Our Programme Features 20 Country Music Acts, Including Some Of The UK's Top Country Artists, As Well As New & International Country Bands

Daily Entertainment

Thursday Night

CC Smugglers

The winners of our 2010 Battle Of The Country Bands return to Rockfield!

The C.C.Smugglers have emerged from the depths of the beautiful English South, crawled out from there individual little stones to sit in a cabin in the heart of Shire country to write the most foot stompin' swing beatin' concoction of Bluegrass Country 'n' Blues.

Dave Whitmore

Just over 2 years ago Dave decided the time was right to change his direction, after playing in bands for over 20 years he thought the time was right to go solo and things have just gone from strength to strength.
Dave plays a variety of styles from country, linedance to rock & roll and 60's, 70's. Since going solo Dave has travelled up down the country, has been nominated for British Country Music Entertainer of the Year and has had his songs played on a number of radio stations including BBC Radio Cheshire and the the local radio station in Portsmouth.

Friday

Friday Afternoon:

Double JR

Double JR consists of John Rowdy and John Ryder. Individually, they have been part of the country music scene for decades with Rowdy formally in Texacana for 10 years and Ryder being in many bands since the mid 80s, including playing bass in The Henry Smith Band for 11 years.

Friday Night:

Henry Smith's Country Dreams

Henry Smith was born on 30th January 1972 in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was evident from an early age that Henry had talent and was destined for a life in music, particularly country music. Henry’s childhood was filled with the music of great artists such as Hank Williams Snr, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash. More recent artists that have inspired Henry are Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, George Strait and Garth Brooks.

Henry’s first instrument was the drums. He even played on stage, backing his father singing, at the tender age of five. Henry also enjoyed playing keyboard and rhythm guitar, which he now plays on stage.

It was at the age of 19 that Henry got his first taste of singing on stage with a live band behind him. That band was the Dalton Boys and Henry soon became a regular feature and the name changed to Henry Smith and the Dalton Boys. As Henry had been chasing this dream all his life he wanted the name to reflect this so he later named the band Henry Smith’s Country Dreams. Although the line up of musicians in the band has changed over the years the high standard has remained. All the members of the band are dedicated to play good country music to audiences for miles around.

Henry has recorded many albums over the years including live recordings from gigs, covers and songs written by Henry himself. In fact it is one of these self-penned songs that Henry achieved the success of having his first number one hit in the UK music charts. “Hello DJ” was played in various countries around the world such as America, Canada, Australia, Thailand, Sweden, France, Germany and Hong Kong. Henry’s second UK number one success was the Jim Reeves classic “Welcome To My World”.

In 1998 Henry and the band travelled to Nebraska and attended The Nebraska Country Music Festival where he won songwriter of the year, singer of the year and international entertainer of the year awards. In 1999 Henry won Club Choice UK Band of the Year and in 2006 The People’s Choice UK Band of the Year.

Although Henry appreciates the recognition these awards bring he is aware that it is the audiences who turn up to his shows and support him that are the motivation for his continued success.

Chris James

"I started in this business that they call show at the tender age of 14 (now 41 so a few years back now). When I bought my first guitar from my mentor Mr. Pat Derby who had a frozen food shop. Funny place to buy a guitar from I know, But pats passion was country music and was in a band himself called The Coyotes.

"Anyway, I'll always be grateful to Pat because he saw some kind of spark in me and decide to teach me to play. Eventually I ended up in a Country band with pat for a few great years. But as with all unruly teenagers I decided that Country music wasn't for me and wanted to on to other things, I spent the following years singing and playing in cabaret bands watching the club circuit die a slow death.

A few years ago another good friend Hayden Maggs (sadly no longer with us) asked me if I would produce some country music backing tracks for a friend of his I said, "no don't do Country mate" anyway he nagged until I said ok then when he gave the songs I thought wow country is cool again. Which has since re-awakened a new passion for Country music.

