New Music Video From Crystal Bowersox - "Until Then"

New Live Music City Roots Performance From Crystal Bowersox- "Dead Weight"

Wade Hayes, The Bacon Brothers and Crystal Bowersox All Announce New Projects

Three distinctively different music acts, all falling underneath the big umbrella we call roots music, announced new projects this week including longtime traditional country stalwart Wade Hayes, the movie-star-turned-musician Kevin Bacon and his brother in the Bacon Brothers, and American Idol alum Crystal Bowersox.

Wade Hayes went to his Facebook with three separate key announcements yesterday, keeping most likely the most important one until the end: after a several year battle with prostate cancer, he went to the doctor and has been given a cancer-free diagnosis. Said Hayes, "I wanted to thank all of you for the prayer and well wishes. I just got my quarterly tests results and I'm still cancer free. It is so amazing, and I am so very thankful. Thank God." Hayes also kicked off a small new apparel line called The Salt Lick Life. He explains, " I am a country boy. Grew up land locked in rural Oklahoma and I was just fine with that! I love the country way of life and I know a lot of you do too, so I have designed a new t-shirt that states that very thing! You will probably never se...e me out wondering the beach barefoot wearing a cowboy hat and pukka shells. No, you can keep the salt life, give me the salt lick life!" The apparel has a little cartoon cow sticking his tongue out across the brand's name-brand. More exciting than the apparel line, however, is that Hayes will be launching a Kickstarter campaign on a new album that he's written all the songs for and has booked time in the studio to put together already. Hayes tells his fans, "I am very happy to announce we are launching a pledge campaign in the next week or two to make my next album. This is the first chance I've had to record since everything went crazy a few years back, but now I am ready and super stoked! I have the songs ready, I have the studio is booked, now all I need is YOU! I will come back and post the moment we are ready to launch so stay tuned!"

When, he's not behind or in front of the lens, actor and musician Kevin Bacon is often out playing music with big brother, Michael Bacon in country/rock band, The Bacon Brothers- and the duo has a new album 36 Cents coming out September 16. Listen to Bacon discuss his the music side of his career and the new project in the following podcast from Ohio's Record-Courier:

Media Pass Podcast: Kevin Bacon, Bacon Brothers by Recordpub on Mixcloud

American Idol alum Crystal Bowersox has gone the independent route and similar to Hayes, is using a crowd-sourcing vehicle in PledgeMusic to have her fans help fund her next music project. Bowersox says, "If you haven’t already pieced this together – I’m in the process of finishing a new EP & I’m planning a new tour around it! I couldn’t be more excited. It’s going to be so much fun.
But why I’ve brought you all here is to invite you to share this experience with me. I’ve teamed up with PledgeMusic to bring you guys closer to the music than ever before. I’ve created a bunch of creative exclusives and exciting experiences for you guys to enjoy!" You can see what the different pledges include at her page HERE.

New Music Video From Crystal Bowersox- "Dead Weight"

Crystal Bowersox To Release All This For That On 3/26

Last Friday, twangy folk songstress and runner-up American Idol alum Crystal Bowersox unveiled her track "Stitches" duet with Jakob Dylan, front-man for The Wallflowers and son of rock n' roll legend Bob Dylan.

She explained, "Working with Jakob was a thrill for me. I've always admired his work with the Wallflowers, and his solo material as well, so to have him sing on a very personal song that was written for my son was the icing on the proverbial sugar-free, life-affirming, validation cake. I think that parents will definitely be able to relate to the tune, "Stitches". Dylan's performance and personal connection brought the song on to a deeper, heartfelt place." The track made its exclusive premiere via RollingStone.com and can now be streamed via soundcloud here.

"Stitches" will be featured on All That For This the upcoming sophomore album from Crystal. Earlier this month, she premiered her first buzz track "Dead Weight" via Ryan Seacrest's official website here.

All That For This will be released on March 26th.

From the press release:

Produced by Steve Berlin (Los Lobos, Rickie Lee Jones, Angelique Kidjo),  All That For This boasts a deeply personal collection of original songs, as well as a duet with special guest Jakob Dylan. The Ohio-bred singer-songwriter, who was first catapulted to s uperstardom as a finalist on Season 9 of American Idol, captured the hearts of millions with her angelic voice and gentle strength.  All That For This is the follow-up to her critically-heralded debut Farmer's Daughter (Jive Records), and promises the same fusion of emotive folk-rock and country-tinged soul.

All That For This Track Listing:
1. Fall Into Place
2. Dead Weight
3. Amen
4. All That For This
5. Here's Where The Story Ends
6. Home
7. I Am
8. Movin' On
9. Shine
10. Stitches featuring Jakob Dylan
11. Someday
12. Whiskey

Hear It Here- Crystal Bowersox's New "Dead Weight"

American Idol runner-up Crystal Bowersox had this to say about her new single, “This song means more to me than even I can completely comprehend. I feel like it’s one of those tunes where the meaning will get deeper and deeper over time as you start to really live, and actualize the words into your existence. It’s about knowing in your heart, that not knowing the outcome is perfectly acceptable; breathe. I’m still figuring it out, myself.”

American Idol Runner-Up Crystal Bowersox Unveils March Release Date For Sophomore Album

Crystal Bowersox, who finished runner-up on American Idol's 2010 season, tweeted that she will be releasing her second yet-untitled album in March of this year on Shanachie Entertainment Records.

Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers will guest on the album, which is being produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos.

Crystal shares, “I feel like I’m finally achieving a sense of balance in my life and it’s making itself evident in my new material. My career is really still in its infancy and the possibilities are limitless. This will be my second studio album and I’m excited to see what happens. The silvery residue from Idol has faded a bit and now it’s all about what’s true and real in my world. I’m paying way more attention to the things that really matter and making more of my decisions based in kindness and love. My son has taught me so much about that, how strong I can be, even in my weakest moments.”

Shanachie Entertainment General Manager, Randall Grass, says, “On American Idol, Crystal Bowersox stood out as a real singer with a big voice who made an emotional connection with the audience, similar to the way Adele does. Yet we feel the true depth of her talent as a singer and songwriter has not yet been fully exposed and we look forward to achieving that with her new album. We are very excited to be working with her.” Bowersox adds “Shanachie is a good fit for me and my music. I am happy to join the label’s growing list of critically acclaimed and well-respected recording artists. I am really looking forward to working on this new project.”

American Idol Runner-Up Crystal Bowersox Releasing New EP Later This Month

On May 29, 2012, 9th Season of American Idol runner-up and Americana artist Crystal Bowersox will be releasing a new EP called Once Upon a Time. The album will consist of studio material that was done prior to her stint on the big Fox network show. This little independent release is a prelude to a full new studio album that is planned later in 2012. You can listen to snippets of each track HERE.

Track listing:
1. Mama
2. Get Me Out
3. Slut
4. Outta My Mind
5. Baby

Video Replay- American Idol Alum Crystal Bowersox Makes Her Grand Ole Opry Debut

Crystal Bowersox attended the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville Friday night and wound up making her debut appearance on the Nashville radio show.

Bowersox initially went just as a fan, but Pete Fisher, the show's general manager, asked if he could announce her presence to the audience. When he did, the response was so enthusiastic that Opry member Vince Gill decided to bring her on to perform.

"We do things out here for an awful lot of different reasons, but one is spontaneity, one is fun," Gill said as he introduced Crystal. "I went to the management and said, 'Why don't we do the Southern gentlemanly thing and invite her to sing a song on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry?'"

You can watch the performance below:

New Music Video From American Idol Alum Crystal Bowersox- "Farmer's Daughter"