CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF COUNTRY TO COUNTRY 10 TO 12 MARCH 2023 THE O2, LONDON / 3ARENA, DUBLIN / THE OVO HYDRO, GLASGOW
ZAC BROWN BAND - LADY A - THOMAS RHETT OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW – MIDLAND - JORDAN DAVIS MITCHELL TENPENNY - LAINEY WILSON LINDSAY ELL - MATT STELL - INTRODUCING NASHVILLE BRELAND (LONDON ONLY) And more special guests to be announced
Tickets on sale Friday 21st October at 10am
Celebrating a decade of bringing country to the masses, C2C, Europe's biggest country music festival, is back for 2023!!!!!
Country to Country has established itself as the annual destination to see some of the world’s best country artists and future stars. The festival is set to bring yet another incredible line up to The O2 London, 3Arena Dublin and The OVO Hydro, Glasgow from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 March 2023.
To celebrate 10 years of C2C, world-renowned superstars Zac Brown Band, Thomas Rhett and Lady A have been confirmed to headline 2023’s festival. They will be joined by Nashville’s hottest and most buzzed about artists Midland, Jordan Davis, Old Crow Medicine Show, Lainey Wilson and Mitchell Tenpenny alongside prolific performers Lindsay Ell and Matt Stell. CMA’s international series Introducing Nashville also returns which sees exciting, emerging newcomers share the mainstage for an acoustic set, recalling stories behind their tracks. Further special guests will be announced soon.
In London the unstoppable Breland will open C2C on the Friday night and will co-host the festival across the weekend with the legendary Bob Harris OBE who said: “I am proud to have been the main stage compere at Country to Country in London since the inaugural event in 2013. It was an exciting and history-making moment and it’s been incredible to see C2C get bigger and bigger every year since, to become the centrepiece of the Anglo/American Country calendar - the UK’s biggest Country music weekend. It’s an amazing story and I am thrilled and honoured to be hosting the artists on the main stage again in 2023. Even better, I’ll be joined in the spotlight by my friend Breland, whose career has literally gone stratospheric since the release of his first music only three years ago. I cannot wait to see the incredible performers playing at the festival this year and I am so much looking forward to reuniting with the fabulous fans who make our Country Music community so special.”
Since its inaugural event in 2013 headlined by Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood at The O2 London, Country to Country has grown to a three-day multi-arena event featuring the best in country music and programming which fans have come to love and expect, with tens of thousands in attendance each year. Not only does C2C feature performances from the world’s best country stars it also showcases the best of emerging talent from Nashville, UK and Europe.
Jack Dowling, C2C Festival Director said: “Country to Country is delighted to be bringing back the finest in US talent to the UK and Ireland. In our 10th year C2C keeps going from strength to strength. We’d like to thank our fantastic partners AEG Presents, the CMA and BBC Radio 2 who continue to help us deliver the best event and of course, more importantly our passionate fans. Country to Country would not be what it is without you. See you all for C2C 2023!”
Chris York, C2C Festival Co-Founder and Director at SJM Concerts commented: “As founder of C2C, it is incredible to see the event moving into its 10th year. A testament to the wonderful support of all artists, managers and agents who continue to believe in the power of country outside of North America. We have to thank our amazing event partners BBC Radio 2, the CMA and lastly the fans – who continue to drive the event forward and challenge us to keep moving forward. That’s what makes doing this worthwhile.”
"C2C is a tentpole event for our industry and our Country Music community.” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “As we see Country Music continue to expand on a global scale, it's events like C2C that are pivotal in maintaining that forward momentum, promoting music discovery, broadening the fan base and demonstrating the growth of Country Music internationally. We are thrilled to be partnering with C2C again this year and look forward to the event in March!"
The C2C Spotlight Stage will also be back so watch out for news of the full line up in the coming months.
Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 21st October and are available from:
London + Glasgow - www.axs.com/c2c / www.gigsandtours.com / www.ticketmaster.co.uk Dublin - www.ticketmaster.ie Glasgow www.gigsinscotland.com / 08444 999 990
In 2022 C2C welcomed country music superstar headliners Luke Combs, Darius Rucker, Miranda Lambert alongside Kip Moore, Brett Young, Ashley McBryde, Russell Dickerson, Scotty McCreery, Flatland Cavalry, Tenille Townes, Hailey Whitters and more: as well as programming from the Festival Stages, BBC Radio 2 Stage, CMA Screenings, The Bluebird Café, Aftershows and C2C Sessions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Website www.c2c-countrytocountry.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/Country2Country
Twitter https://twitter.com/C2Cfestival
Instagram @C2CFestival
ARTIST INFORMATION
ZAC BROWN BAND Zac Brown Band is a multi-platinum, GRAMMY Award-winning, Southern rock group led by front man, Zac Brown. Throughout their career spanning more than a decade, Zac Brown Band has had six consecutive albums reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and five consecutive albums debut at #1 on Billboard's Country Albums chart. To date, the group has won three GRAMMY Awards, including Best New Artist in 2010, sold more than 30 million singles, 9 million albums, amassed over 10 billion catalog streams to date, achieved 16 #1 radio singles and are the second act to top both the Country and Active Rock formats. Zac Brown Band has headlined 8 North American Tours and currently holds the record for most consecutive sold-out shows at the iconic Fenway Park. Symbolic of their massive success at the ballpark, in July 2022, Zac Brown Band was inducted into the Fenway Music Hall of Fame, joining music icons Paul McCartney and Billy Joel. Since their debut, Zac Brown Band has developed a reputation with critics and fans alike as one of the most dynamic live performers, marked by strong musicianship that defies genre boundaries.
