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

Ross

Author - Ross Jones 2

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 with Charley Crockett

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

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Holler Live Sessions: Morgan Evans

Holler Live Sessions: Tyler Booth

Holler Live Sessions: Randall King

Holler Live Sessions: MacKenzie Porter