The fabulous and flamboyant pop music of the 1980s and headline performances from stars of the West End and Broadway will be celebrated with two new cruises in 2018.
The new entertainment concept of Floating Festivals is the brainchild of Jonathan Blackburn, supported by a unique partnership with Royal Caribbean and leading live music promoters Cuffe and Taylor to launch two brand new cruises aboard the Navigator of the Seas.
Floating Festivals will launch in October 2018 with two themed cruises setting sail from Southampton – Throwback and Stages.
Throwback is a party-fuelled three-night roundtrip cruise Southampton/Southampton including a full day stop in Bruges, celebrating all things 80s and will feature a line-up of chart-topping legends from the decade including headliners The Human League, OMD and Erasure’s Andy Bell, along with Jason Donovan, Sonia and Imagination featuring Errol Kennedy, while Captain Sensible will be helping steer the ship back to the 80s.
Stages is a luxurious four-night roundtrip cruise Southampton/Southampton, including a full day stop in Amsterdam. Stages will feature an incredible array of West End and Broadway stars including the nation’s favourite, two time Olivier Award winning, musical theatre star Michael Ball, the world’s most successful musical theatre group Collabro, and the divine Beverley Knight star of The Bodyguard, and Cats.
Thrill to the voices of Lee Mead (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wicked), John Owen-Jones (Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera) and Sophie Evans (The Wizard of Oz, Wicked).
Be amazed by the vocal dexterity of two-time Drama Desk Award Nominated actress and diva impressionist Christina Bianco, and delight in a truly unique performance from the Olivier Award-winning West End production, Showstopper! The Improvised Musical.
Stages will also feature internationally acclaimed choreographer and TV personality Arlene Phillips who will present her stage show Arlene – The Glitz, The Glamour and TheGossip. There will also be an In Conversation with… featuring legendary lyricist Don Black, while award winning West End musical star Marti Webb will join Don to perform some of his biggest hits.
Unlike other chartered cruises, Floating Festivals will not just replace the usual cruise ship entertainment programme, they will transform the ship into a full Festival at Sea.
As well as a packed programme of live entertainment and shows, passengers on both cruises will be invited to take part in a myriad of experiences with abundant opportunities to meet both stars of the stage and pop charts.
Jonathan Blackburn, one of the key innovators behind Floating Festivals, said: “We are all absolutely thrilled to be working together to launch the UK’s first ever Floating Festivals experience.
“Both cruises offer something completely different and whether you are a fan of musical theatre or you fancy throwing yourself back to the heady days of 80s pop, we are confident both will be very popular.
“These are not just cruises with a theme, these are festivals at sea. The moment the passenger enters the cruise terminal at Southampton they will start to revel in an experience of which they will be a vital part for the duration of the cruise.
“We don’t want to give too many secrets away but I think it’s fair to say the guests are going to have a few surprises along the way.
“We want our passengers to experience both Throwback and Stages in the most magnificent way. We have a fantastic array of stars and performers for both cruises as well as many special features which will really make both these cruises a truly unforgettable experience.”
As well as being part of the UK’s first ever Floating Festivals passengers will be able to enjoy all the amazing features of the Navigator of the Seas including a 9-hole miniature golf course and separate Golf Simulator, the unique FlowRider surf simulator, the signature Royal Caribbean Rock Wall, ground-breaking virtual balcony cabins, the Vegas style Casino Royale, luxurious Vitality Spa & Fitness Centre, three pools, six whirlpools, Video Arcade and a selection of luxury Boutique Shopping experiences.
Jonathan added: “The Navigator of the Seas is a beautiful ship and while we look forward to seeing passengers having an absolute ball with all the entertainment and shows, they will also be able to sit back, relax and enjoy all the fantastic attractions included on this wonderful ship.”
All Floating Festivals packages also include complimentary à la carte restaurant and buffet dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Speciality restaurants are also available for an additional charge.
The Throwback cruise will depart Southampton for three nights from 12 October 2018 and includes a full day in Bruges (from Zeebrugge).
The Stages cruise will depart Southampton for four nights from 15 October 2018 and includes a full day in Amsterdam.
Major New UK Outdoor Country, Americana And Roots Festival To Take Place In Leicestershire
**Lee Ann Womack, Angaleena Presley, Una Healy, Billy Bragg, The Shires, Aaron Watson, Brent Cobb, Danielle Bradbery and more confirmed for The Long Road at Stanford Hall in September**
A major new greenfield music and lifestyle camping festival is set to bring the world-famous, inimitable sights and sounds of the country music scene to the UK in 2018. Taking place within the grounds of Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from September 7th – 9th 2018, The Long Road will present one of the UK’s largest, most authentic celebrations of country, Americana and roots music featuring five stages of live performances, bespoke food events and a wide range of themed outdoor activities.
Curated by Tennessee-born country music specialist and radio presenter Baylen Leonard, The Long Road will present a broad array of artists, from iconic US stars to up-and-coming home-grown talent, and the first wave of acts to be announced for the inaugural event includes US country star Lee Ann Womack, acclaimed singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter Angaleena Presley, British country duo The Shires, popstar turned country music singer Una Healy and Texan singer and winner of The Voice USA Danielle Bradbery. Reflecting the extraordinary surge in popularity that country music has enjoyed in the UK in recent years, The Long Road will also feature a strong contingent of rising star UK acts across the weekend including hotly-tipped London-based duo Ferris & Sylvester and country-soul singer songwriter Yola Carter.
Much more than just a music festival, The Long Road will embrace all aspects of the country and Americana scene and, alongside its live music offerings, will incorporate an array of themed activities including Moonshine and bourbon tasting, instrument and songwriting workshops, wild swimming, a Southern-inspired food & shopping village and much more, providing festival goers with a unique, authentic country music lifestyle experience.
Marking the first time the platform has teamed with a country music event, BBC Music Introducing will host their own stage at the festival, which will be fronted by presenter of BBC Radio 2’s weekly country show Bob Harris and will showcase some of the UK’s best unsigned talent. The festival has also partnered with a carefully selected pool of specialist country and Americana organisations including The Birthplace of Country Music, which showcases the role that Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia played in the birth and development of country music, The Bluegrass Situation (BGS), an online music magazine and curator promoting the continued growth of bluegrass, roots, progressive folk rock, Americana music and culture, The Americana Music Association UK, and independent UK label Loose Records, who celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2018. These organisations will all be involved in bringing artists to the festival to showcase a broad array of talent from across the spectrum of country, Americana and roots music.
Angaleena Presley:
“I'm so excited to be a part of The Long Road Festival. I love the inclusive vibe. I'm not only looking forward to performing, but also hanging out and enjoying all the fixins'. Great Food, good old fashioned country music and salt of the earth people. It's gonna be yeehawsome y'all.”
The Long Road’s Creative Director Baylen Leonard:
“Being from Tennessee and having lived in the UK for close to 20years, I’m thrilled to bring the music and culture of both together in one festival. The dedication and passion of the UK country community is so amazing, we wanted to put together a festival that celebrated the music and lifestyle they love as a thank you to the fans for supporting country music. Whether you're a country fan, an Americana fan, or a fan of great music in general, we wanted a welcoming place where everyone could come together to celebrate. This is a festival for the fans and we’re excited to share it with you.”
The full line-up to date is as follows:
Angaleena Presley The Shires Billy Bragg Striking Matches Danielle Bradbery Una Healy Ashley Campbell Brent Cobb Aaron Watson Lee Ann Womack Danny and The Champions of the World Catherine McGrath The Wandering Hearts The Wood Brothers Megan O’Neill Two Ways Home Holloway Road Kevin McGuire Twinnie Laura Oakes Ruby Boots Jess and The Bandits Gary Quinn Parker Millsap Yola Carter Treetop Flyers William The Conqueror The Arlenes Joanna Serrat Ferris & Sylvester Kasheena Sampson Danni Nicholls Midnight Skyracer Worry Dolls The Lone Bellow Frontier Ruckus Folk Soul Revival Amythyst Kiah Andrew Alli
The Long Road will take place at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from September 7th – 9th 2018. Day tickets start at £40*, Weekend No Camping tickets at £85* and Weekend Camping tickets start at £99* (*plus booking fees).
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Thursday April 12th and are available from www.thelongroadfestival.com.
Country music in the UK? Not something you heard of much back in 2013 when the O2 Arena in London welcomed its very first C2C Festival. Telling people you were going to a country music festival was like telling people you were eloping. Fast forward to 2018, Country Music has started to become a bit bore acceptable to the mainstream, british artists such as The Shires are selling out tours and playing every festival that you can imagine, Ward Thomas secured a number one album slot for their second record Cartwheels and festivals across the UK are booking country artists more and more. It doesn't stop there though. Many C2C Alumni are starting to break into the scene as they collaborate with pop artists. Chris Stapleton started to blow up after his Brit Award performance with Justin Timberlake and has been charting ever since with his own material, Maren Morris had a top ten hit with her collaboration with Grey and Zedd for the song Middle and artists like Kacey Musgraves are playing some of the UK's biggest venues – country music in the UK is starting to be a thing.
So here we are 2018 and C2C has just had it's sixth festival. The first year was just the main arena and a few pop up stages with unknown acts but as the years have gone on, the festival stages surrounding the arena that take place in the day have become bigger and better, securing more known artists from all over.
This year, the festival stages had exceptionally popular artists that you would pay good money for to see individually such as DanielleBradbery, LANCO, RyanHurd, StephanieQuayle, LindsayEll, AshleyMcBryde, RyanKinder, HighValley, WalkerHayes, JillianJacqueline, MorganEvans, DeltaRae, MoPitney, LukasNelson&PromiseoftheReal, AshleyCampbell , RussellDickerson and many many more. The festival stages took place from Friday day time through to Sunday day time and included some evening after party shows which ran directly after the main arena events had closed.
