Talk about a pleasant surprise! Today Sony Music Nashville officially they’ve signed the popular, Grammy-winning Old Crow Medicine Show to their label. They’ve been assigned to the Columbia Records Nashville imprint and have announced the release of a new album of Bob Dylan covers, 50 Years of Blonde on Blonde. It will be released on April 28 and it celebrates the 50th anniversary of Bob Dylan’s release of his album Blonde on Blonde. The group recorded this album live at the CMA Theatre in May 2016. It is already available for pre-order on their site and will be available everywhere for pre-order this coming Friday. They’ve also announced a tour supporting the album, Old Crow Medicine Show Performing Blonde on Blonde. You can see the full tour dates schedule below.
It makes perfect sense that this iconic roots group would be honoring Dylan, as the band has crafted two great songs out of Dylan chorus, the most famous being “Wagon Wheel.” The band really came onto people’s radars after Darius Rucker covered it of course. The bigger news here is a major country label signing Old Crow Medicine Show. Certainly not for a lack of a talent because they’re one of the best groups in country/folk today. Certainly not for a lack of achievements: members of the Grand Ole Opry, certified platinum status, multiple Grammys and a very popular touring band.
It’s that a major country label would actually sign them. Or perhaps not. We’re now seeing the effects of the rise of acts like Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. It’s forced major labels to pay more attention to acts outside the mainstream sound who sell and cultivate a major following. They’re still never going to get played on country radio. But they’re more relevant and sell better (both touring and music) than many on the radio. Remember Sony Music just recently also revived Monument Records inking Caitlyn Smith, an artist in a similar position. This very well could signal a shift in the way major country labels do business. We’ll have to wait and see.
MAY 2017
4 Santa Barbara, CA @ The Granada Theatre
5 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
6 Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
8 Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
10 Seattle, WA @ The Moore Theatre
12 Salt Lake City, UT @ Delta Hall at Eccles Theater
13 Aspen, CO @ Belly Up Aspen
14 Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
20 Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theatre
22 Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre
24 New York, NY @ The Town Hall
25 Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
28 Cooperstown, NY @ Brewery Ommegang
30 Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
31 Columbus, OH @ EXPRESS LIVE!
JUNE 2017
1 Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre
2 Louisville, KY @ Iroquois Amphitheater
8 Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
9 Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
10 St. Paul, MN @ The Palace Theatre
11 Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
12 St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
UK/Netherlands
JUNE 2017
24 Manchester, UK @ O2 Ritz
25 Glasgow, UK @ O2ABC
28 London, UK @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
30 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
