Outpost Drive – photo by Saskia Jo

Artist Name: Outpost Drive
Hometown: Mobile, Alabama and Hay-On-Wye, England

What project(s) are you currently working on?

Willow: The last two years have been entirely occupied by recording our debut album in the isolation of the English Countryside. For both of us this is the greatest artistic statement we’ve ever created.

Mary Bragg: Tell me why we’re literally demoing and tracklisting our 2nd and 3rd albums before the debut album has even come out haha we’re insane – just so many songs we want out in the world!!! We’re always songwriting and so much happens between a song being written to the actual release so the songs just keep mounting up (thank God and long may that continue!). It’s a good problem to have haha

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?

Willow: When I was a kid my parents encouraged me to learn guitar. I started out playing classical and almost gave up as I was obsessed with rock music. Right at the point of losing interest I was luckily given an electric guitar and amp for my 11th birthday…from that moment on I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

Mary Bragg: I don’t remember a time when this wasn’t the only thing I actually cared about and wanted to do in my life. I tried to run away from pursuing a music career for a few years due to low confidence and thinking I needed to pursue something more “realistic” but there is nothing more real than listening to your gut and following the dream… surrendering to that draw no matter what it takes (& damn it takes a lot!). Music is the greatest thing in the world – it’s all I’ve ever wanted & it is a privilege to get to do this. I’ll never stop pinching myself that it’s actually happening

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

Willow: Honestly I have no plan B, so it’s difficult imagining an alternative. Maybe something equally hard like being a painter, writer or running an apple farm.

Mary Bragg: I’m only just barely qualified to be a barista so I really need this music thing to work out or y’all will have to come see me at my coffee cart when I’m 85. Become obsessed with Outpost Drive okay? Okay brainwashing routine complete

What is your favorite downtime activity?

Willow: Can’t beat a classic movie to let the mind unwind. But I’m more of an active rester and like doing adventurous things like hiking in nature, exploring beautiful old buildings and towns, or going to a great restaurant. Anything old and beautiful intrigues me.

Mary Bragg: I love to paint!! It immediately calms me down & it’s a real passion of mine. I also love to read As an anxious girl, I look for things that can distract me from the tornado in my mind. OOH also I love to play Tiny Wings on my phone haha I’ve loved that game since middle school I’m pretty sure – so fun & it’s something non-work related to do on my phone which I need sometimes

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

Willow: my wife.

Mary Bragg: ^^ trained him right! Willow’s is actually Candice Swanepoel and.. same

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

Willow: I don’t really watch sports except for sometimes the English football and rugby team when they’re playing the world cup.

Mary Bragg: I’ve never been a big sports girl, but I am an Alabama football fan by birth & I do love a tailgate.

What is the last movie that you watched?

Willow: Prometheus.

Mary Bragg: Meet the Robinson’s (a classic and Willow had never seen it which is a criminal offense as a literal Robinson).

What is the last album you listened to?

Willow: I’ve been obsessed with Djo’s latest album ‘The Crux’, Leif Vollebekk’s ‘Revelation’ and Charlie Crockett’s ‘$10 Cowboy’.

Mary Bragg: Clouds by Joni Mitchell.

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Willow: Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones.

Mary Bragg: Use Your Illusion I & II by Guns N’ Roses 100000000%.

What is the greatest country song of all time?

Mary Bragg: Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’ by Charley Pride.

Willow: Shake The Frost by Tyler Childers.

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

Willow: We’ve been to so many great places so it’s hard to choose, but I’d have to go for York in the UK. It’s a city of medieval beauty up there with the best.

Mary Bragg: Damn it Willow!!!!! Yeah I was gonna say York, but we also spent a week up in Scotland last year and that whole country is a GEM. I love everywhere we went up there!

What is your favorite meal?

Willow: anything my mum cooks.

Mary Bragg: Willow’s mom makes this insane carrot lentil dahl & it’s my faveeeeee – she is a chef extraordinaire.

