In a ground-breaking chart first, The Shires – Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle (from Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire) – have become the first British country band to reach the Top 10 in the Official UK Album Chart with their debut ‘Brave’, released this week.
The duo, who recently became the first UK signing to the re-launched Decca Nashville label, have today reached No.10 in the charts. Having overtaken Hozier, and just behind Paloma Faith, The Shires now sit comfortably alongside mainstream pop acts such as Kelly Clarkson, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith.
The Shires’ record-breaking chart position is further evidence of the current cultural shift of country music moving eastwards from Nashville. From Dolly Parton’s Pyramid Stage set at Glastonbury last summer, to the increasingly successful annual Country to Country Festival at The O2, and the popularity of recent hit musical TV show ‘Nashville’, never before has the country music genre had such a following in this country. Young British artists are now identifying with country singers such as Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves, who have re-defined the genre by eradicating old stereotypes and appealing to a much younger audience.
After forming in 2013, The Shires very quickly attracted industry fans and mainstream radio support, sparking much interest from the press in the rapidly growing popularity of country music in the UK.
While other pop or folk acts have hit the upper reaches of the Official Singles Chart with individual country songs (for instance, Lena Martell or Jimmy Nail), no act has made such an impact at the upper levels of the Official Albums Chart with a genuine country album – as verified by the UK branch of the Country Music Association.
As country music continues to penetrate British culture, today it is The Shires who are firmly at the forefront.
Single 'FRIDAY NIGHT' & debut album ‘BRAVE’ are out now, on DECCA NASHVILLEThe Shires Headline UK Tour
8th April: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
9th April: Gateshead, Sage 2
10th April: Glasgow, Oran Mor Auditorium
12th April: Manchester, Academy 3
13th April: Milton Keynes, The Stables
14th April :London, Union Chapel
15th April: Bristol, Bierkeller
17th April: Birmingham, Institute
18th April: Oxford, O2 Academy 2
19th April: Brighton, Concorde 2
21st April: Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
22nd April: Pocklington, Arts Centre
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