Birmingham's premier country songwriter night 'Nashville Sounds In The Round' in partnership with B:Music returns on Sat 14 December with an exciting line-up hosted by multi award-winning Gasoline & Matches: Two Ways Home, Luke Flear and The Lost Notes.

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.

Hailing from Austria and the UK respectively, folk rock (with a country twist) duo Two Ways Home, comprised of Isabella and Lewis Folkner, are no stranger to this concept, having hosted a similar event called The Round Up.

“We first came across the concept in Nashville in 2012, when we got to explore music city and went to a lot of different gigs, most of them being writers-rounds.” Over the past years Two Ways Home have established themselves as a firm favourite in the UK country/Americana scene, winning best duo at the 2020 Country Music Spotlight Awards and receiving consecutive BCMA nominations for the last 3 years running. “At the time a writers-round was something totally new to us and we had never come across it in the UK so we thought it would be a great concept to introduce back home.” It’s very exciting then, to welcome them to Birmingham’s premier country songwriter night. “As with any round we feel that the host is an important, integral part of the show,” they add. “We’ve known Sally and Steve for quite a few years now. We love what they’ve built in Birmingham and especially taking their round to such a prestigious space and hosting so many great acts from the UK and further afield. We’re super excited to be back at the Symphony Hall and to having a great time with everyone on stage.”

Award-winning singer-songwriter Luke Flear returns to Nashville Sounds in the Round fresh off from a trip to Nashville itself. “I loved Nashville. I spent 3 weeks in the city without a day wasted- performing, songwriting with other musicians,” he says. From rich, raspy vocals and roaring guitar solos to acoustic deep cuts and piano ballads, Luke is Roots-Rock at its finest. “The most memorable moment is hard to pick. I feel I came home with a lifetime’s worth of stories! If I had to choose, I would say my debut at The Bluebird Cafe. The chance to take a song I wrote in my bedroom in Leeds to the most iconic venue in Country music was a moment I won’t ever forget.”

“It's a genuine honour to be part of these magical events and play alongside such fantastic artists at one of the best songwriter forums in the country,” says 5-piece acoustic folk/Americana band The Lost Notes. They return to the B:Music stages to join Two Ways Home and Luke Flear with their signature “eclectic blend of Americana, folk and country – laced, for good measure, with soul, gospel and jazz” (At The Barrier) and songs from their brand new album ‘Good Luck Shoes’.

When asked what their earliest music memories were, all three artists had many stories to tell.

“As a young child, I was constantly surrounded by music,” says Luke. “My earliest memory of music is still very clear to me. I was looking up at the TV in our living room, which had my dad’s old MTV tapes running on repeat. Bon Jovi’s ‘Bad Medicine’ music video was playing. From that point onwards I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life.”

Two Ways Home’s Isi and Lewis has a similar story. “I remember always singing with my grandparents in the car,” says Isi. “And my parents always had music on around the house.”

“My dad had a band,” Lewis adds. “I remember going to pubs and seeing him play. Occasionally I would jump up and play a bit of guitar. Singing and songwriting came a little later for me and singing lead was only something I developed when Isi and I started the band.”

“My parents loved music and singing as a family was always a big part of my life,” says The Lost Notes’ Ben. “Then I discovered ‘Abbey Road’ and ‘Revolver’ by The Beatles in my parents’ record collection! From then on, I’ve been drawn to music. It’s magical and I would struggle to function without it!”

They’re taking their songs and stories to the Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space on Sat 14 December as part of Nashville Sounds In The Round.

“Since my first time at the Symphony Hall last year, I’ve been lucky enough to experience so much, and with this comes a lot of new music,” says Luke. “The stories and the songs come hand in hand, and what better place to play them for the first time?”

Two Ways Home are looking forward to a lot of interaction in particular. “That’s really what makes a writers-round magical, the interplay between artists that you would normally never see together on the same stage jumping in on each other’s songs, adding a harmony here or there or a little guitar solo.”

“Stripped back, acoustic performances where you really get to learn about the songs and the writers,” The Lost Notes adds. “We can’t wait!”

Hear the stories behind some of their award-winning songs and join Gasoline & Matches, Two Ways Home, Luke Flear and The Lost Notes at the Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space on Sat 14 Dec in Birmingham’s premier country songwriter night.

Interview by Lerah Barcenilla, Marketing & Communications Officer