The Sit Down with Ashley McBryde
Grand Ole Opry member, GRAMMY, CMA and ACM award winner Ashley McBryde really has made the British Isles a second home and this past weekend she played to her largest audience to date, in front of sixty-five thousand people at American Express presents BST Hyde Park.
Her first visit across the pond was for C2C: Country to Country in March 2018 and if you include her appearance at the 100th Anniversary celebration of The Grand Ole Opry at The Royal Albert Hall, the performance in Hyde Park will be the Arkansas native’s tenth trip to play shows in the UK capital. With five acclaimed studio albums, including her most recent offering “Wild” which was released last month, Ashley has an incredible catalogue of songs combined with such warmth, relatability and energy on stage, it is no surprise her love for the UK audience is reciprocated which we talked about when we hung out with her during the festival.
Her first visit across the pond was for C2C: Country to Country in March 2018 and if you include her appearance at the 100th Anniversary celebration of The Grand Ole Opry at The Royal Albert Hall, the performance in Hyde Park will be the Arkansas native’s tenth trip to play shows in the UK capital. With five acclaimed studio albums, including her most recent offering “Wild” which was released last month, Ashley has an incredible catalogue of songs combined with such warmth, relatability and energy on stage, it is no surprise her love for the UK audience is reciprocated which we talked about when we hung out with her during the festival.
Hot enough for you here today?
“Yeah, it's really not too bad and I hear it's cooler today than it was two days ago.”
Have you experienced heat like this when you've been here before?
“Never, it's usually really mild and raining, so it’s a nice change.”
Yeah, it’s warm and a tiny little show today, not too many people out there at all is there?
“I can't wrap my brain around it today. I think if I can get my brain all the way around it, I might have to sit down.”
I was trying to work it out and I think this is at last the tenth show you will have done in London.
“Oh yeah, easily.”
So, you reckon it might even be more than that?
“It could be, I don't know. Let's see, we've come over at least once a year since 2018 and my very first sold out show ever was here. It was just me and a guitar then and I think it was Islington Assembly Hall.”
Out there is gonna be very different to it just being you and your guitar.
“Yeah, full band with seventy thousand people watching you do it.”
This is Garth’s first show here in nearly three decades, which you've heard from everybody but it must be really cool to get to be a part of something is really historic for country fans over here. You've seen the growth and obviously you've been a big part of it yourself but Kix and Ronnie came here at the start of the year, then Garth within a couple of months, legends is an overused term but really fitting for them both.
“No, they're definitely legendary and for Garth to think of me, when he set this up, to have this moment was a real compliment.”
The fan base over here are very loyal to you.
“They're my favourite! They're my favourite!”
I know a lot of people were going over to Belfast and then coming back for here for you here and they were lining up for hours and hours on end when you played at the church but to actually see the wealth of people that are gonna be out there today, that is really seeing that growth in front of you.
“Oh yeah, to see that many sets of eyes looking and every time we come here, it's more and more and more, so, hopefully, today, there will be a big swath of people that have never seen us live and they get to experience it today.”
How hard is it putting a set together for a festival compared to your own tour? Obviously, we're pushing “Wild” but like you say, there are people coming that have never seen you before that may only know Dahlonega or “American Scandal” or “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” or “Martha Divine” which are older songs. Plus, you only have an hour, which is shorter than your headline shows.
“It's a challenge, but it's kind of a fun challenge which the guys and I discuss it together. There are elements we know we have to have, we have to have barn burners and you have to have things that are attention grabbing but you also have to remember that a lot of the people that are here have been watching us since 2018 so you do have to pay that with songs off “Girl Going Nowhere”. It’s also being outdoors so different songs, different feeling and really, we just have to look at the list of songs where we know we have to play everything that’s been a single and we know we have to support the record as much as we can. Thankfully “Wild” has a tonne of stuff to choose from for supporting the record and then try to make sure that the goal is to get everyone that’s watching us to feel the way we feel. So, whatever songs can do that today in this moment, that’s what goes in the setlist.”