The O2 is transformed into a mini Nashville during C2C Festival and fans are absolutely everywhere, it is heaving. The queues to get into each venue are very long and you get to experience full band shows to acoustic shows to songwriters rounds. Highlights on the pop up stages for many this year were AshleyMcBryde , LANCO , DeltaRae , DanielleBradbery and LukasNelson.
Then we have the main stage acts. In the last few years C2C has expanded from a two day event to a three day event by popular demand. This year, we, the UK were treated with a rarity of having TimMcGraw and wife FaithHill headline. Tim and Faith headlined the Friday night in London and brought over their entire Soul2Soul tour which they have been touring the US with. As well as hearing songs they released as a pair, we got to hear their solo hits too sich as Tim's stunning track Humble&Kind and Faith's huge UK hit in the 90's ThisKiss.
On Friday other main stage acts included the unmissable OldDominion who are worthy of being UK chart toppers with their country pop sound, witty lyrics and exceptional performance skills. Old Dominion are not a band to overlook and you wouldn't even consider them country by UK standards. Songs such as Break Up With Him and No Such Thing As A Broken Heart created a strong sing a long atmosphere which was electric.
KelseaBallerini also took to the stage. Country's new pop princess, this wonder woman of the stage has it all, beauty, stage presence, killer vocals and one heck of great list of songs such as Peter Pan, Legends and I Hate Love Songs. Kelsea is heading towards being the biggest thing in country music, taking over a title Taylor Swift once had in the genre before going pop. Kelsea, newly wed to MorganEvans brought her beau with her as he played the Spotlight Stage that night inside the O2 Arena in between main stage acts. Morgan, an Australian country artist won the crowd with his charm and his brilliant songs such as Kiss Somebody and I Do. Also on the Spotlight Stage that evening was rising star BrettYoung who played the O2 Arena in October with Lady Antebellum. Brett had the entire arena singing along to his hit In Case You Didn't Know.
Saturdays main stage acts saw the UK debut of LukeCombs who is looking to be the next big male country artist. His rock country sound shook the O2 and left everyone in awe enabling him to sell out his London's Shepherds Bush Empire date in October this year which prompted him to add an extra date.
Following Luke was the UK's favourite US star KipMoore. If you think you don't like country, listen to Kip Moore or better yet go and see him live on a whim and then think again about whether you like country or not. Kip Moore is ever the performer. Kip's mind blowing stage performance skills along with his fantastic band make you wonder why this guy is not the headliner of every festival going. Kip has a country rock voice that is so dang good and infectious that you could listen to him all day. Kip's three albums Up All Night, Wild Ones and Slowheart are some of the best material around in any genre, especially Wild Ones.
Taking stage after Kip was the eagerly anticipated return of country music duo Sugarland. Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush recently reformed and made their C2C debut which blew everyone away. Both Jennifer and Kristian have played C2C individually as solo artists but never as Sugarland, so this was a very special moment indeed. Sugarland filled the O2 Arena with so much energy and excitement with songs such as Stuck Like Glue that anyone who had to follow Luke, Kip and them had a hard task.
Set with that hard task was KaceyMusgraves. A radio 2 listeners favourite, people were concerned that Kacey and her mellow yet sassy music wouldn't quite cut it for a main stage act but how wrong the doubters were. Kacey pulled it out of the bag and then some. With her new album Golden Hour due out next week, Kacey treated the audience with her stunning new music as well as some of the classics such as Follow Your Arrow, Silver Lining and Merry Go Round to name a few. Kacey had upped her game since her last C2C performance and delivered a much more energetic and upbeat show – a show very worthy of a headline slot.
On the Spotlight stages on Saturday were Ashley McBryde who brought a more traditional country sound to the arena and enchanted her audience. Being the new IT girl in country music, Ashley left C2C being the most talked about artist from festival goers. Her songs Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega, American Scandal and Girl Going Nowhere created a storm big enough to pick her up and whiz her into a girl that is going everywhere.
Also on the Spotlight Stage was Jillian Jacqueline who made her UK debut last October as part of Country Music Week, Jillian's EP SideA is a stunning collection of modern country pop with some of the finest, sweetest and slick songs you will ever hear. Way beyond the boundaries of country music, Jillian needs to be a mainstream artist so do look her up.
LukasNelson son of legend Willie Nelson proved his worth and more on the Spotlight Stage. A country, soul, rock god this artist and his band Promise of The Real are as mainstage, headline worthy as the previously mentioned Kip Moore. A born performer, Lukas has so much to offer and became my highlight of the entire weekend and rocked the joint with his powerful tracks Find Yourself and Just Outside Of Austen. Lukas returns to the UK on July 10th for a show at London's The Garage so I highly recommend a visit.
Saturday also saw a truly stunning and emotional tribute to Glen Campbell which was delivered by his daughter Ashley Campbell. An artists in her own right and a phenomenal Banjo Player, Ashley gave us a medley of some of her fathers finest tracks such as Gentle On My Mind and Wichita Lineman. Ashleys performance was so powerful that the arena erupted and chanted for more.
Sundays main stage brought the UK debut of one of the most talked about new country bands in the US right now Midland. Bringing traditional back in both their music and fashion styles, Midland delivered one of the strongest performances across the weekend. Midland played tracks from their debut album On The Rocks and filled the arena with their insane performances of Drinkin' Problem, Make A Little and Check Cashin' Country. The trio captivated the O2 crowd and had everyone up and dancing to their slick, cool sound.
Following Midland was Americana artist MargoPrice. Having had a televised Glastonbury performance, Margo has made quite the career in the UK recently. Margo impressed the crowd with her music, albeit slightly chilled out and a bit too mellow after Midland but she still held her own and gave a hell of a show which included a "drum off" with her bands drummer with two drums sets on stage delivering one awesome jamming session. Margo also brought Lukas Nelson on stage to perform with her for a song his dad Wille Nelson recorded with Margo called Learning To Lose.
After Margo was the legendary EmmylouHarris who undoubtedly put on a show stopping, flawless performance. Again, a bit laid back which isn't a bad thing, just a bit too chilled for the last night, Emmylou had one of the biggest and most respectable crowds yet as everyone in the arena stood for her entire set. To be able to say you have seen Emmylou Harris live is a rarity and something to treasure.
Closing the festival was another UK favourite LittleBigTown. A vocal group so sensational, Little Big Town can do no wrong and always put on a performance that will blow your mind. Mesmerising doesn't quite do it enough justice, this band are the best of the best across all genres and vocally, no vocal group can beat them live. With one of the most impressive and much loved back catalogues which include Girl Crush, Boondocks and the Taylor Swift penned Better Man,Little Big Town played hit after hit and proved why they work so well together and why they are nominated for just about every award out there.
On Sundays Spotlight Stages were Canadian Country artist Lindsay Ell. Lindsay, best known for her insane guitar skills that put her up there with likes of Clapton,Lindsay showed the audience she was so much more than that with her beautiful vocals and amazing music from her newly released album The Project.
After Lindsay was Sony artist Russell Dickerson who brought a fresh, pop sound with his tracks Every Little Thing, Yours and Blue Tacoma. Russel is another artist to watch with his catchy, infectious music and will soon be all over the radio.
Last but far from least on the Spotlight Stage was Walker Hayes. Mixing hip hop with Country music, Walker had a lot of doubters who he soon converted into fans with just one song. Walker is quite the showman and stood in stage unaccompanied with just his guitar and loop pedal wowing the crowd with his songs Broke Up With Me , Shut Up Kenny and More.
All in All, this was one of the best C2C Festivals yet and stamps out all those stereotypes of country music being stetsons , boots and songs about trucks and beer.
C2C Festival is the place to be to discover new music and enjoy old music and a place to make you realise that you actually do like country music but never knew.
2018 brings C2C Festival into their sixth year at the O2 Arena London in March for a three day event. With Country Music on the rise, C2C is THE place to be. If you think country music is just Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers then think again – modern country music has some of the most talented musicians in the industry who are really starting to make a name for themselves across all genres. Grammy winning artists such Maren Morris prove that country music is fresh, modern and infectious bridging the gap between country and pop.
C2C has played host to a high calibre of country artists over the years such as Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Zac Brown Band, Luke Bryan, previously mentioned Maren Morris, Brad Paisley, Reba, Eric Church and many many more.
This year C2C can boast one of the most sought after live acts across the genre in Friday Headliners Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. An opportunity to see the married power couple perform together is a rarity, especially within the UK. Tim McGraw played the first ever C2C back in 2013 and we are delighted to welcome him back with his wife Faith Hill who had huge success in the UK with her hit single This Kiss back in 1998.
Also on Fridays bill is country pop singer/songwriter Kelsea Ballerini. Kelsea has released two successful albums – The First Time (2015) and Unapologetically (2017). Kelsea has brown from strength to strength over the years receiving multiple award wins and nominations including a nod from the Grammys when she was nominated for best new artist in 2017. Kelsea had a hit number single with her self penned ballad Peter Pan and has continued to gain success with each single thereafter. Kelsea recently married Australian Country newcomer Morgan Evans who joins Kelsea at C2C as part of the Spotlight Stage which is held at the back of the O2 Arena between main stage acts and is always a very successful and much loved platform by fans.
