2017 Musical Recap

It was a bit hard for this music blogger to get to as many shows as she would have liked thanks to an unavoidable hip surgery, but it was still a great year music wise.

Concert Summary
January - Chris Young
February - Drew Baldridge, Dylan Scott, Jerrod Niemann
March - William Michael Morgan
May - Jesse Joice, Casey James. Cannan Smith
June - Jon Wolfe, Sunny Sweeny, Tyler Farr
July - Kane Brown
September - William Michael Morgan
October - LANco
November - Midland

Favorite Full Band Show
- William Michael Morgan at the OKC State Fair
Favorite Acoustic Show
- LANco
Best Community Give Back Show
- KVOO Can Jam

Best Musical Moment
- William Michael Morgan dedicating Vinyl, my favorite song of his, to me the night before my hip surgery and wishing me good luck.
Best Musical Souvenir 
- My KVOO t-shirt
Best Meet and Greet
- Catching up with Stephen Whitfield the guitarist from Cannan Smith's band at my sixth Cannan show

Most Anticipated Performance
- Hearing my first steel guitar live (William Michael Morgan's band)
Most Anticipated Concert
- William Michael Morgan (Full Band)
Most Noteworthy Concert Moment
- Kane Brown, all I can say is the explosion from YouTube viral videos to a record deal is total warranted
Most Anticipated Album of the Year
- 27861 by Parmalee

Social Media Discovery of the Year
- Carter Winter
Breakout Artist of the Year
- Brett Young

Noteworthy Song of the Year
- Road Less Traveled by Lauren Alaina
Noteworthy Album of the Year
- Brett Young's Debut Album
Noteworthy "Life Lesson" Song of the Year 
- Drunk Girl by Chris Jansen

Musician, Artist, and Music Discoveries of 2016

If I was asked what music from 2016 caught my attention the most, there would be but one answer - High Valley. The sibling duo is originally from Canada and they easily topped my most played playlist. Their songs have meaning and their sound is full of actual instruments. Their newly released album Dear Life sounds amazing and has the current chart climbing single "Make You Mine" on its' track list. They are not the only wonderful awesomeness to come out of 2016 though. Read on to hear about all the other wonderful musicians, artists, and music that caught my ear through out 2016 including the stunning collaboration Forever Country. 

~ Top 5 Noteworthy Bands ~

1. Michael Ray's Band:  

• Lucas Chamberlain – Guitarist
• Jonathon Sepulveda – Bassist
• Kurt Ozan – Utility Player
• Andrew Beselica - Drummer 

2. Granger Smith's Band:

• Jonathon Wisinksi – Bassist
• Dusty Saxton – Drums
• Todd Howard – Electric Guitar & Banjo
• John Marlin - Electric Guitar

3. Brantley Gilbert's Band:

• BJ Golden – Utility Player
• Jess Franklin – Guitar & Keys
• Noah Henson – Guitar
• Stephen Lewis - Bassist & Bass Cello
• Ben Simms  - Drums

4. Canaan Smith's Band:

• Luke Berridge – Bass
• Tucker Wilson – Drums
• Kenny Fuller – Guitar
• Stephen Whitfield - Guitar

5. Eric Paslay's Band:

• Tyler Tomlinson – Guitar
• Chris Roach – Bass
• Marcus Hill – Drums
• Luke Moller - Utility Player

.~Top 5 Noteworthy Musicians ~

1. Blaze - Guitar
2. Clark James - Drums
3. Lindsay Ell - Guitar
4. Dave Gayland - Fiddle
5. Seth Costner - Keys\Banjo

Lindsay Ell

~ Top 10 Must Listen To Artists ~

1. Seth Costner
2. Cole Taylor
3. David Fanning
4. Ryan Kinder
5. Jesse Joice
6. Tara Thompson
7. Runaway June
8. Travis Denning
9. Drake White
10. Timmy Brown

~ Top 10 Noteworthy Albums/Eps ~

1. Dear Life by High Valley
2. Remington by Granger Smith
3. Pawn Shop by Brothers Osbourne
4. You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell
5. Fired Up by Randy Houser
6. Timeless by The Swon Brothers
7. Spark by Drake White
8. Vinyl by William Michael Morgan
9. Southern Boy by Jordan Rager
10. Big Day in a Small Town by Brandy Clark

