We’re only a week away from the start of the Country 2 Country festival in London, Belfast and Glasgow now. As artists like Carly Pearce, Kane Brown, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Old Dominion and Brothers Osborne rotate around those three cities in three days the beating of the action will be centered around the O2 arena in London where a myriad of other artists will be playing across a plethora of stages, in and outside of that arena.
There are always a lot of first-timers going to the C2C festival as the popularity of Country music expands in the UK and which stage you can and can’t access with what ticket and when is always a hot topic on social media so we thought it would be a good idea to clarify what the access rules are around the different stages. So, whether you are a C2C virgin or not, this guide might help you plan your visit. If you want a broader guide to the festival we’ve also produced one of those which you can read right here.
One of the biggest recommendations we have is that you download the official C2C app which tells you all the set times for all the stages across all three days.
BBC Radio 2 Stage at the Indigo
This stage, the biggest outside the main arena, can only be accessed if you have a ticket for the main arena show that day. Three day weekend tickets gain access all three days but if you only have a Saturday ticket to see Brad Paisley, Jake Owen et al then you can only go in on the Saturday. The days of wristbands are long gone and if you don’t know what I mean by that then it’s probably best consigned to history! Standing downstairs, seats upstairs: but it’s also worth knowing that people tend to get in the seats early and use them as a base, coming and going throughout the day with coats used as a placeholder. It’s a divisive topic but there’s not a lot you can do about it.
First act Friday: Restless Road at 1.30pm
First act Saturday: Brooke Eden 10.30am
First act Sunday: Jordan Harvey 10.30am
The Saloon in All Bar One
The queue for this ticketed venue starts outside the doors at All Bar One in the main O2 concourse. Similar to the Indigo, you can only climb the three flights of stairs to the intimate venue on the top floor if you have an arena ticket for that particular day. It’s a great little venue but it gets very busy, squashed and can be quite hard to see the tiny stage from the middle/back of the rectangular room. However, a bit of planning and forethought, if there is one particular act you want to see, will reap rewards. We saw Drake Miligan in here after the main arena show had ended last year and what a treat that was!!
First act Friday: Fancy Hagood 1pm
First act Saturday: Drayton Farley 10.30am
First act Sunday: Song Suffragettes songwriters round 10.30am
The Saloon, as we mentioned, also hosts a set from one artist each night after the main arena show has finished. Again, for arena ticket holders only. Friday sees Lola Kirke playing at 11.30pm, Saturday has Tigirlily Gold at 11.30pm and Sunday is Angel White, who is starting at the slightly earlier time of 11pm.
The Barrelhouse
Located inside Town Square and for main arena ticket holders only, is a venue that was new last year, The Barrelhouse. A circular venue with stained glass windows, the vibe its gives off is part honky tonk, part Ryman auditorium. The queues for popular artists like Winchester 49 were quite sizeable last year and some people didn’t get in so if there’s a particular artist you want to see, we’d recommend getting there 1 or 2 artists in advance to secure your spot. There is a bar inside the Barrelhouse: just thought we’d mention that!
First act Friday: Lakeview 1pm
First act Saturday: Hannah Dasher 11.10am (not to be missed!)
First act Sunday: Sinead Burgess 11.10am
The Big Entrance Stage
Located outside the main entrance to the O2 arena is the first of the free stages. You do not need any sort of ticket to see the artists on offer here. It can be quite cold because you are standing in a wind tunnel so we’d recommend taking a coat along to see your favourite artist here. The stage used to be in the main concourse but it was moved due to crowding and safety issues and we think that was a good idea.
First act Friday: Kerri Watt 2pm
First act Saturday: The Redhill Valleys 11am
First act Sunday: Martin Harley 11am
The Icon Stage
Another free, no ticket needed stage. The Icon stage can be found be going into the main O2 concourse and taking the escalators on your left up to the next floor. Head towards Ted Baker and Sunglasses Hut and you’ll find it right there. You can stand and sing along to your favourite artists amongst some bemused shoppers who haven’t done any due diligence and realised that their favoured shopping venue has been overtaken by cowgirls and honky tonkers that weekend!
First act Friday: Jeannine Barry 2pm
First act Saturday: Zandi Holup 11am
First act Sunday: Luke Flear 11am
The Wayside Stage
Walk into the main O2 concourse but head right and keep going. When you hit Five Guys on your right you are allowed a quick pit stop but then keep going forward! You’ll pass Nandon’s on your right and eventually arrive at the Wayside stage. There’s a bar down here so if you are in need of refreshments after your epic trek, the O2 have you covered. Interestingly, the record store seems to have been moved out of Town Square this year and placed down at the Wayside stage so that’s where you might find us at any given moment! It’s a free stage, no ticket required. It’s hosting some big acts this year and is probably the best of the free stages.
First act Friday: Zandi Holup 2pm
First act Saturday: Sinead Burgess 12.00pm
First act Sunday: Greylan James 12.00pm
The Observatory
There’s an acoustic stage passed the Wayside stage at the Observatory pub. So follow the directions to the Wayside stage, buy a vinyl, grab a pint and keep going. Just opposite the Hollywood Bowl (anyone remember when there used to be a stage inside here? Halcyon days!) is the Observatory. It’s a free stage so, again, no tickets required.
First act Friday: James Dunne 2.30pm
First act Saturday: Chloe Chadwick 11.30pm
First act Sunday: Abbie Mac 11.30am
Other Stages & Venues
For other stages and venues, like the Bluebird Cafe and the After Show parties in the Indigo you will need a separate ticket. These have been on sale for a few weeks now so not even main arena ticket holders can gain entrance to these events – you will need to purchase (if there are any left) a separate, dedicated ticket for these shows. These can be found on the C2C page right here.
We hope you find this guide clear and concise! With only a week to go it’s all hands on deck now. Come say hi to us if you see us dashing about and check out our social media channels – particularly our newly launched TikTok channel (@ent_focus) where we will be posting video snippets of the shows we see and the interviews we conduct!
