Thompson Square

Nashville, TN (August 13, 2010)–Stoney Creek Records’ Thompson Square will hit the road this fall with Jason Aldean, closing out his Wide Open 2010 Arena Tour.

Starting on Oct. 21 in Champaign, IL and ending on Nov. 20 in Atlanta, GA, the husband-and-wife duo will open with a full-band for a whirlwind month on tour with multi-platinum country rocker Jason Aldean. “We are so pumped about going on tour with Jason Aldean,” says Keifer Thompson of Thompson Square. “Getting to perform our music to the fans on a tour as cool as the Wide Open tour is going to be an exciting time for us. We are really looking forward to the fall.”

Thompson Square received the exciting tour news while filming their first music video for their new single, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not.” Directed and produced by Wes Edwards, the video was filmed on the beaches and city streets in historic St. Augustine, FL. The completed video will be released later this summer.

For more information on Thompson Square visit www.thompsonsquare.com

DATES AND VENUES WITH THOMPSON SQUARE OPENING:

10/21 Champaign, IL Assembly Hall – U of Illinois
10/22 Ft. Wayne, IN –Memorial Coliseum
10/23 Moline, IL– iWireless Center
10/28 Oklahoma City, OK –Ford Center
10/29 Springfield, MO –JQH Arena at Missouri State
11/18 Columbus, GA– Columbus Civic Center
11/19 Birmingham, AL– BJCC Arena
11/20 Atlanta, GA –Gwinnett Center

Win / Wynn for Garth?

Garth Brooks has knocked out capacity shows and recieved fantastic write-ups for his intimate Encore Theater shows at Wynn Las Vegas.  Now — more tickets for the next series of concerts are being made available and they’ll go on sale on Saturday, June 19 at 10 a.m. PT. Tickets are available exclusively at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-877-65-GARTH. Tickets are $125 plus fees and tax.

 

Concert Dates:

 

September 10, 11, 12  — October 1, 2, 3 —  October 22, 23, 24

November 5, 6, 7 — November 19, 20, 21

Concert times:

Fridays 8 p.m., Saturdays 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m., Sundays 8 p.m.

Please note that the name for each individual ticket holder must be provided at time of purchase or the transaction will be cancelled. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the Wynn Box Office on June 19.

Here’s more from the official Press Release

UNAUTHORIZED TICKET SALES

Specific measures have been put in place in an effort to ensure that the tickets for concerts are accessible to fans at face value and through authorized sales channels exclusively. Fans are discouraged from purchasing tickets through unauthorized channels as these tickets will be cancelled.

Please note the following booking procedures and rules and regulations:

At time of purchase, the full name of each person attending the concert must be provided. No changes will be permitted after completion of the order. Incomplete orders will be cancelled.
Limit 4 concert tickets per order or per person or per credit card.
Tickets will be available for pick-up at Will Call at Wynn Las Vegas on the day of the concert. Tickets are not available in advance.
Purchaser will be required to show valid, government-issued photo ID, confirmation number and actual credit card used for payment.
Each individual ticket holder must be present with purchaser to collect tickets upon presentation of valid, government-issued photo ID.
Tickets must be picked up no later than one-hour prior to show time or will be subject to cancellation with no refund.
The age limit for concerts is five years or older; anyone under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult.
Cellular phones, cameras, flash photography and audio/video recording devices are not permitted inside the theater. If you use any of these devices you will be escorted out of the theater.
All ticket sales are final and are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Visit www.visitwynn.com/terms/garthtickets for a complete list of terms and conditions.

About Garth Brooks

Certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as the #1-selling solo artist in U.S. history, Garth Brooks has sold in excess of 128 million albums. He is the only solo artist in RIAA history to have six albums top the 10 million mark. His most recent release, The Ultimate Hits, has been certified five times platinum. Garth became the first artist to put out a simultaneous edition of his latest collection for a charitable cause. November 6, 2007 saw the launch of the pink edition of The Ultimate Hits, available only at the Susan G. Komen Web site. His body of work — including the groundbreaking No Fences, Ropin’ The Wind, The Hits and Double Live — propelled country music as a genre to the front pages of newspapers worldwide and the covers of magazines, to the point where Forbes declared on its cover, “Country Conquers Rock,” and featured Garth in a major music piece. According to the RIAA, Garth Brooks is the top-selling solo artist of the 20th century.