“Yeah, it's really not too bad and I hear it's cooler today than it was two days ago.”
Have you experienced heat like this when you've been here before?
“Never, it's usually really mild and raining, so it’s a nice change.”
Yeah, it’s warm and a tiny little show today, not too many people out there at all is there?
“I can't wrap my brain around it today. I think if I can get my brain all the way around it, I might have to sit down.”
I was trying to work it out and I think this is at last the tenth show you will have done in London.
“Oh yeah, easily.”
So, you reckon it might even be more than that?
“It could be, I don't know. Let's see, we've come over at least once a year since 2018 and my very first sold out show ever was here. It was just me and a guitar then and I think it was Islington Assembly Hall.”
Out there is gonna be very different to it just being you and your guitar.
“Yeah, full band with seventy thousand people watching you do it.”
This is Garth’s first show here in nearly three decades, which you've heard from everybody but it must be really cool to get to be a part of something is really historic for country fans over here. You've seen the growth and obviously you've been a big part of it yourself but Kix and Ronnie came here at the start of the year, then Garth within a couple of months, legends is an overused term but really fitting for them both.
“No, they're definitely legendary and for Garth to think of me, when he set this up, to have this moment was a real compliment.”
The fan base over here are very loyal to you.
“They're my favourite! They're my favourite!”
I know a lot of people were going over to Belfast and then coming back for here for you here and they were lining up for hours and hours on end when you played at the church but to actually see the wealth of people that are gonna be out there today, that is really seeing that growth in front of you.
“Oh yeah, to see that many sets of eyes looking and every time we come here, it's more and more and more, so, hopefully, today, there will be a big swath of people that have never seen us live and they get to experience it today.”
How hard is it putting a set together for a festival compared to your own tour? Obviously, we're pushing “Wild” but like you say, there are people coming that have never seen you before that may only know Dahlonega or “American Scandal” or “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” or “Martha Divine” which are older songs. Plus, you only have an hour, which is shorter than your headline shows.
“It's a challenge, but it's kind of a fun challenge which the guys and I discuss it together. There are elements we know we have to have, we have to have barn burners and you have to have things that are attention grabbing but you also have to remember that a lot of the people that are here have been watching us since 2018 so you do have to pay that with songs off “Girl Going Nowhere”. It’s also being outdoors so different songs, different feeling and really, we just have to look at the list of songs where we know we have to play everything that’s been a single and we know we have to support the record as much as we can. Thankfully “Wild” has a tonne of stuff to choose from for supporting the record and then try to make sure that the goal is to get everyone that’s watching us to feel the way we feel. So, whatever songs can do that today in this moment, that’s what goes in the setlist.”
I guess “Rattlesnake Preacher” is the sort of the most happy medium in terms of that, because it's a new song in terms of being recorded as it’s on “Wild” but it’s a really old sold that you've been playing that on a road for as long as I can remember. That’s the example of yes, we’re pushing a record but also having the things in there for the fans who have been there since day one.
“For the people who have been here a long time, yes and it starts with a fiddle kicking it off before being met with a wall of guitars so that gives a pretty good example of what we’re like.”
Why did you take so long to decide to cut it put that on a record?
“I tried and tried to get it on a record. It would either be that the producer that day would say, I don't feel like doing that today or I just don't think I'd feel like it or it would be, uh, maybe if we change that song enough and I was like, no! This song is the way it is! I'm really thankful that it never found a place on other records because it didn't have to be changed from how Randall Clay wrote it. I'm really thankful that when we went into the studio, we cut “What If We Don't” and “Rattlesnake Preacher” then we knew that the rest of the record would be built around us cutting those two songs first and it really was magic.”
As the fifth record, people know who are which is what your debut does, know what you had to say which is the sophomore project and have an idea of where you have been at or what you are thinking across various points in the others. Over time, the messages and what you're trying to achieve with a project changes so, what do you hope is the thing that people will take away from “Wild”?
