Ben R. Atkinson

Finally got the Luke Combs poster up in the studio, with the addition of my favourite handwritten lyrics and photos from the first tour stop in Sweden. Always remember celebrating America 250 with thousands of Swedes! 🤠🎸🇸🇪

So one of my very favourite musicians Charlie Worsham put out a new album this past weekend, and on release day was invited to be the next member of the Grand Ole Opry.

I'm doing one of Charlie's older songs on my new album, I just love the way he writes about real life and so many of the songs chime with my own experience.

Tonight, after I put my kid to bed I came out to sit on the swing. It's cooler tonight, finally. And I'm listening to this song. Man it hits HARD. Go and give it a listen. Just perfect musicianship, songwriting from two superbly talented musicians doing their thing.

Charlie Worsham - Years Go By Ft. Stephen Wilson Jr. (Official Music Video) Charlie Worsham - Years Go By Ft. Stephen Wilson Jr. (Official Musi...

It'll be a late one here in the UK, but looking forward to attending this talk and hearing about Jada's latest research. It intersects a lot with my own research and may be the most quoted in my PhD. Fascinating and well worth your time ☺️

Join us next Tuesday, August 11 at 7 p.m. for a virtual Speaker Session with Jada Watson on the Unheard Voices of Radio Airplay. Watson will be exploring whose stories get airplay in country music and whose are left out.

Watson’s work has illuminated how inequitable programming practices at country radio have limited opportunities for women and artists of color, while also shaping what audiences hear. Tracing this work back to “TomatoGate,” the session highlights how these patterns are not only ongoing, but deeply rooted in the genre’s history.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information and registration, please visit the link in our comments.🔗

Not usually one to speak out on things, but here I make an exception. 2026 has been a rough year for live music in the UK with festivals being cancelled and headliners dropping out. I think we are starting to see the peak of the bubble for the huge popularity of country music in the UK. Obviously it's trendy and cool again, but it can't keep exponentially growing and will at some point hit a peak. Not every event is going to have a top Nashville headliner, and a mix of American and British roots, country, Americana and blues is what the Long Road has always done best.

Here's my full comment which you see also on the original post:

This is exciting. If Bailey is flakey (which clearly we've seen he is) then a chance to see a literal music icon in his place suits me. Plus, people forgetting that Maren Morris is playing Sunday. Her only UK show in the year of her 10th anniversary of My Church, so we can expect some throw back songs from the album that made her name here. Seems that country fans new to the genre have a short memory, and if it's not a recent hit maker on the charts it's not a modern Nashville artist (granted, Maren has ventured out of country in recent years but so too have Kacey, Kelsea and yes, Taylor Swift, and they all still have huge followings).

To me, The Shires with a great new album, Ronnie and his band (a literal Rolling Stone), and Maren (celebrating 10 years since My Church) + Steve Earl + Emmy Lou Harris (her last EVER UK show as retiring from touring) + Jim Lauderdale + so many great others. I was at last year Long Road for the first time since pre-Covid days and I loved the atmosphere, but this line up knocks last years out of the park.

I wouldn't usually comment, but this comes from someone who's been a fan and working in the genere for 18 years now and back in 2008, believe me country fans would have died to see a lineup like this when there 0 big festivals, 0 radio stations, 0 American acts touring most weekends. Modern fans don't know how lucky they are. And the Long Road is a fantastic space where classic and contemporary country, roots and American acts meet.

End of day, if you want 3 days of top current Nashville acts that are on the radio, that's what C2C offers you!

Ronnie Wood and his band, featuring Imelda May, will headline the Saturday night of the Long Road 2026.

A true icon, Ronnie has spent decades creating unforgettable music with The Rolling Stones, Faces and countless more. He draws from a rich heritage of blues, roots and Americana and anyone who calls themselves a rock star owes more than a little to his influence. His sound is at the heart of the rich musical traditions we celebrate at The Long Road.

We can’t wait to welcome Ronnie, his band and Imelda to Stanford Hall this August Bank Holiday, playing a set comprised of songs from his rich catalogue including The Rolling Stones, Faces and his own solo projects

Playing a few songs this evening; see you there from 8.30 – late, off West Parade in Lincoln at The Joiners Arms. Good beer and great live music! 🎸🤠🎶

TOP 5 billboard chart positions ALL held by women. This has only happened 3 times since 1980. Pretty amazing! But not quite good enough. When the top 5 positions show 5 DIFFERENT women, that’s when we will know things are really changing.

⭐️ For your listening pleasure this weekend! 📻

Week of the 20th July 2026 - The Shires "Bonfire" and James Taylor's UK Tour - Ben's Country Music Show Ben brings you a magnificent blend of veteran artistry and modern country hits, kicking off with a review of James Taylor’s magical night at the Peace Hall in Halifax. Backed by his stellar band, Taylor delivered an unforgettable performance, including a touching duet of “You Can Close Your Eyes...

There are just a couple of days left to make your nominations for the British Country Music Association (BCMA) Awards 2026. Nominations close on Tuesday 21st July.

You might know that my radio show, Ben's Country Music Show, is celebrating 18 years on air in 2026. It would be wonderful to mark the show's longevity with a nomination, and you can make it happen by completing the form below.

If you've ever listened to the show at any point, enjoyed the music, the interviews and live sessions, discovered new artists from the US and the UK, and enjoyed our stories from Nashville and beyond, then please consider nominating us in this special year!

It's cool now, but it wasn't so when we started back in 2008. I've been doing this a long time, as Barbara Mandrell once said: "I was country, when country wasn't cool" 😄🤠📻

Nominations form here, closing Tues 21st July: https://www.surveyhero.com/c/ee6b3057?fbclid=IwdGRleATB9tF0ZGNwBMGvyGNsY2sEwa-4ZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeHOx66La_vHLNYQGSRI2Iymp5wI3tEEoLg7oIl3TfTSi4WSqf30Cr2rlc_Ls_aem_jrnSbZhH0VBJWcehvHaYrg