Artist - Sam Williams Holler Live Sessions 1

, Sam Williams was able to introduce himself properly to a country music world who were already aware of who he was. 

As son of Hank Williams Jr, and Grandson of Hank, Williams set out to leave an artistic mark all of his own, in doing so unveiling an earnest and impassioned songwriter who unquestionably wears his heart on his sleeve.

As Williams heads down the path to find what's next in his career, it feels like a pertinent time to close the 

 chapter with an intimate Holler Live Session, recorded acoustically with his guitarist and friend Lenny. 

"We're going to sing a song about lying to the ones you love" Williams explains as he introduces his first track, 'Can't Fool Your Own Blood'. A heavy, moving song he wrote with Jaimee Harris and Mary Gauthier, Williams floats on the waves of emotion that ripple from his rasping vocal, not afraid to sit with the bruises of the subject. 

Taking away the atmospheric spaciousness of the studio recording, Williams' performance is grittier yet more spirited - somehow delving further down in the depths of the hurt to seek the light at the end of the tunnel.

Closing with the intense isolation of 'The World: Alone', the vivid imagery Williams' paints in his lyricism is even more focused and sharper edged here. The exasperation in his delivery as he sings provokes both the agony and anger you feel as you process losing someone; "Serotonin moving slow 'cause I'm traveling solo" Williams observes, a candid self-examination that shows the therapeutic power opening up has for both listener and writer.

A sincere and self-aware songwriter, with his Holler Live Session Sam Williams shows he is one of country's most forthright artists.

Performing his songs 'Can't Fool Your Own Blood' and 'The World: Alone', this is Sam Williams for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Sam Williams, performing his songs 'Can't Fool Your Own Blood' and 'The World: Alone' for the Holler Live Sessions at The Betsey Trotwood pub in London, UK.

Holler Live Sessions: Sam Williams

Holler Live Sessions: Sam Williams Videos | Holler

Ross

Author - Ross Jones 2

Artist - Hannah Ellis Holler Live Sessions 1

Recently, Hannah Ellis has found that one of her lyrics has evolved into a bit of an empowering affirmation, not only for her but her fans. “I put the boujie in the backroads” she declares on her recent single ‘Wine Country’.

It’s a suitable turn of phrase for the Campbellsville, Kentucky-born artist, whose songwriting treads a tightrope between embracing her down home roots and a smooth, country-pop sheen.

Much like her contemporaries Hailey Whitters and Haley Mae Campbell, she does this with warmth and openness, no doubt a personal trait that she imbues into her music to welcome us into her world.

“Even though I’m a bougie little wine girl these days, I was born in Kentucky, and you can’t change that”, Ellis explains with a cheeky grin as her guitarist and husband Nick Wayne cranks up the swampy, honky-tonk riff that introduces her performance. 

A song about enjoying the finer things in life while not forgetting where you come from, it’s an assured and defiant write, one that Ellis’ voice thrives on, even in a more stripped back setting.

“So I was walking into a write one day with some friends of mine and right before that, my little sister called me” Ellis continues, introducing her second song, ‘Someone Else’s Heartbreak’. 

“Her boyfriend of her two years had broken up with her. As her big sister, I really wanted to write a song that was like ‘you’re better off, this guy doesn’t even deserve you’. But, then I remembered when I was on the receiving end of heartbreak, and truth and logic were not exactly what I wanted in that moment, so that’s why I wrote this song”.

‘Someone Else’s Heartbreak’ is a deeply empathetic ballad that embodies the very raw and confusing feelings you have in your chest in the knotty, vulnerable moments right after a break-up. For such a sensitive and emotionally intense song, it’s undeniably catchy; making for an even more approachable and comforting performance.

Ellis’ final song, ‘Country Can’, reminds us all of the positive power of the genre that gave us two chords and a truth, at a time when divisiveness and discord brews at its very heart. “I’m sitting here, at a pub in London; that’s just proof to the point of this song".

"Country music brings us together like nothing else can. I usually tell this story and say that it’s ‘red dirt to west coast sand’, but we’re all the way across the pond singing country music, and I don’t think this song needs more of an explanation than that".

It's a gratifying song, one that pays tribute to the genre that’s given her and so many of us so much, while bringing us all together in the true spirit of music and compassion. It helps that it’s a big ol’ singalong – Ellis and Wayne harmonising at the top of their voices for the elate chorus.

Hannah Ellis is a fireball, an artist full of charisma, heart and a pair of lungs to match. If we need someone with a bit of class to bring us back to ground and help us find ourselves again, you won’t find many better songwriters than her.

Performing her songs ‘Wine Country’, ‘Someone Else’s Heartbreak’ and ‘Country Can’, this is Hannah Ellis for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Hannah Ellis, performing her songs 'Wine Country', 'Someone Else's Heartbreak' and 'Country Can' for the Holler Live Sessions at The Betsey Trotwood pub in London, UK.

Holler Live Sessions: Hannah Ellis

If we need someone with a bit of class to bring us back to ground and help us find ourselves again, there aren't many better artists than Hannah Ellis.

