BBR MUSIC GROUP ROSTER TAKES OVER C2C FESTIVAL IN UK & EUROPE
Dustin Lynch makes UK touring debut as new EP ‘Ridin’ Roads’ is released worldwide
European main stage arena festival performances from Chase Rice, Lindsay Ell and more
Runaway June, Jimmie Allen, Lainey Wilson and Twinnie Awe UK Audiences
L – Dustin Lynch performs at C2C | Photo Credit: Graham Joy
C – Runaway June performs at C2C | Photo Credit: Aron Klein
R – Chase Rice performs at C2C | Photo Credit: Aron Klein
BBR Music Group’s roster continued to build on their global impact over the first two weekends in March; as Dustin Lynch and Chase Rice took to the C2C (Country to Country) main stage in London, Glasgow and Dublin; while ACM nominees Jimmie Allen and Runaway June as well as Lainey Wilson and BMG’s Twinnie performed multiple sets across the O2 Arena and ACM New Female Artist of the Year nominee Lindsay Ell made an appearance at the festival’s first-ever Berlin date, before setting out for shows in Amsterdam, Munich and Cologne as part of the CMA’s ‘Introducing Nashville’ series.
Runaway June and Lainey Wilson were among the breakout acts of the weekend.
ACM nominee for New Duo or Group, Runaway June made history when they became the first all-female trio in more than a decade to earn a Top 25 hit with “Lipstick.” Their current Top 25 single, “Buy My Own Drinks,” has surpassed that mark as the band hit the UK stages for the first time. After making their UK debut on the Spotlight Stage on Friday and finished the evening playing the official afterparty at Indigo, on Sunday they took to the BBC Radio 2 Stage at C2C Festival for a longer set. Entertainment Focus noted, “The audience was absolutely spellbound throughout and as the song finished, they burst into huge cheers.”
In fact, they were such a hit with fans across the festival weekend that they were invited to host C2C’s Sunday night’s Spotlight Stage in the arena. Appearing on the main stage, the band charmed fans introducing each of the acts performing on the night’s Spotlight Stage including label mate, Jimmie Allen. The band takes to the road with Carrie Underwood on her Cry Pretty Tour beginning May 2019.
Lainey Wilson’s powerful performances – including sets on the BBC Radio 2 stage, an official aftershow at ‘The Late Night Saloon’ and an intimate acoustic set as part of the C2C Sessions – marking her return to the UK since first appearing at Country Music Week in October, and her first full-band shows outside the US. She is set to return to the UK in September for The Long Road Festival.
Dustin Lynch hit the main stage for all three of the Weekend Main Stage shows across London’s O2, Dublin’s 3Arena and Glasgow’s SSE Hydro Arena. On Friday March 8th, the day of his first-ever European show at Dublin’s 3Arena, Lynch also released his first brand-new music since his #1 single “Good Girl”- the three-song EP “Ridin Roads” (listen here).
While in the UK, Lynch recorded a second interview with legendary DJ Bob Harris for BBC Radio 2 and met with numerous outlets including Downtown Country, RTÉ, Smooth Country and Entertainment Focus, whose review of his London O2 arena set described “seriously killer vocals… Lynch has a presence that captures your attention and you can’t take your eyes off him.” His C2C performance was highlighted by Rolling Stone Country as one of the ‘Ten Best Things We Saw In The UK.’
Chase Rice built on his growing international success with a main stage appearance at the UK’s pre-eminent Country Music festival. Fans sported promotional Chase Rice laminates around their necks all weekend after he thrilled them on the first day as the only main stage artist to perform a surprise pop up show, with fans rushing to be a part of the surprise moment. Chase Rice’s Worldwide Deluxe edition of the ‘Lambs & Lions’ album is available now; featuring hit single “Eyes On You,” and three new tracks including an acoustic-led UK Edition of “On Tonight” inspired by his multiple shows across the pond, which had premiered on Chris Country Radio earlier that week.
Only a few months after his first visit to the UK, ACM New Male Artist of the Year nominee Jimmie Allen proved another highlight of the festival, surprising fans by joining Abby Anderson during her Friday night set with a rendition of their recent ‘Shallow’ cover, before several further performances for capacity crowds during the weekend, culminating in a captivating Spotlight Stage set minutes before Chris Stapleton closed the festival on Sunday night. Allen also appeared live on BBC Radio 2’s Steve Wright afternoon show, recorded several other BBC interviews for future broadcast and sat down with The i News who called the rising star “the black Country star smashing Nashville stereotypes.”
