New Artist Spotlight: The Dirt Drifters

By Bob Doerschuk © 2011 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc. Words like “gritty” come to mind when The Dirt Drifters take to the stage. Of course, there’s no shortage of grit out there, but something in the sound of this five-piece separates it from the pack. Maybe it’s the vivid [...] Read More

New Artist Spolight: Aaron Lewis

By Bob Doerschuk © 2011 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc. Not every newcomer can persuade Charlie Daniels, George Jones and Chris Young to join in on his debut single. Then again, Aaron Lewis isn’t your typical newcomer. He’d already built a massive following as frontman for Staind when he came [...] Read More

New Artist Spotlight: Christian Kane

By Bob Doerschuk © 2011 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc. Before getting into the often raucous heart of The House Rules, jump ahead to the last track, one of only two not written or co-written by Christian Kane. If his cover of Tracy Chapman’s heartbreaking masterpiece “Fast Car” is all [...] Read More

New Artist Spotlight: Brett Eldredge

By Bob Doerschuk © 2011 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc. Some people were born Country. Brett Eldredge came to it a little late — but once he got there, he dug in deep and made it his home. Growing up in Paris, Ill., Eldredge spent a lot of time hanging [...] Read More

New Artist Spotlight: Burns & Poe

By Bob Doerschuk © 2010 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc. Keith Burns built his chops through club gigs in his hometown of Atlanta before starting a six-year run on bass with Joe Diffie. He then stepped into the spotlight in 1996 as co-founder of Trick Pony, with whom he recorded [...] Read More