Y’all are in for a real treat, CCMFer’s! A MUST TO ADD TO YOUR SCHEDULE! Don’t miss this nightly performance – Songwriters that wrote the #1 hits for Luke Combs, Zac Brown Band and so many more will give you the behind-the-scenes details, play those verses that were written and never recorded and be prepared to be intimately entertained! You never know who will show up to join them each night! SPACE IS LIMITED!
Get your tickets locked in for your country music beach party here – payment plans available through 4.9.21. Our “Carolina Summer Sale” ends tonight 4.9.21 at MIDNIGHT.
Wyatt Durrette:
Like many artists, Wyatt Durrette found his inspiration as a child. Listening to country and bluegrass music with his father, young Wyatt connected to something in the rhythm and vibrations of music and a sound that became inextricably tied to his childhood. At age eleven, Wyatt tried his hand at adding to that soundtrack by writing his first song. Wyatt’s interest in music continued into his college years where his influences expanded to Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, The Eagles and Steve Miller. But coming from a large Virginian family – he is one of eight children – Wyatt understands the importance of roots and so he held onto his by combining the country/bluegrass music of his past with the island music of his present, creating the unique sound in his songs. While bartending and managing in the local bar scene, Wyatt eventually settled in Atlanta, GA where he managed The Dixie Tavern. It was at this local Atlanta hangout where Wyatt met Zac Brown who was part of The Dixie’s weekly entertainment. The two have been writing songs that have been entertaining and inspiring fans ever since. Wyatt’s collaboration with Zac has resulted in a collection of songs that celebrate life and the simple joys of living…and what a record-setting collection that is. Twenty two million singles, eight million albums and twelve #1 hits to be exact. Hot off the heels of a Grammy win for the Zac Brown Band as “Best New Artist,” the band made history as the first artist to achieve four #1 songs in a row from a debut album—all four of these songs co-written by Wyatt, including #1 platinum hits “Chicken Fried,” “Toes,” as well as “Whatever It Is,” and “Highway 20 Ride.” The number “1” has been a recurring number for these songwriters, reaching top status on numerous charts including Billboard, iTunes, Media base, R&R/BDS, CMT and GAC. With Zac Brown Band’s debut album, The Foundation, surpassing two million in sales, this album has amassed a staggering eight million in digital sales to date, as well as a Billboard Top 20Album of 2010. Zac Brown Band’s second major label studio album You Get What You Give, is another winning collaboration, with Wyatt co-writing eleven of the fourteen and repeating the magic of another four #1 songs including singles “As She’s Walking Away” featuring Alan Jackson, “Knee Deep” featuring Jimmy Buffett, “Colder Weather” and “Keep Me In Mind”. Released in September 2010, this album followed the same path of success, garnering a #1 Billboard Top 200 and Country album, another Grammy win for the group, as well as becoming certified Platinum. Wyatt also received Grammy and Academy Award nominations in 2010 for “Where The River Goes”, a song written for the motion Picture Footloose.2012 brought the release of Zac Brown Band’s third major label studio album Uncaged. This album continued the sensation winning Best Country Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards. With Wyatt co-writing every song but one on this album, it hit #1 on the US Billboard 200 chart as well as #1 on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart, with over one million records in sales. Two years later in 2015,Jekyll + Hyde was released, marking Zac Brown Band’s fourth major label studio album. This album had Wyatt’s touch on it with co-writing on eleven tracks, including “Heavy Is The Head” featuring Chris Cornell. This album debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200album chart, making it Zac Brown Band’s third #1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. Furthermore, the song “Homegrown” appearing on this album and co-written by Wyatt, was named Song of the Year by SESAC in 2015.Just as Wyatt’s musical roots can be traced back to memories with his father, so too can the music he creates today. Now a father himself, Wyatt’s writing is influenced by the love he has for his son. Knowing how one song can make a difference in someone’s life, he strives to make music that touches you deeply, yet hits you like a warm tropical breeze. They just make you feel…good.
