49 Winchester

Artist - 49 Winchester Holler Live Sessions 1

If it wasn't already clear, boy are we excited about 

Holler's favourite group out of Russell County, Virginia came onto our radar with the release of their 2022 album, 

It's concoction of wistful Americana, country rock and soul spoke immediately to our hearts, cementing itself high on our 

The band, led by the indefatigable voice of Isaac Gibson, wear everything on their sleeve; whether it's when documenting plaintive memories of home or propping up the bar stool until everyone else has dropped - the sweat, blood and 

 of their sound is there for everyone to hear. 

Joining us at The Betsey Trotwood pub for their Holler Live Session, the group offer us a distinctly unique set up for this particular round. While not performing in their traditional full-band set up, they are not completely stripped back - performing their three songs with the gruff and full bodied nature of their live set, with the aid of electric guitars.

, fits the mood inside the bedecked walls of the Betsey pub. A lilting, combative number, Gibson battles with the demons of where you come from, even though you moved away. Yearning for release as the band waltz through it's interlude, Gibson ends with a yelp; "Long as that neon stays on, I've always got a place to call home".

Next is 'Annabel', one of their most emotionally demanding and evocative numbers. In the pub, it bristles in it's minor chords; the playfulness of Isaac and Bus' guitars with Chase's bass lines offering a little hope at the end of the line for what's to come; "And I guess I'll just give it a shot now /
Try to make it on my own"

Finishing their session with the pensive 'Hays, Kansas', the group show exactly why everyone's getting so excited about them. An exasperated song, full of regret, the songwriting is raw and uncompromising. Isaac even offers a more subdued, pensive delivery to match the defeat that lingers in not knowing who are, or having to go back to a town where you mould into the foundations.

It's a thoroughly compelling and exuberant performance - the band finding the sweet spot between playful sonic creativity and gnawing, sentimental songwriting.  

Performing their songs 'Neon', 'Annabel' and 'Hays, Kansas', this is 49 Winchester for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents 49 Winchester for the Holler Live Sessions in London, England, performing their songs 'Neon', 'Annabel' and 'Hays, Kansas'.

Holler Live Sessions: 49 Winchester

It's a thoroughly compelling and exuberant performance - the band finding the sweet spot between playful sonic creativity and gnawing, sentimental songwriting.

Holler Live Sessions: 49 Winchester Videos | Holler

Ross

Editor - Ross Jones

BRELAND

Artist - BRELAND Holler Live Session 1

Blazing his own trail with aspirational country trap affirmations, BRELAND has found a distinctive balance between Nelly and Keith Urban, Blanco Brown and Shania Twain, all artists he's gone on to support live or collaborate with this early in his career. 

From his Holler Live Session alone, you can see why the New Jersey-raised artist has quickly cemented his standing in the country music landscape. Joined by his guitarist and pal Christian Crawford, the pair join us at the Betsey Trotwood pub to offer us three select tracks from "the point guard"'s back catalogue.

Kicking off with 'Natural', Breland quickly lets loose across Crawford's jazzy chords, hopping up through key changes without breaking a sweat. The song itself is a sunny celebration of that all natural country girl back home that ain't afraid to get her hands dirty, " She drink like her daddy / And when she gets the night off she dance her heels off".

"This next one is really dope because, at a CMA after party in the states, I ran into Charles Kelley" BRELAND explains. "I was like 'hey man, I'm a huge fan of Lady A and i would love to write with you at some point'. 

"Sometimes, in those situations, an artist will say 'yeah, let's do it' and have no intention of meeting up. But we actually got together the following week, he's a man of his word; we got to write this song and I was able to to get Lady A on it". 

Introducing 'Told You I Could Drink', it's another sultry, RnB inflected number, this time a clever play on getting over someone, with the help of one or two bottles; "I'll drink you under the table / outta my head / over the memories of you in my bed".

Closing out with 'Happy Song', BRELAND mellows the mood with his regretful and despondent admission of not yet being over someone, the crushing realisation that the song you shared with your partner now holds too many bittersweet memories the true twist of it all.

One of our most engaging and vibrant recordings to date, this is BRELAND for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents BRELAND for the Holler Live Sessions in London, England, performing his songs 'Natural', 'Happy Song' and 'Told You I Could Drink'.

