Press Conference: BRAD PAISLEY, C2C Country 2 Country 2017, London, The O2

I was lucky enough to spend some time in the Press Room at C2C Country 2 Country 2017 getting to chat with some of the biggest artists along with other members of the press. Read on for questions and answers from Brad Paisley’s Press Conference, including sneak peeks of his upcoming album, working with Timbaland, and the advice he’d give to up-and-coming artists.

Q: You’ve come a long way in your career - how do you feel now knowing that you’ve come such a long way?

A: I’m way beyond anything I envisioned as a kid. I think that anyone who ever walks onto a stage, whether that’s at a vocal picnic or opening for someone or anything, thinks and dreams of something like this. My goal really was very simply to have a hit song or two and a tour bus. That’s what I wanted, very simply, enough hits to drive around the country with a band, people show up and they know the words. Really the bus was the big thing. That’s a great way of going in America, we don’t do that as much here with buses. I shot right past that, and I’m very lucky to be able to create new goals and achieve them from time to time.

Q: Have you ever had the chance to play live on stage with Stuart Smith or Albert Lee?

A: I’ve gotten to play with Albert several times – we’re good friends. He’s actually here in London right now but can’t make it, but we invited him tonight to play. Stuart Smith I know, but I haven’t played with. Albert and I have done a lot of stuff together – we collaborated on a song on my acoustic album called Clusterpluck – careful with how you say that.

Q: Little Moment, You Didn’t Have to Be, and now Today. What gems have you got on the upcoming album Love and War?

A: Thanks for asking about the new album. Our goal was to have that out this week, but we didn’t make it. I started making the album you’re going to get in April in September 2015. The very first recording session was with Mick Jagger – Mick and I have become good friends so I told him we need to get together and write, you can stay in my house and no one will know you’re there, other than my whole family who show up then! We ended up writing a bunch, and my idea was to collaborate with some of these people I’ve gotten to get to know over the years and see what happens when these strange worlds collide.

The goal was to get it out in early 2016, so you can see how badly I did at achieving that goal! But the true reason it’s not out yet is because I wanted it exactly as I’d envisioned it, and in the process, I had the idea to collaborate with a few others – John Fogarty and I are good friends and I had an idea for a song that I wanted to write with him so he came to the farm, spent three days. Three days is about the amount of time you need – the first days is when you eat food and chill, the second day is when you get something done, and the third day you cut it. So he did the three day thing with the idea that I had with him, which when you hear it, is one of the more important things I’ve tried to do in a song – it’s the album title, Love and War.

The next person to come in was Timbaland, and there’s two songs on there that we collaborated on. Bill Anderson came out and did some songs. The strangest collaboration I’ve got on the album is with Johnny Cash, and how we did that is his son John Carter, has had this idea for a while for people to finish his fathers songs, and he came to me and said I’ve got a couple of songs, one of them’s a gem and I think you can do something with it. And then there are other songs on there that are just me, but again I try to say things that I haven’t said before, and I think that’s the beauty of country music, and why it works in England is that when you say something that you believe in real life and try to tell the story about it, it doesn’t matter what country you’re in.

Q: Grey Goose Chase sounds like some kind of folk song.

A: It’s kind of like that. That’s one of the songs I did with Timbaland and that’s the ‘guitar song’ on there.

Q: Can you tell us a little about Timbaland?

A: I don’t know how to describe him. He’s an R&B, pop, rap producer; he’s never done country before. When we got together, he said where our worlds collide the best is bluegrass – those beats where the mandolin’s doing something, the banjo’s doing something – and that’s where we went. The country stuff on the record is nothing like the usual.

Q: Dying To See Her sounds like a country song.

A: Yeah, that’s a country song. I am as proud of that as anything I’ve ever written. I called Bill and said I’ve been saving an idea for you. He’s 80 years old, and the greatest living country songwriter, without a doubt.

Q: So Love and War – that’s an arresting cover with your hat flying off your head.

A: We did that in an anti-gravity chamber. No, I’m just kidding, but I did jump for it.

Q: Something that strikes me about C2C is the opportunity it gives to new artists as well as excellent established artists, who like yourself, have had so much success. What advice would you give to those artists who are up-and-coming?

A: I think that’s it’s all about the song in the end. I’ve always thought that anybody who had the songs that I had, the catalogue that I had, would be as big or bigger a star as me, I just happened to either write them or find them. I think that you can never let yourself think that it’s about you – rarely is it. Elvis might have been a star, but the rest of us need songs. It’s really important that you figure out who you are song-wise and then you’ll go as far as you can.

Q: What’s the most embarrassing record you own?

A: There’s a thing called – this is going to sound incredibly vulgar, but hey, it’s on iTunes – it’s called The Singing Butts, and it’s songs done sounding like flatulence. Everything from Happy Birthday to Auld Lang Syne. It’s worth checking out.

Q: What UK artists do you think are good?

A: I’m a big fan of UK music – I like everything from Coldplay to some more obscure bands like Sand and Snow. I like Ed Sheeran. Everything from The Rolling Stones to The Beatles – the classic stuff, Pink Floyd. The UK is so beyond what percentage you should have of influential artists, because population wise you’ve got so many in comparison! It’s not fair, honestly, that some of the greatest artists of all time come from this country.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the experience of making Forever Country?

A: Forever Country was the brainchild of a couple of songwriters, one of them being Shane McAnally, who’s brilliant; and the CMA had this idea for 50 years to put a lot of us together and mash-up a couple of these songs. In theory that shouldn’t work – it should be like salad and jello, but it was basically the greatest casserole you could ever expect. It’s testimonial to how brilliant those writers were in getting the right mash-up. We went in the studio, Carrie and I, and then started down the path of getting everybody on board. Everyone did it on their own time and then they did a bunch of green-screen stuff so it looks like we’re all in the same room, but thankfully we didn’t have to see each other. I’m hoping we can do the award show that way.

Interested in reading more interviews with great artists? Make sure you follow me on Twitter @CiarasCountry to be the first to know when new content is posted!

Interview: CLARA BOND, C2C Country 2 Country 2017

If you’ve not yet heard of up-and-coming singer songwriter Clara Bond, I’m making it my job to change just that. I caught up with the 23 year old Devon native after her incredible few sets at Country 2 Country 2017 to discuss playing to big crowds, John Mayer, new EPs and more!

Ciara’s Country (CC): First of all, could you introduce yourself to us? A fun fact that no one knows about you would be an added bonus too!

Clara Bond (CB): Hi everyone, my name is Clara and I've failed my driving test 4 times. I think it's 4. It could be 5 and I've just lost count. Still going though! 

CC: So this was your first year at C2C – how did you find the festival?

CB: Ah it was just amazing. Obviously performing was the best feeling ever, but on top of that, the whole atmosphere was so great and everyone is so lovely. I mean it! Not just the audience but the acts are so lovely too! No divas! Everyone who was working backstage was in such a good mood too because all the acts were so nice to work with. I laughed so much over that festival that I had smile creases in my makeup! 

CC: I caught you playing to a massive crowd in the Town Square and heard you pulled big audiences every time you were playing – what was that like?

CB: It was pretty mind blowing. It's just the best feeling to be welcomed by such a large amount of people that are so committed to country music. I saw someone in the audience singing my songs back to me and was so taken aback I nearly forgot the lyrics. I can't take all the credit though, my band are phenomenal. It's an incredible thing to be able to share that experience with 4 of your best friends. 

CC: Being a big John Mayer fan, I loved your cover of Love On The Weekend – how did you decide that that would be a good song to countrify?

CB: Oh John. Sweet, sweet John. I heard that song for the first time through my phone speakers at about 4am after a drink or 3 and immediately picked up my guitar and started playing along to it. Sometimes a song just hits you and you immediately love it after one listen. I knew it would sound great countrified because it's quite guitar lead and is a great story. At the end of the day, country music is all about telling stories through great melodies and hooks. 

CC: So you’re out supporting your Out of Towners EP – can you tell me a bit about the creative process behind your songwriting? 

CB: I have these little Kate Spade notebooks that I write my songs in. I usually have an idea running around my head for a couple of days before I actually sit down to start turning it into a song. I always start writing on a guitar and I just play with the melodies until I get something strong enough that I still remember it when I get up to make a cup of tea.

CC: Is there a song that’s been particularly interesting for you to write?

CB: Love Can't Stay was the most complex one I've ever written. I started writing it on the flight from Austin to Seattle and it's about the guy I was visiting in Austin. I had so much to say that I didn't want to waste a single word. I was always changing the lyrics. I found it so hard to settle on it as I needed to use that song to create my own closure as I never got any from him. I wanted that song to be the only song I ever had to write about him. I rewrote the second verse in front of the mic as we recorded it. Nothing like last minute eh? 

CC: You’ve got a lot of gigs lined up over the next few months – what’s touring life like for you?

CB: Actually it's the best part of my job. I get to travel around the country with my best friends playing music I love to amazing people. The only problem is that I'm the smallest one in the band so I always get the middle seat and it sucks! But obviously, I can't do the driving. 

CC: In terms of the country music genre as a whole, is there one artist out there who you think is currently underrepresented and deserves more recognition?

CB: Maren Morris. I saw her at C2C and was blown away. She's so great and she's definitely created her own sound that is uniquely hers. That's what every artist ultimately wants to achieve. 

CC: And finally, (don’t think too much!) what’s one question you wish you were asked in interviews, but never have been?

CB: I can't actually think of one! It's more of a general thing, but I like it when people ask me about the lyrics themselves. Like the meaning behind them or what my favourite lyric is. 

CC: Can you answer that for me?

CB: I think my favourite lyrics are the chorus of Love Can't Stay. The line "Too much time and space drifts a love the wrong way, till the distance decides that Love Can't Stay" is probably my favourite. 

CC: That’s all my questions for now, thank you for taking the time to answer them! I look forward to seeing you on tour soon!

If you enjoyed this interview, make sure you check out Clara on Twitter @ClaraBondSongs, and stay tuned for future interviews by following me @CiarasCountry!

Interview: SETH ENNIS, C2C Country 2 Country 2017, The O2

I caught up with Seth Ennis on his first trip performing in the UK – read on to find out what he thought of C2C, his new EP, playing at the Bluebird Café, and more.

Ciara’s Country (CC): I’m joined by a very special guest – none other than up-and-coming Nashville star Seth Ennis! So first of all, thank you so much for joining me today.

Seth Ennis (SE): Thank you, that was pretty impressive – I liked that little introduction!

CC: Thank you! And of course, welcome to C2C!

SE: Thank you for having me!

CC: Is this your first time in the UK?

SE: It’s not my first time over here, but the only other time I was here, I was a super young kid, so I don’t really remember any of it – this is my first time remembering my stay here.

CC: Aside from all of the press and music stuff that you’ve been doing over here, have you managed to get out and do anything quintessentially British or touristy while you’ve been here?

SE: I wouldn’t say like anything touristy – I kind of drove by some things downtown, but I’ve been kind of tied up doing stuff around here so I haven’t had much downtime yet.

CC: And while you’ve been at C2C have you had the chance to check out any of the other acts?

SE: Yeah, I was at all the shows on the first night, and it’s cool because all the people here are all a close-knit family in Nashville, and we see each other at festivals and things like this all the time. I was actually talking to Cassadee Pope last night – that sounded like such a name drop! I was talking to Cassadee Pope last night and she was saying it’s so weird to see everyone over here, it’s hard to believe we’re not in America right now. It just feels weird because it feels like a festival or show back home, except even better, so it’s pretty cool.

CC: And this being your first time performing in the UK, I think a lot of UK fans are really excited to get to see you. How has the response been so far?

SE: It’s been incredible – I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s awesome.

CC: I can say personally we’re thrilled to have you here following the massive few months you had after the release of your single Woke Up In Nashville. What was it like having the song take off so quickly?

SE: I mean it’s pretty crazy, it feels like I’m in a dream and I still haven’t woke up yet. That sounds like I was about to segue into my song (laughs). No, it’s seriously crazy. It’s hard to believe what’s going on, I guess when I was younger and I dreamed about being the guy on stage singing the songs, I thought I would feel different once things started to happen, and it doesn’t feel any different. I feel like the same old Seth. I’ve got a really awesome team behind me, people are listening to my song and singing it back to me, so I guess that’s different, but everything feels the same, I’m still having fun.

CC: I think keeping it grounded is very much a country way to handle success.

SE: Yeah, I think people who don’t stay grounded should just go back home!

CC: And you’ve also just released your first EP Mabelle – can you explain the title?

SE: Yeah, so Mabelle is the first apartment complex I lived in when I moved to town, and the album cover is actually me sitting on the steps of that apartment. I moved to town with three of my best friends, and we lived in a one bedroom apartment there, and it was like in four bunk beds. I think my rent was only like $150, which is mega cheap for Nashville, but that’s all I could afford. That was seriously the best year of my life – that’s where it all began, so I thought I’d make that the first project I put out.

CC: I take it that experience of starting kind of from the bottom in Nashville really influenced the songs on that EP.

SE: Yeah, absolutely. A lot of the influence is from things I’ve pulled from high school, stories about me in college, stories since I’ve moved to Nashville. I don’t really write about my kindergarten days too much!

CC: What would you say has been the most interesting song for you to write so far?

SE: I went on a writers retreat in Cabo, and I wrote a rap song. That was pretty interesting.

CC: Will we be seeing that on an upcoming album?

SE: Maybe so!

CC: Looking forward to it! And you also play your own instruments too?

SE: Yeah, I did on Woke Up In Nashville. And then on some of the other songs I’m still singing background vocals on, and on a couple of them I’m playing like keys and guitar here and then.

CC: What comes first for you – the melody or the lyrics?

SE: It depends on the vibe in the room and what my co-writers are doing. Sometimes you’ll be writing with somebody who’s really good at lyric but can’t really sing, and sometimes you’ll be writing with somebody who’s really good at singing but can’t write a lyric, so I kind of try to play to the strengths of whoever I’m writing with.

CC: Once you’ve got the idea for a song, how do you turn that into the finished product?

SE: I have no idea how it happens, it just happens!

CC: Still figuring it out!

SE: Yeah. If there was a magic formula, I would pay a lot of money to know it.

CC: I take it the last few months have been pretty hectic.

SE: Oh yeah, they’ve been pretty crazy. It’s so fun though. I like a fast-paced life.

CC: Do you have a highlight so far?

SE: Oh man, there’s so many of them! The first time I heard somebody sing a song back to me that I wrote. Another highlight would be when Little Big Town introduced me at the Opry, that was pretty awesome. I wrote a song on Lauren Alaina’s record, and she was playing at the Ryman and had me come out and play the piano and sing background vocals, that was pretty special. And then being here, obviously!

CC: Sounds like some great highlights!

SE: Oh yeah, my life doesn’t suck!

CC: And of course, anyone who follows you on social media will see that you’ve been waking up in different cities on your radio tour – what was one of your favourite places to visit?

