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MUSIC PEOPLE
NEWS
APRIL 2026 Volume 57 Number 04 Issue 674
Editor Kelly Gregory
Contributors David Allan, Janet Aspley, Donnie Ayers, Craig Baguley, Jonny Brick, Chris Brown, Tony Byworth, Rosie Carter, Don Cusic, Larry Delaney, Julie Flaskett, Marshall Gardener, Michael Hingston, Stan Hitchcock, Tony Ives, Sianna King, Spencer Leigh, John Lomax III, Bryce Martin, Adrian Peel, Paul Riley, Chris Smith, Tom Travis, Walt Trott, Dan Wallace, Dave Watkins, Jack Watkins
New release consultant Steve Tidbury
Photographers Patricia Presley, Barry Dixon
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C2C HEADS TO MANCHESTER
C ountry to Country will relocate
its UK event from Belfast to
Manchester in 2027, with organisers confirming the long-running country festival will now take place in the northern English city.
The three-day event will be staged at AO Arena, while additional performances will spread across Manchester city centre. One confirmed satellite venue is New Century Hall, with more locations expected to be announced.
Since launching in 2013, Country to Country has grown into the leading destination for country music fans outside North America. The inaugural event at The O2 was headlined by Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood, and the festival has since expanded into a multi-arena weekend attracting tens of thousands of fans annually.
Alongside its major headline performances, C2C has become known for spotlighting emerging artists from Nashville, the UK and across Europe, helping introduce new country talent to growing audiences across the continent.
The Manchester edition will be supported by Manchester Accommodation BID, a partnership of hotel and serviced apartment providers working to attract major cultural events to Manchester and neighbouring Salford.
The relocation announcement came just ahead of the 2026 festival, which featured headline sets from Zach Top, Keith Urban and Brooks & Dunn.
Line-up details for the first Manchester edition of C2C are expected to be revealed later this year.
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