Taking place in London, Belfast and Glasgow, the C2C festival is the best Country music festival outside of America in the northern hemisphere. Three days of quality music will happen from March 14th to March 16th this year. If you haven’t got your tickets yet – what are you waiting for?
The main stage artists, this year lead by Lainey Wilson, Cody Johnson (making his UK debut) and the incomparable Dierks Bentley, will rotate across the three cities bringing with them quality artists like Nate Smith, Tyler Hubbard, 49 Winchester, viral phenomena Shaboozey and a lot more besides. Whether you’ve got tickets for London, Belfast or Glasgow you will be guaranteed to see the same acts but the London festival will bring ticketed and non-ticketed customers just that bit more extra value for money. We wrote a survival guide to help people navigate the festival and you can read that here but we also though it would be good to flag the 5 artists we think are unmissable around the outside stages and when you can see them this year.
Charlie Worsham: Saturday March 15th – The Saloon at 12.30 and The Wayside at 16.00
Since his 2013 debut album ‘Rubberband,' Worsham has earned critical acclaim for his thoughtful songwriting, intricate guitar work, and warm, soulful voice. In addition to his solo work, Worsham is a sought-after collaborator, lending his talents to artists like Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and Lainey Wilson. Whether in the studio or on stage, he continues to champion the heart and craft of country music, making him one of the genre’s most respected and versatile artists. That respect was rewarded last November when Charlie picked up the CMA Award for ‘Musician of the Year.'
Read our interview with Charlie from February this year right here
Kaitlin Butts: Saturday March 15th – Radio 2 Stage at 14.40 or Sunday March 16th Countryline Stage at 14.30
Kaitlin Butts is a Tulsa-born country musician known for her theatrical storytelling, vibrant showmanship, and soulful songwriting. With a deep love for the dramatic side of country music, she discovered her passion for performing at a young age and has since developed a radiant voice that brings unbridled emotion and humour to her music. Now based in Nashville, Butts has channeled her lifelong love of musical theatre into her third album, ‘Roadrunner!,' a modern reimagining of the soundtrack to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!.' Released in June this year, the 17-track LP showcases the full force of her artistry, blending high-concept storytelling with candidly autobiographical elements.
Read our interview with Kaitlin from the Long Road festival last year right here
Meghan Patrick: Saturday March 15th at the Big Entrance Stage at 13.00 or Sunday March 16th on the Countryline stage at 15.30
Meghan Patrick has captivated fans since her breakthrough with the award-winning ‘Grace & Grit' in 2016, earning her a reputation as one of country music's most compelling voices. Known for her raw, unapologetic storytelling, the Nashville-based singer-songwriter connects with audiences through music that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. With accolades that include back-to-back Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Female Artist of the Year awards and multiple CMAOntario awards, Patrick has solidified her place as a force in the industry, bringing authenticity and grit to every performance.
Read our interview with Meghan from October last year as she goes deep into the origins of her new album ‘Golden Child' right here.
Zach John King: Friday March 14th on the Big Entrance Stage at 14.00 or Friday March 14th on the Countryline Stage at 15.40
Zach John King is making waves in country music with his unique sound, blending the introspective storytelling of roots music with the raw energy of alt-rock. Raised in a family of poets, King’s lyrical prowess stems from a deep appreciation for narrative artistry. Musically, his influences range from country legends like George Jones to soul icon Otis Redding, and even rock stalwarts The Police and Switchfoot. This eclectic inspiration has fueled his ability to craft songs that are both deeply authentic and sonically adventurous.
Read our interview with Zach from January of this year right here.
Gareth: Sunday March 16th on the Radio 2 stage at 11.20am or Sunday March 16th at The Wayside at 13.20
Born and raised in Castlederg, Northern Ireland, Gareth has gained significant traction with his unique blend of Irish folk and country storytelling. His breakthrough came in 2024 with a viral cover of Noah Kahan’s ‘Stick Season,' which amassed over 25 million views and 15 million streams. This success led to his projects Covers (From Across the Pond) and his debut original EP ‘Changing Seasons.' Now signed with BMG, Gareth will be headlining his own UK tour in April and supporting Kip Moore in May so here is a chance to see what all the fuss is about.
Read our interview with Gareth from last week right here.
Post Credits – Extra Recommendation…….
First Time Flyers: Saturday March 15th on the Radio 2 stage at 10.30am
It'll be cold, you'll be ‘tired and emotional' but we can't think of any better way of kick-starting the Saturday on any C2C festival off than in the company of First Time Flyers. There will be laughs, there will be dances and there will be harmonies galore as the finest band in UK Country take to stage and provide that shot of dopamine that will get you through the rest of the day.
Find interviews with and content about First Time Flyers right here.
