Wednesday 13 March 2019

Country 2 Country 2019 Highlights & Reviews

#C2C2019 THE REVIEWS are in!


PHOTOS: All the highlights from Country 2 Country 2019! Country2Country - Facebook

C2C2019 Festival Stages Saturday 9 March 2019 53 photos/ Setlists Facebook Gallery

C2C Country to Country returns to London, Glasgow and Dublin in 2020! Earlybird tickets go on sale 10am Friday 15th March for a limited time only


C2C2020: EARLYBIRD PRE-SALE STARTS 10AM WEDNESDAY 13TH MARCH

C2C Blurb: After another hugely successful festival this year with headliners; Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum and Chris Stapleton, C2C is delighted to announce that it will return for a eighth year on 13th to 15th March 2020.
The festival will bring three days of the best in country music and programming that fans have come to love and expect from the weekend, with performances from the world’s best country stars as well as emerging talent from Nashville, UK and Europe.
The full line-up will be announced later in the year along with further news from the festival. C2C 2019 welcomed over 70,000 fans, who enjoyed music from artists including; Brett Eldredge, Hunter Hayes, Lyle Lovett, Cam, Dustin Lynch, Ashley McBryde, Chase Rice, Carly Pearce, Drake White & The Big Fire and more; as well as programming from the Festival Stages, BBC Radio 2 Stage, CMA Screenings, The Bluebird CafΓ©, Aftershows and C2C Sessions.

Exclusive pre-sale: C2C Country to Country returns in 2020! -

LONDON, GLASGOW & DUBLIN: Ticketmaster UK | Gigs And Tours.com
C2C2020 GENERAL SALE starts 10am Friday 26th October.

"What a wonderful weekend I've just had...I think this is my favourite C2C just because everything seemed to be running really smoothly and the sound was a lot better than in previous years. I thought the sound was just wonderful this year. I could of done a 4 hour highlights show as it was so brilliant. "The sound was REALLY good, especially on the Sunday night and apart from a couple of Chris Stapleton's I didn't have the earplugs in at all. Previous years I haven't been able to take any of it without the earplugs even the ballads, so yeah well done C2C on the sound and there were lots of things I thought were better this year. The crowds were dispersed better and people listening to the songs more rather than talking over the top of it. So maybe it's a different crowd or people have toned it down but I thought it was just wonderful" - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire BBC Sounds Playlist

Fan Comment:


  • Still buzzing from our weekend
  • Fantastic weekend 🀩 don't want to come back home
  • What Γ  wonderful week-end!
  • Please bring Brett Eldredge back
  • Keith Urban rocked it! cam was amazing and Brett (Eldredge) was brilliant and Chase Rice good it was an amazing first night.
  • Fantastic weekend! Highlights for me were Cam, Ashley McBride and the totally awesome Chris Stapleton πŸ‘πŸ»Thanks all xx
  • Brilliant weekend every artist was outstanding, except for 3 Artists: Hunter Hayes couldn't understand a word he was singing, Lyle Lovett so boring, Chris Stapleton great guitarist but can't sing , gap's in between each song , I Left after 30 min's couldn't take no more , Keith Urban please come back Amazing
  • Super impressed with Cam What a talented lady!
  • Love Cam....wish she'd had longer time.
  • Cam was brilliant what a voice.
  • CAM was amazing. Very talented singer and such an infectious smile!
  • Ashley McBryde was phenomenal earlier at the o2
  • Cam IS country, C2C please keep this festival country not just big names just to fill seats. Half the acts Fri/Sat were NOT country!
  • Absolutely loved Dustin (Lynch) really want to hear him again. Lady A just utterly smashed it! They are complete class. Shame Hunter (Hayes) didn't sound great - his style isn’t really my cup of tea - but he gave it everything
  • Great weekend could be improved with legends slots or at least less rock / better sound

  • Country music wouldn't be a bad idea for a change, Mr Jackson and and it will be a sell out.

