2015

With less than two months to go, the C2C team are thrilled to announce that there will be a whole host of new activity across the country music filled weekend at The O2, London on 7 & 8 March 2015, including music on Pop Up stages from 11am and After Show Parties running until late. Satellite Stage In the arena for the very first time, we’ll be introducing a Satellite Stage which will be located behind the sound desks at the opposite end of the arena to the main stage. Four acoustic artists will be performing in-between the main stage acts (two on each day). The first names to be announced are: SAM HUNT – one of the hottest new artists to emerge in Nashville last year and whose debut No.1 was ‘Leave The Night On’. The former college football player was previously best known for writing hit singles for Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and others. THE SHIRES – the British duo who made their C2C debut as relative unknowns have had a great year, which included their debut single Nashville Grey Skies being playlisted on BBC Radio 2. Their debut album will be released in C2C week, on Mon March 2. Pop-Up stages Fans will get a rare chance to discover a broad range of artists as they play free intimate shows on pop-up stages around the venue, showcasing their talents and proving that country music has a strong future in the UK. There will be 40 performances for C2C ticket holders each day on various stages including the newly named Big Entrance stage and Music Mile stage. There will also be special performances on the Pop Up stages by name artists, including The Shires, CMA Award winning songwriters Jon Randall and Jessie Alexander (who are also featured in Friday night’s CMA Songwriters Series at indigo at The O2) and Ward Thomas -who made their C2C debut as a relatively unknown duo in 2014 but have since had a great year with singles playlisted at BBC Radio 2 and their first album, ‘From Where We Stand,’ entering the UK Top 50. Pop-up artists (in alphabetical order): Acoustic Journey, Ann Doka, Aubrie Sellers, Balsamo Deighton, Callaghan, Carolynne Poole, Case Hardin, Chloë Chadwick, Claydon Connor, David Bradley, Dexeter, Ellie Dibben, Emma Jade, Emma Swindells, Fitzwallace, Flats & Sharps, Hannah Jane Lewis, Harper J, Holloway Road, Honey Ryder, InBlauK, Jeannine Barry, Jess & The Bandits, Jess Roberts, Jon Randall & Jessi Alexander, Katie Armiger, Katie Nicholas, Laura Oakes, Lewis & Leigh, Lisa Redford, Liv Austen & The Banned, Luke and Mel, Lucy May, Megan O’Neill, Mim Grey, Paul Carella, Pauper Kings (formerly McKay), Raintown, Sam Hunt, Sasha McVeigh, Sonia Leigh, Stephanie Manns, Talia Simone, The Cains Trio, The Dirty Beggars, The James Clode Band, The Shires, The Tuesday Syndicate, Ward Thomas, Winters Hill. The Saloon Another first this year is our new venue, The Saloon, which can be found in the WM Jazz Club at The O2 and will feature an intimate space for singer songwriters to perform and talk about their song-writing. C2C ticket holders are invited to come along, sit back, relax and enjoy the programme. The Saloon will include a Bob Harris curated programme by Under The Apple Tree Sessions with legendary Texan singer-songwriter Kimmie Rhodes, the up-and-coming Nashville singer-songwriter, Angel Snow, Ward Thomas and American singer Katie Armiger plus Woody Pines, Worry Dolls, Loud Mountains and the Goat Roper Rodeo Band. C2C After Parties As previously announced, the official C2C after parties will take place at Brooklyn Bowl at The O2. A surprise guest will perform each night and country music fans are invited to continue the festival spirit into the small hours. Hosted by country music DJ and radio/TV presenter; DJBaylen Leonard, the doors to Brooklyn Bowl will open once the final main stage artist has waved goodbye to the crowds each night. Tickets for Country to Country are available from www.axs.com/c2c 08448 24 48 24 and www.gigsandtours.com / 0844 811 0051.

The Bandits met Texan favourite Jessica Clemmons, the opening act during a 2012 tour while playing with The Overtones and instantly bonded over their mutual love of country music. As they began to play together more and more, their chemistry became clear and Jess and the Bandits were born. Made up of brothers Ricci and Louis Riccardi on drums and guitar respectively, Dave Troke on bass, Steven Reid Williams on keyboards/guitar and of course Jessica Clemmons on vocals, each member of the Bandits brings with them a storied history of country creativity. Influenced by their musician father, brothers Ricci and Louis Riccardi were playing Country and Blues music from a very early age. Whilst studying in the US they learned the Nashville Number System, a method of transcribing music, which they rely on heavily to this day. They later joined with fellow bass player David Troke, a musician who shared the same influences and aspirations. Last to join the group was singer-songwriter and piano player Steven Reid-Williams. Far from home, Jessica Clemmons hails from Houston, Texas, however
UK audiences have fallen for her soulful and passionate work. Jess graced the BBC Radio 2 playlist last year with Single Tonight and impressed when she performed her take on Wichita Lineman on Terry Wogan’s Sunday morning show. Jess and The Bandits’ ballsy My Name Is Trouble was also the popular opener of Maverick Music Volume 12 in our November/December issue. The band spent the majority of 2014 on the road, with performances at Country 2 Country, as well as The Isle Of Wight Festival and a support tour with Pete Molinari. Later in the year Jess re-joined her co-writing team in Nashville including Jeff Cohen (The Band Perry, Sugarland), James T. Slater (My Daughters Eyes’), Brian White (Rascal Flatts) and producer Larry Beaird (Dolly Parton, Faith Hill). These Country credentials are especially displayed on the group’s much-anticipated album HERE WE GO AGAIN which will be released in the Spring of 2015.

