Country 2 Country Headliners Announced for 2020!

SJM Concerts, AEG Presents & DF Concerts in association with Country Music Association are proud to present:

C2C RETURNS 13 – 15 MARCH 2020! 

3ARENA, DUBLIN

ERIC CHURCH – DARIUS RUCKER – LUKE COMBS

THE CADILLAC THREE – OLD DOMINION – BRETT YOUNG

TANYA TUCKER – CHARLES ESTEN

RUNAWAY JUNE – JORDAN DAVIS

INTRODUCING NASHVILLE FEAT ABBY ANDERSON, ERIC PASLAY + TENILLE TOWNES

And many more to be announced

Tickets on sale Friday 1st November at 10am

Country to Country; Europe’s biggest country music festival is back from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 March 2020. Returning for its eighth year, the festival is set to bring yet another incredible line up to 3Arena Dublin and venues across Europe.

CMA Award 2019 nominee, record breaker and one of the biggest names in contemporary country Luke Combs and multi-platinum Grammy award winning superstar Darius Rucker each headline C2C for the very first time with multiple CMA award winner and 2019 nominee Eric Church making his much-anticipated return to the festival. 

Joining the headliners and making their main stage debuts are multiple CMA award winners and nominees The Cadillac Three, Tanya Tucker, Charles Esten, Runaway June and Jordan Davis.  Making his return this year is award winning Brett Young alongside 2019 CMA award nominee Old Dominion following a major UK tour this year. For the very first time, international series Introducing Nashville will see artists including Abby Anderson, Eric Paslay and Tenille Townes take to the mainstage together for an acoustic set sharing stories behind their tracks. Watch out for news of the full line up in the next few months. 

The highly anticipated C2C 2020 line-up was announced at the official launch party at Cadogan Hall this evening, during the third annual Country Music Week in London with a very special message from the legendary Bob Harris OBE who said: “I am so proud to be part of the C2C family.  I have been the main stage host at the O2 in London from the very beginning and have watched the festival grow to become one of the most important and iconic events in the global Country Music calendar.  I am thrilled to once again be hosting C2C in London and broadcasting highlights on BBC Radio 2. I can’t wait to listen to the best music in the world, enjoy the fantastic atmosphere of the main auditorium, catch the excitement of the pop-up stages and meet the incredible Country fans that make C2C so special”

Chris York, C2C Festival promoter for SJM Concerts commented: “C2C Festival 2020 continues to build on the massive success of Country to Country in the U.K. and across Europe. We look forward to seeing all you passionate country fans in March once again.  We would like to thank our partners at BBC Radio 2 and The Country Music Association and as ever thank you for your support.”

“We are thrilled to see the continuously growing Country fan base and for C2C to bring such a powerful line-up of artists to international fans,” says CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “This year marks CMA’s eighth year partnering with C2C, and it has been so exciting to see this festival and the audience of passionate Country fans continue to get bigger and better each year.”

• Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 1st November and are priced from €54.85. Prices are inclusive of booking fee and facility fee www.ticketmaster.ie

Country to Country has become a staple in the festival calendar and has brought country music to the UK and Ireland masses, with tens of thousands of fans attending each year. The festival continuously hosts the best in country music and entertainment; bringing over the world’s best country stars as well as emerging talent from Nashville, UK and Europe. In 2019, C2C welcomed over 70,000 fans, who enjoyed music from artists including; Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Chris Stapleton, Brett Eldredge, Hunter Hayes, Lyle Lovett, Cam, Dustin Lynch, Ashley McBryde, Chase Rice, Carly Pearce, Drake White & The Big Fire and more; as well as programming from the Festival Stages, BBC Radio 2 Stage, CMA Screenings, The Bluebird Café, Aftershows and C2C Sessions.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Website www.c2c-countrytocountry.com    

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/C2CDublin/

Twitter https://twitter.com/C2CDublin

Instagram @C2CFestival 

 

ARTIST INFORMATION

ERIC CHURCH 
The three-time Country Music Association and six-time Academy of Country Music Award winner released his highly-anticipated album Desperate Man atop the Billboard Country Albums chart in October 2018. The album also debuted at No. 5 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Rolling Stone describes the album in their July 2018 cover story as “classic Church: expertly crafted and country-radio-friendly, while also pushing boundaries in a way that sounds natural and unforced” and American Songwriter notes in a cover story that it “sublimates the pain of a tumultuous year into his most adventuresome album yet.” Church has returned to the road for his 2019 Double Down Tour, visiting nearly 30 markets for back-to-back nights of two unique shows sans-opening act to give fans 6+ hours of his iconic music in each city. The tour also included a massive stop at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, where Church broke the venue’s concert attendance record with 56,521 fans and nearly tripled the attendance record he set at Bridgestone Arena in 2017.

