Blake Shelton (Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
Summer may be gone, but up in Orlando, Florida, the sun’s set to shine hard on the first annual Orlando Calling festival, which takes place this this weekend (Nov. 12-13). The headliners are a mix of classic rockers, alternative icons, pop up-and-comers, and country artists. Among the latter is a wide range of country music’s many styles, from mainstream hitmakers like [mp3com-artist]Kid Rock[/mp3com-artist] and [mp3com-artist]Blake Shelton[/mp3com-artist], to alternative stars ([mp3com-artist]Drive-By Truckers[/mp3com-artist]), rising singer-songwriters ([mp3com-artist]Justin Townes Earle[/mp3com-artist]), and even bluegrass (the legendary [mp3com-artist]Del McCoury[/mp3com-artist]).
Find out more and get some free country music MP3s while you’re at it.
Kid Rock (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
One of the top headliners Sunday night is [mp3com-artist]Kid Rock[/mp3com-artist], a rock-rap hybrid of an artist who became a hit with country audiences as well, thanks to his 2008 single “All Summer Long.”
Also on the bill Sunday is [mp3com-artist]Blake Shelton[/mp3com-artist], a country singer known for hits like “Austin,” “Home,” and “Hillbilly Bone”–as well as for being one of the coaches on TV show The Voice.
You could say that [mp3com-artist]Del McCoury[/mp3com-artist] picked up where bluegrass founder [mp3com-artist]Bill Monroe[/mp3com-artist] left off, and you wouldn’t be far from the truth. Neo-traditionalists the [mp3com-artist]Del McCoury Band[/mp3com-artist] play some of the finest bluegrass (and country) music being made these days–and have racked up numerous awards and accolades to prove it. If you like bluegrass, don’t miss Del.
Del McCoury (right) with Dierks Bentley (Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
And don’t miss alt-country heroes the [mp3com-artist]Drive-By Truckers[/mp3com-artist], who craft some incredible Southern-rock songs and are one of our featured Orlando Calling Playlist artists this week.
And speaking of our playlist, check it out below (and find all the song downloads on the MP3.com Spotlight page). Then stop back again each day this week, as we’ll be adding more great free downloads.
Deep Dark Woods
A quintet consisting of singer Ryan Boldt, guitarist Burke Barlow and organ player Geoff Hilhorst built around the rhythm section of singer/bassist and drummer and multi-instrumentalist Lucas Goetz, the [mp3com-artist]Deep Dark Woods[/mp3com-artist] have been turning heads since they turned out their first album, Winter Hours, in 2009.
Justin Townes Earle
Justin is not just [mp3com-artist]Steve Earle[/mp3com-artist]‘s kid — he’s one of the finest country recording artists to lay a song to wax in recent years. “Harlem River Blues” has wonderful country drive, with JTE channeling [mp3com-artist]Johnny Cash[/mp3com-artist] and tipping his hat to [mp3com-artist]the Jordonaires[/mp3com-artist].
Drive-By Truckers
One of the best southern rock bands of the last ten years.
Parachute
Distilling American rock n’ roll, soul and Top-40 pop into their own catchy style, Parachute clearly recognize the power of a good hook.
Also on the Orlando Calling Playlist:
Avett Brothers
Civil Twilight
States
Get all of today’s Orlando Calling Playlist free MP3 downloads!
