TAKE MY ADVICE ... INSIGHT FROM ARTISTS, RADIO AND MUSIC INDUSTRY NAMES ON HOW TO MOVE AHEAD IN THE BUSINESS

I observe a lot when it comes to new artists, behavior and notice things that are done all in the name of getting their name out there, some good, some great and some that makes me cringe. If you want to get heard, you have to not only use your business sense but you have to use your common sense. There's more to being heard than good music and having a voice. If you want people to pay attention, there are some things that you, as not only an artist, but as a person, need to pay attention to as well. I thought I'd get some input from some friends on the business, some well known names, some new artists, songwriters, someone from radio and someone from the business side of the industry. Check out what they had to say when it comes to making a name for yourself in the music business. Lots of good insight here about what to do and what not do and some advice that just might help someone along the way. That's the point of this article and it's also why Lovin' Lyrics is here, to help new artists however we can.

Thanks to everyone who took their time to contribute their thoughts and shared their personal advice. If something one of these people help you, please be sure to let them know on social media that it was helpful. I've included their social media pages for your information. They all handle their own accounts and do not rely on social media managers so they do respond personally.

~ Jenn

Follow me on Twitter at @Lovinlyrics and here on Facebook.

Duane Allen

The Oak Ridge Boys, Grand Ole Opry Member, Country Music Hall of Fame Member, ACM, CMA , Dove and Grammy Award winner.

 Hits include "Elvira", "Bobbie Sue" and "Y'all Come Back Saloon"

Twitter - @DuaneAllen

Facebook - Duane Allen Fan Page 

"The main thing I tell young artists is to never give up on their dream. Sing every time you get the chance. You learn something about how to communicate every time you sing. If you are just singing to entertain people, sing something familiar. If you are hoping to get a recording deal, record new songs, don't record favors for anyone, including yourself. Record the best new songs you can find. Always be on time. Arrive at your show with plenty of time to thank people who brought you there. Always thank the helpers and security."

Joe Bonsall 
The Oak Ridge Boys, Grand Ole Opry Member, Country Music Hall of Fame Member, ACM, CMA , Dove and Grammy Award winner, Published Author

 Hits include "Elvira", "Bobbie Sue"and"Y'all Come Back Saloon"

Twitter - @JoeBonsall

"If Duane responded, then you already have the best advice…. I will add one thing… don’t sign anything EVER without a good music lawyer!!!"

T. Graham Brown 

Singer/Songwriter - has performed on the Grand Ole Opry 200+ times. 

Hits include "Darlene", "Come as You Were" and "I Tell It Like It Used To Be"

Twitter - @TGrahamBrown1

Facebook - TGrahamBrown1

If I was sitting in a living room with you or across a table from you and you asked my advice, this is what I would say..... if you want to be professional singer, songwriter or musician, make sure you love it so much, you just can't do anything else! Realize that if you are making a living doing what you love, you have the BEST job in the world. Why? Because your job is making a living  making people happy.  It is the BEST job in the world. Treat people with respect, everyone you meet.  From radio folks to promoters to other artists to audiences, especially audiences! Be thankful every time you walk out on a stage that they're there, waiting for you! It's another chance to make people happy!  Without them, you wouldn't have a job!  Really the only way you can make people happy is for you to be happy.  That will come if you pay attention and notice what's going on in your life and around you.  The days, months and years go by so quickly, like the blink of an eye!  Care about the folks that you're working with, appreciate their talent and hard work.  I guess I'm trying to say, live in the moment as much as possible and you'll create great memories that will last a lifetime.  Give everyone your best, every interview, every show, every time.  If you sing, play or write, try to do it almost every day. The more you practice your talent, the better you'll be. And the better you are, the more you'll get to do what you love.  It may sound simple or silly, but I know that it's true. One last thing.....if this is what you want, with all your heart......keep at it........NEVER EVER GIVE UP!!!

Good luck!! Keep the faith and spread it gently.

Steve Holy 

Singer / Songwriter

Hits include "Good Morning Beautiful", "Brand New Girlfriend" and "Love Don't Run"

Twitter - @SteveHoly

Facebook - SteveHoly

"Listen to your label. When you reach that moment where you figure it all out, use your own ideas and make the label think it was all their idea. Do a lot of listening. My father, Hank Holy, always told me ' Life's a pay attention game.'"

"When on a radio tour, remember names and just when you've had enough, you're tired and want to give up, remember how fortunate you are to be in that position in the first place."

"Cowboy Troy"

Singer - Member of Big and Rich's Muzik Mafia

Songs Include "I Play Chicken with the Train", "If You Don't Wanna Love Me (With Sarah Buxton) and "Cash in the Cookie Jar"

Twitter - @CowboyTroy

Facebook - CowboyTroy

"My advice to new artists on growing your audience would be when using social media, your interactions with your fans should be more than just “listen to my single” or “buy my EP”.  Spend some time engaging your fans with different types of posts. Post things other than sales ads. Only posting sales ads will eventually get you cleaned out from someone’s friends list or unfollowed. You want to grow your audience? Try keeping things light-hearted when possible and compassionate when circumstances are appropriate."

