The Shires

The biggest selling UK country act of all time, The Shires, announce their highly anticipated third album ‘Accidentally on Purpose’, due for release on 20th April 2018 through Decca Records. The trailblazing duo will also be hitting the road this summer, performing their new music across the UK, including London’s Royal Albert Hall on 18th May.

Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, The Shires’ new album combines massive country-pop choruses and emotive words about their whirlwind journey, relationships and their time in the States. Increasingly, US country music is taking music influence from the mainstream with pop-inspired hooks, a sound that The Shires’ new album reflects.

“Accidentally on Purpose is full of personal songs that really sums up the whirlwind journey we’ve been on together. From the first day we met, we’ve been crazy dreamers with big plans, who really believed that Country could break into the UK mainstream. For all those dreams, we never imagined it would all happen so quickly and we’re so proud and excited to be releasing our third album.”

– Ben and Crissie, The Shires

UK country superstars The Shires first entered the history books in 2015, when their debut album ‘Brave’ became the first ever British country album to enter the UK Top Ten. Their second album ‘My Universe’ also broke new ground by becoming the fastest-selling British country album of all time and reached the top three in the UK chart.

After an incredible two years, Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes – hailing from Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire – have fast become a firm favourite in the UK country music scene. And now they’re making their mark in Nashville too.

With two gold certified albums under their belt within 12 months of each other and 9 playlisted tracks across BBC Music, The Shires are back and they’re raring to go. They will be touring the UK from 12th May to 10th June – performing at venue across the UK including London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall.