Mile Rd in Pensacola!  If you can't get through on the phones, you can stop in to Beard Equipment and put your name in the registration box out there. 

Last week I told you about Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw adding the Superdome in New Orleans to their tour schedule for Brother of the Sun.  They'll be there August 3rd and tix will be on sale this Saturday through Ticketmaster, but it's a "win 'em before you can buy 'em" week on WXBM!  At 6am each day this week, we'll let you post on our facebook page and tell us what makes you feel like a rock star, and between 3-4pm and 4-5pm, I'll read the name and comment of someone who posted and that person will have 10 minutes to call in and win 2 free tix to see Kenny & Tim in NOLA August 3rd from Your Country 102.7 WXBM!  As always, if you have any questions, give us a buzz in the studio

Good luck on those contests and thanks for listening to WXBM!  Have a great week!

Kenny in NOLA and more FREE GAS!!

Got a busy week ahead of us at WXBM! We have a bunch more chances for you to win a $50 gas card and qualify for that 7 day Country Cruise from Pace Coins all week. More on that later.

Just a couple things of interest in the news this week. Heard Zac Brown Band is done with their new project called "Uncaged".  When asked to describe his new music, Zac said "It's your basic country-Southern rock-bluegrass-reggae-jam record". Thanks for not being vague Zac!! Just kidding. Sounds like the ZBB will keep things hush-hush until the July 10th release date. Also just heard that The Band Perry is about half done with work on the follow-up to their self-titled debut CD. While The Band Perry continues to work on their new stuff, they'll also be out on the road with Brad Paisley, opening up for him this summer. A quick reminder about a few new CD's that are coming out in the next few weeks:

June 5th - Alan Jackson "Thirty Miles West" "Uncaged".
June 12th - Josh Turner "Punching Bag"
June 19th - Kenny Chesney "Welcome to the Fishbowl"

Also, if you want to see Kenny in concert with Tim McGraw on the Brothers of the Sun tour, your roadtrip just got a little shorter. The boys added the Louisiana Superdome to their tour schedule! They'll play NOLA on August 3rd. Tickets on sale Saturday, June 9th through Ticketmaster.

It's another week of FREE GAS from Pace Coins and Your Country 102.7 WXBM! Listen all week for us to tell you to call in and win! When the time comes, caller 25 will win a free $50 gas card, and caller 26 will be qualified to go on a 7 day Country Cruise in October with Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Neal McCoy and Easton Corbin!! Congrats to all of our winners so far, and good luck to you as we play again this week from Pace Coins in Pace and in East Brewton and WXBM! Its also a "Win 'em before you can buy 'em" week for tickets to see Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Drake White! That show will be August 25th at the Wharf in Orange Beach, and tickets won't be on sale until this Friday, June 1st, but you can win 'em all week long on Your Country 102.7 WXBM!

As always, thanks for listening to WXBM! We appreciate ya. Have a great week.

FREE GASOLINE!

Wanna win some FREE gasoline?  Of course!  Who doesn't??  All week long on Your Country 102.7 WXBM we'll let you know when to call in to win a free $50 gas card from Pace Coins.  When it's time to play, caller 25 will get the gas card and caller 26 will be qualified for a second chance drawing to go on a 7 day Country Cruise in October with Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Neal McCoy and Easton Corbin!  Congrats to everyone who won and qualified today, and we'll have a bunch more chances for you to win all week long from Pace Coins in Pace and in East Brewton, and Your Country 102.7 WXBM!

