Sugarland’s Kristian Bush Co-Writes Song On New Boys Like Girls Record, Announces European Tour Dates
Kristian Bush, one-half of country music super-duo Sugarland, continues to explore a diverse and collaborative songwriting career beyond his work with partner Jennifer Nettles. Bush teamed up with Martin Johnson, as well as brother Brandon Bush and Atlanta producer Jon Jon Traxx, to co-write “Stuck in the Middle.” The inspiring and emotive track will be included on Crazy World, the new full-length release from Johnson’s pop-punk band Boys Like Girls (available Dec. 11).
“If you’ve ever been in between two choices and neither are good, or torn between the pull of two sides of your life, this song offers an understanding and a release,” says Bush. “I love working with amazing singers, and Martin, like my partner Jennifer, has a way of translating melodies and lyrics that move the heart.”
As Sugarland continues its hiatus in support of Nettles’ new motherhood, Bush has signed on to play several solo dates in early 2013, beginning across the pond in Europe. He’ll join the CMA Songwriters Series for shows in London, Belfast and Dublin this February 21-26 (further dates TBA), then return to London on March 16 to play the inaugural C2C: Country To Country Music Festival, which takes over the famed O2 Arena for a weekend with Nashville’s biggest names. Bush will open for good friends Little Big Town on a night that also features Vince Gill and headliner Tim McGraw.
“The first time I toured the U.K. was in the early ‘90s with Billy Pilgrim, so I know how much the people there love music,” Bush says. “They asked if I’d like to play these shows in Europe, and of course I said yes. The O2 show will be extra special for me – Vince Gill gave Sugarland our first country tour, Tim McGraw gave us our first standing ovation on television, and Little Big Town was part of our first Grammy nomination. These are my heroes at home and I’m so excited to be on the same stage with them in the U.K.”
Bush has always been sincerely passionate about digital and social media as an avenue to connect and communicate with fans, and has recently set up a Facebook Timeline that features photos and stories of his life and career stretching all the way back to childhood. He continues to use KristianBush.com and his Twitter feed as a window into his ongoing work as a songwriter, artist, and publisher; he also blogs regularly about his collaborations at SongsoftheArchitect.com.
Finally, Bush’s love of Christmas is currently on full display at Sugarlandmusic.com, where he has published his traditional Awesome Huge List of Holiday Gifts for 2012. Included among the suggestions is the Palomino Blackwing pencil – generally regarded as one of the finest pencils ever made – and in celebration of his ongoing support, Pencils.com is offering an exclusive 2-pencil Blackwing gift set for fans of Kristian and Sugarland, marking the first time these pencils have been offered in quantities of less than a dozen. “If a song is worth writing, it’s worth writing with these pencils,” Kristian says of the Blackwing. “I’m so excited that Pencils.com is giving my fans the chance to find out for themselves. Merry Christmas, everybody!”
