In A Nut Shell: BBC Radio 2 Stage!
"Access to the BBC Radio 2 stage is subject to capacity." They might well put that at the top of the C2C page, last year the Indigo was packed throughout the day with some people arriving hours before the first artist just so they could get in the room to watch their favourite later on! This is perhaps the most in demand pop-up stage and the talent this year is phenomenal just like last year! So here's every artist appearing on the BBC Radio 2 Stage in a nut shell! Timings will be updated in due course.
Jimmie Allen
Jimmie Allen’s career in Nashville took a while to take off and he lived in his car for quite a while! After being rejected by American Idol, Allen kept his chin up and ended up signing with Broken Bow Records. His debut single Best Shot topped the Country Airplay charts making him the first African American to reach the number 1 spot on that chart with his debut single.
Recommended song:
Best Shot
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
CMW Hub -
Spotlight -
Abby Anderson
Potentially my favourite pop-up artist! I met her at a writing workshop and was told she was the next big thing, sure enough six months later she was signed to Black River Entertainment, was singing at the Ryman and the Opry and was touring with label mate Kelsea Ballerini who co-wrote one of her singles Dance Away My Broken Heart. She released her debut EP last year and this Texas girl has a lot of Sass but a very big heart!
Recommended Song:
Make Him Wait
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
CMW Hub -
Spotlight -
Afterparty - Friday - 10pm
Fairground Saints
Signed to Sony Nashville this trio from California came about after one member wanted to upgrade from being a solo artist to a group. They have spent a lot of time on the road since their formation touring with Scotty McCreery, Brothers Osborne and Kip Moore to name a few. Under their previous label Verve Records they released an album which included a couple of songs that charted Turn This Car Around and Can’t Control The Weather.
Recommended Song:
Somewhere Down The Line
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
Town Square -
Spotlight -
Runaway June
Another trio made up of three lovely ladies, Hannah, Naomi and Jennifer. They were nominated for best new vocal group at the ACM’s in 2018 and are signed to Wheelhouse Records an imprint of Broken Bow. They have released a series of low charting singles as a group but Jennifer is the granddaughter of John Wayne and she co-wrote Eric Paslay’s hit song She Don’t Love You. They are supporting Carrie Underwood on her Cry Pretty Tour.
Recommended Song:
Buy My Own Drinks
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
CMW Hub -
Spotlight -
Afterparty - Friday - 10pm
Adam Hambrick
If you don’t know Adam Hambrick you’ll almost certainly know some of his songs as he penned Dan and Shay’s #1 hit How Not To and Justin Moore’s Somebody Else Will. Signed to Buena Vista Records Adam has turned away just slightly from the writers room to focus on his own artist career. His voice is beautiful especially on the song I’ve chosen!
Recommended song:
Table For One
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
CMW Hub -
Spotlight -
James Barker Band
The Canadian band, formed in Ontario consists of James Barker, Taylor Abram, Connor Stephen and Bobby Martin. They are signed to Universal Music and have released one EP to date. Their single Chills got to number 1 on the Canadian Country chart whilst four other singles made the top ten. They have won a Canadian Country Music Award and a Juno for their work.
Recommended Song:
Lawn Chair Lazy
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
CMW Hub -
Late Night Saloon - Friday - 10pm
Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson’s voice is recognisable anywhere, it’s so unique and it’s not just her voice but the Country sound she has crafted too. She is a feisty girl, full of determination which is what you need to make it in Nashville when you’re living out of a camper! Signed to Broken Bow she is spending part of 2019 out on the road with Morgan Wallen.
Recommended Song:
Middle Finger
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
Town Square -
CMW Hub -
Late Night Saloon - Saturday - 10pm
Logan Mize
When your great uncle is known for crafting a whole sound you know music is in your blood, at least that’s the case for Logan Mize who’s great uncle Billy Mize crafted the Bakersfield sound. He has a publishing deal with Big Yellow Dog and has released a series of records his latest landing in the top 20 of the billboard country albums chart!
Recommended song:
Ain’t Always Pretty
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
Town Square -
CMW Hub -
Michael Ray
Propelled to fame due to his involvement on the show The Next: Fame is at Your Doorstep where he was mentored by John Rich of the band Big and Rich, Michael Ray has gone on to write Run Away With You a hit single for Big and Rich. His own song Kiss You In The Morning topped the Country Airplay charts in the US. He is signed to Atlantic Records and is engaged to main stage act Carly Pearce.
Recommended Song:
Kiss You in the Morning
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
Town Square -
Spotlight -
Afterparty - Saturday - 10pm
Noah Schnacky
Noah Schnacky is certainly a new name to me and there is limited information about him on the World Wide Web but what I do know is that he’s a young heart throb who’s making waves in the States! His latest releases have been playlisted on Spotify and received support from Shazam. He likes to reward and surprise his fans particularly when out on the road and he has supported Brett Eldredge and Hunter Hayes.
Recommended Song:
Hello Beautiful
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
Town Square -
CMW Hub -
RaeLynn
I have followed RaeLynn’s career for some years now and always thought she’d be the first act on the main stage one night or at least on the spotlight stage but unfortunately for us she is only on the pop-ups and afterparty stage! After being eliminated in the Voice Quarterfinals in 2012 RaeLynn went on to release an album which topped the Country album charts and have a series of singles which charted on both the Hot Country songs and Country Airplay charts including the ever so slightly controversial, Gold certified God Made Girls which is her highest charting single at #7.
Recommended Song:
God Made Girls
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
Town Square -
Afterparty - Sunday - 10pm
Sam Palladio
Ah potentially the most famous name of the pop-up stage artists. Sam Palladio who played Gunnar Scott in the TV program Nashville has been working on his own record since the show ended after six seasons. Last year the Englishman played a number of festivals in the UK including Black Deer and SummerTyne Americana Festival. He is bound to play a mixture of originals and songs from the soundtrack of the hit US Drama.
Recommended Song:
Wake Me Up In Nashville
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
Town Square -
CMW Hub -
Sarah Darling
Sarah comes over to the UK multiple times a year, especially to play festivals! She has had a successful career as an independent artist in Nashville and has some beautiful songs. She has written with some top writers too such as Brandy Clark and Josh Osborne and her story telling lyrics are perfect for every kind of Country fan.
Recommended Song:
The Boy Never Stays
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
Town Square -
CMW Hub -
Travis Denning
Those of you who are going to the Songwriters on the Thursday Night will have already seen this man! They say Nashville is a ten year town:- you move it takes you ten years to “make it” but Travis had signed a publishing deal before he even celebrated living there a year! He’s opened for the likes of Alan Jackson, Cole Swindell and Lanco.
Recommended Song:
David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
Town Square -
Twinnie
Twinnie is a frequent flyer at C2C having played the pop-ups once or twice before, the ex Hollyoaks star from York is signed to BMG and has written a couple of songs for other artists such as the song Black and White by The Shires. She’s been in films, television and theatre but is focusing on the Country music right now.
Recommended Song:
Check out her cover of Patsy Cline’s Crazy
Stages and Timings:
Radio 2 -
Town Square -