Holler Live Sessions: BRELAND

From his Holler Live Session alone, you can see why the New Jersey-raised artist has quickly cemented his standing in the country music landscape. 

Holler Live Sessions: BRELAND Videos | Holler

Morgan Evans C2C Festival 2023 13

As soon as Morgan Evans walks up the stairs of the Betsey Trotwood pub to record his Holler Live Session, a calm breeziness envelopes the room.

Since moving nearly 10,000 miles from Australia to Nashville, Tennessee eight years ago, Evans has embraced Keith Urban's taste for playing around with pop country's foundations while adopting Kenny Chesney's mantras and aspirations for living life to the fullest, exactly as you wish to.

Joining us on a busy afternoon in London, Evans treats us to an intimate performance that pleasingly spans the breadth of his catalogue, even through just three definitive songs.

Opening with his 2018 album closer 'Young Again', he sets off a battery of happy memories, all while calling for us to live in the moment. The bittersweet notion of getting older and the realisation that such moments can't last forever rings even sharper through the stripped-back performance.

"This is a song that I wrote at the end of last year", Evans reveals. "At the time I wrote it, it felt like the saddest song in the world; sometimes it still does". 'Over For You', a song Evans wrote following the break-up of his marriage, breaks under the weight of unanswered questions; Evans' vulnerability and desire to understand the situation he's found himself in imprinting itself on the performance.

"As you can probably tell from the way I talk, I grew up in Australia, but for the last eight years I've called Nashville, Tennessee home", he surmises, "when I first moved over, this was the first song we put out". 

Breaking into the catchy chords of 'Kiss Somebody', Evans proceeds into not only his biggest hit to date, but perhaps the song that encapsulates his freeing, take-a-chance style of songwriting; full of empathy, exuberance and heart.

Evans' music encourages you to dive head first into every scary decision you ever to make - cause who knows what might happen?

Holler presents Morgan Evans for the Holler Live Sessions in London, England, performing his songs 'Young Again', 'Over For You' and 'Kiss Somebody'.

Holler Live Sessions: Morgan Evans

Evans' music makes you want to dive head first into every scary or overwhelming decision you've ever had to make, cause else who knows what could've been, right?

Holler Live Sessions: Morgan Evans Videos | Holler

Artist - Tyler Booth Holler Live Session 1

Grab yourselves a whiskey and a seat friends, Tyler Booth is in session.

Since 2017, Booth has been laying claim to an ever-increasing catalogue of downhome country rock songs. Finding the perfect balance between the wrangling anthems of Cody Johnson and the boot-scootin' riffs of Brooks and Dunn, Booth's songwriting belies his years, possessing a sage sense of magic that immediately takes you home.

Arriving in London for the first time for the C2C Festival, Booth joined us at The Betsey Trotwood pub before a weekend of performances at The 02 Arena. Settling in with just an acoustic guitar and his beloved Kentucky drawl, Booth introduces us into his world through three delightful numbers.

"I'm going to sing you a song, the first song I wrote that was any good"  he laughs. "It's just about taking a chance on somebody, it's called 'Palomino Princess'". Over tender, forlorn chords, Booth not only serenades those in the room with him, but the girl thousands of miles back home; the one who turns out to be the girl of his dreams.

His creative mix of horizon-painting imagery and tangible sentimentality continues through into 'Bring on the Neon'. A song Booth proudly wrote with Jamey Johnson and Jeremy Popoff, it's a bittersweet eulogy to the things you sacrifice in order to follow your dreams; whether it would be a good love, the comfort of home or the solace of family. No matter what day, place or time, Booth will be there, ready to bring you a little joy and openness with his music.

Bringing his session to a close, Booth ups the ante, offering up a gritty rock anthem in the form of 'G.O.B by the G.O.G'. Bold and rasping, Booth explains it's about the everyday guy getting by; "I wrote this song for the guy working at Kroger; the common guy working at the store. I've been in his shoes for a while, pretty much my whole life growing up". 

It just comes to show that, no matter how far his star may ascend, Booth will always be a good ol' boy by the grace of god, lapping up that cornbread and fried chicken every Sunday.