I then stoped beating my head against a brick wall on the caberet circuit and decided to go back to my country roots and over the following years started to establish my name on the country circuit playing all over the Uk. Then just as things were going really well in 2005 we were given the news that nobody wants to hear I had found a lump in my throat and having had tests on it was told that that it was a cancer in the thyroid gland, as you can imagine the world just fell apart I did the next booking which was new years eve and then two days later I was in hospital having an 7 hour operation to remove the tumor from my throat after the op I was then given the news that there was about an 80% chance that I may not be able to sing again

After the operation there then came all the radiactive treatments which took another 18 months during this time the voice was totally shattered there was just nothing coming out at this point it was probably the lowest that I have ever been in my life There is a huge differance between just giving up singing and having the choice taken from you. I sold all my equipment and told the wife I dont want it there reminding me of what was

I will be forever thankfull to my wife dawn because she would not let me give up she would push me and say just try to sing after a few months I noticed the first changes and very slowly but surely the voice started to get stronger then the best news came in October 2007 I was told that the cancer had been beaten and that I was all clear

So this year I started to venture back out on the circuit I have been taken it easy and sticking mostly to wales and have been very touched by the support of the many friends I have made on the country circuit

Hopefully in the coming year of 2009 I want to start back out touring further afield again so if theres any management companies or agents or clubs out there please feel free to contact me.....

As well as just singing when I perform I am also a very hands on Artist. I own my own small studio and produce all the backing tracks that you hear playing all the instruments, and also play all of the lead guitar live, as there no point having guitars and not playing them..."

Saturday Night

Cole Jackson

Kay D & The Redneck Cowboys

Kayleigh - Dawn Larter (Kay'D') was born just 19 years ago, in Lowestoft, Suffolk. Far from being steeped in country music during her formative years, when she began to sing, it was the songs her parents loved - 1960's pop and rock and roll. Kay'D' started looking into country more and more and discovered that as well as being something that really moved her, it was music that suited her voice. "That was that" she says. "As I neared the end of my school years, I began to plan my musical future. I started out on a showcase spot at the Stradsett Country Music Festival in 2006 which proved to be very successful and resulted in me doing a second spot later in the weekend."
From this Kay'D' appeared at many other festivals as showcase in 2006 and began to get booked back for 2007 and 2008. Slowly, clubs, festival organisers and audiences learned of Kay'D', her talent and her love for the music. The turning point she says, was in 2007, at the south will rise Again festival, where she had a fantastic reaction to both her voice and her choice of music.

As well as the positive reaction to Kay'D' as a soloist, there was a lot of feedback which suggested she could be even better if she had her own band. Late in 2007, she began recruiting musicians to form what would become the "Redneck Rodeo". The line up was finalised as a 5 piece, with "Harley Dave" on lead guitar, Chris Senner, pedal steel, David Ord, bass, Frankie Raydell on drums and of course Kay'D, lead vocals and rhythm guitar.

Kay'D's first band CD, "One For the Rodeo", was recorded in november 2007. It was intended at first to be just a demo, but once in the studio, Kay'D' decided to go all out for a full length album, despite band availabiliy limiting studio time to a mere 3 days. "Luckily, I didn't know what i was trying to do was nearly impossible. I didn't realise you couldnt record, mix and master an eleven track CD in 3 days, so on sheer determination, we went ahead and did it anyway." She laughs. "The producer and the rest of the band knew but they just kept quiet untill we'd finished!" The end result is a fine piece of work, with the studio limitations adding a satisfying grittiness which could well have been lost if there had been more time available. As well as lead vocals, Kay'D' plays all the acoustic guitar parts on the album, a feature of which she is immensley proud. Her talents dont stop there, with the CD's 5th track, "Love Left Me a Long Time Ago" being one of Kay'D's self-penned country songs. "I put in so much hard work before we went in the studio," she says "and it really paid off, because my live playing is so much better as a result. I didnt want to be a country singer with a guitar hung around my neck just like jewellery."

Audience response these days is phenominal, and with Kay'D' taking the country music scene by storm, herself and the band have been booked to play the British Country Music Awards in February 2009 at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Camberley, Surrey.