SE: Some of my favourite places were Boston, the North West like Seattle. I tried to have as much fun as I could everywhere I went.

CC: And it seems that you’ll be waking up in the UK a bit more often since you’re coming here again later in the year as well.

SE: I sure am! I’m coming to Manchester, Birmingham, Gateshead, Glasgow, Bristol, and right here in London to the Royal Albert Hall. That’s a bucket list place for me.

CC: There you go, make sure you get tickets to go see Seth then! In terms of the music you listen to, is there one artist who you think is currently underrepresented and deserves more recognition?

SE: Oh, wow! Man, I played this Bluebird round today with Charlie Worsham and Cassadee Pope, and Charlie is unbelievable. He’s a great guitar player, and I guess I’ve never seen him in that kind of environment, and I was very impressed. I’d like to see him on some bigger stuff pretty soon.

CC: Speaking of the Bluebird, have you played the one in Nashville?

SE: I have, I’ve actually played the Bluebird accompanying someone else, and then I’ve played it myself, and now the Bluebird in London.

CC: I think we’re all very glad you were able to join us there at the Bluebird.

SE: It was so fun.

CC: As we draw the interview to a close, I have to ask you what is the one question you wish you were asked in interviews but never have been?

SE: What’s your favourite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?

CC: And the answer is?

SE: Oh, I don’t even know. I feel like everyone says Michaelangelo. I like Leonardo, he’s the leader of the pack. I’m not even a fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I don’t even know why that came to my mind!

CC: One of the most unique answers I’ve heard nonetheless! Thank you so much for your time and answering my questions today.

SE: Of course, anytime!

Huge thanks to Seth and his team for agreeing to this interview – I had great fun interviewing Seth and watching him perform over the weekend. If you’d like to be kept up to date with future interviews and reviews, make sure to follow me on Twitter @CiarasCountry!

Interview: DARIUS RUCKER, Country 2 Country 2017

I caught up with C2C: Country 2 Country returner Darius Rucker ahead of his headlining set at this year’s festival to chat about all things from UK vs US fans, social media, upcoming albums, and what it was like to be a part of the musical event of the decade, Forever Country.

Ciara’s Country (CC): Hi Darius, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me this afternoon!

Darius Rucker (DR): No, thanks for talking to me!

CC: So to start things off, how are things going for you so far this year?

DR: Oh, lovely. Getting a record together has been a blast, and now being over here playing some shows in Europe has been a blast, so this year’s looking up. I’m having a great time.

CC: This is your second time as one of the C2C headliners – what do you think will be different from the last time you were over?

DR: I’ve heard it’s got a lot bigger! You know, I played the very first one in 2013 and it was big then, it was a packed house and people stood up and danced and had a great time, but I’m here with 50 acts and stuff all over the grounds. It’s got a lot bigger and it’s great to see country music really getting a foothold over here in the UK.

CC: The genre is definitely growing – would you say that you find more fans from the UK and Europe listening to your music and wanting you touring over here?

DR: Oh absolutely. Just the shows we’ve played so far here have been huge, just really big, you know, a lot more people than we thought were going to show up! You can see how people are really gravitating towards country music and enjoying it, loving it, and wanting to be a part of it.

CC: What do you think are some of the reasons for country’s recent growth in popularity, particularly this side of the pond?

DR: I think one of the reasons is that everyone has a country song they can relate to, and that’s one thing that’s really helping – country music’s so open and relatable, and people are loving that. Everyone’s finding a song that they like, and then when the acts come over here, they want to come out and see them. That’s what’s getting all my friends in country music to come over here and play because so many people want to come out and see it, and that’s a great thing.

CC: Absolutely! And I’d say that one of the highlights for many country fans last year was the release of the fantastic Forever Country track which you were featured on alongside many other C2C alumni. What was it like being a part of that?

DR: That was amazing. To have been asked to do that with all those big names in country music was amazing to me. I remember when the video came out, I was just so moved to have been a part of it. To know that the people who were putting it together wanted me to be a part of that was amazing. It was a great song – Shane McAnally produced the hell out of that song, it was so great; and seeing me up there on the screen with Little Big Town, Charlie Pride, Willie, and Dolly Parton, and to know that I was going to be a part of something like that was absolutely amazing.

CC: It must have been quite the experience to work alongside some of the greats you mentioned there – would you say there’s one artist in country who’s been an idol for you throughout your career?

DR: You know for me, Kenny Rogers will always be the guy who started it all for me back in the day. I’ve got to know Kenny over the years and that’s been one of the cool parts of my career – over the last ten years, I’ve got to meet everybody who was featured in the Forever Country video. When you watch that video, it’s iconic, it’s just so many big names and people, so many winners of Entertainer of the Year and all this great stuff. You watch it and you go ‘wow, that’s true country music’.

CC: And alongside Forever Country, you also released your own single If I Told You last summer – does this mean we can expect a new Darius Rucker album sometime soon?

DR: Oh yeah, absolutely. The record will probably be out hopefully in the fall. Really, really excited for people to hear it. I’ve started working with a new producer, and I can’t wait to put it out. I’m so excited.

