Pioneering British country duo The Shires are officially back. Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes have announced the upcoming release of their sixth studio album, Bonfire, marking their first collective record in four years. Scheduled for release on July 3, the album will be available on LP, CD, and digital formats, promising a joyous celebration of togetherness, escapism, and unadulterated positivity.
The record follows a well-deserved hiatus prompted by Rhodes becoming a mother, allowing the duo to reflect on a decade of unprecedented success. Since breaking through in 2015, The Shires have consistently made history, becoming the first British country act to secure a UK Top 10 album with their debut, Brave. They also hold the record for the fastest-selling UK country album with My Universe, and remain the only British act to win a prestigious Country Music Association award.
Bonfire represents a creative reset for the band, heavily inspired by massive acoustic tours across the UK that reunited them with multigenerational fans. Stripping away complex production, the duo embraced an instinctive, carefree approach to recording. Much of the album came together in a DIY fashion, with vocals recorded in hotel cupboards and back bedrooms.
Lead single "Getaway Car" has already made history by becoming the first track by British artists to top the Official UK Country Radio Airplay Chart. The track blends thumping rhythms with sun-seeking harmony vocals, perfectly capturing the escapist spirit of the album. Other highlights include the boisterous "Bonfire Song," the soulful "Magnetised," and the playful, salsa-infused "Watching You Watching Me."
To celebrate the release, the duo will hit the road for a series of high-profile summer festival appearances, including BST Hyde Park, before embarking on an extensive full-band headline tour across the UK this November. Fans can look forward to seeing the pioneers of British country music bring their signature energy to major venues from Glasgow to the London Palladium.
