Country To Country Festival Wraps 2025 Event

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Tucker Wetmore, Jessi Alexander, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton and Wyatt Flores perform during a special CMA Songwriters Series show at the indigo at The O2 in London on Thursday, March 13. Photo: Luke Dyson/CMA

Over the weekend (March 13-16), country music fans from the U.K. gathered for the Country Music Association’s annual “C2C: Country To Country Festival.”

“C2C is always such an incredible experience, from kicking off the weekend with a sold-out Songwriters Series to hosting the CMA Spotlight Stage in London and Glasgow, we were reminded again of the strength and global connection of our genre,” shares Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Country Music reached new heights in 2024, and the momentum has only grown stronger in these first few months of 2025. With more artists, industry professionals and fans engaging with the genre, we’re more excited than ever for what’s in store.”

Last Thursday (March 13), C2C kicked off with its CMA Songwriters Series at indigo at the O2, featuring Jessi Alexander, Wyatt Flores, Mickey Guyton, Tucker Wetmore and Darius Rucker, who also served as host for the event.

Richard Murdoch (Producer for “Another Country with Ricky Ross,” BBC Radio Scotland) receives the 2024 CMA Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award in a special backstage presentation by Country artist Lainey Wilson during C2C Glasgow Sunday, March 16. Photo: Emma Gallacher

CMA additionally sponsored C2C’s Spotlight Stage for the first time, giving rising artists a platform during the big festival. Bayker Blankenship, Drew Baldridge, Harper O’Neill, Kaitlin Butts, Kashus Culpepper, Kassi Ashton, Kezia Gill, Max McNown and Willow Avalon all took the stage in the middle of the O2 in London. Blankenship, Baldridge, O’Neill, Ashton, Gill and Avalon also performed at the OVO Hydro Glasgow.

Richard Murdoch (Producer for Another Country with Ricky Ross, BBC Radio Scotland) was honored with the 2024 CMA Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award. The award spotlighted Murdoch’s innovative approach to media, as well his drive to expanding the genre globally. Lainey Wilson presented the award during C2C Glasgow on Sunday (March 16).

CMA also organized a slew of industry events in London to build networks worldwide. Presenters for the events included Michelle Boursiquot (BMG), Ami Brown (Universal Music Group), Zoe Briggs (REPUBLIC Collective), Phil Connolly (Sony Music), Meredith Goucher (CMA), Alexandra Hannaby (Big Machine Label Group), Sean Hendrie (United Talent Agency), Jim King (AEG Presents), Baylen Leonard (Absolute Radio Country, The Long Road, Holler), Rachel Lloyd (AEG Presents), Neil McSteen (CAA), Anna-Sophie Mertens (Live Nation), Luke Roberts (Lime Tree Music), Shannon Saunders (WME), Cayleigh Shepherd (Big Loud), Gaëlle Siourakan (Universal Music Group), Trahern (CMA) and Helen Thomas (BBC Radio 2).

“C2C: Country To Country” will take place in 2026 March 13-15.

CMA hosts a presentation titled “Brand Power of Country Music in the U.K.,” diving into the rise of Country Music and the loyalty of its fans. Presenters included (back row L-R) Sarah Trahern (CMA), Ami Brown (UMG), Phil Connolly (Sony Music), Sean Hendrie (UTA), Alexandra Hannaby (BMLG), Baylen Leonard (Absolute Country, The Long Road, Holler), Gaëlle Siourakan (UMG), (front row L-R) Michelle Boursiquot (BMG), Anna-Sophie Mertens (Live Nation), Shannon Saunders (WME), Rachel Lloyd (AEG Presents), Helen Thomas (BBC Radio 2), Meredith Goucher (CMA), Cayleigh Shepherd (Big Loud) and Zoe Briggs (REPUBLIC Collective). Not Pictured: Neil McSteen (CAA), Jim King (AEG Presents), Luke Roberts (Lime Tree Music). Photo: Luke Dyson/CMA

Madison Hahnen
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