Taken from this week’s Future Pop mailer. Click here to subscribe.
Following the success of Ward Thomas and The Shires’ albums, the major labels are finally realising there is an audience for UK country. While both artists have some good songs, and I’m pleased for their success, I think there’s still room for a new group or singer to come through with a British take on country music that doesn’t pale in comparison to anything out of Nashville. All-girl trio Wildwood Kin are an interesting proposition in this sense, positioned halfway between Ward Thomas and Haim, with a sound that’s as folky as it is country (they call it “Anglo/Americana”), yet clearly intended to appeal to the UK country fanbase. The band is made up of sisters Beth and Emillie Key and their cousin Meghann Loney. After releasing a few singles independently, they became the first act signed to the relaunched Silvertone label, an imprint of Sony. They’ve already had support from BBC Introducing, which led to a slot at Glastonbury 2017, and of course Radio 2 are their biggest champions, with their first major label single Run currently perching on the B List.