Thats Not Country - The Rise of Country Music in the UK

Beyonce, Post Malone and T-Pain… Just a few names of mainstream artists who have ventured into the Country genre and caused a mass debate amongst fans as to whether it’s Country music or not.

It’s no secret that country music is making a steady crawl to the forefront of a lot of minds over the last few years. Mainstream artists exploring the genre has acted as a catalyst for fan conversions, but daily we’re presented with the age-old, “that’s not country music” argument.

But what is Country music? Country and Americana music originated in the early 20th century in rural Southern America, blending folk stories and music from European and African immigrants. Telling stories through song is a staple in most cultures across the globe, an attribute that is commonly associated with Country music. Early pioneers of the Country genre, such as the Carter Family, DeFord Bailey, and Jimmie Rogers helped to define the genre in the 20s, incorporating some of the instruments that we pair with the style of music (like banjos, guitars, and fiddles).

The genre naturally evolved, developing different styles. The Nashville sound emerged in the 50s, a natural progression of Country with the boom of ‘Rock ‘n Roll’ music. We’re talking Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves, sounds that helped expand the reach of Country music beyond the South. With the 70s came Outlaw Country, a movement rebelling against the polished ‘Nashville’ sound resulting in music from some of the greats such as Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. By the late 80s, ‘mainstream’ Country had started to absorb some of the rebellious Outlaw Country’s influence. 

This leads us to the 90s, which some dub the ‘Golden Era’ of Country music. Continuous blending of Pop and Rock, Country music videos, and a balance of traditional and modern country. The music that a lot of Country fans still refer back to and love today. This era saw artists like Garth Brooks, George Strait and Shania Twain all offering different sounds under the Country umbrella.

The theme that is prevalent throughout is the blend of old and new sounds, the constant emerging and adaptation of Country as a base genre, into the multitudes of subgenres we know and love today. 

What I’m trying to say is, there's so much to discover in the Country Music genre. In the UK alone, there is such a vast pool of Country music talent, with artists such as Kezia Gill, First Time Flyers, Janet Devlin and Jade Helliwell (to name a few) all making waves in the UK Country scene. And thanks to the fact that mainstream music seems to have more of a Country twang these days, many UK artists are exposed to a wider audience, with fans discovering their new favourite right on their doorstep.

So why are we still having the “that’s not country” debate? Country music is to wide a genre to define by one type of sound. Whether you’re a huge Morgan Wallen fan, or favour the style of Don Williams, there really is no right or wrong. But one thing is for certain, we can’t deny that mainstream music adopting the Country sound has had a huge impact on the scene. It’s helped introduce fans to a whole new genre, giving them the opportunity to discover new artists and sounds. 

What is Country to me, may not be Country to you. But that’s okay because if we all had the same taste, life would be terribly boring… 

The Roadhouse Hub serves as the home of Country Music in the UK, bringing Country fans exclusive events, news and interviews. We are also strong advocates for UK Country Music artists and the hard work they put into writing, creating and producing original music. Check out some of the incredible pop up events we have across the UK, showcasing some of the best in UK Country talent.