Single of the Week: 'Bad Habit' - Luke & Mel

2016 has already been a busy year for three-time BCMA winners, Luke & Mel with sets at this year's Country2Country and beginning on a UK wide tour with Jess and the Bandits, ahead of a festival packed summer and the release of their sophomore EP which is set to out late summer. As a little teaser of the upcoming EP, the duo have released a double A side single featuring the song, 'Bad Habit' and a reworking of their award winning - and simply fantastic - track, 'Somethin' About a Woman'.

Mel takes the lead on 'Bad Habit'. The duo showcased this song during their handful of sets at C2C and is about a love that you can't just shake, even if it's not good for you. It's an infectious track, with the chorus and the riff constantly vying it out to be the earworm left in your mind after the final note...the victor of that battle changes each time. This upbeat track looks set to go down a treat at upcoming festivals this summer. The reworked 'Somethin' About a Woman' is just as fantastic as the original version and any live performance that the duo do of it. It's a truly divine song, worthy of the BCMA award for Best Song and is, without doubt, one of the best offerings from the UK country scene.

This double A-side certainly whets the already growing appetites for Luke & Mel's next EP - and it's available to download right now!


About Luke & Mel

Luke & Mel formed in 2012, having met through performing in the UK's top touring theatre show, Country Legends, the pair combine haunting harmonies and fine musicianship creating a sound that is both unique and authentic.

Luke's background as a session guitarist has seen him play on all the biggest theatre stages in the UK with shows like 'One Night of Elvis', 'Dolly The Show'. 'Country Legends' and PJ.Proby's 2010 UK Tour as well as performing on Albums such as Raintown's 'Writing on the Wall', Mike Ward's EP, Thorne Hill's 'No More Holding Back' and more.

Before meeting Luke, Melanie was busy doing her own singer/songwriter shows as well as performing in musicals up and down the UK including London's West End.

Having built a name for themselves on the live circuit, the duo released their eponymous debut EP In December 2014, which debuted at No.2 on the iTunes UK Country Album Chart, where it stayed in the top 10 for 2 weeks.

Championed by BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio and Chris Country, the release was met with critical acclaim, the band found their popularity on the live circuit soared. As a result, they have supported everyone from Engelbert Humperdinck to Will Hoge and one of Mel’s personal icons Pistol Annies’ Angaleena Presley. At the end of April they take to the road once again, joining British/Texan quintet Jess and the Bandits on their headline tour.

Having delivered three sensational sets at this year’s Country2Country, they are also excited to hit the festival circuit once again this year, with performances at FSA Fest, Rock Ridge Roundup, TowerFest, Buckle and Boots and Dart Music Festival.

As they build towards a summer packed with dates, the three-time BCMA winning duo are excited to unveil their new double A-side – Bad Habit / Somethin’ About A Woman. Of the release the duo state,

‘We’re releasing a new Double-A side which will feature our brand new single “Bad Habit” and also a new mix of our award-winning song “Somethin’ About a woman” We chose these two songs because we feel they represent our sound going forward. 

Bad Habit represents that age-old problem of always finding someone who treats you badly but you can never seem to let go of them - it’s also an upbeat edgy track with a catchy riff.

Somethin’ About a Woman won us the award of Song of the Year at the British Country Music Awards 2015 and we wanted to include a new mix of it in our new release as a way of honouring that.’

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Visit Luke & Mel's Official Site For Tour Dates.

Ashton Lane to Release New Single 'Seventeen' on May 2nd!

Following the success of their single 'One Kiss Later' and C2C performances in March, Glasgow's country duo Ashton Lane have announced their new single 'Seventeen', also taken from the acclaimed album Nashville Heart (5* - Maverick Magazine). The song will be released through digital channels on May 2nd 2016, and is now available for pre-order via iTunes. The band have also released a video of their acoustic performance of 'Seventeen' on STV earlier this year.

The song, featuring both Esther & Tim O'Connor on lead vocals, centers around an old flame from high school, thinking back to "the one that got away". In their own words: "I think it's something that many people can relate to; a high school sweetheart that you think back to after the years have gone by". It's a song reminiscing about that carefree time of being seventeen and young love.

'Seventeen' features a lamenting fiddle part by Scottish fiddle player Seonaid Aitken which also helps to tell the story of the song.

"From the moment that we wrote the song it's been a firm favourite of mine, and one that we wanted to release as a single. It's usually the song we open up our live shows with and the opening track from the album Nashville Heart" - Esther O'Connor.

The single is officially released and widely available for download from May 2nd 2016, and available for pre-order from iTunes now (April 20th).