  • Is it me... or is that Bass way too high? In Block 105 and can barely hear Dustin (Lynch) unless he’s talking whilst the beat is almost painful going thru the seats... wish the sound engineers could hear. The lightings fab this year though
  • Really hard to hear the singing until Lady Antebellum came on. Couldn't pick out the words.
  • Couldn’t make out a word that Carly Pearce sang either. It’s a shame that she was totally drowned out by the band.
  • Needed Chris (Stapleton) to save the night, felt like Lyle Lovett had been on for the whole weekend.
  • Bass on Saturday night was way too high so couldn't hear vocals. Hope sorted for Sunday
Day One Highlights (March 8, 2019)




Lights! Cam-era! Action! The best moments from C2C Festival 2019 by George Garner Music Week

Heartthrob Chase Rice: he delighted the audience by inviting an unsuspecting member on-stage for a steamy rendition of his unapologetically raunchy track Ride. Cam: the star was clearly emotional about the hugely positive reception from her UK audience. Brett Eldridge: transformed the arena into a room full of ‘fireflies’, and by the end of the set he too seemed clearly emotional at the strength of the UK’s warm reception.. Bringing down the house in a blaze of confetti, Keith Urban’s long-awaited return to the UK stage was a brilliant end to a night full of great country music…Read More (5 STARS by Charlotte Lascelles Music Week)

LYRIC REVIEWS: THE COUNTRY 2 COUNTRY FESTIVAL DAY 1 – LONDON, Friday March 8th by James Daykin
What a whirlwind weekend that was then? Music from 10.30am till midnight. Bars open from 10.30am till gone midnight! The C2C festival has gone from strength to strength and shows no signs of stopping either! We thought this one was the best festival since, perhaps, 2015. A few of the gripes and kinks from last year had been ironed out and the festival seemed to run with smooth efficiency… Read More for Reviews on Festival & Main Stages & Press Conferences (Cam & Brett Eldredge)


Rollingstone (by Megan Gnad): 2019 Country to Country Festival: 10 Best Things We Saw in the U.K. From Chris Stapleton to Ashley McBryde, the London highlights of the international country music fest

Chase Rice
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Chase Rice live review (Rating: 2/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
THE GOOD: Good energy and stage presence, The band setup worked better than acoustic for Rice THE BAD: The vocals were flat a little too often, Ride was a cringefest
Set list: 1. On Tonight 2. Jack Daniel’s Showed Up 3. Gonna Wanna Tonight 4. Three Chords & the Truth 5. Eyes On You 6. Ride 7. Cruise 8. Jack Daniels & Jesus 9. Ready Set Roll Performance date: Friday 8th March 2019

Adam Hambrick
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Adam Hambrick Spotlight Stage live review (Rating: 4/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Amazing vocals, The three songs worked well with the crowd, A lot of charm and presence as a performer
Set list: 1. All You, All Night, All Summer / In the Air Tonight 2. How Not To 3. Rockin’ All Night Long Performance date: Friday 8th March 2019

Cam
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Cam live review (Rating: 5/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Fantastic set list, Jaw-dropping vocals, Great new arrangements for some familiar songs
Set list: 1. Diane 2. Mayday 3. Runaway Train 4. Forgetting You When I’m Alone 5. My Mistake 6. Palace 7. Till There’s Nothing Left 8. Nothing Breaks Like a Heart (Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson cover) 9. Jolene (Dolly Parton cover) 10. Burning House Performance date: Friday 8th March 2019

What Fans were saying: Best of the weekend!!, Super impressed with #cam What a talented lady!, Loved Cam, What a super star her voice is amazing - had heard her song on radio 2 but did know who it was till she sang it at C2C, Love Cam....wish she'd had longer time ....