Couple other quick TV things here.  Looks like ABC picked up two shows that country music listeners may have some interest in.  The one that jumped out at me is called "Nashville".  It's a fictional drama about life behind the scenes of an established country singer, and a rising star.  ABC recently released a trailer for the series, and it looks pretty good: 

I have always been curious about what goes on "behind the scenes" that artists have to deal with, so I may try to catch the first couple episodes of this show.  I'm sure there will be a lot of fictional drama in the series, but I'd be willing to bet that they'll have story lines that are based on actual events.  Could be interesting.  "Nashville" will be a one-hour weekly series beginning this fall on ABC.  I'll get you more info when it's available.  Another show that ABC picked up for this fall is a sitcom called "Malibu Country" starring Reba.  I wrote about this a couple weeks ago after they shot the pilot episode and were waiting to hear if the network would pick it up, and now we know they grabbed it.  Here's the trailer for Malibu Country:

As far as I know there is no date set in stone for either show.  All I heard was that ABC will air Nashville "this fall" and Malibu Country "Friday's, this fall".  I'll keep you posted. 

That's it for this week!  Hope you get a chance to call in & win the gas cards from Pace Coins!  Thanks for listening and have a great week. 

Community events calendar & volunteer opportunities

Since there's not much going on in the world of country music this week, I figured it would be a good time to look at the community calendar and highlight a few organizations who need volunteers.

May 17th
Evenings in Olde Seville Square: 2012 marks the 25th and final year for this great concert series. Join WXBM every Thursday evening through August 2nd for a free, family concert. Here is your complete lineup:

May 17th Pensacola Civic Band
May 24th Kit Lough
May 31st Perdido Brass / The Guffman Trio
June 7th Heritage
June 14th Reunion Band
June 21st 151st Army Band
June 28th Mr. Big and the Rhythm Sisters
July 5th Don Snowden’s Big Band with Holly Shelton...
July 12th The Sawmill Band
July 19th The Lisa Kelly/JB Scott Quintet
July 26th The Swingin’ Dick Tracys
Aug 2nd Clark and Company

If you have any questions, give us a call at WXBM or look them up on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/1027wxbm#!/pages/Evenings-in-Olde-Seville-Square/101680083581

May 19th
Humane Society Doggy Bathe-in: This is a great way to keep (or get) your mutts clean and flea-free! It's a low cost way for you to bathe and groom your dogs and get them a flea dip. Fleas are expected to be worse than normal this year due to the mild winter. The bathe-in will be going on from 9-2 on the third Saturday of the month until October. For more info call: 850-432-4250

Grace Lutheran Church Rummage Sale: Shop the annual rummage sale Saturday from 7am - 11am to support youth missions and events. GLC is at 6601 North 9th Ave (just south of Creighton across from the fire station). More info: 850-476-5667

May 26th
Harold Volunteer Fire Department: Join Harold VFD for their fish fry fundraiser. More info: 850-983-8564

July 27-29th
Boo Weekley's Camp Compass Golf Scramble: Boo's 10th annual charity golf tournament is moving to Hidden Creek Golf Club in Navarre this year! Saturday's golf tournament is full, but you can still come out for the live & silent auction Friday night. They will have a TON of different stuff again this year....you'll find something. Then head out Saturday after the golf tournament to see Larry the Cable Guy and Gary Allan! Boo knows how to have a good time, so be sure to head that way in July. More info: http://booweekley.com/

Also, if you have time and would like to volunteer, here's a list of folks that could really use a hand:

Northwest Florida Blood Services: Donating blood is a tough sell because so many people are uncomfortable around needles. You always hear us telling you that blood donors are needed because there is no substitute for blood. It cannot be created and it cannot be stored for long periods of time. Shelf life is a couple weeks for blood, and only a couple days for blood platelets. Yes, it takes time and yes, it can be somewhat uncomfortable, but it really is worth it. If you would like to get more info or schedule a donation, call: 850-473-3853 or go to www.nfbcblood.org

Habitat For Humanity: Can you hammer a nail in a board? If so, you are qualified to help! The great thing about working with HFH is that you don't need prior experience to help out.  They have site directors who will help you learn how get the job done.  Is it hard work? Yes. Is it rewarding to help build someone else's house? Absolutely. If you would like to volunteer, call: 850-434-5456