Holler presents Tyler Booth for the Holler Live Sessions in London, England, performing his songs 'Palomino Princess', 'Bring On The Neon' and 'G.O.B By The G.O.G'.

Holler Live Sessions: Tyler Booth

Holler Live Sessions: Tyler Booth Videos | Holler

Artist - Randall King - Holler Live Session

Authentic cowboys are few and far between here in London. So when Randall King strutted into the Betsey Trotwood pub for his Holler Live Sessions, we sure knew we were in the midst of one. 

One of country's favourite upcoming neo-traditionalists, King is following in the footsteps of some of the greatest. With a sound that echoes the likes of George Strait, Keith Whitley and Alan Jackson, it's no surprise that the West Texas-hailing artist has been selling out shows across the States and receiving invitations to open for Cody Johnson, Tracy Lawrence and Clay Walker. 

Over in the UK for the annual C2C Festival, King made a stop off before his sets at the O2 Arena to join us for his Holler Live Session, setting up to serenade us simply with his acoustic guitar and smooth baritone drawl. 

"We'll start out with one of my favourites", King says as he settles into his performance with 'Roger, Miller Lite and Me'. "It's a little tip of the hat to one of my honky tonk heroes Mr Roger Miller". 

The lonesome slow burn of 'Mirror, Mirror' follows, capturing King in a more contemplative light, a momentary change in mood before he guides his set to a perfect close. 

"We're gonna turn this pub into a little two-steppin' honky tonk", King then declares, before doing exactly that with his hit tune 'You in a Honky Tonk'. 

Though he doesn't have his band in tow to rile up the energy of the set, King's Live Session is delivered with the charm, charisma and effortlessness of an artist who's sure to be going places. Watch this space. 

Performing his songs 'Roger, Miller Lite and Me', 'Mirror, Mirror' and 'You in a Honky Tonk', this is Randall King for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Randall King for the Holler Live Sessions in London, England, performing his songs 'Roger, Miller Lite and Me', 'Mirror, Mirror' and 'You in a Honky Tonk'. 

Holler Live Sessions: Randall King

Randall King joins us at the pub in London to perform a stripped-back set of some of his most loved tunes. 

Holler Live Sessions: Randall King Videos | Holler

Ciara

Ciara author page 2022

Artist - MacKenzie Porter - Holler Live Sessions

It's another brisk early morning in March when MacKenzie Porter, her guitarist Louis Johnson and label mate Ashley Cooke join Holler to record their sessions inside the now hallowed walls of The Betsey Trotwood pub.

Clutching to an iced coffee, travel cases and her guitar, it's already been a busy 2023 for the rising Canadian country star. Among recent quickfire stops in London, Dublin and Glasgow for the C2C Festival, Porter is now preparing her brand new single '

', the starting point of an exciting next chapter in her career.

As we await the release of what'll no doubt be another smash hit for the Big Loud signee, Porter and Johnson sit down with us in the pub to give us a stripped-back performance of some of our favourite hits of hers.

What's particularly evocative about Porter's songwriting is how her affinity for a hook and a harmony seeps through the foundations of her songs, whether in the simplest, rawest of forms live or through the crystallised production of her studio recordings. 

'Pickup' simmers under the sunset of a bittersweet memory, Porter's vocal thriving over the duo's late-night driving chords, while 'These Days' takes its pop-hit picking style and evolves into a honied harmonic that wears the weight of its poignant notions on its sleeve.

It's her final performance of 'Thinking 'Bout You' though that truly cements Porter as a firm favourite to rely on in the country music scene. Taking both verses of her duet with Dustin Lynch, Porter veers from a low rasping rap to her high range seamlessly, not only showing off the versatility in her performance but the enduring quality of her songs. 'Chasing Hurricanes' honestly can't come out soon enough.

Performing her songs 'These Days', 'Pickup' and 'Thinking 'Bout You', this is MacKenzie Porter for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents MacKenzie Porter for the Holler Live Sessions in London, England, performing her songs 'These Days', 'Pickup' and 'Thinking 'Bout You'.

Holler Live Sessions: MacKenzie Porter

Porter and her guitarist Louis Johnson sit down with us in the pub to give us a stripped-back performance of some of our favourite hits of hers.