The key to his record-setting success lies within the personality and talent of Garth Brooks. It has been said that through the 1990s, Garth’s only real competition was himself. He brought daring individualism and a love of music to the table. His wide range encompasses a variety of styles which include working-class blues, honky tonk, bluegrass and arena rock. His easy-going, approachable charisma was matched only by his fearless willingness to take chances and step outside the lines. He has had an unprecedented run so far, and opened the doors for many more country artists to follow.

Garth has received every accolade the recording industry can bestow on an artist, including two Grammys, 17 American Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association Awards, 18 Academy of Country Music Awards, five World Music Awards, 12 People’s Choice Awards and 36 Billboard Music Awards. He was named “Artist of the ‘90s” at the 1997 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, received the Artist Achievement Award at the 1997 Billboard Music Awards and was named “Artist of the Decade” at the American Music Awards in 2000 and the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1999.

In the midst of one of the most successful careers in music history, Garth retired in 2001, delivered his last record for Capitol Records and moved back to Oklahoma to raise his children. While in retirement, when called upon by events greater than his own self-interest, he returned to the stage. The latest of these was when the President himself requested that Garth headline President Obama’s Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. He performed as Barack and Michelle Obama, their girls, Joe and Jill Biden and a crowd of over 300,000 lined the mall from the Lincoln Memorial all the way to the Washington Monument. It was a moment in history when all did the “wave” to Garth’s performance of “Shout” while the President sang along. Once again, Garth was called upon by the network to perform for President Obama’s very first late night TV appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. When the Governor of California asked for Garth’s help, he responded by performing five concerts in two days, where proceeds from 83,000 tickets sold were donated to efforts to prevent fire catastrophes. Portions of the live concerts were shown as a TV special, “Garth Brooks: Live in L.A.” where viewers donated to the organization Fire Intervention Relief Effort (FIRE).

Oct. 15, 2009, Brooks announced that he was out of retirement: “I am naturally nervous, but it feels good to be out from under the low ceiling of ‘retirement’ I put on myself.” Brooks has entered a five-year “relationship” with Las Vegas resort developer, Steve Wynn.

Wy and Naomi Tour Again

Country Music’s legendary duo, The Judds, delivered a riveting performance for over 10,000 fans in downtown Nashville as they launched this year’s 2010 CMA Music Festival. Wynonna and Naomi Judd helped kick off what USA Today calls “the crown jewel of Country Music festivals,” setting the stage for their highly anticipated final tour, The Judds: The Last Encore. It has been over 10 years since their 2000 “Power To Change” tour, and this final reunion promises to be nothing short of spectacular.

In typical fan-friendly Judd fashion, Wynonna and Naomi recently invited dedicated “Judd Heads” and country music fans across the country to name their upcoming tour in The Judds “Name That Tour” contest. The response was overwhelming. Thousands of fans jumped at the opportunity to solidify their place in Judds HERstory and ultimately Jacqualine Budgell from Murfreesboro, TN was chosen as the lucky winner.

According to Naomi, The Last Encore tour is an opportunity to celebrate the relationship with their fans one last time. “There is nothing like music and laughter to connect people,” she says. “How I’ve missed that encounter with the very ones who’ve allowed us that awesome privilege! I’m counting the days till I can be back on my bus, visiting their towns.”

In addition to their enduring 26-year relationship with the fans, Wynonna shares her sentiment on reuniting with her mother, Naomi, again. “This tour gives me a chance to enjoy where Mom and I are in our relationship. I look forward to celebrating our personal and professional journey…together.” And, for the fans who have followed their journey together through the years, this final curtain call will be yet another reason to celebrate.

