We are four months into 2018 and we have seen some amazing albums released by renowned country music acts such as Kacey Musgraves, Jason Aldean, and Scotty McReery to name a few. But with eight months of the year still to come we take a look ahead at the five country albums we cant wait for this year;
1: Ward Thomas
Record breaking British country duo Ward Thomas broke chart records with their last album ‘Cartwheels‘ when it topped the Official UK Album Chart making them the first ever Brit country act to score a number 1 on the all genre album chart. This summer they are set to release their third studio LP and have already premiered a number of tracks during live sets which are their best pieces of music to date. New songs include ‘Breathe In’, ‘I Believe In You’, It’s Not Just Me’, ‘Same Love’ and ‘Our Own Song’ which is a collaboration with Sarah Darling.
2: Sarah Darling
US country sensation and honoury Brit Sarah Darling has become a huge part of the country music scene over the past year since the release of her stunning album ‘Dream Country‘ which dropped last February. Her new album is due for release this October and will feature a number of outstanding tracks such as ‘Wasted’, ‘More Issues Than Vogue’, ‘Shimmer’ and ‘Wings’. ‘Our Own Song’ a collaboration with Ward Thomas may also feature on the tracklisting.
3: The Shires
The fastest selling country act in UK history return with their stunning new album ‘Accidentally On Purpose‘ this Friday (April 20th). We have listened to the LP already and can confirm it is their best body of work to date. Their sound has evolved since their 2016 release ‘My Universe‘ and tracks such as ‘Stay The Night’, ‘Ahead Of The Storm’ and ‘Sleepwalk’ are sensational pieces of music. They have definitely found their sound with this new record.
4: Andy Brown
Former Lawson frontman Andy Brown is the newest face in UK country and he is one of the most exciting artists in the genre. His rock/pop background from Lawson combined with his solo country vibe make for a unique blend of genres that make him stand out from the rest. On June 8th he will release his first ever solo album ‘Cedarmont‘ which will feature hit singles ‘Landslide’ which features The Shires’ Crissie Rhodes, ‘Put That Record On’, and ‘Talk Of The Town’. It’s shaping up to be an outstanding record.
5: Una Healy
Former The Saturdays band member Una Healy is one of the most exciting aspects of the UK/Ireland country scene and her debut album ‘The Waiting Game‘ which dropped last February cemented her status as a true country star. Her new album is due for release this summer and will feature the hit single ‘Never See Me Cry’. Healy has truly found her sound and the new LP is set to be one of the highlights of the musical year.
Which country album are you most excited about? Let us know your thoughts over on Twitter @CelebMix.