Music Notes: Heartwreckers, Colin Stough, Chris Janson, Randy Houser & Uncle Kracker
Country Music & Entertainment News From Hook & Barrel Magazine
Heartwreckers Celebrate Baseball Theme Song, New Single “Nobody’s Man” & Tour Run with Tim McGraw
The new country duo Heartwreckers (Brock Butler and Ryan Garrett), celebrated their single “All Goes South,” being chosen by ESPN for its SEC Network college baseball theme with an appearance on “The Paul Finebaum Show.” You can listen to the appearance here.
“‘All Goes South’ was originally written as a fun song about playing the music we love and having a great time doing it. The song is reminiscent of times when there were less rules and boundaries in country music, when the song was king,” says Garrett. “Shortly after writing the song, we partnered with ESPN to reimagine a baseball version of the song given the infectious melody of the hook, ‘All Goes South.’ Brock grew up playing baseball and still plays in a league in Nashville to this day. Given his love for the sport, partnering with ESPN for this song was an absolute no-brainer.”
Next up for the duo: the release of their new single, “Nobody’s Man,” on May 31. “‘Nobody’s Man’ is a song written about our way of life,” Garrett adds. “Heartwreckers is a duo forged under the smoke of a dirty dive bar and we’ve always been the ones to ‘break the rules’ when it comes to songwriting and our way of life.”
Catch Heartwreckers on the road with Tim McGraw’s “Standing Room Only” tour, launching on May 30 in Toledo, OH. See all the dates and listen up here.
Colin Stough’s EP “Lookin’ for Home” Set for 7/12 Release
The buzz in country music news continues to build around Nashville artist Colin Stough as he’s set to release “Lookin’ For Home,” his six-track EP, on July 12, 2024.
“Each one of these songs is a piece of my heart, and they outline trials and tribulations that I’ve been through personally. They’ve made me into who I am today,” shares Stough. “The EP title ‘Lookin’ For Home’ comes from that feeling that something is missing—that no matter where you are, who you’re with, or what you’re doing, you feel like you don’t belong, and there’s something just over the horizon that would make it better.”
The album comes as a follow-up to his debut EP “Promiseland,” and further solidifies his hard-edged vision of musical honesty. Fans can listen to “Sober” (released 5/24) and “Makes Two of Us” now, and catch Stough on the road with an appearance at the CMA Music Fest on June 8. More info here.
Chris Janson’s “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” Stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
You might not hear him, but if you are watching Chris Janson’s music video for his newest single, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get,” you are sure to spot superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson alongside his longtime friend.
“We had a great time making this video,” says Janson. “Tons of genuine real fun. From TN to TX, we made it happen. Can’t thank DJ enough for starring in it and for being a great friend to me.”
The video showcases the duo hanging out in Janson’s favorite “arena”—the great outdoors. The two can be spotted hanging in a deer stand, muddin’ in a Ford truck (does it get any more country than that?), all along to Janson’s tune.
“We bonded so quickly in a parking lot waiting for our cars to pull around—talking about ‘The Blues Man,’ talking about the Opry,” Johnson says. “But what really moved me was Chris’ humility, his love for not only country music, which I love as well but his desire to work hard and take care of his family. He does it with such grace and style—again, his humility, gratitude and always bringing some fun to the mix made us fast friends and I’m happy to be a part of his video.”
Catch Chris Janson on the road on his own tour, joining Cody Johnson for select dates. More info here.
Randy Houser Brings “Country Back”
Dubbed “golden-voiced Mississippi native” by Billboard, Randy Houser released his new single, “Country Back,” a full-throttle proclamation of all things country.
Produced and written by Houser, with the help of Matt Rogers, the chorus declares:
We’re taking our country back
Back to the hollers and hills
Show your bright light towns how a night goes down
Where dust on the bottle, boots on the throttle, horns on a Cadillac
Yeah, we’re taking our country, our country back
Catch Houser on the road this year, headlining festival dates and joining Justin Moore for the “Country Round Here Tonight Tour.” More info here.
Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum Unveils New Glen Campbell Exhibit, In Partnership With Big Machine Label Group & Surfdog
The Musician’s Hall of Fame & Museum unveiled their new Glen Campbell exhibit in mid-April to an audience of legendary musicians, special guests, and industry executives. The event celebrated the release of “Glen Campbell Duets—Ghost on the Canvas Sessions.”
"When you look around the entire museum, you can see and feel Glen's work in so many of the other exhibits," says Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum's CEO, Linda Chambers. "We talk about the Musicians Hall of Fame representing all genres of music because studio musicians don’t play genres… they just play music."
Uncle Kracker Is Back with Album “Coffee & Beer” & Leading Single “Beach Chair”
Last on our updates of country music news goes to none other than Uncle Kracker. Uncle Kracker is back with a vengeance with his first full album in 12 years. The new 13-track, “Coffee & Beer” is set to launch on July 12. The album offers up a diverse array of songs, sticking to his multi-genre style.
Fresh on the road with Kenny Chesney, he released his new island-flavored single, “Beach Chair,” just in time for summer.
“The title says it all,” Uncle Kracker says of “Beach Chair,” with a smile. “It’s a classic fun track that will hopefully give people an excuse to sit back, kick their feet up, and relax. It's also the most fun you can have with your clothes on."
The song is the latest in a long line of hits, pulling flair from multiple genres including country, pop, rock, and a touch of hip-hop. The official music video is set for a May 31 release, and fans can sit back and listen to “Beach Chair” now.
Catch Uncle Kracker on the road with Kenny Chesney all over the U.S. this summer. More info here.
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