CMA Songwriters Series Announces Second UK Tour in October

Building on the annual sell-out success of the CMA Songwriters Series show in London during C2C Festival and following the first U.K. tour last autumn during the inaugural Country Music Week, the Country Music Association’s critically acclaimed CMA Songwriters Series returns to the U.K. Oct. 16-22.

Hosted by Chris DeStefano, the lineup also features Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, and Tenille Townes (Scroll down for artist profiles).

Tickets are on General sale this Friday, August 3 at CMASongwritersSeries.com & Ticketmaster UK

Presale starts: Wed 1 August, 9am - AXS.com

U.K. Tour:

Featuring Kassi Ashton, Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Tenille Townes,

Tuesday 16 October 2018 - St. Luke’s, Glasgow (Calton 17 Bain Street, G40 2JZ)                           

Wednesday 17 October 2018 - St. George’s Hall, Liverpool (St George's Place, L1 1JJ)                          

Thursday 18 October 2018 - Sage Two, Gateshead (St Mary's Square, Gateshead Quays NE8 2JR)                     

Saturday 20 October 2018 - RNCM, Manchester (124 Oxford Road, M13 9RD)                   

Monday 22 October 2018 - O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London (Shepherds Bush Green, W12 8TT) *part of Country Music Week 2018

All shows are seated: Tickets available on Ticketmaster UK

Euro Dates:

Featuring Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Drake White (excluding Stockholm), Charlie Worsham with special appearance by Jill Johnson (Stockholm and Oslo). Johnson is host of the Sveriges Television (SVT) award-winning documentary series “Jills Veranda Nashville,” which invites Swedish artists to explore Nashville with Johnson.

October 8, 2018: Nalen, Stockholm, SE - Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Charlie Worsham, with Special Guest: Jill Johnson

October 9, 2018: Oslo Konserthus, Oslo, NO - Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Drake White, Charlie Worsham, with Special Guest: Jill Johnson

October 11, 2018: Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, DE - Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Drake White, Charlie Worsham

October 12, 2018: Zonnehuis, Amsterdam, NL - Ashley Campbell, Chris DeStefano, Drake White, Charlie Worsham

Tickets: www.cmaworld.com/sws-international

CMA Songwriters Series has a track record of launching new artists through its intimate storytelling format, which allows audiences to get to know the artists, their journey and the stories behind their songs. The two-hour seated show features the artists together on stage, taking turns sharing a story before performing their song acoustically. Each CMA Songwriters Series is unique—uplifting, amusing and often emotional, leaving audiences feeling closer to the artists and the music.

The tour introduces DeStefano, Ashton and Townes to U.K. audiences for the first time as they join Campbell making her fourth appearance.

“Presenting this very Nashville experience in an international setting not only makes for a magical evening, but it truly forges a deeper connection to the music for new audiences,” said Milly Olykan, CMA Vice President, International Relations and Development. “The artists on this tour represent a true cross section of Country Music and we’re honored to be part of their journey as they build their international base.”

The tour dates continue to further CMA’s global expansion initiatives. In the U.K. alone, Country Music streaming is up more than 50 percent this year compared to 2017, where 78 percent of Country fans listen to a greater and more varied number of Country artists compared to last year, while 80 percent of Country fans are interested in and seek out more live Country Music shows and events. Earlier this spring, CMA visited both the U.K. during C2C: Country to Country festival—where CMA Songwriters Series held a sold-out show at London’s indigo at The O2—as well as Australia during CMC Rocks QLD festival.

Kassi Ashton

UK! I’m joining the CMA Songwriters Series tour for 5 dates in October! I’m so excited to come see you!

Kassi Ashton is one of Nashville’s most compelling rising stars. Signed to UMG Nashville in conjunction with Interscope Records, the California, Missouri singer/songwriter has been making a name for herself thanks to her authentic songwriting and soulful, rich voice. Huffington Post gives Ashton “mad props for her songwriting and stage presence” while CMT calls her “fearless” and notes “her point of view is inspired and her storytelling knows no bounds.”

Ashton recently released her auto-biographical song “California, Missouri,” where she paints an unconventional portrait of life growing up in her small town. Named “Who to Watch” by Huffington Post, The Tennessean and radio personality Bobby Bones’ “Class of 2018,” she also caught the attention of Country superstar Keith Urban. Describing her as “such a unique, original creature,” Urban featured Ashton on his song “Drop Top” for his latest album Graffiti U. Read more at KassiAshton.com.

Ashley Campbell

Following in the footsteps of a famous parent is never an easy path, and Campbell, the daughter of music legend Glen Campbell, initially pursued dance and acting. But when Campbell was asked to learn banjo for a part in a play, a spark was lit and her calling was found. 