Bridgette Tatum

 Singer / Hit Songwriter

Cuts include "She's Country" by Jason Aldean, "Loud" by Big n Rich,

and "Back" by Randy Houser

Solo songs include "I Like My Cowboys Dirty", "Some Things Need to Be Said" 

and "That's Love Y'all"

Twitter - @BridgetteTatum

Facebook - BridgetteTatumFans

"Learn to accept no. No is OK. Those aren't your "people. Always do something everyday for your career. Make a video! Start a chat! Answer questions! However, do NOT over saturate your fans with music. They know you play music. They wanna know YOU. Get creative! Use social media as much as possible. It's a valuable tool in the arts these days. Absolutely play venues where you can connect with writers/publishers/artists/labels. It doesn't always matter if only five people to play to as long as they are the RIGHT five people."

Leah Turner

 Singer/Songwriter 

Songs include "Take the Keys"and "Pull Me Back" 

Twitter - @LeahTurnerMusic
Facebook - LeahTurnerMusic

Advice someone once gave you that stuck with you - Never Give Up. Don't sit around and wait for it to happen, go and make it happen 

What to do - On radio tours, be ready to work and be in lots of cars, planes and hotels.

Performing - Always connect with the crowd, read your audience, and be real and honest.

Attracting fans - Always reply, always stop and say hi, always stop for the picture, the signature, the handshake or the hug. 

Kyle Jennings

Singer / Songwriter

Songs Include "Jesus, Jack Daniels and Me", "Freedom Strong" 

and "You Can Hear the Opry Cry"

Twitter - @KyleJennings13

Facebook - KyleJenningsMusic

"How to keep from giving up is simple. Don't give up. Let your heart lead your footsteps and succeed or fail you'll never be wrong. Live for what you do and understand there is more purpose in the journey than the destination. Take on every challenge with a full heart and an open mind and aspire to grow from every opportunity you can. Be a student if your craft indefinitely. Appreciate where you are right now, and value it, and give your best effort to each moment but don't disconnect from the hope and drive and ambition to continue down the road. It's a hard concept to completely encapsulate. It really comes down to your value system. Some people simply value commercial "chart success" and/or money as their measure of overall success, regardless of the cost. Some have deeper convictions and aspirations and value things like artistic integrity and over commercial success. Those types have a more comprehensive measure of "success" and I think in the long run find more joy in their work. They also understand it's a much longer and tougher road filled with twists and turns that continually challenge you and test your resiliency and shape your character. Regardless, nothing worth anything is easy. It's a long tenuous road and being passionate about all areas of music isn't just a plus, it's a pre-requisite. At the end of the day, whether you have aspirations as a player, vocalist, or songwriter, focus more on how you can be better tomorrow, than worrying about being good today. If you can acquire that mentality, success is just a matter of time."

Justin and Ryan Harris - McKenzies Mill

Singers/Songwriters

Songs include "Houston", "Just Kickin' It", "God Bless the Southern Man" 

and "Middle of Nowhere"

Twitter - @McKenziesMill

Facebook - McKenziesMillFan

"I guess if there's one thing we have learned over 12 years in this town its the power of people. This industry, like any industry has an infrastructure in place…and that's not a “bad” thing. The quicker you embrace that, and not fight it, the better off you’ll be. Learning how to be true to yourself, true to your art, but not stubborn about the fact that you will need the help of many others along the way, the quicker you’ll have a fighting chance at forming a team in Nashville that can help you get to wherever it is that you want to go. Compromise and “selling out” are not synonymous. Bend but don’t break. You have to be able to look yourself in the mirror and feel good about the work you’re doing, but don’t let pride get the best of you either. It’s a slippery slope. Good Luck!"

Gary Quinn
 Singer / Songwriter (UK)

Songs include "He Don't Show Her Anymore", "Live Each Day" and "Shame"

Twitter - @GaryQuinnMusic
Facebook - GaryQuinnMusic

Advice someone once gave you that stuck with you - "Two of the biggest pieces of advice came from a family member call Mickey Tracey (my mother's cousin who's in the industry) and a country artist from Ireland that I looked up to, Eamon McCann. Eamon said "never compromise" and by that he meant never leave your beliefs of what you want to sound like and want to do. That might have meant I've turned down some 'big' opportunities but I would have ended up doing something I didn't really want to do. Mickey told me once "if there's no platform for you to showcase your talents...then go make one" and so I've been involved to helping set up a few events here and there in the UK and one of the main reasons I co-founded 'BUCKLE & BOOTS COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL' in Manchester along with my friend Karl Hancock last year."

What to do - "It's important to budget radio promo and touring into an album / single release. No point having a great record if no one's going to hear it. As a songwriter performer, it's also important to test your new songs out on a small live crowd. Sometimes the song you've written in the bedroom can sound great to you (because you've invested so much in it) but does it fly when performed live? Do 'live streams' of you performing online to attract new fans, apply to play at all genre festivals, new some interesting covers (maybe mash them up with your own). Also, interact with fans online. Think to yourself how awesome you'd feel if one of your favorite acts replied to a tweet? It's no different regardless of what rung of the ladder you're on."

