Little Big Town Excited About New Album, Tour

Artists always talk about their latest album project being the best thing they've ever done. Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town believes wholeheartedly that their upcoming album, 'The Reason Why,' really is going to be their best so far.

"We took time off to write and record this album, and we took the time to write with other people as well as within the group," Karen tells The Boot. "We wrote a song with Jonathan Singleton that Kimberly sings, 'Why Oh Why.' Jimi wrote another song, 'Runaway Train.' We're really proud of the new music."

The group also wrote their new single, 'Little White Church,' which Karen says was an idea of LBT's Kimberly Schlapman. "The idea actually started in our upstairs bedroom," Karen explains. "I was getting out of the shower and I started singing the chorus and when we got to the writing session we finished it.

"The day before we wrote it, we had been listening to Patty Loveless and talking about Del McCoury and how bluegrass music is a big influence on our music. We were specifically discussing the call and answer kind of bluegrass song which we ended up using in 'Little White Church'."

Group members agree they are looking forward to the upcoming Country Throwdown tour, for more reasons than being back on the road to see their fans. Karen says she plans to get in some writing time with some of their touring partners during down time on the tour.

"I"m looking forward to hanging out and writing songs in the afternoons and while we're on our way to the next town," says Karen. "It seems that something cool and organic always happens on tours like this."

"We're thinking that we can bring up the people we've been writing with to do a song with us onstage," LBT's Jimi Westbrook adds. "Maybe something with Jamey, or Jonathan, but we haven't talked about what songs we might do yet."

"We're excited about The Country Throwdown Tour," the band's Phillip Sweet says. "It's going to be a crazy, wild and rowdy circus out there on the road!"

Joining Little Big Town, Jamey and Jonathan on the Country Throwdown tour will be Montgomery Gentry, Eric Church, Jack Ingram, Eli Young Band, The Lost Trailers, Sarah Buxton and several other artists. The tour kicks off in Tampa, Fla. on May 14 and travels to 24 cities, playing predominantly outdoor venues, before ending in Mountain View, Calif. on June 20.



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