Few acts have done more to define and grow UK country music than The Shires. Since bursting onto the scene in the mid-2010s, Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes have carved out a unique space that blends Nashville storytelling with distinctly British heart. With multiple Top 10 albums, landmark headline shows, and a reputation for soaring harmonies, the duo have long been at the forefront of the genre’s rise on this side of the Atlantic. But while their musical identity has remained rooted in authenticity, the years since their last release have quietly marked one of the most transformative periods of their lives.
Now returning after a four-year gap between albums, The Shires find themselves not just reintroducing their music, but re-evaluating everything around it. Parenthood, evolving priorities, and a rapidly shifting industry landscape—shaped by streaming, social media and a new wave of younger fans—have all played a part in reshaping their perspective. As they step into this new chapter, their comeback is less about reinvention and more about rediscovery: of who they are as artists, as individuals and as a duo navigating both life and music in a very different world than the one they left behind.
It’s great to see you both again, and I want to start by saying congratulations—not just on the return of new music, but on everything that’s happened in your lives over the past few years as well. From the outside, it’s been fascinating to watch this chapter unfold. Does it feel like a comeback to you, or more like a continuation of something that never really stopped?
Crissie: That’s such a lovely way to put it, thank you. Honestly, it doesn’t really feel like a comeback to us. I know that’s how it might look from the outside, because there’s been a gap between albums, but we’ve never really felt like we went anywhere. We’ve still been performing, still doing acoustic shows, still connecting with fans.
I think the only real “pause” was in terms of releasing new music. Life just took over a bit—especially for me with the kids—and that naturally shifted the pace of everything. But in terms of who we are and what we do, that’s always been there. So this moment feels more like stepping into a new phase rather than returning from a break.
Ben: Yeah, I completely agree. It’s funny because people keep saying, “Welcome back,” and we’re like, “We’ve been here the whole time!” But I do understand what they mean—when you don’t release music for a while, it creates that perception.
For us, it’s more of an evolution. We’ve been out there playing, learning, living life, and now we’re bringing all of that into the next chapter. It feels like a natural progression rather than a restart.
It has been four years since the last album, though, which is a significant amount of time in any artist’s career. When you look back on that period, how has it changed your perspective—both on your careers and on what you want The Shires to represent going forward?
Crissie: For me, everything changed on a personal level. Becoming a mum completely shifts your priorities and your perspective. I’ve been very focused on raising the kids, which has been wonderful but also all-consuming.
I’ve still been going out and performing at weekends, but creatively I’ve probably felt a little bit removed compared to how I used to be. Ben’s been much more immersed in the day-to-day music world, especially with his radio show, so he’s had a front-row seat to how much the industry has evolved.
What’s been really striking, though, is how much country music has grown. There’s a whole new generation of fans coming in, and that’s been amazing to see. We still have our core audience who’ve been with us from the beginning, but now there’s this fresh wave of people discovering the genre—and discovering us as well.
Ben: Yeah, and what’s interesting is that we haven’t consciously tried to adapt to that. We haven’t sat down and said, “Right, how do we appeal to this new audience?” It’s just kind of happened organically.
I think playing festivals like Country on the Common really opened our eyes to it. Seeing so many young people there was incredible. And at the same time, I found myself naturally wanting to write more upbeat, feel-good songs again. That wasn’t a strategic decision—it was just where I was creatively.
There was a period where we felt a bit of pressure to lean into a more polished, pop-driven sound, but now it feels like the industry has swung back towards something more organic. So when people say the new music sounds fresh, it’s quite funny because it actually feels like a return to what we’ve always done at our core.
I’d love to talk to you both individually for a moment, because your lives have changed quite dramatically in different ways. Crissie, becoming a mother is such a huge, life-defining experience. How has that shaped you—not just personally, but in terms of how you approach music, creativity, and performing?
Crissie: It’s changed everything, if I’m honest. The biggest thing is just the juggle—trying to balance being a mum with being an artist. Making sure everything at home is sorted before heading out on the road, organising childcare, thinking about things like meals and routines—it’s a whole different world.
What’s really interesting is how it’s changed my relationship with touring. It used to be that we’d come back from tour and need a few days to recover, but now touring almost feels like the break! At home, it’s constant, so being on stage becomes this moment of release and joy.
