In a Nutshell: Radio 2 Stage 2020
The in a nutshell series returns for C2C this years as we take you through stage by stage, artist by artist and suggest a recommended song by each! So to start off with, here's your artists on the Radio 2 stage 2020.
A Thousand Horses
Perhaps the biggest name on the pop up stages is A Thousand Horses. It’s not their first trip to C2C and they have returned since. Signed to Big Machine Label Group their southern rock style of Country is popular with the UK crowd. Their biggest hit came in 2015 when Smoke reached the top spot on the US Country airplay chart.
Recommended Song: Smoke
Catherine McGrath
One of, if not, the most successful UK Country acts is Catherine McGrath. Again, this is not her first rodeo. Her debut album Talk of this Town peaked at number 13 in the UK all genres chart and she has worked extensively with hit US Country writer Liz Rose.
Recommended Song: Grace
Caylee Hammack
Caylee Hammack was discovered by and encouraged to move to Nashville by Luke Bryan after several years of performing locally in her home state of Georgia. She got a job in one of the World’s most famous Honky Tonks’s Tootsie’s and is now signed to Capitol Nashville. Her first single charted on both the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.
Recommended Song: Family Tree
Filmore
There’s not a lot of info out there about Filmore but after seeing him live myself I can tell you that he’s a very exciting, upcoming artist in Country music. I guarantee he is someone who will be talked about for all the right reasons come the end of the festival and will be one of the highlights of the weekend for the majority!
Recommended Song: Love That About You
Gabby Barrett
I was delighted when Gabby Barrett was announced, one of the next big stars to come out of Nashville she has had success after appearing on American Idol. However she hasn’t just got a strong and unique voice, she is a great songwriter too - the full package artist! And she is sure to be asked, when are you coming back?
Recommended Song: the very cleverly written I Hope
Jackson Michelson
I had the great pleasure of seeing Jackson out in Nashville performing alongside Rodney Atkins. He’s a charmer, a crowd pleaser and someone who could go far in this genre. Right now he’s just really happy to be where he is. He’s learnt a lot from the big stars he’s toured with such as Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker to name a few.
Recommended Song: Stay Over
Kassi Ashton
What can I say about Kassi? My frequent readers and listeners will know I hold her in high esteem. She has the voice, the stage presence, the songwriting and the kind heart we hope all our idols have. Kassi is a wonderful artist and a wonderful person and after you’ve witnessed her vibrant performance and taken yourself off to her meet and greet after the show, you are sure to be grinning from ear to ear, she has that affect on people!
Recommended Song: California Missouri, Taxidermy, Hopeless… alright all of them!
King Calaway
King Calaway is a six piece Country Pop band, they had chart success last year with their single World For Two. The band was pieced together by the industry in a way but they’re all talented vocalists and musicians. Four of them come from the US whilst Keyboard and guitar player Simon Dumas comes from Gibraltar and Jordan Harvey who plays guitar comes from Scotland!
Recommended Song: World For Two
Kyle Daniel
I recently saw Kyle Daniel support Brandy Clark on tour over here. Not too dissimilar to Chris Stapleton, Kyle has distinct husky vocals that lend themselves well to his deep and intricate lyrics.
Recommended Song: Born to Lose
Mitchell Tenpenny
Mitchell has been slowly coming to the forefront of Country music and is not a new name to most of you! He co-wrote the top 10 hit on Country Airplay charts If The Boot Fits with Granger Smith. As an artist himself he has charted singles Drunk Me and Alcohol You later - I guess he likes drinking songs!
Recommended Song: Alcohol You Later
Noah Schnacky
Noah really impressed me both last year and at CMA Fest too, he writes beautiful love songs and hands out roses, every girl in the crowd will be dreaming about him after his performance. He is well practiced with his songs but also with his on stage talk.
Recommended Song: Maybe We Will
Robert Counts
Robert really intrigues me, he’s recently signed to Sony/ATV after winning a multi-day songwriting competition in his hometown of Franklin, TN. He’s a new comer but a very exciting one and I predict big things for this Country-rocker in the future.
Recommended Song: Someone in my Someday
Seaforth
Originating from Seaforth Australia, Tom Jordan and Mitch Thompson are now signed to Sony Nashville and have released one EP. They also featured on a guest single with Mitchell Tenpenny so don’t be surprised if they pop up in any of his sets - we have our fingers crossed!
Recommended Song: Talk to Me
Tebey
Tebey is an exciting multi-genre songwriter from Canada. He has had his songs recorded by pop artists such as One Direction and Cher. Perhaps most notably in Country he wrote Justin Moore’s number one hit Somebody Else Will. However he is an artist in his own right and has had chart success particularly in Canada.
Recommended Song: Denim on Denim
Temecula Road
Temecula Road are a trio originating from California. They were radio Disney’s Next Big Thing a couple of years ago and have since gone on to perform at the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium. Their harmonies are just beautiful!
Recommended Song: Maybe Not
Tenille Arts
It’s a good year for the Canadians with another on the line up, Tenille Arts! Tenille has been plugging away at the music industry since around 2009 when in high school she started posting cover versions of songs such as Taylor Swift’s 15 which caught the attention of talent managers in Nashville. It wasn’t until 2015 though that she really started to get her career off the ground. Now she has had chart success with a number of songs and has been recognised by the Canadian CMA.
Recommended Song: Somebody Like That
Willie Jones
Willie Jones is another artist I saw out in Nashville performing alongside Rodney Atkins. His unusual approach to Country Music will sure have people talking but he’s one of the most exciting new faces on the scene so he is definitely worth checking out! Originally from Louisiana, some may remember him from a short stint he had on the X factor. But his career is really starting to take off now he’s a little older and fusing the Nashville sound with hip-hop beats.
Recommended Song: Runs In Our Blood
