The Black Lillies

Runaway Freeway Blues debuts on the Billboard Charts!

theblacklillies — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:32:32 +0000

We’ve just learned that Runaway Freeway Blues debuted at #21 on the BIllboard Heatseekers Chart and #43 on the Billboard Top 200 Country Albums Chart. Thanks so much for your support!

The Wall Street Journal’s exclusive premiere of “Runaway Freeway Blues”

theblacklillies — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 01:32:32 +0000

Here’s your chance to hear our new album, Runaway Freeway Blues, in its entirety before it is released next Tuesday, March 26. Listen to the album The Wall Street Journal calls “a rootsy flair, mixing folk, honky-tonk country and gospel into a winsome hybrid traditional enough to appeal to an Opry crowd … and expansive enough to ensnare a broader audience,” online via The Wall Street Journal‘s site.

NPR’s SXSW Pick of the Day!

theblacklillies — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 16:24:25 +0000

Ann Powers at NPR selected our Thursday night set as one of the highlights of this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival. With over 2200 bands playing multiple sets over the course of the week, it’s amazing to be singled out like this! Even better … one of her other top picks was Dave Grohl with Stevie Nicks! Listen to the podcast to hear what she enjoyed!

Paste Magazine premiere of “The Fall”

theblacklillies — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 22:10:48 +0000

The Black Lillies are proud to announce the release of their new album Runaway Freeway Blues. Out March 26^th and recorded by Scott Minor of Sparklehorse, Runaway Freeway Blues is the follow up to the band’s critically acclaimed album 100 Miles of Wreckage which won over critics such as Vanity Fair, NPR, CMT, USA Today, Relix, Country Weekly and The Huffington Post. The band excited concertgoers with memorable performances at festivals such as Bonnaroo and CMA Fan Fair, and 100 Miles of Wreckage became one of the Top 40 Americana albums of 2011.

The Black Lillies will kick off their North American headlining tour on February 15^th at the famed Grand Ole Opry – a place where the band became one of the first independent acts to play and soon after, made history by being the only act to be invited back fifteen times in just a year. The Black Lillies plan to spend all of 2013 on the road and are looking forward to performances at this year’s South By Southwest, Merlefest and the Rochester International Jazz Festival.

PASTE Magazine is excited to premiere Runaway Freeway Blues’ opening track, the beautifully sorrowful “The Fall,” on Monday, February 4. Listen by clicking here.

Runaway Freeway Blues is a beautiful ode to restless spirits and rambling hearts. Conceived on the road after extensive touring, the band created an album so vivid and detailed with lush harmonies and instrumental virtuosity, that each song is just as powerful in its quieter moments as it is explosive during the jubilant ones.

From gentle Laurel Canyon folk rock to the honky-tonk heartache of classic country to winding jams, Runaway Freeway Blues is an album that defies easy categorization. Banjo, pedal steel, piano and everything else lift this record up on wings of uncommon grace and stunning vitality, and when songwriter Cruz Contreras and vocalist Trisha Gene Brady combine their voices, it calls to mind classic duets from times long gone by: George and Tammy, Gram and Emmylou, Johnny and June.

“With one foot planted firmly in Appalachian music culture and the other always expanding and evolving, the Black Lillies have created a unique sound embraced by fans old and young.”

- Vanity Fair

For more information, please contact Steven Trachtenbroit at Big Hassle Media: 212.619.1360 or steven@bighassle.com

Our first Vanity Fair feature!

theblacklillies — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 21:30:31 +0000

Vanity Fair magazine caught up with Cruz and Trisha on the last night of the winter tour at The Purple Fiddle. Check out the interview online via the link below!

Q&A: Americana Band The Black Lillies on Recording Without a Label and Being “Jimmy Martin with Tits”

“Same Mistakes” premieres on CMT!

theblacklillies — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 05:42:38 +0000

We’re thrilled to announce the world premiere of the video for “Same Mistakes” – exclusively on CMT, CMT Pure, CMT’s The Edge and CMT.com. The video will roll out to other networks internationally in the coming weeks. Watch it online here and then vote for us in the Pure 12 Pack Countdown here.

Announcing our Partnership with Grady Mac Denim!

theblacklillies — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:06:58 +0000

The Grady Mac Denim Company and Independent Music Award winners The Black Lillies are pleased to announce that they have entered into a partnership agreement. This partnership unites The Tullahoma Tennessee-based denim company with Knoxville-based Americana band to mutually promote and market each other through e-commerce, social media, retail, and live events.

“We are thrilled to have reached an agreement with The Black Lillies to help us market and promote our new premium denim jean line Grady Mac Denim”, said Richard Davenport CEO of Tullahoma Industries, parent company of The Grady Mac Denim Company. “The Black Lilies are a great fit with our brand and their Americana style of music is the perfect compliment to our American made, handcrafted in Tennessee premium jeans. Jeans and music just go together, and The Black Lilies represent all of the things we want our jeans to be known for – an Americana, classic, feel-good style.”

Grady Mac Denim will be available this coming fall through e-commerce and through specialty boutiques. Shoppers will be able to listen to music by The Black Lillies while they shop on-line at gradymac.com and will also be able to purchase the band’s music and learn about concerts and events. In addition, Grady Mac Denim plans to work with retailers to package Grady Mac jeans with a bonus CD by the band. The Black Lillies will showcase the jeans at their concerts through special promotions and will promote the premium jean line on their website and through their social media platforms.

