Disclaimer: This is an independently run Fan Blog complimenting Marie Crichton's Country Show (formerly BBC Radio Shropshire; Saturday 18:00-20:00 / Monday 20:00-22:00) currently broadcasting live on CMR Nashville (Sunday 20:00-22:00/ Repeat Monday 08:00-10:00). It is not the work of its lovely presenter. Marie is not the Editor, she provides the fantastic music and Country Routes News Blog provides additional information to enhance her hard work and assist her loyal listeners. Thank you
She shared with fans: “I'm so excited to say that my brand
new single, and second release from my upcoming EP, 'One Heart' is out now.
This is such a special one as I really feel it is the heartbeat of the new
record and the catalyst for what's to come next”.
A
real-world Romany traveler with a gypsy heart and a storyteller’s
soul, Twinnie released the heart-breaking but
relatable track “One Heart.” Speaking to the gut-wrenching feeling of
unrequited love, Twinnie channels her exquisite storytelling into emotionally
driven lyrics, calling out that “it only takes one heart to break two.”
Watch
Twinnie - One Heart (Official Video) Published March 26, 2022 21,910 views #Twinnie#OneHeart
“‘One Heart’
is the catalyst for what’s to come,” says Twinnie.“It is
the heartbreak song and the heartbeat of my upcoming project. What I like most
about it is that it represents the person who’s responsible for the breakdown
of a relationship. It goes back to that core belief that it takes two people to
make a relationship work, but it only takes one to break both hearts.”
Produced by Grammy nominated Ben Johnson (David Guetta, Bebe Rexa), Johnny Reno and Twinnie the second part of Twinnie’s four-part journey
to self-love and acceptance for all, “One Heart” follows the release of
celebratory track, “Welcome To The Club” that Country Swag declared “an absolute anthem”
and Billboard praised
as the “perfect dancefloor-ready, uplifting and inclusive pop-country
anthem.”
Twinnie
- One Heart (Single; BMG Rights Management UK) Charting
Debut#27 UK Country iTunes Singles Chart, then #7
selling 30% of the No1 (Wheeler Walker Jr.) then posted on TikTok (March 27) it
had peaked at No3 on UK Country iTunes Singles Chart.
‘Welcome To The Club’ and ‘One Heart’ build
upon the success of Twinnie’s debut album ‘Hollywood Gypsy’, which was named as Radio 2’s Album of the Week and earned upbeat comparisons with Taylor Swift and Shania Twain. They are the first tastes from her upcoming collection
of songs that will continue to drop over the course of this spring and summer.
The full project along with accompanying music videos will combine to create a
stand-alone film and emotional story of self-acceptance that explores the
different emotions we all go through, from feeling like an outsider and hiding
our true feelings to embracing ourselves and accepting each other for who we
are.
Twinnie playing the Big Entrance Stage at C2C2022
Written by Twinnie, Lostboy (Tom Grennen,
Mimi Webb, Anne Marie, Griff ), Alex Stacey (Ella Henderson, Hrvy ),
Rupart “Ruxley” Blackman (laconic), Laura Welsh (Carla Monroe), and
Ben Johnson, “One Heart” is available now.
Absolute Radio Country made Twinnie their #RecordOfTheWeek with "One Heart"!
Let them know what you think of it of their Instagrampostwhen you hear them play it
THE
BRITISH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL CELEBRATES STORY TELLERS
Line-up for The British Country
Music Festival 2022 has been revealed.
The Third Edition of The British
Country Music Festival, 4 indoor stages including the candlelit iconic Empress
Ballroom. Celebrating UK country music singer songwriters.
VIP Weekend Ticket 2022 package
for TBCMF 2022 including an exclusive “Audience With…” event exclusive to VIP
ticket holders. £125.00 TICKETS
Weekend Ticket 2022
Early Bird Ticket. £87.50 TICKETS
WHEN: Friday
02 September 2022 – Sunday 04 September 2022
TBCMF 2022 Festival Poster CLICK to ENLARGE
Now
in its third year, The British Country Music Festival (TBCMF) is
back at the indoor, Winter Gardens entertainment complex in
Blackpool from 2nd to 4th September 2022. With four
stages in the venue, the event was launched in 2019 to provide a platform for
grass roots artists to perform alongside established, singer-songwriters of
country music, Americana, folk, roots and all the various sub genres.
