Kip Moore was, for many, the surprise act of this year’s
Country 2 Country festival…but not for me.
I’ve been a fan of Kip for a long time and I had his debut
album, Up All Night, pre-ordered as
soon as I was able to. When he was announced for C2C last year, I was
delighted. This guy is talented and this guy has been painfully underrated for
a long time. But 2015 has felt like the beginning of something that has been a
long time coming for the native of Tifton, Georgia.
‘Running for You’ is much like the man himself. It’s real. The vocals are gritty and raw and powerful. Kip often has that badboy, wild
image associated with him and songs like 'Beer Money' and '
I’m To Blame' play to
this. Yet here shows his tender side, which when it is shown, shines – ‘Hey
Pretty Girl’ is a fantastic example of this.
‘If the light starts
fading, baby don’t move,
Just say my name, stay
right there,
I’ll come running for
you’
This is a sweet song with a kick and it starting to gather
some steam in the States, with it being country radio’s most added song a few
weeks back. His North American tour is selling out and his recent album Wild Ones hit the second spot in the
charts. Is 2015 finally the year that Kip Moore breaks out? The signs are
looking certainly looking good.
2015 has been a great year for UK country music but an even
better year for Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes, otherwise known as The Shires.
It’s pretty incredible to think that the two only got
together a few years ago and even more so amazingly, got together about a
hopeful question from Ben on Facebook. Last year was a good year for them with
a co-headlining tour with Ward Thomas and the release of their Green Note EP,
but this year has blown last year completely out of the water.
Their 2015 has looked like this: two headline UK tours, Hyde
Park, countless performances on national TV, supporting the regaining ACM Vocal
Group of the Year Little Big Town both in the UK and in the US (later this
year) and, most importantly, becoming the first UK country act to reach the Top
10 with their stunning album, Brave. Again,
that’s pretty incredible, right?
Yep but what’s even more incredible is this is just the
start and their sold out gig at the Liquid Rooms in Edinburgh proved this. They
showcased some new music, one song called Other
People’s Things – that I absolutely cannot wait to hear a studio version of
– and a song called Drive which, is
co-written by Kip Moore, is excellent. Ben and Crissie also looked even more at
home on that stage than ever before, radiating confidence and beaming
throughout, bar, of course, during their slower songs such as Brave.
Friday Night
(changed ever so slightly to Sunday Night
for the evening), All Over Again and Tonight featured on a packed setlist
that also featured a Striking Matches cover. Made In England was on there too but, perhaps a little intimidated
by singing that particular song in front of 800 Scots, they dropped England out of the chorus, letting the
crowd sing their own version of it.
All in all, it was another fantastic evening spent watching
The Shires and it feels pretty great to see the size of the venues they’re
playing at increase with each show. First it was King Tuts, then the Oran Mor
and then the Liquid Rooms with their next stop up here in Scotland being the
Hydro. Granted, they are supporting The Corrs but one can only wonder how long
it will be before they’re headlining a show there themselves...
...and I don’t think it’ll be too long before they are.
If you’ve heard Lindsay Ell’s new single, By The Way, you’ll be fighting a losing
battle to NOT have those words above playing in your head right now. If you
haven’t heard it yet, the link to buy the single is down below and I strongly
encourage that you click it.
UK fans are fairly familiar with upcoming the singer-songwriter
and (very!) talented guitarist. Lindsay toured with The Band Perry on their
Pioneer tour over here in late 2013 before she came over here for a few dates of
her own, and also with a certain Mr Luke Bryan, earlier this year. She is still to
produce a full length album but what she’s offered us already – a five track
self-titled EP and, of course, this new single – are strong signs of a very
promising career in the not too distant future. And with the slow but steady resurgence
of ladies in country music, it seems like her time is finally and deservedly coming.
By The Way is
catchy and it’ll be stuck in your head after your first listen. It’s a little
bit poppy but it is most definitely country and country fans are lucky to have
an artist like Lindsay. Her ever-growing fanbase can attest to how humble she
is, not only taking the time at shows to meet fans or tweet them on Twitter,
but she also periscopes mini-concerts or guitar lessons online almost every week. Her
name is becoming bigger and bigger but she is still clearly down to earth.