THOMAS RHETT Ten years after signing his record deal with Big Machine Label Group’s The Valory Music Co., arena-packing superstar Thomas Rhett — dubbed “the most reliable maker of No. 1 singles in country music” (Variety) — has 19 multi-PLATINUM and GOLD-certified No. 1 hits, 12 BILLION streams and the longest current active streak of consecutive No. 1s in the format (Mediabase/Country Aircheck Chart). Declared “a prince in the genre” (USA Today), he has been honoured with eight ACM Awards including Entertainer of the Year, two CMA Awards, five GRAMMY nominations, plus trophies from the CMT Music Awards, Billboard Awards and iHeartRadio Awards, in addition to being recognized with two CMA Triple Play awards for penning three No. 1 songs within a 12-month period. The superstar’s critically acclaimed sixth studio album WHERE WE STARTED is available now. Inspired by family, friends and his love of the outdoors, Thomas Rhett is the cofounder of Dos Primos Tequila and is collaborating with Chaco on an exclusive sandal line. For more information, visit www.ThomasRhett.com.
This week, Thomas Rhett and Katy Perry release the music video for their duet “Where We Started" on October 18th at 4pm GMT. Directed by Patrick Tracy, the video for the title track off Thomas Rhett’s sixth studio album finds each artist contently reflecting on their own journeys. To watch the two superstars at ease as their paths cross for the anthemic track, click HERE.
LADY A Built around rich vocal harmony, vivid emotional writing and a smooth fusion of Country, rock and pop, Lady A have long been a model of mainstream success. The trios 11 No. 1s, 18 million albums sold, 34 million tracks, five billion digital streams and a global touring footprint prove that point. Known for their 9X PLATINUM hit “Need You Now,” which is the highest certified song by a Country group, they have earned CMA Awards Vocal Group of the Year trophies three years in a row and countless other honors including five GRAMMY® Awards, Billboard Music Awards, People’s Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards, and a Tony Award nomination. For more information visit www.ladyamusic.com
JORDAN DAVIS Current Billboard Award nominee Jordan Davis first broke through with his 2018 Gold-certified debut album, Home State and three consecutive No. 1s-including the Platinum-Certified hits “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot,” “Take It From Me,” and the Double Platinum-Certified “Singles You Up.” Named Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of 2018 and Best New Country Artist at the iHeart Radio Music Awards, Davis continued to earn accolades and has garnered more than 2 billion streams and counting. Most recently, Davis wrote and released his 8 song EP Buy Dirt, whose title track became one of the Top streamed country songs of all time and earned the singer/songwriter 4 ACM nominations, including Song of the Year, as well as a CMA nomination for Musical Event of the Year. Currently touring the country on the Buy Dirt tour, Davis was just announced as direct support for Luke Combs’ upcoming tour.
MIDLAND Hailing from Dripping Springs, Texas, lead vocalist Mark Wystrach fronts Midland’s rich sound that is rounded out with lead guitarist/vocalist Jess Carson and bass player/vocalist Cameron Duddy. Rooted in tradition in both sound and style, the trio initially garnered attention playing clubs in the region. Their critically acclaimed sophomore album LET IT ROLL (Big Machine Records) earned the No.1 position on Billboard’s Top Country Album Sales chart upon release, receiving praise from outlets such as Rolling Stone, Variety, NPR and Entertainment Weekly among others. Wystrach, Carson and Duddy all played an integral role in writing the 14-track album with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne as a follow-up to the critically acclaimed, GOLD-certified debut album, ON THE ROCKS (Big Machine Records). Launching in 2017 with rave reviews, ON THE ROCKS was declared “the year’s best Country album” by Washington Post. Their 2x Platinum-certified chart-topping debut “Drinkin’ Problem,” which offers an intentional nod to Country music reminiscent of the 1970s and 80s, earned the band their first GRAMMY® Awards nominations for Best Country Song and Best Country Duo/Group Performance. The trio was also named New Vocal Group of the Year at the 2018 ACM Awards and are bringing listeners a resurgence of their thick harmonies, sad melodies, tart lyrics, and steel guitar with their latest album THE LAST RESORT: GREETINGS FROM (Big Machine Records). Growing from bar band to an in-demand headliner the trio has spent the past few years on the road selling out headline tours from coast to coast as well as getting to support some of Country music’s biggest stars like George Strait, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, and Little Big Town. The band is currently on the road for their headlining THE LAST RESORT TOUR. For more on Midland and tour updates, visit MidlandOfficial.com.