Fridays main stage line up also brings us country band Old Dominion. Old Dominion are one of the funnest bands in country music – with quirky, well crafted, catchy songs, Old Dominion are some of the best songwriters in Nashville. A band who could easily cross over to mainstream success with songs such as Break Up With Him, Song For Another Time and Snapback from their debut album Meat and Candy and more recently with songs No Such Thing As A Broken Heart, Shoe Shopping and Written In The Sand from album Happy Endings.. Old Dominion were rated one of the best live acts of last year amongst UK country fans and will undoubtedly deliver a show stopping set at C2C.
Saturdays Main Stage line up starts with the late Glen Campbell’s daughter Ashley Campbell. Already having quite the fan base in the UK, Ashley will be playing a tribute to her late father, singing his music to a 20,000 strong audience who miss him terribly – her performance is set to be emotional for sure but beautiful. Ashley has recently released her single A New Year which is a stunning pop country ballad.
Relatively newcomer Luke Combs will make his UK debut on the O2 Arena Stage with his country rock sound. The North Carolina native released his debut album This One’s For You via Columbia Nashville. Combs first single Hurricane reached No. 1 on the Country Radio airplay charts and The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums. Combs then released his second single, When It Rains It Pours which also reached number one on the Country Airplay . This month Luke released One Number Away as his latest single. Luke is one of the artists fans are looking forward to the most as has been named an artist to watch via several publications and his fan base continues to grow daily.
UK favourite Kip Moore returns to the C2C stage after being a favourite in 2015. Kip Moore is quite simply one of the best and most underrated acts in country music. Kip’s strong southern rock sound and high energy performance’s will set the bar at C2C as his charming and rocking stage presence will shake the O2 Arena. Kip is on his third studio release Slowheart and he is without a doubt an artist not to be missed and an act you must listen to.
Reunited and it feels so good…..Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush went their separate ways releasing solo material for the last couple of years after years of playing together as one of country musics most successful duos Sugarland. Both Jennifer and Kristian have performed at C2C before but as solo acts so to have them reunite on the O2 stage is cooked up to be something very special indeed. Releasing their first single in years Still The Same, fans are excited to get to see Sugarland perform their biggest hits such as Stuck Like Glue, Stay, All I Want To Do and much more.
Headlining the Saturday will be Kacey Musgraves who has had a very successful career in the UK. Kacey being one of Country Music’s daring artists with controversial songs Follow Your Arrow and loved tracks such as Biscuits, Merry Go Round and Dime Store Cowgirl will have the audience in the palm if her hand singing along to every song. Kacey is currently working on her third studio release so hopefully we will get to hear some of those at C2C.
Sunday brings us the most talked about country band right now Midland. Midland have been the talk of the town with their traditional yet modern sound and notable fashion. Midland will make their UK debut at C2C and will leave fans with more than a Drinkin’ Problem after their set.
After Midland Americana artist Margo Price will take to the stage. Having played Glastonbury last year, Margo’s popularity within the UK has become even bigger and her current album All American Made has been included as one of the best albums of 2017 across numerous publications.
Legend EmmyLou Harris also makes her C2C debut and with the career she has had and the back catalogue that she can boast, C2C fans are certainly in for a treat. EmmyLou has been praised by the likes of Bob Harris for years and we are delighted that she will be joining the C2C line up.
Closing the London portion of C2C Festival is much loved vocal group Little Big Town. With some of the best voices in music in general, Karen, Kimberley, Philip and Jimmy always give an unforgettable performance which is always on fire. With a very impressive back catalogue of highly successful hits including Pontoon, Little White Church, Boondocks, Girl Crush and the award winning Better Man penned by Taylor Swift, Little Big Town will leave fans with a lasting memory of this years C2C Festival and will leave them craving more.
Not only will there be phenomenal acts on the main stage but the O2 Arena will also bring back the Spotlight Stage which is set up at the back of the arena in between main stage acts. This year we will get to see well established acts such as Morgan Evans, Brett Young, Jillian Jacqueline, Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real, Lindsay Ell, Russell Dickerson, Walker Hayes and Ashley McBryde. Each act is worth checking out individually as all bring something very special to the table.
As if that wasn’t enough, the party doesn’t stop there. When the main stage acts finish, fans can go to after parties which are separately ticketed to see exclusive performances by Brett Young and Morgan Evans on Friday, Lukas Nelson and Promise of The Real Saturday and Walker Hayes on the Sunday. Each show will be followed by DJ Hish who will be playing music into the early hours of the morning.
During the daytime, there will be various pop up acts across numerous pop up stages, the acts haven’t been announced as of yet but you can be sure there will be a high calibre of artists as there are every year.
Other ticketed events during the day will be The Bluebird Sessions. Nashville comes to C2C with the infamous Bluebird Café with artists Ryan Hurd, Mo Pitney and Jillian Jacqueline sharing their stories behind the songs on Saturday and Ashley McBryde, Leslie Satcher and Walker Hayes sharing their stories on the Sunday. Acoustic songwriters rounds such as these are a treat and often the highlight for fans.
More will be announced over the coming weeks but C2C have proven year after year to why they are not just one of the best country music festivals but one of the best music festivals full stop. You will be hard pressed to find a better, more warming atmosphere than C2C and if the thought of country music still makes you cringe? Why not come down and check out some of the free stuff in the daytime but until then, check out some of the artists music and be a part of a genre that is so incredibly special and feels like family.
London Film and Comic Con is quickly becoming one of the best conventions to attend within its genre and it hopefully wont be long before it is at the standard of San Diego Comic Con. Running over three days, guests from TV Shows, Films, Comics, Wrestlers, you name it, were in attendance.
LFACC is not just an opportunity to snap a picture or grab an autograph off your favourite celebrities but it is also an opportunity to Cosplay, dress up as a favourite character from a film, show or comic and admire others who are dressed up too. The people in cosplay are often asked for photos just as much as the guests are because these people really do go all out and they make a more than impressive effort which is simply astonishing.
Some of the costumes people wore were epic, there were zombies, transformers, Davey Jones from Pirates of The Caribbean, Drop Dead Fred and many more.
There is so much to see at comic con, it gets incredibly busy but you do have the best time. No one judges you, unless you're entering a cosplay competition then they are judging you in a good way. One thing I noticed is how excitable all the fans were and how friendly and supportive fans were of each other.
This event took place in Olympia London. The bottom floors was filled with merchandise stalls selling every kind of collectable you could want. There were Pokemon, action figures, comics, trading cards, autographs, you name it!
The upper floor was where all the guests were. They were scattered throughout the floor, making it quite a mission to get a quick look at everyone but fun. We saw Will Wheton, Alexis Denisof, Alyson Hannigan, Emily Kinney, Alicia Witt and many more.
The most popular guests were from Game Of Thrones. There was Natalie Dormer, Kristian Nairn, Julian Glover, Gemma Whelan, Daniel Portman, Conleth Hill, Pilou Asbaek , Daniel Naprous and Finn Jones. Other popular guest included Benedict Cumberbatch, Matt Lucas, Tom Skerrit, Pamela Anderson, Alyson Hannigan who played Willow on Buffy, Kevin Smith – famed actor, director and writer of films such as Clerks and Dogma. The Walking Dead cast, Steven Yeun, John Carroll Lynch, Emily Kinney, Alicia Witt and David Morrissey and Back To The Future stars Christopher Lloyd and Tom Wilson (Biff).
The weekend was organised well I thought, especially in comparison to previous years, baring in mind the last one I attended was almost ten years ago. I liked the fact that autographs and photos could be purchased online where as before, you had to queue early to get a ticket to queue again during your allotted time. This saved so much stress and congestion having it online.
I, for the first time ever went as a spectator and a spectator alone, how I managed to not go and meet Alyson Hannigan when I was the biggest Buffy fan ever is beyond me.
I did however, catch up with Alicia Witt as was a fan since a teenager. At the bottom of this review I have included my interview with her.
LFACC is more than worth going to. It is easy to get to, the entry price is not that costly, I believe standard day tickets ranged from £15-£20 per adult. The cost effective part are the autographs and photos as every guest varies, there are also packages available from Silver to Gold etc. To determine whether it is worth it is simply up to you, how much you want to meet a guest, how much you want to add that autograph to your already signed poster or collection. For me, years ago, it was worth it as I had some of the best times at this event and for everyone there at the weekend, I know they felt the same.
Some guests you could walk up to without a ticket and pay at the table, that is nice for impulse meet and greets. I know that my friend really enjoyed having her photo with Zoe Wanamaker and meeting Kristian Nairn who was a teddy bear, so lovely and so friendly, we wanted to take him home ha!
The weekend also included guest talks which required a seperate ticket but you get to hear great stories from some of the biggest guests such as Benedict Cumberbatch and Alyson Hannigan.
I highly recommend anyone who is a geek, a fanatic, a lover of film, tv and comic to go to LFACC even just to have a gander. I have missed this event, I didn't realise how much and I hope to go back next year.
http://www.londonfilmandcomiccon.com/
Alicia Witt interview
Alicia Witt is an American actress and singer/songwriter from Massachusetts. If you were a teen in the 90’s, it is likely you are familiar with her work from playing Cybil Shepherd’s daughter in the TV series Cybil, playing a disturbed teen in the film Fun (which I never recovered from, ha!) to playing the lead in teen horror flick Urban Legend and being in one of my favourite movies Mr Holland’s Opus.
More recently, Alicia is know for her roles as Paula, one of Neegan’s gang in The Walking Dead and Superstar Diva Autumn Chase in Nashville.
I walked past Alicia and suddenly my teen years came flooding back, I then saw she was selling T shirts and Vinyl. Having a closer look, it was apparent that Alicia is a singer/songwriter and not just an actress which I was unaware of until that moment. I shouldn’t have been surprised though, seeing as she sang on the show Nashville.
