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Mike Kuster is releasing “Back To Feagaville”, his third single from his sophomore album, Country So Fresh You Have To Check Your Boots, to radio. It follows the successful single, “Front Porch Swing” which spent several weeks at Number 1 in Europe and continues climbing the charts of independent radio.

Mike grew up on a small farm in Frederick County, Maryland. This new single celebrates the magic of the closest little village to his family’s farm, Feagaville.

“When you grow up in a place so rural, a place like Feagaville is the center of your world. From the pronunciation of the word to the amenities afforded to the community along Ballenger Creek, everything about it is unique and special to those of us who grew up there. Happiness for me was riding from our farm to Feagaville to get a soda, a candy bar, and seeing friends at church and 4-H meetings. It was freedom, independence, and joy in a little trip to that little town” Mike explained.

“Back To Feagaville” features Mike’s vocals backed by a talented crew of studio musicians assembled by Kuster and producer, Daniel “Dr.” Ford. Grammy and IBMA Award winning fiddler, Michael Cleveland plays fiddle. Chris Condon, known for his work as Billy Ray Cyrus’ guitarist and music director, laid down guitar tracks with Mike. Caleb Mundy, a Music Row staple, plays bass. Dr. Ford plays drums and keyboards, and provides back-up vocals.

Mike Kuster has released two full studio albums and one EP since 2002. Mike wrote all the songs on these albums. His first album, Better Late Than Never, received critical acclaim and was listed by several critics as an essential album of 2002. His single, “Daddy’s Blue Jean Jacket”, from that album was named Independent Music Network’s (IMN) County Song of the Year for 2021. Mike was named IMN’s Country Impact Artist of the Year for 2022.

Mike’s EP, Mountain Monsters of Maryland, celebrates the legends and myths of Frederick County as it celebrates its 275th Jubilee in 2023. It was released for the Jubilee and Halloween to a lot of acclaim and received lots of attention as a Halloween Country Album.

Mike Kuster and his live band, The Catoctin Cowboys, tour the Mid-Atlantic region with their “Honky Tonkin’ Good Time Show”. They have played venues as small as backyard parties to shows with over 2,000 in the audience. Each show includes a mix of Mike’s original songs and some of the best traditional Country classics.

Mike continues to live in a small town in Frederick County, namely Walkersville. He and his wife, who met in high school, recently celebrated twenty-five years of marriage. They have three children who live with them in their slice of heaven in small-town America.

With a touring drummer for a father, Larissa was raised on a tour bus surrounded by family and music. When Larissa was a toddler, she fell in love with country music as she and her father sang along to a worn-out cassette of George Strait while riding together in the combine on her family’s farm.

Since those formative years, Larissa has grown into a multi-award-winning singer/songwriter penning relatable lyrics that move the hearts of her listeners. Her distinctive voice is an easy listening standout with a sound all her own.

This song is a powerful reminder for those moments in life when the weight of the questions we face becomes overwhelming. It is a beacon of hope, meant to uplift those who feel trapped in the midst of tough times, convincing them that they have the strength to persevere another day. The message of love embedded within this song is a lifeline for all those who are struggling, offering them a glimmer of hope and a reminder that they are not alone. Personally, I have always aspired to create a song in the vein of “Lean on Me,” as it served as an anthem during my own darkest days. My ultimate goal for this song is that it finds its way to those who are navigating through the shadows, becoming their very own anthem of hope and resilience.

Aleyce Simmonds Embraces Deeply Personal Infertility Struggle.

“This is a song for any of you out there who have known this pain and this yearning. Not just to be a mother, but to know what it’s like to desperately want anything in life, to do everything within your power to achieve it and for whatever reason, it be just out of reach. I urge you not to wait, and not to give up. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. Don’t leave a single stone unturned or breath unaccounted for” – Aleyce Simmonds.

For as long as singer-songwriter Aleyce Simmonds can remember, she has dreamt of being a mother.

“Having the most incredible and selfless mother myself, a woman who has always without fail, given everything within her power for me, my two sisters Karlee and Sarah and our little angel brother, Joshua, certainly would have fuelled this fire,” she said.

“What shoes to fill, but my gosh have I wanted to try get close.”

