Tour Bus Hang with Lee Brice

August 20, 2015August 19, 2015 countryheartbeat Making It Happen, Songwriting Secrets, Throwback Thursdays #getyourDREAMon, Country Music, Jack Daniels, Lee Brice, Luke Bryan, Maine State Pier, Make IT Happen, Meet & Greet, More Than A Memory, Music Industry, tour bus, WPOR

THROWBACK THURSDAY!

Lee Brice letting us preview some unreleased songs!

May 16th, 2015

Today was the day that I realized that my dreams were starting to come true. Today marked a very important day in the history of my future career in the country music industry. I was able to obtain an official photo pass (aka special access to the stage for the first 3 full songs) to photograph Lee Brice at his show on the Maine State Pier in Portland. I’ve always photographed every concert that I’ve ever been to, but point and shoot camera photos do NOT compare to a SLR with a long zoom lens! Photography has always been a passion of mine, and combining that with country music basically makes me one of the happiest girls alive.

The radio station that I work for, WPOR 101.9, gave two lucky listeners the opportunity to “hang” with Lee Brice on his tour bus before the show. Obviously a photographer needed to be there to cover the event 😉 and that was ME! This amazing opportunity left me basically speechless. (No, really, I didn’t say more than two words on his bus… I think I said “Thank You” after taking a photo with him and that was about it!) You couldn’t wipe the smile from my face if you tried!

Continue reading →

“MADE” It Happen!

August 19, 2015August 20, 2015 countryheartbeat Making It Happen #getyourDREAMon, Canaan Smith, Dakota Bradley, dreams, Easton Corbin, Gary Allan, Jackie Lee, Jillian Cardarelli, Josh Dorr, Kelsea Ballerini, Lady A, Lady Antebellum, Law of Attraction, WPOR

This blog has taken a backseat in my life for a few very good reasons that I have been wanting to share with you guys for a couple of months now! I’ve honestly been so crazy busy that I haven’t gotten the chance!

At the end of March I interviewed for a position on the Street Team at my favorite country radio station, WPOR 101.9. Out of over 150 applicants, I managed to score one the coveted spots on the small Street Team representing WPOR and all of it’s sister stations. I worked a couple of events in April, but May was the big month for me when I realized that all of my hard work and dreams were turning into reality. (You can check out the Throwback Thursday post “Tour Bus Hang with Lee Brice” for more on that day!)

Continue reading →

New Music Monday

May 25, 2015November 23, 2015 countryheartbeat Music Monday Country Music, Drake White, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Michael Ray, New Songs, Outshyne, Sam Hunt, Summer

Songs you should be listening to (and downloading!) right now:

Kelsea Ballerini, “Dibs”

Kelsea’s debut album, titled The First Time, came out last week… and I really hope that you all bought a copy! Kelsea is definitely the next big thing in the female country genre… you might know her from her first Top 10 Single, Love Me Like You Mean It. While her whole CD is amazing (even Taylor Swift thinks so!), I’m really liking this one right now. It screams girl power and confidence, knowing exactly what you want and going out to get it. I don’t see how anyone could not love Kelsea, she’s just so sweet and talented!

Michael Ray, “Run Away With You”

This song will always be special to me, because I got to hear the demo version back in October of 2013, way before it was released. I was at a bar in Nashville, hanging with some of Michael Ray’s band mates, and he let us listen to this song. My first thought was, “that’s totally going to be a big hit!” While Big & Rich cut it for their album, Gravity, you’ve got to hear Michael Ray’s original version, which I will always be partial to! (John Rich and Michael Ray wrote the song together.) Michael Ray’s version can be found on his EP which is ONLY available at Walmart! Get your copy here!

Drake White, “It Feels Good”

Just like the title suggests, this is really a “feel-good” song that perks you right up and makes you want to dance and/or stomp your boots! White combines some blues with his natural twang, and it’s nothing like all the other songs that you hear on the radio! This song has a very unique style and is sure to be a hit with both new-country and old-style country lovers! This is totally a fun-loving country summer jam! View the lyric video on YouTube!

Luke Bryan, “Kick The Dust Up”

I’ll always be partial to Luke, despite all of the cr@p he gets for his bro-country-hip-hop style. This song automatically had me bopping my head a long to the beat. Lyrically, it’s much like all of his other songs about partying in the middle of nowhere, moonshine, trucks burning up a back road, boots on, etc. Despite this, Luke knows what the radio stations want and he continues to deliver. It’s sure to be a summer hit! It’s definitely not my favorite Luke song, but I do love the guitar/banjo picking beat!

Outshyne, “Moonlight Crush”

This song is a bit older, being first released to Sirus/XM Radio in August of 2013. I’ve liked it since day one, but I’ve been really getting into it more lately with summer on it’s way. Boy meets girl, boy develops crush on girl. You know how you tend to love songs that you can relate to the lyrics? This song is magic to me for that reason. Everyone loves a good summer romance, right? 😉 Check out the music video!

