LIVE REVIEW: RHIANNON PAIGE - C2C COUNTRY TO COUNTRY 2026 - THE ROUND UP STAGE
- CHRIS FARLIE
- 9 minutes ago
- 3 min read
About two years ago #TEAMw21 said to Rhiannon Paige that we'd come along and see her, the next time she was on in London. It may have taken a little longer than we intended, but we are always true to our word and it has to be said judging by today's performance the loss has been all ours. Appearing in the slightly unusual, though highly effective combo of guitar, with Lily on keyboards, Rhiannon sporting a cowboy hat for the occasion, would prove to be delightful company on the Round Up Stage.
Starting with "This Story Is Mine", the introduction acknowledging that you only get one life and that today she was at C2C so it is not going too bad!
Rhiannon made an immediate impression as she sent the opening lines out in a most powerful manner. The keyboards also enhanced the country elements of the song.
"Sitting here contemplating, why I'm feeling so gray"
With a chorus that seemed to celebrate the journey, finding positives in the set backs, Rhiannon and Lily were able to create quite a bit of drama in this opener. It would end with Rhiannon pointing to herself as she recounted the title for the last time.
Moving to her sad song "So Damn Cruel" it soon became apparent that Rhiannon had a great sense of stage presence, although she would hold her guitar she would not play it initially, on this song about being invisible in a relationship. It was Lily's muted keyboards that provided the backing for Rhiannon to tell her story.
The chorus with its plaintive lyrics, powerfully sung made Rhiannon a difficult figure to take your eyes off
"You can be so damn harsh, you can be so damn cruel, so damn cruel"
Only on coming out of the chorus, would Rhiannon gently start to strum but soon she was again ramping up the volume in a most impressive manner. The final verses were sung with a controlled power that we would rarely see the like of throughout the whole weekend. Only two songs in and Rhiannon was totally blowing us and the large crowd around the Round Up Stage away.
A forthcoming single "Back To The 80's" was Rhiannon's imagination of what it might have been like to have lived then, cleverly using the past to pass comment on the present. Lily once again was able to add drama by giving her keys something of a pounding. Coming out at some point during April and no doubt heading for the top of the UK Country charts on this evidence. A Kasey Musgrave's cover of "Follow Your Arrow" would allow the crowd to "Make lots of noise" and light heartedly Lily outed herself as the person most likely to smoke a joint!
Another new song would come in the shape of "The World Of You", written about her Dad who is part of her band and was no doubt proudly watching on. The passion felt for every line delivered was clear to see
"You're the reason I'm keep standing
When the world feels heavy on my chest"
Through the darkness you were guiding"
A piano only ballad, Rhiannon left not a dry eye in the house.
Lifting the mood "Lemonade" would afford the opportunity for a crowd sing and indeed clap along as they shouted "I don't like lemonade" in one of the bounciest bits of country music that we'd hear all weekend. Once more Lily's piano playing seemed to amplify the whole country vibe. Rhiannon had a quite detailed introduction to "Up All Night" a song she confessed to having had for some time but to not having done anything with it. With a stirring chorus it seems a little too good to leave on the shelf.
Lily would leave her keyboard duties and move to the dual duties of shaker and tambourine, for Rhiannon's "first proper love song" - "( I want it all) With You" lovingly professing all the things that she would willingly do such as taking a bullet. Sung with a passion that matched the words it was a joy to see. A proper country finish would entail with a storming extended version of "Fulsom Prison Blues". Rhiannon would find a suitably rapsy voice to go shooting a man in Reno while Lily would give a suitably rocking piano solo, so good we get to hear it a second time later,
With the crowd madly clapping and cheering - this was possibly as good an introduction into the world of Rhiannon Paige as #TEAMw21 could have got.
Rhiannon Paige along with a multitude of others will be appearing at Country Calling 16th August
