CMA SONGWRITERS SERIES ANNOUNCES SECOND ANNUAL U.K. TOUR IN OCTOBER
Ashley Campbell Joins Chris DeStefano, Kassi Ashton and Tenille Townes For Their First U.K. Performances
Tickets On Sale Friday, August 3
NASHVILLE – Building on the annual sell-out
success of CMA Songwriters Series in London during C2C and following the
first U.K. tour last autumn during Country Music Week, the Country
Music Association’s critically acclaimed CMA Songwriters
Series returns to the U.K. Oct. 16-22. Hosted by Chris DeStefano, the lineup also features
Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, and Tenille Townes.Tickets are on sale this Friday, August 3 at www.axs.com/uk/series/6817/cma-songwriters-series-tickets.
CMA Songwriters Series has a track record of
launching new artists through its intimate storytelling format, which
allows audiences to get to know the artists, their journey and the
stories behind their songs. The two-hour seated show
features the artists together on stage, taking turns sharing a story
before performing their song acoustically. Each CMA Songwriters Series
is unique—uplifting, amusing and often emotional, leaving audiences
feeling closer to the artists and the music.
The tour introduces DeStefano, Ashton and Townes
to U.K. audiences for the first time as they join Campbell making her
fourth U.K. appearance.
“Presenting this very Nashville experience in an
international setting not only makes for a magical evening, but it
truly forges a deeper connection to the music for new audiences,” said
Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and
Development. “The artists on this tour represent a true cross section of
Country Music and we’re honored to be part of their journey as they
build their international base.”
The tour dates continue to further CMA’s global
expansion initiatives. In the U.K. alone, Country Music streaming is up
more than 50 percent this year compared to 2017, where 78 percent of
Country fans listen to a greater and more varied
number of Country artists compared to last year, while 80 percent of
Country fans are interested in and seek out more live Country Music
shows and events. Earlier this spring, CMA visited both the U.K. during
C2C: Country to Country festival—where CMA Songwriters
Series held a sold-out show at London’s indigo at The O2—as well as
Australia during CMC Rocks QLD festival.
U.K. Tour:
Featuring Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Tenille Townes
Oct. 16 Glasgow, Scotland St. Luke’s
Oct. 17 Liverpool, England St. George’s Hall
Oct. 18 Gateshead, England Sage Two
Oct. 20 Manchester, England RNCM
Oct. 22 London, England O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Kassi Ashton
Kassi
Ashton is one of Nashville’s most compelling rising stars. Signed to
UMG Nashville in conjunction with Interscope Records, the California,
Missouri singer/songwriter has been making
a name for herselfthanks to her authentic songwriting and soulful, rich voice. Huffington Post gives
Ashton “mad props for her songwriting and stage presence” while CMT
calls her “fearless” and notes “her point of view is inspired and her
storytelling
knows no bounds.” Ashton recently released her auto-biographical song
“California, Missouri,” where she paints an unconventional portrait of
life growing up in her small town. Named
“Who to Watch” by
Huffington Post, The Tennessean and radio personality Bobby
Bones’ “Class of 2018,” she also caught the attention of Country
superstar Keith Urban. Describing her as “such a unique, original
creature,” Urban featured Ashton on his song “Drop Top”
for his latest album Graffiti U. Read more atKassiAshton.com.
Ashley Campbell
Following in the footsteps of a famous parent is
never an easy path, and Campbell, the daughter of music legend Glen
Campbell, initially pursued dance and acting. But when Campbell was
asked to learn banjo for a part in a play, a spark
was lit and her calling was found. Soon Campbell was studying with
banjo luminary Carl Jackson (her godfather and longtime member of Glen’s
band) and mastering her technique. She would go on to join her father’s
touring band, including his poignant Goodbye
Tour in 2011-12, and appear in the award-winning 2015 documentary “Glen
Campbell: I’ll Be Me.” The family affair continues with the release of
her debut album
The Lonely One, which was co-produced by Ashley Campbell and her
brother Cal Campbell. Her older brother Shannon Campbell contributes
vocals and guitar in addition to having co-written the track “Looks Like
Time” with her. Read more at
AshleyCampbellMusic.com.
Chris DeStefano is
a Grammy award-winning American singer/songwriter, record producer
and multi-instrumentalist. The prolific songwriter has had multiple No.
1 songs with artists Carrie Underwood (“Good Girl,” “Little Toy
Guns”), Billy Currington (“Hey Girl”), Brett Eldredge (“Don’t Ya,” which
he also produced), Luke Bryan (“That’s My Kind
of Night,” “Kick the Dust Up”), Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood
(“Somethin’ Bad,” later reworked as the opening theme for NBC’s “Sunday
Night Football”), Rascal Flatts (“Rewind”) and Jason Aldean (“Just
Gettin’ Started”). Underwood’s “Good Girl,” which
DeStefano co-wrote, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country
Songs chart in 2012. He also co-wrote Underwood’s seven-week No. 1 song
“Something in the Water.” DeStefano and American songwriter Josh Osborne
co-wrote Australian singer Morgan Evan’s current
single “Kiss Somebody,” which won Country Work of the Year at the APRA
Music Awards in 2018.
Tenille Townes
The Canadian-born Townes has the lyrical
fortitude of Griffin or Lori McKenna, the soulful nature of Chris
Stapleton or even Adele, but Townes is paving ground all her own.
Working on her debut LP with Jay Joyce, Townes started her journey
to becoming one of Country’s most promising new artists back in rural
Canada, in the backseat of a car. Once settled in Nashville, Townes
spent her days songwriting and her nights at guitar pulls or at the
Bluebird Cafe, studying everything she could. Eventually,
she scored a publishing deal with Big Yellow Dog and headed into the
studio with Joyce. Together, they tapped into her organic nature and her
sheer ability to tell a story and emote it through the visceral range
of her vocals – tender, bluesy, wise and full
of wonder but never naive. Read more at TenilleTownes.com.
About CMA Songwriters Series
Currently in its 14th season, CMA Songwriters
Series has presented more than 100 shows in cities including Austin,
Belfast, Chicago, Dublin, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Park
City (at Sundance), Phoenix, Toronto and Washington,
D.C. at the renowned Library of Congress and John F. Kennedy Center.
Artists and songwriters who have participated in the series include
Jessi Alexander, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church,
Brandy Clark, Tom Douglas, Brett Eldredge, Miranda
Lambert, Hillary Lindsey, Little Big Town, Shane McAnally, Lori
McKenna, Kacey Musgraves, Tim Nichols, Liz Rose, Darius Rucker, Carrie
Underwood, Craig Wiseman, Chris Young, and more.