C2C: Country to Country proved over the weekend that the Country genre is broader than it’s ever been. Over the course of the three days, fans were treated to plenty of Country music but there was a notable infusion of folk, Americana and soul in many of the emerging performers. Oddly, there was very little commercial Country on show, which is a marked difference to previous years as well as a sign that the genre is changing and adapting. Thankfully for us fans of commercial Country, there were a few artists on the bill to keep us satiated and I was delighted to see Russell Dickerson on the Main Stage line-up when the acts were announced for 2026.
Dickerson, who hails from Union City in Tennessee, is the kind of success story that us UK Country fans take to heart and love to hear. His breakthrough single ‘Yours’ is the stuff of legend; independently released in 2015 the sound eventually earned Dickerson his first number one single in 2018. With Country music having built a strong foothold here in the UK now, it should be noted that Dickerson is one of the new wave of artists that has worked hard to build an audience on this side of the pond. From his headline performance in 2017 at Nashville Meets London, when he was relatively unknown, to stepping onto the Main Stage at C2C this past weekend, Dickerson has put in the work and it’s paid off.
In 2018 Dickerson performed on the Spotlight Stage, making his C2C debut in London, and he wowed on the Late Night Stage too. He returned in October that year to headline the now defunct Borderline in London and that was the moment he really clicked as a live performer for me. The kinks that were present in his earlier performances were ironed out, and he stepped into his own as a performer that gives everything he has on stage. In the years since, Dickerson has made the UK a regular stop on his touring schedule and his fanbase has grown with every visit and his 2024 headline performance at The Long Road Festival cemented him as an artist that can certainly pull a decent crowd.
On Saturday night Dickerson performed as the penultimate Main Stage act ahead of Keith Urban’s headline slot at The O2 in London. With Friday night of the festival struggling in terms of its flow, Saturday was a lot better but things didn’t really move out of second gear until Dickerson took to the stage for his 50-minute set. Riding high off the back of his latest number one ‘Happen to Me’, Dickerson brought Russell Mania to The O2 and delivered the most entertaining set of the entire weekend. For me, it was also one of the best. Packing in 12 songs, Dickerson brought a huge amount of energy and the kind of vibes that were mostly absent from the previous day.
From opener ‘Worth Your Wild’ through to the storming closing performance of ‘Happen To Me’, complete with ALL the dance moves, Dickerson put a huge smile on my face and the C2C audience went wild. Even when his inner ears had difficulty during the opening of ‘Yours’, Dickerson held steady and pulled things back quickly, to deliver a stirring moment that was a highlight of the festival. Throughout the set he flexed his impressive muscles, danced his socks off, gyrated like his life depended on it, and couldn’t hide his giddiness at being on the Main Stage. His performance was infectious and it was the shot in the arm that C2C desperately needed by Saturday evening.
Some C2C goers were quick to criticise Dickerson on social media but they missed the entire point. Dickerson knows exactly who he is, and he likes to poke fun at himself. He rarely takes himself seriously but he knows he can deliver, and surely that’s what you want from a headliner? Dickerson got the majority of The O2 to their feet to dance and forget about their cares – he was the first of the Main Stage acts to really do that (Scotty McCreery was great the night before, but his energy was no match for Dickerson’s). In just 50 minutes, he put on a set that will be remembered for years to come and I couldn’t help but wonder why C2C hadn’t just given him the headline slot? In comparison the night’s headliner Keith Urban, was a little all over the place (understandable given he’s having a tough time of late), and the fun vibes weren’t really there during his set.
The campaign starts here. Dickerson has shown that he’s an incredible entertainer, and one of the best in Country music right now. His music strikes the right balance of fun and heartfelt, he has a cracking voice and you can depend on him to give his all. Watching him on Saturday night, I went from fan to super-fan and if he’s not a future headliner for C2C then there’s something seriously wrong somewhere. If there’s any justice, Dickerson will be back ion 2028 to headline, which would reward him not only for his talent and success, but the effort he’s put in to building a fanbase in the UK. From where I’m sitting, it’s Russell Dickerson’s world and we’re privileged to be a part of the party.
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