Your guide to Country Music Week!

So festival season is over but the music never stops, well not the country music anyway as Country Music Week is just around the corner! In its 3rd year, Country Music Week takes place every October and during this time artists from all over the World put on shows for us and the line up for C2C is announced. This year is looking better than ever and I’m here to take you through the must-see events. Though mostly based in the capital many of the artists are touring after the main show so don’t worry if you can’t get to London.

The week starts with Introducing Nashville, this event sees four artists perform alongside each other showcasing the very best of Music City. This is hosted by the CMA and includes the official announcement for C2C! It boasts a stellar line up of familiar faces and emerging stars. The most notable name is Danielle Bradberry who was last in the UK for the Long Road last year. She won the fourth season of the Voice in America and was the youngest person ever to win the competition. She’s released a number of singles since then and on her album I don’t believe we’ve met she collaborated with a number of notable writers such as Josh Kerr, Nicole Galyon, Thomas Rhett and Thomas Rhett’s dad, Rhett Akins. Danielle is joined by Travis Denning who’s biggest hits include After a Few and David Ashley Parker From Powder Springs which he co-wrote with Jessi Alexander and Jon Randall. He also wrote Her World or Mine by Michael Ray. He’s a lively performer and has a great sense of humour so is sure to keep you entertained! Also on the line up that night is Walker Hayes who has split Country fans opinions, not too dissimilar to Sam Hunt, Walker Hayes mixes Country with a little rap and spoken word. His most successful song is You Broke Up With Me which is certified Platinum in the States. He too is an exciting performer to see live so I definitely recommend checking him out! Completing the line up is Rachel Wammack who has not visited these shores before but when I have interviewed other artists and songwriters such as Laura Veltz who I spoke to at C2C this year, they raved about how talented this lady was! She has worked with songwriting royalty such as Tom Douglas and David Hodges and hales from Muscle Sholes, a sight of musical providence, surely that has inspired her? Well I predict great things for this pop-country powerhouse who has been described as a cross between Adele and Loretta Lynn.

On Wednesday we have a choice to make! At the Garage we have Striking Matches plus special guests and over at Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen we have Canadian Tenille Townes. Now if you don’t live in London it is worth noting that these two artists are out touring together the rest of the week around the U.K. but yes if you’re a Londoner you’ll have to make the choice.Striking Matches have had around nine songs in the TV show Nashville and are a fan favourite over here in the U.K. in fact the duo is no stranger to touring here, last year they came here for most of the summer playing various festivals and shows around England. Tenille Townes on the other hand has just won a Canadian Country Music Award and deservedly so. She’s had a successful year after her thought-provoking single Somebody’s Daughter had chart success and artists such as Miranda Lambert endorsed her by taking her out on tour. Last year she was over for Country Music Week and again the fans here fell in love with her!

The Thursday night is a simple choice at the moment as there’s only one show scheduled and that’s Logan Mize. Logan has travelled here a number of times as well, most recently for The Long Road Festival and this is not his first appearance at Country Music Week. His cover of Someone Like You has gone down very well in the past couple of weeks. Friday throws up a tough choice again as hit country singer-songwriter Brandy Clark headlines The Shepherds Bush Empire. I am biased as I do love Brandy Clark, I think she’s one of the best storytellers in Country music today! Her first two records 12 Stories and Big Day in a Small Town have been received well by the U.K. Country family and so has her Live From LA record too. She likes to play here around once a year but for anyone living outside of London unfortunately Brandy has no other dates scheduled! Meanwhile over at Bush Hall the Under the Apple Tree sessions will be taking place featuring Robert Vincent, Foreign Affairs (who are excellent live) and Curse of Lono (who haven’t grown on me yet but maybe I need to give them more of a chance).

Country hits radio are hosting a daytime hub chatting with a number of artists, some of which have yet to be announced. Lets hope it’s not their usual presenters hosting the event since they consistently get well known Country artists muddled up and don’t actually seem to know much about the genre! I’m sceptical about this event but I may be pleasantly surprised! This will take place on both Saturday and Sunday with different artists each day. Scotty McCreery plays a sold out show then on Saturday evening at Bush Hall, this popular performer has not played in the U.K. before and it sold out pretty fast! Scotty rose to fame after winning the tenth series of American idol. He’s since had six top twenty singles on the US Country charts including two number 1s on the AirPlay charts. Our final day of Country Music Week sees Charles Esten of The hit TV show Nashville return to the U.K. after a successful run of shows with the Adelaide’s last year. He puts on an eclectic performance as he plays music from the various different projects he’s been a part of throughout his career. All in all it’s a fantastic week with much to look forward to especially that all important C2C announcement! Do check your local area for some of these events travelling up to you