Summer is Coming! Shop for Sandals at CountryOutfitter.com Today!

Young and Crazy with Frankie Ballard

May 5, 2015 Cassi Jane Concert Reviews, Contributors concert, Country Music, Frankie Ballard, Helluva Life, St. Anslem College, Sunshine & Whiskey, Young and Crazy

It’s no secret that I have some serious love for Frankie Ballard and all that he does. I mean I even went back to college (at least for one night) just for him. He knows how to tear it up on stage no matter what type of venue it is.

My most recent Frankie adventure brought me to Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. There were two opening acts; Ryan Sandford, a current student of Saint Anselm, and Alec MacGillivray, both of which were amazing. You could tell they both had a solid fan base at the show.

The last time I saw Frankie he was still recovering from a shoulder injury but since then he’s been able to pick up his guitar and resume his “face melting” skills on stage. This is what I was most excited for.

He started the night off with I Came to Git Down and rattled all these new comers with his guitar moves. I think the majority of the students knew him by Sunshine and Whiskey, Helluva Life and from his recent single Young and Crazy, so when he started to sing those songs, things got a little crazy. Witnessing the smile on his face when people are singing his songs back to him is just an unbelievable moment.

Continue reading →

Help my BFF win TAYLOR SWIFT Tickets!!!

April 27, 2015April 27, 2015 countryheartbeat Uncategorized 1989 Tour, Contest, Taylor Swift, WPOR

My best friend Tracy has been along with my for this crazy ride since Day 1. Please take a minute to vote for her and her Mom in this Mother/Daughter Look-Alike Contest!!! 🙂 The winner gets tickets and transportation to one of Taylor Swift’s Gillette Stadium shows this summer!

Or click here and then click on the image that pops up in a new window! Just log in with your facebook account to vote if you don’t want to register! 🙂

Thanks guys! I love helping others win even more than I love winning myself! ❤

Nothin’ Like Dan + Shay

April 23, 2015 Cassi Jane Concert Reviews, Contributors Boston, Canaan Smith, Country Music, Dan + Shay, Where it All Began Tour

A Dan and Shay concert = insane energy. These boys rocked the rock out of the Paradise Rock Club Sunday night and when you add Canaan Smith into the mix, you’re in for the ride of your life.

I’m sure most of you have heard “Love You Like That” on the radio, well that’s Canaan Smith. He recently released his new EP and is winning the hearts of many girls while opening for Dan and Shay. He won my heart over when he opened for Sam Hunt in September 2014 at the Hard Rock Café.

After doing some songs from his EP, he covered Nick Jonas, Jealous and this got the crowd going. There’s no going back after you ask Bostonians if they’re Boston Strong, because it’s going to get rowdy. The passion that just pours out of Canaan is incredible. If you need someone to get the crowd going, it would be Canaan.

He is currently working on his first studio album that will be named “Bronco” in dedication to his late brother who owned a Ford Bronco.

After a short intermission Dan and Shay were ready to take the stage. They played song after song, barely stopping to take a breather. You could tell they really loved what they did and performing on stage is where they had to be. From all the jumping and dancing you would like think these boys would be worn out, but nothing stopped them.

Every song they sang from Parking Break to their current single; Nothing Like You, every single person sang along. When they covered songs like Ed Sheeran, Thinking Out Loud and Def Leppard, Pour Some Sugar On Me, it got even louder. I mean I saw a security guard in front of the stage singing and dancing along, that’s how contagious they were. At one point of the night they stripped it down and did an acoustic version of Can’t Say No, which sent chills down everyone’s spine. We even got a hear a new song, Partner In Crime and it definitely did not disappoint!

These boys fed off the energy from the crowd and the crowd was definitely fueling the fire. They had some serious love for Boston and well; Boston felt the same way. I wish I had more than two thumbs because this concert deserves a hundred thumbs up!

Until next time boys.

The Where It All Began Tour is Dan and Shay’s first headlining tour. Visit www.danandshay.com to see if they will be performing at a venue near you!

P.S. If you’re one of the first 60 give or take (and ultimately depending on the venue) people to purchase either a shirt or CD from the merchandise table, you will receive a wristband for a post show meet and greet! 🙂

Talking Your Way Backstage

April 6, 2015 countryheartbeat Making It Happen, Networking Backstage, concert, Country Music, Gratitude, Meet & Greet

People often wonder how I get to do all of the crazy things that I do, like attend shows for free, win contests, or hang out with/meet the artists. Most attribute it to luck. “You have the best luck out of anyone I know!” they often tell me. In reality… it isn’t luck at all. Here I am, sharing my secrets with y’all. It takes determination, a strong will, courage, confidence, and some good ol’ fashioned work! You’ve got to be willing to put in the effort if you really want something!