Watching fans go up and buy her music and also being the Nashville fan that I am, I decided to request an impromptu interview. Given that Alicia was at her signing booth and meeting fans, Alicia was incredibly kind enough to give me a few minutes of her time which I truly appreciated considering she was there to meet fans, not do interviews. This just goes to show what a lovely, genuine and professional woman she is which was so wonderful. I really enjoyed meeting and chatting to Alicia, she is very down to earth and as I said, lovely.
If I had more time and had been prepared there would have been so much more I would have asked but fans were waiting to meet her and who am I to delay that?
I have since listened to Alicia’s album Revisionary History which I am really enjoying and recommend, it may not be country but was recorded in Nashville with Ben Folds and has a lot to offer (review on its way) Alicia will also be releasing new material in the fall.
Hi Alicia, so good to meet you, how are you?
I am good thank you and you?
I am fine thank you. You are here today at LFACC for being in many shows and films as well as selling your own music. I wanted to quickly talk about your time on the show Nashville. How did you enjoy your time on the show?
I was thrilled to be on it, not only do I love the city Nashville, I have spent tons of time there in the last five years but I was also a huge fan of the show and I had seen every episode up until the point that I was asked to be on it. So I was really thrilled.
What did you think of the character (Autumn Chase) when you read the script? She was a bit harsh.
Well you know what, I don't think that she started out that harsh in the first episode, so I was quite surprised that she was getting nastier and nastier as the scripts went on and that’s not how I thought she would be. So I was hoping to get to know a bit more about what made her that way and see her break a little and I have a feeling that might of happened in later seasons but then the new show runners came in and a lot of the actors who had been on it weren't on it anymore as you may have noticed like Aubrey (Peebles) never came back, which is so weird. I love Aubrey
Yes so do I, I think she had the best voice on the show
Have you ever heard her sing live with her own music?
I haven’t
She is like a Blues singer
Wow
Yeah Aubrey is amazing live
You also write and sing your own music?
I do, this is my album (shows me her vinyl of album Revisionary History) I have sold out of my cds
Wow, that’s really good
It is really good, my suitcase will be a lot lighter so I am very grateful
So how would you describe your music, I believe this album was recorded in Nashville?
The last album was produced by Jacquire King who has done everything from Kings Of Leon to Tom Waits and he James Bay, you name it. So my music, I think , the one I did with Jaquire which is coming out this fall and is called 15,000 Days is more pop, I don't really know what genre to put it in other than that, its pop music with strong lyrics and is piano driven. Its not so far removed from the style of maybe the James Bay album is a good comparison actually.
So perhaps singer/songwriter?
Singer/songwriter but its produced it has loops and sound effects and it has more pop which I love. The album that’s out now, Revisionary History, was produced by Ben Folds.
Yes I saw that, that must have been amazing?
It is, he is a phenomenal producer and has always been one of my favourite artists and he sings back up vocals and plays drum and bass on the album.
That is pretty cool.
I also saw you played at The Bluebird Café in Nashville
Yeah, I have played many times, it is amazing, I love it there.
Well I can't wait to listen to both albums and will review them too, I love how you have your own music as I had no idea till I arrived just now and I love it sometimes when you stumble across music that way.
Thanks so much for talking to me today and enjoy the rest of the weekend here.
It was a weekend of mixed emotions for me as I entered through the wonderfully designed archway of Cornbury Festival. I almost wanted to cry right away as I knew that this would be the last time I would ever do this. It’s not as if I am even a regular to Cornbury, I had only been once before but that’s the kind of impact Cornbury Festival has on you. I took my son for the first time and sadly the last, he is only 18 months and I had dreams of bringing him here every year, especially with the kids camping area (families not kids running riot unsupervised) and the kids activities.
Cornbury had one heck of a great line up for its finale. Headliners were Kaiser Chiefs, The Pretenders and the amazing Bryan Adams. Other acts included Imelda May, Right Said Fred, Midge Ure, Police Dog Hogan, Sophie Ellis Bexter and many more proving how diverse Cornbury is and how it caters for everyone. Cornbury has always been very kind to country music and this year, country was big for the finale with the return of Ward Thomas and artists such as Laura Oakes, The Wandering Hearts, Callaghan and Twinnie.
As someone who has been to a lot of festivals, I have never felt so comfortable as I did at Cornbury. My heart was breaking but I was going to enjoy this weekend as much as I could and walk away with some of the best memories I will ever have, especially seeing as this was not just my sons first Cornbury, but his first ever music festival.
It was a hot day, really hot, a little too hot for my son which made me worry but when I saw the amount of parents who had kids with them around the same age I felt a bit better.
The day was merry and bright, in so many ways, not just from the sun. Everywhere there were bright colours, some on flags, some on people, hot air balloons, stalls, everywhere.There There was so much to look at, street performers, Morris dancers, people in costumes, people dancing, groups of children playing, happy families and friends laughing and so much more, everywhere you looked there was something going on. Cornbury is old fashioned in a way, which I love, it is very traditional and has the best atmosphere of any festival.
It was only 12.30pm on the Friday and the atmosphere was already booming with everyone looking so happy, so relaxed and just so content. The way Cornbury is run is so perfect – it’s clean, safe, friendly and very homely. I was pushing a very large and heavy buggy but it didn’t stop me having fun. We arrived just in time for UK Country star Laura Oakes to hit The Pleasant Valley stage. I had been looking forward to seeing Laura for a while as shamefully had not seen her yet.
Laura appeared on stage out of nowhere and was dressed in a lovely black outfit which is hard to describe but Laura always dresses wonderfully and rather loud but in a great ‘gets your attention and looks stunning’ kind of way. Laura has a stunning voice and it makes me wonder why she isn’t more successful but with Country Music going on the rise in the UK especially with artists such as The Shires and Ward Thomas, I have no doubt in my mind that Laura’s time is yet to come, she certainly has a large following within in the UK country music fan base. Laura played a wonderful and highly entertaining set with many songs new to me as well as her singles Snakes and Ladders and
I heard a couple behind me say “Wow, she was good” so it’s fair to say that Laura gave a good impression and I also realised that she was my son’s first ever gig.
After having a spot of lunch, a burger in fact from one of the stalls who made a lovely ruby burger? Anyway, it was good quality and hit the spot. We then ventured to the river stage for Callaghan only to discover that the schedules had changed and she went on early so we sadly caught only one song. It was a shame as I keep missing her wherever she plays, perhaps it is not meant to be. I will see her properly one day.
Having another wander, we took a look at the kids area which was full of fun activities such as clay making, face painting, giant Jenga, arts and crafts and story time. If James were a little older he may have participated but it was certainly a god send for parents with older children and kept them entertained for hours. For even older children and teenagers there was a fairground with all the rides you would often see such as The Waltzers and a traditional helter skelter. As well as rides there were games and prize driven games. On the Saturday we also caught a dog show which was so adorable and a must for any dog lovers.
What was was also tempting was the giant hammocks that people were snoozing in, they looked very comfortable.
There was a lot of free sampling with drinks scattered around the festival which was very welcome indeed as were very parched.
Saturday was the better day for me. Arriving early I had a spot of breakfast courtesty of Dorset Cereal. Now if you haven’t ever seen Dorset Cereal, look out for it as their packaging is very eye catching. Of course, looks can be deceiving but the taste did not disappoint. I am a very fussy breakfast eater but Dorset Cereals mixed with natural youghurt is just yum yum yum. I sampled the luscious berry and cherry muesli mixed with choc cherry granola, well this started a craving and I went to my local supermarket and bought some as soon as I got home. Dorset Cereals were readily available at Cornbury Festival and have and will be at various other family festivals. Campsite festival goers were lucky indeed as Dorset Cereals hosted a campsite takeover and brought them a wonderfully yummy breakfast experience. There was also a Dorset Cereals marquee which was full of packs of the product, bowls and cutlery for consumers to help themselves to a delicious breakfast.
As it is a family festival, Dorset Cereals didn’t stop there as they also provided family entertainment activities including acoustic music sessions, yoga classes and plenty of other festival fun.
Still hot but giving my son a break at home with his dad, my friend and I started the music part of the day with one of my current favourite artists The Wandering Hearts.
It felt almost criminal that The Wandering Hearts were first on stage, but seeing as they only have one song out at the moment, I guess it makes sense. In a way it was a good thing though, as they got to get the festival crowd off to a good start and in my opinion, challenge any act to top them.
You would think that this vocal group had been together for years but they have only known each other less than two years and are now signed to Decca.
As often is the case, the crowd was quite small before they came on stage, they were the opener so people were still arriving but as the minutes went on, more and more people arrived and by the time they entered the stage, it became more crowded.
Walking on stage looking the picture perfect Country/Folk group, The Wandering Hearts went straight into singing their current and debut single I Wish I Could. This is such a great song, if you haven’t heard it yet, then what are you waiting for? AJ kicked off the song vocally before being joined by the others but it is always Tara’s solo that completely captivates me. Her vocals are delicate and beautiful and she really takes the already brilliant song up a level.
The four band members are instantly likeable. Their personalities shine on stage and their voices blend beautifully together, creating the perfect harmonies that are incredibly infectious. The Wandering Hearts are going places, this group are just insane and every song they sing is wonderfully exciting and so well written. Biting Through The Wires is a favourite of mine as well as soon to be a single Devil. The Wandering Hearts pull in elements of artists such as Fleetwood Mac and Little Big Town but are more suited to the folk genre than country. They really are quite something and my most welcome discovery back in January. I could honestly watch this group all day. Most of the audience seemed to be unaware of them but more than happy with their choice to catch them first before doing anything else or seeing someone else. I can’t wait for an album, it is so far my most eagerly awaited album to purchase so I hope I get it soon.