After closing out 2014 with country music’s top-selling album, the Platinum-certified and genre-busting The Outsiders, Eric Church has announces an expansion of his successful The Outsiders World Tour into the spring. The new tour dates stretch from Tampa, FL to Vancouver, BC and includes Austin, Boston, Cincinnati, Lexington, Jacksonville, Newark, Raleigh, Seattle, Washington DC and more. Each stop will include one special guest for the new leg of The Outsiders World Tour, varying to include diverse artists as Brothers Osborne, Drive-By-Truckers, JD McPherson, and The Cadillac Three. The Lone Bellow will also be a special guest on several dates to be announced soon. Church returned to the road last week with powerhouse performances in New Orleans, Tupelo, and Nashville, where his audience of 18,411 fans set a new event attendance record for the Bridgestone Arena. The first 13 dates will go on sale this Friday, Jan 16 March 4: Austin, TX | Frank Erwin Center ** 10: Washington, DC | Verizon Center ** 18: Ft. Wayne, IN | Allen County War Memorial Coliseum ** 28: Tampa, FL | Amalie Arena*** April 7: Grand Forks, ND | Ralph Engelstad Arena * 8: Winnipeg, MB | MTS Centre * 10: Saskatoon, SK | SaskTel Centre * 11: Calgary, AB | Scotiabank Saddledome * 12: Edmonton, AB | Rexall Place * 14: Vancouver, BC | Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena * 15: Seattle, WA | KeyArena at Seattle Center * 24: Hampton, VA | Hampton Coliseum **** Opening Acts (*) Brothers Osborne (**) Drive-By Truckers (***) The Cadillac Three (****) JD McPherson The following dates are also announced, with on-sale dates and opening acts to be revealed soon: March 12: Albany, NY | Times Union Center 13: Wilkes-Barre, PA | Mohegan Sun Arena 19: Bloomington, IL | U.S. Cellular Coliseum 20: Rosemont, IL | Allstate Arena 21: Cincinnati, OH | U.S. Bank Arena 26: Tallahassee, FL | Donald L. Tucker Civic Center 27: Jacksonville, FL | Veterans Memorial Arena 23: Raleigh, NC | PNC Arena April 30: Boston, MA | TD Garden Arena May 1: Buffalo, NY | First Niagara Center 2: Newark, NJ | Prudential Center 7: Lexington, KY | Rupp Arena 8: Columbus, MO | Mizzou Arena June 12: Orange Beach, AL | Amphitheater at the Wharf August 27: Syracuse, NY | New York State Fair

The Americana Music Association has announced the lineup for the 5th Annual Americana Spring Celebration to be held April 23-26, 2015, with performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, at Blackberry Farm, a world-class luxury resort breathtakingly situated in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. This year’s musical experience will feature nine-time GRAMMY winning recording artist Sheryl Crow, three-time GRAMMY winner Keb’ Mo’, and critically acclaimed songstress Holly Williams playing before the inspiring backdrop of Blackberry Farm to benefit the not-for-profit artist advocacy group. “We are honoured that artists of this caliber will be participating in our Americana Spring Celebration. This event has become an important fundraiser complementing the wide array of events we produce throughout the year,” said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association, adding, “and it just keeps getting better and better.” The renowned Blackberry Farm, a Relais & Châteaux resort, is one of America’s most celebrated intimate luxury hotels, featuring 62 elegant accomodations and some of the world’s finest wines, cuisine, fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking, cycling, sporting clay, and mountain biking opportunities. Along with the abundance of outdoor activities, Blackberry Farm offers an Aveda Destination Spa and an annual series of culinary events hosted by world-renowned guest chefs and vintners.

Six-time chart-topping country star Rodney Atkins is set to ring in the New Year with the February 3 release of his first-ever Greatest Hits compilation via longtime label home Curb Records. Rodney Atkins – Greatest Hits features 11 of the artist’s best-loved songs as well as his latest single, Eat Sleep Love You Repeat, which is available for instant download with a pre-order purchase of the album. Rodney Atkins – Greatest Hits will celebrate the award-winning singer/songwriter’s four studio albums, which include HONESTY (2003), IF YOU’RE GOING THROUGH HELL (2006), IT’S AMERICA(2009) and TAKE A BACK ROAD (2011); the latter having yielded the fastest-rising single of Atkins’ career with the multi-week number smash hit, Take A Back Road. Atkins put a fresh spin on his signature style and the simple pleasures of everyday love with new single Eat Sleep Love You Repeat, which was written by fellow Nashville hit-makers Walker Hayes and Ryan Bizarri.