Kay'D's energy and enthusiasm for her music is limitless. At her first band gig in March 2008, at the end of her 3rd 45 minute set, she was asked if she felt tired. She just grinned, "Nah. I feel like doing another hour and a half!" She said. Its that approach which communicates itself to audiences in clubs and at festivals all over the country, and which, combined with Kay'D's determination, and, last, but not least, that astonishing voice, will take her as far in country music as she wants to go.

While there's no doubt that Kay'D's career is important to her, more important still is her love for country music and her desire to take it to a wider audience. "We need a break-through act in Britain to boost the country music profile. I'd like to have a part in it. Everyone wants fame and fortune but the limelight isn't that important to me. Even if i wasn't recognised, but i'd played a part in making it happen, that'd be enough for me." - As someone remarked about the little girl from suffolk recently. "She's not just going to be big. She could be important to British Country Music." To tell you the truth, that's exactly what she deserves.

Listen to Kay D

Sunday Night

Campbell's Country

Singer and guitarist Campbell Baxter, from Thetford Close in Corby, has toured the UK for 52 years with his band Campbell's Country, and has now been entered into the British Country Music Hall of Fame.

He has dedicated his entry to his former bassist and pal Mick Haselip, from Finland Way, Corby, who was murdered in 2003.

Campbell, 66, said: "I knew I'd been nominated but when I found out I was in it was the most wonderful feeling to be recognised by musicians and the promoters.

"When you think of the thousands of artists around the country it's a real honour. It's been one of the biggest thrills of my career."

The hall of fame formally recognises the devotion, skill and belief in the grass roots of British country music. The exhibition of entrants is based at Great Birchwood Country Park near Preston.

A spokesman for the hall of fame said: "For 52 years Campbell has been touring the British Isles and is able to play for listeners at clubs, line-dance venues and provide hoe-down music for the western clubs.

"Known as a perfect country gentleman, even after the tragic death of his son, he found strength to grieve privately and still entertain others."

Campbell lives with his wife Anne and has two sons, Lloyd, 20, and Norris, 40, by a previous marriage. His son Campbell Junior died suddenly aged 29.

Career highlights include singing on Channel Four series The Big Breakfast with Keith Chegwin and he also hit national headlines when he shattered two glasses after hitting a top 'E'.

He said: "I've eased off over the past few years but am still touring and doing charity gigs – although the days of going mad are behind me.

"I could never give it up, it's something I enjoy."

Pedro

Born and christened “Peter” he has for the last 18 years been more generally known by his nickname of “Pedro” - his musical career in Country started with him playing bass guitar, then bass guitar and vocals, and then as one of the founder-members of Tallahassee in the mid-eighties he developed into one of the main singers as well.

By the mid-nineties, when the group gradually wound down, he took the next step in his career by moving onto acoustic guitar and becoming the lead singer & front man for “The Longriders” - a popular 4 piece band that travelled the length and breadth of Britain & Europe with their brand of music. Because this pushed him into the public’s attention much more than before he became very much a well-known and well liked character in his own right, and despite having to leave Longriders for health reasons back in October 2001, that national recognition and general “feel good” factor has stayed with Pedro to this day.

Nowadays, instead of racing up and down the motorways all the time, he prefers to operate as a solo artiste instead and indeed has succeeded in this area just as he always did in a full band-type of situation. Apart from the singer-guitarist part he has developed his show to encompass his naturally warm personality and humour - and so now has created demand for himself both for the styles of music he’ll play for his audiences and his all-round entertainment as well, endorsed recently when he was voted ‘Artist of the Year’ at the Rawhide CMC in Essex. Versatility is the name of the game for “PEDRO” (Pete Barlow) these days, and that goes for his programme too: new, old, fast, slow, and all stations in between - that’s what he’s about… a sort of chameleon that guarantees a good night’s entertainment whatever style of audience he’s playing to, so watch out for the rising star of this friendly, popular entertainer from Kent!