This
year the festival is expecting record ticket sales with the announcement that
Ivor Novello Songwriter of The Year 2014 and BRIT’s Critics Choice Award winner
Tom Odell will be the main Saturday night headliner. Tom has
had four top five albums including massive number one Long Way Down, and
Jubilee Road which was inspired by the terraced streets in which he grew up. He
is due to release his fifth studio album later this year.
”Fit The Bill directors Martin and Marina
Blore, promoters and curators of the festival, have spent weeks listening to
the hundreds of applications from talented singer-songwriters from across the
UK and sifting them down to the final lineup.
TBCMF promoter Martin Blore from Fit The Bill Limited announced: “Our
festival provides a platform for the UK’s best story tellers which is what
contemporary country, folk and Americana music is all about. Tom Odell is one
of our greatest lyricists and composers and we are thrilled that he is headlining.
His reflective indie-folk style helps to push the boundaries of our festival
and I can’t wait to hear Tom’s performance in the candlelit Empress Ballroom.”
Martin added: “Homegrown artists are now writing about life in the UK with
songs that are continuing to establish a British country sound, without
emulating the traditional, American country drawl. Previously, UK artists were
writing about saloons and cowboys, now they are referencing their own country,
singing about pubs and terraced houses. They are still heading to Nashville,
but they are recording music about love and life in Great Britain. The UK now
has its own brand of British country music and it is becoming ever more evident
that our talented songwriters should stand alongside those who headline in
Nashville.”
Second headliner on Saturday will be Lucy Spraggan, whose song-writing
skills are critically acclaimed and have covered subjects from sobriety to
mental health. Since wowing the judges on the X Factor back in 2012, Lucy has
toured extensively with showcase performances at SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas
in 2018, a UK tour and European dates and appearances at Glastonbury and Isle
of Wight festivals. Lucy also toured with Melissa Etheridge in Europe in 2019.
Her latest album “Choices” was released in 2021 and debuted at number 5 on the
album charts.
Headlining on Friday is Amy Wadge, making a rare live appearance, having
recently spent more time focusing on song-writing. Amy, is the
writer of this year’s Eurovision song “Space Man” for singer Sam Ryder. Her long-established
partnership with Ed Sheeran is well documented and her name is referenced on
the EP they wrote together “Songs I Wrote With Amy”. The EP includes the
beautiful and highly successful “Thinking Out Loud”, for which she won the Grammy
for Song of The Year in 2016. Amy wrote the soundtrack for two series of
the BBC’s Keeping Faith and she has also co-written for and with artists
including Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, The Shires and Dua Lipa.
Sunday 4th September is the last day of the event that
traditionally welcomes an international artist to the festival. This year sees
Canadian country singer Jess Moskaluke take that guest spot.
Jess is the first artist since Shania Twain to achieve the Canadian
Recording Industry Award (CRIA) Platinum single release for the hit “Cheap Wine
and Cigarettes” and she has since won CRIA Gold awards for “Take Me Home” and
“Kiss Me Quiet”.
On the Horseshoe Acoustic Stage, Kezia Gill makes a welcome return
following her main stage performance last year. Rarely does an artist return
for two years in a row but Kezia will be performing some unreleased songs in an
up close and personal setting and the amazing Laura Oakes will host the
traditional Songwriters Carousel in association with CountryLine TV. With
performers such as Brooke Law and The Tumbling Paddies, (the latter flying in
from Ireland), the venue will be bursting with the UK’s best music creators.
Support artists on the main stage include singer-songwriter and producer Henry
Priestman, former member and songwriter for The Christians and whose album
The Chronicles of Modern Life was a huge success. Along with Henry, Sunbirds
will also be performing on Sunday. The band comprises of Beautiful South
founder member Dave Hemingway, who has been busy working with South colleague,
guitarist/songwriter Phil Barton, new discovery singer/violinist Laura
Wilcockson and drummer Marc Parnell.
