Six countries, one genre: C2C makes 2020 return
AEG’s Country to Country (C2C) festival is returning in 2020 for the eighth edition of its flagship London event, alongside repeat editions in Ireland, Scotland, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia.
Luke Combs, Darius Rucker and Eric Church will headline C2C’s European festivals, alongside acts including the Cadillac Three, Tanya Tucker, Charles Esten, Brett Young and Old Dominion.
International touring series Introducing Nashville will be present at C2C for the first time this year, with acoustic performances from Abby Anderson, Eric Paslay and Tenille Townes.
C2C 2020 will take place from 13 to 15 March in London’s 20,000-capacity O2 Arena, which yesterday (22 October) celebrated reaching 25 million ticket sales. Simultaneous events will take place at Ireland’s 3Arena Dublin (13,000-cap.), promoted by MCD Productions, and the SSE Hydro (13,000-cap.) in Glasgow, Scotland, promoted by DF Concerts.
The country music festival is also returning to Afas Live Amsterdam (6,000-cap.) and AEG’s Verti Music Hall (4,350-cap.) in Berlin, following successful first outings last year. Greenhouse Talent will co-promote C2C Amsterdam, which takes place from 7 to 8 March, with Semmel Concerts taking charge of the Berlin edition on 6 to 8 March.
“C2C Festival 2020 continues to build on the massive success of Country to Country in the UK and across Europe”
“I am so proud to be part of the C2C family,” said Bob Harris OBE, the main stage host of the London event, at C2C’s line-up launch party at Country Music Week, which began on Monday.
“I can’t wait to listen to the best music in the world, enjoy the fantastic atmosphere of the main auditorium, catch the excitement of the pop-up stages and meet the incredible Country fans that make C2C so special.”
Chris York, C2C Festival promoter for SJM Concerts comments: “C2C Festival 2020 continues to build on the massive success of Country to Country in the UK and across Europe. We look forward to seeing all you passionate country fans in March once again.”
Tickets for all C2C’s European events go on sale on Friday 1 November at 10 a.m. (GMT).
More information about C2C Australia, which also returns for its second year in 2020, will be available at a later date. The Australian version of the event, promoted by AEG Presents and TEG Live, takes place in Sydney and Brisbane with a different line-up to other C2C events.
Read more about country music’s rise to global fame here.
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Heineken Music Hall becomes AFAS Live
The Heineken Music Hall is no more.
As of 1 January the 6,000-capacity Amsterdam venue will be known as AFAS Live, following the signing of a new naming agreement with Dutch developer AFAS Software.
Heineken, which has been the venue’s naming partner since its founding in 2001, will remain beer supplier.
“Fifteen years ago, we built the first venue for amplified live pop music in the Netherlands, an adventure we embarked on with Heineken,” comments the Music Hall’s managing director, Birgitte de Winter. “We are still happy with Heineken’s collaboration and support and they will continue their involvement as beverage supplier.
“Now, after fifteen years, we have found a new ambitious partner in AFAS Software. AFAS aims to give people a unique experience, which is exactly what our live productions do.”
AFAS CEO Bas van der Veldt adds: “Just like sports and theatre, music is pure emotion; it touches people. Music is a world in itself, and a language that everybody understands. Music brings people together. We believe that AFAS Live offers a multitude of possibilities for sharing unique and unforgettable experiences with our business relations.”
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