We managed to catch a bit of Jazz artist Max Jury who played mostly piano driven music which was pretty and he was charming and entertaining and comedic in places especially when he described one of his dates with a lovely girl who wore floral sundresses which ended with him checking out her insta only to discover she was a satanist. I have to give a special mention to his backing singer who had a phenomenal voice and was truly remarkable.
Next up was Twinnie, an up and coming UK country singer/songwriter. Now I see a lot of live music so it gets to a point at times when live shows get put to the back of my mind or some shows are just OK. As a fan, I was expecting her to be good but my goodness, I wasn’t expecting her to be THAT good. To say that I was blown away is an understatement. My friend and I were in awe. My friend, completely unfamiliar with Twinnie was amazed and I continued to be blown away as her set went on.
Twinnie performed on the Saturday of Cornbury on the Cafe Nero stage. Set out like a coffee house but in a tent, well Marquee, my friend and I grabbed the front couch. Frappe’s, soft couch, music, we wanted to stay there forever.
Twinnie made the audience laugh before she even began. Twinnie is fairly tall so when the rather short announcer took to the microphone to introduce her, she joked “You want me to lower it?”.
She began her set with her single Home which was released last year. I should quickly mention that half her band were new I believe and had not had a chance to rehearse. You wouldn’t have known though. Home was spectacular live, the song is a great pop country track with easy to sing a long to lyrics which makes it really a joy live. Home has a slight folk edge to it too and was a wise choice to begin the set as it drew more people into the tent and made everyone already there stay put. Everyone quickly realised going to see her was a great decision and for me in particular, it was worth missing Ward Thomas on the main stage for.
Twinnie continued to impress with new songs I had not heard before which were all really well written and melodic and I am hoping they will be released officially. Her performance oozed with confidence and she amused the crowd between songs with her wit, her infectious northern accent and overall charm. One of my favourite tracks of Twinnie’s is Looking Out For You who she wrote for her granddad. I love this song, it is by far one of her best and a track she should be very proud of. The lyrics are very warming and homely and it has a lovely crowd participating part in it. This song live did not disappoint and I was so happy that she played it.
The ‘wow’ song for me though, the one where Twinnie really showcased her vocals and left everyone stunned was her cover of Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing In The Dark. I honestly didn’t know she could sing like that. It was this particular moment that made me think, why is she not more known? How is she not one of the leading UK country artists? Why do so little in the country fan community know her name? Well THIS will undoubtedly change. Twinnie proved she has the ability to truly be a great success and I could not be more excited to watch her career grow.
Twinnie ended her set with her debut single Cool. When she finished her set the crowd were vocal about wanting her to continue so she treated us with her beautiful ballad Lie To Me which is vocally challenging and showed off Twinnie’s range.
Again, what a show, a truly superb performance which left the crowd mesmerised. It was better than I could have imagined. Twinnie is a born performer and I honestly feel like it was a treat, I felt so lucky to have been there and in such an intimate setting too. Out of the entire weekend, Twinnie’s set was the one I went away remembering the most, the one that I can’t stop talking about.
Bryan Adams himself was discreetly in the crowd and was so taken and so impressed that he invited her on stage to join him for a song as part of his Cornbury headling set that evening. Now to perform with the likes of Bryan Adams is the dream of many world stars let alone a new artist. When Bryan announced her, it was almost emotional, I felt very proud of her and she certainly caught the attention of a very large crowd. Twinnie is making her mark for sure and if she is good enough for Bryan, then she should certainly be good enough for a long, successful career. I can’t wait to be part of the journey as a fan and hope you do too.
Another big surprise for me was Tom Chaplin, formerly the lead singer of Keane. Firstly, he looked so different and has certainly cleaned up his act since his drug days. Tom came on stage as if he was home. Not a stranger to Cornbury, Tom expressed his gratitude for the festival and sadness for it ending. Tom sang from his solo material as well as his Keane days. It’s funny how many Keane songs I actually knew but didn’t realise I knew till he performed them. Tom has the voice of perfection. It is so, how can I describe it? Simply stunning, beautiful, chilling in a good way. As someone who never really paid much attention to Keane this performance really blew me away and I am so glad I had the opportunity to see him live. The atmosphere was so nice and felt very family oriented as everyone was respectful of their neighbour and everyone sang along to the big songs such as Somewhere Only We Know and Everybody’s Changing.
Of course, everyone was there for Bryan Adams. I was super excited. Bryan Adams isn’t someone I would necessarily choose to see live and won’t pretend that I am a massive fan but my goodness he was good. I loved every minute of it, he sang all the big hits such as Run To You, which was SO much fun as a crowd sing along and he sang Summer of 69’ and quite early on too. Heaven was one of most beautiful moments of the evening but the passion, the air grabbing, the chanting moment was Everything I Do, I Do It For You.Everyone knows the words to that song and I don’t think I have had that much fun during a show in such a long time.
As I mentioned above Bryan brought out Twinnie which was a wonderful moment. Other hits he performed were songs such as When You’re Gone minus Mel C, Please Forgive Me, Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman and All For One. As someone who only knows his big hits, his set list seemed highly impressive and undoubtedly pleased his hardcore fans to the max. Bryan’s set was electric, atmospheric, exciting, energetic, emotional and just bloody brilliant.
Sunday felt slightly more sad but in a good way, just sad that it was the finale of the finale. Everyone was having such a good time. Midge Ure were one of the highlights especially with playing an acoustic version of Vienna. Imelda May showcased her more emotional side with her new sound, leaving the rockabilly behind and wowed her audience with a side to her we weren’t used to.
Sadly I left early but my heart sank and a lump in my throat developed when I saw the main stage (Pleasant Valley Stage) end its moment with a That’s All Folks! safety curtain and fireworks. I can only imagine how it would have felt to be there and I regret that I wasn’t.
I am I was so heartbroken, Cornbury is the nicest, most heartfelt, comforting and welcoming festival that I have ever been to and I shall miss it dearly. Where will I go now? At least it went out with one hell of a bang, a darn good line up, an atmosphere that was out of this world and a festival full of heart and peace.
Farewell Cornbury, thank you for the festivities, the love, the joy, the music and thank you for some of the best festival toilets around.
BBC Countryfile Live is returning for its second year, bringing the best of the British countryside together with all the Countryfile presenters, to the picturesque grounds of Blenheim Palace, from 3rd – 6th August 2017.
After the success of the inaugural Countryfile Live 2016, which saw 125,000 people flock to the 100 acre site in Oxfordshire, the second helping of the summer’s most action-packed countryside day out is eagerly anticipated.
BBC Countryfile Live presenter Adam Henson and pupils from Woodstock Primary School launched this year’s BBC Countryfilee at Blenheim Palace with some new-born helpers, the ‘Countryfile Live Lambs’.
The lambs are amongst the first born at Blenheim Palace this year, and will be on show at the Passion for British Livestock area at this year’s event. Fans will be able to keep up with the ‘Countryfile Live Lambs’ via social media, @Countryfilelive, with regular access to video and photo updates, alongside online question and answer sessions with Charles the Blenheim Shepherd on the Countryfile Live Facebook page facebook.com/bbccountryfilelive.
Countryfile Live allows the whole family (including the dog!) to experience the best of the British countryside. With a host of exciting new attractions for 2017, including four days of live arena shows, hands-on activities, animal displays, debates, food, drink and shopping from over 500 independent retailers and lifestyle brands, the show brings together everything there is to cherish about the British countryside. There will be further fun for all the family with information on a huge variety of other activities available on the Countryfile Live website.
·Adam Henson’s Farm: Meet some of the friendliest and rarest animals you’ll know from the programme, and learn more about how farmers care for their livestock
·Central Ring: Watch working animals show off their skills
·Farming in Action Area: See the journey produce takes from field to fork and learn more about our fragile food chain
·National Trust Theatre: debates, talks and interviews will be led by farmers, environmentalists, commentators and outdoor enthusiasts
·The Big Barn: Pull up a hay bale and listen to stories and interviews, and watch demonstrations from your favourite TV personalities and authors, wildlife experts, environmental commentators and leaders, countryside enthusiasts, and foraging and food experts.
·The Village Green: The ultimate setting for family entertainment, complete with bandstand and traditional maypole
·The Craven Arms: Order your cool beers, cider or ginger beer. There’s plenty of room in the pub garden too – a fine spot to meet up for lunch, with a great summer food menu to choose from.
Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more on standard price tickets (excludes VIP & family tickets). To book a group, please contact: 020 7492 1637 or [email protected]
I, like many others, do not live in London – in fact it’s about a three and a half hour drive from where I live, as the 02 is quite difficult to get to and always has hordes of traffic. This makes it increasingly difficult to commute back and forth for anyone who isn't local. So how do you solve a problem like commuting? Hotels of course!
The best hotel to stay at is a question raised with many who go to the O2 for an event. Where is the nearest hotel? Which is the cheapest? Which is the best value for money? Which hotel is nearest to public transport? I have raised these questions myself. I have also stayed in various locations as well as commuting to and from home for the O2 Arena.
Last year, 2016, I stayed over the river and, whilst it seemed like a good idea, it was actually quite stressful.
Now it does depend on the individual. You have to ask yourself what do you want to go to the O2 for? Late night event? An event over a couple of days?