Abby Anderson
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Abby Anderson Spotlight Stage live review (Rating: 4/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
A huge voice, Infectious personality, Catchy songs with plenty of potential
Set list: 1. I’m Good 2. Naked Truth 3. Shallow (Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga cover) Performance date: Friday 8th March 2019

Brett Eldredge
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Brett Eldredge live review (Rating: 5/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Energetic and fun, The acoustic section was incredible, Eldredge's vocals are on another level
Set list: 1. Lose My Mind 2. Something I’m Good At 3. Cycles 4. Don’t Ya 5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen cover) 6. Raymond 7. The Long Way 8. Mean to Me 9. Love Someone 10. Drunk On Your Love 11. The Reason / My Girl 12. Time Well Spent 13. Wanna Be That Song 14. Beat of the Music Performance date: Friday 8th March 2019

Fantastic, absolutely superb music” - Bob Harris (OBE)
A magical set” – Baylen Leonard

Runaway June
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Runaway June Spotlight Stage live review (Rating: 3/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Strong harmonies, Catchy songs
Set list: 1. Lipstick 2. Wild West 3. Buy My Own Drinks Performance date: Friday 8th March 2019

Keith Urban
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Keith Urban live review (Rating: 5/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
A high-energy party, The acoustic moments were special, Urban is a world class performer
Set list: 1. Never Comin’ Down 2. Days Go By 3. Coming Home 4. Somewhere in My Car 5. Long Hot Summer 6. Parallel Line 7. Put You in a Song 8. Stupid Boy 9. Somebody Like You 10. Blue Ain’t Your Color 11. Cop Car 12. The Fighter 13. Kiss a Girl / Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me / You Look Good in My Shirt 14. Gone Tomorrow (Here Today) 15. Wasted Time Performance date: Friday 8th March 2019

A Spectacular set” - Bob Harris BBC Sounds Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge & Cam live from night one of the C2C Festival in London

POP Keith Urban, The O2 3 STARS: Lisa Verrico
As the confetti rained down on the poppy Wasted Time, from 2016, it was hard to say on what side of country the country now stand

Fan Comment:
Chase Rice and Brett Eldridge were phenomenal!! Just wow.
Amazing Keith 😍😍😍 He rocked the O2 🀟🏼🀟🏼🀟🏼

Day Two Highlights (March 9, 2019)


Carly Pearce
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Carly Pearce live review (Rating: 4.5/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Impressive stage presence, Pearce sound free and passionate with her vocals, Feisty and mesmerizing
Set list: 1. Careless 2. Playing With Fire 3. Doin’ It Right 4. Everybody Gonna Talk 5. Man! I Feel Like a Woman (Shania Twain cover) 6. Closer to You 7. Those Memories of You / Sin Wagon 8. If My Name Was Whiskey 9. Every Little Thing 10. Hide the Wine Performance date: Saturday 9th March 2019

PODCAST: 10 Minute Country - Episode 30 - In Conversation with Carly Pearce at C2C 2019 by James Daykin in association with Lyric Magazine

Fairground Saints
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Fairground Saints Spotlight Stage live review (Rating: 4/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Killer harmonies, A nice blend of traditional Country and Americana, Lots of potential
Set list: 1. Somewhere Down the Line 2. California 3. Mary Performance date: Saturday 9th March 2019

"I think they are magic, they are Fairground Saints, they've got a new album coming and that was my first introduction and hopefully your first introduction, but not your last. I really hope they go on to create great things and I loved them acoustically as well. There was something about them just the 3 of them and the guitars which was probably something more special than the recorded tracks...do have a look at them online... Fairground Saints" - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire BBC Sounds Playlist

Dustin Lynch
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Dustin Lynch live review (Rating: 4.5/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Lynch brought the party to C2C, A very charismatic and energetic performer, Cowboys & Angels was stunning
Set list: 1. Hell of a Night 2. Where It’s At 3. I’d Be Jealous Too 4. Mind Reader 5. Good Girl 6. Someone Like You (Adele cover) / Cowboys & Angels 7. Friends in Low Places (Garth Brooks cover) 8. Seein’ Red 9. Small Town Boy Performance date: Saturday 9th March 2019

