The Sit Down with The Shires
Despite being a regular name over the years at C2C Festival, this year will be one that The Shires will be sure to remember and look back on fondly. Having been chosen to open the new Festival Stage - The Yard, the duo also released their new single Getaway Car, announced their upcoming album Bonfire and confirmed a 13-date UK headlining tour all on the same day. We caught up with Ben and Crissie to find out more.
Hey, how are you? It’s been a while.
B: Good, yeah, we've been in hiding for a bit.
Shall we start at C2C a couple of weeks ago? How good was it to be back on the C2C stages and opening a brand-new stage? You’ve really had a front-row seat for seeing how it's evolved.
B: Yeah, I mean C2C is where it all started for us, really. It's incredible how many of those milestones have happened at C2C. The first one for me was when we were told we were Top 10 at C2C on that Spotlight stage. They told us, "You've gone Top 10," as we were leaving the stage. Then there were 15,000 people screaming, and then we saw Charles Kelley straight afterwards. I thought you wouldn't get another moment like that for us there, but it's just gone on and on.
C: This year, opening that stage up, the queue for us was just bonkers. We thought—I don't know--we've been away for a tiny bit. I thought it'd be full, but not that queue. It blew me away. I met some people on the train home after a label showcase the night before and they were like, "Oh my god, are you Crissie from The Shires?" And I said, "You know what? If you're free on Friday, come down to the set." They were like, "Is there going to be a queue?" and I was like, "I actually don't know. I have no idea. There might be." There used to be a queue, but it's been such a long time since we've done a queuing venue that I was like, "I don't know. I don't really know what time for you to get down." I could not believe how long that queue was to get in. I don't know if everybody got in or not, but it was all rammed in there. It was such a great show. It was so nice to see everyone and sing some of the new songs as well.
What's it been like from the artist's side over these 12 years, seeing how that festival on its own has grown from a two-day event with no daytime stages to what it is today?
C: Do you know, it's absolutely wild how crazy C2C is now. Like the fact that they've got the app so that you can save exactly who you want to go and see. Honestly, if you're not on it, you've got to be organized. You've got to know where you're going and how you get in there. The queues are immense. People are queuing around the corner to go and see different things and different artists. There's just so much music. I mean, it is a funny thing that it is a festival in a concrete area, as you're used to being out in a field somewhere. I love seeing all the fashion trends that are going around—everybody wearing their cowboy hats and their cowboy boots. Seeing how people are managing to drink the whole weekend; I have no idea! You're not just rolling back into your tent in a field either; you're having to book into a hotel a tube stop away or more, or even go all the way home. It is such a big weekend. Behind the scenes, people are planning that for such a long time in advance. It is one massive buildup to such a mega weekend and we all just go, "Oh, we did it this year. We got through it." It's unbelievable the amount of acts that come over and how much Americans are loving coming over to the UK and our audiences. We listen, we react. It's really lovely to see how it's evolved. It's not just two days anymore. It's wild.
You doubled down at the festival this year too, as you started the buildup to the album and also a tour announcement. How nice was it to link that all together, given how close C2C is to you both?
B: It was nice because it was a mad rush. We made the album in between touring last year. It was a lot of hotel room recording! The title track, "Bonfire," was recorded in a hotel room in Ilkley! We had to take all the pillows and bedsheets and put them in this cupboard, and Crissie was wedged in there! We had to get it done. Originally, we wanted the album to be ready by July last year and it was, but it just got pushed back and back and back. We had the conversation and it was simple: we want to do it at C2C, we have to get something out for C2C. We did the photoshoot for the album the last week of January. We are with a new label now—Blue Highway—which was Big Machine, and they've been so incredible because they were like, "Yeah, we agree, we have to get this out for them." The album had just gone for pre-orders and the head of the label, Alex, told us just before we went on stage how many pre-orders there had been. I just couldn't believe the number, especially when times are tight. To buy an album now that isn't coming out until July blows me away. Put all of that together with opening up that stage—actually, it was just a perfect storm in a good way. You're looking out, you see familiar faces, people in the crowd, and just loads of people we know in the country scene. There were loads of new faces as well. It's amazing how much it has grown. We're super proud to have been part of it for the last 12 years.
C: We live-streamed it at the same time, too. All my family, when I got home, were like, "Oh, it was lovely to see you." I didn't even know that that was going to happen. They watched it and they could hear the crowd reaction. I mean, that's just technology now, isn't it? They could be there even though they weren't. We went live during our soundcheck as well. All the crowd that was standing in the line would have heard the full soundcheck anyway, but just bringing the fans right into absolutely everything we're doing is just how it is now.