Holler Live Sessions: MacKenzie Porter Videos | Holler

Holler Live Sessions - Nate Smith

Nate Smith may just take the title of being the nicest guy in country music.

Walking into the Betsey Trotwood pub, Smith lights up the early morning with his warm welcome and rosy cheeriness, a perfect mixer for the coffee and laughter that's shared around the room. 

While his music traverses the spectrum of emotional expression, Smith constantly delivers with a familiar sense of animation and aspiration, giving you a sense of comfort that his music will soothe and restore you regardless of the mood you are in.

Smith's candidness comes to the fore when he performs live, especially in such an intimate setting. The bittersweet poignancy of 'Sleeve''s imagery resonantes out of Smith's lungs, a rasping weariness forever indented into the words "I'm still pickin' up the pieces / But at least it's still beatin"

"It means the world to me, everybody that's supported this song", Smith admits before performing his No.1 hit, 'Whiskey On You'. "If it means something to you, that's the whole point of making music". 

It's this unflinching selflessness to provide emotional shelter for anyone who needs it that makes Nate Smith such an endearing and already beloved songwriter and artist.

Performing his songs 'Sleeve', 'Better Boy' and 'Whiskey On You', this is Nate Smith for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Nate Smith for the Holler Live Sessions in London, England, performing his songs 'Sleeve', 'Better Boy' and 'Whiskey On You'.

Holler Live Sessions: Nate Smith

While his music traverses the spectrum of emotional expression, Smith constantly delivers with a familiar sense of animation and aspiration

Holler Live Sessions: Nate Smith Videos | Holler

Artist - Chase McDaniel 1

We'll tell you this for free, Chase McDaniel is going to be stuck in your head before you've even had the chance to hit repeat on these videos. 

The Greensburg, Kentucky native has quickly made a name for himself with his inventive and catchy brand of neo-traditionalism meets country trap, and that's before many of us have even had the chance to catch him live.

Joining us in the busy early evening at The Betsey Trotwood pub in London, McDaniel - alongside his best buddy and producer Jerry Jacobs - delivers his mix of good-time southern comfort country and gritty, to-the-wall anthems with this vibrant looseness live that will shift a hip on both sides of the Atlantic.

Together, Mcdaniel and Jacobs carry a natural synergy, something that comes across whether their weaving through lighters-aloft singalongs or party-starting, bottle-smashing bangers. 

'Drop Your Tailgate' sizzles with mid-summer Kentucky energy, McDaniel unhooking his drawl for a raw, snappy rap, while 'Your Daughter' hits you with a sledgehammer of a twist in the chorus, exhibiting how the emotional depth of McDaniel's songwriting has found a home in Jacobs' colourful, mood-lifting line of country. 

Performing his songs 'Drop Your Tailgate', 'Your Daughter' and 'Project', this is Chase McDaniel for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Chase McDaniel for the Holler Live Sessions in London, England, performing his songs 'Drop Your Tailgate', 'Your Daughter' and 'Project'.

Holler Live Sessions: Chase McDaniel 

The Greensburg, Kentucky native has quickly made a name for himself with his inventive and catchy brand of neo-traditionalism meets country trap

Holler Live Sessions: Chase McDaniel Videos | Holler

Holler Live Session - Alana Springsteen 1

If you listen through Alana Springsteen's discography so far, you'll find some subtle - and some not so - themes running through its foundations. One that's not so hidden, parked up with the engine running in the centre of Springsteen's narratives, is the car. 

"One thing you should know about me is that I really don't like people seeing me cry" Springsteen reveals to us from inside the cosy, welcoming confines of the Betsey Trotwood pub in London. "So I wrote 'Shoulder To Cry On' about one of my safe places, which is the car. I've found a lot of my emotional breakdowns or break-ups with guys have happened there, because no one's around to see".

'Shoulder To Cry On' perfectly exhibits Springsteen's ability to craft artful twists into her vulnerable songwriting - what at first may seem to be an emotional dependency on someone close reveals itself to be an empowering desire to find one's own nest to heal.

Settling into the session, Springsteen gifts us with three performances that balance the fond memories of past love with the need to repair and recuperate after something sorrowful. It's purposeful yet not without hope, the breadth of emotion in her songwriting making her not only the artist, but the person, she is today.