CC: So are we! How would you say the sound has changed from your last album to this upcoming one?

DR: You know, just working with a different producer makes your sound change. I think this record’s going to be a little more upbeat – not as many ballads as the past. I don’t know how to explain it, I just can’t wait for people to hear it. It’s a brighter, newer sound for me, because we just tried to go for something different, and Ross did a great job taking the songs we had and making them as great as they can be.

CC: I think a lot of people also love your music because of the content in each of your songs – is this something that you’ve tried to pull through on the upcoming album too?

DR: Absolutely. There are a few songs on there that are pretty autobiographical, but that’s just the way I write. So there’ll definitely be deeper stuff, but there’s also a lot of fun stuff too, so that kind of evens it out.

CC: The best of both worlds then! And once you’ve got an idea for a song, what’s your creative process for turning that into the final track?

DR: For me, I’ll just do a guitar / vocal demo and then I let the producer do his job. That’s the way I like to make records. I’m not really that guy who writes a song and knows exactly what it’s supposed to sound like, I write a song and then I go ‘let’s talk about what I’m thinking, what you’re thinking, and try and put it on paper’.

CC: So it’s very much a continual process then.

DR: Absolutely, and it’s definitely a case of me and the producer just sitting down and getting it done. A lot of the time it’s the band that’s playing with us in there too, just sitting down and going ‘what do you think?’ There was this one song I wrote called Amazing and we had no idea how to cut it until one of the bands guys said ‘let’s cut it like this’ and I was like ‘wow!’ We went in and did it, and it came out great.

CC: Is there one song that you’d say has been the most interesting for you to write?

DR: Probably this song off my last record called So I Sang. It was fun writing that, just really going back into my childhood to write songs that meant something to me. That was very interesting writing that song.

CC: And when you perform, do you think that there’s a difference in the way audiences in the US and over here respond to your songs?  

DR: Audiences to me are so similar. That’s one thing that I really learnt at the first C2C – I was shocked when I hit the stage because I was nervous as heck but then everyone stood up and started singing along and I was like ‘wow, they know my songs!’ That’s what happens in the States too – when they come and see you, they’re ready, they know your songs and they want to sing along and dance, and it’s the same thing over here. You know, you hear that UK audiences are a little more subdued, but I don’t see that. They’re just as fun and crazy as American audiences.

CC: We hope so! It’s funny that you said you got nervous when you came on stage at C2C because obviously we don’t see that when you’re performing and selling out stadiums like that.

DR: Yeah, but I mean I just remember I was playing before Carrie Underwood and I was really nervous. I just didn’t know what was going to happen, I’d never played in a place as big in the UK and I could come out there and they’d not know any of my songs and just clap politely at the end, but it wasn’t like that at all. Everyone just had a great time and partied. Once I got in the middle of a song I was like ‘man, this is awesome’.

CC: I can certainly say from having been there, you were a tough act to follow!

DR: Thank you!

CC: So I’m a fan of your various social media channels and like the way that you always post your Song of the Day – what inspired you to start doing that?

DR: Believe it or not, it was Connie Wilson from the band Wilson Phillips. She did it, and I follow her. She’s got like a Song of the Day and a Song of the Night and I thought ‘well that’s too much – but I can do a Song of the Day!’ And it’s fun for me, cause every song I put up there is a song I know, I know every word of, I know every nuance of, I’ve listened to the song a million times. It’s really cool to me to put out to folks the songs I listen to, because I listen to such an eclectic brand of music – everything from rap to deep country to classical, I love it all! So I love sharing with the fans the songs that mean a lot to me.

CC: It seems like a great way to connect with the people who listen to your music and introduce them to other music as well.

DR: Absolutely. We’ve even started a Spotify channel where I put my songs on every day, and it’s one of those things where it’s so funny because I’ll get people that Tweet back at me or they hit me up on Instagram, and they download every song I put up. That’s pretty cool, that somebody’s going to go and spend 99 cents to get the song cause I put it on there and they want to have it, I think that’s pretty cool.

CC: Well, you certainly seem to know your music! And in terms of country, is there one artist who you think is really quite underrepresented and deserves more recognition?

DR: I think the one name that should be known by everyone is Radney Foster. I think he should have been Entertainer of the Year cause for me, he’s the reason I’m singing country music. He’s by far my biggest idol, his first solo record Del Rio, TX 1959 changed the way I heard music, all music. It really blew my mind. So for me, he’s got to be the one artist I think deserves a lot more recognition than he gets.

CC: Well hopefully with people like you listening to him and spreading the word, that will happen! So as we draw the interview to a close, I have to ask, what’s one question that you wish you were asked in interviews but never are?

DR: Oh my goodness, what a great question! Wow. What a great question. I have never thought about that. I have no idea! That is a brilliant question. I really don’t know.

CC: How about you tell me what you get up to when you’re not touring or in the studio then?

DR: Well I’ll be honest with you, my only hobby is playing golf. But my favourite thing in the world is being with my kids. I mean doing everything – whether it’s sitting around, watching some bad television shows, driving around, talking and laughing, or just sitting around playing cards or whatever, my favourite thing in the world is to be with my kids.

