Tag Archives: Amber Leigh

CMA Music Fest 2008

Its almost here! Country Music’s biggest event of the year, CMA Music Fest. HillBilly Brand is about to invade Nashville from June 4, 2008 through June 9, 2008. On June 4th starting at 8:30, join us at Fuel on 2nd Avenue for the 2008 HillBilly Brand CMA Music Fest Kick-off Party. The HillBilly Hotties will be there, all of our products will be available and lots of live Music from Nikki Lee, Amber Leigh, Shy Blakeman, and some very special guests that we are not allowed to mention yet. Meet the HillBilly Nation and enjoy the start of what will be an incredible week of fun and entertainment.

On June 5, 6, 7, and 8, please join us in front of the Riverfront stages at our booth. Stop by and get a free HillBilly temporary tattoo. We will have artists signing autographs at our booth all weekend. We’ll have a list and schedule posted very soon.

Haven’t had enough music at the end of the day and aren’t going to LP Field to see the stars? Head out to see HillBilly Music’s artist line up at venues all over Nashville. We’ll get a list with dates and times posted right here in the next couple of days.

Hope to see you there, if you would like more information or would like us to include you on our HillBilly Music Performance Schedule or if you would like to book some time at our booth to sign autographs, please email The Colonel at keith@hillbillybrand.com.

Cowboy Troy

I had the very distinct pleasure of joining Cowboy Troy for dinner last night. The first thing you notice about Cowboy Troy isn’t that he’s a black man that sings country music or that he’s as big as a professional football player, but it is how comfortable he makes you feel around him. Speaking with Troy is like speaking with a family member. Troy is incredibly forthcoming and open and freely shares his personal life and experiences with those around him. We discussed everything from professional wrestling to life with his 10-month old triplet boys.

Cowboy Troy was our latest special guest at M.A.F.I.A. Tuesdays. Last night had to be our best night yet. Amber Leigh sounded great last night and busted out a new song or two singing one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs, “Our Song”. Shy Blakeman was up next with the Bad Jesus Brown Band and they killed just like they always do. I think Cowboy Troy raised performance bar a bit because everybody put a little extra energy into the show.

Cowboy Troy took the stage about 10:30. I had not had a change to catch Cowboy Troy in a live performance and to be perfectly honest, I was a bit skeptical as to how good CT’s music would be live because I assumed there was a bit of post-production work that goes into his albums. I could not have been more off base if I had tried. Last night, backed by the Bad Jesus Brown Band, Cowboy Troy caused quite a ruckus with his performance. It was incredible!!!! It is really a great performance and even if you are not a fan of his music, he is well worth trying to get out to see. I promise you will not get a typical country music performance and if he doesn’t get you pumped up, you need to see your physician because there is something wrong with you. I can’t wait to see CT again real soon.

If you are a Cowboy Troy fan, check out his Hick Chick line of clothing. If you get a chance to meet CT, make sure you tell him the HillBilly Boys say Hey!

Damien Horne

You really have to hand it to the Muzik Mafia. I am not sure eclectic is a strong enough term to describe the range of talent associated with the Muzik Mafia. Certainly incredible isn’t a strong enough term to describe the talent associated with the Muzik Mafia. Last night at M.A.F.I.A. Tuesdays at Boston’s on the Beach in Delray Beach, FL (sponsored by WIRK 107.9, Boston’s on the Beach, HillBillyBrand.com, Budweiser, and the Muzik Mafia), Damien Horne (A.K.A. Mista D) was the special guest. I listened to his music on his MySpace page the night before and I was very curious to how Damien was going to fit into the mix of Amber Leigh’s pop and traditional country and Shy Blakeman’s Southern Rock sounds. Damien’s MySpace page describes his musical style as Rock/R&B/Soul. Not exactly a good blend with Amber & Shy. Boy was I wrong. First of all Damien knows how to engage an audience. From the story of how he got started (Damien was homeless when he was discovered by John Rich) to selecting songs that kept the audience listening. My only complaint about Damien’s performance which ranges from acoustic solos to freestyling rap was that it was way too short. Damien is clearly a star, but he does not act like a star, he was very cordial and took the time to talk to everyone and anyone who approached him. He hung out in the audience and even jumped in on one of Shy’s songs. I can’t really say how he did it, but he managed to work Boston’s on the Beach, Delray Beach, and HillBilly all into his freestyle. Needless to say Mr. Horne gained at least one (if not more) fan last night. Hopefully we will be hosting Damien Horne in Nashville for an autograph session in our booth at the CMA Music Festival in June.

The First M.A.F.I.A. Tuesdays at Boston's on the Beach

Hey Y’all. If you made it out to M.A.F.I.A. Tuesdays last night, then you probably know what I am about to say. Freaking WOW!!!! Shy Blakeman has really managed to put together something special. The evening started out with the eclectic sounds of Mike Mineo. Amber Leigh was up next and she played some of the songs off of her latest album (which by the way is one of the best CDs I have ever listened to and well worth the money I paid, you can buy a copy here). Shy Blakeman took the stage next and man is he one heck of a performer. Shy grabs the audience and doesn’t let go until he is ready to get off the stage. The performance of the evening has to go to Muzik Mafia’s Shannon Lawson. I had not met Shannon before he took the stage, but I couldn’t believe how fantastic he was on stage. I got to meet Shannon before his 2nd set and not only is he an incredible performer but a super nice guy to top it off. He took the time to meet the HillBilly Boys and invited us to have a drink with him after his set. Its tough to say who puts more energy into their performance Shy or Shannon, but you can bet when you see either of them, you really get your money’s worth at any price.  M.A.F.I.A. Tuesdays happens to be free folks, so it is well worth your time to take a trip up or down to Delray Beach, FL on a Tuesday night to see how it all happens.

M.A.F.I.A. Tuesdays  is our very own version of Mafia Tuesdays in Nashville. The first event will be January 8th. M.A.F.I.A. Tuesdays will feature Shy Blakeman, Amber Leigh, Mike Mineo, and a special guest.  M.A.F.I.A. Tuesdays is sponsored by WIRK 107.9, HillBilly Brand, Inc. and HillBillyBrand.com, and is hosted by Boston’s on the Beach. This is a great opportunity to meet some fantastic country music artist and you can also meet the HillBilly Hotties.

M.A.F.I.A. Tuesday's with Shy Blakeman, Amber Leigh, and Mike Mineo

MAFIA Tuesdays at Boston's on the Beach – Delray Beach, FL

We are co-sponsoring a weekly event at one of the coolest bars in South Florida, Boston’s on the Beach. It’s called M.A.F.I.A. Tuesdays and it is our very own version of Mafia Tuesdays in Nashville. The first event will be January 8th. M.A.F.I.A. Tuesdays will feature Shy Blakeman, Amber Leigh, Mike Mineo, and a special guest. Our first special guest is the Muzik Mafia’s Shannon Lawson. We’ll be posting information about the special guest each week. M.A.F.I.A. Tuesdays is sponsored by WIRK 107.9, HillBilly Brand, Inc. and HillBillyBrand.com, and is hosted by Boston’s on the Beach. This is a great opportunity to meet some fantastic country music artist and you can also meet the HillBilly Hotties.

M.A.F.I.A. Tuesday's with Shy Blakeman, Amber Leigh, and Mike Mineo