KELLEIGH BANNEN BREAKS BIG ON SIRIUSXM

First Artist to have THREE Songs Simultaneously Featured as a Highway Find:

 "John Who," "Happy Birthday" and "The Joneses"

Kelleigh Bannen’s news announcing a simultaneous three-song SiriusXM’s The Highway Finds music premiere did not go out in advance of her appearance yesterday on the Storme Warren Show as the Nashville native couldn’t believe it was all really happening.

“I guess part of me didn’t want to jinx it?,” says the female powerhouse AXS calls “Nashville’s most underrated singer-songwriter.” “When you’ve been at it for over a decade like I have been, it’s almost unheard of to get this kind of support as an unsigned female in Country… three songs and this much airplay out of the gate? It’s powerful.

"The pressure was really off when we wrote and recorded these songs,” Bannen reflects of her three singles, “John Who,” The Joneses” and “Happy Birthday” that are simultaneously spinning on the mainstream country channel. She continues, “After I was dropped from my major label deal, a fearlessness set in as I really didn’t have anything else to lose.”

SiriusXM’s The Highway Finds program was developed as a tool for not only new music discovery but also as a platform to champion and, in turn, help break new artists through early airplay on a national level.

"Going through Kelleigh's new music, it became clear almost immediately that picking a 'first single' was going to be really tough...so we decided since all of the music is this great, why not just go with all three songs? So that's exactly what we did" adds J.R. Schumann, Senior Director of Programming for SiriusXM.

Kelleigh Bannen’s The Joneses:

"John Who"

Writers: Kelleigh Bannen, Will Bowen and Christopher Rafetto

Producer: Jaren Johnston

"Happy Birthday”

Writers: Kelleigh Bannen, Clair Douglas and Dallas Wilson

Producer: Jaren Johnston

"The Joneses"

Writers: Kelleigh Bannen, Todd Clark and Travis Wood

Producer: Todd Clark

Bannen will make another debut next month as the musical guest on SiriusXM The Highway’s Music Row Happy Hour, starting at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT on Friday, July 13. And you can always join in on The Highway by listening to Ch. 56.

All three songs are available now, listen here.

STEVE MOAKLER’S SIRIUSXM "HIGHWAY FINDS" TOUR LAUNCHES TODAY, MARCH 16

New 11-track album, Steel Town, available everywhere Friday, March 17

Breakout country artist who appeared on more than 20 Ones to Watch 2016 lists including CMT, Huffington Post, Nashville Lifestyles, Rolling Stone Country and more, Steve Moakler, will kick off his headlining SiriusXM-backed The Highway Finds Tour today, Thursday, March 16. Just four hours later the “in demand” (Taste of Country) singer/songwriter will release his fourth studio album, Steel Town, available at digital retail and streaming at midnight on Friday, March 17. The 11-track album, produced by GRAMMY Award winning songwriter/producer Luke Laird for CN Records (Creative Nation), is a compilation of songs that serve as reflections on his past, which is rooted in Pittsburgh.

“Honestly, they don't make a lot of steel in Pittsburgh anymore,” said Moakler.  “They made so much at one time though, that I'm convinced that spirit and resilience is still left over in the people.”
Moakler continues, “Whether it's true or not, there are times in life when it's helpful to believe that maybe you have some steel in you. That's really the spirit that inspired this album and what drives me to keep pressing on, building my career and making music that I can share with fans. I'm so grateful to have grown up in a place with tenacity in its bones, and that's why I named this album Steel Town."

Moakler co-wrote 10 of the 11 tracks along with the help of critically-acclaimed co-writers Andy Albert, Marshall Altman, Cary Barlowe, Casey Beathard, Dave Berg, Sarah Buxton, Chad Cates, Barry Dean, Luke Laird, Gordie Sampson, Caitlyn Smith and Daniel Tashian, and includes SiriusXM’s “The Highway” hit and Moakler’s first single, “Suitcase” written by Barry Dean, Luke Laird and Thomas Rhett.