CC: That’s a pretty good answer! But I’ll leave you to think about what question you’d like to be asked for the next time I interview you then!

DR: Absolutely, next time you interview me make sure to ask me that question because I’m going to be thinking about that all day!

CC: Wonderful, I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions today, and look forward to seeing you perform at C2C this weekend!

DR: Great talking to you!

A big thank you to Darius for taking the time out of his busy schedule to talk to me – if you’d like to see more interviews like this as well as brand new reviews, make sure to follow me on Twitter @CiarasCountry; and check out my reviews of C2C on this blog!

Concert Review: C2C COUNTRY 2 COUNTRY 2017 (Day 3), London, The O2

March 12^th marked my third and final day at C2C 2017, and as per usual, it started in the Indigo2, where I had front row balcony seats to see Seth Ennis. Although it was early, he’d packed out the venue to capacity, which was pleasant to see considering he’s still a relatively new act. However, it soon became clear to see why so many people had come to see him, as he played songs from his recently released EP Mabelle (which people were already singing the words to) as well as covers of everything from Justin Bieber to Ed Sheeran. My highlight was watching him perform Lauren Alaina’s Three, which I hadn’t known he’d written. It was a song which extended beyond the usual content of many country songs, to discuss the sacrifices artists have to make for “three minutes on the radio.” Thought-provoking, and an excellently penned song.

Next up were some more new additions to the country genre, this time in the form of three-piece Temecula Road. I’d heard a few of their songs recently, including a cover of summer hit Closer by The Chainsmokers, and was really impressed by their performance. Although young, Emma, Dawson & Maddie all have very strong voices, and it’s where these voices combine that you get heavenly harmonies. I’m calling it now – I can see these three becoming the next Little Big Town! They were able to highlight their songwriting abilities with tracks such as Mind On You and Everything Without You, but oh my gosh, I have never seen an audience more engaged than when they began to sing The Eagles’ Desperado. To have an audience respond like that to their first show this side of the pond is something to be proud of. Plus, the group seem like really nice people too – joking with the crowd, taking a mega-selfie at the end, and making sure to shake hands and talk with everyone who came to their signing. Another one to watch.

The trio were followed shortly afterwards by Drake White who appeared to let the audience choose what songs he would sing, hopping around the stage as he performed. His songs are catchy, that’s for sure, with upbeat tracks like Live Some and Livin’ The Dream. I think the audience especially appreciated his made-up-on-the-spot track at the end about his London experience.

It was a lucky thing that I’d been in Indigo2 for most of the morning, as I’m sure a lot of people were turned away at the door before the next act, as I saw the queue snaking far around the side of the building. No surprise, this was for The Shires, without a doubt the UK’s most successful homegrown country act, and it seemed like the most popular act to play the BBC Radio 2 stage judging by the size of the crowd. Whilst enjoyable, and it was undeniable that the crowd were very much into the duo, singing along to all their songs, I worry that The Shires veer away from their UK roots – for instance in the song Daddy’s Little Girl, which although beautifully written, left me confused from the first lines “The smell of Old Spice, a flat cap on the dash,” which to me sounded rather American, and not heralding the UK country the duo represent. Likewise, the same can be said for State Lines, a song which I thoroughly enjoy, but is very US-oriented. Props to the duo for sticking around for almost an hour after their set to sign every autograph in the long queue of fans waiting to meet them.

The final act to play the Radio 2 stage was Cassadee Pope, who was able to get the audience invigorated with catchy songs like Summer and I Wish I Could Break Your Heart. I particularly liked the ballad Kisses At Airports, and the story she told behind it about visiting her UK based relatives and knowing she’d be heading back to the States soon. My highlight however was Me, Myself and Wine – if this is an indication of what we can expect from Cassadee’s next album, there’s a lot to look forward to.

Following a profitable morning in the Indigo2 stage, I headed back to the Press Room for Zac Brown Band’s Press Conference, an interesting experience given that all eight band members were crammed around a few microphones on the table!

It was then time to head into the Main Arena where Brothers Osborne were kicking off the evening. They brought a really rocky vibe with songs like It Ain’t My Fault, again highlighting the variety of country styles we’d seen over the weekend. I didn’t think I was too familiar with the duo, but I found I knew a few of their songs such as 21 Summer and Stay a Little Longer, and enjoyed the rave-like atmosphere they created as everyone rocked along to their songs. A proper party starter for what was set to be an exciting evening.

Drake White was again playing the Yamaha Stage, although this time without his band. He nonetheless managed to stand his own, and gathered a considerable crowd around the stage.

The next act was the one I was most excited for out of the whole C2C line-up. Having been introduced to Maren Morris at C2C last year, when she played the Yamaha stage, and been very impressed by her voice, I made sure to check out her debut album Hero when it was released last year. It’s since become one of my favourite albums, and so I was very much looking forward to Maren performing a full set this year. There’s not a song on her album that I don’t like, and so it was great to let go and sing along to all the songs with personal favourites being How It’s Done and Just Another Thing. Someone sitting near me mentioned that they thought she was the most ‘mainstream’ of all the acts playing the weekend, and that may be true, but her mainstream success is due to her fantastic repertoire. Although not everyone was knew her songs as well as I did, I’d be surprised if not everyone in the Arena stopped to join in on My Church, which made for quite the atmosphere. Without a doubt my favourite act of the weekend.