Now I know that there are many factors to consider here, such as affordability – or just not wanting to spend more on a conveniently located hotel, when you can stay slightly farther out for a lot less. I had these exact same thoughts. However, I chose to stay at The Intercontinental this year during a festival at the O2, mostly as I wanted to be in certain places at certain times to catch interviews, press conferences and signings – and to see as many of the shows as I could manage. There is no way I could have seen half of what I did, had I stayed elsewhere.
The Intercontinental really should have a sign up in flashing lights that reads
‘If You Were Staying Here, You Would Be In Bed By Now.’
That would have me sold.
So, budget aside, let's break down why The Intercontinental is a good proposition.
We’ve mentioned location. That’s a given as it is located right at the 02 and there is a walkway that leads you directly to entrance H of the main arena, which means you will be there or back to your hotel in less than five minutes. Why else is it good to be staying so close? You buy things. You know those moments when you have absolutely no intention of buying anything? Then you get soaked up in all the event goodness and atmosphere and end up buying loads of merchandise. When this happens, nothing is more irritating than having to lug them about all day. So ask yourself, do you really want to carry that around? I don't. What a pain, especially in the main arena where you have little leg room as it is. I found being able to leave things in my room and go back and get things was a godsend.
Then we have the option of being able to get changed. If you are at the O2 all day and plan on going to dinner or drinks after your event, you may want the option to go and change your outfit- or even have a shower. How about a nap? You may find you have some free time, maybe an hour or so and think, ‘You know what? I have a long night ahead of me. I can squeeze in some sleep’.
Also, FOOD!!!! How many of you are sick of the ridiculous queues at every food outlet? It consumes half your free time and by the time you get a table, order and food arrives, you are lucky to have even five minutes to eat it.
In the lobby of The Intercontinental, you will find Meridian Lounge. Set similar to that of a French Patisserie, this quaint lounge has glorious, mouth watering cakes and macaroons that you simply could not say no to. The macaroons in particular were delicious, delightful and light with flavours that melted in your mouth and a taste you never wanted to replace.
The prices aren't even excessive when you consider the quality of food and the service you will get, not to mention the absence of crowds or queues and, better yet, you can dine in any of the hotel’s dining areas without being a hotel guest.
Having breakfast included in your stay is a great idea, as it is a buffet. I was in my element. The selections were out of this world. You had everything you could think of and more. What a great way to fill yourself up if you know you won't have time for lunch. There was unlimited tea and coffee brought to your table. You could have any kind too – Latte, Cappuccino,anything. There are also unlimited fruit juices and smoothies. You can have various cereals, yoghurts, cold meats, pastries, cakes, fruit, boiled eggs and pancakes with maple syrup or compote. Then of course a Full English breakfast. Two types of bacon, two types of sausage, hash browns, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, scrambled egg, fried egg -everything. You can even ask for an omelette. I haven't even named half of what was available but I went for pancakes and mango yoghurt one day, Full English the next and so on. The staff at the breakfast buffet are the friendliest people. They are so welcoming and always ensure you have what you want. They always check if you need more tea or coffee too.
The views are also wonderful. Ask for a window seat and have your breakfast overlooking the river, beautiful. Also….you never quite know who you may bump into at breakfast. Let's just say that I may have seen a star or two, or three or maybe even four? Perhaps, more?
The Hotel also offers a Pre Show Menu in their restaurant. This includes two courses for £28 or three courses for £35.You also have the Clipper Bar which has every alcoholic drink you can think of, including a custom Gin of their very own, and a bar menu.
Eighteen Sky Bar Menu right at the top on the 18th floor has wonderful views, especially at night and is a great place to socialise. It also has a selection of light bite snacks. If you are a smoker, there is also a smoking area. The bar has floor to ceiling windows for amazing views – even the bathrooms do which, by the way, are immaculate with luxurious soap gel and moisturiser.
Peninsula Restaurant A La Carte/Tasting Menu – offers another option, slightly more expensive but probably the best quality food in the area.
As far as facilities and service are concerned, the hotel has a wide, immaculate and openly lit lobby which is immediately inviting. Staff are quick to welcome you and assist you where needed. We were offered help with our bags as soon as we arrived and every staff member even greeted our 14 month old son.
There are complementary drinks in the lobby – fresh water and juice, which was a wonderful touch, especially if you were waiting in line or simply waiting to meet a friend or colleague.
I felt as if I belonged there – just as important as the next guest and everyone was equal. It was certainly clear that every guest was incredibly important.
The entire hotel was spotless, not a speck of dust or overflowing waste basket in sight. No empty glasses or bottles laying around, no clutter. Every inch of the hotel had wide open spaces ensuring that no one had to squeeze past anyone or anything.
There is a Concierge, newspapers and tourist information in a stacked trio of old style suitcases and welcome seating areasfor guests to relax or have a conversation with family or friends.
If you have time or are staying with people not too interested in much of the daytime activities, well then why not visit The Swimming Pool? Open to all guests, the pool is relaxing, stress free and almost always empty apart from one or two people.
You also have The Spa – granted treatments cost, but if you want to, then the option is there.
Finally – the rooms. These are all beautifully furnished, withbeds which are some of the most comfortable I have ever slept on. The pillows are lush and so very soft that when you leap into bed – and yes leap – they are that comfy, you sink into the large pillows and just drift away…..
Each room has a mini bar, at cost of course, and they all have:
Body Wash
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body Lotion
Shower Cap
Vanity Kit
Nail Kit in the bathrooms.
Bathrobes
Slippers
Hairdryers
Ironing Board and Iron in the room.
In addition to this, Studio Suites, 1 bedroom Suites, 2 Bedroom Suites and the Penthouse also have:
Dental Kit
Shaving Kit
Mouth Wash
Bath Salts and a comb.
The guests that I saw were all very happy and many came up to me saying such things as:
“We stayed at the Holiday Inn last year but booked the Intercontinental to avoid the cold walk back over a main roadand because we wanted to be able to pop back in between day time activities and just before the main show”
“Yes, it costs more than hotels over the river, but with my daily schedule, I was able to get to every signing, every performance and every surprise meet and greet that was announced last minute” (C2C Festival)
“I wish that I could take the breakfast room home with me. There is so much choice – I wish I could eat like this every day”
There is also secure parking which is much cheaper than the arena parking fee.
Ellen – "The time of year I look forward to the most. I count down the days after each festival for the next."
Andrew – "There is no festival or event quite like C2C, it is such a great community with amazing artists "
Amy – "I am a huge supporter of UK country music and C2C always showcase UK talent as well as the US which i love"
Helen – "We come here every year and have been since the very first one, I will always come here it is the best event in the world"
Country Music isn’t a genre you hear about a lot in the UK. In fact it's one of those genres that as a fan, if you hear someone else is a fan, you get really excited. Most people I have met think of Cotton Eyed Joe or really traditional country when I mention that I love country music – but just when you thought that Country Music was of the past or stuck in the US, there were and are a huge fan base that you probably never even knew existed, probably people you work with, are related to or maybe even a close friend who just never told you.
Country Music is family. It is one of the most friendliest and warming genres to be a fan of or even an artist of. It doesn't quite gain the credit it deserves though, especially outside the US – but if country wasn't cool then how does it sell out the entire 02 Arena for three days straight?
In 2013, some people got together and came up with the greatest idea UK country music fans will forever be grateful for – a festival bringing US country artists to the UK stage. Gone are the days when we would save our pennies to fly to Nashville to catch our favourite artists in concert. Gone are the days when we would listen to country music on our devises and never see the artists live and gone are the days where we would be the only one in our circle of friends that listened to this genre.
Ever since Country 2 Country Festival began, fans have emerged from all over and have gathered together under one roof. The first year kickstarted with a jaw dropping line up of Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Darius Rucker, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town, Kristian Bush, Vince Gill and Brantley Gilbert and the festival has gone from strength to strength every year since with appearances from Zac Brown Band, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Eric Church, Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Andrew Combs, Maddie and Tae and Miranda Lambert to name but a few.
Over the years the festival has gone from being a two day festival to a three day festival and has added various stages across the O2 during the day that non arena and arena ticket holders can attend. These stages have enabled fans to see performances from artists such as Sam Hunt, Charlie Worsham, Striking Matches, Maren Morris, Nashville TV Show Cast, A Thousand Horses and many more.
This year has been the biggest festival yet. Not only has the main event taken place over three days but the thursday hosts a CMA Songwriters Series where some of Nashville's finest songwriters gather together to sing in the round. This year we had Maren Morris, Drake White, Liz Rose, Mac McAnally and Kristian Bush.
The main stage this year was fairly diverse, catering for fans of all ages and tastes. The headliners included Brad Paisley, Reba McIntyre and Zac Brown Band with artists such as Marty Stuart, Maren Morris, Hunter Hayes, Darius Rucker, Dan + Shay, Brothers Osborne, Jennifer Nettles and Chris Young further down the billing but all equally brilliant and deserving of a headline slot.
This year also welcomed back the addition of The Yamaha Stage which is a small stage at the back of the arena to showcase up and coming talent in between main stage acts. Not all the artists on that stage were exactly new though as most of the artists already have an amazing career and huge fan base that the majority of the audience, myself included, felt they were robbed of a main stage slot as were more than deserving of so. Those artists were Cam, Cassadee Pope, Jana Kramer, Drake White, Lucie Silvas and then up and coming rising stars such as Bailey Bryan, Seth Ennis and Chase Bryant. However, all of The Yamaha Acts had various sets across the weekend on other stages, giving fans plenty of opportunities to see them, especially when not every attendee had main arena tickets.