“One, I want them to take away, oh, there she is and even more so, I hope that you find something in you, that you recognise, that you maybe hadn't paid attention to in a little while. There’s Just a little piece of you that needed some attention and I hope “Wild” wakes it up.”
Away from the stuff you’ve put it out yourself, I was talking to Mae (Estes) earlier and you both jumped on to collab with Ashland (Craft) on “Yard Sale”.
“I love Mae and I love that song too.”
She was talking about all the chaos of trying to move all the pieces around at CMA Fest to make it work so that the three of you could all make it work but that's obviously a really fun that worked as a great fit. Was it as simple as Ashland just messaging you both going, hey, I want to cut this, will you come and do it with me?
“Yeah, she texted me, she texted Mae and said, hey, are you interested? I was like, I love the song “Yard Sale” so I’d love to sing on that. Then we got there and of course, we laughed the entire time, cut up the entire time and there had been a couple of performance opportunities where we could get Mae there, but we couldn't get me there but CMA Fest, all the stars lined up. That's honestly my favourite CMA Fest moment this year, was jumping on stage with those two and singing “Yard Sale” at the top of our lungs.”
Lastly, going back to when we did meet in Amsterdam all that time ago, I always remember that you love hugs and I told you that I thought Tenille (Townes) was the best hugger in country music.
“She might well be the best hugger in country music.”
Well, when I spoke to her on Monday, I joked that it had it's been so long since we had caught up that a redhead from Georgia had stolen her crown. Then when I told Tenille I was seeing you today, she was like well, Caylee (Hammack) is only keeping it for a few more days because Ashley is gonna want that back! But is it a condition of being part of the June Bugs that being an elite hugger a necessary requirement?
“Ha, ha, ha, ha-ha. I think it is maybe something we all found out about each other that we had in common and we love to drink tea, we love to burn things together and for some reason, chilli is always made. Even if it's ninety degrees outside, somebody always makes a hot soup and if we're at Caylee's house, no matter what we're drinking, we drink it out of teacups. It's just a very fun situation.”
I appreciate you taking time to hang, have so much fun and do what you do out there, this has been great.
“For the people who have been here a long time, yes and it starts with a fiddle kicking it off before being met with a wall of guitars so that gives a pretty good example of what we’re like.”
Why did you take so long to decide to cut it put that on a record?
“I tried and tried to get it on a record. It would either be that the producer that day would say, I don't feel like doing that today or I just don't think I'd feel like it or it would be, uh, maybe if we change that song enough and I was like, no! This song is the way it is! I'm really thankful that it never found a place on other records because it didn't have to be changed from how Randall Clay wrote it. I'm really thankful that when we went into the studio, we cut “What If We Don't” and “Rattlesnake Preacher” then we knew that the rest of the record would be built around us cutting those two songs first and it really was magic.”
As the fifth record, people know who are which is what your debut does, know what you had to say which is the sophomore project and have an idea of where you have been at or what you are thinking across various points in the others. Over time, the messages and what you're trying to achieve with a project changes so, what do you hope is the thing that people will take away from “Wild”?
“One, I want them to take away, oh, there she is and even more so, I hope that you find something in you, that you recognise, that you maybe hadn't paid attention to in a little while. There’s Just a little piece of you that needed some attention and I hope “Wild” wakes it up.”
Away from the stuff you’ve put it out yourself, I was talking to Mae (Estes) earlier and you both jumped on to collab with Ashland (Craft) on “Yard Sale”.
“I love Mae and I love that song too.”
She was talking about all the chaos of trying to move all the pieces around at CMA Fest to make it work so that the three of you could all make it work but that's obviously a really fun that worked as a great fit. Was it as simple as Ashland just messaging you both going, hey, I want to cut this, will you come and do it with me?