The Yamaha stage was reserved for Lucie Silvas, who proved that even with a sore throat, she could still capture the entire Arena with her vocals and extremely well-written lyrics.

Marty Stuart was the only act on the headlining bill that I wasn’t aware of. I had assumed that he would be the Vince Gill of this year’s line-up – an artist who had been around before I’d started listening to country, and was perhaps more well-known for his guitar-playing skills. As a result, I wasn’t sure if he would be my cup of tea, but you know what, I actually enjoyed his set quite a lot. Sure, it’s not the music I would listen to on a daily basis, but it’s country as country is known for – mandolins, twangs, and fast-talking lyrics. Not only were his guitar-playing skills obviously very admirable, but I enjoyed a lot of his songs, not least Tempted and Dark Bird, but also those sang by members of his band, which I thought added a very nice touch rather than just focusing solely on the frontman.

The final act on the Yamaha Stage was Jana Kramer, who I was also looking forward to seeing, having been a fan of tracks such as Why You Wanna and I Got The Boy. Jana has a very country voice, and proves she is so much more than ‘that actress from One Tree Hill’. I hope she’ll return to the UK soon.

And finally, to close up the show was none other than Zac Brown Band. One might be mistaken to think that Zac Brown would be the star of the show, but in fact each and every member of the band had their shining moment, each given the opportunity to show off their instrumental skills at one point or another. Again, you couldn’t help but sing along to the band’s songs including Goodbye In Her Eyes, Toes, Free, and Colder Weather. An added bonus was found in the band’s rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody, which even those who wouldn’t count themselves as ZBB fans were able to get up on their feet and sing along to. Prior to this weekend, I wouldn’t have said that I was the biggest Zac Brown Band fan, but I think I may have proven myself wrong. A really great end to a really great weekend.

I’ll finish by adding that throughout the whole weekend, sitting in front of me was a woman who must have been between 80 – 90 years old, and not once did she sit down for the entire weekend, with I think just goes to show not only how addictive the acts were, but how there was definitely something for everyone over the course of the weekend. Was C2C 2017 as good as previous years? In my opinion, no – I would’ve liked to have seen more big acts who haven’t toured the UK in years, if ever; and also felt that last year had dealt better with signings and things from bigger artists than this year (for instance, Maddie & Tae did a signing last year, where there was nothing of the sort this year). Would this put me off going again? Never in a million years.  

You can check out my reviews of Days 1 & 2 of C2C 2017 also on this blog! Stay tuned on reviews and interviews by following me on Twitter @CiarasCountry and be sure to let me know your thoughts!

Concert Review: C2C COUNTRY 2 COUNTRY 2017 (Day 2), The O2, London

 After a few hours sleep, I was back early at the O2 for Day 2 of C2C. Again, my first stop was the BBC Radio 2 Stage in Indigo2 to catch Chase Bryant for the second time (but not the last!) His set was vastly different from those I’d seen on the Radio 2 stage the day before, as he put on a proper rock concert, complete with full band and flashing lights – probably what a lot of us needed to perk ourselves up!

Next up was Logan Brill, who I was particularly looking forward to seeing having seen her perform at Nashville Meets London last August, where I also interviewed her (which you can read here). She put on a great performance then, and so I was excited to see how the UK audience would react to her. This proved a real highlight for me, and I’d say that if Brooke Eden was my stand-out star of C2C last year, Logan Brill was for me this year. She put on a very strong performance with upbeat tracks like World’s Still Round mixed with a few ballads, with a particular favourite being a thus far unreleased track Break Each Others Hearts, a heart-wrenching song which I look forward to hearing on an upcoming album. She also made time to chat with the audience in between songs, including providing amusing anecdotes such as the fact that she sends all of her songs to her Mum first, something she says she probably shouldn’t have done with one titled Walk of Shame. It was nice to catch up with Logan after her set (and be recognised too!) – she really is one to watch.

I caught the beginning of Canaan Smith’s hard-rocking set (complete with early afternoon whiskey drinking) before I had to head off to The Bluebird Café, this year taking place in the NY-LON lounge. I had attended The Bluebird both in Nashville, as well as last year at C2C, watching Old Dominion and Shane McAnally perform in the round. It was a highlight last year, and so something that I definitely wanted to repeat this year. My criteria for choosing which slot to go for was picking who I thought was the most well-known artist as well as seeing a great songwriter, so ended up choosing the slot with Chase Bryant, Logan Brill, and Josh Osborne. The Bluebird really is a special experience, as the artists perform acoustically and explain the stories behind their songs, often joking with one another and creating a really nice atmosphere. Like most songwriters, Josh Osborne wasn’t a name that I was familiar with, but his songs certainly were, including Blake Shelton’s Sangria (with an amusing story about how this was passed up by Kenny Chesney), Kacey Musgraves Merry Go Round, and Kenny Chesney’s Setting The World On Fire. Again, another real highlight of the weekend.