Now that the Tamworth Golden Guitar winning artist is weeks from welcoming her first baby, Aleyce is highlighting her struggles with infertility and hoping to help others heal along the way with her new single, ‘Being A Mother’, out December 8.

“Life doesn’t always go as we plan,” she said.

“Between not meeting my life partner until later in life, a journey with endometriosis and adenomyosis amongst other things and a career where I toured the world making music, being a mother was something that wasn’t quite possible for me in the way that I hoped it would be.”

When Aleyce met her now husband, Nathan Love, she said she saw the pieces start to fall into place.

“I had met a man who would be a beautiful father and with whom, I couldn’t wait to start a family,” she said.

“We started trying quite early in our relationship because, when you know you know and, we had a special family member holding on to life with every little hope and we were desperate to give him another reason to hold on.”

However, a few years down the track, they were still unable to have the baby they so dearly wished for.

“Instead of holding our baby, I was holding our hopes and watching tears fall more and more with each passing month,” Aleyce said.

“It wasn’t truly until the news that we were expecting a second and third nephew or niece that the all-consuming love hit me even harder and I realised that time was never going to wait and we’d already waited too long.

“With the support of our families, but in particular, my sister Karlee who encouraged me constantly to try IVF, we finally took the leap.”

When Aleyce began writing ‘Being A Mother’, she was “drenched in tears on the floor, feeling alone and isolated and broken”.

Sharing the story with her drummer friend, Mat Duniam, together they finished ‘Being A Mother’ and, like a manifestation, Aleyce is now enjoying feeling those little kicks and hearing her little girl’s heartbeat.

“I hope with all my heart that one day you can hold your dream in your hands, like my wildest dream to be a mother, will soon be in mine,” she said.

Rising talent, 16-year-old singer songwriter Emmagen Rain, is thrilled to release the first single from her new project, Don’t Wanna Meet Your Parents.

Nurtured over the last 3+ years by ABC Music following stellar performances on The Voice Australia in 2020 and her #1 JJJ Unearthed track, City Lights Call. Emmagen has been honing her singing, song writing and multi instrumental skills; recently nominated at the Gold Coast Music Awards 2023. Emmagen has amassed over 2 million in streams.

Emmagen’s latest single, Don’t Wanna Meet Your Parents, was co-written with Alex Mathers and Ingrid Oram. As Emmagen describes the track, “It’s about not wanting to progress a friendship to the next level.”

“i don’t wanna meet your parents

i don’t want a heart to heart

i don’t wanna go that distance

just to end up at the start”

JOSH SETTERFIELD MAKES ARIA DEBUT AT #2 ON THE COUNTRY CHARTS WITH NEW EP ‘RISE’ FEATURING NEW SINGLE ‘STAY’
Country Music ‘star on the rise’, Josh Setterfield, returns to Australia to perform his first ever Australian headline show in his hometown of Brisbane on Saturday, January 13 2024, marking the culmination of his ‘Kinda World Tour.’ Finishing 2023 on an even bigger high note, Josh’s EP ‘RISE’, featuring the new single ‘Stay’ has debuted at #2 on the Australian ARIA Country Chart a significant milestone and career achievement for an Australian artist. Produced in Canada and mastered in the home of Country Music, Nashville, this EP is a testament to Josh’s burgeoning global career.

Josh’s career has skyrocketed throughout 2023, which has seen his audiences grow immensely by captivating them with his charismatic, engaging, and highly entertaining stage presence that Josh is bringing to country music. His international footprint expanded significantly after being invited to play shows and festivals across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

His Brisbane show promises to be a celebration of his rising career and the new ‘Rise’ EP spotlighting chart-topping CMT singles like ‘Right About Now’ and ‘Better Off,’ alongside the latest release, ‘Stay,’ Penned by Canadian songwriters Craig Brooks and Zach Ouimet, ‘Stay’ is a quintessential country track, resonating with anyone who’s ever experienced a moment they wish could last forever. Bringing together big guitars over a very catchy melody and hook – it will have listeners hitting the replay button time and time again.

