Meet the CMA Spotlight Stage Artists - Friday
The Spotlight Stage will once again return to this years Country to Country Festival with country’s most-exciting newcomers performing in the main arena in London and Glasgow between 14th and 16th March - this year in partnership with the Country Music Association (CMA).
We start our countdown to the festival by introducing you to the artists who will play in London on Friday 14th March - Willow Avalon, Max McNown and Bayker Blankenship.
Across the UK weekend, Bayker Blankenship and Willow Avalon will also be taking to the Spotlight Stage in Glasgow on Sunday 16th March, while Bayker and Max McNown will also be taking to the Spotlight Stage at this years C2C Festival in Berlin on Friday 7th March
We start our countdown to the festival by introducing you to the artists who will play in London on Friday 14th March - Willow Avalon, Max McNown and Bayker Blankenship.
Across the UK weekend, Bayker Blankenship and Willow Avalon will also be taking to the Spotlight Stage in Glasgow on Sunday 16th March, while Bayker and Max McNown will also be taking to the Spotlight Stage at this years C2C Festival in Berlin on Friday 7th March
Willow Avalon
Willow Avalon is poised for a breakout year with the release of her highly anticipated, full-length debut album, Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell, due January 17 via Atlantic Records/Assemble Sound. Ahead of the release, Avalon recently shared a new single, “Country Never Leaves,” an ode to the small farm town in Georgia where she grew up. Listen/share HERE.
Named one of Holler’s “Upcoming Country and Americana Artists You Need to Know,” Avalon has already garnered widespread attention with her songs “Tequila and Whiskey” and “Homewrecker,” amassing nearly 100 million views on social media to date, as well as over 15 million streams across platforms in just the last two months. Originally from Georgia and now based in New York, Avalon’s musical journey began with her first word being “Elvis.” She grew up playing piano in church and taught herself guitar at age 12, using songwriting as a form of escapism. She plays, writes and produces her music alongside a small group of collaborators, crafting a sound that refreshingly blends classic country and Americana sounds. Her unique style has led her to share stages with Cage the Elephant, Paul Cauthen, Charles Wesley Godwin and more.
Avalon released her debut EP, Stranger, earlier this year, which serves as an introduction to her one-of-a-kind sound. The EP has garnered over 15 million worldwide streams to date and includes the viral songs “Honey Ain’t No Sweeter,” “Stranger” and “Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke.” Avalon recently released a music video for “Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke,” a song hailed by Billboard as a “Country Song You Need To Know.” Listen to Stranger HERE and watch “Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke” HERE.
Named one of Holler’s “Upcoming Country and Americana Artists You Need to Know,” Avalon has already garnered widespread attention with her songs “Tequila and Whiskey” and “Homewrecker,” amassing nearly 100 million views on social media to date, as well as over 15 million streams across platforms in just the last two months. Originally from Georgia and now based in New York, Avalon’s musical journey began with her first word being “Elvis.” She grew up playing piano in church and taught herself guitar at age 12, using songwriting as a form of escapism. She plays, writes and produces her music alongside a small group of collaborators, crafting a sound that refreshingly blends classic country and Americana sounds. Her unique style has led her to share stages with Cage the Elephant, Paul Cauthen, Charles Wesley Godwin and more.
Avalon released her debut EP, Stranger, earlier this year, which serves as an introduction to her one-of-a-kind sound. The EP has garnered over 15 million worldwide streams to date and includes the viral songs “Honey Ain’t No Sweeter,” “Stranger” and “Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke.” Avalon recently released a music video for “Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke,” a song hailed by Billboard as a “Country Song You Need To Know.” Listen to Stranger HERE and watch “Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke” HERE.
Max McNown
Max McNown’s latest triumphs include being named Billboard’s Country Rookie of the Month for November following his feature as CMT’s Next Up Now artist of October, when we saw the release of Willfully Blind. The EP landed as the Oregon-born artist made his AmericanaFest debut, and as we saw another major resurgence of his breakout hit single “A Lot More Free” after this TikTok celebrating the track’s one year anniversary went viral (14.8M views and counting). Since the single’s release it has amassed over 80M+ streams, earned McNown a top spot as #1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart, peaked at #1 on the iTunes singles chart and #1 on the TikTok Breakthrough USA chart, climbed the Canadian Hot 100 chart, and was placed on Spotify’s Hot Country and Viral 50 global playlists.
