We know it’s hard to look with excitement to the end of Christmas and the beckoning in of a cold January, but we’re breaking down 20 reasons why 2020 is looking pretty damn amazing for country music and why you should be excited to ring in the new year.
20. Promises of new music from Twinnie, Keith Urban, The Cadillac Three, Kip Moore and more
Some of our favourite artists have been hard at work the past year in the studio and we’re trying to contain our excitement (and impatience) for their forthcoming projects.
19. All the baby pictures.
With Maren Morris recently announcing her pregnancy, along with another Akins baby due in the new year, we think all those new baby pictures might make our cold 2020 hearts warm.
18. Emma & Jolie’s debut single
We know we’re maybe just a lil biased, but having made their Nashville debut at Song Suffragettes, Emma & Jolie are poised to take the country scene by storm with their debut single out early next year.
17. Eyes on Dan + Shay
After THAT collaboration with Justin Bieber himself, all eyes are now on Dan + Shay to see where their next musical direction will take them with a potential new project on the horizon.
16. Third Times A Charm at The Long Road
One of the highlights of the year, The Long Road will return for its third year. With Kip Moore and Josh Turner headlining last year’s festival, we can’t wait to see what they pull out of the bag this year.
15. The promise of Cam’s sophomore album?
Will 2020 finally be the year of Cam’s sophomore album? Watch this space, we’re pressing refresh on her website for the foreseeable future…
14. Willie Jones continuing his UK domination
Willie Jones owned his UK debut and in 2020 he is back playing The Spotlight Stage at C2C Festival. If you didn’t catch him at Bush Hall, then you’re in for a treat, this boy’s got swag.
13. The Shires’ UK tour
UK country darlings, The Shires have recently announced a UK tour, including a date at London’s Palladium. If you caught them at the Royal Albert Hall last year, then that’s no excuse not to catch them again here.
12. Kelsea Ballerini’s New Album
Having released Club and Homecoming Queen, we can’t wait for this project from Kelsea Ballerini. Boasting an epic roster of songwriters on its credits, this is sure to be one powerhouse record.
11. C2C 2020
10. Keith Urban’s UK tour
After having to wait for more than a decade for Keith Urban to treat the UK with an appearance, now we’re getting a double whammy of back to back year’s of Urban tours. We are not complaining. It’s not for nothing that he won that CMA Entertainer of the Year last year… Did we mention he’s already had to add 3 extra dates due to demand…
9. Little Big Town’s New Album
If ‘Sugar Coat’ was anything to go by, then boy are we in for a treat with Little Big Town’s project due to be released in 2020….
8. Kane Brown’s UK tour
We’ve been sitting patiently waiting, wishing for a Kane Brown tour, and finally our prayers are answered with Brown bringing his ‘Worldwide Beautiful’ tour to the UK.
7. Midland’s UK tour
Having been postponed from December this year, the bad boys of country are returning to the UK later this year this March… If that’s not a way to waive the C2C blues, we don’t have a cure for you.
6. Carly Pearce’s sophomore album
The golden girl with the golden voice is back with her sophomore album. If the three tracks released already are anything to go by, this project is going to ricochet Carly Pearce into the next stage of her career.
5. Mitchell Tenpenny, Gabby Barrett and more making their UK debut
Ok, we’ll admit it, we were more excited for the Spotlight stage announcements than the full C2C announcement. With artists like Mitchell Tenpenny, Gabby Barrett and Niko Moon making their UK debut, you’d be stupid to go and get a beer in the Spotlight slots this year. These UK debuts are going to knock your socks off. We’re psychic didn’t you know?
4. A full-length Ingrid Andress project
We’ve listened to ‘Both’ and ‘More Hearts Than Mine’ more times than we can possibly count – just ask our Spotify Wrapped numbers – and now we are ready for a full-length Ingrid Andress project that, in her own words, we can get ’emo’ too. Please and thanks.
3. Caylee Hammack owning 2020
With a support slot on Reba McEntire’s tour, the promise of new music and her UK debut, we have all our money behind 2020 being christened ‘The Year of Caylee.’ Now, can we get that written on a T-shirt please?
Out on January 17th, we are more than a little excited for Dustin Lynch’s next studio album. Having floored the UK with its effortless, powerful and engaging performance at C2C, we’re just praying that a UK tour might follow hot on its heels.
What’s one way to kick off the year right? A good old dose of Brett Eldredge live. Having put on an epic performance at this year’s C2C festival, Brett Eldredge is back, bringing Lauren Jenkins along, and it is set to be one hell of a show.