Attitude - "Simply treat others as you'd wish to be treated and have a really good work ethic. Also have a thick skin as rejection is part and parcel of the industry but have faith in yourself. If you don't have faith in yourself then how can you expect a label to? "

What not to do - "Don't continually email over and over again asking for someone to listen to your stuff. Don't give up on trying to succeed either, its a fine balance."

How to get your name out there - "Play everywhere and anywhere, even if it's in your front room 'live streaming'. Remember, if you don't have a platform then go a create one!"

Josh Pruno
Singer / Songwriter

Songs Include "That's My Cross", "23rd Psalm"and "Long Before I Did"

Twitter - @JoshPruno
Facebook - JoshPrunoMusic

"Here are a few thoughts from this Missouri Boy...and I preface with the fact I obviously don't have 'answers'. Not even close. Hell, I'm still trying to figure most of this out 😉 I will say that growing up with a Dad who was a college baseball coach helped prepare for a lot of the business side of music. It sounds funny I know...but a lot of what he used to preach to his kids (teams) was:

1- YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS WATCHING. Whether there are 10 people in the crowd or 1000, it doesn't matter. Always know that you are on. Everything you do. Hidden in that is the fact that the majority of the time it's the little things they're watching. If they came out, chances are they know what you can do. What they don't know is how do you treat the people running sound? How do you respond when your monitor isn't working? How do you react to a crowd who isn't really listening? Etc...

2-ALWAYS SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE TALENTED THAN YOU. More or less, if you are the best musician in your band, player on your team, etc...you have nobody to push you to be better. I have been so fortunate to have guys in my band who are twice the musicians I am. I love the fact that they push me to be better. I have been so blessed to sit and write with some of the best writers in this town, all of who are so much better than me. I take every opportunity to be a 'sponge' that I can. As far as everything else goes, I only know to be yourself. Who are you? If you can't answer that, nothing else matters. Know who you are and what you are about. Be that. Don't preach it...be it. Then if you're lucky someone comes into your life/career and toots your horn for you. Like anything/everything else in life, if you (personally) have to say it (put yourself over)...then you ain't it."

Rita Ballou
On Air Personality KOKE-FM Austin, TX and Music Blogger

Twitter - @RawhideVelvet

On Radio Tours:

Show up for an interview on time -- if you are even 15 minutes late it can screw up the entire day for someone else. 

Show up sober -- look, we get it. You are a rock star and it was a long night of jagerbombs and fireball, but be a grown up. This is our JOB and a place of business...this isn't the Waffle House after last call. Have some respect. If we have to be sober AT WORK, so should you.

Show up with your instrument -- be ready to play. Trust me, no one wants to listen to you talk unless you are cool like Radney Foster or Ray Wylie Hubbard...and guess what? They play AND sing. If they can, you damn well better.

Don't stink -- the studio is small...just like that van. We get it, things get ripe but a little Febreeze never hurt anyone.

Rita also saw this advice on a feature asking radio personnel the same thing so she included the following:

Rachel Yount Martin (Lone Star 102.5 - KHLB FM Radio): "For up and coming artists I'd say the big #1 is in-studio performances. It obviously helps to be talented, but if the listening audience gets to know you, they'll feel more of a connection with your music. And if you're playing a show in the area- even better! Maybe, hopefully for the radio station, that venue will consider advertising if they hear the interview and it helps turnout. Unfortunately for small market stations, some advertisers need convincing. #2 is your job is fun- I know we may be the 3rd radio station you've been to today, but don't forget to have fun with us! The listeners can't see how tired and bored you are on your radio tour, but they can hear it. Be mindful of your speaking voice as well as your singing voice. #3 is liners- they're super easy and worth reaching out to do. Not every station will want one, but I believe for the Texas artists especially, it's another tool that allows listeners to get to know you. "Hey, this is So-and-so from Frisco, Texas and you're about to hear my new single Blah on BBBB fm!" Obviously can't be done for everyone, but it's worth reaching out. Those are my big 3! Good music is obviously a given, but I hope that helps

Matt Ganssle (KYKX 105.7 - East Texas Best Country): "Encourage the artists to learn about radio and how our medium connects with fans deeper than spins. Be accessible for liners, appearances, radio shows, etc. Interact with station social media like a normal person. Never spam for requests - simply interact like a normal person, share relevant content and have fun with our mutual fans!"

Drew Bennett (KOKE-FM): "Have your artist voice liners and jock shouts for everyone on the air there. EVERYONE needs more of those. Send it along with the record. Otherwise, the occasional food surprise can be nice, but we all have to be careful. I know someone who used to live here in ATX who took some plugola and got black balled along with a station fine."

Dave Rose
Owner Deep South Entertainment, Management for Bruce Hornsby, Little Feat, Stryper, Parmalee, Jason Michael Carroll, Allison Moorer, LANco, Kasey Tyndall, Lee Roy Parnell, and The Warren Brothers, and Published Author. 