With over 6 million streams, multiple top 5 radio singles, and global radio support, Josh Setterfield has become a fixture at Australia’s major country music festivals, including Gympie Muster, Groundwater Country Music Festival, and more. In 2024, he is set to make his debut at the prestigious CMC Rocks, a sold-out festival boasting some of the world’s biggest country stars, including Tyler Hubbard, Lainey Wilson, and Chris Young.

“He is one of the most amazing entertainers full of high energy that captures his audience and grabs their full attention! He definitely left Flagstaff Arizona with new fans! Can’t wait to get him back to the US in 2024!” – Vicki & Mike in the Morning (92.9 Kaff Country)

Don’t miss Josh’s first-ever Australian headline show in Brisbane as he aims to elevate country headline shows to new heights bringing a big stage, high energy festival style show to the Arcana Empress Theatre. Be sure to check out the newest single ‘Stay’ from EP ‘Rise’, which is set to be the new country smash for the summer!

www.joshsetterfield.com

About the track: Funny how the universe can bring two complete strangers from different worlds together, throw them on a life roller coaster and unequivocally hook them for life. My wife and I have riding our roller coaster for over 10yrs and she’s still got me hooked.

Track quote: My heart keeps beating loud this roller coaster love.

Today Lana Del Rey releases her rendition of the 1971 John Denver classic ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’. The track, a one-off single, is Lana’s second release following her Grammy nominated and critically acclaimed ninth studio album, ‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’.

Recently, Del Rey was nominated for five Grammys Awards for her album ‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’.

Album Of The Year –

‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’

Song Of The Year –

‘A&W’

Best Alternative Music Album –

‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’

Best Alternative Music Performance –

‘A&W’

Also featured on –

Taylor Swifts ‘Midnights’ (Album Of The Year Nominee)

Jon Batiste’s ‘World Music Radio’ (Album Of The Year Nominee)

‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’ was co-produced by Lana Del Rey alongside Mike Hermosa, Jack Antonoff, Drew Erickson, Zach Dawes, and Benji, and includes features from Jon Batiste, Bleachers, Father John Misty, Judah Smith, Tommy Genesis, and SYML.

Casey Barnes is set to close out 2023 and kick start into 2024 with the new feel-good summer hit, “Miracles”.

“Miracles” is the fourth single from a brand-new studio album to be released in 2024 and was co-written by Casey with Nashville hit-makers, Kaci Brown & Sam Gray, the team behind Casey’s smash hits “God Took His Time On You”, “We’re Good Together” and “Sparks Fly”.

Produced by MSquared, the team behind Casey’s ARIA, APRA & Golden Guitar Award winning album, “Light It Up” and follows previous singles “Never Give Up On A Good Time” and “Boys Like Me”, both of which reached #1 on the CountryTown Top 50 Airplay Charts.

Casey commented on the song, “Something magic always seems to happen when the three of us get in a room. It was so good to team up again with Sam and Kaci from Brown & Gray to co-write ‘Miracles’ together on my most recent trip to Nashville. We’ve had such an amazing track record over the last few years with multiple country radio number 1’s so I’m really excited to get this new one out there! Miracles has such a positive message too, all about those sliding door moments in life and the power of how the right relationship can bring you out of even the darkest places”.

It has been a massive year for Casey, in addition to the awards and #1 singles, his massive City Nights Tour included a sold-out show at the Zoo in Brisbane, showcasing at CMA Fest in June and being nominated for a CMA Award for Global Artist of the Year.

To top it off, Casey was recently announced on the line-up of Stagecoach Festival, the world’s biggest country music festival, which takes place at the Coachella site in California in April 2024. Casey is the only Australian artist included on the massive line-up. The festival will follow appearances at Tamworth Country Music Festival in January and CMC Rocks QLD in March.

Brookes latest single is currently #18 on the Texas Regional Radio Report and has spent twenty-six weeks on that chart. She also had a long-running Trop Rock hit in 2022 with “Me Time” which was on the Trop Rock charts for over a year. Now she has teamed up with Flying C Records out of Nashville and is seeing more attention and bookings. Watch for bigger and better thing in 2024 for Brooke Graham.

This Christmas, let Brooke and the music and emotion of Merryachi Christmas carry you away from all of your troubles and take you to your own personal happy place.