SCOTCOUNTRY MUSIC NEWS

Saturday night was a big one at the Grand Ole Opry. Porter Wagoner celebrated his 50th anniversary as an Opry member. Along with a huge cake, stars like Dolly Parton, Marty Stuart and Patty Loveless helped celebrate all that Wagoner has done for country music.
One US report we saw on this story told of Wagoner discovering "Dollar Parton". No doubt written by a Johnny Cash fan!

After 16 years with MCA Nashville, Trisha Yearwood is signing with Nashville independent Big Machine Records, making her the most historically successful artist on the year-and-a-half old label. Big Machine founder, president and CEO Scott Borchetta worked with Yearwood during some of her most successful years at MCA. The two first worked together in the late ‘80s when Borchetta was a member of the promo staff at the MTM Records in Nashville. Yearwood, who had recently graduated from Belmont University, was working as the label's receptionist while singing demos on the side.
Over the last 16 years, Yearwood has scored 19 top 10 singles including five No. 1s. Her most recent No. 1 came in 1998 and her last top 5 was in 2001. She has sold 9.8 million albums in the U.S. MCA is scheduled to release a greatest hits package on Yearwood later this year. Yearwood’s first studio record since 2005 will be released on Big Machine Records in early 2008.

They're the wildest country party since John Wayne left this earth:
It all started with hits like “Hey Ya” and “Hot In Herre“ - 300 gigs and 250,000 albums later The BossHoss are an established Top 10 band with golden success in Germany.
The cowboys now want to find some friends in the UK and will be doing a gig at King Tuts, Glasgow on Tuesday May 29th.
Doors 8.30pm/Stage 10pm.Tel: 0141 221 5279 www.kingtuts.co.uk

The San Quentin and Prairie Star clubs are both in action on Friday June 1st. The San quentin welcome Western Rythym to Polmont Golf Club in Maddison, nr Falkirk, whilst Arizona Flame are at Alloa's Weirs Club.
The Prairie Star have an additional night on Saturday June 16th with red Canyon.
The No Angels Line Dancers have Chris Mezza in Boness Town Hall on the 15th, whilst on the 22nd The POlmont Linedancers welcome local favourites Carson City and The Bootleggers in Bannockburn have Calico.

New Zealand born Keith Urban returning to Glasgow in October. He'll be at the SECC on October 21st

Singer songwriter Kevin Montgomery is back in Scotland next month with dates as follows:
June 7th Village Inn, Leith
June 8th Glasgow Accies Club
June 9th Selkirk Rugby Club
June 10th Beinn' Inn , Glenfarg

Johnny Cash may no longer be with us, but his fans can relive many of his classic songs thanks to a new trubute show which tours Scotland next month. Roger Dean tells The Johnny Cash Story at the following venues :
June 1st Motherwell Theatre
June 2nd Maltings, Berwick
June 3rd Barfield Pavillion, Largs
June 6th Falkirk Town Hall
June 8th Rothes Halls, Glenrothes

Amongst the new releases hitting the street this month is an interesting gospel collection from The Bellamy Brothers. "Jesus is Coning", released in the Uk on 21st May featues some interesting original tracks like "Drug Problem", "Spiritually Bankrupt", and "Lord Help Me Be The Kind Of Person (My Dog Thinks I Am)". There's also a third version of "Old Hippie", "I'll Fly Away", and a supposed gospel version of "Let Your Love Flow". It's the ordinary man's gospel, some of which just wouldn't fit in on Revival FM !
Gretchen Wilson is "One Of The Boys" on her new UK release. The "Redneck Woman" is back. She's not as Country as her last outing, but still sounding good on tracks like "If You Want A Mother" and "Pain Killer".
There's also a duet with John Rich (of Big & Rich).
Not quite as impressive is Miranda Lambert's "Crazy Ex Girlfriend". She may be one of Nashville's newest stars, but comes across as a fairly average pop singer.

The legendary Albert Lee is back in Scotland this weekend, with 3 nights at The Famous Bein Inn , Glenfarg. Tickets are £30 for the shows this Thu,Fri & Sat 10,11 & 12 May.9PM Start