Celebrating a decade of bringing country to the masses, C2C, Europe’s biggest country music festival, is back for 2023, returning with 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 andMitchell 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.
 
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 21^st 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

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Multi-talented artist Breland has teased the release of his highly anticipated debut album CROSS COUNTRY with the drop of the grooving breakup track “Told You I Could Drink” featuring Grammy award-winning trio Lady A. Co-written by Breland, Lady A’s Charles Kelley, and Zachary Manno, the must-hear song is available now across all digital and streaming platforms. “Lady A is one of the groups that introduced me to Country music, so when I finally got in studio with Charles Kelley, I already had a Lady A collab in mind,” explains BRELAND. “The two of us performed ‘Told You I Could Drink’ at BRELAND & Friends at the Ryman in March, and the response we got from the audience was what convinced us to cut the song and put it on my album. I’m so excited for the world to hear what we made.”“Anytime we have a chance to collaborate with BRELAND, you can be sure that we’ll be there,” Lady A’s Hillary Scott said. “When I first heard this song it immediately took me back to high school after a bad breakup, getting lost in an R&B groove.”

Hinting at a collaboration, the Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist joined Lady A as their special guest to perform their 9X PLATINUM “Need You Now” as part of ABC’s primetime special “CMA FEST.”

Breland’s forthcoming project, Cross Country, will feature standout collaborations with Ingrid Andress, Mickey Guyton, Thomas Rhett and Keith Urban. Living up to his moniker as the “pen point guard,” BRELAND’s pen name is on every song alongside an impressive list of some of the most in-demand songwriters including Ashley Gorley, HARDY, Sam Hunt, ERNEST, Ryan Hurd and more. 

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Lady A have launched into the new year with their next single “What A Song Can Do” available everywhere now. The title track from their eighth studio album is as a love letter to fans, speaking to the power of music to get us through hard times. The track was written by the group’s Charles Kelley with Ryan Hurd, Sam Ellis and Laura Veltz. The track was an early fan favourite, as Kelley describes, “We have been overfilled with gratitude after releasing this album and we don’t take it lightly that after eight albums our music still resonates with so many people… This song is the summation of where our hearts are right now and how much music can really pull us through in times of need. We love writing songs about lost love and things like that, but I feel like our favorite material comes with a strong positive message.”

The trio’s career has been built around rich vocal harmony, vivid emotional writing and a smooth fusion of Country, Rock and Pop, making the band a model of mainstream success. Collectively, the trio have 11 No. 1s, 18 million albums sold, 34 million tracks, five billion digital streams and a global touring footprint prove the point. Best 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 honours including five GRAMMY® Awards, Billboard Music Awards, People’s Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards, a Tony Award. The band have just wrapped their new tour, supported by Carly Pearce, Niko Moon and Tenille Arts in the States. For more information visit www.LadyAMusic.com.

The post Lady A Announce New Single ‘What A Song Can Do’ appeared first on off the record.

[tps_title] 10. Ashland Craft – Travelin’ Kind [/tps_title]

Ashland Craft’s debut album Travelin’ Kind was a tour de force of a record, showcasing her impeccable, raspy vocal infused with a hefty country-rock production.

Read our full review here.

Stand-out Track: Your Momma Still Does

The post The Top 10 Best Country Albums of 2021 appeared first on off the record.

Since the release of their self-titled debut album, Lady A have been constantly experimenting with the parameters of their sound, from the experimental Heart Break in 2017 to the pop sounds on Need You Now in 2010 to a deep dive into their country roots on Ocean in 2019. What A Song Can Do is a continuation of that rediscovery, placing the lyrics and the art of the song as the core focus, built around their signature, rich harmonies. It’s a tenderly crafted project that charts their journey of rediscovery, digging into their emotional sensibilities in every area of their life, as Kelley himself states, “You rarely learn through the good times. Hardship is where that happens.” It’s clear they spent time finding this place – nearly 60 songs were written for the project, selecting just 14 to showcase – all of which were co-written by at least one member of the trio. There is a sense throughout the record of the quiet joy and contentment the band feel at rediscovering this home, as Scott describes the record, “It was an outlet for us to dream about touring again – and connecting with our fans.”

On the first half of the project that has already been released the band played away with their signature sound, from the lead-out, 80s rock-tinged track ‘Like A Lady’ that was built for live shows rather than studio versions to the heart-wrenchingly nostalgic ‘Things He Handed Down’ to the stunning and clever co-write with Ryan Hurd, ‘What A Song Can Do’ – all which set the stage for a beautifully tender and cohesive collection of songs. That half was rounded out with ‘Worship What I Hate,’ a brutally honest look at who we become if we’re not paying attention, especially in the modern world. ‘Before I really wake up / The first thing I touch is a button on a screen / I’m not guilty of leaving, not sticking around / I’m guilty of staying and just checking out / Yeah, I kept my head down and really missed out / On what’s in front of me.’ The track is led by the vulnerable power of Scott’s vocal as she opines on the state of being present that is a powerful lead into the second half of the album.