Country 2 Country Festival (C2C) 2019: Dustin Lynch – London O2 Arena – Live Review Building Our Own Nashville Review by Hannah Jessica
Dustin’s energy was on fire and if anyone had any doubts about him, they were soon gone as the O2 shook from the amount of fun everyone was having. Not knowing many of his songs that well, I knew from this set that was about to change and that I needed to start paying more attention to this artist…..Dustin and his band were insanely good and the entire set was not just energetic but electrifying, up beat , exciting and so much fun…. Read More

Catherine McGrath
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Catherine McGrath Spotlight Stage live review (Rating: 4/5) Entertainment Focus by Laura Cooney
Sweet yet rich vocals, Relaxed and confident performance, Details in songwriting
Set list: 1. Just In Case 2. Wild 3. Lost In The Middle Performance date: Saturday 9th March 2019

Hunter Hayes

C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Hunter Hayes live review (Rating: 3.5/5) Entertainment Focus by Laura Cooney
THE GOOD: Great musicianship on show throughout, Passionate and committed performance THE BAD: Vocals not the strongest, Setlist felt unevenly paced
Set list: 1. One Shot 2. Yesterday’s Song 3. Light Me Up 4. Heartbreak 5. Somebody’s Heartache 6. Don’t Let Me Forget (with Catherine McGrath) 7. Rescue 8. Invisible 9. Amazing Grace 10. Dear God 11. Wanted 12. Tattoo 13. Storm Warning Performance date: Saturday 9th March 2019

Fan Comment:
  • Didn’t like the beginning then thought the middle and the end were much better.
  • Absolutely. Great guitar player, but vocals were shocking.
  • He did not do well. Couldn’t understand a word he was singing.
  • I fell asleep a couple of times
  • His performance was awful! The sound was terrible! Can I ask who actually thought that was country music??
  • Friday night was amazing but Saturday was ruined by the small venues for non arena artists and the awful sound in the arena. We had to leave the Hunter Hayes set it was so bad
  • I’m feeling a bit sorry for him now, what with his cold an’ all!
  • The Sound engineer needs some retraining
  • Sound was t.e.r.r.i.b.l.e and think HH just may have been sabotaged... was thinking he broke up with his sound engineer boyfriend tonight - and got some of his fury? And got cut before performing his biggest hit! Outrageous. Poor guy
  • No he is terrible
  • Awful, time to take him off the c2c list!
  • It a very rare that I have negatives after going to gigs but unfortunately he was the culprit for me loosing my mojo. His set sounded very samey and I found myself nodding off a few time
Michael Ray
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Michael Ray Spotlight Stage live review (Rating: 4/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Strong vocals, A confident performer, Oozes charisma and personality
Set list: 1. Think a Little Less 2. Her World or Mine 3. One That Got Away Performance date: Saturday 9th March 2019

Lady Antebellum

C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Lady Antebellum live review (Rating: 5/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
The best I've ever seen them live, The new music was pretty special, Lady Antebellum are true Country legends
Set list: 1. I Run to You 2. Bartender 3. Just a Kiss 4. Heart Break 5. Compass 6. American Honey 7. Never Get Over You 8. Lookin’ For a Good Time / Suspicious Minds 9. Our Kind of Love 10. Hello World 11. When You Got a Good Thing / Dancin’ Away With My Heart / Wanted You More 12. Be Patient With My Love 13. Slow Hands (Niall Horan cover with Carly Pearce and Hunter Hayes) 14. You Look Good 15. Downtown 16. Love Don’t Live Here Anymore 17. Need You Now 18. We Owned the Night Performance date: Saturday 9th March 2019

