CMA Songwriters Series kicked off with C2C London, featuring host Darius Rucker, performing alongside Jesse Alexander, Wyatt Flores, Mickey Guyton, and Tucker Wetmore.
Where words fail, country music speaks!
This sensational evening was held at a wonderful and intimate space, within the bubble at the o2 Arena on the Indigo stage. This very intimate press event had pre pre drinks at the gorgeous Clipper Bar at the Intercontinental Hotel, overlooking the Thames with sky scraper views of Canary Wharf as our backdrop. There wasn’t a cactus, tumbleweed or saloon doors in sight.
Before the show I got chatting to Daniela (PR) who shared with me about her incredible trip to Nashville with SITC owner, Natasha. It’s here where she gave me an introduction to Nashville, and shared some of her favourite places she’d seen whilst she was out there. She said “Nashville really is a land of Hope and Glory” and went on to share about how country singers go to Nashville, how an actor maybe would go to Hollywood, to get noticed, and those that do make it, go onto wonderful things. Like a night in London, at the Indigo. This excited me as I am inspired by real people, with real gritty characters, with real stories.
As we flowed through from the Indigo guest bar into our seats, I peered over our balcony to see that the stage was most definitely set, the guitars were poised on their stands next to 5 high chairs with mic stands. A country music night just wouldn’t work without a Jack Daniels or 3 at hand on each artists’ table, the lights were set to a Nashville country bar aesthetic.
The stripped back performances were absolutely awe-inspiring, each song was introduced with a story as to how that particular song was written. Wyatt Flores was up first, he shared that he hadn’t been to London before, and went on to tell us about his very touristy day in London, he took a trip to the House of Commons and ended up in a bar there. He shared with the audience and, humbly paused and asked “how did I get here” and then went into a personal story back home about a loved one living with dementia and how his memories of her are cherished, and then poured his soul into ‘Forget Your Voice’. It was truly soul crushing but beautiful. This was just one performer out of 5! We were in for a very special evening. I turned to Daniela and said “this is free therapy”.
Jessi Alexander sang her song ‘The Climb’ which singer Miley Cyrus is known for, it had the entire room light up their phones and sway slowly to the lyrics. Next up was Tucker Wetmore, who sand his recent number one ‘Wind Up Missin’ You.” Whether you like country music or not, you will recognise this one. Then finally, ’Wagon Wheel’ was the final song by Darius Rucker and that was the entire venues cue to get up and dance.
Nobody topped anyone, each singer had their own unique story as to how they made it as a songwriter. The artists representing this years CMA Songwriters Series are now downloaded onto my iTunes and I’ve tuned Country Line radio in my car. That Nashville trip will be definitely be happening. For now, the new country bar, ‘Lil Nashville’ in Chiswick will have to do.
https://c2c-countrytocountry.com/