“Grady Mac Denim shares the same values we do,” says Cruz Contreras, singer and bandleader for The Black Lillies. “We love that Grady Mac Denim is 100% made in America and handcrafted in our home state of Tennessee. We’re proud to partner with a company that is rooted in their hometown and is truly part of the fabric of their local community. They have shown their commitment to quality materials and workmanship for generations, so we know that their jeans will stand the test of time.”

About Grady Mac Denim

Based in rural Tullahoma, Tennessee – Grady Mac Denim is created by Tullahoma Industries, owned and operated by the son-in-law and grandson of Grady MacKnight. Tullahoma Industries is the same company that since the early 1980’s has designed and manufactured the uniforms worn by the men and women serving our country in the United States Armed forces.

Tullahoma Industries is known for making quality clothing that is durable, reliable, and comfortable. And to this day is still a primary provider of uniforms for our troops. Now, Tullahoma Industries begins a new era by building on its American heritage by launching the Grady Mac Denim Company. Using all American Made fabrics and hand-crafted in the heart of Tennessee, Grady Mac jeans are modern and stylish, yet rooted in the same quality, durability, and comfort that Tullahoma Industries is known to produce. Featuring Bamblue denim – a bamboo/cotton blend, the jeans are highly durable, yet super soft with a bit of stretch to conform to your body. These premium jeans reflect your American spirit in their custom stitching and design, and are made to support and enhance your versatile active American lifestyle. No frills, just great looking, comfortable, classic American style.

Grady MacKnight was known for saying that “home is just down-right perfect” and it’ll be no different when you slip on your first pair of Grady Mac’s. There’s no doubt, you’ll feel right at home.

About the Black Lillies

Born in the rumbling cab of a stone truck and aged in the oak of Tennessee’s smoky night haunts, The Black Lillies have quickly risen to the forefront of the Americana scene with their unique blend of country, roots, rock and blues via Appalachia. The band’s 2009 debut recording, Whiskey Angel, appeared on multiple “Best of 2009″ lists across the country and won the Independent Music Award for Best Album, Americana. The band’s current album, 100 Miles of Wreckage, is a 2011 Independent Music Award nominee for Best Album, Americana and was one of the top 40 Americana albums of the year – once again proving that a band with this much spirit can break through traditional industry boundaries to achieve success without the constraints of a major label.

Hailed by critics and fans alike, the band has appeared at festivals ranging from Bonnaroo and CMA Fan Fair to Pickathon and graced the stages of clubs and performing arts centers nationwide – including, since their debut in June 2011, regular performances at the legendary Grand Ole Opry.

The Black Lillies continue to tour non-stop, and without a doubt, they’ll soon be appearing in a town near you. That’s a relative term, of course, but trust us on this – they’re worth the drive, however far it is, because you’ll leave feeling like you’ve witnessed an old-fashion Southern tent revival. These songs will haunt your thoughts long after the curtain closes, rattling through your head like a crooked screen door slaps against its frame when a storm is coming. For more information, visit http://www.theblacklillies.com.

“Two Hearts Down” wins Independent Music Award

theblacklillies — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:36:19 +0000

We are thrilled to announce that “Two Hearts Down” has been awarded the 2012 Independent Music Award for Best Story Song. 100 Miles of Wreckage was also a nominee for Americana Album of the Year. Winners were determined by a panel of 77 influential artist and industry judges including Keith Richards, Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, Suzanne Vega, Joshua Redman, Tori Amos, Michael Franti, Bettye LaVette, Del McCoury,
Ozzy Osbourne, Shelby Lynne, Alan Light (Live From The Artists Den),
Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour), Bill Bragin (Lincoln Center), Sara Beesley (Joe’s Pub) Chris Diaz (Knitting Factory Entertainment), and Evan Schlansky (American Songwriter). In addition to industry-determined Winners, music fans from around the world have until Friday, July 20, 2012 to cast their votes at The IMA Vox Pop Jukebox to determine the fan-selected IMA Winners.

Independent Film Channel’s “Sounds of the Cities”

theblacklillies — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:54:12 +0000

We’re very excited to announce that we have been selected for inclusion on the Independent Film Channel’s “Sounds of the Cities” compilation CD. IFC has chosen the musicians who they feel best represent the unique sounds of the communities that are their top markets. We’re joining artists such as Hymn for Her, Chris Knight, and Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band on the album, which will be released this spring.

The album will be promoted on IFC (of course!) but also at Record Store Day promotions nationwide and via Amazon.com and YouTube. There will be a short film/music video competition and other cool tie-ins. The first of these is a cover art competition. Artists can submit their CD and cover art designs by following the directions below. The winning design will be used on the album, and the designer will be paid and receive some pretty incredible promotion. Check it out!

CMT’s Top 30 Videos of 2011 – We Need Your Votes!

theblacklillies — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:49:30 +0000

Wow – CMT is celebrating the top videos of the year, and we made the list! However, only the top 30 (as determined by fan voting) will make the final cut to be aired on CMT Celebrates: Top 30 Videos of 2011. Please take a moment to vote for “Two Hearts Down” and let’s see if we can crack into the top 30! There’s some very stiff competition, but you guys have come through for us in the past and we think we have a pretty decent shot. Vote here and then tune in to CMT to see the results. CMT Celebrates: Top 30 Videos of 2011 airs Saturday 12/31/11 8a EST; Sunday 1/1/12 8a EST; Monday 1/2/12 9a EST, only on CMT!