The Shires: How the country music duo achieved worldwide fame
They've added extra tour dates!
British country singer-songwriter duo Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes, better known as The Shires, have been making waves since they formed in 2013.
With five albums under their belt so far and a tour underway, we've decided to take a look at how the country music duo achieved worldwide fame. Here's everything you need to know about the UK's talented country music stars - The Shires!
Where are The Shires from?
The duo, composed of Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes, come from respective and neighbouring counties Hertfordshire, where Ben was based in St. Albans, and Bedfordshire, where Crissie grew up in Shefford. The Shires are proudly British and honour their roots in their name, 'shires', the traditional word for a county in the UK.
Are The Shires a couple?
No, despite many people thinking they are an item, Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes are not a couple. Ben has a longterm partner called Vicki, with whom he has three children. Crissie and her partner Ryan welcomed twin girls, Evelyn and Ada, in September 2022.
In an interview, Ben once described themselves as, "the Torvill and Dean of country."
How did The Shires become famous?
Both unsuccessful solo contestants on earlier seasons of The X Factor, The Shires miraculously met through social media with a shared love of country music. After Crissie Rhodes posted a message seeking another country singer to form a duo, Ben Earle responded and the rest is history.
The Shires weren't hit with a stroke of luck to get them where they are now, but instead have worked non-stop over the years, earning their place as the most successful UK country music act.
How many albums have The Shires released?
The Shires have dropped five albums to date, with debut 'Brave' released back in 2015. It peaked at Number 10 on the UK Albums Chart, making The Shires the first UK country act to have an album in the Top 10. But their success didn't stop there! Their following album 'My Universe' was released 30th September 2016, and it debuted even higher at Number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. It was also the fastest selling UK country album of all time, making The Shires the most successful UK country act ever.
Third album 'Accidentally On Purpose' dropped on 20th April 2018 and also peaked at Number 3, as the duo went from strength to strength. Their fourth album 'Good Years' was released in March 2020, and also hit the Number 1 spot on the UK Country chart.
The Shires' fifth album ’10 Year Plan’ was released in March 2022, topping the UK Country chart and reaching Number 5 on the UK Albums Chart.
What are The Shires' most popular songs?
The Shires have millions of online streams for their songs, with 'I Just Wanna Love You' from first album 'Brave' racking up over 10.5 million listens. 'Daddy's Little Girl' from second album 'My Universe' has also gained a lot of attention. It's an emotional track, written about Crissie's late father. There's also 'Guilty' from their release 'Accidentally On Purpose' that has gathered millions of listens, and rightly so. They're all brilliant country tunes!
The duo also featured on The Wolfe Brothers' 2023 single 'Livin' The Dream'.
Ben Earle on Absolute Radio Country
Ben has his very own show on Absolute Radio Country! You can tune in every Sunday from 9am until 12pm.
Are The Shires on tour?
Yes they are! The Shires having been taking their ‘Two Of Us’ acoustic tour across the country throughout 2024, performing at a variety of venues from April to October. Tickets for the shows are on sale now, with extra dates added after some dates sold out!
Ben Earle also hosted a Songwriters Round at the 2024 Highways Festival in May.
The Shires 'Two of Us' tour dates 2024
April
Frome, Cheese and Grain - Saturday 20th
Chelmsford, Chelmsford Theatre - Sunday 21st
Brighton, St George's Church - Saturday 27th
Hayes, Beck Theatre - Sunday 28th
May
Norwich, Nick Rayns LCR UEA - Saturday 4th
Southend, Palace Theatre - Sunday 5th
Manchester, RNCM Theatre - Saturday 11th
Stroud, Sub Rooms - Sunday 12th
Birmingham, Birmingham Town Hall - Thursday 16th
Warwick, Warwick Arts Centre Theatre - Friday 17th
Newark, Palace Newark - Sunday 19th
Tunbridge Wells, Assembly Hall Theatre - Saturday 25th
Milton Keynes, The Stables - Sunday 26th
London, Union Chapel - Friday 31st
June
London, Union Chapel - Saturday 1st
Bromley, Churchill Theatre - Monday 10th
Tunbridge Wells, Black Deer Festival - Friday 14th
Sunderland, The Fire Station - Sunday 16th
Edinburgh, Queens Hall Edinburgh - Saturday 22nd
Glasgow, Oran Mor - Sunday 23rd
Glasgow, Oran Mor - Monday 24th
July
Inverness, Belladrum Festival - Thursday 25th
August
Suffolk, Historic Lavenham Theatre - Saturday 17th
Cottingham, Cottingham Folk Festival - Saturday 24th
September
Newtown, The Hafren - Friday 6th
Swansea, Swansea Grand Theatre - Sunday 7th
Rhyl, Pavilion Theatre - Sunday 8th
Walsall Arena - Friday 27th
Milton Keynes, The Stables - Sunday 29th
October
Wirral, New Brighton Floral Pavilion - Saturday 5th
York, Grand Opera House - Sunday 6th
Aldershot, Princes Hall - Friday 11th
North Yorkshire, Scarborough Spa Theatre - Sunday 13th
Kingston, Rose Theatre - Saturday 26th
Are The Shires on social media?