Twitter - @DaveRose9811
Facebook - DeepSouthEnt

Advice someone once gave you that stuck with you - "From various people, and in various forms, the advice that has stuck with me most consistently throughout my career is this: It’s about the music. It’s ALL about the music. Make great music, truly brilliant music – music that touches people’s soul – and the rest will take care of itself. Marketing, Branding, Touring, Merchandising, etc. – those are all important, but none of those things matter if the music doesn’t come first."

What to do - "Be nice – to everyone. Always. It’ll pay off many times over. And it just generally makes for a more enjoyable life"

What not to do - "The opposite would apply here. Don’t be an a**hole. And back to my original advice as well, put the music first. Be nice and make brilliant music and you’ll be amazed at the doors that’ll open. Seems simple, but I’ve seen first hand how it can work."

How to get your name out there - "Once you’ve got brilliant music, network, network, and network. Go to shows. Go to music conferences. Go to more shows. Meet local musicians. Go to industry networking events. No matter where you live, get involved in the local music community. Get to know as many people as you can. You’ve heard before that this business is all about relationships – it’s kind of true. Solid relationships can certainly help to kick start things."

CONCERT REVIEW: PARMALEE - DEEP SOUTH 20TH ANNIVERSARY STREET FESTIVAL - RALEIGH, NC 5/16/15

ARTIST: Parmalee

VENUE: Deep South the Bar - Raleigh, NC
DATE: 5/16/15

REVIEWER: Jennifer Smith

Follow Jenn on Twitter at @lovinlyrics

Photo Credit: Jennifer Smith / Lovin' Lyrics

CLICK HERE FOR ENTIRE PHOTO GALLERY

It's such a great thing to see how far these four guys from such a small rural town as Parmele, NC have come in such a short time ... well, in country music anyway! They sure haven't been in music a short time, they've been knocking out the songs for about 10 years now and it all started in a small white barn dubbed "Studio B"in a town no bigger than it looks on a map. Well, that town may be small, but everyone knows where it is now thanks to this band.

Noticed by Deep South Entertainment's Dave Rose about 10 years ago, Parmalee was performing as a rock band in tiny clubs and bars around North Carolina. They were playing to whoever would listen, wherever they would listen. They eventually built a dedicated and rather large local following and established themselves as a credible act on the local live music scene. Their music footprint continued to grow until a robbery in 2010 nearly stopped them in their tracks permanently. One night in late September 2010, following a performance at "The Money" in Rock Hill, SC, two armed men,  Demario Burris, 22, and Dytavis Hinton, 22, attempted to rob the band on their bus. Both sides exchanged gunfire and drummer, Scott Thomas, was hit in the leg, shoulder and stomach. Burris was killed and Hinton was wounded. In critical condition, Scott was nearly killed and was hospitalized for over a month, with 10 of those days spent in a coma.  By a pure miracle, Scott recovered from the near fatal shooting and was back behind the drums in 2011 and they were determined to pick up right where they'd left off. Shortly after the incident, the local rock scene was starting to go stale and not going anywhere and country music was starting a new trend, mixing genres and incorporating more diverse sounds and welcoming a variety of styles. Parmalee's sound has never been one that truly fit one specific genre and the timing was perfect for them to see how they would fare on the country scene so they changed up their appearance and with Dave Rose's recommendation, headed for Nashville. The timing couldn't have been any better, their debut single "Must Have Had a Good Time" took off on Sirius XM's "The Highway" and now 4 singles later, including a #1 hit with "Carolina", Parmalee is a proven success and a band that has established a stellar reputation in the industry as just 4 humble hometown guys who just want to play their music and connect with their fans. That reputation couldn't be more true of Matt, Scott, Barry and Josh. They are 4 of the nicest, most grounded and most gracious artists I've ever had the pleasure of connecting with. They've always taken time to sit down with me for a catch up interview every time they're in town. They have never hesistated or declined a request and when the interview is going on, it's like talking to friends. They're all about family and home and no matter where the road takes them, it will always lead back to both and this weekend proved that with the road leading back to Raleigh, NC and most of the Parmalee family members in attendance, so many that a tent was set up to accommodate them.

Parmalee was the headliner for Deep South's 20th Anniversary in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, 5/16/15 and it was amazing to see the turnout for their homecoming. An enormous crowd descended on the corner of Dawson St and Cabarrus St for an entire day of music and a celebration of the contributions of Deep South Entertainment. 20 bands, 2 stages, noon to last call. When 9pm rolled around, you could not move. We staked our places against the stage barriers and anxiously awaited Parmalee's set to begin. When the band took the stage, the applause was deafening. Having last heard them perform back in 2013, I was quite excited to see how they sounded now as opposed to the last show I attended and I can honestly say that they are at the top of their game, both stage show, vocals and instrumentation are the best I've ever seen and heard from them. They performed all of the hits like "Must Have Had a Good Time", "Day Drinking", "Already Callin' You Mine", "Dance", and they even included covers of Bob Seger's "Night Moves" and a spoof of Miley Cyrus' hit "Wrecking Ball" called "Fireball". One highlight for me was a little girl who was standing next to me in the front row, maybe 8 years old if that, wearing her Parmalee concert tshirt and smiling from ear to ear, screaming louder than any groupie and singing every word to every song. Turns out this was her first concert and the guys had been awesome to her - taking her back by the bus for a personal meet and greet with a picture and then after one song, Scott came down from the drums and handed her his drum sticks. It was such a sweet thing to see the interaction with this little girl. They left her with a memory she'll never forget. Close to the end of the show, a Raleigh city official came out on stage with Dave Rose and stopped the guys before they could close out the show. They were completely stunned and didn't know what was going on. The lady, I missed her name unfortunately, starting praising the attention that Parmalee has brought to our state and the wonderful manner in which they represent this area in their actions and in their music. She declared Saturday, 5/16, as "Parmalee Day" and presented them with a certificate. This was very fitting for the ending of the show which was closed with "Carolina".

I know the word "amazing" tends to be overused in today's language but I can honestly say that I'm not overusing it in this review. This show was just that, nothing more and nothing less than fantastic, awesome, kick ass, killer, smack daddy, bombdiggity, great, and hell yes amazing. Thank you to Dave Rose for introducing the world to this band and for giving them a platform to showcase their talent and thank you to Parmalee for just being four of the coolest guys that happen to play music for a living.

RECAP: 20 YEARS, 2 STAGES - DEEP SOUTH'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY STREET FESTIVAL

This weekend I had the pleasure of being part of a celebration in downtown Raleigh, NC. It wasn't just any celebration, it was a gathering of 20 artists and thousands of friends coming together for two purposes, good music and to say thank you to Deep South Entertainment and their crew for 20 years of bringing the best entertainment to North Carolina. While most people were on the other side of town watching Brad Paisley perform, I chose instead to stand on the hot asphalt in the scorching NC summer sun, getting sunburn and sore feet cheering on bands of many genres with one common thread - a guy by the name of Dave Rose. This day was about him, his company of hard working employees, and about a genuine simple love of music and a belief in the artists who play that music. Each band on the lineup is here because Dave heard them and gave them a platform to perform and get their music heard when no one else would. The thing about Dave is that he's not doing to fill his wallet, he does it to fill the hearts of people with a love of what music can do and to share talent with those who might not have heard of these bands without his belief in what they had to offer. Every artist only wants a chance and these artists were lucky because Dave gave them that chance and took them in as members of his Deep South Entertainment family. Because of this strong love of music, all aspects of it, Deep South Entertainment was born.

Deep South has one of the hardest working crew of employees and I have to say, the nicest employees I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Dave tends to hire "like" people and what I mean by that is people similar to him - a strong positive work ethic, integrity, character, outgoing personalities and a love of what it takes to make a company run smoothly and aren't afraid of hard work. I haven't met one employee that doesn't reflect these character traits. Every employee I've dealt with, not only at the event Saturday, but at every other event is easy going, has a smile on their face, is willing to help, and is running like a work horse getting things done. It's impressive to see a group like this and from first point of contact, no matter who it is, you can tell that this is a company you'd want to do business with. Amy Cox, who is present at each and every show and her presence begins days, hours, weeks and even months before the event even takes place, has been by Dave's side for 15 years. She's the one making sure that band load in is taken care of, sound checks are on time, equipment needs are met, lodging reservations are made, catering is taken care of, tickets are distributed properly, stage set up is complete, and every other little thing that you and I couldn't even begin to think about. When those lights come on and the curtain goes up, that happens because of Amy Cox. If Dave was missing a right arm, she's plug herself right in that shoulder socket and do what he wasn't able to do. That's how awesome Amy is. Shhh, don't tell Dave this, but Amy's really the one in charge here but like any strong minded woman, she just lets the guy think he is, even if he is the owner. In addition to the many duties that Amy takes care of, the crew at DSE also handle Lighting, Rigging, Multimedia, Talent Booking, Tents/Tops, Vending, Decor, Site Management, Staffing, Event Planning, Concept Creation, Special Event Services, Wedding Bands, Event Entertainment, Party Bands, and there is also Deep South the Bar which is open 365 nights a year in downtown Raleigh with live music, local beers, signature cocktails, and outdoor patio, open mic nights and private parties. If you're at a major event in Raleigh, chances are you're at a DSE run event.

The bands that performed on Saturday were fantastic and as I told Dave, "thank you for reminding me how much I love other music." (meaning besides country). This wasn't a one genre show, this was a day of 20 bands of multi-genres performing on 2 stages, from noon until last call. The bands playing during the event included:

The Desmonds

Vienna Teng

Chit Nasty Band (loved these guys, they brought the funk for sure!)

