The Boot News Roundup: William Shatner Signs With Heartland Records Nashville + More
Welcome to The Boot's News Roundup, a morning rundown of the news country music fans need to know. Read on to learn more about the latest goings-on in the country, Americana, bluegrass and folk genres.
Star Trek star and iconic actor William Shatner has inked a deal with Heartland Records Nashville, and he's got plans to release a "very special project" in 2018. The label announced Shatner's signing in a press release, noting that his upcoming project will not be Shatner's first foray into recording albums: His most recent release, Ponder the Mystery, was released on Cleopatra Records in 2013 and featured a collaboration with Vince Gill.
Organizers of the Luck Reunion, a festival held at Willie Nelson's ranch in Luck, Texas, during SXSW, have announced that Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Aaron Lee Tasjan are among this year's lineup of 40-plus performers. The Americana-packed event will also feature performances from Texas artists such as Cody Canada and Kelly Willis, as well as acts such as Kurt Vile, Nikki Lane and Waxahatchee. The festival, now in its sixth year, is planned for March 15.
Rhiannon Giddens' much-acclaimed record Freedom Highway is this year's recipient of the International Folk Music Awards' Album of the Year. Molly Tuttle took home the Song of the Year award, for "You Didn't Call My Name," and Ordinary Elephant were named Artist of the Year. Iconic folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary and singer-songwriter Richie Havens were presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards, and Bonnie Raitt took home the People's Voice Award, in recognition of her "personal commitment to honor the socially conscious roots of folk music." The organization announced this year's winners during a ceremony on Feb. 14 in Kansas City, Mo.
Sturgill Simpson and Brett Young are part of the lineup for this year's Bluesfest in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The artists will appear alongside a diverse, genre-bending list of acts, including Bryan Adams, Shawn Mendes, Foo Fighters and the Dave Matthews Band. Tickets for the festival, planned for July 5-15 at Ottawa's LeBreton Flats, are on sale now.