“…Few contemporary singers can move by just the sound of their voice alone. A New Master who sounds like an Old Master.” – Jack Watkins, Country Music People

A traditional country artist from Oxfordshire, England, Ags Connolly is widely considered to be one of the best singer-songwriters in the genre ever to emerge from the UK – but that doesn’t tell the whole story…

Ags’ songs have been recognised and lauded by artists and country music fans in the US, Canada and beyond since his debut album How About Now emerged in 2014. The influential US review site Saving Country Music heralded his arrival on the scene, saying “Ags Connolly deserves to be considered right beside his Stateside counterparts as one of the carriers of the country music holy ghost”.

Three more highly acclaimed albums have followed, each of which emulated his first in being named Album Of The Month by Country Music People magazine – the longest-running country music publication in the world – who have described Ags as “an English Willie Nelson” and “the best singer-songwriter in the country field that this country has ever turned out”. His third album, Wrong Again, was named Album Of The Year at the 2020 UK Country Music Awards.

Ags’ fourth studio album Siempre took the glimmers of Texas border sounds heard on his previous records and merged them with Tejano music and barroom waltzes while also accommodating his honky tonk and singer-songwriter roots. “It’s best described as a Texas music album”, Ags explained. “Texas-style country is my favourite, and it takes many forms. I wanted to celebrate them all.” Siempre was released in June 2023.

A constant presence on the UK, Ireland and European touring and festival circuit – appearing regularly in the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia – Ags has shared stages with country music icons such as Rosanne Cash, Dale Watson and Jim Lauderdale. He has also opened shows for a newer batch of stars, including every date of Charley Crockett‘s major European tour in 2023.

Ags continues to build a reputation as an uncompromising country traditionalist in the UK and beyond. In an era when the pop and rock incarnations of country music are enjoying a surge in popularity, Ags continues to defend the last outpost of the genre’s traditional roots.

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