Artist Spotlight
The latest news and views from the world of Country Music
Hengistbury to release debut album
Country duo, Hengistbury, have launched a brand new single ‘Shooter on the Mound’ and their debut album ‘Add Another Minute’ is out October 19th.
Recorded in the band’s tiny studio on the Dorset coast, Hengistbury (AKA Jessie Mary and Pete Briley) have delved deep into the array of instruments available to them to create a sound that is “distinctly unique” (Nexus Music Blog) and “Charmingly Country” (Craving Country UK). The conclusion of their sonic exploration is their debut album ‘Add Another Minute’ and their second single ‘Shooter on the Mound’.
Formed in November 2017, Hengistbury launched their debut single ‘What Folks Don’t Know’ to widespread acclaim with features, interviews and live performances on the likes of Russell Hill’s Country Music Show, Off the Record, The Music Scout, UK Country Music, Nexus Music Blog, Craving Country, Folking.com, and Belles and Gals. They were featured in Lyric Magazine’s Hottest Country and Spotify’s Country Mix 2018 playlists. They were also named Artist of the Week by Richer Unsigned and Q Magazine.
‘Shooter on the Mound’ and the full album ’Add Another Minute’ will be available worldwide from all major digital stores and physical copies can be purchased via the band’s website.
Recorded in the band’s tiny studio on the Dorset coast, Hengistbury (AKA Jessie Mary and Pete Briley) have delved deep into the array of instruments available to them to create a sound that is “distinctly unique” (Nexus Music Blog) and “Charmingly Country” (Craving Country UK). The conclusion of their sonic exploration is their debut album ‘Add Another Minute’ and their second single ‘Shooter on the Mound’.
Formed in November 2017, Hengistbury launched their debut single ‘What Folks Don’t Know’ to widespread acclaim with features, interviews and live performances on the likes of Russell Hill’s Country Music Show, Off the Record, The Music Scout, UK Country Music, Nexus Music Blog, Craving Country, Folking.com, and Belles and Gals. They were featured in Lyric Magazine’s Hottest Country and Spotify’s Country Mix 2018 playlists. They were also named Artist of the Week by Richer Unsigned and Q Magazine.
‘Shooter on the Mound’ and the full album ’Add Another Minute’ will be available worldwide from all major digital stores and physical copies can be purchased via the band’s website.
Two Ways Home to release debut album
After 3 successful, well crafted EPs Two Ways Home have decided it's time for a full-length album. Returning from a busy summer, packed full of festivals including appearances at the Long Road Festival, Millport Country Festival, Nashville Meets London and a successful Germany/Austria tour, Two Ways Home are getting ready to get back in the studio. Lyric Magazine describes their song writing as: “breathtaking” and the Essex Chronicle has said that their previous work has been filled with “soaring instrumentation and luscious harmonies”. The new body of work will be exactly that, full of intricate guitar parts, sparkling mandolin riffs and spine-tingling harmonies. Isabella Mariee, one half of Two Ways Home says: “ I am so excited for this new chapter. I love the new songs that we've written. Making an album, especially when it's your first, is exciting but also a little daunting. I can’t wait to record all the songs and show the world how our sound has developed over the past years.” Lewis Fowler adds: “We are really trying to push the boundaries, without it getting too experimental and keeping it in the realms of Americana/Country.”
As a fully independent act Two Ways Home have set up an IndieGogo campaign to help with the recording and PR cost of the album. Rewards will include hand-painted ukuleles, song writing sessions, private concerts and much more. You can find this here.
To top it all off Two Ways Home have been invited to play the first Nash Nights Event on the 10th of November after the founders Janine, Justine and Joanne pass the baton to the in house team at Under the Bridge. They say that the “fantastic country music loving staff are going to take over, they are going to take what we started and make it even better!” Two Ways Home will present some of their new songs at Nash Nights and get the party started with some of their fan favourites adding one or two country covers to get everyone in the mood for an amazing country filled evening.
TOUR DATES
1st Nov – The Round Up – Colonel Fawcett (Acoustic)
10th Nov – Nash Nights – Under the Bridge (Full Band)
2nd Dec – Retune - Bishop’s Stortford (Acoustic)
As a fully independent act Two Ways Home have set up an IndieGogo campaign to help with the recording and PR cost of the album. Rewards will include hand-painted ukuleles, song writing sessions, private concerts and much more. You can find this here.
To top it all off Two Ways Home have been invited to play the first Nash Nights Event on the 10th of November after the founders Janine, Justine and Joanne pass the baton to the in house team at Under the Bridge. They say that the “fantastic country music loving staff are going to take over, they are going to take what we started and make it even better!” Two Ways Home will present some of their new songs at Nash Nights and get the party started with some of their fan favourites adding one or two country covers to get everyone in the mood for an amazing country filled evening.