Representing the UK, new BMG Country act Twinnie also returned to the C2C Festival stages for multiple full band appearances for packed crowds, including the Town Square Stage and Indigo, for a set of new material including recent single ‘Better When I’m Drunk’ – following the video’s recent premiere on CMT (watch here).
L – Jimmie Allen performs at C2C | Photo Credit: Luke Dyson
C – Lainey Wilson performs at C2C | Photo Credit: Luke Dyson
R – Lindsay Ell performs at C2C | Photo Credit: CMA
ABOUT CHASE RICE:
Country music maverick Chase Rice has become one of country music’s most exciting figures since arriving in Nashville, building a loyal fan base across the country through his energetic live shows and gaining the attention of music critics and industry professionals alike with his edgy, eclectic sound. The Tar Heel State native released his sophomore album, Lambs & Lions, with new label Broken Bow Records in November 2017. The lead single, “Three Chords & The Truth,” reached the Top 20 at country radio with the follow-up, “Eyes On You,” now Top 15 and quickly climbing and streamed over 120 million times. Rice’s debut album Ignite the Night launched at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and No. 3 on the all-genre chart, and produced a pair of Top 5 hits, the Platinum-certified “Ready Set Roll” and “Gonna Wanna Tonight.” After supporting Kenny Chesney’s The Big Revival Tour, Rice consistently sold out 2,500-3,000 seat venues on his headlining JD and Jesus Tour, Everybody We Know Does Tour and Lambs & Lions Tour. He recently served as direct support on the Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2018 and headlined a U.K. run in advance of his highly-anticipated Eyes On You Tour, currently underway.
ABOUT DUSTIN LYNCH:
Since his debut with PLATINUM-certified single, “Cowboys and Angels,” Lynch has “steadily built one of the most consistent recording careers in modern country music” (Billboard) with six #1 hits, three Top 5 albums, and tours with the genre’s biggest names (Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley). Lynch’s highly anticipated RIDIN’ ROADS EP is out now. After visiting the UK for the first time to play C2C, he’ll join Thomas Rhett’s Canadian LIFE CHANGES TOUR and North American VERY HOT SUMMER TOUR this spring. Scoring over one BILLION total career streams, the Grand Ole Opry member continues to affirm his place at Country’s cutting edge. Lynch has scored industry recognition with Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and CMT Music Awards nominations, and has made high–profile appearances on ACM Awards, CMA Music Fest, Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Lip Sync Battle, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, TODAY and more.
ABOUT JIMMIE ALLEN:
The epitome of the phrase “persistence pays off,” Jimmie Allen laid it all on the line to make his dreams a reality. Now signed to BBR Music Group’s Stoney Creek Records, Allen’s debut single “Best Shot” is a certified hit, claiming the top spot as the No. 1 Most Shazamed song in the format for eight consecutive weeks, and the No. 1 spot on Country radio for three weeks, marking the first time a black artist has launched a career with a No. 1 hit with their debut single on country radio. On the heels of that historic success, Allen is back with his latest single, “Make Me Want To” which was most added at country radio in its first week with 61 stations.
“Make Me Want To” is the second single off his Stoney Creek Records / BBR Music Group debut album Mercury Lane released Oct. 12, 2018. Named in tribute to the street he grew up on and the origin of his incredible journey, Mercury Lane features a cutting-edge mix of country, rock, R&B and pop that draws upon the influence of his family and small-town upbringing of the critically-acclaimed rising star. Rolling Stone raved Allen’s debut “challenges the narrowly defined model of what constitutes a next big thing in country music in 2018” and The New York Times dubbed it one of 2018’s strongest, calling it “a conventional country album, filled with songs about the small details.”
The Southern Delaware native’s talent for songwriting is undeniable, having written a song that was featured in a Super Bowl commercial and appearing in a Diet Coke ad with megastar Taylor Swift. “Blue Jean Baby,” off his debut self-titled EP, immediately caught the attention of country music fans and critics alike with its soulful groove— rocketing it to the top of digital playlists, across all genres. Allen recently wrapped his run on Scotty McCreery’s Seasons Change Tour as well as Kane Brown’s Live Forever Tour. He will also be hitting the road this summer as support on Chris Young’s Raised on Country Tour and Rascal Flatts’ Summer Playlist Tour. The hot newcomer was heralded as one of the top “artists to watch in 2018” by Rolling Stone, Billboard, Pandora, Sounds Like Nashville, NY Country Swag, Country Music Rocks and New England Country Music and has earned spots in CMT’s “18 for 2018” Listen Up program and Bobby Bones’ Class of 2018. For more information, visit www.jimmieallenmusic.com .