Holler Live Sessions: Hannah Ellis Videos | Holler

Artist - Wayne Graham 1

"This is our home base" explains drummer and vocalist Hayden Miles, as he introduces his band Wayne Graham during the first song of their Holler Railbird Session. Setting up in the room above the slot machines at Red Mile racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky, the group settle in as the Saturday evening sun sets, a surprisingly suitable environment for their easy Appalachian listening.

The vivid pictures the four-piece band paint, not only with their music but even with the story behind the name of the band, make them an inventive and approachable outfit. They ponder over life and the many characters you stumble upon, not necessarily possessing all the answers to the hurdles you'll face but, in their own gentle way, guide you along as they work it out themselves. 

"This is about recognising that some days are harder than others" explains Hayden Miles. "Everybody has a bad day sometimes and it's just something you have to deal with in this life. But, everything's going to be ok". Noodling over some bright-eyed harmonies like CSNY at their most observant and empathetic, the band evoke a softer, more emotionally-endearing nature when performing acoustically than in their versatile live set, adding another layer to their already chameleonic expression as a group.

Taking over vocal duties, Hayden's brother Kenny delves into the brit-pysch-esque sensibility of 'Mr Green Thumb', a sparse and mysterious ditty about a nefarious character we don't quite get to know. Nevertheless, the performance is spritely and inventive; the band finding a neat balance between catchy subtlety and knotty experimentation.

"I wrote this song for a very good friend of ours, Mike Hall" Kenny reveals as he introduces their final song, 'Wooden Frames'. Playing out the opening of the song alone on his acoustic guitar, Kenny sounds like a wandering stranger, ruminating on the suffering he's caused to someone close and asking himself why he's done so. The symbiosis the band share together in the instrumental moments summons as much emotion as their lyricism, the weight of the dwelling middle-eights leaving room for consideration of those we've hurt in our lives.

Spending some time with Wayne Graham and their poignant yet imaginative music offers you a little space to gather your thoughts and find some clarity, perhaps even a little inspiration too.

Performing their songs 'Some Days', 'Mr Green Thumb' and 'Wooden Frames', this is Wayne Graham for the Holler Railbird Sessions.

Holler Presents Wayne Graham for the Holler Railbird Sessions, performing their songs 'Some Days', 'Mr Green Thumb' and 'Wooden Frames'.

Holler Railbird Sessions: Wayne Graham

Holler Railbird Sessions

Ashley

Artist - Ashley Cooke Holler Live Sessions 1

From four simple words, you can gage a lot of what Ashley Cooke stands for and what she is trying to achieve with her artistry. 

is an unknowing yet hopeful title to give your debut album; one that embodies a songwriter who is brazen and self-exposing, leaving every emotion on the page through intelligent quips and catchy couplets.

Even with this in mind, no one can say they truly expected her to drop a 24-track double album as her first foray into the format. But what an album it is - a finite collection of heartfelt ballads and gratifyingly relatable pay-offs that immediately cements Cooke as a one of the genre's most engaging new acts, alongside the Moroney's, Springsteen's and Watkins' of the world. 

"This first song is kind of about what it's like to date me. It's not weird!" Cooke laughs, ribbing with her guitarist and buddy Louis Johnson as they lead into the catchy yet affirming country-pop song 'getting into'. Immediately, Cooke's sharp banter and unreserved nature comes to the fore, suiting the resilient and memorable essence of the song; 

"I can burn it down, be a London pub closer / Sunday sittin' in a pew hungover" Cooke jokes as she sings, unburdened by ideas of who others expect her to be.

"I wrote this next song about the kind of love I hope to be in at some point. It's kind of a manifestation for the kind of love I want". First releasing the song independently, Cooke shared 'never til now' on social media, finding support from none other than Brett Young, who would go on to duet with her on the latest studio version of the song. 

"This is just the Ashley version", Cooke laughs once again, "imagine Brett being a part of this too". The most telling thing of all as Cooke performs is the joy she takes in these moments; she gleams from ear to ear as she sings what is a deeply intimate love song about the future.

"I had the craziest year of my life last year" Cooke explains as she introduces her final song. "I signed my first record deal, my first publishing deal, i went out on tour with Cole Swindell and Luke Bryan, my life was insane. I wrote this song kind of like a journal entry to music". 

 is summed up by any song, it's this - an artist striving to make sense of a world they've been thrust into, and loving every second of the journey it's taking them on. 

Cooke is one of mainstream country's finest new artists, and from a tiny pub in London, UK, she stakes her claim to stay.

Performing her songs 'getting into', 'never til now' and 'it's been a year', this is Ashley Cooke for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Ashley Cooke, performing her songs 'getting into', 'never til now' and 'it's been a year' for the Holler Live Sessions at The Betsey Trotwood pub in London, UK.

Holler Live Sessions: Ashley Cooke

Holler Live Sessions: Ashley Cooke Videos | Holler

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Holler Live Sessions: Sam Williams

Holler Live Sessions: Hannah Ellis

Holler Railbird Sessions: Wayne Graham

Holler Live Sessions: Ashley Cooke