2023 Concert Line up
For multi-platinum selling, trailblazing Country star and GRAMMY Award nominated Jimmie Allen, a simple phrase sums up his view on life and music: Never give up.
A native of Southern Delaware – the “slower, lower” part of the state, he explains – Allen has carried that mantra with him through good times and bad, whether than meant living in his car or receiving his first ACM nomination for New Male Artist of the Year in 2019, a CMA Awards nomination for New Artist of the Year in 2020, subsequently winning the ACM Award for New Male Artist of the Year as well as the CMA New Artist of the Year Award in 2021.
He has amassed 1 billion career on-demand streams, and his nomination for Best New Artist at the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2022 was his first ever GRAMMY nomination. He was also a Male Artist of the Year nominee at the 57th ACM Awards – which he co-hosted alongside Dolly Parton & Gabby Barrett – and was nominated for Outstanding New Artist nominee for the 53rd NAACP Image Awards.
With the 2018 release of his debut album Mercury Lane – named in tribute to the street he grew up on and the origin of his incredible journey – on BBR Music Group’s Stoney Creek Records, a lifetime of never giving up brought him full circle.
“I didn’t quit, I never will,” he says. “Stuff ain’t easy, and you shouldn’t quit either. There’s a big difference between busting your ass and sitting on it.”
For Allen, musical dreams and a love of true-to-themselves artists like Alan Jackson, Aaron Tippin, Montgomery Gentry, and Jason Aldean brought him all the way to Nashville and beyond, –from traveling around the world to places like Japan, Germany and the UK; to performing a tribute at the Kennedy Center Honors for Garth Brooks, the national anthem at the Indy 500, gracing the cover of Billboard Magazine, appearing on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, returning to American Idol as a mentor after being cut from the same competition a decade ago, and other once-in-a-lifetime moments.
Johnny and June. George and Tammy. Waylon and Jessi. Garth and Trisha.
Like the Country music royalty before them, Joe & Martina possess a mutual respect for their craft and the love held for each other is evident whether on or off the stage. Their music unfolds as communicative storytelling through complementary harmonies; It’s a sonic love story unveiled with Bakersfield edge, a touch of modern influence, and the elusive guitar solo.
As independent artists, Joe & Martina continuously flex their creative muscles while remaining faithful to their roots and releasing undeniably “Country” material. Songs such as “Hometown Summer Nights,” “Middle of Nowhere, USA,” and “I’ve Been Around” have garnered the married duo numerous accolades including a spotlight by Billboard as an ”Artist to Watch”, an official stage performance at CMA Fest, and allowed the couple to grace the cover of Horse & Agriculture Magazine.
Despite a global pandemic resulting in the near halt of the entertainment industry, 2020 earmarked Joe & Martina’s biggest year yet. They appropriately changed their artist name from “Terra Bella” to “Joe & Martina,” authentically marketing themselves just as they are—Country music’s next legendary powerhouse couple—and released Top 30 hit “Give Me Back the 90’s” featuring their GRAMMY-winning idol, John Berry. The single peaked at No. 28 on Music Row’s Country Breakout Chart and the duo was the only unsigned act in the Top 30 for a number of weeks as their colorful, nostalgia-filled music video premiered via Billboard.com—another major milestone for a completely DIY act.
The Rivals got their start in 2017 when local musicians Jordan Lewis and Kelly Pray teamed up to start playing their unique brand of music at all of Bakersfield's most popular spots. Not long after, they recruited longtime friend Travis McNinch to play drums, and the esteemed Mr. Todd Bentley to play bass.
Kelly's delicate vocals and affinity for country music coupled with Jordan's love of all things blues and grunge gave rise to their attitude, and name, The Rivals. Since their beginning, The Rivals have leaned heavily into their varied influences creating a style all their own. Add to the mix Travis' heavy rock influence and Todd's longtime love of punk and as a nod to that titan of industry, Jack Donaghy, one might refer to The Rivals' unique blend of styles as "power-clashing. "
Over the last five years, The Rivals have been featured in line-ups with CMA, ACM, and Grammy Award-winning country icon, Suzy Bogguss, CMA nominee Easton Corbin, and the soon to be household name, Tiera Kennedy - each holding a special place in their heart.
Recently, the four-piece has begun to stretch their creative energy and incorporate into their live sets the originals, and crowd favorites, Country Song, Let Me Feel You Breathe, Firestorm, and Won't Give In. Be sure to catch The Rivals playing all over California, having the time of their lives, doing what they love.