At 23, McNown has already been on a storied musical journey. Taking control of his future, overcoming personal challenges, and drawing inspiration from his brother who was bravely fighting cancer, McNown packed his bags and drove from remote Oregon to Southern California. From there, videos of him busking on a pier made an impact online and eventually grew into a legion of supporters on TikTok (currently has 1.9M followers). After attracting interest from major TV talent shows, McNown auditioned for one and then decided it wasn't for him, and gracefully turned them down as he knew he needed to walk his own path.
In 2024, McNown earned ample support for his first full-length record, Wandering, which was listed as a top debut album of the year by Whiskey Riff, and lauded by Holler, American Songwriter, People Magazine, and more. He then went on his first tours supporting folk band Briscoe, Australian artist Blake Rose, and opened for major country stars such as Wynonna Judd, plus made his Grand Ole Opry debut.
Most recently, the Nashville-based singer-songwriter has released the soul soothing single, “Roses and Wolves” featuring country artist Hailey Whitters, from his forthcoming sophomore album Night Diving (out 24th January, 2025 via Fugitive Recordings x The Orchard).
Pre-order Night Diving here
At 23, McNown has already been on a storied musical journey. Taking control of his future, overcoming personal challenges, and drawing inspiration from his brother who was bravely fighting cancer, McNown packed his bags and drove from remote Oregon to Southern California. From there, videos of him busking on a pier made an impact online and eventually grew into a legion of supporters on TikTok (currently has 1.9M followers). After attracting interest from major TV talent shows, McNown auditioned for one and then decided it wasn't for him, and gracefully turned them down as he knew he needed to walk his own path.
In 2024, McNown earned ample support for his first full-length record, Wandering, which was listed as a top debut album of the year by Whiskey Riff, and lauded by Holler, American Songwriter, People Magazine, and more. He then went on his first tours supporting folk band Briscoe, Australian artist Blake Rose, and opened for major country stars such as Wynonna Judd, plus made his Grand Ole Opry debut.
Most recently, the Nashville-based singer-songwriter has released the soul soothing single, “Roses and Wolves” featuring country artist Hailey Whitters, from his forthcoming sophomore album Night Diving (out 24th January, 2025 via Fugitive Recordings x The Orchard).
Pre-order Night Diving here
Bayker Blankenship
Nineteen-year old Bayker Blankenship from Livingston, Tennessee has had one heck of a few months, going from playing his first home town gigs to signing his first record deal and going viral with his first hit “Maxed Out" in a short amount of time.
“Maxed Out” is hitting new peaks at such an incredible speed- to name a few, it reached #2 on the Spotify Viral charts, #43 on Apple Country, and has over 100k creates on TikTok. Bayker has garnered over 40M+ streams in just a few months. “Maxed Out” highlights Bayker as one of Country’s rising stars, with fans falling for his bright personality and warm heart along the way.
Bayker's debut EP “Younger Years" released in July 2024, hitting over 4M+ streams the first week and making it obvious he is far from a one-hit wonder.
“Maxed Out” is hitting new peaks at such an incredible speed- to name a few, it reached #2 on the Spotify Viral charts, #43 on Apple Country, and has over 100k creates on TikTok. Bayker has garnered over 40M+ streams in just a few months. “Maxed Out” highlights Bayker as one of Country’s rising stars, with fans falling for his bright personality and warm heart along the way.
Bayker's debut EP “Younger Years" released in July 2024, hitting over 4M+ streams the first week and making it obvious he is far from a one-hit wonder.
C2C 2025 will be headlined by Lainey Wilson, Dierks Bentley and Cody Johnson, with Dylan Gossett, Tyler Hubbard, Chayce Beckham, Shaboozey, Tucker Wetmore, Niko Moon, Nate Smith, 49 Winchester, Avery Anna, Wyatt Flores, Tanner Adell and The Castellows performing on the main stage across the weekend in London, Glasgow and Belfast.
Tickets are currently on general sale and are available from:
Tickets are currently on general sale and are available from:
- London + Glasgow - www.axs.com/c2c / www.gigsandtours.com / www.ticketmaster.co.uk
- Belfast - www.ticketmaster.ie
- Glasgow www.gigsinscotland.com / www.axs.com/c2c / www.gigsandtours.com / www.ticketmaster.co.uk