"'While You're At It' is the only love song on my project, 

Springsteen explains. "I honestly wanted to start it out that way as it's my reminder that you can't have the good without the bad; it all comes together".

Performing 'While You're At It', 'Shoulder To Cry On' and 'For What It's Worth' with Breland, this is Alana Springsteen for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Alana Springsteen for the Holler Live Sessions in London, England, performing her songs 'While You're At It' and 'Shoulder To Cry On', and her duet with Breland, 'For What It's Worth'.

Holler Live Sessions: Alana Springsteen

Settling into the session, Springsteen gifts us with three performances - balancing the fond memories of past love with the need to repair and recuperate after something sorrowful.

Holler Live Sessions: Alana Springsteen Videos | Holler

Artist - Willie Jones Holler Live Sessions 1

 about Willie Jones. He has an ability to concoct delightfully ice-cold jams out of trad-country riffs and hip-pop samples. He engages any room he enters with calm control and ease. He is 

, in the most natural and inherent sense of the word.

Such confidence is not misplaced. "Boss Hog / I'm a dog / I'm the Billy GOAT" Jones cooly plays off on 'Down By the Riverside'; at first seemingly expressing his belief in himself, but also cleverly defining how where he is from has made him who he is. 

It's those clever rhythmic subtleties that make Jones not only an assured character, but an enigmatic wordsmith - one who is able to take the concept of foundational pop lyricism and inject it with something personal and refreshing.

Without the polished production and energy of the instrumental layers that have permeated Jones' recent singles, the Lousiana-born artist is able to strip these tracks back and let such dexterous wordplay take centre stage. 

Backed by his friend and guitarist Jake, Jones settles into the already warm room and quickly heats it up further; whipping up rhymes on the realities and comforts of home, the persuasive nature of desire and just how "them girls" have this ability to turn his head.

Performing 'Down By the Riverside', 'No Tellin' and 'Them Girls Do', this is Willie Jones for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Willie Jones for the Holler Live Sessions in London, England, performing his songs 'Down By The Riverside', 'No Tellin'' and 'Them Girls Do'.

Holler Live Sessions: Willie Jones

Without the polished production and energy of the instrumental layers that have permeated Jones' recent singles, the Lousiana-born artist is able to strip these tracks back and let his dexterous wordplay take centre stage.

Holler Live Sessions: Willie Jones Videos | Holler

Artist - Louis Brennan 2 

Louie Brennan is an enigma in the UK Americana scene. A drawling chameleon who wears the vulnerabilities and insecurities of the modern-day on his sleeve, the songwriter draws familiar comparisons to Father John Misty. 

If that seems like a superficial comparison, notice how Brennan is a fellow character creator, one who keeps his own cards close to his chest while portraying the extremities of the graphically realistic characters he invents.

He embodies this style through the two songs he performs for his Holler Live Session; the sycophantic 'My Favourite Disguise' and ostentatious 'The Nobel Prize'. Backed only by wandering and belying acoustic guitar, Brennan's characters battle with themselves as the country they inhabit falls victim to its own bloated ego.

Take the way Brennan boasts through the second verse of 'The Nobel Prize'. Defiantly proud of how much of a "selfish and petulant" man he's become, Brennan cleverly backs this with bright, hopeful chords, as the overarching notion of toxic masculinity is once again swept under the rug by a society unwilling to face its own fuck ups.

Layered and unwavering, Brennan encompasses the darker side of the present day through precocious yet self-aware songs, a scything inditement of nearly everything through something so unequivocally surreal and British as humour in music. 

Playing 'The Nobel Prize' and 'My Favourite Disguise', this is Louis Brennan for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Louis Brennan for the Holler Live Sessions in London, England, performing his songs 'The Nobel Prize' and 'My Favourite Disguise'. 

Holler Live Sessions - Louis Brennan

UK folk and Americana enigma Louis Brennan joins Holler at The Betsey Trotwood pub in London to perform his songs 'The Nobel Prize' and 'My Favourite Disguise'.

Holler Live Sessions - Louis Brennan 

Live sessions and music videos from the world of country, Americana and roots from Holler.