Ronald McDonald House: RMH is looking for individual or groups of volunteers to do everything from cook meals for families to doing light house chores like taking out the trash, vacuuming, sweeping etc. RMH houses families whose children are facing extended hospital stays. If you would like to volunteer, call: 850-477-2273

Children's Home Society: CHS is looking for volunteers to mentor young people between the ages of 14-21. If you would like to help out, call: 850-494-5975

Trauma Intervention Programs: TIP is a group of specially trained volunteers to counsel people immediately after a traumatic event. They have an extensive training program, an anyone can volunteer. More info: http://www.tip-ser.org/

Lots of stuff going on and plenty of volunteer opportunities await! I left the best contact info I could find, and of course if you ever have any questions you can call us at Your Country 102.7 WXBM. Thanks for listening! Have a great week!

Bonfire Jam on the Beach

Just a few more days till Bonfire Jam on the Beach!  Kudos to the BFJ crew for putting a great show together....it's gonna be an awesome day!  Whenever there is a big event like this, we get quite a few different questions in the studio about what you can & can't bring, what time, who's playing when etc, so I'll knock some of those questions out right quick.

Here's a quick list of things that are on the "NO" list:
-Coolers/food
-Pets
-Knives/weapons (duh)
-Musical instruments
-Tents & flags
-Video cameras
-Professional cameras

Couple other things that may help you out
-Bonfire Jam box office opens at 11am Saturday and you can buy tickets at the gate
-Gates open at noon
-Kids 7 years old & younger get FREE with accompanying adult - in general admission area only, not reserved seating
-Bonfire Jam ends at midnight
-Waterways will be restricted in front of the concert area
-Parking passes are $20 and parking will be on a first come, first served basis and parking passes MUST be displayed in your vehicle's window all day
-ATM's will be available at the show

A bunch of folks have called in wanting to know what's the best time to get there, and it really depends on who you want to see.  If you want to see the entire show, you'll probably want to get there before noon.  Carpool if possible, and expect traffic delays.  Heaviest traffic is expected to be between 4-7pm, so just plan ahead on that.

And finally, here's the official Bonfire Jam on the Beach lineup:
3:30  Sunny Sweeney
4:45  Brett Eldredge
6:00  Josh Thompson
7:30  Craig Morgan
9:15  Ronnie Dunn

Be sure to listen to Your Country 102.7 WXBM this week to win FREE tickets!!  It looks like the weather will be perfect for a full day on the beach this Saturday, so we hope to see you down there for the show!  Hope that helps answer some questions you may have.  If not, give us a call in the studio or go to http://www.bonfirejam.com/ and see their FAQ section.  If I missed anything you may get the answer on their site.

Eric Chruch vs. reality

Eric Church is my man.  I love his attitude, his music and most of all I like his songwriting.  However, I can't back my man on his recent comments in a Rolling Stone interview where he blasts Blake Shelton and some other very talented artists.  Here's what he said, and I'll let you fill in the blanks because he used some colorful language.  First he said that if you try out for a reality show like American Idol or The Voice, you are not a "real" artist.  About country music, Eric said, "It’s become American Idol gone mad. Honestly, if Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green _______ turn around in a red chair, you get a [record] deal? That’s crazy. I don’t know what would make an artist do that. You’re not an artist”.  And then came his dig at Blake:  “If I was concerned about my legacy, there’s no _______ way I would ever sit there [and be a reality-show judge]. Once your career becomes something other than the music, then that’s what it is. I’ll never make that mistake. I don’t care if I _______ starve”.