Step 1: RESEARCH

It’s all about research… you’ve gotta do a whole lot of research about the particular artist or group of the show you are going to. 99.9% of the time, I’m already following the “artist page” on twitter and instagram… but you’ve gotta break it down more than that. You need to find out all the band members names… then figure out other connections; like their tour manager, sound guy, photographer/videographer, close friends, stylists, or anyone related to the production of the tour or insiders at the venue. Also be clear of which radio station is hosting the event and make sure you are following the individual radio hosts as well as the station. (This also benefits you in case they are giving away extra tickets to the concert or Meet & Greet Passes… keep your eyes open!) Even if you already have tickets… the ones they [the radio station] give away could be seat upgrades and you could always give the extra pair to some friends. I personally do not condone reselling the extra tickets [aka scalping], but if that is something you choose to do… for the love of God, don’t jack up the price to make a hefty profit. That’s just not cool. Or fair to the person buying them. And it certainly does not benefit the artist! Don’t be greedy… it’s bad karma!

You’ve gotta start this process weeks in advance… once you can identify certain people (by “creeping” social media sites more or less) then you follow them on twitter/instagram or whatever your preferred choice of social media is. I’ve even got artists on snapchat and as facebook friends*.

*Requesting to be friends with someone in the industry on facebook is not recommended unless you personally/actually know this person. That’s really just plain creepy and stalker-ish. It might even get you blocked or reported.

Continue reading →

This Week in Country Music News

March 30, 2015March 30, 2015 countryheartbeat Country Chatter Canaan Smith, Cole Taylor, Crash My Playa, FGL, Florida Georgia Line, iHeart Radio Awards, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift, Thomas Rhett

Have you heard?

Luke Bryan announced a save-the-date for his second “Crash My Playa” in the Rivera Maya, Mexico. Tickets go on sale April 9th at 11am CDT. Go to www.crashmyplaya.com for more event details!

Earlier this week, Canaan Smith released his debut EP on iTunes. It includes his radio hit single, Love You Like That as well as 4 other great songs. Grab your copy here! (No, really, go buy it, it’s less than $7 bucks!)

Thomas Rhett‘s sophomore album is largely inspired by Bruno Mars! TheBoot.com wrote up a great article that you can read here! T. Rhett has been known to cover a few Bruno Mars songs during his set. Check out this swoon-worthy cover of When I Was Your Man. Last show of his that I saw, he ended it with an AMAZING rendition of Uptown Funk! He’s also got some killer dance moves, for those of you who haven’t seen him in concert yet! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1iAxyLzBT8

Continue reading →

Anything Goes On A Monday Night

March 15, 2015March 30, 2015 Cassi Jane Concert Reviews, Contributors Anything Goes Tour, FGL, Florida Georgia Line, Frankie Ballard, Manchester, Thomas Rhett, Verizon Wireless

Florida Georgia Line is starting to become one of country music’s most popular duos, so when the Anything Goes tour with Frankie Ballard and Thomas Rhett was announced, people got really excited to say the least.

I’ve seen FGL once before, during the taping of Good Morning America and that was a totally different atmosphere. I figured this concert was going to just be one giant party and it most certainly was!

Frankie started the night off and unfortunately due to a stage mishap a few weeks prior; his shoulder was out of commission, so there was no guitar playing for him. But that didn’t stop him from getting the crowd warmed up. Some fans may not have known Drinky Drink, but when Sunshine and Whiskey came on; everyone was up dancing and singing along. He then paid tribute to a fellow “Michigander” and did a cover of Bob Seger’s Old Time Rock and Roll and if you weren’t already up and dancing, you most definitely were now. So after doing 4 songs, it was time for Thomas Rhett to take the stage. He was working the crowd, jumping around all over the place, taking phones to take pictures and going into the crowd. His energy just kept escalating as the night went on. I’m pretty sure he won some hearts over when he sang Uptown Funk. The crowd was getting rowdy.

TR 3/23/15 — Thomas Rhett has some killer dance moves!

Continue reading →

Revealing My Identity

February 18, 2015 countryheartbeat Blogging 201 Course Blogging 201, blogging201, identity

So back about a year ago when I decided to start a blog, I was extremely hesitant about putting photos of myself on it. Even with my instagram account, Country Heartbeat, I specifically made sure to not show my face in any pictures. Partially because I wanted to stay anonymous, partially because I was afraid of creepy stalkers/ people recognizing me at events, and partially because I’m naturally mysterious. I have learned through the blogging classes I have been taking and through comments and connections with other bloggers, people want to see a face with the name and know who they are reading about. Images naturally draw people’s interest and they are more likely to open a post to read it if there is a photo involved. Tonight I’ve gone back and edited some posts from the archives, adding personal photos to them.

Please take a look at some of the best posts in my archives, complete with new pictures… especially if you’re new here and haven’t been following since the beginning! 🙂

Dream Trip of A Lifetime <— All about my very first ACM Awards experience!

That’s My Kind of Night <— Includes a secret video that is not public on YouTube!

About Page <— Revamped with photos & archived links!

Where it All Began <— First published post, added photos!

Let me know your thoughts… and I will definitely incorporate more photos into posts in the future! 🙂