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

Ross

Author - Ross Jones 2

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

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

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Holler Live Sessions: MacKenzie Porter

Holler Live Sessions: Nate Smith

Holler Live Sessions: Chase McDaniel

Holler Live Sessions: Alana Springsteen