DARIUS RUCKER

Rucker first attained multi-Platinum status in the music industry as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, he has celebrated four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart and nine No. 1 singles at Country radio, earning a whole new legion of fans. In 2014, Rucker won his third career GRAMMY Award for Best Solo Country Performance with his 4x Platinum-selling cover of Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel.” As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker is a continuous supporter of the MUSC Children’s Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, and has raised millions of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament, as well as for more than 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation. Currently, Rucker is on the road with his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates for the Group Therapy Tour as they celebrate the 25th Anniversary of mega-hit Cracked Rear View as well as the forthcoming release of Imperfect Circle, their first album in nearly 15 years, set for release November 1 with Universal Music Group Nashville. For more information, visit www.dariusrucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

LUKE COMBS

Record-breaking country superstar Luke Combs releases his second album What You See Is What You Get on November 8.  Combs continues to smash record after record. Nominated for three awards at the 2019 CMA Awards: Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year (“Beautiful Crazy”) and Musical Event of the Year (“Brand New Man” with Brooks & Dunn, Luke is also the best-selling male country artist of 2019 and was the first US country artist to sell out two Shepherds Bush Empire shows on his debut UK tour. Amongst Combs’ recent achievements, are CMT Performance of the Year at the 2019 CMT Music Awards for his CMT Crossroads performance of “Beautiful Crazy” with Leon Bridges, Top Country Artist, Top Country Male Artist and Top Country Album at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, New Male Artist of the Year at the 2019 ACM Awards, Country Artist of the Year at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards, New Artist of the Year at the 52nd Annual CMA Awards and a nomination for Best New Artist at the 61st GRAMMY Awards. Combs is also the first artist to simultaneously top all five Billboard country charts for multiple weeks: Top Country Albums, Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, Country Streaming Songs and Country Digital Song Sales and was recently inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.

THE CADILLAC THREE

Leaving a lasting impression on fans across the globe with their high-octane live show and chart-topping songwriting skills, THE CADILLAC THREE are releasing new music. Their cheers, beers and hallelujah motto comes from the road to playlists with a song they co-wrote alongside band and crew called “Crackin’ Cold Ones With The Boys” and “All The Makin’s Of A Saturday Night,” for College Football broadcasts throughout the season. Musical co-conspirators Jaren Johnston (Guitar & Lead Vocals), Kelby Ray (Lap Steel Guitar) and Neil Mason (Drums, Percussion & Vocals) create a sound that hovers between radio-ready Country anthems and hard-and-heavy Rock ballads evident on full-length efforts LEGACY and BURY ME IN MY BOOTS via Big Machine Records. Funneling their Southern-to-the-core sensibilities into their own catalogue, the Nashville natives have cuts for Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Miranda Lambert and Steven Tyler, to name a few. The 2019 CMA International Award nominees for International Artist Achievement have built a loyal following across the globe since taking home the 2014 UK Classic Rock Roll of Honour: Best New Band.  Their wide-reaching base also grew when they played to 40,000+ fans at Download Festival ahead of their headline THE LONG HAIR DON’T CARE TOUR. “Like Kings of Leon before them, they’re poised for their first big break in the U.K. – where they’ve sold out every headlining show for nearly two years – before conquering their U.S. home turf,” heralded Rolling Stone. After a jammed 2018 touring with Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley back in the US, TC3 kicked off their own COUNTRY FUZZ TOUR that extends throughout 2019. 

OLD DOMINION 

Old Dominion has emerged as one of the hottest breaking bands out of Nashville, fusing clever lyrics and an infectious sound. Their lyrical wit and hook heavy songwriting has certainly proved a winning method: since breaking onto the music scene in 2014, the band has notched seven No. 1 singles at country radio, surpassed one billion on-demand streams, earned several Platinum and Gold single certifications. They are currently headlining arenas and amphitheaters around the globe extending into 2020 with their recently announced “We Are Old Dominion Tour.” The reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year notched their third nomination in the category in 2019 and they are the reigning and two-time ACM Group of the Year. In 2017 frontman Matthew Ramsey was ASCAP’s “Artist of the Year” and the band has received numerous nominations including CMT Music Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Awards, and iHeart Radio Awards. Old Dominion consists of lead singer Matthew Ramsey, lead guitarist Brad Tursi, multi-instrumentalist Trevor Rosen, bassist Geoff Sprung, and drummer Whit Sellers. Their melodic, self-titled third LP will be released on Oct. 25, 2019.

