C2C Day Three
Well that’s a wrap, day 3 of Country to Country may have had a little bit too much “liquid sunshine” coming down but that didn’t stop it being a real #sundayfunday to close out the 2024 festival.
A combination of having a little too much fun at the after party and all too familiar issues with the Great British train system made Saturday a little bit more of a later night than planned so all my intentions for an intense day of watching as much music as possible without any interviews were if you pardon the pun, slightly derailed. Double fisting baked goods from a chain bakery store at North Greenwich was the breakfast of this champion as we arrived slightly later than originally intended. I use “we” as Ian finally made it along for Day 3 to prevent me causing any further mischief with my “stolen tiger” who helped us out over the first two days.
After both of my sausage, bean and cheese bakes had been wolfed down we headed up to the Icon stage for one last chance to see my new best friend Halle Kearns who at the fifth time of trying between London and Berlin, I finally managed to see an entire set from her without having to run off halfway through or arrive late for.
A combination of having a little too much fun at the after party and all too familiar issues with the Great British train system made Saturday a little bit more of a later night than planned so all my intentions for an intense day of watching as much music as possible without any interviews were if you pardon the pun, slightly derailed. Double fisting baked goods from a chain bakery store at North Greenwich was the breakfast of this champion as we arrived slightly later than originally intended. I use “we” as Ian finally made it along for Day 3 to prevent me causing any further mischief with my “stolen tiger” who helped us out over the first two days.
After both of my sausage, bean and cheese bakes had been wolfed down we headed up to the Icon stage for one last chance to see my new best friend Halle Kearns who at the fifth time of trying between London and Berlin, I finally managed to see an entire set from her without having to run off halfway through or arrive late for.
Credit - Ruby Gaunt
The theme of watching our friends continued as freely as the rain was falling as we jumped between the Barrelhouse in The Town Square and The Wayside stage as we saw stunning acoustic performances from: Abbey Cone who we have been speaking with virtually for a number of years so was incredible to finally get to see her live here in London, my new artist discovery of the weekend Lola Kirke who has a sound that is right up my alley with a really cool and witty way with lyrics, the hilarious wonder from down under Brad Cox who after finding his guitar arrived off the plane in more pieces than it should do managed to play more guitars than sets over the weekend but still managed to showcase the top level Australian banter along with real talent that led to him being recognised as Male Vocalist of the Year at their Golden Guitar Awards, then also the bundle of Texas joy Harper Grace brought her sparkle as she shared a number of new songs that she is planning to release through the rest of the year.
Prior to heading into the main arena, there was plenty of full band energy from Hamilton, Ontario as The Redhill Valleys did team Canada proud and Emilia Quinn who represented our own little island to a room so packed that people were waiting outside in the rain to try to get in to.
Prior to heading into the main arena, there was plenty of full band energy from Hamilton, Ontario as The Redhill Valleys did team Canada proud and Emilia Quinn who represented our own little island to a room so packed that people were waiting outside in the rain to try to get in to.
Credit - Luke Dyson
Credit - Luke Dyson
The warmth generated by the body heat of over fifteen thousand people in the same space became appealing so into the arena we headed for the final time at this year’s festival in time for the super sassy, funky blues rock sound of Elle King who armed with one of the most distinct and unforgettable voices in country music, delivered a set which not only surprised and put any haters firmly in their place but also was probably the likely highlight of the entire weekend.
Brothers Osborne did what they do best with a set filled with a parade of crowd singalongs one after the other which was what the audience wanted so they got people really rowdy and up on their feet with a show that would have been worthy of more time to headline the festival except Old Dominion had that honour this year and a set full of intense energy similar to what we witnessed a week earlier in Berlin that was banger after banger so was a fitting way to bring this year’s festival to a close. The Brad Tursi and John Osborne guitar collaboration when Brothers Osborne and Elle King joined the band on stage in the middle of the set really was a fun surprise that was a really cool moment to see.
Brothers Osborne did what they do best with a set filled with a parade of crowd singalongs one after the other which was what the audience wanted so they got people really rowdy and up on their feet with a show that would have been worthy of more time to headline the festival except Old Dominion had that honour this year and a set full of intense energy similar to what we witnessed a week earlier in Berlin that was banger after banger so was a fitting way to bring this year’s festival to a close. The Brad Tursi and John Osborne guitar collaboration when Brothers Osborne and Elle King joined the band on stage in the middle of the set really was a fun surprise that was a really cool moment to see.
Credit - Ruby Gaunt
We have an overall thoughts piece covering the crazy ten days between getting on the plane at Heathrow to head to Berlin and finally walking out of the O2 this evening but Country to Country 2024, I think you delivered the best weekend since the festival began so London shall we do it again next year? How does March 14th to 16th 2025 sound to you? Ok it’s a date, so we will see you there!