Country 2 Country Festival (C2C) 2019: Lady Antebellum- Live at O2 Arena Building Our Own Nashville Review by Hannah Jessica
I don’t think you can ever catch Lady Antebellum on a bad day. With their high calibre of songs, excellent stage presence, beautiful voices, you are always going to be in for a treat…..The energy and the vibe that Lady Antebellum bring to a live setting is incredibly infectious. No matter how tired you are, if you’re not feeling it, you will be as soon as they are on, you just won’t be able to help yourself…..The true chemisty the trio have on stage is warming, they are like family and it shows. There are no egos in Lady A and their appreciation and their love for the UK audience was clear and emotional…The only issue of the whole night was the sound drowning out the vocals quite a bit, so it was very welcomed when Hillary, Charles and Dave sat down for an acoustic segment of the show……Read More

Fan Comment:
  • Dustin Lynch was brilliant!!
  • I have to say Dustin lynch was fantastic tonight
  • Luckily Lady Antebellum saved the evening! We had a blast yesterday with loads of great artists, but today the sound was horrible in the beginning of the evening. We could not hear a word they were singing of even saying. When Lady Antebellum started, the music got better and they were amazing!!!
  • Dustin Lynch was incredible and Michael Ray on the spotlight stage. Runaway June in indigo were also fantastic
Day Three Highlights (March 10, 2019) You beauty!



C2C — Country to Country review: Diverse, illuminating and hugely enjoyable (Rating: 4 STARS) Evening Standard

An early standout was the extraordinary performance of Ashley McBryde who earned a standing ovation as her popular set came to a close….After youth came experience, with four-times Grammy winner Lyle Lovett. Rich country orchestration abounded, especially on favourite Cute As A Bug…Between the main acts there was a fun “spotlight stage” to showcase a host of newer artists. The Wandering Hearts felt like the most well-received here thanks to their harmonious blend of country-folk Americana and lush, earthy melody…..Chris Stapleton completed the event with a wide-ranging, career-spanning set. His huge voice continually captivated, especially when accompanied by a solitary acoustic guitar.

Drake White
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Drake White live review (Rating: 4/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
White's vocals never fail to disappoint, A crowd-pleasing set list The Bad: It felt a little more restrained than usual
Set list: 1. It Feels Good 2. Heartbeat 3. Free 4. Story 5. The Coast is Clear 6. Makin’ Me Look Good Again 7. Livin’ the Dream 8. Fat Bottomed Girls Performance date: Sunday 10th March 2019

Caroline Jones

C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Caroline Jones Spotlight Stage live review (Rating: 4/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Her vocals were gorgeous, Beautiful melodies, An incredible musician

Ashley McBryde
Ashley McBryde
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Ashley McBryde live review (Rating: 5/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
A passionate and emotive performer, Huge stage presence. Engaging chatter between songs
Set list: 1. Livin’ Next to Leroy 2. El Dorado 3. The Jacket 4. American Scandal 5. Fat and Famous 6. Girl Goin’ Nowhere 7. Rattlesnake Preacher 8. Home Sweet Highway 9. A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega 10. Tired of Being Happy Performance date: Sunday 10th March 2019

"She is a real performer, that unique quality like Cam and had the O2 in the palm of her hands...really emotional" - Marie Crichton BBC Radio Shropshire BBC Sounds Playlist

The Wandering Hearts
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – The Wandering Hearts Spotlight Stage live review (Rating: 4/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
The acoustic set-up always works for the band, The vocals and harmonies were on point, They work just as well as a trio as they did as a four-piece

Lyle Lovett

C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Lyle Lovett live review (Rating: 3.5/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
There was no doubting the musicianship of Lovett and his band, The quieter acoustic moments were lovely, Francine Reed really added to the performance
The BAD: It was more of a blues and jazz set than Country which jarred a little
Set list: 1. Cute as a Bug 2. Pants is Overrated 3. I Will Rise Up 4. My Baby Don’t Tolerate 5. North Dakota 6. Twelfth of June 7. If I Had a Boat 8. Here I Am 9. What Do You Do 10. Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues 11. That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas) 12. Church 13. White Freight Liner Blues Performance date: Sunday 10th March 2019

