We have written lots (and talked incessantly) about the UK’s Country 2 Country festival over the last five years. For a change, we’ve decided to let some others have a say and given them seven questions to sum it up. So here’s C2C 2017 from a lovely bunch of honorary Brits in Boots.
THE BAND: HOLLOWAY ROAD’S JACK & ROB
Jack: I love the diversity of a washboard. I could use it to make a hit or wash my undies.
Rob: Banjos are cool.
YOU’VE MUST GET A GREAT VIEW FROM THE STAGE, WHAT’S THE STRANGEST THING YOU SPOTTED AT C2C THIS YEAR?
Jack: Wally.
Rob: Some geeza in gold glasses and tassels on the barrier for our set. Loved it! Photos on request…
WHAT WAS YOUR FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHT?
Jack: Playing to the unbelievable amount of people who came out to watch our set.
Rob: Shutting down the big entrance!
WHO’D WIN IN A BATTLE BETWEEN PULLED PORK, SPARE RIBS AND AMERICAN PANCAKES?
Jack: Pancakes! Save the animals.
Rob: Spare ribs, because they could use their bones to merc up the other foods.
WHICH SONG HAS BECOME YOUR ANTHEM OF THIS YEAR’S C2C?
Jack: [Shameless plug alert…] Our new single ‘If She Falls’ out March 31st
Rob: What he said!
IF YOU WERE C2C BOSS FOR A DAY, WHO WOULD YOU BOOK FOR 2018?
Jack: Willie Nelson.
Rob: George Strait every day of the week.
HAVE YOU GOT ANY TIPS FOR ANYONE THINKING OF COMING TO C2C 2018?
Jack: Keep coming.
Rob: Bring a coat?
You can follow Holloway Road’s antics, including tour dates and that upcoming single release, here.
THE FESTIVAL FAN: BECKY
WHY COUNTRY MUSIC FOR YOU?
I think it’s the stories and feeling behind the songs that I love. Whatever you are feeling there is a song for it, every emotion is covered. Plus there’s a great wide variety of styles within the genre, music for everyone.
WHAT’S THE STRANGEST THING YOU SPOTTED AT C2C THIS YEAR?
For some, an arena full of people wearing check shirts, hats and boots maybe strange but for me its amazing and normal. The best thing I saw was the amount of families in all their country finest out together. Fabulous.
WHAT WAS YOUR FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHT?
Cam singing Burning House was a personal favourite. I love her music and she always seems so cheery. And that dress…. She seemed to truly love it when the packed out arena was singing along to every word. But my biggest surprise was Hunter Hayes. I’d always kind of dismissed him as being too country pop, but wow can he play the guitar!
WHO’D WIN IN A BATTLE BETWEEN PULLED PORK, SPARE RIBS AND AMERICAN PANCAKES?
American pancakes win hands down. But I am a veggie…
WHICH SONG WILL BECOME YOUR ANTHEM OF THIS YEAR’S C2C?
Friends in Low Places. Although it’s a Garth Brooks song, Darius Rucker rocked it and the song always reminds me of my sister. We sang it all the way home on Saturday night.
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PLAY AT C2C 2018?
I would choose Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, Kip Moore, Cam, Miranda Lambert (always)… oh my gosh there are too many people choose from, basically my Spotify playlist!
ANY TIPS FOR NEXT YEAR’S VISITORS?
Keep hydrated and eat; if you are drinking all day it helps. Wear comfy shoes (cowboy boots preferably). Plus the best thing we did this year was to avoid the queues at the underground station after the event by getting the River Bus boat to London Bridge. The view is amazing, a great way to end a fantastic weekend!
Becky is a dedicated gig-goer, often bopping along with London’s ‘Play That Country Music’ meetup group.
THE FIRST-TIMER: FELICITY
WHY COUNTRY MUSIC FOR YOU?
I have a running joke with my best friend that my turbulent life resembles the TV drama Nashville. Through tough times I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to country music as a source of comfort and inspiration. It astonishes me how so few words can pinpoint despair and strength at the twists and turns of human life. I love the wordplay too. My favourite lyric from C2C2017 was Brad Paisley’s ‘you should be ashamed of your selfie’.
WHAT’S THE STRANGEST THING YOU SPOTTED AT C2C THIS YEAR?
The jet-skiing squirrel in Brad Paisley’s show – whaaat? Then I overheard “would it be weird if I throw my boxers at Dan and Shay?”
WHAT WAS YOUR FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHT?
The Thursday night Songwriters Series. Drake White was a powerhouse of voice and passion – Maren Morris had to help him stay on his stool. Liz Rose made me cry when she sang her Grammy-winning White Horse, then made me laugh minutes later with her favourite ’silly song’ about her four marriages – I Don’t Have Ex-Boyfriends.
WHO’D WIN IN A BATTLE BETWEEN PULLED PORK, SPARE RIBS AND AMERICAN PANCAKES?
Pancakes? Were there pancakes there? I can exclusively reveal that I was the first person to eat a waffle at C2C2017 then the pulled pork van people took a picture of me taking a picture of their van. It was all very meta.
WHICH SONG WILL BECOME YOUR ANTHEM OF THIS YEAR’S C2C?
Ba-ack to Freeeeeeee… by Drake White. I bought some headphones at Paddington station just so I could listen to it all the way home on train.
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PLAY AT C2C 2018?
Yola Carter on the Radio 2 and Yamaha stages, Chris Stapleton and Drake White on the main stage.
ANY TIPS FOR NEXT YEAR’S VISITORS?
Save up in advance for a flight to Nashville because C2C makes you desperate to go there. In fact, I just impulse booked a flight there this morning.
Felicity is part of Bristol’s ‘Country & Americana’ meetup group, regularly eating her way around the South Wests best Americana restaurants.
We’re incredibly grateful for these guys and gals sharing their tips and highlights on our behalf. It’s been a BIG weekend so the lie-in has been appreciated. We’d love to hear your highs and lows of this year’s festival too down below.
Same time next year?
Brits in Boots 