The tour will kick off on November 26, the day after Thanksgiving, in Green Bay, Wisconsin and will continue on to their home state of Kentucky with a play in Louisville alongside dates in Salt Lake City, UT, Los Angeles, CA and Las Vegas, NV. The Judds will close their final tour with a full circle moment in Phoenix, AZ where their 2000 “Power To Change” tour began. The Judds: The Last Encore tour will feature new Judds and Wynonna music from the upcoming album while also shining a bright light on all of the fan’s Judds and Wynonna favorites. And for the first time ever, they will also celebrate the holiday season during their final tour by weaving several classic Christmas songs in their immensely diverse set list.

The Judds agent, Greg Oswald, of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment shares “The Judds have been a major force on the arena level now for three consecutive decades. The response from buyers when we made The Last Encore show available was overwhelming. So many offers and not enough time to do them all!”

And, it wasn’t just concert promoters who jumped at the chance to offer an up close and personal evening with The Judds. The Judds’ friends at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital also wanted to share in the excitement by partnering with the darlings of Country Music. For more than two decades, the country music industry has generously supported the organization through fundraising and personal relationships. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance, so no child is ever denied treatment because of their family’s inability to pay. The ongoing relationship between St. Jude and The Judds prompted the girls to include and honor the work of St. Jude on their final tour.

The Judds: The Last Encore Tour will visit the following cities:

11/26 – Green Bay WI – Resch Center
11/27 – Mt. Pleasant, MI – Soaring Eagle Casino
11/28 – Moline, IL – i wireless Center
11/30 – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino
12/2 – Columbus, OH – Value City Arena – Schottenstein Center
12/3 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
12/4 – St. Charles, MO – Family Arena
12/5 – Council Bluffs, IA – Mid-America Center
12/7 – Colorado Springs, CO – World Arena
12/8 – Broomfield, CO – 1STBank Center
12/9 – Salt Lake City, UT – EnergySolutions Arena
12/11 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena
12/12 – Sacramento, CA – Arco Arena
12/15 – Los Angeles, CA – Nokia Theatre L.A. Live
12/16 – Santa Ynez, CA – Chumash Casino
12/17 – Rancho Mirage, CA – Agua Caliente Casino
12/18 – Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay Events Center/Arena
12/19 – Phoenix, AZ – US Airways Center

About The Judds
Kentucky natives, The Judds, are one of the most successful country music duos of all time – amassing fourteen number-one hits and over 60 industry awards including multiple CMA, ACM and GRAMMY awards. After launching their career with RCA Records in 1984, The Judds sold 20 million albums in just 6 short years. By 1989, The Judds were one of the top-grossing and most popular touring acts in America. But at the height of their career, Naomi Judd announced she would have to retire from the music business due to health complications. To say goodbye to their fans, they launched the 116-city Judds Farewell Tour selling more concert tickets than anyone that year with the exception of The Grateful Dead and The Rolling Stones. Nearly ten years after her health turned around, the pair reunited on Dec. 31, 1999 for a New Year’s gala performance, and a reunion tour in 2000. They came together again at last year’s 2009 CMA Music Festival and captivated the massive audience with their homespun, acoustic harmonies that felt as revelatory as they did when they first shot onto the country music scene 26 years ago. Encouraged by that performance and driven by the fans, the duo decided to tour one last time for 2010’s The Judds: The Last Encore.

Rascal Flatts In concert

NASHVILLE – (April 18, 2010) – The decade’s top-selling and most awarded group in country music RASCAL FLATTS will launch a new tour this summer, “JC Penney Presents Rascal Flatts Nothing Like This Tour.” The first leg will launch on June 25 in Raleigh, North Carolina at the Time Warner Cable Pavilion and will continue with 26 shows through September 19 at Boston’s Comcast Center. Kellie Pickler and Chris Young will open.

Rascal Flatts recently wrapped “Rascal Flatts American Living Unstoppable Tour” which played 57 shows during its run of June 2009 to March 2010 with a fan attendance near 800,000. This total also includes the two sold-out stadium concerts at Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Columbus’ Crew Stadium last summer.

RASCAL FLATTS spent their time off this spring recording new music expected out this fall.