Off the back of the weekend, "Getaway Car" is now out to start the album countdown. It has quickly been playlisted by BBC Radio 2. Is it a surprise to get that playlist, but at the same time so important to you after so long away from releasing new music?
B: Yeah, it's massive. That's the most "country" sort of sound on the record, or folky kind of sound, so it's quite surprising to get on there with that one. The whole point of "Getaway Car" is really just to get the album announced and set the tone. But it's massive. I mean, it's so competitive now on Radio 2. You've got massive artists on there—Alex Warren, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, the new Raye song—all these massive acts. To get on there is amazing.
C: Radio 2's audience has changed massively since the last time we released an album. It makes a difference. The last time, they were just starting that change. Our last album ended up being a little bit more poppy to suit what was being played on Radio 2 because we needed a home to stay on. Now they're playing loads of different country songs and it's like, "OK, we fit in still." The audience listening to Radio 2 now is much younger. It's a very different landscape on there.
You had big writers join you on this one as well, with Phil Barton, Eric Paslay, and Alyssa Bonagura all involved. Is it nice to know you can reach out to those people when you hit Nashville?
B: They're friends of ours, so it's lovely. I mean, it's not like in the old days when we first started. In the very first days, you go through a million different managers and agents and labels and stuff. Now I stay with Eric every time I go to Nashville in his garage apartment! He's become a really good friend of mine, which is actually hilarious because when we first met Eric, I was a mega-fan. We met him in Australia at CMC and I was nudging Crissie, being like, "That's Eric Paslay over there." I still laugh about it with Eric. I went up to him and I couldn't get my words out; I was tongue-tied. I just went like, "I love the strings on your album. I just love the strings," and I just sort of walked off! He's a really good friend of mine now and we chat a lot. Alyssa, we just love--she's supported us a few times. Her energy is just unlike anyone else's. Then Phil just hasn't changed at all. You get to sit down with them in a room and just write. After the years we've all had together... we were a bit younger when we first all got together and now we're in a different place in our lives. I honestly believe music just keeps you young. I said to Crissie the other day, I played football and a new guy joined the group. We played the match and at the end of the match, he said, "Oh, you know, I can't feel it now, I'm 38." I looked at this guy and I was like, "He's 38. I'm 38." I know I don't look like that. I know Crissie doesn't look like that. I honestly believe because we do what we do, it just keeps you young. I love that we still get to do this.
Hey, how are you? It’s been a while.
B: Good, yeah, we've been in hiding for a bit.
Shall we start at C2C a couple of weeks ago? How good was it to be back on the C2C stages and opening a brand-new stage? You’ve really had a front-row seat for seeing how it's evolved.
B: Yeah, I mean C2C is where it all started for us, really. It's incredible how many of those milestones have happened at C2C. The first one for me was when we were told we were Top 10 at C2C on that Spotlight stage. They told us, "You've gone Top 10," as we were leaving the stage. Then there were 15,000 people screaming, and then we saw Charles Kelley straight afterwards. I thought you wouldn't get another moment like that for us there, but it's just gone on and on.
C: This year, opening that stage up, the queue for us was just bonkers. We thought—I don't know--we've been away for a tiny bit. I thought it'd be full, but not that queue. It blew me away. I met some people on the train home after a label showcase the night before and they were like, "Oh my god, are you Crissie from The Shires?" And I said, "You know what? If you're free on Friday, come down to the set." They were like, "Is there going to be a queue?" and I was like, "I actually don't know. I have no idea. There might be." There used to be a queue, but it's been such a long time since we've done a queuing venue that I was like, "I don't know. I don't really know what time for you to get down." I could not believe how long that queue was to get in. I don't know if everybody got in or not, but it was all rammed in there. It was such a great show. It was so nice to see everyone and sing some of the new songs as well.
What's it been like from the artist's side over these 12 years, seeing how that festival on its own has grown from a two-day event with no daytime stages to what it is today?