Moakler’s latest offering and third single “Wheels” is available at SiriusXM’s “The Highway” now and is the follow-up single to fan-favorite, “Love Drunk.”

The Highway Finds Tour kicks off today, Thursday, March 16 in Charlotte, N.C. at The Underground and serves as the “perfect” way to celebrate the release of his new album, according to Moakler.

“This is will be our fourth headline spring tour in a row and it's been really gratifying to watch the crowds grow every year,” said Moakler.  “Now, partnering with SiriusXM “The Highway,” Drew Baldridge and Smithfield, I anticipate this being our most exciting show yet.”

Moakler first established his foothold as a songwriter with cuts by Ashley Monroe ("If Love Was Fair"), Jake Owen (“Surefire Feeling”), Ben Rector ("Without You") and Dierks Bentley (“Riser”) and has earned recognition by more than 20 outlets as an “artist to watch,” including CMT, Huffington Post, Nashville Lifestyles, Rolling Stone Country and more.

For more information about his upcoming album and tour, visit stevemoakler.com.

Steel Town Track Listing:

1. “Steel Town” (Steve Moakler / Casey Beathard)
2. “Suitcase” (Barry Dean / Luke Laird / Thomas Rhett)
3. “Jealous Girl” (Steve Moakler / Daniel Tashian)
4. “Summer Without Her” (Steve Moakler / Sarah Buxton)
5. “Love Drunk” (Steve Moakler / Cary Barlowe / Gordie Sampson)
6. “Hearts Don’t Break That Way” (Steve Moakler / Marshall Altman / Barry Dean)
7. “Wheels” (Steve Moakler / Gordie Sampson / Caitlyn Smith)
8. “Siddle’s Saloon” (Steve Moakler / Barry Dean)
9. “School” (Steve Moakler / Andy Albert / Dave Berg)
10. “Just Long Enough” (Steve Moakler / Barry Dean / Luke Laird)
11. “Gold” (Steve Moakler / Chad Cates)

Highway Finds Tour dates are as follows:

Thurs., March 16          Charlotte, N.C.                        The Underground

Fri., March 17               Rome, Ga.                               Brewhouse Music and Grille

Sat., March 18              Bowling Green, Kent.             Warehouse at MT. Victor

Wed., March 22            Cleveland, Ohio                      House of Blues

Thurs., March 23          Detroit, Mich.                         The Shelter

Fri., March 24               Warrendale, Pa.                      Jergel’s Rhythm Grille

Sat., March 25              Lancaster, Pa.                         Chameleon Club

Wed., April 5                 Knoxville, Tenn.                   The Concourse

Thurs., April 6               Chattanooga, Tenn.               Revelry Room

Fri., April 7                    Tifton, Ga.                            The Gin

Thurs., April 13             Austin, Texas                        Antone’s

Fri., April 14                  Houston, Texas                     House of Blues

Sat., April 15                 Dallas, Texas                         House of Blues

Fri., April 21                  Columbia, Mo.                      Rose Music Hall

Sat., April 22                 Omaha, Neb.                          Bourbon Saloon Omaha

Sun., April 23                Denver, Colo.                         Marquis Theater

Thurs., May 4               Springfield, Ill.                       Boondocks

Fri., May 5                    Minneapolis, Minn.               Triple Rock         

Sat., May 6                   Madison, Wisc.                      High Noon Saloon

Wed., May 10               Asbury Park, N.J.                   The Wonderbar

Thurs., May 11             Boston, Mass.                        Brighton Music Hall

Fri., May 12                   New York, N.Y.                     Gramercy Theatre

Sat., May 13                 Philadelphia, Pa.                     The Foundry

Thurs., May 18             Nashville, Tenn.                     Cannery Ballroom

Fri., May 19                   Louisville, Kent.                    Baxter’s 942

Sat., May 20                 Chicago, Ill.                             Joe’s on Weed Street