Your No. 1 for Country News in NI
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Win with CMNI! We’re giving away a free pair of tickets for the amazing Jamboree in The Park, taking place at the Ecclesvale Centre, Fintona. Returning on Saturday 5th May with a stellar line up, massive stage, trademark dance floor and more! Featuring Derek Ryan, Lisa McHugh, Johnny Brady and Barry Kirwan.
Longtime locals in Nashville, Callie Khouri (Thelma and Louise) and Steve Buchanan produce the series alongside creators Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick. In their pursuit over the show’s six years, the production team were never going to settle for anything less than capturing the authentic Nashville story, and the struggles most local musicians face in their rise to prominence and fame.
The hit TG4 country music show, Opry le Daniel, returns to Derry~Londonderry for 7 nights of the best of country music from some of the best local and further afield stars with nightly recordings presented by Ireland’s own “King of Country” Daniel O’Donnell!
This week we had the wonderful privilege of catching up with Mandy Barnett ahead of her Belfast appearance with the Ulster Orchestra. We chatted influences, spare time and the pressures of the music industry.
Last night the Nashville cast performed their last gig in Dublin as part of their Farewell Tour. There was an immense excitement, albeit mixed with a sense of sadness as we know the end of the show on TV is drawing ever closer. Tonight they do their thing in Belfast!
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Saturday 5th May see’s the fabulous Brothers Osborne roll into Northern Ireland for their first UK gig of this your. They’ll be playing in Belfast’s Limelight, straight after a Dublin appearance on the previous night. The event comes just two weeks after the release of their second album ‘Port Saint Joe’. CMNI’s very own Courtenay Mercer shared the great news with us last Friday…read about it here. The band also tweeted instructions to make sure you know the best way in which to listen to it!
Chris and Morgane Stapleton were pleased to announce the birth of two little boys at the weekend. The couple reports that the twins are happy and healthy at home. Reba McEntire announced their arrival live during Sunday’s (April 15) ACM Awards in Las Vegas.
The babies made their social media debut back on Tuesday (April 17) afternoon in a timeless black and white image snuggled up against mum.
“We would like to say a special thank you to all the incredible nurses and doctors at Centennial Women’s & Children’s Hospital in Nashville,” Morgane wrote. “At more than a month early, we had a week-long stay in the NICU, and the incredible people there kept our boys healthy and happy. Words cannot express our gratitude for you all and what you did for our family.”
Thank you for sharing our good news @Reba! We couldn't have dreamed up a better day. Morgane & the boys are doing great & we appreciate everyone's support! https://t.co/Qt9tzx3DIA
— Chris Stapleton (@ChrisStapleton) April 17, 2018
Stapleton was with his family on ACM Awards night. His three wins were in two categories, male vocalist and album of the year for From A Room: Volume 1. Chris Stapleton features in our latest podcast talking about how he came up with the name for the “From a Room” albums. You can check it out here
On Tuesday night he remains of singer, who passed away aged 81, were brought home to Oram village in Co Monaghan for a public reposal at the community centre, with the coffin placed beneath a giant mural of the man himself. People have flocked from all over Ireland to rural County Monaghan to pay tribute to the man they called “the King” of Irish country.
On this podcast we catch up with Mo Pitney for the 2nd half of our exclusive interview. Mo talks Family, Faith and Northern Ireland! We also hear from Lady Antebellum on the 10th anniversary of their self titled debut album and we chat briefly about the Nashville concert hitting Belfast next week!
LISA WRIGHT EXPLORES NEW SOUNDS ON ‘MIND OF MINE’ EP – OUT MAY 25th
Featuring country-tinged lead single ‘Tennessee’, the UK songwriter’s new EP is available to pre-order now
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