C: Do you know, it's absolutely wild how crazy C2C is now. Like the fact that they've got the app so that you can save exactly who you want to go and see. Honestly, if you're not on it, you've got to be organized. You've got to know where you're going and how you get in there. The queues are immense. People are queuing around the corner to go and see different things and different artists. There's just so much music. I mean, it is a funny thing that it is a festival in a concrete area, as you're used to being out in a field somewhere. I love seeing all the fashion trends that are going around—everybody wearing their cowboy hats and their cowboy boots. Seeing how people are managing to drink the whole weekend; I have no idea! You're not just rolling back into your tent in a field either; you're having to book into a hotel a tube stop away or more, or even go all the way home. It is such a big weekend. Behind the scenes, people are planning that for such a long time in advance. It is one massive buildup to such a mega weekend and we all just go, "Oh, we did it this year. We got through it." It's unbelievable the amount of acts that come over and how much Americans are loving coming over to the UK and our audiences. We listen, we react. It's really lovely to see how it's evolved. It's not just two days anymore. It's wild.
You doubled down at the festival this year too, as you started the buildup to the album and also a tour announcement. How nice was it to link that all together, given how close C2C is to you both?
B: It was nice because it was a mad rush. We made the album in between touring last year. It was a lot of hotel room recording! The title track, "Bonfire," was recorded in a hotel room in Ilkley! We had to take all the pillows and bedsheets and put them in this cupboard, and Crissie was wedged in there! We had to get it done. Originally, we wanted the album to be ready by July last year and it was, but it just got pushed back and back and back. We had the conversation and it was simple: we want to do it at C2C, we have to get something out for C2C. We did the photoshoot for the album the last week of January. We are with a new label now—Blue Highway—which was Big Machine, and they've been so incredible because they were like, "Yeah, we agree, we have to get this out for them." The album had just gone for pre-orders and the head of the label, Alex, told us just before we went on stage how many pre-orders there had been. I just couldn't believe the number, especially when times are tight. To buy an album now that isn't coming out until July blows me away. Put all of that together with opening up that stage—actually, it was just a perfect storm in a good way. You're looking out, you see familiar faces, people in the crowd, and just loads of people we know in the country scene. There were loads of new faces as well. It's amazing how much it has grown. We're super proud to have been part of it for the last 12 years.
C: We live-streamed it at the same time, too. All my family, when I got home, were like, "Oh, it was lovely to see you." I didn't even know that that was going to happen. They watched it and they could hear the crowd reaction. I mean, that's just technology now, isn't it? They could be there even though they weren't. We went live during our soundcheck as well. All the crowd that was standing in the line would have heard the full soundcheck anyway, but just bringing the fans right into absolutely everything we're doing is just how it is now.
Off the back of the weekend, "Getaway Car" is now out to start the album countdown. It has quickly been playlisted by BBC Radio 2. Is it a surprise to get that playlist, but at the same time so important to you after so long away from releasing new music?
B: Yeah, it's massive. That's the most "country" sort of sound on the record, or folky kind of sound, so it's quite surprising to get on there with that one. The whole point of "Getaway Car" is really just to get the album announced and set the tone. But it's massive. I mean, it's so competitive now on Radio 2. You've got massive artists on there—Alex Warren, Miley Cyrus, Paul McCartney, the new Raye song—all these massive acts. To get on there is amazing.
C: Radio 2's audience has changed massively since the last time we released an album. It makes a difference. The last time, they were just starting that change. Our last album ended up being a little bit more poppy to suit what was being played on Radio 2 because we needed a home to stay on. Now they're playing loads of different country songs and it's like, "OK, we fit in still." The audience listening to Radio 2 now is much younger. It's a very different landscape on there.
You had big writers join you on this one as well, with Phil Barton, Eric Paslay, and Alyssa Bonagura all involved. Is it nice to know you can reach out to those people when you hit Nashville?
B: They're friends of ours, so it's lovely. I mean, it's not like in the old days when we first started. In the very first days, you go through a million different managers and agents and labels and stuff. Now I stay with Eric every time I go to Nashville in his garage apartment! He's become a really good friend of mine, which is actually hilarious because when we first met Eric, I was a mega-fan. We met him in Australia at CMC and I was nudging Crissie, being like, "That's Eric Paslay over there." I still laugh about it with Eric. I went up to him and I couldn't get my words out; I was tongue-tied. I just went like, "I love the strings on your album. I just love the strings," and I just sort of walked off! He's a really good friend of mine now and we chat a lot. Alyssa, we just love--she's supported us a few times. Her energy is just unlike anyone else's. Then Phil just hasn't changed at all. You get to sit down with them in a room and just write. After the years we've all had together... we were a bit younger when we first all got together and now we're in a different place in our lives. I honestly believe music just keeps you young. I said to Crissie the other day, I played football and a new guy joined the group. We played the match and at the end of the match, he said, "Oh, you know, I can't feel it now, I'm 38." I looked at this guy and I was like, "He's 38. I'm 38." I know I don't look like that. I know Crissie doesn't look like that. I honestly believe because we do what we do, it just keeps you young. I love that we still get to do this.
