11 March 2020

While there is a lot of action going on across C2C weekend to try and catch, catering for all kinds of country music fans, here are five acts away from the O2 main arena that we think could make a huge statement Catherine McGrath (BBC Radio 2 Stage at indigo, CMW Hub – All Bar One, Garden Stage) For the third year in a row, the Northern Ireland star will be gracing C2C with her presence and even became the first UK act to appear on the Main Stage following her duet with Hunter Hayes last year. This time, McGrath has three sets locked in and there’s a strong chance we’ll get new music at them.  Tenille Arts (BBC Radio 2 Stage at indigo, Town Square, CMW Hub – All Bar One) The rising Canadian artist is tipped for huge things in her country music career and going by the strength of her recently released album ‘Love, Heartbreak & Everything in Between’, they may be coming sooner rather than later. Catch her on a smaller stage while you still can. Katy Hurt (Big Entrance Stage, Garden Stage) Hurt has spent the last year or so either in the studio or fine-tuning her live show, which – as those at The Long Road Festival discovered – now rivals just about anyone else’s on the circuit. Her C2C sets are set to be explosive, so make sure you check at least one of them out. Austin Jenckes (CMW Hub – All Bar One, Garden Stage) Someone else who shone at The Long Road Festival was Austin Jenckes, who not only managed to pull a crowd away from Cam, but also arguably outperformed her – which is no mean feat, by any means. He’ll certainly be keen to make an impression at C2C.  King Calaway (BBC Radio 2 Stage at indigo, Town Square, Big Entrance Stage) The group have been making waves both sides of the Atlantic and the release of their debut album ‘Rivers’ is only accelerating their progress further. With six on stage, there’s a lot going on – but they definitely know how to put on a good show.

Kerri Watt has given fans a more intimate feel to her most recent single Kissing Fools, by releasing a special acoustic version of the track. You can watch a picture video of the new version below. [wpdevart_youtube]hXneI5aALWc[/wpdevart_youtube] The full version of the track will feature in Watt‘s upcoming album, which is due for release at some point in 2020 and is certainly a record to keep an eye out for as 2020 unfolds. Speaking about the song, Watt explained that it came together in the studio while they were “jamming until we found a great groove that felt sentimental, but fresh” and that it was her ” favourite song on the album to record.” Watt also stated that she remembers “being so excited when we captured those opening and ending piano twinkles” as “they just add that movie magic feel.” In our January/February 2020 issue, we named Kerri Watt as one of our ‘One to Watch’ artists for the year ahead and for that issue, she told us that she is delighted that she finally had the chance to not only make a record, but to make an album that she is very proud of. “I’m releasing the music that I started off writing years ago and if I don’t have any success after today, I’ve made an album that I’m proud of,” she stated. “Even if no-one listens to it, I will have it forever.”