Mark Wills

Taking an interest in music from an early age, Mark Wills began his musical journey through performing in various garage bands inspired by rock artists such as Bon Jovi. In his teenage years he fell in love with country music and at 17 took the opportunity to enter a local talent show in Georgia. Winning the talent show was just the beginning of his humble climb up the ladder, it wasn’t long before he transitioned into singing on demos and eventually his talent being recognised, amounting to his label partnership with Mercury Records Nashville who he signed with in 1996. Later that year he released his debut self-titled album, produced by Carson Chamberlain and Keith Stegall. The first single to come off that album ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ was a roaring success and headed straight into the country charts at number six. His commercial success really took off with the release of his second album, ‘Wish You Were Here’ which featured the title track which earned him his first number one and landed number eight in the Country album charts. That album also scored Wills the ‘Top New Male Vocalist’ title at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 1998.
With seven studio albums under his belt, Mark Wills has forged his path to success as well as becoming a recognised Country icon. His live performances have won over many a heart. Simplicity is key for Wills, often performing on a stool in regular clothes and with an acoustic guitar shrouded in a single spotlight. His deep sultry tone wafts through the room, enchanting all present as he delves into his back catalogue playing tracks like ‘I Do (Cherish You)’, ‘Places I’ve Never Been’ and ‘19 Somethin’. The rapport which Wills creates with the attentive audience is both charming and endearing, the intimate settings allows the relationship with the crowd to blossom as he interacts in between tracks asking for song suggestions with plenty of banter. Mark Wills is a pure delight to watch and is guaranteed to leave you with goosebumps.

Now in his seventy-second year, there’s no real question that Gene Watson is one of the most enduring figures of recent times in terms of his impact on the genre of country. He’s notched up twenty-three different top ten singles over the course of his career to date, but what really defines him these days are his live performances, which continue to thrill fans across the United States thanks to his prodigious touring schedule. Watson’s sets run through his entire back catalogue, with his signature track ‘Farewell Party’ getting an extended airing. He generally tends to lean towards the slower numbers in his repertoire, although that’s not to say that there’s no vitality to them; they’re brought to life especially impressively by the live ensemble that he’s put together, with drums, slide guitar and harmonica amongst the plethora of instrumentation backing him up. Watson rarely tours outside of his native U.S., but continues to show little sign of slowing down in his homeland, having released his latest album, My Heroes Have Always Been Country, earlier this year.