Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Two-time CMA Award nominee and Platinum recording artist Luke Bryan wrapped his fourth-annual “Farm Tour” 2012 over the weekend, performing for 100,000 fans in the eight-city run – more than doubling the attendance of last year’s “Farm Tour.”

Local schools will receive a “Luke Bryan Farm Tour Scholarship,” which will be given to a student from a farming family within the communities the tour has played. Those colleges include: 

Claxton, GA – Georgia Southern University

Clemson, SC – Clemson University

Auburn, AL- Auburn University

Valdosta, GA – Valdosta State University

Villa Rica, GA- University of West Georgia

Colbert (Athens), GA – University of Georgia

Tallahassee, FL – Florida State University

Macon, GA – Mercer University

“The farm tour is like the cherry on top of an already amazing year,” says Bryan. “I love pulling into these towns and seeing a big open field and then 10 hours later standing up on that stage and looking out at thousands of people having the times of their lives! It is truly mind blowing.”

The idea for the “Farm Tour” concerts came from Bryan as a way to give back to local farming communities by celebrating and lifting up the American Farmer and offering a fun escape with the outdoor shows. Proceeds from the concerts will go to a scholarship for a student from a farming family attending the local college. “Farm Tour” 2012 was sponsored by COUNTRY Financial®, Harveys Supermarkets, BMI, GAC and Carl Black Chevrolet.

Check out some of the video footage below in a special LBTV episode.

The Capitol Street Party 5 is taking place on Wednesday (October 17th), with headliner Luke Bryan taking over Broadway in downtown Nashville. The free concert moved from Demonbreun Street to Lower Broadway this year, and will also feature performances from Jon Pardi and Kelleigh Bannen.

Jon is excited to play his second Street Party, especially since this year, he’ll appear on the main stage. “What I’m looking forward to the most about the Capitol Street Party is I played it last year, and I was stuck inside of Tin Roof, and this time I’m on the big stage right before Luke Bryan,” says Jon. “It’s just gonna be a fun time, and it’s downtown Nashville, the heart of Broadway. You can go in a bar, get a beer [and] bring it on the street. That is the Capitol Street Party.”

Jon, who makes his debut on the Grand Ole Opry on Friday (October 19th), is currently playing the main stage on the country charts with his debut single. “Missin’ You Crazy” is closing in on Top 25.

AUDIO: Jon Pardi explains what he’s looking forward to at Wednesday’s Capitol Street Party.

Jon Pardi (Capitol Street Party) OC: …Street Party. :26
“What I’m looking forward to the most about the Capitol Street Party is I played it last year, and I was stuck inside of Tin Roof, and this time I’m on the big stage right before Luke Bryan. There’s gonna be all kinds of people and friends. It’s always fun playing with Luke, and Kelleigh Bannen. It’s the first time I get to play with her. We get to play together, and she’s really cool. It’s just gonna be a fun time, and it’s downtown Nashville, the heart of Broadway. You can go in a bar, get a beer [and] bring it on the street. That is the Capitol Street Party.”

Kelleigh Bannen‘s love of fine candies led her to the Bang Candy Company in Nashville, where she was invited to help make homemade marshmallows.

Kelleigh is scaling the country charts with her single, “Sorry on the Rocks.”

Nashville – (Oct. 15, 2012) – Two-time CMA and AMA Award nominee and platinum-selling artist Luke Bryan and Cabela’s, the World’s Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, are pleased to announce a multi-year partnership. The partnership centers around a series of cross-promotions and marketing collaborations across Cabela’s and Luke Bryan’s year round activities. Co-branded marketing campaigns will appear in Cabela’s world famous stores, as well as in their catalog and e-commerce materials. Social media and content collaborations will offer fans an exclusive, behind the scenes look into Luke’s off-stage activities as an avid outdoorsman.

“My love for the outdoors is something that has been a part of me ever since I can remember,” says Luke. “It seems there was never a time when we weren’t hunting, fishing, farming or playing outside since I was very young. Teaming with Cabela’s is such a natural fit for me.”

“Luke is the perfect partner for Cabela’s as he combines a lifelong love of the outdoors along with strong country roots. This passion comes through in everything that Luke does- from his hunting and fishing, to his music. We’re really excited to welcome Luke to the Cabela’s family,” stated Scott Williams, EVP and Chief Marketing/E-Commerce Officer.

Keith Urban checked in with his fans from his car on Friday to give them a quick update on the progress of his next album. “New music sounds really good,” Keith says.  “I’m looking forward to you guys getting to hearing it. I’m sick of talking about it. Looking forward to playing it.”

The new project is set for release next year.

