The Long Road Festival, one of the UK's premier destinations for country, Americana, and roots music enthusiasts, is less than two weeks away now. Following the buzz generated by the initial announcement, excitement is mounting as the festival gears up to welcome music lovers to Stanford Hall, Leicestershire, nestled in the picturesque English countryside, from August 23rd to 25th, 2024. Get your tickets right here.
There's a wonderful array of artists on the bill, from big Nashville entertainers to ‘off the beaten track' artists and everything in between. To help you begin to plan out who you want to see across the weekend we thought it would be helpful to introduce you to 10 artists playing the festival that we have interviewed in the last year. Click on the artist's name to go to the interview.
Russell Dickerson – Sunday headliner
Russell Dickerson, a dynamic force in modern country music, honed his skills at Belmont University in Nashville, where he studied music and developed his songwriting and performing abilities. Dickerson's breakthrough came with his debut single ‘Yours' in 2015, a deeply personal love song that quickly garnered attention for its sincerity and catchy melody. The song's success was followed by his debut album of the same name, which produced multiple chart-topping hits and solidified his place in the country music scene.
Since then, Dickerson has continued to rise in prominence, known for his energetic live performances and relatable, heartfelt songs. Beyond his music, Dickerson is recognised for his genuine connection with fans and his positive, down-to-earth personality, his love for his family and his willingness in trying to put a smile on everyone's face.
Randall King
Raised on the plains of West Texas, Randall King honed his craft with countless nights spent strumming his guitar under expansive skies, backlit by the stars’ neon glow. Flash forward to today, and King’s road warrior diet finds him revitalising Country’s neo-traditional sound under a different kind of neon – the radiant glow from the signs of nearly 150 honky tonks he performs in across the country each year. It's no wonder he called his new album ‘Into the Neon'!
The Red Clay Strays
Rising from the red dirt clay of Mobile, Alabama, The Red Clay Strays have captivated audiences across the USA with their authentic sound. Their debut album, ‘Moment Of Truth,’ has become a sensation, driven by the breakout hit single, ‘Wondering Why’.
With an electrifying stage presence and an eclectic rock-n-roll sound, the band is hailed as one of the most thrilling breakthrough acts of 2024. Frontman Brandon Coleman’s charismatic persona and soulful vocals have mesmerised audiences, likened to the fervour of a Southern preacher.
Colbie Caillat
Since 2007's debut album, ‘Coco’ Colbie Caillat has pushed musical boundaries and not been afraid of growth, change and evolution. Hit singles, Grammys and collaborations with the likes of Taylor Swift and Jason Mraz led to the formation of four piece band Gone West who released the terrific ‘Canyons’ album in 2020 and now here we are in 2024 with Colbie Caillat solo again and baring her scars and her soul to the world on new album, ‘Along the Way.’
Change, evolution, growth and re-birth are major themes on ‘Along the Way,' with Caillat now in the third phase of her musical journey. This is an album that celebrates endings and beginnings with nothing but gratitude and hope. It is also an album full of wisdom and acceptance that might well tug at your heartstrings in places but, take note, ‘Along the Way’ is certainly not a misery-fest or pity party by any stretch of the imagination. We did a fascinating deep-dive into ‘Along the Way' with Colbie last year and you can read that interview right here so when we sat down with Colbie at the recent C2C festival in London we wanted to explore some slightly different themes.
Dasha
Back in February we reviewed Dasha's new album, ‘What Happens Next?’ which her recent smash hit, ‘Austin’ is taken from and gave it 4.5 stars out of 5. If you missed that review we thought you might like an opportunity to read it. Click here for a review of the album.
Dasha stands on the brink of stardom, propelled by her ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level. With millions streams to her name and a dedicated following on TikTok, she has created a platform for her music that resonates with fans worldwide. ‘Austin' has been a smash hit over the past couple of months and we were thrilled to catch up with her to talk to her all about it.
Angie K
Rising Country singer-songwriter Angie K has really picked up momentum this year and she's on the cusp of becoming one of the next big stars of the genre.
With performances at CMA Fest in Nashville last month and the release of her new single ‘Red Dirt on Mars‘, the El Salvador-born artist is really making waves in the industry. She's also part of the new generation of queer artists that are gaining traction in the Country music genre.
Kyle Daniel
It's no secret that Kyle Daniel has an ongoing love affair with UK country fans – ever since he made his debut here in 2019, we've been welcoming him back with open arms.
With a slew of festivals under his belt including Nashville Meets London and The Long Road (where he'll be performing again in just a few weeks), he's gained critical acclaim and won over audiences with his country-rock sound and warm, infectious personality. Last month he released his long-awaited debut album, ‘Kentucky Gold', which cemented him as a huge talent and is sure to help him find plenty more listeners.
Redferrin
Blake Redferrin – better known by his last name – started out as a dirt bike rider before branching out into songwriting, with cuts for artists including Florida Georgia Line and Nelly.
However, it was the viral success of his song ‘Jack And Diet Coke' which propelled him into the mainstream as an artist in his own right and saw him release his first EP ‘Old No. 7′ in February this year. He's also performing at CMA Fest in Nashville next month, and will be back in the UK later this summer opening for Russell Dickerson on his ‘Good Day To Have A Great Tour' after making his debut here at C2C in March.
Dan Davidson
With a background in rock music, Dan Davidson initially gained prominence as a member of Canadian rock band Tupelo Honey. However, it was his transition to country music that truly set his career ablaze. In 2016, he embarked on a solo venture, embracing the country genre with his unique blend of rock-infused country melodies and relatable lyrics.
Davidson’s debut single, ‘Found,' released in 2016, quickly became a radio hit in Canada, earning him widespread recognition. Infectious single ‘Barn Burner,' a high-energy track that further solidified his reputation as a rising star in the Canadian country music scene a year later. The song’s catchy hooks and Davidson’s dynamic performance resonated with listeners, earning him a dedicated fanbase that has supported his endeavours ever since.
Brooke Eden
Originally from Florida, Brooke Eden first got into music through accompanying her dad to performances as a drummer in a country band before going on to perform at local festivals as a teenager.
After making it to Hollywood week on season 7, she self-released her debut single ‘American Dreamin” in 2015 and has since gone to release a further three EPs as well as performing alongside artists like Tim McGraw, Kane Brown and Keith Urban. She's also become a fierce champion of LGBT+ representation in country music, particularly through her latest EP ‘Outlaw Love' – released this June and the follow up to 2022's ‘Choosing You' – which charts the relationship between her and her wife Hillary Hoover who she married in 2022 (with their wedding officiated by none other than country music legend Trisha Yearwood!).
………….and that's just the tip of the Long Road iceberg!! Discover your next big musical love or re-connect with an existing one at the festival. Get your tickets right here.