RASCAL FLATTS’ Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney have kicked off 2010 with a bang as they mark not only the beginning of a new decade but also celebrate ten years of making great music together, becoming one of the hottest touring acts and the top country group of the new millennium. The band has delivered 11 #1 singles to the top of the chart and have more titles in Billboard’s Top 100 Songs of the Decade than any other group in the format. Over ten years the band has sold more than 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads while all six of their studio albums make Billboard’s Top 100 Country Albums of the Decade listing. As the most awarded country group of the new Millennium Rascal Flatts has brought home nearly 40 trophies from the Academy of Country Music, American Music Awards, Country Music Association, People’s Choice Awards and more. In concert, Rascal Flatts continues to be one of the hottest touring acts of the decade with more venue attendance records than any other country act. They have played 400 dates as a headline act, over 700 since 2000, with a ticket tally of nearly 6 million. Among these shows includes 3 consecutive sold-out performances at Madison Square Garden and the band also became the first and only country music act to sell out Wrigley Field.Gary, Jay and Joe Don have traveled to visit U.S. troops in Iraq on a USO Tour and partnered with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee to raise over 3 million dollars in the past few years. Visit www.rascalflatts10.com to learn more about a decade of Rascal Flatts.

Since the release of her gold certified, debut album Small Town Girl in 2006, American Idol finalist and BNA Records recording artist Kellie Pickler has been anything but idle. Small Town Girl debuted #1 on Billboard’s Country Album Chart and became the best-selling debut release from a solo country artist in that year, yielding two Top 15 hits, “Red High Heels,” and “I Wonder.” Kellie Pickler’s current self-titled, sophomore album Kellie Pickler also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Album Chart. Her newest single, “Makin’ Me Fall In Love Again,” is the follow-up to her Top 15 hit “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You.” Of her sophomore album’s 10 songs, Kellie wrote five of them, including her first Top 10 single, “Best Days Of Your Life,” which has amassed over one million digital transactions to date. Kellie has shared the stage on tour with Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts and Alan Jackson. In addition to her music, Kellie works tirelessly with many charities including Soles4Souls, The American Red Cross and has participated in 3 USO Tours, entertaining troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany and England.

RCA Nashville recording artist Chris Young recently scored his first #1 smash with “Gettin’ You Home,” and the Tennessee native is on the charts now with “The Man I Want to Be,” the hit title track to his acclaimed sophomore album. With his rich, warm baritone and penchant for writing relatable, slice-of-life songs, Young emerged as an immediate fan-favorite when his self-titled first album became the highest-selling debut by a new country male in 2006. Earlier this year, his talents earned Chris an ACM Award nomination as Top New Solo Vocalist. For more information, visit him online at www.chrisyoungcountry.com.

6-25 Raleigh NC Time Warner Cable Pavilion
6-26 Charlotte NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
6-27 Atlanta GA Lakewood Amphitheatre
7-16 Stateline NV Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena
7-17 Stateline NV Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena
7-22 Wichita KS In Trust Arena
7-23 Tulsa OK BOK Center
7-24 Frisco TX Pizza Hut Park
7-30 Virginia Beach Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7-31 Hartford CT Comcast Theater
8-6 Cincinnati OH Riverbend Music Center
8-7 Indianapolis IN Indiana State Fair Grandstand
8-8 Columbus OH Columbus Crew Stadium
8-12 Hershey PA Hershey Park Arena
8-13 Scranton PA Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain
8-14 Washington DC Jiffy Lube Live
8-27 St Louis MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
8-29 Louisville KY Kentucky State Fair- Freedom Hall
9-2 Bethel NY Bethel Woods
9-3 Darien Lake NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
9-4 Syracuse NY New York State Fair Grandstand
9-5 Toronto Ontario Molson Amphitheatre
9-16 Cleveland OH Blossom Music Center
9-17 Pittsburgh PA First Niagara Pavilion
9-18 Philadelphia PA Susquehanna Bank Center
9-19 Boston MA Comcast Center

On April 20th, Shelby Lynne will release her latest album, Tears, Lies, And Alibis, on her own newly founded label, EVERSO RECORDS, which is being distributed through Fontana, the award-winning independent distribution division of Universal Music Group. This sparse, intimate collection of 10 songs, all written and produced by the GRAMMY award-winning artist, follows 2008’s Just a Little Lovin’, a lush, pop collection paying tribute to Dusty Springfield that was produced by Phil Ramone.

