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This year’s C2C festival was a blast! Happening across the UK in London, Glasgow and Belfast, a large chunk of the Nashville writing and performing community relocated across the Atlantic for a three day whirlwind of music and stories. With headliners Lainey Wilson, Dierks Bentley and Cody Johnson bringing some serious star-power, the crowds were wowed each night but the beauty of the C2C festival, particularly at the O2 in London, is always finding which newer and rising artists impress enough to think that they might be future headliners one day.
Each year we choose a number of artists to be given the ‘break-out’ tag. Those artists that impressed us with their craft, their vocals, the stories and their performances. Here are our 2025 ‘break-out’ class.
Kaitlin Butts
We saw Kaitlin three times across the London weekend and each time she never failed to make us laugh, dance or cry. Yes, were at the Bluebird Cafe session on the Sunday morning with her, Mickey Guyton and Abby Anderson in which all the artists cried to the point where emergency tissues were being passed around the O2 Blueroom!
From murder ballads like ‘White River’ to jaunty drinking songs like ‘Wild Juanita’s Cactus Juice’ we appreciated Kaitlin’s candid songwriting and her ability to blend sharp, insightful lyrics with inspiring messages and relatable humour. The story she told in the Indigo about how she came to work with Vince Gill was one of our favourites of the whole weekend.
Graham Barham
Louisiana’s Graham Barham is on the cusp of something big, and not everyone in Country music is happy about it. After a few years of releasing straightforward Country songs, and writing tracks for other Country stars, Barham caused controversy by returning with a switched-up sound on his viral single ‘Whiskey Whiskey’. With a love for hip-hop and rap, Barham mixed elements of those into his music and of course, the Country music genre and its fans had something to say about it!
We saw Barham on The Wayside stage and from the moment he fully launched into ‘M.I.A.,’ it was clear he had something special, with his distinctive voice cutting through any controversy that may follow him in the U.S. Tracks like the R&B-leaning ‘Lie to Me’ and the electrifying ‘Devil You Know’ showcased his versatility, while viral hit ‘Whiskey Whiskey’ had the crowd singing along. Even when his mic cut out, the audience cheered him on, creating a powerful sense of goodwill. A debut performance of ‘Half a Dozen Roses’ stood out as a highlight, and the high-energy closer ‘Oil Money’ left a lasting impact. Barham is an innovator pushing country music’s boundaries, proving that beneath the modern beats, his sound remains deeply rooted in the genre.
Mackenzie Carpenter
Big Machine’s Mackenzie Carpenter flew over to London just a week after releasing her debut album, ‘Hey Country Queen.’ You can read our review of that album right here. Catching her set at the BBC Radio 2 stage only served to re-enforce just what a special and exciting artists we think she is.
Whether it’s playing songs she wrote for Megan Moroney like ‘I’m Not Pretty,’ or her own songs like ‘Dozen Red Roses’ or ‘Gone Fishin,’ Carpenter exuded both warmth and star quality. Sometimes artists that started off as songwriters for other artists lack that ability to connect with the crowd in front of them in the live setting but Carpenter has no issues with that, deftly explaining the inspirations behind her songs and using her sharp wit to enable her stories to relate to the life experiences of the people in the room.
Carpenter also helped to co-present and announce some of the Spotlight stage artists from the main stage and didn’t look out of place in that setting either. An artist of real potential, we can’t wait to see how Nashville responds to her new album in the months to come.
Tucker Wetmore
Tucker Wetmore’s rapid rise in country music reached new heights with his UK debut at C2C, delivering a confident and crowd-pleasing set on the Main Stage at London’s O2 Arena. Fresh from C2C Berlin, the Kalama, Washington native wasted no time getting the audience on their feet with the energetic ‘What Would You Do?’ before showcasing his versatility with the radio-friendly ‘Silverado Blue’ and beat-driven ‘Break First.’ His latest single ‘3,2,1′ and standout track ‘Bad Luck Looks Good on Me’ hinted at the depth of his upcoming debut album ‘What Not To,’ set for release in April.
With a stage presence reminiscent of Morgan Wallen but with a stronger vocal edge, Wetmore exuded charisma, engaging the crowd with ease. His music fits seamlessly into today’s country landscape, and his performance suggests he could be on the path to headlining in the future. The anticipation for his set was high, and he more than delivered.
Avery Anna
Avery Anna made a stunning international debut at C2C, delivering one of the festival’s standout performances across London, Belfast, and Glasgow. The Flagstaff, Arizona native, who rose to fame after a viral TikTok video led to a Warner Music Nashville deal, seized the moment with bold confidence and undeniable talent. Her fearless, engaging presence left the audience captivated, turning first-time listeners into instant fans. From raucous, guitar heavy songs like ‘Blame it on My Broken Heart’ to sensitive, soaring ballads like ‘Indigo’ Anna wowed with her powerful vocals and Queen-jamming-with-Coldplay-esque innovative compositions that took the mesmerised audience on surprising and unique sonic journeys.
With soaring streaming numbers likely following her electric set, Avery Anna has firmly announced herself on the global stage, and a swift return to the UK is a must.
Early bird tickets to next year’s C2C festival go on sale this Friday (21st March) Don’t miss out on your opportunity to see the next class of rising stars that might shape the future of Country music in the years to come.
Early bird tickets are available from Friday 21st March 2025 at 10am and can be purchased from www.gigsandtours.com, www.AXS.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
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