Ben R. Atkinson

This summer Ben's Country Music Show celebrates 18 years on the air. To mark the occassion we're hosting a birthday party and YOU'RE invited. The show has been broadcast from a variety of studios in Lincoln since 2010, so what better way to celebrate our 18th year on air than to host three of Nashville's top artists for a very special show that will never happen again. A true one off.

We will record it live for later broadcast, but if you're in the area or willing to travel, we hope you will be able to join us! 🤠🎂

Feat. Victoria Banks, Jeff Cohen, Karli & James, Emily River Thomson and ME!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/one-night-in-nashville-tickets-1990101118016

Not the news I wanted to share 😭

It's hard to put into words how sad this makes me feel. I am devastated and heartbroken all at the same time, not just for myself but for the wonderful lineup of artists I had curated for the festival. Many of them friends from Nashville, several of them making their debut in the UK.

The world is a tough place right now, I know lots of us are struggling financially and this was a new, untested event and with so many live music festivals cancelling this year, it's not a surprise.

But I can at least find solace in the fact that I did my job to the best of my ability, put together a killer line up across two stages and spent months promoting what was set to be a fantastic live music event for the East Midlands, a place I love, and one that has always been underserved by good live music. I will always be the one who invited my friend, , songwriter for Reba, Carly Pearce and so many others, over for her first UK show.

I'm going to need some time to process this, but I'm already working on something that will rise from the ashes. Lincoln folk, keep Friday 12th June free!

Magical night at Birmingham Symphony Hall with Emmy Lou Harris and Jim Lauderdale. Top tier musicianship and amazing to catch Emmy on her farewell tour of the UK and Europe. A real folk and country icon! 💛

Hearing David Attenborough talking with Javis Cocker here about a lost radio show he commissioned in the 1950s, warms my heart. If you don't know the Lomax family, look them up. Essentially the foundation of what I do now. Ethnography + music. Fascinating!

BBC Archive - Jarvis Cocker and Sir David on folk music - 2013 - BBC Sounds Sir David recalls helping bring folk music from the margins to BBC audiences.

This is a fascinating journey thorough Attenborough's 100 years. From controller of BBC2, launching colour TV to all the amazing nature documentaries that followed! 🎈💯

Attenborough: The risk-taker who changed how we see Earth - BBC News A celebration of the career of Sir David Attenborough on his 100th birthday in video, audio and pictures.

Happy 100th birthday to the legendary Sir David Attenborough, who is not only a local Leicester lad, but has been a mainstay of my entire life.

Growing up I fell in love with The Blue Planet, and at one time contemplated a career in marine biology. Then, when Jaxon was born (and they share a birthday just four days apart), for years as a baby the only thing that would get him to sleep was endless episodes of Attenborough and that marvellous voice. We must have watched all the series several times over.

I can't think of any other living person who was still voicing and occasionally presenting on camera for TV documentaries at 99 years old. An amazing feat, his campaigning, advocacy and passion for the natural world equally put him up there alongside Darwin, Banks and Goodall as one our greatest ever naturalists.

Congratulations and happy birthday Sir David! Enjoy your birthday card from the King. I do wonder what he will write in yours! 👏🎈💯

Happy 100th birthday to the legendary Sir David Attenborough, who is not only a local Leicester lad, but has been a mainstay of my entire life.

Growing up I fell in love with The Blue Planet, and at one time contemplated a career in marine biology. Then, when Jaxon was born (and they share a birthday just four days apart), for years as a baby the only thing that would get him to sleep was endless episodes of Attenborough and that marvellous voice. We must have watched all the series several times over.

I can't think of any other living person who was still voicing and occasionally presenting on camera for TV documentaries at 99 years old. An amazing feat, his campaigning, advocacy and passion for the natural world equally put him up there alongside Darwin, Banks and Goodall as one our greatest ever naturalists.

Congratulations and happy birthday Sir David! Enjoy your birthday card from the King. I do wonder what he will write in yours! 👏🎈💯

Great to sit down with the Directed by Dean podcast last week and chat about what it takes to put together a brand new music festival. We talk growing up in the East Midlands, the creative journey that brought me to this point! There's also a fun music and film quiz at the end. Hear the full interview on the link below.

Country music festival founder interview Directed By Dean · Episode

Ben Jackson - 21/04/2026 - BBC Sounds Stories to make you smile, mid-morning updates and all the music you love.

Delighted to have been asked to be the Artistic Director for Country On The Eye. It's always been a dream to host my own festival, and now I get to do it. See you down by the river on the 12th and 13th June, yes? 😄

Back in the studio recording this week's edition of Ben's Country Music Show. New music from Ernest feat. Lukas Nelson, Kip Moore, and a tribute through the programme to the late Nashville songwriter Don Schlitz.