Thursday 7th March 2024 is when 20K music fans will take to the road, rails and air for the annual country music shindig that is the C2C Festival, which takes over London’s O2, Glasgow’s Ovo Hydro and, this year, Belfast’s SSE Arena. Are we giddy yet?
Have we packed yet?
Continuing our C2C2024 Countdown Focus series with the third playlist of featured artists, and to help you out as you’re ironing the back of your favourite band t-shirts, here are 20 songs from main stage and pop up stages that are perfect for any festival-bound road trip.
Run – Lauren Alaina
One of the artists I’m most excited to see live for the first time, Lauren’s mid-upbeat tempo ‘Run’ is a great showcase of the effortless vocals from the Georgia girl. Edging into pop, but all genres are go at a country festival. Absolutely still hoping Lauren takes to the stage with KB for a performance of What Ifs.
Take It Slow and Meanwhile in Carolina – Conner Smith
Warming up the stage for Alaina, as part of Nashville Introducing, Conner Smith deserves two tracks on the playlist; ‘Take It Slow’, with plenty of back road suggestions, and the beautiful ballad ‘Meanwhile in Carolina’ which really reminds me of early Tim McGraw.
Hands On The Wheel – Karley Scott Collins
Collins will join Smith (and Lauren Watkins) on the main stage for Introducing Nashville and her blues-edged vocals (think Morgan Wade) are hypnotic, sounding older than her mid-twenty-something age. Make sure you’re in your seat (or at least in the arena) for the early Introducing Nashville slot.
Take Me Home (with Kane Brown) Restless Road and Kane Brown
Spotlight artists and Nashville-based trio Restless Road deliver a paired back, lyrical twist stunner of the John Denver classic ‘Take Me Home’ with their collaborator, X-Factor 3 buddy and SAME NIGHT headliner Kane Brown. Harmoniously it’s absolutely belting. I’m prepared not to leave the Arena floor until I hear this on the C2C stage. You’ll have to take me home vocally, lads.
Wide Open – Colbie Caillat
Grammy-winning singing songwriter Caillat will appear on several stages in London over the weekend and hopefully the ballad ‘Wide Open’ will feature in her setlist. You might recognise her voice on Taylor Swift’s ‘Breathe’ from Swift’s Fearless album. Colbie and Lauren Alaina will appear at the CMA Songwriters session in London on Thursday 7th March, alongside Charlie Worsham and Stephen Wilson Jr.
‘On My Way – Mason Ramsey
Back before Covid, an 11-year old Ramsey captured the Internet’s imagination with his old-before-his-time, yodelling vocals. He hits 2024 stages as a late teen with a talent that suggests a long music career ahead, and features further down the playlist.
Somewhere South With Rum and VW Van – Jake Owen
Grab a drink and settle down for a double Owen, starting with the where’s-this-song-been-all-my-life ballad ‘Somewhere South With Rum’. The C2C headliner knows how to drop your heart. And raise the roof, as the playful ‘VW Van’ evidences. Can’t believe I’m finally going to see Jake Owen in the UK, can you?
Deadman’s Curve – Brothers Osborne
Everyone’s favourite rocking country brothers return to the main stage and will get everyone’s attention with the incredible vocals of TJ and mad guitar skills of older brother John (there could very well be folks at C2C who haven’t yet heard the Maryland duo; it ain’t my fault they haven’t). The fast-paced, breathtaking ‘Deadman’s Curve’ is about the closest road-based song I could find in their discography, but don’t worry, they appear on a future playlist, too.
Know My Way Around – Lily Rose
Georgia knows how to share music; daughter Lily Rose rose to prominence with the 2020 Sam Hunt co-write “Villain” in , and will hit the spotlight stage with her vocal depths at C2C2024.
Crawlin’ Mood – Elle King
Some fans might feel this next week is going to crawl as we make our way to cars, trains, planes and coaches. The take-me-as-you-find-me Elle King and her banjo-infused ‘Crawlin’ Mood’ might help you on your way through the next few days.
Mud On The Tires – Brad Paisley
C2C’s favourite headliner Paisley offered the perfect playlist track with ‘Mud On The Tires’, from the 2003 album – 21 years old now! – of the same name. One man, his guitar skills and personality offer the unique energy of a much missed family member on a stage. Like it’s just you and him and a few friends around.
Lost In The Middle Of Nowhere – Kane Brown, Becky G
Who can believe I waited this long to feature a KB track? (Okay, he did turn up with Restless Road earlier) I intend to fully lose myself in as much music as the genre-blending Brown can deliver on his debut C2C appearance, as headliner, when it sounds as good as ‘Lost In the Middle Of Nowhere’.
The Road – Kezia Gill
Although not appearing at C2C2024, I couldn’t resist adding Gill’s ‘The Road’ to this playlist. So good to watch Kezia’s well-deserved journey to stardom.
Zero Trucks – Alana Springsteen
Springsteen knows her way around fun-loving lyrics like ‘Zero Trucks’ as well as she knows her way around UK festivals, having appeared at C2C and The Long Road in 2023. Springsteen will also co-host the weekend and perform at Saturday’s after party.
Hell Of A Highway – Jake Worthington
Looking and sounding like Alan Jackson, Texan Jake Worthington’s drawling baritone is honey dripping good, as the ballad ‘Hell Of A Highway’ suggests. Heading to different London stages around the weekend, including The Bluebird Café, I’m already looking forward to his return visit.
I Keep Driving – Brad Cox
Australian Brad Cox is building up a solid international fan base, with his latest album, Acres, reaching number one on the ARIA country chart. ‘I Keep Driving’ featured on Brad’s second album, My Mind’s Projection and reminds me of an mid-tempo Luke Combs track.
Along For The Ride – Jordan Harvey
Scottish singer-songwriter Jordan Harvey has a huge biography on the C2C app, my favourite fact is he wrote 128 songs over lockdown in Zoom working with the six-hour time difference in Nashville and that he’d previously headed to music city with £1000 in his bank account, finding his way performing at Tootsies and writing with some of country music’s finest. Time we all joined Jordan ‘Along For The Ride’ for his multiple appearances in London. Seems like the multi-instrumentalist just can’t stop playing music.
Reasons To Come Home – Mason Ramsey
The now-teenage Ramsey returns to round up the On The Road playlist, singing about ‘Reasons To Come Home’, surely the reason 20,000 country music fans will descend on London, Glasgow and Belfast next week?
Hear the C2C2024 On The Road playlist on Spotify below:
