As I was enjoying a stroll through the twilight the other night someone came out of their door and we exchanged brief neighbourly greetings before he told me he’d been at C2C and had made a significant journey to get there. It reminded me that C2C at its best is a gathering for folk who love country music and want to feel they can enjoy a night or two together with fellow country fans.
It’s important to know that when someone like Scotty McCreery declares his love for the genre deep into his Sunday night performance and correctly expects the audience to be able to sing along to all the covers he throws into a heartwarming medley of hits. You can hear many of these hits on this week’s AC as we plan to sprinkle many of them throughout the two hours of the show. Not only that but you can also hear the conversation I had with Scotty ewrlier that afternoon as well as fascination insights from Noeline Hoffman, Waylon Wyatt and the Spotlight stage star Noah Rinker.
If that’s not enough we will also bring you new music from significant ex C2C artists who brought new music out over the last week or so. It will not surprise you to know that Luke Combs leads the pack with his new (22 track!) album now available. As you might hope, but not necessarily expect , there is a new energy to Luke’s music which makes it very exciting to think he’ll be doing two massive outdoor shows in the summer here in Scotland. If you’ve not caught up with Luke’s music I’d suggest this new album is as good a place to start as any.
Kacey Musgraves and Ashley McBryde are anothe two ex C2C stars showcasing new material and fans of both artists will be delighted about these trailers to forthcoming albums. Kacey is back to her dry best – if you’ll pardon the pun – as she, once more, pushes the country permissive envelope in the way only Kacey can. Similarly Ashley’s lifting of a Gospel Children’s chorus is a beautiful piece of borrowing.
You’ll hear all this and more this Tuesday on Another Country. Can I remiond you that I will be live and would love to hear your thoughts on the weekend if you were there and do text 80295 or mail me rickyross@bbc.co.uk to let me know your take on the weekend. Evene if you could only hear our coverage and couldn’t make the gig do get in touch. I love hearing from you. Whichever way, join me if you can from 8 this Tuesday on BBC Sounds or BBC Radio Scotland.