“I’ve made records for 20 years and never been more excited,” says Lynne, who has released 10 studio albums in that period, including her 2000 breakthrough, I Am Shelby Lynne. “I finally have the creative control I’ve needed to get my vision out there.”

”Shelby has always been a true original,” stated Ron Spaulding, President of Fontana. “She stands atop the list of innovative songwriters and soulful vocalists. Tears, Lies, And Alibis is a stunning and true revelation by one of the world’s most insightful and unpredictable artists. The entire Fontana family is thrilled to be part of the next chapter in an already critically-acclaimed career.”


While Tears, Lies, And Alibis signals increased independence for an artist already known for defying tradition, it was shaped by those close to her, who encouraged Lynne to venture down paths she might not have otherwise explored. “Loser Dreamer” was triggered by a phone conversation with Brian “Brain” Harrison, who engineered the sessions and played bass, Moog and percussion. Their talk about musicians and relationships ended the dry spell she’d been experiencing as a songwriter.

“Rains Came,” the album’s first song and lead single, came about in an equally organic fashion, inspired by a rare storm in the Southern California desert where she resides. As the rain fell one Sunday morning, Lynne, who misses the Southern rainstorms of her Alabama childhood tremendously, resisted the impulse to go outside and stand in it and grabbed a pen instead. The resulting song, with Randy Leago on horns and Val McCallum on guitar, is perhaps the sunniest sounding one ever written about having the blues. “The dark side of me seems to like how it feels when it’s pouring,” she sings with unabashed exuberance. Like “Something To Be Said,” her ode to the iconic Airstream trailer, it’s a song that might not have made the album if her collaborators hadn’t encouraged her to “give it a whirl.”

Drawing inspiration from the everyday, Lynne uses the familiar to render a complex internal landscape. From the lost dog searching for a porch to lie on in the restless, bluesy “Old Dog“ to the wife starching the collar of an errant husband in the poignant “Alibi,” her evocative imagery brings to life the scarred yet determined group of survivors whose stories are told in Tears, Lies, And Alibis. A stellar group of musicians enhance the immediacy of the songs, bringing a vintage, live-in-the-studio vibe to the album.

Recording initially at her home studio in Rancho Mirage, CA, she was joined by Harrison, McCallum, Ben Peeler (steel guitar, mandolin and banjo) and John Jackson (guitars, dobro, harmonica). Then she flew to Nashville for sessions at The Rendering Plant.

“I enlisted a couple of the Swampers from Muscle Shoals – David Hood (bass) and Spooner Oldham (Wurlitzer, Rhodes) – and Rick Reed (drums), Bryan Owings (drums, percussion) and Kenny Malone (drums, percussion), who had played on my very first record,” says Lynne. “Dave Jacques, one of the best upright bass players in Nashville, can be heard on “Like A Fool,” as can Mark Jordan, who plays the haunting piano solo.” (“Like a Fool” was already tapped for an episode of the Lifetime series “Army Wives” that Lynne appeared in. She made her acting debut in Walk the Line, released in 2005.)

Lynne, who played a sold-out concert at New York City’s Carnegie Hall in December for public radio station WFUV, will be touring in support of Tears, Lies, And Alibis. Dates will be announced shortly.

The track listing for Tears, Lies, And Alibis is as follows:

Shelby Lynne

1. Rains Came
2. Like A Fool
3. Why Didn’t You Call Me
4. Alibi
5. Something To Be Said
6. Family Tree
7. Loser Dreamer
8. Old #7
9. Old Dog
10. Home Sweet Home

