Maverick Country Music Magazine

1 May 2022

After so long without live music, it feels strange to have such full diaries! Country 2 Country was the beginning of a manic few months of music as US acts such as Keith Urban and Midland embarked on their own European tours whilst festivals such as Black Deer and Millport confirm their line-ups and get ready to put on a show. It was so wonderful to ditch zoom for a few days and actually interview some of the artists in person, artists such as Callie Twisselman and Ruthie Collins, both of whom impressed at C2C. Stepping out from behind the zoom camera felt a little bit like putting down a mask, something that our cover star Tenille Townes has been learning to do when it comes to her songwriting. I’ve always been such a big fan of her music and her unique voice which delivers it but this latest record has allowed me to develop a new found respect for the talented Canadian. The overriding theme of this issue to me is family. We often talk of this country family, it certainly feels like a close knit community here in the UK and it’s been so lovely to see you all enjoying yourselves at these past few shows. However, our artists draw so much inspiration from their own families; Thomas Rhett often refers to his wife and children in song whilst sibling duo Walker County have begun their musical journey together. Sometimes they form a new family that stays together through thick and thin, on and off the stage like Little Big Town, or perhaps they strive to keep their family’s legacy alive like Dann Rogers. Even for those artists whose families have not been directly involved in their music, their love and support has allowed them to flourish in their chosen field. I had a fascinating conversation with Kristian Bush who is somewhat of an all-rounder when it comes to the various music projects he’s involved in and he pays tribute to the choices his family made when him and his brother were young that has helped them both enjoy successful music careers. All of them have become a part of this extended country music family, something that we are all a part of too and to me, as we truly celebrate the return of live music, we are celebrating being together as a country family. I hope this issue will make you feel at home whilst whetting your appetite for the gigs and festivals that are still to come.