Country 2 Country Festival (C2C) 2019: Lyle Lovett – London O2 Arena – Live Review Building Our Own Nashville Review by Hannah Jessica
There is something magical in seeing a live show where you can sit down, nod your head, tap your feet and just totally take it all in. This is what happened to me during the entire set of Lyle Lovett’s. It made me realize just how good music can be, just how enjoyable and how you don’t even have to know it well to absorb it all….Sometimes at C2C the traditional artist has struggled to gain the love from the fans, especially in the higher slot which is over an hour but only two have truly “Wowed” me and that was Marty Stuart and now Lyle Lovett….Read More

“"There was 1 fiddle throughout the weekend, and guess who it was with....Lyle Lovett, I had a wonderful time seeing him and I didn't know quite what to expect and how the crowd would reveive him. What was really nice I kept on looking and the majority of the auditorium was full throughout his set which was great. He wasn't really country as he does a lot of country blues
and he also had a great soul/gospel singer with him who was a wonderful female singer whose been with him since the 1980s. She belted out a real bluesy gospel song and she got an incredible applause and it was just wonderful. It may not be strictly country but it's GOOD and if it's good music I'll listen to it and I love to hear that fiddle in his band" - Marie Crichton BBC Shropshire BBC Sounds Playlist

C2C Fan reaction:
  • Couldn’t stand Lyle Lovett but I would’ve happily have listened to a full set of Francine Reed!
  • His band was packed with high-class musicians, including one of the world's best drummers, Russ Kunkel. Lyle was a class act through and through, highly enjoyable and very entertaining.
Jimmie Allen
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Jimmie Allen Spotlight Stage live review (Rating: 4/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Impressive soulful vocals, Allen has a big personality on stage, Live is the best way to experience him
Set list: 1. American Heartbreaker 2. Make Me Want To 3. Best Shot Performance date: Sunday 10th March 2019

Country 2 Country Festival (C2C) 2019: Spotlight Stage – Jimmie Allen – Live at O2 Arena – Review Building Our Own Nashville Review by Hannah Jessica
Closing the set with Best Shot, Jimmie was met by a loud crowd, holding up lights and singing a chorus for him without him singing. These voices were beautiful and it was an emotional moment to witness. In this moment it was clear just how far his music has reached audiences over here as everyone in the O2 Arena was singing along…..Jimmie is so great, lets have him back real soon please.

Chris Stapleton
C2C: Country to Country 2019 – Chris Stapleton live review (Rating: 5/5) Entertainment Focus by Pip Ellwood-Hughes
Stapleton's raw talent is mind-blowing, The chemistry between Stapleton and Morgane is intense, The vocals and music were incredible
Set list: 1. Midnight Train to Memphis 2. Nobody to Blame 3. Hard Livin’ 4. Millionaire 5. Fire Away 6. Might As Well Get Stoned 7. Nobody’s Lonely Tonight 8. Whiskey and You 9. Either Way 10. More Of You 11. Broken Halos 12. Second One to Know 13. Traveller 14. Outlaw State of Mind 15. Parachute 16. Tennessee Whiskey 17. Sometimes I Cry Performance date: Sunday 10th March 2019

Country 2 Country Festival (C2C) 2019: Chris Stapleton – Live at London O2 Arena Review Building Our Own Nashville Review by Hannah Jessica
A raw, honest singer, there is something about the way he just stands there, sings, plays his insane guitar skills, puts his head down and gets on with it that just makes his shows that bit more meaningful. It’s the realness of it, the fact that it is just about music, just about being heard and giving everyone their moneys worth…..Tracks such as Traveller, Broken Halo’s, Whiskey and You, Tennessee Whiskey, Might as Well Get Stoned, Parachute and Nobody to Blame had everyone singing along and everyone standing but I think he could have sung an entire set of new songs and nobody would have complained….Chris Stapelton is proof that you don’t need distractions all over the place and that if your vocal is good enough, that is all we need…Read More.

See All Entertainment Focus’ C2C: Country To Country 2019 Reviews

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