Tyler Reeve:
In a career that has spanned fifteen years, country music hit maker Tyler Reeve has gone through an array of life-altering moments in which the Alabama native was rocked by the intricacies of life and knew instinctively that it was time to change direction. Or at the very least, it was time to write a song. And he has done just that, having a hand in writing not only some of country music’s most thought-provoking songs, but truly authentic songs that have seen massive success on the charts. Yet now, Reeve finds himself at a moment in which he is ready to take his turn in the spotlight. Growing up watching his uncle play guitar and singing at the family’s beach house, Reeve’s love of lyrics began at an early age. “I was just enthralled by it all when it came to music.” Reeve would soon begin doing cover gigs at bars while attending college in Florida, working four hours a night and five nights a week to earn some money. “I started writing and playing some original music, but I still couldn’t get out of that habit of doing cover gigs, ”he says. “There was one night that I was playing ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ at 2am and I realized that while the people were all having a blast, they didn’t give a shit about who was singing. They cared about the song. I knew from that point on that I wanted to be the person to write the songs that people sing along to.” And that’s exactly what he did. Reeve would end up recording his first record in a lightening span of two weeks, while living in Atlanta, GA. He quickly gained a loyal following while touring with his band. But then he got a call that would change everything. “The Country Throwdown people called asking if we would be interested in pulling a BBQ trailer across the country,” Reeve recalls. It was on that tour that fans began noticing the undeniable talents of the budding songwriter, and it became evident that Reeve belonged in Nashville. He signed his lease on Valentine’s Day in 2012.“I would be out on the road from Thursday through Sunday and then would write in Nashville during the remainder of the week with people like Eric Paslay and Jonathan Singleton,” said Reeve, whose country music journey was featured on ABC’s Emmy nominated series “Hitting the Right Note”. Those co-writes would eventually turn into unforgettable songs such as“ Whiskey on my Breath” (Love & Theft), “I Got Away with You”(Luke Combs) and “In Case You Didn’t Know” (Brett Young.)And while the lover of lyrics plans to continue enjoying the fruits of his songwriting labors, Reeve is now setting his sights on the days and nights ahead where he will focus on playing his own music in his own way. “I like taking my fans on a ride, both through my songs and through my live shows,” he says. “I like to have them laughing at the next song while still wiping their eyes from the last song. But most of all, Reeve wants to be real. “I say whatever the hell I’m thinking, and I think my fans appreciate that,” laughs Reeve, who now lives in a home overlooking the skyline of the city that has made superstars out of so many talented writers. “People are craving authenticity and they want the truth…and that’s what I’m ready to give them.”
Levi Lowrey:
Levi Lowrey is a singer-songwriter from Dacula, Georgia. He has performed extensively as a solo artist, headliner, and as the supporting act for well known names including Mumford and Sons, Blackberry Smoke, Kid Rock, Alabama and Zac Brown Band. He is a great-grandson of Gid Tanner. Lowrey is one of the co-writers of the ‘Colder Weather’ performed by Zac Brown Band that went #1 for two weeks. Lowrey is also the co-writer of Zac Brown Band single ‘The Wind” from their #1 Billboard album Uncaged. He is a CMA nominee for “Colder Weather” 2012BMI Country Award Winner Top 50 songs of the year Colder Weather. 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016voted Best Local Songwriter-Creative Loafing. Roughstock named Levi 13 of 13: Ones to watch in 2013.
