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Andy Frasco & The U.N. Knock It Out of the Park with Motown-Inspired Single “Swinging for the Fences”

Eric Alper
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Andy Frasco & The U.N. Knock It Out of the Park with Motown-Inspired Single “Swinging for the Fences”

Andy Frasco & The U.N. continue their high-energy run into 2025 with the release of “Swinging for the Fences,” the latest single from their upcoming album, Growing Pains, out May 23. A swaggering, Motown-inspired jam featuring G. Love and Eric Krasno (Lettuce, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Soulive), the song is a playful but heartfelt meditation on aiming high in love-even when the odds (and your bank account) say otherwise.

Built around a grooving bassline, rich horn arrangements, and Frasco’s signature blend of humor and soul, “Swinging for the Fences” tells the story of someone daring to believe they can land the love of their dreams-even if they’re out of their league.

With lyrics like “Window shopping never got me anywhere / So I’m buying in and I’m flying in,” Frasco leans into his trademark mix of optimism, desperation, and self-awareness.

“I have been a friend and a fan of Andy Frasco for years now” says G. Love. “Andy’s wildly energetic and outrageous shows always tear the roof off. He’s a tremendous performer, writer, singer, and piano player. I’m really excited about our collaboration, and to have Kraz in the mix is next-level stuff. We really hit a home run with this one.”

“I always have a blast writing and working with Andy,” adds Krasno. “This tune is a really cool blend of Motown and Rock & Roll with Frasco’s unique voice and sound. He’s got a way of combining wit and style with a message that’s totally relatable.”

“Swinging for the Fences” follows the release of Growing Pains’ previous singles, each offering a distinct glimpse into the album’s dynamic range. First came “”Try Not To Die,” a groove-heavy, irreverent anthem that encouraged fans to embrace life’s chaos with humor and heart, blending infectious energy with an uplifting, tongue-in-cheek outlook. Then came “Crazy Things,” a wildly unhinged, storytelling-driven track that leans into the absurdities of love and relationships, packed with Frasco’s signature wit and larger-than-life personality.

“Swinging for the Fences” is the latest preview of Growing Pains, an album that sees Andy Frasco evolving as both a songwriter and a storyteller. While Frasco has long been known for his electrifying stage presence and party-starting anthems, Growing Pains explores themes of love, addiction, personal growth, and embracing life’s messiness-all without losing his signature humor and energy.

Music Docuementary ‘Dusty & Stones’ Set to Stream on Apple TV and Amazon

Eric Alper
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Music Docuementary ‘Dusty & Stones’ Set to Stream on Apple TV and Amazon

Coming to streaming on April 22, 2025, Dusty & Stones brings the inspiring journey of two African country music dreamers to Amazon & Apple TV—where passion meets the heart of Nashville.

For country music fans, Nashville is hallowed ground—a place where legends are made, where twang meets soul, and where dreams either fly or fall. But for Gazi “Dusty” Simelane and Linda “Stones” Msibi, a pair of country musicians from the tiny African kingdom of Swaziland, it’s more than just a city. It’s a destiny. Their incredible journey is captured in Dusty & Stones, a gripping and heartwarming documentary that follows their once-in-a-lifetime trip to record in Music City and battle it out in a Texas battle of the bands.

For years, Dusty and Stones poured their hearts into country music, inspired by the sounds of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and George Strait—all from thousands of miles away. Their big break finally comes when an unexpected invitation arrives: Nashville wants them. Texas wants them. America is calling. What follows is a whirlwind ten-day pilgrimage through the American South, where they step into top-tier recording studios, immerse themselves in the culture they’ve idolized for years, and prepare for their first-ever U.S. performance.

But like any great country song, trouble finds its way into the story. When they arrive in Jefferson, Texas, their much-anticipated debut performance is suddenly thrown into chaos when issues with the local backing band threaten to ruin everything. With the odds stacked against them, Dusty and Stones have no choice but to dig deep, take the stage, and fight for Swaziland—proving that country music isn’t just about where you’re from, but where your heart belongs.

Praised as “one of the most compelling and joyful music documentaries of the year” (Living Life Fearless), Dusty & Stones is more than just a film—it’s a testament to passion, perseverance, and the power of music to connect worlds. Directed by Jesse Rudoy, produced by Melissa Adeyemo, and executive produced by Sam Bisbee and Cody Ryder, the documentary has already won multiple festival awards, including Best Documentary Feature at the Atlanta Film Festival and Best Director at RiverRun International Film Festival.

