Following the release of their debut album ‘From Where We Stand’, which debuted in the Top 20 of the mid-week album chart the day after it’s release, entered the iTunes Country Chart at No.1 and has sat at the top of the OCC Country Artist Album Chart for 5 weeks, Ward Thomas announce their third single, ‘Way Back When’, out on October 20th.
With previous single ‘Push For The Stride’ having already garnered a Radio 2 A-listing, the arrival of their debut album in July was preceded by an appearance on BBC Breakfast News as well as interviews and features in the Sunday Times Culture, The Times and The Independent. In Autumn 2014 it is increasingly apparent that Ward Thomas are going from strength to strength, charming and beguiling all before them and heralding a new age for Country Music in the UK. They are on the threshold of becoming one of the first genuine major British Country acts.
To cement the new era Ward Thomas are embarking on a co-headline tour with the other current UK purveyors of the genre, up and coming Decca-signed band, The Shires. The bands will take it in turns to headline their Home-Grown Tour around the country in November, taking in two shows at London’s Bush Hall on November 10th (Ward Thomas headline) and November 11th (The Shires headline).
Ward Thomas are 20-year old twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas from Hampshire. Whilst in sixth form, a rough demo of the Ward Thomas track “Footnotes” found its way into the hands of two respected Nashville session musicians, leading to the recording of their debut album ‘From Where We Stand’. New single ‘Way Back When’, once again mixed by Cenzo Townsend, showcases their stunning vocal harmonies and ever maturing and assured song writing style.
Hampshire and Country music may not be obvious bed fellows but these girls, brought up on a rural live stock farm from a family line that included artists and authors, have had Country music in their blood ever since they were introduced to the music of Carrie Underwood, Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks and Alison Krauss by a cousin in their early teens. “We fell hard for Country”, as Catherine puts it. One listen to the vocal cadences and close harmonies on ‘From Where We Stand’ and Nashville and Hampshire suddenly don’t seem all that far apart.
Ward Thomas/The Shires ”Home Grown” Co-Headline Tour dates are as follows:
Nov 4th: Birmingham Glee Club
Nov 6th: Liverpool Academy 2
Nov 7th: Bristol Thekla
Nov 9th: Oxford Academy 2
Nov 10th: London Bush Hall – Ward Thomas to headline
Nov 11th: London Bush Hall – The Shires to headline
Nov 13th: Manchester Band on the Wall
Nov 14th: Gateshead The Sage
Nov 16th: Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Nov 17th: Norwich Waterfront
Nov 19th Dublin Whelans
Nov 20th Belfast McHughs
Nov 22nd: Yorkshire, Pocklington Arts Centre
Nov 23rd: Glasgow King Tuts
Nov 24th: Middlesbrough the Empire
Nov 26th: Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Nov 27th: Milton Keynes The Stables