Here are the dates on the Shelby Lynne – Spring 2010 Tour

4/22 West Hollywood, CA The Roxy Theatre
4/23 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
4/26 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
4/27 Seattle, WA The Triple Door
5/1 Minneapolis, MN Dakota
5/2 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall
5/3 Ann Arbor, MI The Ark
5/4 Chicago, IL Martyrs’
5/5 Cleveland, OH Beachland Tavern
5/7 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
5/8 Somerville, MA Johnny D’s
5/9 Philadelphia, PA World Café Live
5/10 New York, NY The Concert Hall
5/11 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere
5/13 Nashville, TN The Belcourt Theater
5/15 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
5/17 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
5/18 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
5/19 Austin, TX St. David’s Episcopal Church
5/25 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern

Dixie Chicks

The trio that was on top of the country world back before “the incident” returns for a small tour of MASSIVE stadiums.   The Eagles will team up with the Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban for a run USA LiveNation shows. The tour begins June 8 in Toronto; while only eight dates are being announced, it is possible that more may be added. Urban appears on five of the eight shows.

The tour will feature all-in ticket pricing, which incorporates various service fees into the overall ticket price, thus eliminating unpopular add-on fees.

The Eagles are one of the highest-grossing touring bands in history and this will be the first Dixie Chicks tour since 2006.

An American Express pre-sale begins March 22, with sales to the general public beginning a week later.

Tour Dates
June 8: *Toronto, ON (Rogers Centre)
June 10: East Rutherford, NJ (New Meadowlands Stadium)
June 12: Boston (Gillette Stadium)
June 14: Philadelphia (Citizens Bank Ball Park)
June 15: Washington, DC (Nationals Park)
June 19: Chicago (Soldier Field)
June 22: *Winnipeg, MB (Canad Inns Stadium)
June 12: *St. Louis (Busch Stadium0

*Keith Urban is not appearing at these concerts.

Love & Theft: CD is a Runaway Hit

Nashville, TN – Race fans, tourists, Charlotte residents: All are invited to a full day of free fun May 11, 2010 outside the NASCAR Hall of Fame in uptown Charlotte, N.C., to celebrate its grand opening.

One of the highlights of the daylong event will be a free concert that evening on the Ceremonial Plaza headlined by country music trio Love And Theft, who are preparing to tour with country music superstars Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum. The stop will be a homecoming for one member of the trio, Charlotte native Eric Gunderson, who grew up in the area and attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The band also features members Stephen Barker Liles, of Florida, and Texan Brian Bandas. Lyric Street recording artist Love and Theft’s debut album, World Wide Open, includes the hits “Runaway” and “Dancing In Circles.”

“I had the pleasure of seeing Love And Theft perform live at Sprint Sound and Speed in Nashville (Tenn.) this year,” said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “I was not previously familiar with them, and I was absolutely blown away. They were fabulous! Our guests are in for a treat. This is a monumental day in NASCAR and Charlotte history, and it is our privilege to have such a talented trio join us.

“The free concert and all of the free outdoor activities are just small ways we can say thank you to the race fans, Charlotte residents, tourists, NASCAR community, local businesses, elected officials and everyone who has supported this project.”

Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. EDT with all the pomp and circumstance expected of a national tourist attraction. The one-hour ceremony will culminate with NASCAR celebrities, elected officials and other dignitaries officially opening the 150,000-square-foot venue. The opening ceremony will be followed by free outdoor activities from 10 a.m. through the late evening. Activities will include NASCAR celebrities, question-and-answer sessions, strolling entertainment, food vendors, musical entertainment and more.

The star of the show that day will be the NASCAR Hall of Fame itself. Tickets to enter the high-tech, interactive attraction are on sale now and can be purchased at www.NASCARHall.com or by calling 877-231-2010. Tickets are $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors and military, $12.95 for children 5-12, and free for children younger than 5. Memberships provide unlimited entry for one year and start at $25 for children and $50 for adults. Group discounts, facility rentals and sponsorships also are available by calling 704-654-4400.

Schedule of Events

9-10 a.m. Opening Ceremony Ceremonial Plaza Free; No Ticket Required

10 a.m.-8 p.m. Facility Hours NASCAR Hall of Fame Ticket Required

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Outdoor Activities Ceremonial Plaza Free; No Ticket Required

5-8 p.m. Concert Ceremonial Plaza Free; No Ticket Required

All Ceremonial Plaza activities that day are free to the public. The Ceremonial Plaza faces Martin Luther King Boulevard between Caldwell and Brevard. Guests are encouraged to use the Charlotte Area Transit System.