Darius Rucker will become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night (October 16th). A couple of weeks ago, Darius was surprised by his pal, Brad Paisley, with the invitation to join the famed institution. He says every time he gets ready to walk onto the Opry stage, he thinks of the musical legends who performed there night after night. Now that he is going to become part of the Opry history, he says is “pretty damn awesome!”  

When the news was announced, Grand Ole Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher stated, “We are extremely excited that Darius will be joining our Opry family. He’s forged an incredible, diverse musical path which has led today to the top of the country charts. It’s been clear from the moment Darius first stepped on our stage in 2008 in what high regard he holds the Grand Ole Opry and similarly how much Opry fans love Darius’ music.”

Darius is currently making his way up the country charts with his single, “True Believers.”

AUDIO: Darius Rucker describes how he feels about becoming part of the Grand Ole Opry family.

Darius Rucker (Opry induction) 1 OC: …pretty damn awesome. :16
“The thing you think of is the music and every time I’m about to walk on this stage, you really think of just the legends that played here night after night after night. You know, just be a part of it now, no, not just to be a part of it, to be a member of it is pretty damn awesome.”

AUDIO: Darius Rucker says he will perform at the Grand Ole Opry as much as he can.

Darius Rucker (Opry induction) 2 OC: …how I live. :15
“I’m gonna be here a lot, as much as a member’s supposed to be here and more, because Pete [Fisher] and those guys have been awesome to me since I started this. I’m dedicated to this. I’m not the kind of guy who becomes a member and then gets lost. That’s not how I live.”

Dierks Bentley’s seventh annual Miles & Music for Kids motorcycle ride and concert in Nashville was cancelled on Sunday (October 14th), due to potentially dangerous weather, which included gusty winds and severe thunderstorms. Dierks is very disappointed since this year’s event was going to be extra special, according to the “Tip It On Back” singer, since it was to have one of the biggest turnout of artists and fans, including performances by Sheryl Crow, Kix Brooks, Brantley Gilbert, Chris Young, Craig Campbell and Cadillac Black.

He posted the following statement to his website:

“We have to postpone Miles & Music today because of dangerous wind & storms moving into Nashville. It’s the last thing we wanted to do but safety is the priority. HUGE thanks to all the fans, riders, sponsors & artists who always come out to support us & Vandy Childrens Hospital.”

Dierks also posted messages on Facebook to his fans.

“can’t tell you all how disappointed i am and my team is about today. we have been looking forward to this day for a year.”

A large crowd of riders still gathered at the Harley Davidson dealership in Columbia. To make amends to fans, Bentley turned the dealership into a concert venue. There was music, and he greeted fans and took pictures and signed autographs.

“I just wanted to say hi and thanks to all these riders,” Dierks told WTVF, Nashville’s CBS-TV affiliate. “This is where it begins. These folks came out in spite of the weather to be here and be a part of this.”

Event organizers have yet to say if the event will be rescheduled.

Proceeds from Miles & Music benefits the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Stay tuned to Dierks.com for more information.

Lady Antebellum hosted a premiere of their Own the Night World Tour concert film in Nashville on Thursday (October 11th). The 90-minute movie, which will be available on DVD, Blu-ray and at all digital retailers on December 4th, includes footage from their Own the Night World Tour stop in Little Rock, Arkansas in June. It will also feature some behind-the-scenes footage, including some from when they heard their debut song on the radio for the very first time. “We carry a camera around with us everywhere, and so there’s so much footage, and we said, ‘We can’t do one of these and not put in a bunch of behind-the-scenes footage,’” recalls Lady A’s Charles Kelley. “So, it’s kind of almost like a live DVD concert/documentary.”

Lady A will also release their first Christmas album, On This Winter’s Night, October 22nd.

AUDIO: At Thursday night’s premiere, Lady Antebellum talk about their Own the Night World Tour concert film.

Lady A (DVD premiere) OC: (Dave) …pretty surreal. :55
“We really just wanted to kind of be able to tell the whole story and be within this tour, and this is our first-ever headlining arena and amphitheater tour. So, we put so much heart and effort and time into it, and so have it as a complete work now, it’s an amazing feeling. I mean, I think we’re all feeling a little out of our comfort zone. We’re in a movie theater about to watch ourselves in a movie theater.”

CHARLES: “I think one thing we knew we had to put in there, though, was we carry a camera around with us everywhere, and so there’s so much footage. And we said, ‘We can’t do one of these and not put in a bunch of behind-the-scenes footage.’ So, it’s kind of almost like a live DVD concert/documentary…so you get to see a lot of stuff of where we started behind-the scenes and…”

DAVE: “We actually have the footage from the very first time we heard our song on the radio. We had a camera out when that actually happened. So, to have moments like that all the way back from the beginning of our career and to sit here and watch them now is pretty surreal.”