Earlier today I had the privilege of chatting with the gentleman that is Drake White. As I spoke with the Alabama native we chatted about his first taste of singing vocally, the changes in country music in his time in Nashville, what it means to come to the UK and the impact of song writing and music can have to the end user.

Drake is poised to do a whole host of shows across the UK and into Europe next month, kicking it all off in Belfast.

European Tour Schedule
Wednesday 18th February – Empire Music Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Friday 20th February – The Tabernacle, London, England
Sunday 22nd February – The Deaf institute, Manchester, England
Tuesday 24th February – Saint Luke’s, Glasgow, Scotland
Thursday 26th February – Albisgutli Country Music Festival, Switzerland
Friday 27th February – Albisgutli Country Music Festival, Switzerland

About Drake White
Drake White grew up singing in his church’s youth choir in Alabama before becoming one of Country music’s most spirited innovators, earning four Top 40 hits and traveling the country on multiple nationwide tours. His 2013 debut single “Simple Life” introduced his brand of Country soul,which he cemented with 2016 debut album SPARK followed by the EPs ‘Pieces’ and ‘Stars.’

In August 2019, he collapsed on stage due to a hemorrhagic stroke, and doctors told him he might never perform again. After undergoing a series of operations to repair his Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) and months of physiotherapy, White has proved them wrong, embarking on his The Optimystic Tour to spread his incredible positivity to his fans. New songs “Power of a Woman” and “Giants” are the latest tastes of new music from White, who has received accolades including Rolling Stone’s 10 Country Artists You Need to Know, The Grammy’s Artist of Tomorrow and the British CMA Awards’ International Song of the Year. He has shared the bill with Country music superstars like Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Zac Brown Band.

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On the latest pod I chat with Baylen Leonard. one half of the team behind The Long Road Festival, which takes place each year in Leicestershire. We talk about his growing up steeped in Country Music, The festival itself, past, present and future and just the general love people have for all things country!

More than just a wealth of established acts, The Long Road has been at the forefront of helping music fans discover some of the most exciting new artists from across the world, and this year is no exception, with stages hosted by partners Loose Music and Color Me Country with Rissi Palmer, and for the first time, Country & Americana powerhouse label Snakefarm Records; along with Nashville-style songwriter rounds, artist meet and greet opportunities, and afterparties.

Returning for its sixth year, The Long Road recently announced several new elements for 2025, to welcome new friends and celebrate the growth of the country family. Audiences will be treated to performances across six stages; The Rhinestone Stage (main stage) – opening from Friday afternoon for weekend ticket holders for the first time this year; the Interstate; The Front Porch; Buddy’s, a country bar nestled among woodland; The Showground, where numerous artists from both sides of the pond have made their debut at the festival; and a brand-new sixth stage, with more details to follow.

The Long Road Festival runs from Friday, August 22 to Sunday, August 24 2025. Weekend, Camping, Day, Kids and VIP tickets available now: https://www.thelongroad.com/tickets.

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For my latest conversation I’m joined by Mac Watts. He in Nashville currently and plays the bars almost on a daily basis. He’s a singer/song writer with a great passion for country. We chat about moving to Nashville from his home state of Michigan, we chat a little Kip Moore and the similarities between Mac, Kip and Willie Nelson. Mac tells us about song writing ahead of his new single drop on Friday 18th April.

About Mac Watts:
Nashville recording artist, Mac Watts, is a rising star in modern country music. Mac grew up just north of Detroit, Michigan aspiring to play collegiate ice hockey but always had a love for music. When he decided to hang up the skates, he taught himself how to play the guitar, write songs and sing. Mac claims he grew up on Motown, country, and Irish drinking songs. His big influences though today are the sounds of Eric Church, Kip Moore, Brothers Osborne, and Dierks Bentley to name a few.

He then realized he’d found his passion and picked up a few gigs at local bars in the Metro Detroit area. Since a rolling stone gathers no moss, Mac moved to south Florida to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and supported himself with a full time job and weekly night gigs. He performed in an acoustic duo with another local musician, John Patterson, and later was asked to be the lead singer in a band called Shotgun 40. Both offered a variety of steady gigs to support himself while finishing college. After graduation in December, the rolling stone found himself on the road to Music City to pursue a career in country music as an artist in Nashville, TN.

Since his arrival in February of 2017, he has some impressive accomplishments. He released his first single, Ain’t Through Loving You, along with many other singles and launched two EP’s, which can be found on all music platforms.

He was the Regional Finals Winner for the Nash Next America’s Talent Search Contest in 2018. He and his band have opened for big names such as: Phil Vassar, A Thousand Horses, Parmalee, Haley and Michaels, Austin Burke, Scotty McCreery to name a few. He was selected to perform at the WYCD Hoedown Music Festival at the DTE Energy Music Theatre. He recently released his newest single, See This Through, and is working on new music.

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