With standout performances, emotional highs and lows, and a soundtrack straight from the heart, Dusty & Stones is the must-watch music documentary of the year. Whether you’re a country fan or just love an underdog story, this is one journey you won’t want to miss.

Tattoo Cartoo Brings a Black Flag Tattoo to Life—And It Sings!

Eric Alper
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Tattoo Cartoo Brings a Black Flag Tattoo to Life—And It Sings!

What happens when punk rock meets animation? Tattoo Cartoo brought a Black Flag tattoo to life, turning its iconic four bars into a singing A Cappella group! The best part? The tattoo owner’s son thinks they’re four iPhones — because nothing says hardcore like dad’s ink harmonizing about modern tech confusion. Punk rock just got a little more musical (and adorable).

Axel Schmitt Proves Heavy Metal Makes the Best Bread—Literally!

Eric Alper
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Axel Schmitt Proves Heavy Metal Makes the Best Bread—Literally!

What happens when you mix heavy metal and sourdough? You get Axel Schmitt, Germany’s champion bread sommelier and all-around rockstar baker. As a skilled drummer, Schmitt cranked up the volume — literally — by blasting metal music at his sourdough, discovering that the sound waves help the dough rise faster. Turns out, headbanging yeast makes for one hell of a loaf. Who knew baking could be so hardcore?

Hannah Anders Delivers a High-Energy Country Anthem With “Paint The Town”

Eric Alper
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Hannah Anders Delivers a High-Energy Country Anthem With “Paint The Town”

Hannah Anders brings listeners another party anthem with her latest single “Paint The Town.” The single is now available on all digital streaming platforms.

This songs driving country instrumentation paired with Hannah’s delicate Dolly Parton-like vocal performance bring listeners a familiar sound that is lost in modern country radio. With southern rock elements such as tasteful guitar licks and strong pounding drums, Hannah further feeds listeners who miss real, fiery women’s country.

With lyrics such as “Alarm clock starts a buzzin’ / I fall out of bed / The morning reeks of passion, whiskey and regret / I stumble to the kitchen
/ For black coffee and a cigarette,” Hannah sets up a strong image for listeners. She uses her storytelling songwriting to share about her wild night out. She ties it together at the end of the chorus with a strong hook; “We don’t paint the town red/ We make it bleed.” These party girl lyrics paired with the song’s upbeat instrumentation make the perfect honky-tonk anthem.

Fancy Hagood Expands ‘American Spirit’ With a Soulful Take on Lucie Silvas’ “My Old Habits” and Announces 2025 Tour

Eric Alper
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Fancy Hagood Expands ‘American Spirit’ With a Soulful Take on Lucie Silvas’ “My Old Habits” and Announces 2025 Tour

Fancy Hagood delivers a ’90s-pop-country take on Lucie Silvas’ “My Old Habits.” The latest bonus track from his upcoming American Spirit: The Last Drag, a deluxe version of Fancy’s acclaimed 2024 album, “My Old Habits” brings the American Spirit story full-circle. The song release comes on the tails of Fancy receiving two nominations at this year’s A2IM Libera Awards for Country Record and Self Released Record Of The Year.

Fancy on his “My Old Habits” cover: “One of my nearest and dearest friends and also one of my favorite artists is Lucie Silvas. When deciding songs for the deluxe album, I knew I wanted to cover her song ‘My Old Habits,’ because it’s been a favorite song of mine forever. I remember hearing Lucie and her band rehearse this song in the hallway before a set at the iconic Red Rocks, and I’ve been in love with it ever since.This song really got me through where I was emotionally during the making of American Spirit and just felt completely right to help tell the full story.”

In addition to “My Old Habits,” American Spirit: The Last Drag also includes a timely and powerful cover of The SteelDrivers’ “Where Rainbows Never Die” feat. Mindy Smith and Maia Sharp, as well as three new originals, including “The Mountains” feat. John Osborne (Brothers Osborne) as producer/guitarist. Fancy announced the deluxe last month with Rolling Stone and released a campy “Goodbye Earl”-themed music video for his song “Isn’t That Life” feat. Michelle Branch. The news comes at the top of what is already a banner year for Fancy, who was recently on the cover of Nashville Scene’s Country Music Almanac, with the outlet proclaiming “In 2025, we will need country artists who are unapologetically themselves – like Fancy Hagood.” He also just received the HRC Visibility Award, presented to him by eight-time Grammy winning singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves, and he will hit the road in April for his first headlining tour.