“Yeah, she texted me, she texted Mae and said, hey, are you interested? I was like, I love the song “Yard Sale” so I’d love to sing on that. Then we got there and of course, we laughed the entire time, cut up the entire time and there had been a couple of performance opportunities where we could get Mae there, but we couldn't get me there but CMA Fest, all the stars lined up. That's honestly my favourite CMA Fest moment this year, was jumping on stage with those two and singing “Yard Sale” at the top of our lungs.”
Lastly, going back to when we did meet in Amsterdam all that time ago, I always remember that you love hugs and I told you that I thought Tenille (Townes) was the best hugger in country music.
“She might well be the best hugger in country music.”
Well, when I spoke to her on Monday, I joked that it had it's been so long since we had caught up that a redhead from Georgia had stolen her crown. Then when I told Tenille I was seeing you today, she was like well, Caylee (Hammack) is only keeping it for a few more days because Ashley is gonna want that back! But is it a condition of being part of the June Bugs that being an elite hugger a necessary requirement?
“Ha, ha, ha, ha-ha. I think it is maybe something we all found out about each other that we had in common and we love to drink tea, we love to burn things together and for some reason, chilli is always made. Even if it's ninety degrees outside, somebody always makes a hot soup and if we're at Caylee's house, no matter what we're drinking, we drink it out of teacups. It's just a very fun situation.”
I appreciate you taking time to hang, have so much fun and do what you do out there, this has been great.
Ashley McBryde Tour Dates
7/3: Calgary, AB – Calgary Stampede
7/11: Cavendish, PEI – Cavendish Beach Music Festival
7/30: West Fargo, ND – The Lights Amphitheater
8/1: Riverside, IA – Riverside Casino & Golf Resort Outdoor Stage
8/15: South Bend, IN – St. Joseph County Fairgrounds
8/21: Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (supporting Chris Stapleton)
9/1: Toronto, ONT – Rogers Stadium (supporting Chris Stapleton)
The new album “Wild” from Ashley McBryde is out now via Warner Records Nashville and is available HERE. Ashley’s upcoming North American tour dates are listed above and you can find full details along with ticket information on her WEBSITE whilst you can also keep up to date with all that she is up to by following socially on TIKTOK INSTAGRAM X & FACEBOOK.
American Express presents BST Hyde Park continues through July with Maroon 5 (July 3rd), Mumford & Sons (July 4th), Duran Duran (July 5th), Pitbull (July 10th) and Lewis Capaldi (July 11th & 12th) completing the lineup of headliners. Full festival details and any last remaining tickets for shows which are not sold out are available on their WEBSITE and you can keep up to date with all that is happening across the festival on INSTAGRAM TIKTOK & FACEBOOK.
7/3: Calgary, AB – Calgary Stampede
7/11: Cavendish, PEI – Cavendish Beach Music Festival
7/30: West Fargo, ND – The Lights Amphitheater
8/1: Riverside, IA – Riverside Casino & Golf Resort Outdoor Stage
8/15: South Bend, IN – St. Joseph County Fairgrounds
8/21: Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (supporting Chris Stapleton)
9/1: Toronto, ONT – Rogers Stadium (supporting Chris Stapleton)
The new album “Wild” from Ashley McBryde is out now via Warner Records Nashville and is available HERE. Ashley’s upcoming North American tour dates are listed above and you can find full details along with ticket information on her WEBSITE whilst you can also keep up to date with all that she is up to by following socially on TIKTOK INSTAGRAM X & FACEBOOK.
American Express presents BST Hyde Park continues through July with Maroon 5 (July 3rd), Mumford & Sons (July 4th), Duran Duran (July 5th), Pitbull (July 10th) and Lewis Capaldi (July 11th & 12th) completing the lineup of headliners. Full festival details and any last remaining tickets for shows which are not sold out are available on their WEBSITE and you can keep up to date with all that is happening across the festival on INSTAGRAM TIKTOK & FACEBOOK.
