Photo Credit: Hope Holmes
My first experience of a country festival right here in the heart of Glasgow. At a packed OVO Hydro.
An absolutely stacked lineup headlined by none other than the legendary Lainey Wilson.
But before Lainey was welcomed to the stage by a buzzing Glasgow crowd dressed in their best cowboy hats and boots, we had a star studded lineup including Wyatt Flores, 49 Winchester and Dylan Gossett.
I arrived at the famous OVO Hydro for Scotland’s biggest country festival just in time for an amazing performance from Virginia’s very own 49 Winchester.
It was my first time seeing many acts on this bill and I was certainly not disappointed. The main stage was absolutely packed from the get-go with many fans eager to sing along and soak up the incredible atmosphere.
49 Winchester
49 Winchester blew me away with their blend of old school country & rock and certainly gained many new fans in the building that night, including myself. They delivered a powerful set which included fan favourites such as Russell County Line which had the audience gripped onto every single word, with their heartfelt story telling and raw vocals.
They finished their set with an upbeat Hillbilly Happy, an absolute standout from their set, getting everyone up and dancing out of their seats, leaving the audience with smiles on their faces and a buzz in the air that carried on throughout the night.
Willow Avalon
Following a breathtaking set from 49 Winchester, Willow Avalon hailing from Georgia, was welcomed to the Spotlight Stage, which is situated in the main hall, a truly unique stage in the UK festival scene.
Willow Avalon delivered a confident and captivating performance, proving why she’s a rising star in the country music scene. Her smooth vocals and heartfelt lyrics immediately drew the crowd in, setting the perfect tone for the night. Songs like Baby Blue showcased her ability to blend modern country with classic storytelling, while her engaging stage presence made her performance feel personal and authentic.
Despite being one of the newer names on the lineup, she held her own, winning over plenty of new fans with her charm and talent.
Dylan Gossett
Dylan Gossett was with no shadow of a doubt my highlight of the night. As a huge fan of Dylan Gossett, I was certainly not disappointed with his performance on the night, taking on the main Hydro stage in only his second performance in Scotland. With incredible vocals and catchy choruses, it’s no wonder he attracts comparisons to the big hitters in modern country such as Zach Bryan and Sam Barber.
Gossett started his set with Lone Ol’ Cowboy which brought an energy to be carried on throughout his set, with the audience gripped on to every lyric of the story.
A highlight from his set was an awesome cover of the legendary Johnny Cash’ Folsom Prison Blues, which he made his very own and you could really tell how much fun himself and the band which included his very own brother were having.
Lainey Wilson
A first time for me having the privilege to catch an absolute legend of modern country in Lainey Wilson.
Wilson’s performance was eagerly anticipated, and she did not disappoint. She immediately set the tone for the night with her powerful voice and captivating stage presence. The setlist was a perfect mix of her well-known hits like Heart Like a Truck, Things a Man Oughta Know, and fan-favourite Watermelon Moonshine.
Every single song was met with the roar of the Glasgow crowd.
Lainey even crowned a little 8 year old country girl, Chloe as her cowgirl of the night and said that she was her “new best friend” in an incredibly cute and unforgettable moment.
As Wilson closed off her set to round off an awesome weekend in Glasgow with Wildflowers and Wild Horses, she expressed her love for the Scottish crowd as the Scottish crowd reciprocated all her love straight back.
Overall, an unforgettable experience at my very first country festival, and one that I will 100% be back at again. A unique look at indoor festivals, with many stages and artists to checkout over the 3 days all in 2 minutes walking distance from each-other. Certainly like nothing I’d ever seen before – and I believe Country 2 Country have done this one perfect. Great Experience, Great Artists, Great night full of music and cowboy hats.