One of the things that is so great about C2C Festival is that as soon as you arrive, everyone is the same as you. Everyone shares the same passion. You find yourself looking around at all the other fans and getting excited over their t shirts or cowboy boots and hats. A conversation will never run dry between two people who don't know each other at C2C, there is so much common ground that you make friends instantly, in fact, so many people already know each other via social media and meet up in a huge organised pub meet up before hand and no, not just for lone attendees but groups of friends and families too. At C2C even if you do go alone, you aren't alone for long as everyone looks out for each other and everyone is welcoming. Out of all the thousands of attendees, you soon come to know a huge percentage of people even just by face.
When Country 2 Country is on, the whole of the O2 is transformed into our closest version of Broadway in Downtown Nashville. The Restaurants become Honky Tonks, there are pop up stages all over the walk ways and inside other venues within the dome. There is an area which is sectioned off and named The Town Square and holds stalls of food, clothes and music stores and another slightly larger pop up stage. This area is also a booth which hosts artist signings. Some of the other venues do require tickets though such as The Bluebird Cafe. Throughout the weekend the venue NY-LON is transformed into a similar setting of Nashville's Bluebird Cafe where songwrters and artists sing their songs in a round just the same as the above mentioned CMA Songwriters Series. There were four sessions in total and each session cost £25 a ticket. For that price, you get to see about three or four of some of country music'/ finest songwriters. This year included Josh Osborne, Mac McAnally, Seth Ennis, Charlie Worsham, Cassadee Pope, Chase Bryant, Logan Brill, Jeff Cohen, Canaan Smith and Lucie Silvas. There were also also shows inside the Indigo and Building Six as well as other venues. After each main stage act had finished, you could also buy tickets for an after party in Building Six which would have a live show followed by a live DJ. This year, the after parties artists were Cam, Drake White and Jana Kramer followed by DJ Bad Ash. Those who could not obtain a ticket or did not want to go had an alternative of a free afterparty in the Indigo with artists of equal calibre such as Canaan Smith and Lucie Silvas.
Those of us who go to many County Music gigs start to see familiar faces wherever we go during the festival and it’s also nice to see some of the pop up artists such as Ward Thomas, Temecula Road and The Worry Dolls just walking around at their own leisure amongst all the festival goers.
There is something about walking in to the O2 Arena when Country 2 Country Festival is on that is like no other event. Although it is only on its fifth year, it already feels like home. As soon as you enter the Arena you get a sudden feeling of excitement and that isn’t just over the artists or over the many stalls full of Country CD’s, Cowboy boots and Southern food, its also the excitement of the overall atmosphere.
This year was one of my favourites despite having repeat performers from previous years. The general atmosphere was more relaxed but at the same time buzzing and I think that a huge part of that is because it is like family now for both fans and artists.
Highlights weren't just the headliners but acts from the pop up stages too. I walked away with wonderful memories from Temecula Road, Cassadee Pope, The Wandering Hearts, Cam, Drake White and Jana Kramer from the pop ups and main stage acts Brothers Osborne, Marty Stuart, Zac Brown Band, Maren Morris and Darius Rucker.
Artist Reviews
Brad Paisley
Brad has played the 02 Arena twice before this years festival, once before as part of C2C and once as part of his headline tour with Darius Rucker as his support, now that was a show!
There is something very special about a Brad Paisley show, in fact there are many things that are special. Brad has the ability to make anyone a fan of his, even if it is just of his performance and not his music. This man is an entertainer and the very best at it. Not only is Brad a fantastic singer and a phenomenal guitar player but he is one of the funniest musicians to ever grace the 02 stage or perhaps any stage. It is obvious much Brad loves the UK and his British fans. He comes across so overwhelmed by his UK fans and the fact we make the effort to come out and see him. Well of course we come out to see him, he is Brad Paisley.
Temecula Road
Temecula Road are a newly signed trio to Hollywood Records and consist of sisters Maddie and Emma Salute and good friend Dawson Anderson and they may just be the most exciting new act to emerge into the country music scene today. Having recently released their debut single ‘What If I Kissed You’ and recorded a series of Country music mash ups, as well as a killer cover of The Chainsmokers’ ‘Closer’, Temecula Road created quite a lot of buzz amongst C2C fans as soon as they were announced to play.
Temecula Road gave one of the most memorable performances of the weekend, winning over fans of all ages with their talent, wit and like able personalities. If you are not a huge fan of country, don't worry as Temecula Road have got you covered with their pop infused country songs that are so well written and so well sung with their perfect, sweet-sounding harmonies, that they belong on the mainstream charts.
Drake White is one of those soulful singer/Songwriters that should not be overlooked. One of the most phenomenal male artists I have ever heard in my life, he even gives Chris Stapleton a run for his money. Drake’s vocals are so insanely good that he doesn't even need instrumental accompaniment. His debut album Spark is without a doubt a contender for next years Grammys and his songs Story and Making Me Look Good Again are two of the most mind blowing live performances I have ever witnessed. His vocals are projective, emotive and you could hear a pin drop when he sings live. This man will not bore you live, he delivers such a steller performance that is chilling, emotional, passionate amd mesmerising.
http://https://youtu.be/ju4YPyhVDqc
Cassadee Pope
Cassadee Pope is a country music singer who previously was lead singer of the rock band Hey Monday! Since then she auditioned for the US version of The Voice, had every chair turn, chose Blake Shelton as her mentor and won the whole show. This crown earned her a recording contract with Big Machine Records where she released her debut album Frame By Frame – one of my favourite country pop albums of all time. Cassadee has one of the most distinctive and pure, sweet-sounding voices with a rocky edge that you will ever hear.
Cassadee is quite the talent on stage. Her voice was even more flawless than her recorded sound. For me and many others, Cassadee was a highlight of the entire weekend and she wasn’t even on the main stage. Having Cassadee perform with Chris Young on the Friday night on the main stage as part of their hit single Think Of You certainly set an atmosphere for just how excited fans were to see her and people who did not know her were without a doubt going to catch one of her shows and buy her music. That performance was so insanely good that it showed the C2C audience that Cassadee has one of the best vocals in country music today. Her solo set was highly entertaining with hits such as I Wish I Could Break Your Heart, Summer and Wasting All These Tears.
http://https://youtu.be/ByGmQn1uxJw
Cam
Hailing from Sol-Cal Country- Cam, has taken the country music industry by storm with her breathtakingly beautiful debut single Burning House and has become one of country musics finest singers to ever grace the modern country scene. An old soul, Cam has so much to offer. Her flawless voice has a hint of Dolly Parton and a tone so pure and honeyed that she bridges the gap between traditional and modern so perfectly.
Cam is not only a delightfully refreshing artist but she is also such a joy to watch, speak to and listen to when she talks and sings. Her adorable personality is so infectious that you just want to be her best friend. She really does seem like the nicest person in the world. Cam is like sunshine, I think she could make the saddest person smile and she could light up the darkest room.
Cam began her set with My Mistake taken from her current and debut album Untamed. Beaming with delight throughout her performance and constantly smiling and slightly skipping – Cam yelped with a happy yelp each time the audience sang back to her when she held out her microphone.
Cam’s song Burning House is quite possibly one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Inspired by a dream she had about how she hurt an old flame, the melody, instrumentation, vocals and lyrics to this song are breathtakingly stunning and wonderfully perfect. The song is so chilling in the most gorgeous way and live, it is even more so and her performance was flawless and the entire arena sang back making it quite the emotional performance.
http://https://youtu.be/uyGSe76rAJc
Darius Rucker
Formerly the lead singer of 90's band Hootie and The Blowfish, Darius has become one of the most loved artists in country music, bringing a wonderful and grunge sound to country music with his unique, soulful and tangy tone that is one of the best in the entire music industry. You will never get a bad show with Darius Rucker. He is such a tough act to follow and many (and I spoke to a lot of people about him) said he was the highlight for them and no one could top his performance and I would be inclined to agree. His set was beaming, energetic, homey, warm, inviting, soulful, Jazzy and it felt like he united each and every person in the arena.
Darius' moves on the stage are one of his trademarks and everyone always looks forward to them. He is not exactly a dancer but when he sways his hips, he brings a smile to every face. His song Alright is always a favourite as are Come Back Song and Southern State Of Mind. Darius always ensures to have a couple of Hootie songs in the mix and treated fans with Only Wanna Be With You and Hold My Hand which had the entire arena singing along. It is his version of Wagon Wheel that gets the crowd really going though, but the show stopper was his cover of Prince's Purple Rain which was an emotional tribute to all the great musicians we lost last year. If you ever get the opportunity to see Darius Rucker live, then you must go.
http://https://youtu.be/etr7UtnUflM
Hunter Hayes
Hunter Hayes is another country artist that I feel can easily break into the mainstream charts. His music is country pop but so infectious and melodious that he would out sell artists such as Justin Bieber and Similar in a heart beat.Hunter Hayes is probably one of the most talented musicians in the world right now. A multi instrumentalist which not many people realise, this guy has a huge, long lasting career ahead of him. Hunter’s music can often be misunderstood. A lot of country fans see him as the teeny bopper of country music but if they really listened to him and if they saw him live, then I think their opinions would change quickly. Fortunately, having a slot on the main stage at C2C Festival gave Hunter the opportunity to show exactly what he is made of. Quite a few people came up to me after saying how they never realised just how good he was and had no idea that he played so many instruments or wrote his own music. Songs such as I Want Crazy and Tattoo always go down a treat as does his epic ballad Wanted.
http://https://youtu.be/XvtXgNtYFMs
Reba
Reba was an artist I never thought would be on the C2C line up. One of two traditional artists across the weekend, Reba caused a divide in the audience – you either loved her show or found it boring. I don't think performing straight after Darius Rucker helped as for many, he stole the show. Regardless, I loved every minute of Reba’s set and felt honoured to be there. The atmosphere in my block was buzzing full of hardcore fans which made it that much more fun. Reba is the Queen of Country Music after Dolly Parton and she certainly showed us why. She played old hits, new songs, covers and ended the set with an absolutely epic performance of her massive hit song Fancy, which made my night.