Plus, she’s also a wicked guitar player and has the sweetest purple guitar that
is pretty much alone worth the cost of a ticket to go and see in person.
With a new single and an album on the way, it hopefully won’t
be long before we ‘doo doo da doo doo’ along with her on these shores.
Oh and By The Way,
you can buy By The Wayright here.
If it feels like quite some time since we had new music from
Paul and Claire, that’s because it has been. Yet our first taste of Writing on the Wall (their new album out
October 9th) tells us, in no uncertain terms, that it been a wait
worth waiting.
If This Was a Love
Song is well written, catchy and the way Claire and Paul’s vocals mix is
very easy on the ear. It also sounds great live, something that I can attest to
after having the pleasure of seeing the duo twice over the summer. Their debut
album, Hope in Troubled Times is a
solid album and an album that still sounds great but the growth in the duo is
evident, even from just this first single. Their voices sound stronger and the
production is sleek and the many fans who pledged their money to make this
follow-up album happen will not be disappointed with their investment – a quick
look on Twitter actually proves this and I have seen nothing but positive words
about this whole album.
Yet, if I must nit-pick and find something wrong with this
single, then it’s that this is definitely not the best track on their album. It
is a great song but Nineteen Again is
something pretty special, both lyrically and vocally – Claire shines more than
ever during the closing moments of this track – and I’d be very surprised if it
wasn’t a future single.
If This Was a Love
Song is out now, Writing on the Wall comes
out October 9th and the guys are touring the UK this month. Go get
the single, go get the album and go grab a ticket for one of their shows – you will
not regret any of these decisions.
When it comes to Hunter Hayes and the UK, the feeling is
most definitely mutual.
Hunter Hayes has spoiled us in 2015 with three separate visits
and two full tours within the space of six months and one can safely assume
that, with the reception the 24 year old received and with sold out shows to
his name, another trip must surely be in the works. Hunter Hayes loves the UK
and we love him.
This Glasgow show at the O2 ABC (my personal favourite
venue) was more than double the size of the relatively teeny Oran Mor that he
played last May and like that show, it too was packed. This crowd was a little
different than the usual country crowd, with Hunter marketed as a crossover act
on these shores – although there were still many a familiar face that I
recognised. Though it may have had a influence on the crowd, his crossover
appeal had little effect on his set which still retained that country twang
that brought him into the spotlight.
Hunter admitted at the start of the show that he was having
some problems with his voice – understandable really, given that this was the
second last show of fairly intensive UK tour which followed immediately on from
touring the States this summer with Lady Antebellum – yet I will have to take
his word for it. Not once in his hour and a half, and typically energetic, set
would I have ever guessed that he was struggling – he’s just that good.
His set list was fairly similar to his May one but that’s
not a bad thing. The big hits, I Want
Crazy, Tattoo and Wanted went down a treat with the latter
a real standout moment of the show as the audience sang the chorus back to him
as he held the microphone out to us, a smile and look of awe on his face as he
took in some 1300 faces. Newer stuff such as 21 and Young and in Love
sound fantastic live too and his cover of Counting
Stars? Simply brilliant.
This young man is not only incredibly talented but also
incredibly humble – as shown by the respect and time he gives his band on stage
as well as the time he takes to meet fans before and after shows. This young man
has definitely got a very, very bright future and I really, really hope he continues
to share it this much with us.
Chris Young had kept us waiting. Not for his arrival on
stage – for he was very prompt on Wednesday evening, coming on at almost
precisely 9pm – but for his arrival in the UK with it being almost a year ago
he announced his small UK tour and, without a doubt it was worth the wait.
Like London and Dublin, his Glasgow show was also sold out.
Having been to the O2 ABC many a time, I expected a fairly large queue when I
arrived about a half hour prior to doors opening but this queue was something
else. It literally – and I mean literally – wrapped around the venue. This
crowd was going to special, I thought then and like the man’s talent himself,
this crowd was special.