The festival also offers festival goers the option to purchase a tram ticket
and arrive in Blackpool a day early for an exclusive preview of Blackpool
Illuminations before the official switch on that takes place on the opening
night of TBCMF (2nd September).
The combination of Tom Odell, Laura Spraggan and Amy Wadge is a programming
coup that won’t be seen on any other country, folk or Americana festival
line-up this year and it is testament to the promoters’ bold ambition for the future
of the event to push boundaries and to celebrate the UK songwriters who focus
on truth, great song structure and beautiful lyrics.
ABOUTThe British Country Music Festival
Music Styles: The British Country Music Festival (TBCMF) favour contemporary, singer-songwriters
performing songs from the genre’s country, country pop, country blues,
Americana, blue grass, folk, country rock, Irish and Celtic country as well as
all the lovely sub genres in between.
Perfect Venue: Situated
in the heart of Blackpool's entertainment area, the festival is staged at the
amazing indoor event space of The Winter Gardens. Built in 1878, the building
oozes charm, heritage and character.
Empress Ballroom: The main
stage is the world-famous Empress Ballroom. With its gilded, vaulted ceiling it
is just a magical room to present our style of music. We have candlelit
candlelabras to add to the atmosphere.
Horseshoe Pavilion: Originally
designed as a promenading venue, the Horseshoe Pavilion theatre is home to our
intimate, acoustic artists, the festival favourite "The Songwriters
Carousel".
Seated, Dancing or Standing: There
is seating, standing or space to dance if you want to in all our rooms. The
entrance is on the ground floor and there are lifts to access all floors. We
are not really a line-dancing festival, but the professionally sprung dance
floor welcomes all dancers and all styles.
In a field of our own: Uniquely
for a festival TBCMF are
indoors, so the weather can't spoil the fun or the sound quality. You can rely
on proper plumbed in toilets and permanent bars. With no mud to worry about,
you can dress up or down, in stilettos or boots, whatever floats your boat!
Blackpool ....The
UK's biggest seaside resort, the festival coincides with the switch on of the
world famous illuminations. Your weekend wristband allows you to come and go
throughout the weekend so that you can enjoy attractions, afternoon tea at
Blackpool Tower or fish and chips!
The Shires
New Album ‘10 Year Plan’ drops, Watch The New Video.
Named Jeff Walker CMA Global
Country Artist Award for a second time
THE SHIRES BRAND NEW ALBUM ‘10 YEAR PLAN’ IS OUT
NOW - LISTENHERE
The UK’s biggest
country music export The Shires today release their eagerly
anticipated new album ‘10 Year Plan’. It features the recently
released ‘I See Stars’ and ‘Wild Hearts’, which
have earned phenomenal airplay at Radio 2 (an A-list,
a Record of the Week, and premieres from Zoe Ball and Bob
Harris). They have positioned ‘10 Year Plan’ to add a successful
new chapter to a career that has already included four #1 UK Country albums, 100
million+ streams and two Gold-certified records.
WATCH THE
NEW VIDEO FOR ‘A BAR WITHOUT YOU’:
The Shires say, “We are so excited to finally have our
new album '10 Year Plan' out. We celebrate 10 years together as duo next
year and this album is looking back at every point on that journey - all the
milestones we have had. Our hope is that this album can be the soundtrack
to uplift our spirits again and enable us all to create new happy memories. We
hope you enjoy it".
‘10 Year Plan’ sees The Shires - Ben Earle and Crissie
Rhodes - taking all of their biggest influences and condensing them
into one cohesive, confident record. Opening with the colourful, country-pop
euphoria of ‘Cut Me Loose’, it’s a set that particularly excels
when The Shires place their authentic country roots into
arena-scaled anthems, as shown by the anthemic rush of ‘Sparks Fly’ or
the soaring slowburner ‘Skydive’. Yet The Shires have
no inclination to simply stick to a formula, as they voyage into the
smouldering Civil Wars-style sentiment of ‘Plot Twist’,
strip everything back for the raw ‘Peggy I’m Sorry’ or channel
classic Americana with the pedal steel inflections of ‘When It Hurts’.
