Nashville Sounds in the Round

Birmingham's premier country songwriter night 'Nashville Sounds In The Round' in partnership with B:Music! Hosted by multi award-winning Gasoline & Matches, artists are invited to tell the stories behind their songs in a Bluebird Café style ‘In The Round’ session, stripping the songs back to their origins and transporting the audience right back to the writing rooms.

Gasoline & Matches

Gasoline & Matches are a high energy, multi-award winning, dual fronted British band combining close harmonies, melodic guitar licks and serious musicianship. Fronted by Birmingham natives Sally Rea Morris and Stephen Marks, they are fierce entertainers known for their tongue-in-cheek and much-loved song "Never Have I Ever" described by Bob Harris as “Clever, funny, totally original…and it’s Country!” They built momentum after multiple spins on BBC Radio 2, and never fail to get festival goers on their feet to participate in the infamous drinking game which inspired the song. As resident hosts of Nashville Sounds in the Round, their Bluebird Cafe style songwriter round at Birmingham Symphony Hall, it’s clear to see their contribution & influence on Country and Americana music in the Midlands.

Hayley Jensen

Powerhouse Australian country-pop artist, Hayley Jensen, has enjoyed a spectacular few years of chart-topping success and shows no sign of slowing down. She won the Australian Independent Country Music Award for ‘Most Popular Female Artist’ 2024, and was a Finalist in both the 2022 & 2023 Country Music Association of Australia ‘Golden Guitar Awards’ for ‘Female Artist of the Year’ following the success of her album ‘Breakin’ Hearts’, which was a #1 ARIA Country Album with a string of CMT and radio hit singles both here in Australia and across North America on SiriusXM. Hayley’s partnered with the award-winning production team MSquared on her brand new music, and her single ‘Stomping Ground’ & 'Outskirts' were added to all major commercial country radio networks across Australia, with the latter reaching the #3 most played track in the country. Jensen found fame as a Top finalist on Australian Idol, and made a ‘chair turning’ return on The Voice in Team Kylie Minogue. She is is one of the most exciting live acts in the country, touring continuously and extensively with her own headline shows as well as in top billing at numerous festivals, including performing on the main stage of Tamworth Country Music Festival in 2022 & headlining in 2023. Abroad, Hayley performed in Canada at Calgary Stampede & Dauphin's CountryFest, is currently touring the UK, performing at festivals and events London, Southampton, Bermingham, Wales & Manchester before heading to Nashville to perform at CMA Fest.

Willa May

A shy kid from western North Carolina, grew up dreaming of fronting her own band, and though the path there took many unexpected difficult and sharp turns, that's exactly where she found herself. Over the past 7 years, she has soared to incredible heights with her band, Diamonds and Whiskey. Fans have witnessed her evolution and the emergence of Willa May, her unapologetic, unbridled, and slightly unhinged alter ego. Fans have fallen in love with her sass, humor, amazing talent, and most importantly, her huge heart. Willa penned Diamonds and Whiskey’s 2019 album Heartbreak Queen. Produced by award-winning Dale Penner(Nickelback), the album received rave reviews with Nashville Music Guide calling it "the best rocking country album of the year". “Hands Down” brought Willa her first award, as it was named 'Single of the Year' at the 2019 Carolina Country Music Awards. “Muddy Water” reached #1 on the Euro ACM chart, along with "Sugarstick", "Keep On Keepin' On", "Back Country Voodoo" and "Walk Hard".

The 2019 and 2022 Carolina Music Awards "Band of the Year" winner has shared stages in support of many great acts, including BLUE, Oliver Anthony, Travis Tritt, Florida Georgia Line, Sammy Kershaw, Love and Theft, Darius Rucker, Kelsea Ballerini, Lindsey Ell, Jon Langston, Ashland Craft, Midland, Dustin Lynch, Thomas Rhett, Lee Greenwood, Chase Bryant, Lonestar and many more. 2023 saw her rise to new heights, with Willa becoming the Carolina Music Award's "Female Vocalist of the Year", and the Carolina Country Music Awards "Female Artist of the Year". She's known for her outstanding character, as well as her incredible talent. With her album, produced by Chet Roberts(3 Doors Down), nearly complete, Willa May is ready to come out and play!

Ryan Evans

Ryan Evans is a Country Music Singer/Songwriter from the West midlands, UK. Hailing from a musical family Evans has been passionately performing & writing original songs since a very young age and has built up a wealth of experience within the industry.

His real lyrics, roaring vocals and infectious melodies are making waves across the scene after the multi award winning artist released his latest singles ‘Boots On’, Never Gonna Change (The Way I Look At You) and Caught In The Headlights. With twangy tones and a raspy edge, The energy and passion he brings to his live shows is just simply captivating and he is definitely an artist to follow and watch out for as an upcoming name in British Country Music.

Ayla Schofield

A talent on the rise, is carving out her niche in the music world with her distinct, heartfelt vocals, signature songwriting and exceptional fiddle skills. As a former contestant on The Voice of Germany, a performer at The Western Experience in the Netherlands and fiddle player for No. 1 US-sensation Oliver Anthony on his European tour in early 2024, Ayla has been captivating audiences from intimate settings to large venues. Honing her craft busking in her teenage years, Ayla Schofield began independently touring Europe at the age of20, playing in eight different countries before the age of 23. Her journey gathered momentum with the success of her fiddle renditions alongside Oliver Anthony, which quickly amassed over 1.3 million streams in just the first week.

After the release of her self produced acoustic originals, back in November 2023 she dropped the first single "Leave My Heart Open", of her Debut EP, self-crafted and produced with the guidance of Grammy-nominated producer Michael Hanson. Ayla ́s heartfelt vocals, loop station skills, fiddle and rhythmic guitar make for a vibrant performance that leaves audiences spellbound. Rooted in country music, her style weaves pop, blues, and folk, forming a blend that is distinctly her own -contemporary, yet handmade.