Ones To Watch: Ragged Union

The 44th band to step into the hallowed Ones To Watch spotlight are countrified southern rockers straight outta Bristol, Ragged Union.

Author: Scott ColothanPublished 27th Sep 2018

Ragged Union are: Andy Milsom (vocals), Brett Lidbury (drums), Mark Williams (bass), Scratch (guitar) and Dave Preston (guitar)

Country / southern-rock from a band that mean it..... Think Blackberry Smoke, The Cadillac Three, a Nashville juke joint...with a little Sons of Anarchy thrown in!

Ragged Union get to the heart of alternative country music and deliver it with passion, swagger and the power to drive their catchy choruses home. They’ve carved a road of their own on the live circuit playing every bar, every club and every festival they can. Their influences are worn on their embroidered sleeves but they add their own stamp to this heady mix and have created the Ragged Union sound … raw and powerful, sweet and melodic all at once.

Formed in Bristol UK in 2012, the mission was simple – quality classic alternative and rocking country music with a touch of soul and a pinch of twang … and any original songs had better be good enough to fit in!

2017 saw the release of debut album Voodoo Smile and a support slot with one of their heroes Dan Baird and Homemade Sin (Georgia Satellites) at The Globe, Cardiff. To quote Dan following the set: “You’re a whole band man, the total package!” 2018 and the band was in the studio recording their second E.P "Lay My Ghost To Rest" along with shooting a brand new video for the lead single ‘Lay To Rest’ while playing gig dates throughout the year. The band have a busy diary, are getting radio airplay, playing to larger audiences and making new friends wherever they play. Watch out for them at Planet Rockstock 2018!

Check out the video for ‘Lay to Rest’ right here:


See Ragged Union at the following upcoming shows:

OCTOBER 2018
Bristol The Horseshoe – Sun 21st
Burnham-on-Sea Old Pier Tavern – Sat 27th

NOVEMBER 2018
Bristol Blue Lagoon – Sat 10th
Devizes Country Music Club – Sun 11th
Bristol Railway Tavern – Fri 16th

DECEMBER 2018
Chepstow The 3 Tuns Inn – Sat 1st
Planet Rockstock, Trecco Bay – Sun 2nd
Weston-super-Mare Back Bar Live – Fri 14th
Bristol The Spotted Cow – Sat 15th

JANUARY 2019
Swindon Rolleston Arms – Sat 26th

FEBRUARY 2019
Bristol The Horseshoe – Sun 10th

MARCH 2019
Bristol Railway Tavern – Fri 15th
Bristol Cat & Wheel – Sat 16th

You can keep up to date with Ragged Union by visiting their official website and following them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.