Collapsis

Hank Sinatra (these guys were fantastic too - kinda punk/rock/alternative)

Ryan Mullaney

Zak Domogalla

Porch Light Apothocary

Erin Nenni (she was fantastic, what a voice)

The Balsa Gliders

Katie Garfield (Katie is an actress who's appeared in "Sleepy Hollow", "Army Wives" and "Vampire Diaries" to name a few, but she's also a great songwriter and vocalist. She performed a great song she co-wrote with  Jason Michael Carroll.)

I Was Totally Destroying It (love these guys, they're more alternative. Caught them a few years back at another DSE event, Downtown Live, opening for Joan Jett.)

The Roman Spring

Blake Christiana (of the band "Yarn" - he was great, sounded like a young Dwight Yoakam.)

Steve Howell and the Carolina Mamoulides

Season and Snare

120 Minutes featuring Adam Pitts

and finally, the three acts I was most excited to see:

90's alternative hit makers Marcy Playground ("Sex and Candy") Man, this one took me back to when life was easy, dating was fun, and worries were few. This performance was almost 20 years to the day they become a band and met Dave.

Country newcomer Kasey Tyndall who first grabbed Dave's attention as the winner of a contest to perform a duet with Keith Urban on his stop in Raleigh  and who is now making the move to Nashville this week after releasing her first single "Prove Me Wrong" and debut video to accompany the song. This girl is amazing. She's so honest, genuine and just Kasey and that's such a refreshing change in today's world. If she can't be herself, she's not interested in being anything else. Kasey may be small in stature but she's huge on talent. Keep your ears on this one.

And (yay!) Parmalee! Matt, Scott, Barry and Josh started out playing more towards a rock audience, gained a local following and about 10 years ago, Dave also took notice of them and saw that there was something there that needed to be brought to the attention of others. A few years ago, Dave thought they'd gain more attention as a country rock band and because of the trend country was starting to follow, they'd fit perfectly. I, for one and judging by the huge crowd that seemed to agree, am glad that they followed that advice. These days they're one of country's best new bands and have made a huge name for themselves. They're headlining world wide and have had 3 charted hits, including their first #1, "Carolina" and most recently released their 4th, "Already Callin' You Mine".

During the night's festivities, there were 2 special things that happened - Dave was presented with a cake to say thank you by representatives of the city of Raleigh and Saturday was officially declared Parmalee Day with an unexpected presentation, surprising the band.

What a fantastic night of music, a great day of connecting with old friends and making new ones and celebrating a company and people that have made a difference in not only the lives of these artists but have made a difference for our area by bringing in quality entertainment and making Raleigh, NC a hotspot for great music and events. So thank you Dave Rose, you truly are a rare gem in a field of common stones. I'm so glad that I chose to look a little closer and see what makes you and those you work with stand out among so many others, I'm thankful that we crossed paths and because of that crossing, I can call you a friend. Thank you, Amy and the rest of Deep South for setting the bar high and for believing in the music that brings us all closer together.

Even the BB&T bank building smiled ...

- Jennifer Smith
Follow Jenn on Twitter at @lovinlyrics

All photos are the property of Jennifer Smith and may not be reposted, copied or distributed without express written consent.

WIN 2 TICKETS TO DEEP SOUTH ENTERTAINMENT'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY STREET FESTIVAL FEATURING PARMALEE, KASEY TYNDALL AND 18 OTHER BANDS

** THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED **

Congratulations to Dawn Glavin and Teresa Persun!

20 years of entertainment is coming together on 2 stages for 1 entire day of fun! 

Deep South Entertainment is celebrating 20 years of operation on May 16 with a HUGE street festival in downtown Raleigh, NC featuring some of their most talented clients including country artists Parmalee and newcomer Kasey Tyndall along with 18 other artists scheduled to perform. We love the crew at Deep South and appreciate everything they do so we'd like to introduce them to you by giving someone 2 tickets (value $20.00 each) to this celebration. 

Just a disclaimer, all bands are not country, it's an eclectic mix of styles but it's all great music! 

If you're on Twitter, follow @DeepSouthEnt, @Parmalee and @KaseyTyndall 

Tweet this message to us at @LovinLyrics -  "Happy 20th Anniversary DSE #20Years2Stages" 

If you're on Facebook, "like" Deep South, Parmalee and Kasey Tyndall

Leave a happy anniversary Deep South comment under our contest post

We'll choose a random winner on Friday, April 24, one week from today!

Come out and join the fun. We'll be there enjoying the music and covering the event so please stop and say hello if you see us near the stages with our cameras! We'd love to meet ya!

Thanks and congratulations to Dave Rose, Amy Cox and the entire gang at Deep South on 20 years of keeping music fans entertained and putting on the best shows in Raleigh!

20 ACTS AND 2 STAGES: DEEP SOUTH ENTERTAINMENT CELEBRATES 20 YEARS WITH STREET FESTIVAL ON MAY 16

Following the announcement of Deep South Entertainment's 20th Anniversary celebration, the performers, fans, and friends alike have all voiced their excitement for the street festival on May 16th.