Yes, The Shires are on all types of social media! You can follow them on X, Instagram, and Facebook to see all their latest news.
You can listen to The Shires and many other great country music acts on Absolute Radio Country.
Take a look at some of the country tours to look forward to:
Here You Come Again (musical)
If you can't catch the iconic Dolly Parton live in person - then why not treat yourself to the next best thing? That's right, for the first time ever, all of the legendary country singer's biggest and best hits can be experienced in the new 'rollicking and joyous' musical comedy Here You Come Again! Featuring hits such as 'Jolene' and 'Islands In The Stream', the musical is touring the UK this year, and you can catch it in locations such as Birmingham, Sheffield, London, Glasgow, Norwich, Cheltenham, Woking, Salford, Bath, Milton Keynes, Blackpool and Liverpool - with dates running from now, all the way up to 7th December 2024. It is expected the musical will even continue into 2025, however these dates are yet to be confirmed.
Buy tickets here!
The Shires
The Shires have certainly treated the UK in 2024, bringing us a string of acoustic tour dates earlier this year - but there's still time to catch live shows from the country duo! From 20th September, The Shires will be touring the UK, with performances across the country running up until 26th October.
Buy tickets here!
Elles Bailey
Elles Bailey - a favourite on Absolute Radio Country's 'The Front Porch' with Baylen Leonard - will be heading on her biggest headline tour to date this Autumn, spanning 16 shows across the UK! The epic shows will see the genre-splicing roots singer perform songs from her new album 'Beneath The Neon Glow', starting in Lincoln Wednesday 25th September 2024. The tour will then take in shows in range of cities, including Cambridge, Bristol, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Wolverhampton, with the run ending in Leeds on Sunday 1st December.
Buy tickets here!
Chris Stapleton
October 2024 will see 'Tennessee Whiskey' legend Chris Stapleton head to the UK on his 'All-American Road Show' tour, in support of his latest album 'Higher'! The Country singer, famed for songs such as 'Daddy Doesn't Pray Anymore', 'Either Way' and 'Traveller' will be playing a series of headline arena shows around the UK and Ireland, starting from 16th October 2024, including stops at Manchester's AO Arena, Glasgow's OVO Hydro, Dublin's 3Arena, Birmingham's Utilita Arena and London's The O2 - featuring special guest Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives. Due to phenomenal demand, Chris added an extra date to the tour, serving as his final European show on the trek - with him now set to end the run at London's O2 on 24th October 2024.
Buy tickets here!
Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel is set to tour the UK in October and November 2024! His 'Damn Near Normal' tour will run from 26th October - 1st November 2024, and see his staple raw and energetic performances in cities like London, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Leeds.
Buy tickets here!
Brothers Osborne - 2025
Kicking off 2025 strong will be country rock duo Brothers Osborne, who are lined up to be heading to the UK & Ireland in January. The duo will be bringing us nine dates as part of their 'Might As Well Be Us World Tour', with John and TJ Osborne playing shows in Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol and London in January 2025, from Friday 17th - Thursday 30th January, with support coming from Tyler Braden.
Buy tickets here!
Corey Kent
Rising country star Corey Kent is scheduled to captivate UK audiences in February 2025! Bringing his 'The Black Bandana Tour' across the pond, with his powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics, Corey is set to perform in in cities like Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, and London, from 2nd - 11th February 2025.
Buy tickets here!
Carly Pearce - 2025
The incredible Carly Pearce will be gracing the UK with tour dates in 2025! The singer's 'hummingbird' tour will be heading around the UK & Ireland throughout February 2025, beginning in London on 19th, before visiting Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast, before culminating in Dublin on 28th. The tour supports Carly's fourth studio album, 'Hummingbird', which she released in June 2024.
Buy tickets here!
Country To Country 2025
Taking place at London's The O2, Glasgow OVO Hydro and Belfast SSE Arena on the weekend of Friday 14th to Sunday 26th March 2025, the world-renowned Country To Country Festival returns! The blockbuster line-up has been revealed for next year's country bonanza, with Lainey Wilson, Dierks Bentley and Cody Johnson serving as the headline acts. With other huge names like Dylan Gossett, Tyler Hubbard, Chayce Beckham and 'A Bar Song' icon Shaboozey joining the bill, check out the incredible Country To Country 2025 line-up here.
Buy tickets here!
Scotty McCreery - 2025
'Fall of Summer' star Scotty McCreery delighted fans with the news that he is returning to the UK with tour dates! You can catch the country star live in concert in May 2025, with dates starting in Belfast on 23rd May. Scotty will then travel through Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester, before ending the run in London on 30th!
Buy tickets here!
The Long Road Festival 2025
August Bank Holiday 2025 will see the return of the three-day The Long Road Festival - celebrating the music, lifestyle and influences of Country! From Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th August 2025, the festival returns to Stanford Hall estate in Leicestershire with a range of incredible artists across the five stages.
Buy tickets here!
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