Special to the
Opelika Observer
Country music’s most exciting new voice Morgan Wallen is bringing his electrifying live show to the Phenix City Ampitheater on April 26 with special guest and label mate HARDY.
The Big Loud Records fireband recently celebrated a one-two punch of platinum-level certifications, first as a songwriter with Jason Aldean’s No. 1 hit “You Make It Easy” and as an artist in his own right with his summertime smash “Up Down” featuring Florida Georgia Line – which the collaborators performed at this year’s CMA Fest.
With an incredible list of achievements under his belt including being named to MusicRow’s 2019 Next Big Thing class, Taste of Country’s 2018 RISERS, and CMT’s Listen Up “18 for 2018” artists, Wallen has become a standout amongst the newest class of Country musicians. His first No. 1 as an artist, “Up Down” is featured on his smash debut album IF I KNOW ME.
It also houses his latest single “Whiskey Glasses,” which is racing its way up the charts after being among the most added at country radio its first week of release. Whiskey Riff calls the play-on-words tune “clever, catchy and if you’ve ever had to drink away a broken heart, you know exactly where he’s coming from,” while Taste of Country lauds it’s “a song that’s as easy of a radio hit as they come.”
Coming off of an incredible run this fall opening for Jake Owen on his LIFE’S WHATCHA MAKE IT TOUR, and preparing for his second headlining tour, the IF I KNOW ME Tour presented by Shiner Light Blonde, Wallen’s live shows are at an all-time high. After honing his stage skills in 2017 opening for Florida-Georgia Line and Chris Lane, Wallen spent the summer of 2018 wowing crowds as support on Luke Bryan’s WHAT MAKES YOU COUNTRY TOUR, including more than a dozen dates on the XL –STADIUM SIZED leg, performing in noteworthy venues such as Fenway Park, Busch Stadium, MetLife Stadium, Dodger Stadium and many more.
“Morgan Wallen is country music’s newest superstar.” – NKD Mag
“The guy behind ‘Up Down’ is blowing up.” – Vevo
“All hail Morgan Wallen,” – CMT
“…Morgan Wallen is taking country music by storm.” – Hollywood Life
About Wallen:
Wallen has burst onto the scene as a dynamite solo artist and in-demand songwriter. His debut album If I Know Me (Big Loud Records), premiered in April of 2018, and was soon after named one of Taste of Country’s top-10 Country Albums of 2018, So Far. With more than 400 million combined digital streams to his credit, he was spotlighted in CMT’s Listen Up “18 for 2018” class of newcomers, named a 2018 Taste of Country RISER, and earned opening spots touring with the likes of Luke Bryan, Florida- Georgia Line, Chris Lane and Jake Owen. Wallen has co-penned hits for a Thousand Horses, Dustin Lynch, Kane Brown and Jason Aldean, most notably on PLATINUM-certified No. 1 “You Make It Easy.” The Tennessee native embarked on his 27-city headlining IF I KNOW ME tour presented by Shiner Light Blonde on Jan. 4 in Rosemont.
ABOUT HARDY:
A Philadelphia, Mississippi native Big Loud Records/Tree Vibez Music Country artist HARDY first arrived in Nashville in 2010 and has since established himself as one of the most exciting new songwriters on Music Row. Emerging in 2018 with the PLATINUM-certified #1 “Up Down” (performed by Morgan Wallen and Florida Georgia Line) and gold-certified, No. 1 hit “Simple” (Florida Georgia Line), his knack for unforgettable grooves and unique turns of phrase have made him an in-demand collaborator, with new school talents like Chris Lane, Seth Ennis, Tyler Farr, Walker McGuire and more lining up to cut his tracks. On Oct. 19, 2018, HARDY made his debut as a solo artist, releasing a hard-charging EP of Country swagger and rock attitude, THIS OLE BOY. Comprised of four loud-and-proud anthems, which also pack an intriguing literary punch, the EP features the buzzworthy small-town bangers “Throwback,” “Rednecker,” “4X4” and “This Ole Boy.” HARDY will introduce his fresh Country sound to fans for the first time as part of Wallen’s IF I KNOW ME TOUR this winter.