Marking both a return and an arrival, American Spirit is the album Fancy dreamed of creating when he first arrived in Nashville at age 17. Though he was initially turned away as an openly queer country artist, Fancy has since found himself embraced by a range of prolific musicians – he’s collaborated with Kacey Musgraves (“Blue Dream Baby”) and Orville Peck (“Rhinestone Cowboy”), Brandi Carlile called him an “artist to watch,” and Elton John has declared “We need more people like Fancy.” Fancy recently opened up about his journey in this extensive Variety feature, and he performed several of the new songs for a Holler Nashville Session, garnering praise for his “powerful storytelling ability and his captivating, sinuous vocals.”

Fancy Hagood 2025 Tour Dates:
April 17 – Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge
April 18 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
April 23 – Nashville, TN @ EXIT/IN
April 25 – Wilkesboro, NC @ MerleFest
April 27 – Washington, DC @ Pearl Street Warehouse
April 28 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
April 29 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Lounge at World Cafe Live
April 30 – Boston, MA @ Middle East Cafe
May 2 – Chicago, IL @ Carol’s Pub
May 3 – St. Louis, MO @ Duck Room
May 4 – Lexington, KY @ The Burl
May 7 – Atlanta, GA @ Eddie’s Attic
May 9 – Miramar, FL @ Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend
Aug 22-24 – Lutterworth, England @ The Long Road Festival

Reid Haughton Delivers a Bluesy Warning With “You Should Be Worried About Me” and Announces 2025 Tour Dates

Eric Alper
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Reid Haughton Delivers a Bluesy Warning With “You Should Be Worried About Me” and Announces 2025 Tour Dates

Nashville singer-songwriter Reid Haughton releases his soulful new track “You Should Be Worried About Me,” a bluesy warning to good-for-nothing boyfriends everywhere. He uses his unassuming Alabama twang, a stirring organ and a menacing guitar to hammer his point across – telling us all not to count him out.

“‘You Should Be Worried About Me’ started with the keys part, and we all loved that feel and knew we wanted to write something to that,” shares Haughton. “We wanted to craft a storyline that matched the confidence of the track, which is how we landed on the thought of the guy waiting his turn to treat a girl how she should’ve been treated all along. It’s one of my favorite tracks I’ve ever recorded, and I’m really excited to get it out to the world.”

The new track follows “The Wheel,” his easygoing collaboration with fellow Alabama native Drake White that gave Haughton his biggest streaming week ever. Last year, he released his debut LP Higher Than 9, combining his classic country influences with the Southern rock he grew up on. The Sadler Vaden-produced album captures the freewheeling energy of a bar band and his quintessentially Deep South storytelling that only comes from someone raised just South of Muscle Shoals. The record garnered praise from MusicRow, Whiskey Riff and Holler who called it “an electrifying release, a crank-it-up collection of tunes all fueled by muddied blues rock and red-hot Southern soul.”

Haughton cut his teeth playing college bars and has since spent years on the road supporting artists like Whiskey Myers and 49 Winchester. Most comfortable on a stage, Haughton always aims to preserve the raw, live band essence on his recorded music – letting his love of artists like the Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix shine through. Rolling Stone put it best when they said, “Haughton’s brand of guitar-based country should satisfy a whole bunch, from Southern rock to mainstream country fans.”

This month, Haughton will play Nashville’s famed The Station Inn with Dan Alley and Kasey Tyndall before continuing his run with Hudson Westbrook. Later this year, he will play Whiskey Myers’ Wiggy Thump Festival and Bourbon and Beyond. See below for a full list of dates or visit his website for more information.

2025 Tour Dates:
March 26 – Nashville, TN @ The Station Inn
April 10 – Ardmore, OK @ Heritage Hall *
April 11 – Monroe, LA @ Mustang Sally *
April 12 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues New Orleans *
April 17 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement ^
May 3 – Birmingham, AL @ WORKPLAY ^
May 8 – Little Rock, AR @ Stickyz Rock-n-Roll Chicken Shack
May 9 – Plano, TX @ Love & War In Texas
May 10 – Palestine, TX @ Wiggy Thump Festival
May 29 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27 *
Mary 30 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry *
September 11 – Louisville, KY @ Bourbon and Beyond