TOUR DATES
1st Nov – The Round Up – Colonel Fawcett (Acoustic)
10th Nov – Nash Nights – Under the Bridge (Full Band)
2nd Dec – Retune - Bishop’s Stortford (Acoustic)
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit to release live at The Ryman album
On October 19th, Southeastern Records will release ‘Live From The Ryman’, the new live album from four-time Grammy Award winner Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit. Live From The Ryman was primarily recorded during the group’s six sold out nights at Nashville’s legendary Ryman Auditorium in 2017. The album features 13 live versions of songs from their last three critically acclaimed, award-winning studio albums ‘Southeastern’ (2013), ‘Something More Than Free’ (2015), ‘The Nashville Sound (2017)’. (See full track listing below).
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit’s The Nashville Sound won two 2018 Grammy Awards for Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song (“If We Were Vampires”). The album and band have been nominated for four Americana Music Association Awards - Album of the Year, Artist of the Year (Jason Isbell), Duo/Group of the Year and Song of the Year (“If We Were Vampires”). Isbell was recently featured in Rolling Stone Magazine’s ‘The New Classics”, New York Times Magazine’s “25 Songs That Tell Us Where Music Is Going" and appeared on the acclaimed AXS TV program Off Camera with Sam Jones.
From 2014 to 2017, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit have sold out 14 consecutive nights at the Ryman Auditorium. Isbell and company are likely to add to that number with announcement of a new six-night run this fall on October 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28. Tickets for what is starting to become an annual residency will go on sale on Friday, June 15th. For more information, go to Ryman.com/JasonIsbell.
Jason Isbell and The 400 features Isbell (guitar/vocals), Derry deBorja (keyboards), Chad Gamble (drums), Jimbo Hart (bass), Amanda Shires (fiddle) and Sadler Vaden (guitar). Isbell has become one of the most respected and important songwriters of this era, as documented by his timeless studio recordings. Live From The Ryman documents the fact that Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit have become one of the finest live bands on the road today. For current tour dates, go to http://www.jasonisbell.com
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - Live From The Ryman
Track Listing
1. "Hope The High Road"
2. "24 Frames"
3. "White Man's World"
4. "Flagship"
5. "Cumberland Gap"
6. "Something More Than Free"
7. "The Life You Chose"
8. "Elephant"
9. "Flying Over Water"
10. "Last Of My Kind"
11. "Cover Me Up"
12. "Super 8"
13. "If We Were Vampires"
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit’s The Nashville Sound won two 2018 Grammy Awards for Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song (“If We Were Vampires”). The album and band have been nominated for four Americana Music Association Awards - Album of the Year, Artist of the Year (Jason Isbell), Duo/Group of the Year and Song of the Year (“If We Were Vampires”). Isbell was recently featured in Rolling Stone Magazine’s ‘The New Classics”, New York Times Magazine’s “25 Songs That Tell Us Where Music Is Going" and appeared on the acclaimed AXS TV program Off Camera with Sam Jones.
From 2014 to 2017, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit have sold out 14 consecutive nights at the Ryman Auditorium. Isbell and company are likely to add to that number with announcement of a new six-night run this fall on October 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28. Tickets for what is starting to become an annual residency will go on sale on Friday, June 15th. For more information, go to Ryman.com/JasonIsbell.
Jason Isbell and The 400 features Isbell (guitar/vocals), Derry deBorja (keyboards), Chad Gamble (drums), Jimbo Hart (bass), Amanda Shires (fiddle) and Sadler Vaden (guitar). Isbell has become one of the most respected and important songwriters of this era, as documented by his timeless studio recordings. Live From The Ryman documents the fact that Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit have become one of the finest live bands on the road today. For current tour dates, go to http://www.jasonisbell.com
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - Live From The Ryman
Track Listing
1. "Hope The High Road"
2. "24 Frames"
3. "White Man's World"
4. "Flagship"
5. "Cumberland Gap"
6. "Something More Than Free"
7. "The Life You Chose"
8. "Elephant"
9. "Flying Over Water"
10. "Last Of My Kind"
11. "Cover Me Up"
12. "Super 8"
13. "If We Were Vampires"
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Nathan Carter heading to the UK for a headline tour this September and October |
Irish Country-Pop crossover star, Nathan Carter, will be touring this UK this Autumn.
He’s previously beaten the likes of Drake and Beyonce to the top of the charts in Ireland, a monumental feat – with his last album, 2017’s ‘Livin’ The Dream’ being no different, going straight to No. 1.
As one of Ireland’s biggest live music acts, Nathan is becoming a household name, with tracks from “Stayin’ Up All Night” becoming hits, such as “Wagon Wheel” and “I Wanna Dance”.
