Their first musical offering of the decade, UK’s best-selling country act The Shires release the infectiously upbeat track 'Lightning Strikes', taken from their forthcoming album Good Years, released on BMG - LISTEN HERE.Alongside the new single, the duo have been celebrating Ben’s recent 'International Country Broadcaster' award nomination at the 2020 CMA international Awards.
As well as their eagerly anticipated headline tour in May, The Shires are currently on the road performing alongside Young Voices, the largest children’s choir concerts in the world. The tour includes shows in Sheffield, Birmingham, Manchester and London before finishing off at London’s iconic Wembley Arena on February 7th.
Boasting a songscape of finely tuned harmonies and infectious melodies, the stadium-ready track follows themes of optimism and retrospect, asking themselves 'what if ?'. The release of 'Lightning Strikes' cements a stellar decade for the duo, who have helped solidify the rise and resurgence of Country music, both in the UK and across the pond.
Speaking of their latest musical offering, Crissie and Ben said 'We can’t wait to put Lightning Strikes into our live set, the opening line 'Standing outside, raining in the Summer', is going to be perfect for the festival season. Also, vocally the song is so much fun for us with all the crazy harmonies.'
The title of the group’s newest record couldn’t ring truer for Ben and Crissie as the release follows two gold-certified albums and three Top 10 singles firmly cementing their status as two of country music’s most prominent voices. The duo formed in 2013 and released their debut album Brave in 2015, becoming the first UK country act to chart in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart. The group's second album, My Universe, became the fastest-selling UK country album in history when it was released in October 2016. Good Years will be available as a limited edition red vinyl as well as on CD and streaming platforms.
Recorded as with all their previous albums in the home of Country Music - Nashville, Good Years is a poignant project for Crissie and Ben now having made huge waves both on home soil and across the pond as the first UK artists to win 'Best International Act' at the prestigious CMAs.
2020 will see the pair embark on a 21-date nationwide tour. Kicking off in May, the duo are set to visit some of the UK’s most iconic venues, including the London Palladium, Bristol Academy, Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and Brighton’s Dome.
Full tour dates are, as follows:
May 4th: Birmingham Symphony Hall
May 5th: Aberyswyth Arts Centre
May 6th: Guildford G Live
May 8th: Bristol Academy
May 9th: Cambridge Corn Exchange
May 10th: Nottingham Royal Centre
May 12th: Carlisle Sands Centre
May 13th: Aberdeen Beach Ballroom
May 14th: Edinburgh Liquid Room
May 15th: Gateshead The Sage
May 17th: Ipswich Regent Theatre
May 19th: Manchester Bridgewater Hall
May 20th: York Barbican
May 22nd: Oxford New Theatre
May 23rd: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
May 24th: Cardiff St. David’s Hall
May 26th: Basingstoke The Anvil
May 27th: London Palladium
June 2nd: Brighton The Dome
June 3rd: Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
June 4th: Bedford Corn Exchange
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For more information about The Shires, including their upcoming tour, visit theshiresmusic.com.