You mentioned teaming up with Blue Highway as your new label. Did it give you that new lease of life to want to get back to releasing music?
C: Ben was already writing at the time and it was all his idea, actually, to reach out to Alex at the label. We just knew that they would be a really great home for us. They completely get what's coming out of Nashville. They completely love country music. We've never had a record label that has been so immersed in country music. We're the only UK signing on the label and we just know that it's the right fit for us. It's been really exciting to put everything together and the team is so great. It's a really nice place for us to be.
B: It does feel like the early days. I mean, it's funny because I've still got the voice note that I sent to Alex. I've known Alex from C2C every year and I always hoped we would get to work together one day. Our deal finished at BMG and I'd written a couple of songs after the last day of the acoustic tour in 2024. I went out to Nashville and when I came back I sent Alex a voice message. I said, "Look, I know you don't really sign UK acts because Big Machine at the time was more about facilitating US acts." I was like, "We're the biggest UK country act of all time. I love you guys as a label." Whenever you see them at any event, they're always so present. I was like, "This might sound crazy, but is there something we can do?" and Alex straight away jumped on it. It all just happened really quickly. To answer your question, it feels like those early days. You tell yourself there are these rules to these things when you get into an industry, but there are no rules. If you believe in an idea, you just call someone up and you go, "Shall we? Why can't we?"
C: It was like the acoustic tour. When we first got the call for that, it was like, "Do you guys want to just do you on stage?" We were like, "We can't do that for an hour and a half. Can we just have us on stage? People are going to pay to see us." By the end of it, we were like, "Gosh, we've got to go back and learn how to do a full band show again." We’re lucky that we've had the freedom to do all these things.
B: It just feels like a restart, a rebirth, if you want to say that. I'm mega-excited. I feel young again—even though I've got three children!
You started 2026 in a bit of a different venue by being on a country-themed cruise boat. Looking back now, was that the best idea in the world, the worst idea in the world, or just a pure escape from the crazy life of both having children and a busy schedule on dry land?
C: Do you know what? Neither of us had ever done a cruise ship before. We were asked about two years in advance, I think it was. It was quite far ahead and we just thought, "Why not?" I mean, straight away, I was excited that a cruise company had even considered a whole cruise for country music. That, to me, just showed how far country music has come in the time that we've been doing it—that you can have a whole ship sell out. It sold out so quickly because people just wanted it. When we got on the ship, everybody was just so lovely. It was such a great vibe, apart from the fact that it was unbelievably rocky and Ben was feeling very sick the whole time! Everyone we spoke to said, "Look, we've done cruising for years. This is really strange. This never happens." We were like, "Oh, OK," because all we'd had so far were rocky seas. We heard that the Dolly Parton tribute had to sit down on stage because she felt so sick from all the motion. I mean, we'd love to do it again. The vibe on there, when it was calm and chilled, it was such a great atmosphere. Everyone was having such a great time.
B: It was everything you said. It was the best. It was the worst. It was an escape. I got on the boat and they were like, "Right, you're not performing until tomorrow. Just drink as much as you want, eat as much as you want," and it was like, "What? I don't have to look after anybody?" But yeah, the next day—oh my gosh. The lowest point for me was—I mean, I was saying to Crissie—I must've looked like a diva because normally, I'm never sick. I'd always go through everything.
C: I vouched for you as well. I was like, "Ben is never ill. He's never ill at all."
B: I was literally leaning on the piano and all these people were standing up around me. I just couldn't move. Every time I moved, I thought I was going to throw up. I had to go back to my cabin to get something and I'd read that if you take a plastic bag with you in your pocket, you feel more confident. You don't worry as much about being sick. It was so rocky, though. I went back to the cabin, went up two flights of stairs, and I just suddenly knew I was going to be sick. I collapsed in a corridor, laying up against the wall, just throwing up in this bag! Then I just saw some fans down the corridor. Fans everywhere. I'm just like, "I'm sorry." It was awful. But then we went on stage and it's so weird, the adrenaline just kicked in. I felt absolutely fine. We did two performances and, like Crissie said, it was just amazing to look out and think there are something like 1,500 people there. It was a lot. They're all there because they're just country fans from the UK, which is just bonkers. That first C2C all those years ago, it felt like there was no one. Whereas now, everywhere you go, it's just country.
So obviously, we can now start the official countdown to the tour and album later this year. I’m looking forward to chatting again soon to find out more about the album and countdown to the release date with you.
