Whatever your plans for the summer, you need some seriously dope jams to serenade you. Never fear, we’re here to help.
JONNIE MORGAN BAND ~ WALK AROUND THE SUN
In 2017, Orlando, Florida’s Jonnie Morgan was voted the number one songwriter in the nation by JBL Pro. A distinguished panel of judges, including 27-time GRAMMY®-winning music artist and producer, Quincy Jones and recording artist, Andrew McMahon, selected 10 finalists and the winner – Jonnie Morgain – was chosen by public vote. Jonnie Morgan Band’s newest single “Walk Around The Sun” is the first release off their upcoming new record and a funky summer rock jam perfect for soaking up some rays.
***BUY IT HERE: https://jonniemorganband.bandcamp.com/releases
BAND OF HEATHENS ~ SUGAR QUEEN
This fave summer jam, “Sugar Queen” by Band Of Heathens is off of their 2017 album Duende, and is a supercool ode to over-powering women and will be sure to have you singing along and dancing barefoot in the sand. When you come inside to cool down with a cold beer and maybe a little of that Green Grass Of California, be sure to check out the amazing 360-video that was featured in a special article in Rolling Stone Magazine last year.
***BUY IT HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Duende-Band-Heathens/dp/B01M7Z2KB7
GRIFFIN HOUSE ~ PARIS CALLING
While studying abroad in his twenties, Griffin House had a transformational experience and fell in love with the City of Lights. A decade later, he wrote “Paris Calling” about living in Nashville and dreaming of returning to France. House was set to release his album So On And So Forth in March of 2016, but released this song early, in November 2015, after the Paris attacks and donated all proceeds from the sale of the song to Secours Populaire. You may not be planning on taking a trip to Paris this summer, but this is the next best thing. Full of descriptive lyrics and swooning melodies, you’ll be dancing with your sweetheart under the summer stars to this one.
***BUY IT HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Calling-Sweet-Sensation/dp/B018I9YSPC
BLACKBERRY SMOKE ~ ROCK AND ROLL AGAIN
When Blackberry Smoke’s lead singer Charlie Starr got his first guitar at the age of six, he knew that’s what he wanted to do when he grew up. And that’s exactly what he did many years later, after settling in Atlanta and teaming up with Paul Jackson, Brandon Still and brothers Brit and Richard Turner. The guys were stumped on finding the right band name, but when they were sharing a rehearsal space with the Black Crowes, Chris Robinson said, “How about Blackberry Smoke?” and the name stuck. The band has released six studio albums and our choice for this summer playlist is off their fourth studio album released in 2015, Holding All The Roses, which peaked at #29 on the US Billboard 200. “Rock And Roll Again” will have you tippin’ back some cold ones and dancing around the campfire.
***BUY IT HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-And-Roll-Again/dp/B01553Z63M
SAMANTHA FISH ~ LAY IT DOWN
The 29-year-old from Kansas City and winner of the 39th annual Blues Music Awards for Best Contemporary Female Blues Artist, Samantha Fish, has released seven studio albums with the independent label Ruf Records. Last year’s releases Chills & Fever and Belle Of The West received critical acclaim, but our choice for this playlist goes back to 2013 with “Lay It Down” off Black Wind Howlin’ featuring Mike Zito and his bandmates from Royal Southern Brotherhood. It’s a sultry, bluesy romp that will definitely crank up the heat on your summer.
***BUY IT HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Lay-It-Down/dp/B00DVZMUFO
MT. JOY ~ SILVER LINING
Philadelphia High School friends Matt Quinn and Sam Cooper reunited and started jamming together in Los Angeles a few years after graduation and found Michael Byrnes in a Craigslist ad. They named themselves Mt. Joy as a nod to Sam and Matt’s Pennsylvania past and earlier this year they released their self-titled, debut album. The first single “Astrovan” has wracked up over 5 million listens on Spotify and in January of this year, the band performed their follow-up hit “Silver Lining” on Conan. A stellar album start to finish, the choice for our playlist was a tough one, but in the end we opted for the lyrically inspiring sing-along “Silver Lining”.
***BUY IT HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Lining/dp/B076T8C8PV
PAM TAYLOR ~ SQUEEZE ME
South Carolina native and winner of the 2017 LA Music Critic Award for Blues Artist Of The Year, Pam Taylor, has released two albums so far – Hot Mess released in 2012 and Steal Your Heart released last year. ANY song on these two albums would be a perfect tune for your summer playlist, but we went with “Squeeze Me” off Pam’s latest album. Not only is the song a frisky beach romp, the video depicts what summer is all about – riding down the road with the top down and the radio turned up! Give this tune a spin when it’s time to snuggle with your love and do a little squeezin’!
***BUY IT HERE: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/pamtaylor
CHRIS DANIELS & THE KINGS ~ WHEN YOU’RE COOL
Grammy Nominee and Colorado Music Hall Of Famer, Chris Daniels, has been jammin’ with his seven piece band, The Kings since 1984. Their 17th studio album, Blues With Horns featuring Freddi Gowdy of the Freddi Henchi Band, was released last year to critical acclaim and spent several weeks in the top five of the Roots Music Report National Blues Album Chart. While every song in their discography is worthy of our list, we go way back to this one because not only is it a timeless classic, it’s the epitome of what summer’s all about – slipping on your shades and trying to stay cool. “When You’re Cool” is a must have on any sun-soaked playlist!
***BUY IT HERE: https://www.amazon.com/When-Youre-Chris-Daniels-Kings/dp/B004EKGD4O
CIERA MacKENZIE ~ SUMMERTIME & LEMONADE
Last, but not least is by the amazingly talented Oklahoma songstress, Ciera MacKenzie. Writing songs since she was eight years old and making her mark on the music scene at twelve, when she opened for Big & Rich and an audience of 15,000, the unstoppable Ciera also caught the attention of Toby Keith, who invited Ciera to play regularly at both his OK Kid’s Korral and Hollywood Corner venue. Already several hits under her belt, “Summertime & Lemonade” is a definite Music Mafia Radio favorite. “Lemonade and summertime – I guess that you could say that I’m – all jacked up on happy,” this fun-in-the-sun sing-along will be sure to ‘jack you up on happy’ this summer.
LISTEN HERE: https://soundcloud.com/user-772056879/summer-time-lemonade
HUDSON STANTON ~ CHOCOLATE
Seattle native and Berklee graduate, Hudson Stanton’s debut single “Chocolate” is a danceable pop tune with sticky-sweet lyrics and has been a fan favorite since its release last year. This tune most definitely belongs on your playlist this summer and check out Hudson’s brand new EP Details released April 2017 – you won’t be disappointed!
***BUY IT HERE: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/hudsonstanton
