Darius Rucker

Best known in the UK for his career as lead singer of Hootie & the Blowfish, Darius Rucker has been a star of America’s country music scene for several years now, thanks to his two albums Learn To Live and Charleston, SC 1966. Both tread a very safe modern country music path but with some cracking tunes, personal and affecting lyrics and Rucker’s superb American drawl – it’s proved hugely successful.

There have been Country Music Association awards, and recently Rucker was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, as a true indication that the former rocker and African-American is now fully welcome in country circles. To underline that point, this single sees Rucker perform alongside the recent darlings of the CMAs, Lady Antebellum.

Wagon Wheel was originally a track part-recorded in demo form by Bob Dylan, but later adapted by Ketch Secur of Old Crow Medicine Show. Here it is given a glossy, sunny sheen – and becomes a sing-along delight. Rucker ended up recording Wagon Wheel after seeing it performed at his daughter’s school by the faculty band. Previously he says he hadn’t understood why the track worked. The single comes ahead of his third solo country album True Believers. He’s also in the UK in March, performing at the Country to Country Festival at Wembley.