BRETT YOUNG

Brett Young has captured the hearts of fans everywhere through his honest lyrics and West Coast-meets-Southern sound, aptly dubbed “Caliville” style. The 2018 ACM Awards New Male Vocalist of the Year released his sophomore album, TICKET TO L.A. on BMLG Records last year. The 13-track project hit the Billboard Albums No. 1 spot on release and features PLATINUM-selling lead single “Here Tonight” which marks Young’s fifth consecutive No. 1 single. The follow-up release, “Catch,” is currently climbing the radio charts. TICKET TO L.A. follows his PLATINUM-certified, self-titled, debut album in 2017 with New York Times calling it “soothing, approachable.” Recorded in Nashville with producer Dann Huff (Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Steven Tyler), the 2018 ASCAP Country Songwriter-Artist of the Year penned 11 of the 12 tracks, which also produced four consecutive No. 1 radio hits: “Sleep Without You”, “Like I Loved You,” “Mercy,” plus “In Case You Didn’t Know.”  He continues to impress the genre and beyond with nominations from the ACM, CMA, Billboard, Teen Choice, iHeartRadio and most recently a CMT Music Awards nod. Drawing in a devoted fan base with his unique voice that is “a gentle and seductive combination of silk and gravel” (All Access), Young has carved out his own lane in both performance delivery and songwriting.  Brett sold out stops on both of his headline tours: CALVILLE TOUR and CMT ON TOUR: HERE TONIGHT and has also toured with Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett and Lady Antebellum.

TANYA TUCKER

Born in Seminole, Texas, Tucker had her first country hit, the classic “Delta Dawn,” at the age of 13 in 1972. Since that auspicious beginning Tucker has become one of the most admired and influential artists in country music history, amassing 23 Top 40 albums and a stellar string of 56 Top 40 singles, ten of which reached the #1 spot on the Billboard country charts. Tucker’s indelible songs include some of country music’s biggest hits such as the aforementioned “Delta Dawn,” “Soon,” “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane,” “It’s a Little Too Late,” “Trouble,” “Texas (When I Die),” “If It Don’t Come Easy” and “Strong Enough To Bend.” Tucker is also the recipient of numerous awards, including two CMAs, two ACMs, three CMT awards and 10 GRAMMY nominations. Tucker is enjoying a career renaissance with “While I’m Livin’”, her first album of all new material in 17 years. Released August 23 via Fantasy Records and produced by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings. The album debuted at #9 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, marking her 10th Top 10 album overall and the first Top 10 debut of her illustrious career. Additionally, “While I’m Livin’” scored impressive debuts internationally landing at #2 on the UK Country chart and #3 on the Top Country Albums chart in Canada. “It’s a musical biography of sorts,” explains Carlile, “about Tanya’s real life and the places she’s seen, and it’s narrated by the greatest country and western singer this side of Johnny Cash.”

CHARLES ESTEN

Since his theatrical debut in London playing Buddy Holly, Pennsylvania-born singer/songwriter and actor Charles Esten – best known for his role as Deacon Claybourne in the global hit show Nashville – has gone on to perform on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, as well as in multiple film & TV appearances including ER, NYPD Blue and The Office (U.S.). Over the last few years he has performed hundreds of live concerts, including multiple performances at The O2, sold-out Nashville In Concert tours – captured in the concert film of the same name – including three shows at Royal Albert Hall, where he returns this October for his own full band headline date following a sold-out solo acoustic tour in January. In his adopted hometown of Nashville, he has performed at CMA Fest, the Bluebird Café, The Ryman Auditorium, and frequently at the Grand Ole Opry where, in July 2018, he celebrated his 100th appearance. Along with his live performances, acting work and commitment to good causes – Charles serves as the National Honorary Spokesperson for the Light The Night Walk in aid of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – he continues to write and record his own music with over 8 million streams to date, earning a Guinness World Record for releasing 54 original songs (available on iTunes, and on Spotify) once a week, for 54 consecutive weeks. Additionally, he will soon be appearing in two new television roles, on TNT’s Tell Me Your Secrets, and Netflix’s forthcoming series Outer Banks. His latest single ‘A Road and A Radio’ was released earlier this month. 

RUNAWAY JUNE

Lauded by Billboard as the “Next Hot Trend in Country Music” and likened to a ‘Dixie Chicks for a new generation,’ Runaway June’s organic three-part harmonies and ringing strings have established them as a top new group with its “inescapable talent” (AXS.com). The BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records act is comprised of the vocal stylings and musicianship of Naomi Cooke (lead vocals, guitar); Hannah Mulholland (vocals; mandolin); and Jennifer Wayne (vocals; guitar).  The trio is receiving rave critical notices from the likes of Billboard, Rolling Stone Country, The Huffington Post, People and dubbed by CMT as “Next Women of Country.” It has also appeared on national TV including the CMA Awards, ACM Awards, CMT Awards and TODAY, and GMA. Runaway June has been celebrated for its brand of organic and melodic Country music. It is the first all-female trio in over sixteen years to score a top five hit. The band also has scored nods from the industry with nominations at the 2019 CMT Awards and at the 2019 ACM’s for New Vocal Duo or Group of The Year. Their debut album, Blue Roses was released on June 28. For more information, visit: www.RunawayJune.com.

