LIVE REVIEW: COUNTRY CALLING 2026 - THE LITTLE WRANGLERS STAGE - NEEVE ZAHRA

Of all the stages on offer at Country Calling, on paper the strangest one seemed to be the Little Wranglers Stage, was it really going to be well known singers bashing out "Wheels On The Bus" for disinterested 4 year olds? The simple answer was no - in fact it would prove to be one of the more inventive stages of the whole weekend, it offered a space where parents and children could watch music together, and noticeably the children that attended the Little Wranglers Stage then felt emboldened to go and watch the same act on one of the bigger stages.

For the artists, it also offered something a little different as they would mix in some more familiar covers along with their usual material.

First up on the Little Wranglers stage was Neeve Zahra and bearing in mind that #TEAMw21 have seen her perform in a basement and on a bus with no PA or introduction, this year, this set up in contrast seemed relatively normal.

Saturday morning brought a welcome relief from the heat of Friday, and at times there was quite a gusty breeze blowing. Neeve would find that her outfit would be fairly free flowing in the conditions, as she eased everyone in with a cover of Luke Combs "When It Rains". With the crowd steadily building, it was followed with "Never Get Another" from her recent EP, which was a punchy way to kick off your Saturday morning.

This was a chance to hear Neeve tackle songs we may never hear her play again, so watching her rapid fire out the lyrics to Noah Kahan's "Season Of The Sticks" was an absolute treat, almost like your own private house concert, if you lived in a barn with no walls! It was back to Neeve's own material for her mild mannered revenge song "Karma", perfect for kids, as her revenge in this song is more a series of mild inconveniences. Another potential one off, although handy to have in your back pocket for any occasion, was Neeve's take on her heroine, Dolly Parton's "9 To 5", which generated even more of a feel good atmosphere. It was a truly spirited performance that you could not help but sing along to.

The first Little Wrangler event would close for #TEAMw21 with 2 perfect pop songs, one from Neeve's catalogue and one a cover. First up it was Neeve's own song "Step Right Over", and for the Little Wranglers, it was an introduction to as good a piece of pure pop music as they are likely to have ever heard. Complete with its silky smooth melody on the chorus, the key change and the clapping section, pop country does not get any better than this. The closing song would produce one of the most surreal moments of the festival, as #TEAM21 were sitting directly next to one of the protagonists of the song, in Neeve's Mum.

Quite what she would have thought about Neeve dancing at the "Pink Pony Club" we never got to ask!! This stripped back version was great fun and even got Little Wranglers in their pink outfits up dancing by the front of the stage.