Mattress Warehouse pres. WMZQ Fest is BACK on June 24th, 2023 at Jiffy Lube Live!
The CroppMetcalfe New Country Side Stage starts the party at Jiffy Lube Live & this year we're excited to introduce Tenille Arts, Jordan Harvey, and Neon Union!
This year's main stage show stars Kane Brown, Gabby Barrett, and Restless Road!
Tenille Arts is a Canadian-born musician who straddles the genres of country and pop. She began writing her own music at the age of 13 and gained recognition as a talented songwriter and performer through showcases and talent competitions in Canada. In 2015, she signed a publishing contract with Noble Vision Music Group and released her debut single "Breathe," which was successful in Canada and became a top ten digital country hit.
Arts' self-titled EP in 2016 broke into the Country's Top 100 in the United States and topped the Canadian digital country charts. Her first full-length album, Rebel Child, was released in 2017 and included the successful single "Cold Feet."
Arts' profile in the US rose when her song "Moment of Weakness" was featured on the reality dating series The Bachelor. She signed with Reviver Records and released several successful singles before her second album, Love, Heartbreak & Everything in Between, came out in 2020. She followed this up with her third album, Girl to Girl, in 2021, which earned a Juno nomination. In 2023, she signed with Dreamcatcher Artists and released the single "Jealous of Myself." Arts is known for her clear, emotive vocals and her ability to capture the ups and downs of romantic relationships in her music.
We are proud to showcase the brightest new stars in country music through our Country Next series. In this edition, we have a chat with Jordan Harvey, a Scottish native with a deep passion for country music. Despite growing up in a rural blue-collar town, Harvey's love for artists like Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers fueled his musical aspirations. After moving to Nashville, he started playing on Lower Broadway and eventually landed a spot in the group King Calaway, leading to gigs with Garth Brooks and appearances on national TV shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Late Show, and The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Now, Harvey is embarking on a solo career with his newly released EP, "It Is What It Is," via BBR Music Group/Broken Bow Records. The five-track project, entirely co-written by Harvey, is a two-year labor of love. Prior to its release, fans got a sneak peek of "Alabama Girl" and "I Will," while the EP also includes "Overnight," "Thing About Change," and "Along For The Ride," which exudes Keith Urban vibes.
Although Neon Union may not be a household name for some, that's all about to change as the Red Street country music duo, comprising Leo Brooks and Andrew Millsaps, introduces a fresh and energetic sound to the country genre. The two artists, who were introduced through Grammy-nominated and award-winning country star Jimmie Allen, had remarkable solo careers before joining forces to become Neon Union. Brooks, who is from Miami, has previously worked with top artists like Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, and John Legend, while Millsaps, who grew up in North Carolina, has been writing songs since he was a teenager.
Neon Union has been garnering widespread attention and is being compared to Montgomery Gentry. Their recently-released single, "Bout Damn Time," produced by Dann Huff and written by Tyler Hubbard, Michael Hardy, Hunter Phelps, and Jordan Schmidt, is a fast and enjoyable track. In the song, Neon Union blends their distinct vocals and sings lyrics that aim to unify country fans across the country. They sing, "The catfish cookers, the farm tan crew, the hicks and the lip-spittin' redman chew, if that sounds anything like you, raise 'em up, yeah raise 'em up," capturing the essence of the country community.
"Bout Damn Time" is just a glimpse of what fans can expect from Neon Union, as they promise to release more music in the future. The duo caught up with Country Now to discuss their backgrounds, how they came together to form their powerhouse duo and their latest track.