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW Old Crow Medicine Show got their start busking on street corners in 1998, from New York state and up through Canada, winning audiences along the way with their boundless energy and spirit. They eventually found themselves in Boone, North Carolina where they caught the attention of folk icon Doc Watson while playing in front of a pharmacy. He invited the band to play at his festival, MerleFest, and the rest is history. It’s been over twenty years since these humble beginnings. The band has gone on to receive the honor of being inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry, and have won two Grammy Awards: “Best Folk Album” for Remedy (2014) and “Best Long Form Music Video” for Big Easy Express (2013). Additionally, their classic single, “Wagon Wheel”, received the RIAA’s Double-Platinum certification in 2019 for selling over 2,000,000 copies while the band’s debut album O.C.M.S. has been certified Gold (500,000 copies). The band’s latest release is Live At The Ryman (2019) which was released on Columbia via The Orchard. Old Crow Medicine Show’s latest endeavor was the Hartland Hootenanny, a variety show hosted on You Tube that featured music, storytelling, special guests, socially distanced square dancing and more. Old Crow Medicine Show’s seventh studio album, Paint This Town, was released via ATO Records (2022). Produced by Matt Ross-Spang, and recorded at their very own Hartland Studio, the new album shines a light on the darker aspects of the American experience with character-driven songs underpinned by the band’s vision for a more harmonious future.
LAINEY WILSON Six-time CMA Award nominee and ACM New Female of the Year 2022 winner, Lainey Wilson has earned the enthusiasm of the industry, having been named to nearly every “Artist to Watch” list, being crowned Billboard’s “Top New Country Artist of 2021,” and earning CMT’s “Breakout Artist of the Year” for 2022, the Louisiana native is one of Nashville’s hottest and most buzzed-about new artists. Landing her first No. 1 with her PLATINUM Certified ACM Song of the Year “Things A Man Oughta Know,” nearly 10 years to the day after leaving her small farming community in a camper trailer to chase her dreams, she has won over legions of fans with her signature Bell Bottom Country sound and aesthetic, which blends traditional Country with a modern yet retro flare. A prolific and sought-after songwriter (having co-writer credits on songs by artists including Luke Combs, Flatland Calvary and more), Lainey is a fresh, fierce voice in Nashville, delivering CMA nominated album of the year with her label debut, Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’. With a rockstar stage presence, her artistry has taken her across the globe, performing for sold-out crowds throughout the US, UK, and Germany with notable names like Jon Pardi, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Jason Aldean, Ashley McBryde, and more. After topping the country radio charts for a second time with the two-week No. 1 hit, “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell, her current single “Heart Like a Truck” is Top 25 and climbing, with the HARDY collaboration “wait in the truck” sitting close behind in the Top 35. She will release her hotly anticipated album, Bell Bottom Country on October 28, just before making her acting debut on the hit series Yellowstone on November 13.
MITCHELL TENPENNY Mitchell Tenpenny recently released an eight-song EP, Midtown Diaries EP, he produced Jordan B Schmidt. Mitchell co-wrote all the tracks including his smash “Truth About You” that he first previewed for his fans on TikTok. “You listen to the fans who listen to you,” Mitchell said about their instantaneous reaction as the song became the largest streaming debut of his career now with more than 60 million total on-demand streams. Mitchell can also be heard on the radio with Chris Young on their collaboration and ‘booming hit’ “At The End Of A Bar.”
Since the release of his debut single, “Drunk Me,” Mitchell has set new standards for breakout success in country music. The 2X Platinum-certified, No. 1 hit that has amassed over 550 million on-demand streams was taken from his introductory 2018 album, Telling All My Secrets, and earned him the best first week showing for any major label country debut LP. Since that time, the “winning” singer (the New York Times) was nominated for New Male Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards and Breakthrough Video (“Drunk Me”) at the CMT Music Awards and saw his “Alcohol You Later” and “Anything She Says” singles certified gold.
