Artist - George Birge Holler Live Session 1

George Birge's bio on Spotify reads like a mantra for living life exactly how you want to. "Golfin, Grillin, Songwritin and Singin", a simple sentence that sums up the man behind some of the hottest viral tracks this side of the 2020s. 

With 'Beer Beer, Truck Truck' and 'Mind On You', Birge has quickly made a name for himself as a songwriter with a quick whit, a finger on the pulse and a courage to say what he's thinking.

Joining us at The Betsey Trotwood for his first Holler Live Session, Birge is as affable as you'd expect him to be - a natural performer with an easy-going charm that feeds into his music.

"I always struggled writing love songs. I always felt like I couldn't make them my own or they were a little bit too cheesy; I struggled to make them tough enough. When I sat down to write it, I wanted to write a love song but I also wanted to write a song that I felt like was me, and I felt like I finally landed on something".

What he landed on was the album opener to his debut album 

'Forever and A Day'. As a studio recording, it's a slow-burning pop-country take that plenty of established stars would be begging to cut, but in the intimacy of a Holler Live Session, the heavy restlessness that Birge hints at comes much more to the fore, making the track uniquely his own.

"Being we're in the pub with Holler, I figured we'd play a song called 'Whiskey Side'", Birge explains as he introduces his second song. 

"I sat down to write this song and I was thinking about how we all have two sides. We have who we are when we're thinking about what we're saying, trying to be contributing members of society and make our momma's proud, and we have who we are when we take a couple shots of whiskey and say what's really on our mind". 

While we're not suggesting you down a bottle of Beam and really tell Janet in the office what you think of her, we appreciate Birge's candidness and desire to let off a little steam once in a while. While he may be trying to shake off what people expect of him, it feels like we get to see Birge's true colours as a songwriter - a calm self-reflection peppered throughout his work.

"I wrote this song in 2020, when I didn't have a record deal and I was writing songs for other artists" Birge admits when heading into his final song of the session. "I orginally pitched it to Jason Aldean; I got an E-Mail back from his team saying 'don't play this song for anyone else', they wanted to put it on his new record". 

"At the time, that was the biggest thing to ever happen to me". Birge continues "Fast forward about six months, I put some of my own songs on social media and they blew up. I got a record deal and I ended up getting this song back and getting to put it out with my own name on it".

The song is his aforementioned biggest hit to date and the title track of his debut album, 'Mind On You'. A late night drive full of burning desire, Birge channels all of the passion and intensity of the recorded version into this simmering performance, while still delivering it with the cool nonchalant of an artist in his element.

Holler presents George Birge for the Holler Live Sessions, performing his songs 'Forever and A Day', 'Whiskey Side' and 'Mind On You'.

Holler Live Sessions: George Birge

Birge channels all of his passion and intensity while still delivering with the cool nonchalant of an artist in his element.

George Birge 'Mind On You' Video - Holler Live Session

Ross

Author - Ross Jones 2

Drake

Artist - Drake Milligan

In the last couple of years, a wave of exciting neo-traditional acts have emerged, bringing them with an arsenal of sure-fire hits that have country fans square-dancing over some Miller High Lifes till the mornin' breaks.

At the forefront is a certain gentleman by the name of Mr Drake Milligan. He's bringing this honky tonk strain of neo-traditional country to the forefront of the genre, delivering standout records and getting live crowds dancing across various festivals and headline dates.

The 25-year-old Texan has become famed for his delectable mix of Elvis and Roy Orbison charm and Garth and George country sensibility, which has coalesced into his straight banger of a debut double album, 

With not a single misstep in sight, Milligan has ventured across the pond for his first Holler Live Session, delivering some of his biggest hits to date in a stripped-back setting.

Kicking off with album highlight 'Kiss Goodbye All Night', Milligan's love drunk lyricism goes down like honey when paired with a Strait country-esque melody like this. The syrupy sentiment of the lyricism is laminated with a natural cool, Milligan shuffling side to side on his stool as he sinks into the performance.

'This song was really inspired by some of my heroes like Elvis, Roy Orbison and some of that music from the '50s". Milligan explains as he introduces his his second song, 'Don't Look Down'. 

A slow-burning pirouette that wouldn't be lost in Midland's discography, it's an endearing love song that twirls in the very moment; evoking the excitement and nervousness of the first sparks of love as two lovers touch on the dance floor for the first time.

Closing out with the barnstorming 'Sounds Like Something I'd Do', Milligan cements just why everyones getting caught up in a tizzy about this exciting young artist. The song is an unadulterated bop - straight from the late 80s country school of boot-scootin' harmony. It warrants the celebratory whoops from those in the attendance, and certainly from you watching at home.

