It’s been quite a year. We completed the last interview and session last week with Hiss Golden Messenger before signing off for Christmas. I keep notes for all the interviews…(I’m hopeless without them) and our guests make up a veritable who’s who. Ashley Monroe, The Delines, Devin  Dawson, Israel Nash, Kathy Mattea, Yola, Brett Eldredge, Lylle Lovett, Ashley McBryde, Nick Lowe, Jaime Wyatt, Michael Ray, The Orphan Brigade, Hayes Carl and oh….Dolly Parton.

I hope I haven’t forgotten too many. We’ve also had our monthly Twang Town check ins from Bill DeMain and met an interesting new voice from Mu

It’s been quite a year. We completed the last interview and session last week with Hiss Golden Messenger before signing off for Christmas. I keep notes for all the interviews…(I’m hopeless without them) and our guests make up a veritable who’s who. Ashley Monroe, The Delines, Devin  Dawson, Israel Nash, Kathy Mattea, Yola, Brett Eldredge, Lylle Lovett, Ashley McBryde, Nick Lowe, Jaime Wyatt, Michael Ray, The Orphan Brigade, Hayes Carl and oh….Dolly Parton.

I hope I haven’t forgotten too many. We’ve also had our monthly Twang Town check ins from Bill DeMain and met an interesting new voice from Music City,Marissa Moss. There have been gatherings down in Studio One with King of Birds and William The Conqueror and guest spots from our good friend Tia Sillers. Along the way we’ve heard some brilliant records from returning artists, take a bow Patty Griffin, Jenny Lewis and Son Volt and discovered new ones: Lauren Jenkins, Olivia Lane and Lula Wiles. For all those who have sent in records we haven’t managed to play can I say a huge thank you. Sometimes we just haven’t found time and space, sometimes it feels like the record is better suited to a different show and sometimes it just doesn’t connect with us. That’s not to say we are right about making any of these choices but we think it’s important to curate programmes which reflects the best of what’s around. As an artist who gets played/often-doesn’t-get-played-on-radio I understand this can be frustrating but there is one thing which, after eleven years of Another Country we haven’t changed: we like to think that we listen to everything. So thanks if you’ve sent some music in and sorry if it hasn’t been aired yet.

What’s also evident is there’s a lot of music around. Country (in the widest sense) in the UK is certainly going through a purple patch. American acts are coming over with increasing regularity and many new Country and Americana artists are keen to establish some UK cred before they launch properly back home. There is a host of new soft country UK acts…mainly duos it seems….and within that there is wide range of talent. It’s been exciting to see the career of Ferris and Sylvester moving in all the right directions and we are excited to hear what 2020 brings for them.

That’s enough about the artists. It is you, the listener, who really makes the difference to what we do. We are grateful for your posts on Facebook, tweets and emails. We love your suggestions and requests and we love the feedback we get from you. It’s been great to meet some of you out at gigs although my own business as an artist this year has meant I’ve made far fewer gigs in 2019..so sorry for the ones I missed. There have been some great nights though. The Delines earlier in the year and a wonderful evening with Sam Outlaw are two highlights for me.

There is a lot to be excited about in the new year. Country to Country will be upon us in a few months and we have some great plans to bring you close to the top acts of the weekend. So, as ever, we ask you to keep listening and on behalf of Richard Murdoch, Roslyn McCuish, Laura Seawright and myself a huge thank you for listening. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year when it comes.