Lisa Wright Announces New Single 'Back To You'

UK Country singer-songwriter Lisa Wright has confirmed her new single ‘Back to You’ will be released on May 27th 2016 via digital stores.

Despite graduating with an acting degree from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA), singer-songwriter Lisa Wright is quickly becoming known as a rising star within the UK’s country scene.

Last year was a game-changer for Lisa. In January, she toured the country, playing to new audiences from city to city, opening for a number of artists including SaraBeth, Jess & The Bandits and Honey Ryder. The combination of her unique songwriting style and on-stage charisma started to cause a buzz within the UK scene, soon catching the attention of some of Nashville's top producers.

So, in the summer, Lisa flew to Nashville to record her debut EP Before I Die, also giving her debut performance at the prestigious Bluebird Cafe. Upon release, Before I Die entered into the iTunes country charts at No.4, making Lisa the only independent UK artist in the Top 20. Since then the tracks have been featured on country radio both in the US and UK, including BBC Introducing, BBC Essex and Amazing Radio.

Described as a cross between Alison Krauss, Kacey Musgraves and bringing an "element of modernity to country/folk", it is no wonder the Nashville Songwriters' Association (NSAI) recognised Lisa as their 'One to Watch'.

ABOUT ‘BACK TO YOU’

In her own words: “Being in Nashville was surreal and I loved every second of it – I went out there completely on my own so I knew nobody! I’m quite independent and love adventure and travelling so It was a real experience for me.

However, I’m a home girl. I love England and everything about it. So, there was this one day where it was particularly tough – and when you’re on your own in a completely different country, everything you feel seems heightened! I was sitting on this porch swing and thinking about everything I had managed to do whilst I was over here, the wonderful people I’d met and wished more than anything that I had the people I loved here with me - ultimately experience means nothing if you can’t share it.

I was messing about on my guitar and half an hour later, ‘Back to You’ had been written. I don’t think I’ve ever finished a song that quickly… When I got home, I immediately got in touch with a good friend of mine, Rob Gulston (otherwise known as ½ of Holloway Road) and he produced this single.

Everyone always asks who I’m singing about in the song – all in all, it’s England. It’s home.”

Details & Lineup Confirmed for Coffee & Country Festival 2016 on April 28th!

Organisers of the new Coffee & Country festival, taking place in Fulham next week, have confirmed the final details of their one-day festival:

Hot on the heels of the success of Country to Country festival, the unique one-day festival will see rising country stars primarily from the UK perform to fans across two South West London cafes. In a bid to replicate the vibe of the world-famous Bluebird Café in Nashville, the handpicked line-up of ten artists will perform acoustic sessions in The Lekkerbek and the Labis Deli, Fulham.

Founder of Coffee & Country, 24 year old Ida Ahlbom said: “The driving purpose behind Coffee and Country is to continue to raise awareness of this increasingly popular genre in the UK and to champion the excellent British country talent that doesn’t always have a platform to showcase their talents.  By hosting the festival in The Lekkerbek and Label Deli cafes in Fulham, we hope to capture the ambience and atmosphere of Nashville’s famous Bluebird Café and introduce members of the public to a host of rising stars.”

The full line-up: Anna Jay, Backwoods Creek, Elliot Joseph, Fifth Floor, Katy Hurt, Lisa Wright, Liv Austen, Rett Russell, Southern Junction, The Southern Companion.

The free festival will kick off at 4pm and wrap up at 8pm and more information can be found here.  Donations at the door will be welcomed with all proceeds going to The Haven – a national charity providing personalised care and support for people with breast cancer, helping them to achieve the best possible quality of life. Details about the charity’s work can be found online at www.thehaven.org.uk.

Review: Roots (EP) - Holloway Road

Jack Cooper and Robert Gulston, otherwise known as Holloway Road have had a busy few months with appearances across the UK, including two appearances at the always growing C2C in London, and releasing their latest single, ‘Little Harder’ and the duo have capitalised on the buzz growing around them on social media with the release of their second EP, Roots - which is available to download today. High standards were set by their first and self-titled EP which entered the Top 10 UK country album charts on iTunes but Roots exceeds these standards with slicker arrangements and tighter lyrics. 

1. Little Harder: The EP’s opener was a song that stuck out for me during the boys’ C2C performances and the same could be said for the EP as well. Upbeat, there is something about this song that feels perfect for the summer. Maybe it’s the infectious banjo or maybe it’s the ridiculously catchy chorus or maybe it’s both. Whatever it is, this pop-infused country track is a real gem.
2. All My Life: This is a song that I have a feeling will become a real fan favourite at live shows. With it’s ‘woahs’ and its defiant ‘we won’t back downs’, this song has a real anthem feel about it and I think that it may just become an anthem among the boys’ ever growing fanbase at future shows.
3. Good Thing Gone Bad: This song is a departure from the quick pace of the first two songs and it is a welcome departure, with the slow and simple guitar led track showing another side to the duo. Lyrically, this song is excellent and is a shining example of what country music should be – heartfelt and meaningful.
4. Roots: The EP’s title track delivers in an unapologetically country fashion with its fiddle and references to boots. Jack and Robert have a real penchant for crafting catchy hooks and ‘Roots’ is no different. A solid track.
5. Let Me Go: The EP starts and ends on an energetic note and left me wanting more than a mere five tracks and I have no doubt that a full length album will be on the boys’ mind, especially since this release will have fans – both new and old – demanding more. The perfect blend of country, folk and pop, this song is, again, infectious and will have fans singing along during their shows. Another fantastic track.

The boys have just finished touring with Dexeter on a successful and very received run of dates around the UK, they will be playing two more dates at the end of the month – Kelvedon Institute, Essex (24^th) and Bantock House, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (30^th). These dates will be a chance to see Jack and Robert playing a stripped back acoustic set, with songs from Roots and some new, as yet unreleased material – we recommend that you go get their EP and head along with one of the dates if you can!

Get Roots here.
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Brantley Gilbert Releases New Single 'Bottoms Up'

Brantley Gilbert has announced the UK release of his 3x Platinum-certified American single 'Bottoms Up’. The smash-hit has had more than 80 million views to date and over 42 million plays on Spotify. Hitting the top spot at country radio Stateside, the UK release of ‘Bottoms Up’ coincides with Brantley’s return next month as part of his international Blackout Tour.

UK DATES
Thu 05 May 2016 – Glasgow Oran Mor (SOLD-OUT)
Fri 06 May 2016 – Manchester Academy 2
Sat 07 May 2016 – Birmingham O2 Institute 2
Sun 08 May 2016 – London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

Brantley is a force to be reckoned with, notching six career number one singles in the US and selling nearly 10 million tracks to date off his three studio albums which include back-to-back Platinum projects Halfway To Heaven and Just As I Am.

Just As I Am scored the third-highest Country chart debut of 2014, landed in the Top 5 Best Country Selling Country Albums of 2014 and was named the American Music Awards Favourite Country Album. The project also features 2x Platinum #1 hit ‘One Hell Of An Amen’ and Gold-certified ‘Small Town Throwdown’.

With a blistering stage show, the rough-hewn southern singer-songwriter believes in cutting deep veins of truth into his music. A definite must-see artist, the few remaining tickets for Brantley Gilbert’s headline UK tour are are on sale now.

Single of the Week: 'She Blew Me Away' - Sean Gasaway

Mississippi born, now Nashville based, singer-songwriter Sean Gasawat has released his latest, and debut, single 'She Blew Me Away'.


The single is Sean's 6th major radio single as a songwriter in the last two years and his first release as an artist himself - and it is a promising release. A veteran of the music business, with over 25 years worth of experience of writing, touring and producing, the experience shines on 'She Blew Me Away'.

Taken from the debut album, Mississippi Vol.1, the single is for those who like their country a little less party and more heartfelt - if you like Chris Young or Tyler Farr, then this will be right up your alley. The record comes from the same studio that has brought us stars such as Jason Aldean and Alabama and Sean lives effortlessly up to the very high standards set by these big names. Felt like a hurricane making land/like a bomb went off in the middle of the bay/she blew me away', Gasaway sings, enamoured with a girl he has set eyes on. It's a sweet song that strays far from objectifying the woman of his attention - as found in some recent country releases - instead, she's like a dream come true and makes [him] a happy man and it's the sort of sweetness and fine songwriting that we need more of in country music.

A UK tour is being lined up for the year.

You can get 'She Blew Me Away' on iTunes here and you can also check Sean out on the following platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Official Site.

Single of the Week: 'Let Me Feel Good' - Stevie Williams and the Most Wanted Band

UK Country/Americana singer-songwriter Stevie Williams (AKA Stevie Williams and the Most Wanted Band) has released his latest single 'Let Me Feel Good'.

Taken from the album 'Pockets Full of Gold' which showcases Stevie's talent as a songwriter, singer and bassist, this is the follow up to last year's single 'Trinidad Tril
by' which had a great response among fans both online and on country radio. The sound and instrumentation will be familiar to country and Americana fans, but Stevie's influences range from folk to blues, helping to create the distinctive sound heard on 'Let Me Feel Good'.

The song is available now on iTunes and all digital stores/streaming services.

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