Performing his songs 'Kiss Goodbye All Night', 'Don't Look Down' and 'Sounds Like Something I'd Do', this is Drake Milligan for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Drake Milligan for the Holler Live Sessions, performing his songs 'Don't Look Down', 'Kiss Goodbye All Night' and 'Sounds Like Something I'd Do'.

Holler Live Sessions: Drake Milligan 

Milligan is leading a pack of exciting, neo-traditional honky tonkers that are grooving country up once more.

Drake Milligan 'Sounds Like Something I'd Do' Video - Holler Live Session

Artist - Caylee Hammack 1

Everything Caylee Hammack has released since she dropped her debut album, 

, back in 2020 can be described with one word - fire.

Her recent singles, the conceptually aligned 'All or Nothing' and 'History of Repeating', flicker and glow with impulsive notions - whether it's in giving yourself completely to situations or giving in to your vices and bad decisions, whatever Hammack touches turns to gold.

Ahead of her UK tour with Tenille Arts and her appearance at The Long Road, Hammack joins Holler to record her first Holler Live Session, from the heart of London in the Betsey Trotwood pub.

"Now, I've got a new song that I really want to play you. It's not out just yet but I think you're going to enjoy it", Caylee begins as she introduces her first song, the unreleased 'Only Good Things'. 

"I wrote it during 2020, in a year that a lot of bad things were happening to a lot of people" she continues, "I believe that we get to manifest stuff through the songs we write and the things that we sing, and words have power. So, hopefully this song will bring y'all only good things".

Hammack is a born entertainer - she has this Dolly-esque ability to welcome you in with a self-effacing joke and a nudging wink before hitting you with the hard truth. "Now I'll preface to this song", Hammack notions mid-way through performing, "just to let you know, as this song isn't out yet, with my southern accent sometimes things get mis-translated". "I'm not saying crack pipe", she points and jests, "I'm saying 

Closing with 'All Or Nothing', Hammack brings that fire to the Betsey Trotwood for this acoustic performance. A scorching take, even in the stripped-back setting, Hammack's voice burns with determination and desire, delivering an anthem about going hard or going home when it comes to love. 

A consummate performer and ardent songwriter, Caylee Hammack has all the qualities of a star in the making.

Performing her songs 'Only Good Things' and 'All Or Nothing', this is Caylee Hammack for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Caylee Hammack, performing her songs 'Only Good Things' and 'All Or Nothing', for the Holler Live Sessions at The Betsey Trotwood pub in London, UK.

Holler Live Sessions: Caylee Hammack

Holler Live Sessions: Caylee Hammack Videos | Holler

Artist - Haley Mae Campbell Holler Live Sessions 1

Your twenties are a time in your life that feels ripe for writing songs about. It's when you sort of start working out who you are and what you want to be, while tripping and stumbling in and out of bars and love in the process. Haley Mae Campbell is the sort of songwriter who can distill those years of recollection and learning into 3-minute country songs we love to bop to; letting us look fondly on who we've become in the process.

"We're going to play you guys a song about falling in love" Campbell declares simply when introducing the first of her songs, 'Never Been In Love'. Alongside her guitarist and now husband, Zachary Manno, the duo slink in to the 

esque rhythm, the endearing nature of the song immediately permeating through Campbell's lyricism.

'Smoke It' takes a different tack, picking up a thick, swampy riff and stirring it into a carefree reverie about not lowering yourself to small town tittle-tattle and living your life for a change. It's a witty little song with a lot of heart, with Campbell sings "They're looking for a silver lining / I'm just looking for a damn good time / Some people like to rock the boat / But I'm just out here floating".

Closing out with the title track of her most recent EP, '20Something' perhaps encapsulates Campbell's songwriting best, an innocent and aspirational nod to living for each of life's hurdles and making some dang good memories along the way.

Haley Mae Campbell's music is exuberant and sprightly, asigns of artist loving every minute of the opportunity presented to her. If you need someone to pick you up, dust you off and remind you this is all part of the plan, you'll find it hard to uncover someone better than Haley. 

Performing her songs 'Never Been In Love', 'Smoke It' and '20Something', this is Haley Mae Campbell for the Holler Live Sessions.

Holler presents Haley Mae Campbell, performing her songs 'Never Been In Love', 'Smoke It' and '20Something' for the Holler Live Sessions at The Betsey Trotwood pub in London, UK.

Holler Live Sessions: Haley Mae Campbell

Haley Mae Campbell brings the "damn good time" to the Betsey Trotwood pub for Holler.

Holler Live Sessions: Haley Mae Campbell 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: George Birge

Holler Live Sessions: Drake Milligan

Holler Live Sessions: Caylee Hammack

Holler Live Sessions: Haley Mae Campbell