Soon Campbell was studying with banjo luminary Carl Jackson (her godfather and longtime member of Glen’s band) and mastering her technique. She would go on to join her father’s touring band, including his poignant Goodbye Tour in 2011-12, and appear in the award-winning 2015 documentary “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me.” 

The family affair continues with the release of her debut album The Lonely One, which was co-produced by Campbell and her brother Cal Campbell. Campbell’s older brother Shannon Campbell contributes vocals and guitar in addition to having co-written the track “Looks Like Time” with her. Read more at AshleyCampbellMusic.com.

Chris DeStefano

Chris DeStefano is a Grammy award-winning American singer/songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist. The prolific songwriter has had multiple No. 1 songs with artists Carrie Underwood (“Good Girl,” “Little Toy Guns”), Billy Currington (“Hey Girl”), Brett Eldredge (“Don’t Ya,” which he also produced), Luke Bryan (“That’s My Kind of Night,” “Kick the Dust Up”), Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood (“Somethin’ Bad,” later reworked as the opening theme for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football”), Rascal Flatts (“Rewind”) and Jason Aldean (“Just Gettin’ Started”). Underwood’s “Good Girl,” which DeStefano co-wrote, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in 2012. He also co-wrote Underwood’s seven-week No.1 song “Something in the Water.” DeStefano and American songwriter Josh Osborne co-wrote Australian singer Morgan Evan’s current single “Kiss Somebody,” which won Country Work of the Year at the APRA Music Awards in 2018.

Tenille Townes

On Instagram she shares: Ahhhhhhh I’m so excited for this. I’ve been dreaming of the day that music would find a way to pack my bag for Europe and this is truly so wild. Thank you so much CMA for this opportunity. I cannot wait for October!!!

The Canadian-born Townes has the lyrical fortitude of Griffin or Lori McKenna, the soulful nature of Chris Stapleton or even Adele, but Townes is paving ground all her own. Working on her debut LP with Jay Joyce, Townes started her journey to becoming one of Country’s most promising new artists back in rural Canada, in the backseat of a car.

Once settled in Nashville, Townes spent her days songwriting and her nights at guitar pulls or at the Bluebird Cafe, studying everything she could. Eventually, she scored a publishing deal with Big Yellow Dog and headed into the studio with Joyce. Together, they tapped into her organic nature and her sheer ability to tell a story and emote it through the visceral range of her vocals – tender, bluesy, wise and full of wonder but never naive. Read more at TenilleTownes.com.

Tenille released her first album, the 13-track REAL (Royalty Records), in June 2011. She appeared on the national television show Canada AM in August 2011, performing her single "Real Me", and had released multiple songs to Canadian country radio. The album reached #13 on the Soundscan Country chart in its first week and earned Tenille the title of youngest ever nominee for Female Artist of the Year at the Canadian Country Music Awards. 

As an up-and-coming the country artist she was fortunate to land opening slots for well-known acts including Terri Clark, Easton Corbin, John Landry, Aaron Pritchett, Emerson Drive and Gord Bamford. She has performed at some of Canada's biggest country music festivals

She released her second album, LIGHT, in March 2013.

As the youngest recipient in history, Tenille was with the 2012 Slaight Music Humanitarian Award at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Saskatoon, SK. Also awarded the 2012 Alberta Country Music Association Award for Female Artist of the Year.

Tenille was signed to Royalty Records at seventeen years old and was selected to sing when the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay went through her hometown.

Tenille's exceptional songwriting skills aligned her with Nashville SESAC Legacy Award Winner Stan Webb, and multi JUNO nominated and CCMA Award winners Tim Taylor, Byron Hill and Troy Kokol. Additionally, Tenille has recorded a song written by Grammy award winner, Gordie Sampson. One year later working with Nashville-based Canadian producer Fred Mollin, Tenille released her debut album, 'REAL', in 2011.

On April 13, 2018 she announced she had signed a record deal with Columbia Nashville.

On the 23rd June she made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry (Instagram).

The singer made her Sundance Film Festival and SXSW debuts and was set to join Devin Dawson, Maren Morris and Steve Moakler for select tour dates in the Spring and tapped by Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town for their co-headlining The Bandwagon Tour (Instagram) in July 2018.

On July 27, Columbia Nashville’s emerging singer-songwriter released “Somebody’s Daughter” (smarturl.it), the lead single from her forthcoming album produced by Jay Joyce (Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Eric Church). Originally introduced to fans acoustically on Townes’ 4-track Living Room Worktapes ( Released April 12, 2018 Amazon UK), “Somebody’s Daughter” received early critical praise from NPR calling the track a “humanizing, empathetic portrait of suffering”. Read more at TenilleTownes.com.