B: Yeah, amazing. Thanks so much.
C: Have a good weekend. Bye-bye.
C: Ben was already writing at the time and it was all his idea, actually, to reach out to Alex at the label. We just knew that they would be a really great home for us. They completely get what's coming out of Nashville. They completely love country music. We've never had a record label that has been so immersed in country music. We're the only UK signing on the label and we just know that it's the right fit for us. It's been really exciting to put everything together and the team is so great. It's a really nice place for us to be.
B: It does feel like the early days. I mean, it's funny because I've still got the voice note that I sent to Alex. I've known Alex from C2C every year and I always hoped we would get to work together one day. Our deal finished at BMG and I'd written a couple of songs after the last day of the acoustic tour in 2024. I went out to Nashville and when I came back I sent Alex a voice message. I said, "Look, I know you don't really sign UK acts because Big Machine at the time was more about facilitating US acts." I was like, "We're the biggest UK country act of all time. I love you guys as a label." Whenever you see them at any event, they're always so present. I was like, "This might sound crazy, but is there something we can do?" and Alex straight away jumped on it. It all just happened really quickly. To answer your question, it feels like those early days. You tell yourself there are these rules to these things when you get into an industry, but there are no rules. If you believe in an idea, you just call someone up and you go, "Shall we? Why can't we?"
C: It was like the acoustic tour. When we first got the call for that, it was like, "Do you guys want to just do you on stage?" We were like, "We can't do that for an hour and a half. Can we just have us on stage? People are going to pay to see us." By the end of it, we were like, "Gosh, we've got to go back and learn how to do a full band show again." We’re lucky that we've had the freedom to do all these things.
B: It just feels like a restart, a rebirth, if you want to say that. I'm mega-excited. I feel young again—even though I've got three children!
You started 2026 in a bit of a different venue by being on a country-themed cruise boat. Looking back now, was that the best idea in the world, the worst idea in the world, or just a pure escape from the crazy life of both having children and a busy schedule on dry land?
C: Do you know what? Neither of us had ever done a cruise ship before. We were asked about two years in advance, I think it was. It was quite far ahead and we just thought, "Why not?" I mean, straight away, I was excited that a cruise company had even considered a whole cruise for country music. That, to me, just showed how far country music has come in the time that we've been doing it—that you can have a whole ship sell out. It sold out so quickly because people just wanted it. When we got on the ship, everybody was just so lovely. It was such a great vibe, apart from the fact that it was unbelievably rocky and Ben was feeling very sick the whole time! Everyone we spoke to said, "Look, we've done cruising for years. This is really strange. This never happens." We were like, "Oh, OK," because all we'd had so far were rocky seas. We heard that the Dolly Parton tribute had to sit down on stage because she felt so sick from all the motion. I mean, we'd love to do it again. The vibe on there, when it was calm and chilled, it was such a great atmosphere. Everyone was having such a great time.
B: It was everything you said. It was the best. It was the worst. It was an escape. I got on the boat and they were like, "Right, you're not performing until tomorrow. Just drink as much as you want, eat as much as you want," and it was like, "What? I don't have to look after anybody?" But yeah, the next day—oh my gosh. The lowest point for me was—I mean, I was saying to Crissie—I must've looked like a diva because normally, I'm never sick. I'd always go through everything.
C: I vouched for you as well. I was like, "Ben is never ill. He's never ill at all."
B: I was literally leaning on the piano and all these people were standing up around me. I just couldn't move. Every time I moved, I thought I was going to throw up. I had to go back to my cabin to get something and I'd read that if you take a plastic bag with you in your pocket, you feel more confident. You don't worry as much about being sick. It was so rocky, though. I went back to the cabin, went up two flights of stairs, and I just suddenly knew I was going to be sick. I collapsed in a corridor, laying up against the wall, just throwing up in this bag! Then I just saw some fans down the corridor. Fans everywhere. I'm just like, "I'm sorry." It was awful. But then we went on stage and it's so weird, the adrenaline just kicked in. I felt absolutely fine. We did two performances and, like Crissie said, it was just amazing to look out and think there are something like 1,500 people there. It was a lot. They're all there because they're just country fans from the UK, which is just bonkers. That first C2C all those years ago, it felt like there was no one. Whereas now, everywhere you go, it's just country.
So obviously, we can now start the official countdown to the tour and album later this year. I’m looking forward to chatting again soon to find out more about the album and countdown to the release date with you.
B: Yeah, amazing. Thanks so much.
C: Have a good weekend. Bye-bye.