Brothers Osborne
Country duo – Brothers Osborne were electrifying. Their musical stylings lean more towards an alternative country sound blended with roots, bluesy and southern rock and they gave us a solid performance that will last in peoples memories for a long time, if not forever. Everything about their set was mesmerising, especially the insane guitar/fretwork from John Osborne which blows your mind and you stand there thinking what was that? That was crazy! Their set was rocking from start to finsish with their strong southern sound and one of the most memorbale moments was when they performed their single Rum.
Providing a very satisfying set list for such a short time slot and finishing with Stay A Little Longer and That Ain’t My Fault, they left us wanting them to stay a little longer.
http://https://youtu.be/h7wWinwIKnI
Maren Morris
From pop up stage act to main stage star in just one year, Maren Morris is quite the fire cracker and certainly a force to be reckoned with. With a career that most can only dream of even over years, Maren has proven to be one of the most gifted and exciting artists of our generation. Her debut album Hero having so much success that it earned Maren four Grammy nominations at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards. The album was nominated for Best Country Album, “My Church” won Best Country Solo Performance and was nominated for Best Country Song. Morris was also nominated for the all-genre honor of Best New Artist.
With a unique sound, Maren has a blend of many genres, not just country and deserves to be recognised as not just a country singer, but a mainstream artist too. Maren could quite easily fit alongside artists such as Adele, Beyonce, Rihanna and more if the mainstream radio would only play her. I have every faith that in the UK, if she got Radio 1 airtime, she would be a number one selling artist in no time.
Maren is a phenomenal performer with real attitude, sass and allure, she commands her stage with such confidence and power and delivers a groundbreaking, show stopping set. She did not disappoint on the main stage as she strutted around commanding her stage and filling the arena with her soulful, unique voice with songs such as 80's Mercedes, Second Wind and My Church.
http://https://youtu.be/m9md97nN_SQ
Marty Stuart
Marty Stuart was the most surprising act of the weekend for me. Being a more traditional artist, I expected his set to be more relaxing than the rest of the Sunday line up which consisted of Brothers Osborne, Maren Morris and Zac Brown Band. I initially thought they had placed him on the wrong day as assumed he would bring the vibe down but I couldn't have been more wrong. Marty is old school yes, but he is without a doubt the coolest cat in town and I dare you to question that. He is such a smooth, slick and bad ass performer that he is an artist other artists look up to, idolise. His music is the rocking side of country, the dark shadow, western, Johnny Cash, outlaw sound. He made his mark on the O2 Arena stage, setting the bar really high and gaining an even bigger fan base than he already had. Even the younger audience were in awe of his performance as he showed the world how it was done and showed us that traditional artists are here to stay and his music will never die, never go out of date. This man, Marty Stuart is truly a legend and I feel privileged to have seen him live.
Zac Brown Band are not only one of the best country bands in the world but one of the best bands in the world. This eight piece band of multi talented instrumentalists always give one of the best live shows you will ever see. Their music is country, it’s rootsy, it’s bluesy, it’s alternative, rocky, poppy, everything. If you want to see a phenomenal show, then these are your guys. I have never heard a crowd roar so much as I did during their set at C2C this year. The crowd were stomping, chanting and refusing to leave their seats as they demanded more. Zac Brown Band brought the festival to a close with one of the most steller performances of the weekend. What a way to end an epic weekend, everyone left more than satisfied and excited to grab their tickets for next years festival.
http://https://youtu.be/e4ujS1er1r0
So if you were ever in doubt about country music, I urge you to not just look up the artists mentioned but delve into the genre and discover even more artists as there are so many great ones out there and even more to come.
If you want to experience a festival like no other then this is the festival to expolre. Even if you go for just the free stages during the day then it will give you a sneak peak into one of the greatest genres of all time. Forget the stereotypes behind country music and be the first out of your friends and family to be converted. Country Music is hitting the big time, so don't be the last to jump on the band wagon. C2C is one of the most amazing festivals and experiences out there. How many other festivals make you feel at home and how many other festivals can you truly connect with the artists even on a one to one basis?
We are very pleased to announce more artist details for the Yamaha Music Stage (which is in the main arena at The O2, London). The details and names are below.
Following the success showcasing some of the best new talent around in 2016, THE YAMAHA MUSIC STAGE in the main arena at C2C will be back with six standout acoustic artists performing over the weekend in-between the main stage acts. Last year’s acts included Charles Esten from the “Nashville” TV series, Ashley Monroe, Maren Morris, Striking Matches and Frankie Ballard on the massively popular stage.
Cam was the first artist confirmed for 2017 and we can now announce who will be joining her across the weekend:
FRIDAY MARCH 10
CHASE BRYANT This 23-year old is a multi-talented Texan singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer who has a strong musical heritage. Chase’s grandfather played piano in Roy Orbison’s first two bands and later for Waylon Jennings. His uncles co-founded the popular group Ricochet, which had several hits in the ’90s. “From the time I was a kid, the only thing I wanted to do was play music,” he says. Because of the Orbison connection, someone suggested a meeting with Roy’s widow, the late Barbara Orbison, a prominent Nashville publisher, who signed Bryant on the spot. That road led Bryant to BBR Music Group imprint Red Bow Records, to whom he’s signed. In early 2017 he’s been touring with Brad Paisley and enjoying the success of his new EP, Chase Bryant.
SATURDAY MARCH 11
CASSADEE POPE From West Palm Beach, Florida and the first female winner of “The Voice” on American TV, Cassadee hit the ground running with her solo debut, the Frame By Frame EP, which featured “Wasting All Those Years” a track which sold a million downloads and was highlighted by her soaring vocals and an unwavering energy. She had her first number 1 single with “Think Of You”, a duet with Chris Young which led to her first Grammy nod nod in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance and was previously nominated Musical Event of the Year at the CMA Awards. Amplifying the impressive accolades, Cassadee and Chris continued to collaborate with extended dates on the “I’m Comin’ Home Tour” throughout 2016. Recently, Pope released her Summer EP which was produced by Corey Crowder who co-wrote “Think Of You”. Her busy touring schedule has included dates with Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts.
SETH ENNIS Arista Nashville singer/songwriter, Seth Ennis, is poised for a breakout in 2017, with early nods as a star on the rise following being named as one of SiriusXM’s “Future Five” and an artist to watch by CMT, Pandora, The Huffington Post, Rolling Stone Country and a CMT “Listen Up Artist.” The 24 year-old multi-instrumentalist, co-wrote, co-produced and played all parts on the recorded version of his debut single, “Woke Up In Nashville.” The Georgia native was recently announced to join Country Music superstars Florida Georgia Line on their 2017 Dig Your Roots Tour for dates spanning from February to April, but will take a break to make his UK debut at C2C in March 2017.
One more artist is TBC
SUNDAY MARCH 12
JANA KRAMER The multi-talented Jana Kramer (who has already been announced for a C2C After Show) is an actor who played Alex Dupre on the television series One Tree Hill, was a recent finalist on the American TV show Dancing with the Stars and is one of country music’s brightest new stars and a successful singer/songwriter. Named one of this year’s “Next Women of Country” by CMT, Kramer co-wrote more than half of the tracks on her second album, thirty one on Elektra Nashville, which features her smash hit, gold-certified single, “I Got The Boy.” Kramer’s singing career kicked off with the release of her self-titled debut album in 2012, which featured the platinum-selling “Why Ya Wanna”. She earned the ACM’s New Female Vocalist of the Year award and the distinction of being country radio’s most-played debut artist of the year.
LUCIE SILVAS Born in the UK but raised in part in New Zealand by her Kiwi dad and Scottish mother, Lucie started playing piano and songwriting at 10 but wasn’t exposed to the music industry until she started singing back-up on tour with the British singer Judie Tzuke. She was then signed to Mercury Records and released two pop records, selling over a million albums in Europe. The next chapter of her life saw her packing her bags and moving to Nashville where she was soon writing and performing with some US artists and musicians. She’s recently released a self-financed album called Letters To Ghosts featuring some of Nashville finest musicians and with the title track winning strong radio airplay.
DRAKE WHITE The critically acclaimed Drake White (who has already been announced for a C2C After Show) has been called,”One of the country’s most energizing performers”, by Rolling Stone Country. He’s a rapidly rising new star who released his acclaimed debut album, Spark on Dot Records, in the summer of 2016. The foot-stomping singer/songwriter and nature enthusiast co-wrote 10 of the tracks and the cover tells the visual story of who Drake White is as an artist, husband and native-Alabamian. The images imprinted into his silhouette paint a narrative of White’s life, including his wife Alex, his hometown church (where his grandfather served as preacher), his dog Writer and other mementos that inspired the record. White has been touring as opening act on Zac Brown Band’s Black Out The Sun tour in addition to his own headline dates.
Previously advised main stage artists
Brad Paisley, Chris Young, Jennifer Nettles Friday March 10, 2017
Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker, Hunter Hayes, Dan + Shay Saturday March 11, 2017
Zac Brown Band, Marty Stuart, Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne Sunday March 12, 2017
Tickets for C2C are available from: WWW.AXS.COM / 08448 24 48 24 and WWW.GIGSANDTOURS.COM / 0844 811 0051