The second half of the project is kicked off with ‘Where Would I Be’ that looks at the road not travelled is a heart-swelling ballad about the road that they have travelled as a band, both as artists and individuals. ‘Where would I be without your love / And what would I do if I woke up / One day and found out this was all a dream? / Where would I be without your soul? / Reminding me I’m always home / As long as I can hear your melody.’ It’s a tenderly enacted track, stripped back to showcase the full power of the band’s signature harmonies.

‘Friends Don’t Let Friends’ is a delightful collaboration with Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett and Darius Rucker – three of the most unique vocalists in country music right now. A country version of ‘With A Little Help From My Friends,’ it’s a grooving, upbeat track about the community of friendship. ‘If you need a wingman / I can hold a cold can / I can pick up the phone man / Won’t let you leave out to dry.’ It’s a track that showcases the magic of Dan Huff’s production as he reinvigorates the band’s signature sound, merging rootsy pop with straight-up country and electrifying harmony in a cohesive and magical mix. More than anything, the track is pure joy – you can tell the artists on the track are celebrating the fact that after lockdown they are able to be in the same room again to unleash their creativity. Elsewhere, the same joyful spirit is brought back on ‘You Keep Thinking That’ that showcases a funkier, more modern sound, amped up by the opening vocoder-lined bars on Scott’s vocal, as she sings to an ex about being over them, despite what they think. ‘I hate to break it to you / But I’ve been seeing someone new / And he ain’t anything like you.’ It’s immensely fun romp, with sonic nods to ‘You Look Good’ but altered for the context of What A Song Can Do that fits seamlessly.

Still the heart-rendering, swelling ballads that are Lady A’s staple are brought in throughout. ‘In Waves’ is a swaying track about the inability to move on. ‘Missing you comes in waves / When the sun goes down on this Gulf coast town, I’m missing you / When the whiskey hits and it burns like this, I’m missing you.’ It’s a soaring, swirling track about heartbreak, whereas ‘Be That For You’ offers a heart-swelling and romantic ballad. ‘If you’re off the tracks and you’ve lost your way / On the days when only grace will do / I’ll be that for you.’ It’s a gloriously tender track, brought to life by stunning production by Dan Huff that enables the track to avoid cliche territory. It’s a classic Lady A track, akin to ‘I Run To You’ – emotionally-laden, rich harmonies, flawlessly delivered. Bringing in a different element to their ‘ballad’ repertoire, ‘Workin’ On This Love’ sees Dave Haywood step up to the mic for his first-ever lead vocal in 15 years. On the track he delivers an acoustic poem, written solo for his wife, Kelli, to honour Mother’s Day, delivered with so much tender emotion that it makes you wonder why he hasn’t taken lead more often. ‘I’ll be a shelter to hold your heart / Taking care of every part / Laying every stone, stronger as it grows / Building up my life, all around you and I.’The project is rounded out with ‘Swore I Was Leaving’ – a soaring ballad that showcases everything that have made Lady A the success they are, rich and tight harmonies, tenderly crafted lyricism and swelling production that allows the vocals to take up centre stage.

What A Song Can Do is a showcase of the power of Lady A as artists and songwriters. It’s clear as Kelley says, “We’ve rediscovered our purpose, and it’s to entertain and spread a positive message…I want our legacy to be songs that make people feel good. …But I also think there’s more to our story that hasn’t been written yet.” It’s a true return to emotional songwriting that was kicked off on Ocean, where the trio have dug into their signature sound and their roots allowing a true sense of contentment to be infused throughout the entire album – a trust in each other and themselves.

Read our Destination Country partner, Entertainment Focus’s interview with Lady A here.

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Following the release of their new track “Where Would I Be,’ Lady A have announced that their eighth studio album – What A Song Can Do – will be released on 22nd October through BMLG Records. The track continues to demonstrate the new refined vision of the band. On the project the band again worked with producer Dann Huff, the 14 tracks reinvigorate the band’s signature sound – a captivating fusion of rootsy pop and electrifying harmony that has dominated charts for more than a decade. What A Song Can Do is a love letter to fans – steeped in music’s power to get us through. Their new album feels like a reawakening, and to Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott, the road ahead looks better than ever.

“We’ve rediscovered our purpose, and it’s to entertain and spread a positive message – I really truly believe that,” Charles Kelley said. “I want our legacy to be songs that make people feel good. But, I also think there’s more to our story that hasn’t been written yet.”

As their fun-loving lead single “Like a Lady” stresses self-acceptance and female empowerment, “You Keep Thinking That” puts Scott’s sweet yet sassiness on blast, further amplifying her self-made message. Always up for a good time, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker and tour mate Carly Pearce offer support in the trio’s twang-rocking first true collaboration, “Friends Don’t Let Friends.” Additionally, Haywood steps to the mic for his first-ever lead vocal on the devoted “Working On This Love” as it finds him delivering a tender acoustic poem written solo for his wife, Kelli. The 14-track project ends on a romantic sway with “Swore I Was Leaving,” which was the first song the trio wrote for WHAT A SONG CAN DO. All of it illustrates the patient, gracious optimism the band has taken from their years together.

