Raggedy Anne - DREAM TOUR

In this Dream Tour segment, the country duo, Raggedy Anne, reveals who they would want on their ultimate tour lineups. You can check out their picks below:

CARA:
My music taste has always been diverse—I studied voice and opera in college! When I began writing, my musical voice emerged as country, as that had been the primary music I was raised on. However, I have always been a listener and admirer of many different styles of artists. Narrowing it down to a few is incredibly difficult, but my dream tour would have quite a diverse lineup of Elvis, George Strait, and John Paul White.

Thinking back on my childhood, the first cassette I ever owned was Elvis Presley. It was given to me on my 5th birthday by my uncle, and I wore that baby out. I was in awe of the soul and showmanship of Elvis, so much so that I did a lip sync performance of “Hound Dog” in the 2nd grade. I still listen to Elvis, especially during the holiday season.

As I grew up, country music was the background sound of my life. We moved across the country many times, and one of the artists that was a consistent play in our truck on those rides was George Strait. The lyrics and hooks in his songs greatly influenced my thoughts on writing music that was clever but also touched the hearts of a wide audience and had a radio quality. Touring with George Strait would be my 90’s country dream come true.

I have had the pleasure of seeing John Paul White (formerly of The Civil Wars) a few times in some intimate small settings, and each time I was in awe of the way his voice reached out and grabbed me. I remember audibly gasping when I heard him switch into his head voice, and I wanted nothing more than to sing with him. He has the ability to be a powerhouse but also pull you into a personal space. I admire his artistry so much.

CASS:
My music taste has always been driven by catchy melodies, strong vocals, and lyrics that can pull you into a story. Country music and Americana style music, to me, have always been my “go-to,” whether I am on a long drive, just cleaning the house, or when I want to go see live music. The artists I feel most connected to are George Strait, The Chicks, and Brandi Carlile.

I have many memories of spending hours and hours in my dad’s truck listening to the King of Country’s albums. I was always captivated by how George Strait could turn a phrase in a unique way. His hooks were always gold, and they influenced us as writers to always try to think outside the box when creating a catchy hook. If we weren’t listening to George, then The Chicks were on. I fell in love with Natalie Maines’ vocals from a young age and made it my mission to memorize as many lyrics as I could. Her voice is commanding, yet all of them together create harmonies that are so in sync. Their voices complement each other so well, and we owe it to them for teaching us the power of good harmony. Touring with George Strait and The Chicks would be my Classic Country ultimate dream.

As a fan of strong powerhouse female vocals, Brandi Carlile has also been one of my idols. She has the ability to paint a picture with her colorful inflections and truly pulls her listeners into the story of the song. Her albums, as well as her project with the Highwomen, highlight her incredible songwriting and storytelling that I have always admired. Touring with her would be a dream come true.

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