* – with Hudson Westbrook
^ – with Cameron Sacky Band

The SteelDrivers Honor Late Founder Mike Henderson With “Outrun” and Announce New Album on Sun Records

Eric Alper
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The SteelDrivers Honor Late Founder Mike Henderson With “Outrun” and Announce New Album on Sun Records

That SteelDrivers sound. Those already initiated with the two-decade-running, Grammy-winning quintet The SteelDrivers will know exactly what it means—the bluesy-leaning, stomp inducing, singular style that’s made fans of folks from Adele to Bill Murray to hundreds of thousands more fans across the globe for the past two decades. Between The SteelDrivers’ unique thump and chop of the rhythm section and seamless harmonies and vocal delivery, the Americana sum becomes greater than its bluegrass parts, an x-factor that’s still present in today’s new release, “Outrun,” the title track of a brand new SteelDrivers album due out on May 23rd on the iconic Sun Records.

Written by the SteelDrivers’ own Tammy Rogers (fiddle) and Matt Dame (guitar) along with longtime SteelDriver co-writer Leslie Satcher, “Outrun” was written in the eleventh hour ahead of the recording of Outrun. “I happened to run into [Satcher] the weekend before we were scheduled to go into the studio and told her we didn’t have any ‘Leslie songs’ on the upcoming record,” says Rogers. “She made the time to get together and ‘Outrun’ was written in about an hour and a half!” Mandolinist Brent Truitt calls it his favorite song from the new project, adding, “‘Outrun’ has all the elements that will likely elevate it to a SteelDriver classic in short order.”

Part murder-ballad, part getaway thriller, “Outrun” uses verse vignettes to tell its story while the song’s chorus is a universal lesson, or maybe just a warning: “You can’t out run the Mississippi River in a Shelby GT Ford / You can’t out run the angels, you can’t out run the lord / You can’t out run a broken heart that gives into a gun / And you can’t out run the grim reaper once the deed is done.”

Beyond the ever-evolving musical nature of The SteelDrivers, this seamless ebb and flow between intricate bluegrass and the hardscrabble blues, another key element of Outrun is this underlying tribute to late founding member Mike Henderson. And though Henderson passed away in 2023, his memory and presence is still profoundly felt by the group, onstage and in the studio. “I lovingly refer to Mike as the architect of the band,” Rogers says. “Because he’s the one in the beginning that called us all together. Everybody respected everybody else, and that’s what created our sound and what makes it so unique.”

Fans can stream or purchase “Outrun” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save Outrun ahead of its May 23rd release on Sun Records right here. For tour dates and everything else SteelDrivers, please visit thesteeldrivers.com.

 Only Nashville could give birth to a band like The SteelDrivers, a group of seasoned veterans—each distinguished in his or her own right, each valued in the town’s commercial community—who are seizing an opportunity to follow their hearts to their souls’ reward. In doing so, they are braiding their bluegrass roots with new threads of their own design, bringing together country, soul, blues, and other contemporary influences to create an unapologetic hybrid that is old as the hills but fresh as the morning dew. This is new music with the old feeling. SteelDrivers fan Vince Gill describes the band’s fusion as simply “an incredible combination.”

Specializing in a unique mix of what might be called bluegrass soul, the SteelDrivers have become one of the biggest names in progressive bluegrass after making their debut in 2005. While there’s a strong traditional streak in the SteelDrivers sound, they bring a passion to their delivery that adds a distinctive flavor, and they’re not afraid of adding a forceful grit to the music.

The SteelDrivers have been nominated for four Grammys, the Americana Music Association’s New Artist of the Year, and were awarded IBMA’s 2009 Emerging Artist of The Year. In 2015, The Muscle Shoals Recordings won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Recording.

About Sun Records: Established in 1952 by Sam Phillips, Sun Records is renowned for discovering music legends including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The label moved to Nashville in 1969 where it continued cultivating acclaimed artists Jeannie C. Riley, The Dixie Cups, Linda Martell, and many others. As a member of the newly-formed Sun Label Group under Primary Wave, Sun Records continues to foster musical innovation while honoring its rich history of shaping American music culture.

Southern Avenue Celebrates a New Release “Upside” and Upcoming Album ‘Family’ with a Live NPR Broadcast

Eric Alper
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Southern Avenue Celebrates a New Release “Upside” and Upcoming Album ‘Family’ with a Live NPR Broadcast

Today, GRAMMY-nominated Memphis-based roots, blues, and soul band Southern Avenue release their new radio single, Upside. The song, available on all digital service platforms, is a featured track on the band’s new Alligator Records debut album, Family. A new lyric video for Upside premieres today. Family will be released on April 25, 2025, and will be available on CD, translucent green vinyl LP and at all digital service providers.

