The Shires & Ward Thomas at The Colston Hall in Bristol on Friday 14 July 2017

The Shires & Ward Thomas at The Colston Hall in Bristol on Friday 14 July 2017.

Two acts who prove that you don’t need to be American to make top notch country music, The Shires and Ward Thomas have both been celebrated as Britain’s answer to the classic Nashville style.

Award-winning duo The Shires have cultivated a distinctive modern country sound, paying homage to the greats of American music without forgetting their British roots. Having sold out their Lantern show at our 2015 Bristol Americana Weekend, we’re delighted to welcome them back to the grander stage of the Main Hall.

Ward Thomas, comprising 22 year old twins Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas, have enjoyed a rapid ascent to stardom since they began playing music in 2014. Last year, they became the first ever UK country act to reach No.1 in the UK Albums Chart and have been widely praised for their ability to connect British lyrical themes to an irresistible country-pop sound.

 

The Shires

The Shires, who formed in 2013, are a UK country pop duo composed of singer-songwriters Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes. They hail from the neighbouring counties of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, and named themselves The Shires in order to maintain a British identity and take a small part of the United Kingdom back to the United States. Not long after their inception, they secured a contract with American record label Universal Music Group Nashville, and so became the first ever UK country act to be signed to a major Nashville label.

 

Ward Thomas

Ward Thomas are a British country duo. Comprised of twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas from Hampshire, they have been active since 2014 and quickly ascended to the pinnacle of the UK’s burgeoning country scene. Debut album ‘From Where We Stand’ (2014) hit No.1 on the UK Country Chart, and won UK Album of the Year at the British Country Music Awards. Their second album ‘Cartwheels’ (2016) was even more successful, making them the first UK country act to top the UK Albums Chart; the album has now gone silver. They have toured the UK multiple times, with highlights including the BBC Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park festival and and appearances at Country2Country.

 

Tickets are £22.05 to £28.50, including booking fee

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE