6 March 2020

The CMA Songwriters Series will have a slightly different line-up after Hillary Lindsay, Liz Rose and Lori McKenna all pulled out of the event. However, organisers have acted quickly to find alternative replacements, with Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack and Phil Barton to step in for them, joining Jaren Johnston of The Cadillac Three and Niko Moon. The news comes hot on the heels that Old Dominion have pulled out of C2C citing corona virus fears and while we don’t have an exact reason for Lindsay, Rose and McKenna dropping out, it is suspected that the reasons are the same. “After much consideration, we have decided to withdraw from our upcoming performances as part of the C2C Music Festival in Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin, London and Glasgow,” the band said in a statement. “We are so sorry to disappoint our fans overseas; however, with the growing uncertainty and unpredictable nature of the virus that is spreading throughout the world, the safety and security of our entire team is the top priority. “We are forever grateful for every opportunity we get to witness just how far our music is reaching and we will be back across the world as soon as we can. Much love and thank you for your support.” With Old Dominion dropping out of C2C, The Shires will be taking their spot on the Main Stage across C2C weekend in London, Glasgow and Dublin, thus becoming the first UK artist to be a pencilled in Main Stage performer in C2C history. The CMA Songwriters Series takes place on the Thursday of C2C week, so it will be taking place on March 12 this year.

The Shires will be stepping up to replace Old Dominion on the Main Stage of C2C 2020 after the American group dropped out following corona virus fears. Old Dominion – made up of Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Whit Sellers, Geoff Sprung and Brad Tursi – were pencilled into to sub-headline the Saturday of C2C, but have now pulled out after the threat of the virus continues to grow. Speaking in a statement, the band said that they were gutted that they have to pull out of C2C – also in the Netherlands and Germany – but explained their reasons for doing so and pledged to return soon. “After much consideration, we have decided to withdraw from our upcoming performances as part of the C2C Music Festival in Berlin, Amsterdam, Dublin, London and Glasgow,” the band said in a statement. “We are so sorry to disappoint our fans overseas; however, with the growing uncertainty and unpredictable nature of the virus that is spreading throughout the world, the safety and security of our entire team is the top priority. “We are forever grateful for every opportunity we get to witness just how far our music is reaching and we will be back across the world as soon as we can. Much love and thank you for your support.” As a result of Old Dominion dropping out, The Shires will take their slot on the Main Stage and thus become the first UK act to be pencilled in to perform on the Main Stage at C2C. Last year, Catherine McGrath became the first UK artist to appear on the Main Stage when she duetted with Hunter Hayes, but this will represent the first time than a UK act has actually been booked for a slot of that nature.

Ruthie Collins has shared another single from her upcoming album ‘Cold Comfort’, due on April 3,  in the shape of Bad Woman. You can listen to the song here. ‘Cold Comfort’ will be Collins’ second album after 2017’s ‘Get Drunk and Cry’ and she has already released Dang Dallas and Joshua Tree as singles from the record to give people a taster of what is to come. Speaking about her latest single, Collins said that the song was about being tempted by someone who is in a relationship, but eventually fighting the urge to do something she would later regret. “Sometimes you wish you could just go ahead and do the wrong thing,” Collins said. “A while back, I started falling for a guy who was very much taken. I’d never cross those lines, but I remember stepping back and looking at the situation and thinking, ‘Man, I wish just for a second I could not have a conscience and see what would happen.’  “When the chorus kicks in, though, I remind myself that I’m not a bad woman, that I’m a good girl and I’ll be just fine without him. We shot a music video for the song in Joshua Tree, which was really fun for me because I got to sort of embrace my alter ego and climb up onto the bar in black leather shorts and take shots of whiskey.” Ruthie Collins worked with Grammy winning producer Ryan Freeland for ‘Cold Comfort’ and will be making her debut UK appearance on May 17 as part of Country in the Afternoon.