Paisley

Brad Paisley capped off his American Saturday Night Tour in North Charleston, South Carolina last night with the usual pranks and surprises.  Unfortunately, for Brad, he suffered a painful surprise ending.

In the final moments of what was a near flawless show Paisley tripped and took a hard fall on the stage.   Some concert goers thought the fall – during his hit Alcohol – was planned but quckly saw Paisley’s look of pain (or anger? embarrassment?) on the HD Giant screens.    Paisley immediately wrapped up the show with a grimace and left the stage.    All post show meet and greets were cancelled with management telling fans he was headed to the hospital.

Later Brad took to his Twitter page to tell fans he was OK, thought he had broken ribs, and says there are MEET and GREETS in it for the first one to post the fall on You Tube.

Indeed one fan reported seeing an ambulance backstage by the busses immediately following the show.

Most fans agree the spill did not look too bad or serious from the crowd.

The rest of the show was sprinkled with the pranks that Paisley tour has become known for… funny photo shopped  photos popping up on the big screen and on stage surprises.

Justin Moore was surprised with very girly pictures of himself in a tu-tu and photo shopped on women’s bodies during his tough guy song “I Can Kick Your Ass.”    During “Hank It”  another pic of Justin and Hank Jr’s heads on toddler bodies flashed on the screen.

Later Paisley was greeted by Moore onstage wearing a cutoff Paisley t-shirt and a team of men in Speedos charged the stage during Paisley’s “Water.”

Kix and Ronnie took to a live stream on their website (and below) to make a special announcement Thursday.

The last stop on Brooks & Dunn’s Last Rodeo tour, their last concert ever, will be Aug. 10 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

Announced at Thursday’s (2/25) Country Radio’s Sony/Nashville Luncheon, the show will benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s All For The Hall initiative. All tickets will be $25, go on sale Saturday (3/6) and will be available at livenation.com,

ticketmaster.com and brooks-dunn.com.

Keith Urban did a similar (notlast) show for the Hall in 2009 and webcast it live.

Live video by Ustream

The Big Dog Daddy, Toby Keith is turning up a bit of corporate synergy with is new Show Dog Universal  labelmate Trace Adkins… Toby Keith will resume his American Ride tour with Trace Adkins on June 19^th in Holmdel, New Jersey. The 39-city tour concludes on September 25^th in Boston. A complete list of tour dates are below:

June 19 – Holmdel, NJ

Trace Adkins Joins Toby Keith

June 20 – Cleveland, OH

July 10 – Raleigh, NC

July 11 – Charlotte, NC

July 15 – Sioux Falls, SD

July 16 – Minneapolis, MN

July 17 – St. Louis, MO

July 18 – Des Moines, IA

July 22 – Boise, ID

July 23 – Portland, OR

July 24 – Seattle, WA

July 25 – Vancouver, BC

July 29 – Sacramento, CA

Aug. 1 – Fresno, CA

Aug. 6 – Mountain View, CA

Aug. 7 – San Diego, CA

Aug. 8 – Phoenix, AZ

Aug. 12 – Albuquerque, NM

Aug. 13 – Denver, CO

Aug. 14 – Salt Lake City, UT

Aug. 20 – Scranton, PA

Aug. 21 – Philadelphia, PA

Aug. 22 – Pittsburgh, PA

Aug. 26 – Moline, IL

Aug. 27- Cincinnati, OH

Aug. 28 – Indianapolis, IN

Aug. 29 – Detroit, MI

Sept. 2 – Atlanta, GA

Sept. 3 – Tampa, FL

Sept. 4 – West Palm Beach, FL

Sept. 9 – Toronto, Ontario

Sept. 10 – Darien Lake, NY

Sept. 11 – Washington, DC

Sept. 16 – Kansas City, MO

Sept. 17 – Omaha, NE

Sept. 18 – Chicago, IL

Sept. 23 – Albany, NY

Sept. 24 – Hartford, CT

Sept. 25 – Boston, MA