~ Top 10 Noteworthy Singles ~

1. "Humble and Kind" by Tim McGraw
2. "Alien" by Cassadee Pope
3. "You Should Be Here" by Cole Swindell
4. "Cold Beer "by Cole Taylor
5. "Road Less Traveled" by Lauren Aliana
6. "Hometown Girl" by Josh Turner
7. "My Church" by Maren Morris
8. "Lil Bit" by Timmy Brown
9. "Different for Girls" by Dierks Bentley
10. "Angels in this Town" by Eric Paslay

Highlights of 2016's Concert Season

2016 was a year full of incredible artists, albums, and fantastic live shows. I had the pleasure of  meeting so many incredible artists and musicians this year by attending 27 shows with 45 different artists. Read on to hear about all the highlights. 

Shadowbox of Justin Adams' survivors 

Concert Recap

• January: Tara Thompson, Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots, Lindsay Ell, Lucie Silvas, Old Dominion, BC & The Big Rig, Corey Kent White, The Round Up Boys, Alaska & Madi
• February: Brantley Gilbert, Canaan Smith, Michael Ray
• March: Jon Pardi, Justin Adams (2)
• April: David Nail, William Michael Morgan, Clare Dunn, Jordan Rager, Drew Baldridge
• May: Granger Smith, Lindsay Ell, Brandy Clark, Jordan Rager, Chris Janson, Jerrod Neimann, Drew Baldridge, William Michael Morgan, High Valley, Lindsay Ell, Ryan Kinder, Chris Lane.
• June: Chase Rice, Walker Hayes
• July: Justin Adams
• August: Josh Abott Band, Prophets & Outlaws
• September: Michael Ray, Justin Moore, Clare Dunn, Justin Adams
• October: Seth Ennis, Aaron Lewis, Eric Paslay, Lindsay Ell, Cole Swindell, Cole Taylor, Travis Denning
• November: Collin Raye, John Michael Montgomery
• December: Jesse Joice, Justin Adams, High Valley, Chris Lane, Josh Turner, The Band Perry, Alaska & Madi, The Swon Brothers 

KVOO 5-Man Jam

~ 2016 Country Music Gives Back  ~

• Corey Kent White Folds of Honor Tour - To raise money for Folds of Honor
• The Swon Brothers Salvation Army Benefit - To raise money for the Salvation Army
• Justin Adams Ugly Sweater Benefit concert - To raise money for Last Minute Toy Store

The Swon Brothers after their stellar Salvation Army Benefit

~ 2016 Live Music Highlights ~

• Favorite Opening Line-up: Canaan Smith and Michael Ray on The Blackout Tour
• Best Musical Moment: Justin Adams singing me Happy Birthday from the stage.
• Favorite Multi-Artist Show: Jake FM New Face Showcase: William Michael Morgan, High Valley, Ryan Kinder, Lindsay Ell, Chris Lane

Jake FM New Face Showcase Artists (not Shown Lindsay Ell)

• Coolest Concert Souvenir: Justin Adams Shadowbox
• Favorite Meet and Greet Tradition: Ellfie w/ Lindsay Ell
• Most Memorable Meet and Greet: Granger Smith
• Still Can’t Believe I Met: Cole Swindell

Meet & Greets with Cole Swindell, Granger Smith, and Cole Taylor

• Most Anticipated Performance: Cole Taylor
• Most Anticipated Concert: Downhome Tour
• Most Anticipated Musical Release: First by David Fanning

My birthday celebration with Justin Adams and his band

• Most Seen Artist: Justin Adams - 5 shows
• Most Seen Opening Act: Lindsay Ell - 4 shows

An Ellfie with the very talented Lindsay Ell

• Most Energetic/Passionate Performance: Granger Smith. He loves this country, what he does, and his fans and it translates on stage beautifully.
• Most Appreciative Performer: Cole Swindell on his Down Home tour. He not only continuously thanked his fan, but the love he showed opening acts Cole Taylor and Travis Denning was amazing.
• Most Noteworthy Concert Moment: 5-Man Jam with Jordan Rager, Brady Clark, Chris Janson, Drake White, and Drew Baldridge when every artist randomly decided to stay and meet all their fans after perhaps the funnest multi-artist show ever.

Click Here to continue on to Musicians, Artists, and Musical Discoveries of 2016