Growing up in a house where Country and Western music filled the air, Nathan was exposed to classic songs of Johnny Cash, Don Williams and Dolly Parton. From the tender age of 4 years old, not only learning to play guitar, piano and accordion, which plays a vital part in his live show, Nathan quickly became head chorister in the Liverpool Boys choir where he toured the world and even performed in front of the Pope in Rome.
For tickets, visit venue box offices or www.ticketline.co.uk
Tour Dates
September
13th Coventry Belgrade Theatre
14th Preston Guildhall
15th Stevenage Gordon Craig Theatre
16th Kings Lynn Corn Exchange
19th New Brighton Floral Pavilion
20th Norwich Theatre Royal
21st Portsmouth New Theatre Royal
22nd Cambridge Corn Exchange
23rd High Wycombe Swan Theatre
October
17th – 20th Inverness Eden Court
26th Dunfermline Alhambra Theatre
27th Wick Assembly Rooms
28th Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
November
7th Dumfries Easterbrook Hall
8th Dundee Whitehall Theatre
9th Kilmarnock Grand Hall
He’s previously beaten the likes of Drake and Beyonce to the top of the charts in Ireland, a monumental feat – with his last album, 2017’s ‘Livin’ The Dream’ being no different, going straight to No. 1.
As one of Ireland’s biggest live music acts, Nathan is becoming a household name, with tracks from “Stayin’ Up All Night” becoming hits, such as “Wagon Wheel” and “I Wanna Dance”.
Growing up in a house where Country and Western music filled the air, Nathan was exposed to classic songs of Johnny Cash, Don Williams and Dolly Parton. From the tender age of 4 years old, not only learning to play guitar, piano and accordion, which plays a vital part in his live show, Nathan quickly became head chorister in the Liverpool Boys choir where he toured the world and even performed in front of the Pope in Rome.
For tickets, visit venue box offices or www.ticketline.co.uk
Tour Dates
September
13th Coventry Belgrade Theatre
14th Preston Guildhall
15th Stevenage Gordon Craig Theatre
16th Kings Lynn Corn Exchange
19th New Brighton Floral Pavilion
20th Norwich Theatre Royal
21st Portsmouth New Theatre Royal
22nd Cambridge Corn Exchange
23rd High Wycombe Swan Theatre
October
17th – 20th Inverness Eden Court
26th Dunfermline Alhambra Theatre
27th Wick Assembly Rooms
28th Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
November
7th Dumfries Easterbrook Hall
8th Dundee Whitehall Theatre
9th Kilmarnock Grand Hall
CMA Songwriters to return for Country Music Week
Building on the annual sell-out success of the CMA Songwriters Series show in London during C2C Festival and following the first U.K. tour last autumn during the inaugural Country Music Week, the Country Music Association’s critically acclaimed CMA Songwriters Series returns to the U.K. Oct. 16-22. Hosted by Chris DeStefano, the lineup also features Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, and Tenille Townes. Tickets are on sale this Friday, August 3 at CMASongwritersSeries.com.
U.K. Tour:
Featuring Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Tenille Townes,
Oct. 16 Glasgow St. Luke’s
Oct. 17 Liverpool St. George’s Hall
Oct. 18 Gateshead Sage Two
Oct. 20 Manchester RNCM
Oct. 22 London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire *part of Country Music Week 2018
CMA Songwriters Series has a track record of launching new artists through its intimate storytelling format, which allows audiences to get to know the artists, their journey and the stories behind their songs. The two-hour seated show features the artists together on stage, taking turns sharing a story before performing their song acoustically. Each CMA Songwriters Series is unique—uplifting, amusing and often emotional, leaving audiences feeling closer to the artists and the music.
The tour introduces DeStefano, Ashton and Townes to U.K. audiences for the first time as they join Campbell making her fourth appearance.
“Presenting this very Nashville experience in an international setting not only makes for a magical evening, but it truly forges a deeper connection to the music for new audiences,” said Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. “The artists on this tour represent a true cross section of Country Music and we’re honored to be part of their journey as they build their international base.”
The tour dates continue to further CMA’s global expansion initiatives. In the U.K. alone, Country Music streaming is up more than 50 percent this year compared to 2017, where 78 percent of Country fans listen to a greater and more varied number of Country artists compared to last year, while 80 percent of Country fans are interested in and seek out more live Country Music shows and events. Earlier this spring, CMA visited both the U.K. during C2C: Country to Country festival—where CMA Songwriters Series held a sold-out show at London’s indigo at The O2—as well as Australia during CMC Rocks QLD festival.