The kids are three and a half now, and they’re starting to understand what I do. I think this year, especially with festivals, it’s really going to click for them—seeing mummy on stage, being part of that environment. That’s going to be really special.
Creatively, I haven’t been as involved in the writing process as I normally would be, just because of time and energy, but I think that will come back. Right now, I’m just really grateful to be able to step on stage and do what I love.
Ben, your children are a little older, so you’re perhaps at a different stage of that journey. How do they see their rockstar dad—and has being a dad changed your outlook on your career?
Ben: Definitely. My oldest, River, is nine now, and I think he’s just starting to properly understand what I do. He came along to a radio interview recently, and for the first time he was asking questions about it—like how everything fits together. That was a real moment for me.
My middle one couldn’t care less—he’s completely uninterested! And my youngest is the performer of the family. She loves it, but she’ll also tell me to stop singing at home, which keeps me grounded!
Becoming a dad has changed my mindset massively. I’m quite an overthinker by nature, and kids have this amazing way of pulling you out of that. They force you to be present, to enjoy things as they are.
It’s also made me appreciate what we have. We’re incredibly lucky—we get to spend a lot of time with our kids compared to a lot of people. We’re there for the everyday moments, and then we get to go out and do these shows, which still feel magical. That balance is something I don’t take for granted anymore.
You mentioned your radio show and podcast Ben. I’m really interested in that side of things, because I’ve spoken to other artists—like Troy Cartwright—who’ve said that hosting a podcast opened up a completely different creative outlet for them. Has it had a similar effect on you?
Ben: It has, but not in the way I expected. At the beginning, I actually struggled with it a bit. I was talking to all these artists who were releasing music, touring, doing exciting things, and we hadn’t put anything out in years. I’ll be honest—I felt a bit jealous at times.
But over time, it’s completely shifted. What it’s really given me is perspective. When you actually speak to people honestly, you realise how tough it is for a lot of artists, even ones who seem really successful from the outside.
It’s made me appreciate what we’ve built. We have a real audience, we sell tickets, we have longevity—and that’s something you can’t fake. It’s also made me reflect on how good we are as a duo. I think I’d taken that for granted a bit—how strong Crissie is as a vocalist, how well we work together.
So yeah, it’s definitely opened up a different side of creativity, but more than anything, it’s given me a sense of gratitude.
Looking back now, do you feel like that time away from releasing music—intentional or not—has ultimately been beneficial in resetting things creatively?
Crissie: I think so, yes, even if it didn’t feel like a “break” at the time! For me, it’s been very full-on, but what it has given us is a chance to really focus on what we do best, which is performing.
The acoustic shows have been such an important part of that. They’ve allowed us to strip everything back, connect with fans in a really intimate way, and just enjoy the moment. Sometimes those shows become really spontaneous—people shout things out, we interact more—and it’s reminded us why we love doing this.
So in that sense, yes, it’s been a really valuable period.
The industry has changed so much in that time as well—streaming, TikTok, the way music is discovered. Was there any part of you that felt nervous stepping back into that landscape, or was it more excitement?
Ben: Honestly, more excitement. The only slightly daunting part is figuring out how to get people to hear your music now, because everything has changed.
It used to be about radio and TV, and those things still matter, but now it’s so much more about social media and constant content. You’re not just presenting a finished product—you’re sharing the process, the demos, the behind-the-scenes moments.
It’s a different mindset, but it’s also quite freeing. You don’t have to be as polished all the time—you can just be yourself.
Finally, you’ve got some huge moments coming up, including the Garth Brooks show at Hyde Park. Given everything you’ve already achieved, where does that rank for you?
Crissie: It feels massive. I think it will be one of the biggest shows we’ve ever been part of. The scale of it, the history behind it, and the fact it’s Garth—it’s just incredible.
Ben: Yeah, it’s definitely a “pinch me” moment. What I love about this industry is how unpredictable it can be—you go from playing an intimate acoustic show to suddenly being on a stage in front of tens of thousands of people.
And the way everything has lined up—the new music, the festivals, the tour—it just feels like the perfect build-up to this next chapter. It’s a really exciting time for us.
Check out The Shires new single ‘Getaway Car' out everywhere in all the usual places now. Pre-order new upcoming album ‘Bonfire' here.