Sadly, the Bluebird started late and so I missed the final few acts performing in Indigo, so instead decided to go check out some of the Press Conferences. I’d hoped to catch Cassadee Pope, but a timetable change meant that she had been and gone, so I stuck around for Darius Ruckers instead (who I also interviewed earlier in the week – coming soon to this blog, watch this space!). This was followed by another exciting interview, this time with rising star Seth Ennis, who I’d been a fan of since the release of Woke Up In Nashville. Seth is a very amiable guy, and it was a great interview (again, coming soon to Ciara’s Country!) with the interview being even more exciting for having taken place in a secret room somewhere in the O2, literally hidden behind a revolving bookcase!

The interview meant that I missed the start of Dan + Shay’s set, but didn’t mind too much having reviewed their gig (which you can read here) and interviewed them (check it out here) a few months ago. Nevertheless, I caught the end, and can’t disagree too much with Dan Smyer’s observation that Shay Mooney has one of the best voices in country music. Again, good interaction with the crowd, including adding in an unscheduled rendition of Obsessed, leaving many female fans swooning in the audience.

Then over to the Yamaha stage again to watch Bailey Bryan, another act who I hadn’t been familiar with prior to C2C. She’s been pegged as an ‘Artist of Tomorrow’ and certainly has charisma, so I’d keep your eyes open for her. She’s one for the digital age, as made clear in her Press Conference when she elaborated on the music video for her single My Own, filmed especially for mobile phones. I expect we’ll be seeing more of Bailey soon.

Hunter Hayes was next on the main stage, and where he really shone was in his guitar playing. Hunter is a musician at heart, and watching him shred that fretboard really was a sight to behold. Fans have been waiting a long time for Hunter to release some new music, and he gave us an insight into what to expect with songs like Amen, giving us all something to look forward to.

As the set was changed over, Seth Ennis took to the Yamaha Stage, and again, his amiable personality shone through as he expressed his gratitude for having the opportunity to perform in front of such a large audience. Although his songs veer towards the crossover with pop, they really worked when stripped back to just vocals and guitar / piano, with a particular favourite being Fast Girl.

We were then treated to another returner, Darius Rucker, who I would describe as having a more traditional country sound than the artists who had taken to the stage before him. However, Darius really brought the party. He looked like he was having a ball on stage, dancing along to the music and making sure that everyone was having a good time. He has the ability to perform a great mix of styles, as shown not only in his own music, as he moved from the slow ballad It Won’t Be Like This For Long, to catchy head-bopping songs like Radio; but also in the fantastic covers he performed. He really showed his versatility, performing country favourites like Friends in Low Places, to rapping along to No Diggity, and then performing Purple Rain in honour of all those lost over the last year, and lighting the O2 up with thousands of phone lights.

Much like in the first year of C2C, Darius was a hard act to follow, but Cassadee Pope managed to do just that. I see Cassadee as really evolving into the country genre, and really enjoyed an upcoming track she played called Me, Myself and Wine. Take a listen to it on YouTube if you have the chance – you’ll be singing along to it all day.

The final act of the night was Reba McEntire, and I was disappointed to see that many concert attendees had already left. The same thing happened a number of years ago when Zac Brown Band performed for the first time, with many leaving during some of the instrumental solos (I bet they regret that now). My thoughts are, if you’ve paid for the concert, why not stay until the end? I didn’t know much of Reba’s repertoire, but there was no way I was going home early, and I was glad I made that decision. Reba reminds me of a country music kind of Cher, so it’s easy to see why she has recently been doing a Vegas residency. She played a number of songs from her new faith-based album, but really got the crowd going with some old favourites, including Turn On The Radio and The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia. I hadn’t previously been familiar with these songs but found myself dancing along to them nonetheless and just having a great time. I also discovered that she was friends with, and Mother-in-law, to Kelly Clarkson, leading to a rendition of Because of U. However, the highlights for me were absolutely Does He Love You, a duet with her backing singer; and the one Reba song I can say I knew, Fancy, which she performed as the encore in a red dress I’m sure many of us wouldn’t be able to pull off! To those who left early, you missed out.  

My final spot was the Lucie Silvas aftershow in the Indigo2. Tired after 2 days of non-stop musical madness, I huddled myself up in the balcony and just allowed myself to enjoy the show. Lucie has a strong raspy voice, and is clearly a very talented songwriter, as she played a few songs she'd written for other Nashville stars. Not a bad way to end the night.

Day 2 was clearly a day for many generations, starting with more crossover artists and ending with more traditional. It’s great to see how varied country music is, and festivals like this allow you to open yourself up to artists you might not otherwise consider. Would I have considered myself a Reba fan before C2C? Probably not. Will I now? Maybe, just maybe.

Have you read my reviews of Days 1 & 3? Check them out on the blog! Stay tuned on reviews and interviews by following me on Twitter @CiarasCountry and be sure to let me know your thoughts!