U.K. Tour:
Featuring Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Tenille Townes,
Oct. 16 Glasgow St. Luke’s
Oct. 17 Liverpool St. George’s Hall
Oct. 18 Gateshead Sage Two
Oct. 20 Manchester RNCM
Oct. 22 London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire *part of Country Music Week 2018
CMA Songwriters Series has a track record of launching new artists through its intimate storytelling format, which allows audiences to get to know the artists, their journey and the stories behind their songs. The two-hour seated show features the artists together on stage, taking turns sharing a story before performing their song acoustically. Each CMA Songwriters Series is unique—uplifting, amusing and often emotional, leaving audiences feeling closer to the artists and the music.
The tour introduces DeStefano, Ashton and Townes to U.K. audiences for the first time as they join Campbell making her fourth appearance.
“Presenting this very Nashville experience in an international setting not only makes for a magical evening, but it truly forges a deeper connection to the music for new audiences,” said Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. “The artists on this tour represent a true cross section of Country Music and we’re honored to be part of their journey as they build their international base.”
The tour dates continue to further CMA’s global expansion initiatives. In the U.K. alone, Country Music streaming is up more than 50 percent this year compared to 2017, where 78 percent of Country fans listen to a greater and more varied number of Country artists compared to last year, while 80 percent of Country fans are interested in and seek out more live Country Music shows and events. Earlier this spring, CMA visited both the U.K. during C2C: Country to Country festival—where CMA Songwriters Series held a sold-out show at London’s indigo at The O2—as well as Australia during CMC Rocks QLD festival.
Country Music Week Updates
Russell Dickerson is returning to the UK after standout festival performances at Nashville Meets London 2017 and C2C 2018, for a huge tour supporting Darius Rucker (including a date at the Royal Albert Hall) and a London headline show in October as part of Country Music Week.
Russell Dickerson was born for the stage. “I’m just naturally that kind of dude: a big, loud and over-the-top guy,” he says with a laugh. Yes, one of country music’s most talked-about new talents -- and the voice behind the #1 hit single and debut album title track 'Yours', a stunning ballad inspired by his wife of four years, Kailey, that’s racked up over 110 million online digital streams to date, where he’s been on Spotify’s Hot Country, Country Gold Playlists and more for over a year, and exploded since being serviced to US country radio last year -- need not go into “entertainer mode” before he catapults himself onstage to deliver one of his notoriously amped-up live shows. He’s already there.
“I go out there, and I’m just me,” says Dickerson, who recently tore up arenas with superstars Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini on the Home Team Tour before performing to a packed O2 Arena as part of the UK's Country to Country festival in March. Watch the massive-voiced singer up there, whipping the crowd into hysterics and performing with that time-honoured killer instinct. He’s “running around and singing to people and messing with them and loving on them. It’s about interacting the whole time. I want people screaming their faces off. It’s all for the crowd.”
Full UK tour dates:
21st Oct - Birmingham Symphony Hall (w/ Darius Rucker)
22nd Oct - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (w/ Darius Rucker)
23rd Oct - Gateshead The Sage (w/ Darius Rucker)
25th Oct - Bristol O2 Academy (w/ Darius Rucker)
26th Oct - Manchester Albert Hall (w/ Darius Rucker)
27th Oct - London Borderline (headline)
28th Oct - London Royal Albert Hall (w/ Darius Rucker)
Russell Dickerson was born for the stage. “I’m just naturally that kind of dude: a big, loud and over-the-top guy,” he says with a laugh. Yes, one of country music’s most talked-about new talents -- and the voice behind the #1 hit single and debut album title track 'Yours', a stunning ballad inspired by his wife of four years, Kailey, that’s racked up over 110 million online digital streams to date, where he’s been on Spotify’s Hot Country, Country Gold Playlists and more for over a year, and exploded since being serviced to US country radio last year -- need not go into “entertainer mode” before he catapults himself onstage to deliver one of his notoriously amped-up live shows. He’s already there.
“I go out there, and I’m just me,” says Dickerson, who recently tore up arenas with superstars Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini on the Home Team Tour before performing to a packed O2 Arena as part of the UK's Country to Country festival in March. Watch the massive-voiced singer up there, whipping the crowd into hysterics and performing with that time-honoured killer instinct. He’s “running around and singing to people and messing with them and loving on them. It’s about interacting the whole time. I want people screaming their faces off. It’s all for the crowd.”
Full UK tour dates:
21st Oct - Birmingham Symphony Hall (w/ Darius Rucker)
22nd Oct - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (w/ Darius Rucker)
23rd Oct - Gateshead The Sage (w/ Darius Rucker)
25th Oct - Bristol O2 Academy (w/ Darius Rucker)
26th Oct - Manchester Albert Hall (w/ Darius Rucker)
27th Oct - London Borderline (headline)
28th Oct - London Royal Albert Hall (w/ Darius Rucker)