JORDAN DAVIS

Jordan currently reigns as Billboard’s Top New Country Artist of 2018 as well as Country Aircheck/Mediabase’s Most Heard New Artist of 2018.  Earlier this year, Jordan won Best New Country Artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in addition to MusicRow’s Breakout Artist of the Year Award. Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, Jordan has made a strong impression on critics and audiences alike with his classic lyric-writing melded with tech-tinged production. After graduating from LSU in 2012 with a degree in Resource Conservation, Jordan moved to Nashville and honed his songwriting craft influenced by his love of lyrically-driven songwriters and genre-defying musicality. Jordan just wrapped touring with Old Dominion as part of the “Make It Sweet Tour” and is currently on the road with Rascal Flatts for the “Summer Playlist Tour.” Upcoming stops include Mountain View, CA, Sacramento, CA and Irvine, CA. For a full list of tour dates, news, images and more, visit www.jordandavisofficial.com

INTRODUCING NASHVILLE

ABBY ANDERSON

The anticipated follow-up single, “GOOD LORD,” from Black River Entertainment songwriter/artist Abby Anderson is now at country radio and is digitally available now. Anderson just concluded a whirlwind tour as direct support for Rob Thomas on Thomas’s 44-date Chip Tooth Smile Tour, which kicked off on May 28th in Red Bank, NJ and runs through August 4th with stops in New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville. Additional tour stops this year at music festivals included Stagecoach, Off the Rails, Country Thunder, and Tortuga. Marking her first international appearance, the Dallas, TX native made her debut performance at C2C in London on March 8th, 2019. Teaming up with fellow country newcomer Jimmie Allen, Anderson and Allen released a cover the GRAMMY and Oscar Award winning song, “Shallow” from the Oscar-nominated film A Star is Born. Watch the music video of their version here. Named one of The Bobby Bones Show’s “Class of 2019,” Anderson is also one of MusicRow’s “Next Big Thing for 2019,” and is included in Sounds Like Nashville’s “19 New Country Artists to Watch in 2019.” Since the release of her debut EP I’m Good, Anderson has earned over 25 million streams, caught the attention of fans worldwide and has had the privilege to open for some of Country’s brightest stars including Bobby Bones, Billy Currington, Devin Dawson, Russell Dickerson, Brett Eldredge, Walker Hayes, Chase Rice, and more. Making her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2018, Anderson received a rare standing ovation following the performance of her first song, “Make Him Wait.” For more information and tour dates on Abby Anderson, please visit AbbyAndersonmusic.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ERIC PASLAY

Country artist Eric Paslay delivers a powerful punch as a renowned, Platinum-selling, hit songwriter and dynamic performer. Paslay has celebrated five No. 1 hits including “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” (Eli Young Band), “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” (Jake Owen), “Angel Eyes” (Love & Theft), “Rewind” (Rascal Flatts) and “Friday Night,” the smash lead single from his critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. The Temple, Texas native has earned numerous songwriter award nominations including GRAMMY’s Best Country Song, ACM’s Song of the Year twice and the CMA Song of The Year for “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.” Eric was also honoured with GRAMMY nomination as an artist for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “The Driver”- a collaboration with friends Charles Kelley and Dierks Bentley. A true artist’s artist, USA Today calls Paslay “flat out-brilliant” and American Songwriter names him an influencer of country music. Eric is currently touring the US with his “Nice Guy Tour” and recently released his first live album LIVE IN GLASGOW.

TENILLE TOWNES 

Canadian-born and Nashville-based, Tenille Townes is “poised for a breakthrough” (Refinery29). On top of an ever growing list of accolades that includes Amazon Music’s “2019 Artists To Watch,” The Bobby Bones Show’s “Class of 2019,” CMT’s “Next Women of Country,” CMT’s “Listen Up,” iHeartRadio’s “Artists To Watch in 2019,” iHeartCountry’s “On The Verge” artist and the inaugural class of “Opry NextStage,” Townes is currently on tour with Miranda Lambert as part of her “Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour” and will perform select dates with Maren Morris later this fall. She has garnered widespread attention including praise from Billboard, The Tennessean, Sounds Like Nashville, The Boot and NPR Music, who declares, “…one of the most promising arrivals in mainstream Nashville’s burgeoning singer-songwriter movement.” Townes has released four tracks from her forthcoming full-length debut album, “Somebody’s Daughter”—which reached No. 1 on both Mediabase and Nielsen BDS Country Airplay in Canada—“White Horse,” “I Kept The Roses” and her current single, “Jersey On The Wall.”  Produced by Jay Joyce, the album is set for release via Columbia Nashville. 

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