Words: Erin Bowden
Cowboy hats in London? It can only mean one thing, C2C is back!
If you think country music is only about beer and heartbreak, C2C festival is here to politely (and loudly) prove you wrong. For over a decade this festival has transformed the O2 in Greenwich for a weekend each March into a little slice of Nashville, filling the iconic venue with line dancing, ballads and more cowboy boots than I’ve ever seen in one place.
One thing that C2C does so well is blend traditional country storytelling with modern hits, championing upcoming homegrown talent as well as importing the hottest artists from the US. This year’s line-up truly had something for everyone, with this year’s star studded headline performances from Brooks & Dunn, Zach Top and Keith Urban, as well as main stage performances from Ashley Cooke, Waylon Wyatt and Drake Milligan.
Getting the right steer, Zach Top (credit: Anthony Mooney) 
Scott McCreery’s crew are feelin’ it (credit: Anthony Mooney) 
Russell Dickerson’s putting in the effort (credit: Anthony Mooney) 
Ashley is just Cooke-ing… (credit: Anthony Mooney) 
Keith Urban is joined by Natalie Stovall of Runaway June (credit: Anthony Mooney) 
Brooks and Dunn bring Sunday’s house down (credit: Anthony Mooney)
Whilst the arena show offered three unforgettable nights of performances, this writer’s personal highlight of the weekend was getting to see some of country music’s rising stars in a more intimate setting. BBC Radio 2’s stage, hosted in the smaller Indigo venue, shone a spotlight on the next generation of country artists. Noah Rinker was a standout, as his performance in the main area’s spotlight stage later verified. With just two guitars and a harmonica, Rinker proved that skill and storytelling is all you need to capture the attention (and hearts) of UK’s country music fans.
One of my biggest surprises of the weekend was The Jack Wharff Band. Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, where they met at an open mic night, the band’s first UK show drew in a huge crowd to The Dutton Ranch stage. At only 19 years old, the band’s guitarist Evan Novoa could’ve passed for a rock legend, at one point going so far as to play a guitar solo with his teeth. Their energy and chemistry as a band secured their title as one to watch for 2026.
“At only 19 years old, Evan Novoa could’ve passed for a rock legend, at one point playing a guitar solo with his teeth”
Another highlight was the songwriters round hosted by Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe, where artists got the chance to play acoustic sets and share stories of what inspired the music. At its core, country music is about storytelling, which this relaxed, intimate setting truly showcased. Mae Estes was a prime example of this. A veteran to the Bluebird Cafe, her lyricism and effortless vocals emphasised everything that is great about country music.
One final shout out has to go to Emily Ann Roberts, who took the stage by storm at all three of her performances on the Friday. Her mix of southern charm, vocal agility and catchy melodies made her an absolute stand out in such a packed line-up.
There’s nothing better than watching an artist truly have the time of their life on stage, and that joy was infectious, making this one of the best crowds LDN experienced all weekend. This may have been her first set of shows in Europe but with the future she has in front of her it definitely won’t be her last.
“Emily Ann Roberts took the stage by storm with a mix of southern charm, vocal agility and catchy melodies”
There was so many more incredible performances by a whole pool of talented artists. The weekend was jam-packed with good music, good food and overall good vibes. For fans of country music this weekend it’s truly not one to miss. Early bird tickets for 2027 are already on sale at c2c-countrytocountry.com, LDN hopes to see you there.
LDN 