Kevin MaC:
“Take a sandy beach, mix it with some blue water, add a Corona, a guitar, a good song and a good singer! That’s how you make a Kevin Mac.”–Keith Stegall, Dreamlined Entertainment A talented and high-energy performer, this Virginia singer/songwriter mesmerizes crowds with a diverse stage show that highlights his talents and draws on his melting pot of musical influences. Artists ranging from hip hop trendsetters to country icons have inspired Kevin, and he pulls musical threads from each genre to create a magical weave all its own. With a keen-edged vocal and immediately identifiable sound, Kevin can give an audience passion, pain or joy, and can convey a lust for life, love and the pursuit of happiness while doing it. On his up-tempo numbers, he is a hilarious, enthusiastic wild man on stage; on ballads, he is a saddened, somber, sober man who can make you weep. Kevin is, in short, electrifying. This is a country artist unlike anything any artist you’ve ever seen, and he’s proud of it. In the spring of 2008, Kevin won the VA Beach Next Big Star Competition. Next Big Star was Kenny Chesney’s ode to his hit “Big Star” where artists in every market of his tour that year were hand-picked to open that date. This is where and when Kevin knew this was where he belonged. A flip-flop, tank top-wearing beach-cruisin’ long tall drink of water, Kevin furthered his career in2014 with an L.A. publishing deal. Kevin has honed his craft and his performance skills, and now he’s as hot on stage as he is in the writing room. He’s shared the floodlights with a massive list of today’s superstars, including Kenny Chesney, Trace Adkins, LO CASH, Rascal Flatts, Kip Moore, and The Band Perry. At venues ranging from massive festivals to mid-size fairs, and from intimate theaters to in-the-round “writers’ nights,” Kevin proves time and again he knows how to read and please a crowd. He’s written with legendary Nashville hit makers Keith Stegall and Buddy Cannon, and Grammy award-winning songwriters Wyatt Durrette and Levi Lowery(“Colder Weather,” “The Wind”), and “young blood” tunesmiths who’ve penned hits for Zac Brown Band, Garth Brooks, George Strait and Alan Jackson. Currently signed to Stegall’s Dreamlined Entertainment, Kevin is working on his debut album. “Music is all about emotion to me. There’s a little intuition involved in reading an audience, but the bottom line is that you’ve got to want to give them your all.”-Kevin MaC
Dave Kennedy:
I’m Dave. I grew up in Chattanooga, TN, but I live in Nashville now. I write/play/dig country music a whole lot. This one-time Travis Tritt asked me to play music on TV. That was pretty cool. You should totally check out the videos. I’ve got a new record coming out this spring/summer. Hopefully it’s available by the time you read this. Not to brag, but it is surely the greatest record ever made in the history of music. Stay hydrated, have fun, and be nice to people at CCMF.
D. Vincent Williams:
D. Vincent Williams songs have been on more than 35 million records by artist such as: Jason Aldean ,John Michael Montgomery, Neal McCoy, Mark Wills, Kenny Rogers, Craig Morgan, Randy Travis, Reba McEntire, Michael Bolton, Ronnie Milsap to name a few. Winner of the 2002 ACM Song Of The Year award for “I’m Movin’On”, recorded by Rascal Flatts. Winner of 2008 Billboard Most Played Song Of The Year and multi-week #1 in all three country radio charts with James Otto’s “Just Got Started Loving You.” D. Vincent is now a proud partner of Thrive Music Group, publishing and artist development company, and MirriM Entertainment, customizing variety entertainment for private and corporate events.
Channing Wilson:
“God could you throw this dog a bone. Let me turn the corner and be home. I’m tired of being on this road alone.” Real lyrics are what Channing Wilson is all about. From a small town in Northwest Georgia, Channing learned about real life American good times and hardships. He’s not afraid to tell you about it either. From his songs like “Poor Man’s Cocaine” referring to methamphetamines taking over rural America, to songs like “Black Jesus” which is a story of two men, one young, and one older, finding friendship in spite of the racial stereotypes of the times. Channing’s voice and songwriting is widely considered in the top echelon of the “who’s who” in the Nashville community. Channing’s songs have been recorded by artists like Tyler Farr, Luke Combs, Jason Eady, and more. He has shared bills with so many of his heroes such as Billy Joe Shaver, Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, Tony Joe White, Chris Knight, Dale Watson, and many more including going out on the 2012 Country Throwdown Tour. He has just recently signed a artist/publishing agreement with Warner Chappell and Low Country Sound (Grammy award winning producer Dave Cobb)
Chris Gelbuda:
Chris Gelbuda is a music maker, in all forms. As a kid, he was a Suzuki trained concert pianist. As an adolescent, he fronted blues and classic rock cover bands. In college, he fronted jam bands. After college, he became a solo performer as well as a session musician. Currently, Chris is in demand as one of Nashville’s brightest young writers.
