42 ...... Sunday, February 25, 2018 1SM MUSIC

Pic: SCOTT ARTHUR by COLAN LAMONT

SINGER Ballerini is thrilled to be playing the Country To Country festival in Glasgow next month — because she’ll FINALLY get to see all her music icons. The 24-year-old is playing the SSE Hydro as part of the three-day C2C, Europe’s biggest country music festival. And alongside her on the bill are country legends Emmylou Harris, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. NEW Delighted Kelsea said: “They have the headliners who are superstars — but also MUSIC artists like myself. “I open for Tim McGraw. They are inter- national superstars everywhere and yet I’ve never seen them live. “So I’ll be the first one there dancing to COLD YEARS the music.” WHERE: Aberdeen It brings the best country music and pro- WHO: Ross Gordon (vocals/gui- gramming with performances from the tar), Finlay Urquhart (guitar/ world’s best country stars as well as vocals), Louis Craighead (bass/ emerging talent from Nashville, the UK and vocals), Fraser Allan (drums) Europe. FOR FANS OF: The Hold Little Big Town and Kacey Musgraves Steady, Foo Fighters, Manic will also be on stage. It’s the fourth year Street Preachers it’s been held in Glasgow, having moved JIM SAYS: North-east rockers from last year’s home at the Clyde Auditorium. Cold Years are set to release And Kelsea can’t wait to turn a small their third EP Northern Blue on corner of Glasgow into a mini-Nashville Friday. Featuring the singles from March 9-11 and is looking forward to Miss You To Death, Seasons and exploring the country. What I Lost, they’ve laid down She says: “I’ve just been to Scotland once heartfelt songs blending rock ’n’ when I opened for Lady Antebellum. roll, punk and Americana. “I didn’t get to see too much but I Frontman Ross told me: “It’s a did visit a really nice pub which was bit different to anything we have amazing. done previously. A lot of it is “But the craziest thing for me as a new written around the thought of artist is getting out of Nashville and the facing the world without my South and going somewhere as far away as parents. There’s some stuff Scotland. about past relationships “To go all that way and see people still and looking forward to the know the songs and have such a mad love future.” for country music makes my perspective so much bigger. Emerging in 2015 with “That’s something I’ve really enjoyed and their Mile Marker EP, the had never thought about before. I never Aberdeen band came thought I’d get to go there. together after Ross had “I don’t want to stay all day on a bus written songs. He when I’m there. explained: “I had no inten- “I’m a total tourist and would love to see tion of doing anything COUNTRY’S everything if I can. with them, but then I “And I wish I had the accent, I love trav- thought, ‘OK, I want to elling and I don’t think I have an accent put them in a band format at all. and see if they work.’ HOTTEST “I’m southern but there are people in “I called Finlay, told him Nashville have ones a lot stronger than Fraser was going to play drums, called Fraser told him ROOKIE SET Finlay was playing guitar! I lied through my teeth to get them together. Then we recorded Mile TO SHINE Marker a couple of months later.” Cold Years have found a home from home in Germany, hooking WITH IDOLS up with Homebound Records for the new EP. Ross said: “They approached us about a deal on a limited edition of Northern Blue. Fabian Schreiner really believes mine.” Rising star Kelsea released her in what he is doing, and those debut album The First Time in 2015. guys are just so into music.” She became the first solo female country The guys are heading back to music artist to score a No1 hit with her Germany for some dates in debut single since when April. Ross said: “They have Love Me Like You Mean It topped the a strong scene and are country chart in July that year. committed to live music. She followed with two additional No1 hits, They feed you, pay you Dibs and Peter Pan. and put you up 90 per cent Maiden KelseaKelsea’s talent was recognised with a Best New Artist nomination at the Grammys in of the time. For a band at our 2017 and she released second album, Una- level that was the thing that sur- pologetically, just before Christmas prised us the most.” last year. Before the tour they have their The singer-, originally from first arena show at BrewDog’s Mascot, Tennessee, was originally influenced AGM at Aberdeen Exhibition and by pop music, but megastars like Keith Conference Centre. The share- Urban and Taylor Swift got her thinking holders’ event has previously about country. featured The Stranglers, Fright- She says: “Breaking into country music is ened Rabbit, Twin Atlantic and about figuring out your angle. That means Idlewild. what you want to say and how you say it Cold Years launch the North- and how you make sure it’s different to ern Blue EP on March 2 with a other people. gig at The Tunnels in Aberdeen. “It’s been slow and steady but really MORE: www.facebook.com/ good. coldyearsband “I released my first single three and a Jim presents a weekly showcase of half years ago and it’s been a super fun New Music on Amazing Radio Sundays journey since then. 2-4pm. www.amazingradio.com “When I tour, I just want to introduce www.jimgellatly.com everyone to this type of music. “That’s the plan.” l Watch video of band at: Tickets are available via viagogo.co.uk www.thescottishsun.co.uk STARSTRUCK . . . Kelsea is playing alonside Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Emmylou Harris at the C2C festival