MATT STELL In only the last three years, “versatile” (Billboard) artist Matt Stell has quickly made his mark on country music, amassing over half a Billion music streams across his catalog, including back-to-back No. 1s “Prayed For You” and “Everywhere But On” along with fan favorites “Boyfriend Season” and “That Ain’t Me No More.” He has since made his Opry debut and performed on “Good Morning America,” “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s” #LateShowMeMusic digital series, “Bachelor In Paradise” and sung the national anthem for NASCAR and NFL events. He launched his Give A Damn Foundation, kicked-off his hugely successful 8-week Instagram-live series, Penned Up, and was the first-ever artist to receive a virtual plaque from the RIAA for “Prayed For You,” which is now approaching 2x Platinum status, and is an ASCAP Pop and Country most-performed song awards winner. In 2020 he released his new EP, Better Than That, the follow up to 2019’s Everywhere But On, and is prepping a new project for 2022, led by new single “Man Made.”
The 6’7” Arkansas native has come a long way from playing college basketball for Drury University and making the choice to head to Nashville instead of Cambridge, MA where he was accepted into Harvard University’s Extension School Pre-Med program. Following his dream of writing and performing, the self-taught vocalist and guitar-player made the move to Music City in 2014, landing a publishing and management deal with Wide Open Music and a record deal with music industry powerhouse Barry Weiss’ RECORDS Nashville. Stell has received “Ones To Watch” shout-outs from multiple partners, including Vevo DSCVR, MusicRow’s Next Big Thing, CMT Discovery Artist, YouTube Music Artist on the Rise and more.
LINDSAY ELL With more than 200M global career streams, Lindsay Ell has become one of the most celebrated female voices in country music. Lauded as “one of the most exciting and talented young artists” (Forbes), Lindsay Ell has two Canadian #1 singles ("Criminal" / "wAnt me back"), a US #1 single alongside Brantley Gilbert ("What Happens In A Small Town") and in 2021celebrated her third consecutive CCMA Award win.
Ell has been nominated for ACM Awards (New Female Vocalist (2019), New Female Vocalist (2020), Music Event of the Year (2020)), CMT Awards (Social Superstar (2015), Collaborative Video of the Year (2019)), CMA Awards (Musical Event of the Year (2019)) JUNO Awards (Country Album of the Year (2021)) and 18 CCMA Awards. Last year, she earned her first GOLD single ("wAnt me back"), executed her first Canadian headlining tour and released a smash hit collab with Cheat Codes ("How Do You Love").
This summer will see Lindsay tour across the US, Europe and Canada in addition to stepping onto the stage as direct support for Shania Twain in August. Outside of her award-winning musical accomplishments, Ell has made a name for herself as a talented network television host, first co-hosting the 2021 CCMA Awards and now as the host of Citytv’s hit show Canada’s Got Talent. With much more to come from the award-winning talent, fans can be sure that this is just the beginning for Lindsay Ell.
BRELAND With PLATINUM breakout “My Truck,” singer/songwriter/producer BRELAND has emerged as a bold new force on today’s music landscape. The Breakthrough Artist by Amazon Music first popped off when the Hip-Hop and Country hybrid hit #1 on Spotify’s Global Viral 50 in 2019, and a remix featuring Sam Hunt landed on best-of-the-year lists from NPR to The New York Times. Adding to his 650 MILLION+ career streams, BRELAND’s debut album CROSS COUNTRY is out now and features infectious releases “Told You I Could Drink (feat. Lady A),” “Natural,” “Praise The Lord (feat. Thomas Rhett),” GOLD-certified “Throw It Back (feat. Keith Urban) and title track (feat. Mickey Guyton). Hailed as the “symbol of Country music’s ongoing evolution” (Rolling Stone), the Bad Realm Records/Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville artist has scored high profile looks on CBS Mornings, CMT Crossroads, Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, TODAY, The Kelly Clarkson Show, New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, plus performances on the ACM, CMT, and CMA Awards. He is set to go global with upcoming shows at CMC Rocks Qld 2022 in Australia (9/23-9/25) before joining Russell Dickerson’s UK run in October. Also just announced, his fall headline HERE FOR IT TOUR kicks off in November in Oxford, OH (11/16) and runs through December.
ABOUT THE COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association is the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. The organization serves as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advances the growth of Country Music worldwide. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Fest, which benefits music education through the CMA Foundation and is taped for a television special, “CMA Fest”; and “CMA Country Christmas.” CMA’s television properties are screened internationally in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Gibraltar, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the U.K. CMA brings music worldwide, by presenting live performances featuring artists and songwriters through its touring series Introducing Nashville and CMA Songwriters Series. CMA members are located around the globe. Through task forces represented in Australia, Canada, Germany, Scandinavia and the U.K., industry leaders work to further Country Music in these territories. CMA presents six annual international industry awards to acknowledge the efforts of individuals working to develop Country Music in markets across the world.