Fans can listen to the gentle acoustic track “Where Would I Be” that shares how refinement comes in many forms here: https://LA.lnk.to/WWIB_LyricPR

WHAT A SONG CAN DO TRACK LIST:

1. “Talk Of This Town” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds
2. “What A Song Can Do” | Charles Kelley, Sam Ellis, Ryan Hurd, Laura Veltz           
3. “Like A Lady” | Hillary Scott, Dave Barnes, Michelle Buzz, Martin Johnson, Brandon Paddock
4. “Things He Handed Down” | Charles Kelley, Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett
5. “Fire” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Justin Ebach
6. “Chance Of Rain” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Topher Brown, Justin Ebach   
7. “Worship What I Hate” | Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, Natalie Hemby, Amy Wadge
8. “Where Would I Be” |David Garcia, Natalie Hemby, Jordan Terry Minton
9. “Friends Don’t Let Friends” (featuring Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker) | Charles Kelley, Julian Bunetta, Ashley Gorley, Thomas Rhett
10. “In Waves” | Charles Kelley, Joey Hendricks, Alysa Vanderheym, Michael Whitworth
11. “You Keep Thinking That”|Charles Kelley, Dave Cohen, Chris Gelbuda, Steven Lee Olsen
12. “Be That For You”| Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Corey Crowder
13. “Workin’ On This Love”| Dave Haywood
14. “Swore I Was Leaving” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Jordan Reynolds, Parker Welling

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[tps_title]8. 747 (2014) [/tps_title]

Possibly the trio’s most varied record, 747 was a major departure for the trio with some mixed results – yet it is their more traditional tracks that were the ones with the most staying power.

Listen to the record here.

Stand-out Track: Bartender

The post Our Definitive Ranking of Every Lady A Album appeared first on off the record.

The post INTERVIEW: Lady A Talk Pre-Tour Anxiety and ‘What A Song Can Do’ appeared first on off the record.

Stream the project here.

Lady A have today released What A Song Can Do (Chapter One), an artfully and thoughtfully created collection of songs that show the trio’s ability to continue to push their boundaries and continue to release quality material – both sonically and lyrically. For the project, the band spent a year in rediscovery mode, recommitting themselves to their original intention and the result is this newly refined sound. The seven-track ensemble, produced by Dann Huff and with each track penned by at least one member, reinvigorates their signature rich vocal harmony, vivid emotional writing in a smooth fusion of Country, rock and pop. It’s an uplifting project that offers solace and hope.

Of the project Hillary Scott shares, “There’s an interdependence that we have with each other, and music is at the center of that to me… We are all living in the now together…we’re all a work in progress, and that is what we wanted to share with these songs on the first chapter.” What A Song Can Do offers a look at this renewed appreciation for their music and friendship, a refreshingly honest self examination delivered through their tight signature harmonies. The title track – and early highlight track – says it all. Written by Charles Kelley alongside powerhouse songwriters Sam Ellis, Ryan Hurd and Laura Veltz, the trio sing in this charmingly relatable track about the ability of a song to move a listener. 

‘It can make you dance and make you cry
Make you wanna give it one more try
Start a band, and kiss that girl
And break some rules
It’ll make you give your heart and get it back
Change your mind just like that
When it’s like every single line was written just for you
Ain’t it crazy what a song can do?’

Indeed, this record has it all – from the first track ‘Talk Of This Town’ and its ability to delve into heartbreak and the difficulty of moving on to ‘Like a Lady’ that is an excuse to dance out the toxins of hardships against women to ‘Things He Handed Down’ that offers a more sentimental look at parenthood and the lessons passed down from father to child to ‘Chance of Rain’ that reminds us not to play it safe in matters of life and love. This project covers huge emotional ground, given additional weight through the trio’s signature harmonies. It’s a weighty and emotionally balanced project. Given that some of their recent hits – ‘What If I Never Get Over You’ and ‘Champagne Night’ – were external cuts, the project is also a firm reminder that the trio are some of the best lyricists out there, accompanied for the creation of the project by some of the biggest names in Nashville songwriting, proving there isn’t an emotion a song can’t make you feel.

“Talk Of This Town” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds

“What A Song Can Do” | Charles Kelley, Sam Ellis, Ryan Hurd, Laura Veltz           

“Like A Lady” | Hillary Scott, Dave Barnes, Michelle Buzz, Martin Johnson, Brandon Paddock

“Things He Handed Down” | Charles Kelley, Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, Thomas Rhett

“Fire” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Justin Ebach

“Chance Of Rain” | Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Topher Brown, Justin Ebach   

“Worship What I Hate” | Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, Natalie Hemby, Amy Wadge

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