As the March rain trickled down over London, country music fans from all corners of the UK descended upon the iconic O2 Arena for another edition of C2C Country 2 Country. With a lineup featuring some of the hottest names in country music, anticipation was at an all-time high for what promised to be a weekend filled with electrifying performances, heartfelt ballads, and unforgettable moments.
Arriving just before the festival was about to kick off, my first stop was the Barrelhouse stage in the Town Square, a quaint Western style town they’ve built with stalls selling food and everything a cowboy and cowgirl could need. Despite how early it was in the day, the venue was already teeming with eager fans ready to kick off the festivities, and who better to start the day than the dynamic duo, Lakeview, who I'd had the privilege of seeing the previous weekend in Rotterdam. Known for their infectious party anthems, Lakeview wasted no time in getting the crowd hyped up with their energetic performance.
Opening with the lively Poor Me, Lakeview set the tone for their set. Their acoustic rendition of Loser showcased a different side of the duo, highlighting their versatility as artists. As they moved through Do It All Again and Hometeam, Lakeview proved that it's never too early to start the party. A great start to what would hopefully be an unforgettable day of music.
Making my way to the BBC Radio 2 stage at the indigo2, it was time for another act I was excited to see – Restless Road. Opening with the anthemic Bar Friends, the trio wasted no time in showcasing their stage presence and powerhouse vocals. Hits like Sundown Somewhere and new song Go Get Her had the audience singing along at the top of their lungs, while their soulful rendition of Growing Old With You tugged at the heartstrings. With their unique blend of country rock and stunning harmonies, Zach, Garret and Colton delivered a high-energy performance that had the crowd hyped up and wanting more. As they closed out their set with the infectious Head Over Heels and Lost Rodeo, it’s clear that Restless Road deserve their status as one of country music's rising stars.
Next up, multi-C2C performer Charlie Worsham, who was also serving this year as indigo2 co-host. Launching into Things I Can't Control, Charlie showed off his impressive guitar skills and soulful vocals from the moment he came on stage. As he performed Rubberband and the satirical Great Again, I got the impression he was very much like Keith Urban, and it seems I’m not the only one who thought so, as it was at this point that Charlie himself told us about Urban being his biggest inspiration before sharing his own version of Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me. Ending with Kiss Like You Dance, it was clear that he had won over the crowd with his infectious charm and undeniable talent.
C2C aims to show not only US talent but homegrown too, which is why next up we had female trio Remember Monday. Dressed in matching pink hats and slinky black outfits, Remember Monday may have looked like fans who had stumbled onto the stage, but their music spoke for itself. It was impossible not to bop along to tracks like Jailbreaker and Find My Way, while their rendition of Alanis Morrissette’s Hand in My Pocket offered a fun twist on a classic. As they closed out their set with the infectious Laugh About It, a song about wishing just the mildest of inconveniences on someone you don’t like, they left a lasting impression, proving that sometimes the best surprises come in unexpected packages.
If you were listening
to music in the early 2000s, the name Colbie Caillat will not be
unfamiliar to you. Dressed in an ethereal ensemble, Colbie looked every bit the part of a
country music goddess as she kicked off her set with the enchanting Falling
for You. Her angelic vocals
and heartfelt lyricism shone through on Try,
whilst her duet recorded with Sheryl Crow, I’ll Be Here was a real
highlight, showing a much more mature view to a breakup than a lot of songs out
there. As she
closed out her set with the bubbly Bubbly (of course), I’d say that
there were more than a few people in the audience more than happy that Colbie
had decided to take the step and come and join us in the country music world.
A varied range of music, and the day was only half done! Still to come – Lauren Alaina, Carly Pearce and Kane Brown on the Main Stage. Interested? Stay tuned for that review, coming soon!
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