Southern Avenue — recently nominated for a Blues Music Award for Band Of The Year — is unlike any other group on the scene today. The band features three Memphis-born sister singers who perfected their vocals in church before embracing their own sonic identity: lead vocalist/songwriter Tierinii Jackson backed by her two harmonizing, multi-talented musician sisters, Tikyra (TK) on vocals and drums and Ava on violin, percussion and vocals. Israel-born and bred guitarist/songwriter Ori Naftaly (who founded the band in 2015 and who is also married to Tierinii), provides funky grooves and raw Memphis guitar.

Upon release to radio, Upside instantly became one of the most added new singles on the Americana Radio Singles Chart. It is currently being supported by some of the leading NPR Music stations in the country, including WFUV-New York, Roots Radio WMOT-Nashville, WFPK- Louisville, KY and over a dozen others in its first week.

Later today, Southern Avenue celebrates the release of Upside with a live concert broadcast on NPR Music station WXPN-FM in Philadelphia at 12:00pm Eastern time. They will perform on the tastemaker station’s wildly popular Free At Noon program from the stage of World Café Live.

Speaking of the song, Tierinii says “Every day’s a new chance to find your joy. Upside is all about embracing that. It’s about dancing through the uncertainty, and choosing to see the beauty in every new day. It’s an anthem for moving forward, embracing change, and finding something to be grateful for—because life is too good to stay stuck.”

According to Ori, “We all get caught up in things we can’t control—stressing over the past, worrying about the future. But this song is about the here and now. It’s a reminder to embrace each day, let go of the baggage, and choose to see the light in every moment.”

Naftaly founded Southern Avenue in 2015, two years after arriving in Memphis to perform at the International Blues Challenge with his original band. The first time he saw Tierinii Jackson, the city’s premiere vocal powerhouse, he didn’t hesitate, saying, “I saw my entire future flash in front of me.” The two shared a few initial sessions, then TK joined on drums and Southern Avenue was born. “We’ve been a family ever since,” Tierinii says.

Southern Avenue is named after the famous street that runs through the center of Memphis, leading past the original home of Stax Records. But it was still a surprise to the band when they became the first Memphis group signed to the newly reformed Stax label, which released their self-titled debut album in 2017. In 2018 the band won the Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist. Their follow-up, Keep On, received a GRAMMY nomination. Constant touring has brought Southern Avenue to destinations across North America, Europe and Australia, and earned them non-stop adulation from fans, press and fellow musicians. In 2024, the band joined the Outlaw Music Festival tour, performing alongside Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Bob Dylan.

According to Naftaly, “Family is the story of how we found each other, held on through the highs and lows, and built something stronger than we ever imagined. It’s about the moments that test you, the people who lift you, and the belief that even through the hardest times, something beautiful is waiting on the other side.”

Rick Faris Celebrates His 40th Birthday with New Single “On The Right Track”

Eric Alper
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0
Rick Faris Celebrates His 40th Birthday with New Single “On The Right Track”

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Rick Faris welcomes his milestone 40th birthday by unveiling his latest single, “On The Right Track.” Available now on all streaming platforms, the track sets the tone for Faris’s upcoming fourth solo album on Dark Shadow Recording, slated for June.

Co-writer Rick Lang speaks to the creative partnership he shares with Faris: “I love writing songs with Rick, we have such good chemistry. He has a great mind for lyric, and a great feel for melody and rhythm. With ‘On The Right Track,’ we were shooting for an up-tempo, straight-ahead ‘real deal’ bluegrass number. The story line is a familiar one—trying to salvage a troubled relationship. We could not be happier with the way it turned out.”

The single features Faris on lead vocals and guitar, alongside acclaimed artists Dan Tyminski (mandolin), Ron Block (banjo), Laura Orshaw (fiddle), Mark Schatz (bass), Justin Moses and Stephen Mougin on harmony vocals, with Mougin also producing, engineering, and mixing the track. Mastering was handled by David Glasser.

Faris just wrapped up recording his fourth solo album for Dark Shadow Recording, promising an exciting next chapter following the success of his 2022 release. Fans can look forward to his signature blend of heartfelt songwriting and virtuosic musicianship in June.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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