Deep South has been a staple of the Triangle music community since its formation in 1995.  The company has managed or business managed Grammy-winning and Billboard-charting artists like Bruce Hornsby, Little Feat, Parmalee, Marcy Playground, Stryper, Vienna Teng, Jason Michael Carroll, and many more.

Locally, Deep South produces concerts and events, and was instrumental in the introduction of more frequent outdoor live music in downtown Raleigh through their work with series such as Downtown Live, Raleigh Wide Open, and Oak City 7.  Additionally, the company owns and operates Deep South The Bar, a small live music venue across from the Red Hat Amphitheater.

Owner and President Dave Rose serves on the Raleigh Convention Center Commission and The Live Music Advisory Board through The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureaus, and has been an advocate of local music since graduating from NC State in 1990.

Come join us Saturday May 16, from Noon to 11pm for Deep South's 20th Anniversary Street Festival presented by Bud Light. Located on the corner of South Dawson St. and West Cabarrus St., we'll be taking over downtown Raleigh for a music festival suited for anyone and everyone. The fun continues at the after-party inside Deep South the Bar with 90's cover band 120 Minutes from 11pm-2am.

Celebrating 20 years with 20 acts and 2 stages, #DeepSouth20 will feature performances by bands and solo artists that have been a part of our 20 year history.

Tickets are available now at DeepSouthEntertainment.com and you can SAVE $5 if you buy them now!

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Band Together NC and The LGBT Center of Raleigh.

Each of the 20 artists performing at the 20th Anniversary Street party has a rich history with Deep South. Below is a brief description of each.

Parmalee – Top 40 country music band that rose to the top of the charts with their #1 hit “Carolina” and only continue to “permanently make the top of the charts their home” –Got Country Online. Parmalee has also been featured in CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown and their singles “Close Your Eyes” and “Already Callin You Mine” have been circulating country radio nationwide.  Deep South and Parmalee have worked together for many years. The band is part of the family.

Marcy Playground – Marcy Playground is most famously known for their 1997 hit single “Sex and Candy”. The alternative rock band’s song hit big and the group will be coming together again for one time only on Deep South's stage to reprise the hit and others alike. Sex & Candy was featured on Deep Volume 1 in 1996, a compilation CD released by the fledgling Deep South Records. The success of that song moved the company into the national spotlight.

Blake Christiana of Yarn – Blake Christiana, Yarn’s frontman, harmoniously blends Americana, Rock, and Country for unforgettable performances through musical storytelling. Yarn has been making noise around the music scene for the past 7 years and has an impressive collection of albums to date.  Yarn has performed at a number of events produced by Deep South over the years, including Raleigh Downtown Live & Oak City 7.

Kasey Tyndall – Kasey Tyndall, a client of Deep South's country music division, Tennessee East Artist Management, is indeed North Carolina's next big country music star. In 2014, Tyndall won a regional contest to duet with superstar Keith Urban and the two wowed a crowd of over 18,000 at Walnut Creek. Industry leaders in Nashville have taken notice and she is currently writing and recording with some of the most respected writers and producers in country music.

Collapsis – Featured on Deep 2 and one of Deep South’s first management clients, the Chapel Hill rock act Collapsis achieved local and national fame after signing with Universal Records and recorded their major-label debut (Dirty Wake) in early 2000, which reached Top 30 on the Billboard Modern Rock charts.

Steve Howell & Caroline Mamoulides – Steve Howell from The Backsliders and Raleigh singer-songwriter Caroline Mamoulides join forces to make beautiful folk/Americana music together, and throw in some songs from their past as well. Owner Dave Rose cites The Backsliders as one of his earliest influences musically as he was coming of age in the industry.

I Was Totally Destroying It – IWTDI, managed by Deep South, have brought their own brand of indie power pop to stages all across the country for the past 8 years – touring with Motion City Soundtrack and Jukebox The Ghost, and sharing the stage with everyone from Joan Jett to Billy Bragg, Passion Pit to Modern English.

Hank Sinatra – Deep South Digital client, Hank Sinatra, is the rowdiest rock n roll band in the land – their all-star lineup of Triangle musicians always brings down the house!

Erin Nenni – Another Tennessee East Artist Management client, Erin Nenni, is a singer/songwriter from a small town in North Carolina. A graduate from East Carolina University, Nenni’s career as a musician continues to bloom, having been heard on NPR's "The State of Things" and NBC's "My Carolina Today". She is releasing her debut country music EP this summer.

Jeff Carroll & The Desmonds – Jeff Carroll & The Desmonds were one of the first acts to be signed to Deep South in the mid 90’s, alongside Marcy Playground and Butch Walker, and are featured on the Deep Volume 1 compilation.  Jeff Carroll owns a local mastering studio and also worked on many of the early titles released through Deep South Records.

Chit Nasty Band – Alumni of the Oak City 7 stage, specializing in funk, soul, and rock & roll, The Chit Nasty Band delivers powerful rhythms and feel-good music with every live performance. Christian “Chit” Foushee-Green and fellow band members promise an unforgettable live music experience that leaves you feeling good deep down into your soul.