ABOUT LAINEY WILSON:
Hailing from the small farming community of Baskin, La., country music newcomer Lainey Wilson has as much grit in her as she does soul. She moved to Nashville in a bumper-pull camper trailer to pursue a career in music and has been carving her own unique place in the country music landscape ever since, already garnering early praise as “a cautious optimist with just enough scars and pragmatism to write great, universal country songs” (Taste of Country) and “one of those voices who will grab your attention and keep it” (Whiskey Riff). A natural-born storyteller, Wilson has quickly established herself as an in-demand songwriter on Music Row as part of powerhouse publisher Sony/ATV, independently released her own self-titled EP in April 2018. Having recently landed a record deal with BBR Music Group/BMG, Wilson is currently in the studio working on new material for her debut with its flagship imprint, Broken Bow Records, and opened for chart-topping country artist Morgan Wallen during his 2019 If I Know Me Tour. For more information and upcoming show dates, visit www.laineywilson.com or follow on Instagram @laineywilsonmusic / Twitter @laineywilson / Facebook.com/laineywilsonmusic.
ABOUT LINDSAY ELL:
Lauded as “one of the most exciting and talented young artists in country music” (Forbes), Lindsay Ell is a triple threat: accomplished musician, unique vocalist and songwriter. The Calgary native learned to play guitar while traveling with her father to country-bluegrass camps as a young girl. Ell honed her craft as a musical stylist and songwriter after being discovered by BTO and The Guess Who’s Randy Bachman (“American Woman” / “Taking Care of Business”) who discovered her at the age of 13. The multi-instrumentalist was soon touring alongside the likes of Luke Bryan, Buddy Guy, The Band Perry and Keith Urban, as well as wowing audiences as Carrie Underwood’s guitar player live on the “50th Annual CMA Awards” and holding her own alongside icon Melissa Etheridge on Skyville Live. In the last year alone, the 2019 ACM New Female Artist of the Year nominee exhilarated audiences as part of Brad Paisley’s Weekend Warrior World Tour, Sugarland’s Still The Same Tour and Keith Urban’s Graffiti U World Tour. Ell’s first full-length album The Project debuted at No. 1 on the Country Album Sales Chart and was named Billboard’s “Best Country Album of 2017.” Her single “Criminal” was the Most Added song at Country radio upon impact and became her first-ever Top 20 hit in the U.S., in addition to becoming her first No. 1single on the Canadian Country Radio Charts. For more information visit:www.LindsayEll.com.
ABOUT 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 are sweeping the nation, leaving a mark on one infatuated audience after another 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; guitar; mandolin); and Jennifer Wayne (vocals; guitar). The trio is receiving rave critical notices from the likes of Billboard, Rolling Stone Country, The Huffington Post, CMT and more for its brand of organic and melodic Country music. Runaway June is the first all-female trio in over a DECADE to earn two Top 40 hits and recently scored a 2019 ACM nomination for New Vocal Duo or Group of The Year. They released their self-titled debut project for Wheelhouse Records on September 7. For more information, visit: www.RunawayJune.com
ABOUT TWINNIE:
An incredible story ushered Twinnie from humble beginnings in York, England to Nashville, TN. The critically acclaimed country songstress, actress, and model shares this journey on her 2019 Better When I’m Drunk EP for BMG—out March 1. On the way to this point, she developed a sound of her own and delivered show-stopping performances at the likes of Country2Country Festival and more. In the aftermath, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and many other tastemakers would christen her as a bright rising star. Representative of her growing influence, she went from starring in West End musicals such as We Will Rock You, Rock of Ages, and Footloose to joining the cast of The Wife alongside Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce, and Christian Slater. Along the way, she also lent her voice to music by Ed Sheeran signee Jamie Lawson and co-wrote “Black and White” and “First Flight Out” on The Shires’ gold-selling Brave, as well as co-writing with Kylie Minogue amongst others for their own artist projects’. Now, she turns the page on her next musical chapter with the first single and title track from the EP, “Better When I’m Drunk.” Follow her on this road now.