As I mentioned, Chris took the stage at 9 opening with AM, a
song which just like all the other songs he played that evening, the crowd sang
every word with him. The deafening reception he received after that first song
was deserved but it still seemed to completely take the man with numerous
number ones to his name, away. This proved to be a recurring theme and this
humbleness was one of many reasons to love this man even more. Another reason,
extends on this humbleness; the sign on the outside of the ABC may have read ‘Chris
Young – Sold Out’ but it felt like it should have read ‘Chris Young and Band –
Sold Out’. His band were a big part of the night, as they should be, and were
stars in their own right, with Chris stepping back at certain points to let
them have the spotlight – something that some artists rarely do, if ever – and it
was really nice to see the special bond these guys have on stage as they put on
a helluva show.
Lonely Eyes, Aw Naw,
Neon and current single I’m Comin
Over were just some of his set that lasted a good hour and forty-five
minutes as well as a stunning cover of When
You Say Nothing At All. His set may have lasted a little longer than
typical set time of an hour and a half but it was clear that if there wasn’t a
curfew then he could go all night long and nobody would have minded in
slightest.
Immediately after the show, Chris tweeted ‘we will be back’
and speaking on behalf of the some 1300 fans that packed the O2 ABC out –
Chris, please, please, please be sure you’re back soon!
‘I’m more of a melon myself,’ Angaleena Presley quipped as
she noticed two ladies at the front wearing white tees emblazoned with ‘Tomato
lovers’ in reference to the recent #SaladGate incident. Yet regardless of what
fruit or vegetable the Kentuckian sees herself as, her first stop of her first
UK tour proved that she is way, way, way more than that.
Presley came to the attention of many as a member of the
Pistol Annies, alongside friends Ashley Monroe and Miranda Lambert, in early
2011 and the band released two superb albums before taking a hiatus to allow
the ladies to continue with their own solo careers. Whilst Lambert released her
fifth studio album last year and Monroe just releasing her second album (the
fantastic The Blade which I strongly
recommend you grab a copy of), it was Presley who was first to make the trip
across the pond, following the release of American
Middle Class, an album which I have had on repeat since its October
release.
After being a fan of Presley since the Pistol Annies first
debuted, I had snapped up my ticket very quickly and had been looking forward
to this concert a lot. I’d watched a lot of her live performances online prior
and knew that I was in for a great night. I left Broadcast that evening,
ashamed at myself for underestimating Ms Presley. Because ‘great’ was one hell
of an understatement.
Strangely enough, Presley seemed somewhat nervous at first
but warmed up very quickly, thanks to a very welcoming audience and was soon cracking
jokes, telling stories about her upbringing in rural Kentucky and treating us
to her impression of the Scottish accent. ‘Can y’all adopt me?’ She joked
although I suspect there wasn’t a single soul in the small room who wouldn’t
take her up on her offer. She charmed the audience and had us all laughing as
she stumbled over her own lyrics at a few points.
Whilst her chatter between songs had the room captivated, it
was, of course, her set that made the night. She played for an hour and a half,
playing a mix of songs from her album, some new material, a couple of Pistol
Annies songs and a couple of covers. It was a fantastic set and a fantastic
range of songs from the humorous ‘If Big Bird Said The F Word’ to the brilliantly
written ‘Grocery Store’. Her voice really is special and sounds even better
live. She closed with ‘Lemon Drop’, speaking about before how the Pistol Annies
came to be and as she spoke, it was clear how thankful she was for the band
that gave her the break that she fully deserves.
She stayed behind after the show to meet everyone. It was a
pleasure to meet her as the her music has had a great impact on my life and
spending a few minutes chatting to her was a honour. Not only is she talented,
she is also a great person and lovely to meet. She seemed blown away by the
support she has received from her first few shows over here and I think (and
hope!) she’ll be a frequent visitor to these shores in the coming years.
Support Act: Support for the evening came from local band
Tallahassee Falls, a four piece who were, unfortunately, reduced to a duo for
the night. I say unfortunately as I would have loved to hear these guys in
their entirety as the taste I got from Mike and Rachel left me wanting more.
Their five song set went down very well and they played four original songs,
including a stunning track called ‘Annabel Lee’ that really showed off Rachel’s
vocals before they closed with a cover of ‘Love Hurts’. Its always great to see
local talent and these guys were fantastic.
‘Running for You’ is much like the man himself. It’s real. The vocals are gritty and raw and powerful. Kip often has that badboy, wild
image associated with him and songs like 'Beer Money' and '