The Shires also today release a new video for the album track ‘A
Bar Without You’. Crissie and Ben initially
trade lines before very naturally escalating into lusciously layered vocal
harmonies. They also confound country music tropes as the song’s initially sad
feel is uplifted into a sweet expression of being away from a loved one.
Watch HERE.
Ben says, “At first you might think this is a sad song, but
if you listen to the lyrics it’s saying, ‘Don’t worry when I go, because you’re
always in my thoughts.’”
Chrissie adds, “I think this demonstrates what we do best
in terms of harmonies, the way we layer them together.”
‘10 Year Plan’ is available to buy or stream HERE. The
Shires’ official store offers signed art prints with the vinyl format.
The Shires will launch ‘Ten Year Plan’ with
intimate album launch shows next week in Kingston and Leeds,
both of which will be hosted by a local independent record store - tickets are
available HERE. The duo
will also hold album signing sessions at three key hmv stores
that same week. They will visit hmv Westfield (12:30pm on Monday, March
14th), hmv Manchester (12:30pm, Tuesday, March
15th) and hmv Vault, Birmingham (5pm, Thursday, March
17th). More details can be found HERE.
They then embark upon a huge UK headline tour in April which
culminates with a prestigious show at the London Palladium.
Remaining tickets for the tour are available HERE. Their
summer festival schedule is taking shape with A Perfect Day in Exeter (July
3rd, headlined by David Gray) and a headline set at Castell
Roc in Chepstow (August 29th).
* BREAKING NEWS *
During the Country To Country
2022 Festival The Shires were presented with the Jeff Walker CMA Global
Country Artist Award for a second time. They last won it in 2017 when
Kristian Bush surprised them at the Indigo O2.
The
2021 Nominees included Jill Johnson (Sweden), Brett Kissel (Canada), The Shires
(UK) & The Wolfe Brothers (Australia)
Previous
winners include
2020
– Ilse DeLange, Netherlands
2019
– Travis Collins, Australia and Ward Thomas, UK
ABOUT: The Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award recognizes outstanding achievements by a Country Music artist signed outside of the United States. The artist must have furthered the popularity of Country Music as well as brought attention to the Country Music format in their foreign based territory.
CONNECT with The Shires:
2022 TOUR DATES:
MARCH - INTIMATE ALBUM LAUNCH SHOWS
14th Kingston, Pryzm - hosted by Banquet
Records
15th Leeds, Brudenell Social Club - hosted by
The Vinyl Whistle
APRIL - HEADLINE TOUR
21st Weymouth, UK , Weymouth Pavilion –
SOLD OUT
22nd Aberystwyth, UK, Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Great Hall
23rd Cardiff, UK, St David’s Hall
25th Brighton, UK, Dome
27th Basingstoke, UK, The Anvil
28th Torquay, UK, Princess Theatre
30th Stoke On Trent, UK, Victoria Hall Stoke
MAY - HEADLINE TOUR
1st Bristol, UK, O2 Academy
Bristol
2nd Liverpool, UK, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
4th Carlisle, UK, Sands
Centre
5th Gateshead, UK,
Sage Gateshead
6th York, UK, York
Barbican – SOLD OUT
8th Edinburgh, UK, The
Liquid Room – SOLD OUT
9th Aberdeen, UK,
Beach Ballroom
11th Lincoln, UK, Engine Shed
12th Folkestone, UK, Leas Cliff Hall
13th Bedford, UK, Bedford Corn Exchange
15th Cambridge, UK, Corn Exchange
16th Manchester, UK, The Bridgewater
Hall
17th Birmingham, UK, Symphony Hall
19th Oxford, UK, New Theatre Oxford
20th Guildford, UK, Guildford G Live –
SOLD OUT
21st Ipswich, UK, Regent Theatre
23rd Nottingham, UK, Nottingham Royal
Centre
24th London, UK, The London Palladium