First of all, Eric is NOT the first singer to speak out against reality show singers who end up with record deals, and here's the beef they have.  Use your imagination for a second.  Pretend that you're on summer vacation between your Jr & Sr year in high school and you see this awesome truck that you want, and you decide to go out and earn it.  All you can think about is how cool you'll look pulling in the parking lot on the first day of school in your new jacked up truck, so you work every possible second of your summer vacation and sacrifice & save every penny so you can earn enough money to buy your dream truck and impress everyone.  Then, you roll in on the first day of school and see that the kid with the rich daddy went out and bought him a brand new truck that is even better than yours and he didn't earn it.....daddy just went out and bought it for him and now he's getting the attention that you though you were gonna get.  There's a certain amount of pride in earning something in life.  Most country stars, like Eric, move to Nashville with a dream and they grind it out in clubs & bars and they compete for (literally) years & years with other very talented people just for the opportunity to get a record deal.  Then there are these reality contestants who just show up to an audition, impress some judges to get on a TV show and they're an instant star with a record deal within a matter of weeks.  They didn't grind it out in Nashville or work two jobs AND play the clubs & bars 7 nights a week for five years.  They had it handed to them.  I believe that's the issue.  The problem with that logic is that there's no wrong way to accomplish your dreams.   The other problem I have with what Eric said is that I just don't think anyone cares.  Maybe it's an unspoken grudge that certain artists hold against reality show singers, but at the end of they day, personally, I don't care how someone got a record deal.  I care about good music, and I find it hard to believe that there's an abundance of singers in Nashville who are losing out on record deals because of reality show singers.

It's no secret that Eric is verrry opinionated.  Just a few weeks ago I wrote that I believe he is a modern day "outlaw" in country music, and his Rolling Stone interview is proof of that.  He doesn't care what people think about him or what he has to say.  Eric is concerned about one thing:  music.  That's all.  Even though I think he could have picked better words for that interview, I believe that Eric really is a true artist.  By that I mean if he had never received a record deal, or moved to Nashville, he would still be writing and playing music somewhere because that's what he loves to do.  Whether it's in front of 20,000 people or in front of 20 people.  Eric comes off looking petty and a little insecure with his comments.  If I were a Public Relations rep for Eric or any other celebrity, I'd steal a line from my old man and tell them "Just because you have an opinion, doesn't mean that anyone wants to hear it".  Nobody cares about your little grudges or your politics.  Sing your songs, earn your paycheck and keep your mouth shut.

FREE Alan Jackson Tix and the Workday Getaway!!

NBC's Today Show has announced the lineup for their Summer Concert Series, and there are a few big name country stars on it.  Look for The Band Perry to perform June 1st, Kenny Chesney will be on there June 22nd and Zac Brown Band on July 13th.  For a look at the full lineup, click here:  http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47105545/ns/today-toyota_concert_series/t/usher-maroon-perform-today-summer-concerts/

Speaking of Kenny, he & Tim McGraw just released the official video for their duet "Feel Like A Rock Star".  Here it is:

Carrie Underwood is all set to release her new CD "Blown Away" on May 1st and she'll be making the rounds to promote it in the next few weeks.  The latest additions to her calendar, The Late Show with David Letterman next Monday, April 30th and she'll be performing at the Billboard Music Awards May 20th.  Carrie also has 5 nominations for the CMT Music Awards which will be June 6th, and I wouldn't be surprised if she ended up performing at that show too! 

Got a couple fun contests going on this week.  We'll continue to give away the Workday Getaway trips from Butler U-Pull-It this week.  Listen to Marty & Lindsey Marie weekday mornings at 9:20 and they'll tell you what the Workday Getaway Song of the Day is AND they'll tell you when it will play.  When that song plays, be the 25th caller to win a getaway to the destination of your choice:  Atlanta, Gatlinburg, St. Augustine, Nashville or Savannah.  We'll take care of your hotel stay, give you tickets to local attractions and some spending cash if you win.  We also have a second chance drawing for you if you happen to be the 26th caller on this contest.  Caller 26 will be registered to go to the Coke Zero 400 in Daytona on July 7th from Curb Records! 

The other big contest this week is FREE ALAN JACKSON TICKETS!  Just listen throughout the day and we'll let you know when to call in, or just listen to Marty & Lindsey Marie at 6:30 each day this week and they'll tell you the hour that we'll be giving the tix away!  Pretty easy stuff! 

Good luck on those contests and thanks for listening to Your Country 102.7 WXBM!