The Roman Spring – The latest project from Colourslide’s Alex Lawhon (winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest 2007 Song Of The Year award), The Roman Spring feature members of other NC luminaries such as Dillon Fence, Parklife, The Veldt, and Cravin Melon.  Visit Alex on Sunday night’s at Deep South the Bar.

Katie Garfield – Actress and singer/songwriter from Cary, NC released her first single “Put Me Back On My Throne” early February where it reigns at the top of the local charts on ReverbNation. Garfield resides in Los Angeles and is a client of the business management division of Deep South.

Season & Snare – Deep South the Bar’s 2014 Open Mic Winners Season & Snare features band members and co-creators Casey Austin Allen and Autumn Rose Brand. The duo has made waves in the Indie/Pop community and continues to deliver impressive harmonies through their music and undeniable talent. Set to release their first single soon, Season & Snare looks ahead to a bright future in music.

Zak Domogalla – As part of the Deep South the Bar family, Zak Domogalla never fails in delivering heartfelt Alternative and Acoustic Rock performances. His music embodies his life experiences and he utilizes lyricism and melody to perfect the art of storytelling.

Ryan Mullaney – Acoustic songstress, Ryan Mullaney, is the host for Deep South The Bar’s Tuesday Open Mic, which for 5 years running has been nominated Best In The Triangle by the readers of the Independent Weekly.

The Balsa Gliders – The Balsa Gliders have regularly played Deep South the Bar to capacity crowds over the years, and are frequent favorites of various festivals produced by Deep South.

Porch Light Apothecary – Brought together through impressive backgrounds in music, Brent Jordan and Jason Elliott have teamed up to create Porch Light Apothecary, showcasing their musical abilities through this new Americana duo. Brent Jordan produced his first solo CD with Deep South client Barry Knox of Parmalee.

120 Minutes – 120 Minutes play everything from Spice Girls to Nirvana, Blackstreet to Gin Blossoms, Alanis Morisette to Blind Melon – anything to make you say “The 90s are back!”  120 Minutes is comprised of several Deep South staff members:  John Booker, Curtis Armstead, Griffin Wade, and Aslan Freeman.

Adam Pitts - Incredible one-man-band Adam Pitts has been performing at Deep South produced events longer than most, and winning over the crowds every time. Pitts is one of the hardest working musicians in the Triangle area, and has taken his talents abroad as well. Pitts traveled to the Bahamas to perform in the Raleigh Rocks The Bahamas events in 2007 and 2008. Adam Pitts will join 120 Minutes on stage during the after party at Deep South the Bar to belt out some 90s hits and get the whole place dancing, as he always does.

WIN A COPY OF "EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS, I LEARNED FROM MY COUSIN RICK", THE NEW BOOK FROM INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL, DAVE ROSE

We believe the start of any great music career is educating yourself, whether it be as an artist, a musician, an industry professional or even a blogger. You need to hear the honest truth from people that know what they're talking about. That's why we're giving you a chance to win a copy of a fantastic book on the industry from one of the best, Dave Rose. Dave is the co-founder and co-owner of Deep South Entertainment, a record label, artist management, music publishing, merchandising, and concert event production company, with offices in Raleigh, N.C., and Nashville, TN. He is also the business manager of Parmalee, one of the managers of Jason Michael Carroll, and he manages rock bands such as Stryper. For more background on Dave, check out this link - http://www.celebrityaccess.com/news/profile.html?id=319. Dave is not only a kick ass industry professional, he's also a great guy, very down to earth and always willing to lend a hand not only to artists but to anyone interested in learning about the business. He's very well respected, has been a huge positive influence with Lovin' Lyrics and we think the world of him and value his opinion on everything we do. We want to share some of his knowledge with you.

His new book, "Everything I Know About the Music Business I Learned from My Cousin Rick" is an honest, humble look at the industry and is a great read for anyone. His first printing sold out and they've had to go into a second printing! I have a copy from that second printing for one lucky winner.

All you have to do to enter is follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRose9811 and tweet the following "Hey @LovinLyrics! I Want to Learn About Music from @DaveRose9811 #cousinrick". We'll pick one winner at random this Friday!

DEEP SOUTH ENTERTAIMENT LAUNCHES TENNESSEE EAST MANAGEMENT AND SIGNS JASON MICHAEL CARROLL

I've been waiting so long to be able to announce this. Jason is in the best of hands with Dave Rose and Kevin Frazier. I've worked with Dave a few times in the past with various bands and Kevin is the owner of City Limits Saloon in Raleigh, NC who I currently work very closely with in promotions for their shows. I am ecstatic about this team, it's a great combination and look forward to helping them.

North Carolina-based Deep South Entertainment has launched Tennessee East Artist Management and signed Jason Michael Carroll to its roster. The new company is co-owned by Deep South President Dave Rose and NC venue owner Kevin Frazier; Frazier will lead the new company. Its first order of business is the radio release of Carroll's single "Close Enough" this spring, followed by a tour and live DVD later this year. More here.   Source: Country Aircheck