The initial line-up for Country to Country 2019, Europe’s biggest country music festival, has been announced, with headlining roles for Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, and they will be joined by a host of the genre’s biggest names. The seventh annual C2C Festival will once again be staged at The O2, in London, the 3Arena, in Dublin, and the SSE Hydro, in Glasgow, from Friday the 8th to Sunday the 10th of March 2019. Tickets go on general sale on Friday the 26th of October 2018, at 10am, and can be bought via the C2C website, which also has the artist line-ups for London, Glasgow and Dublin.
Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2 broadcaster, made the line-up announcement, at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire, during the second annual Country Music Week, C2C’s sister event. “I am so proud to have been involved with C2C from the beginning and to watch it grow to become one of the major global events in the country music calendar. I’m thrilled to once again be introducing all the amazing artists on the main stage and enjoying the fantastic atmosphere of C2C at The O2, London,” says Harris, speaking about the event.
Four-time Grammy winner Urban will be playing his first UK shows in more than ten years. Stapleton’s appearance marks his return to the event after a much talked about debut there in 2016. Lady Antebellum will be back in the UK, after their own O2 show last year, and their headline C2C spot in 2015. Lady Antebellum hit the road in 2017, in support of their seventh studio album ‘Heart Break’ – which was released in June 2017.
Speaking about the event, Urban, said: “I’m totally psyched to be getting back to the UK to play some shows. The last time we were there was a blast — and with the music I’ve made since then and the new album we’re gonna get to play to a lot of new people. Can’t wait!!!!!” The Australian star released his country chart-topping tenth studio album ‘Graffiti U’ in April 2018.
Chris York, C2C Festival promoter for SJM Concerts commented: “C2C Festival 2019 continues to build on the massive success of Country to Country in the U.K. and Ireland. We are proud to present one of our strongest line-ups and look forward to seeing all you passionate country fans in March once again. We would like to thank our partners at BBC Radio 2 and The Country Music Association and as ever thank you for your support.”
The C2C 2019 boasts a stellar line-up with Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, and Chris Stapleton headlining. They will be joined by Lyle Lovett, who will fill the same kind of heritage role that was graced by Emmylou Harris at this year’s event, Marty Stuart in 2017 and Dwight Yoakam in 2016. There will also be return visits to the festival by Cam, Hunter Hayes, Ashley McBryde, Drake White, and the Big Fire, including first-time visits to C2C by Brett Eldredge, Chase Rice, Dustin Lynch and Carly Pearce. The C2C Spotlight Stage will once again be a feature of the arena bill, with performers to be announced later.
Country Music Association’s, Sarah Trahern, added: “Since the beginning, C2C has been instrumental in growing the country fan base in the UK. The festival has helped develop superstars and also introduced hot new acts to legions of UK fans. CMA is delighted to be back here for our seventh year in partnership with the festival to continue to support great country music and our passionate UK fan base.”