Who is your dream duet partner?

Willow: my wife

Mary Bragg: Willow is kissing the wedding ringggg today okay I’m here for it right back at ya.

Who would you like to go on tour with?

Willow: The Rolling Stones, Zach Bryan, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Red Clay Strays.

Mary Bragg: In no particular order: Sierra Ferrell, The Red Clay Strays, Alabama Shakes, Noah Kahan, Tyler Childers, The War & Treaty, Taylor Swift, Leif Vollebekk, Carter Faith, Lizzy McAlpine, Gracie Abrams, Paramore, Phoebe Briders, Florence & The Machine, AURORA, Sam Fender – I could go on for hours – luckily for us, our music is quite genre-bending so I could see our music slotting in well with almost all the artists I love.

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

Willow: I have three venues that are my metrics for having ‘made it’. Headline shows at The Royal Albert Hall, Madison Square Garden and The Hollywood Bowl.

Mary Bragg: Travel the world playing shows and hearing people singing the lyrics back! Being on stage is the happiest place in the world to me. Ultimately, I leave it all up to God – he always has ways of surprising me with something better than I could ever imagine. Our aspirations are as high as they get, and I know he’s got some big plans for us. I’m excited to keep watching them unfold

How can fans connect with you on Social Media?

Outpost Drive on everything! Come and say hi!

@outpostdrive

Artist Name: Wood Burnt Red
Hometown: Malvern, Worcestershire (England)

What project(s) are you currently working on?

The promotion of our latest Single “Simple Place” and a run of shows for next year. We’d also love to do a Debut Headline tour.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?

I’ve always had a special connection to music. Like I would play my own soundtrack in my head during different experiences. Every time I think of a memory, there is a song that goes with it. My folks, mostly my mum, always encouraged me from a young age to play piano, that led on to guitar and bands, which naturally lead to song writing from a young age. So I guess I’ve just always done it… it would be weird not to.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

Pursuing a career in music! It’s always been my biggest passion. But here’s the inside scoop, we are all in full-time work, to support our families, just trying to pave our way to our dream job of playing for a living.

I am a Lineman, I work on the overhead power lines, not running the lines in sport. Which is a job I do love also.

Eddie, the drummer, is a Plumbing and Heating engineer, as well as general handy man.

Rob, the guitarist, works in engineering, also incredible handy at DIY.

And Russ, the bassist, works in Insurance. So during the day, we’re just in and amongst the daily grind like everyone else, and chasing the dream when we can.

Failing that, id be a BBQ chef with a food truck 100%…

What is your favourite downtime activity?

Definitely BBQing and spending time with my family, drinking a few beers with the boys, going to see live music… and also playing music!

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

Anna Kendrick, funny and stunning of more recent times.

But I’ll always hold a place in my heart for Sheryl Crow, even as she gets older, shes like a fine wine.

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

Manchester United and Dallas Cowboys.

What is the last movie that you watched?

Happy Gilmore 2, and it did not disappoint.

What is the last album you listened to?

“American Grin” by Jason Scott And The High Heat, and its awesome.

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

THE WHIPPOORWILL by Blackberry Smoke, hands down, no brainer.

What is the greatest country song of all time?

This is a very hard question to answer, there are so many things to take in to consideration for so something to be counted as the GOAT. Like a full catalogue of songs that could fill that title. Songs like “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones, or “Crazy” by Patsy Cline or even “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. But, I’m going to go with something from more recent times and say “Whiskey Lullaby” by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss. It just hits me every time without fail, and I think its timeless.

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

Probably York. An amazing place with stunning architecture.

What is your favorite meal?

Anything BBQ or Lasagna

Who is your dream duet partner?

I would love to write and perform with Stephen Wilson Jr. His voice is just so cool. Full of feeling and soul, and his writing is next level.

Who would you like to go on tour with?

Id love to be a worldwide support for Blackberry Smoke, these guys are my heroes.

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

We’re not greedy, we’d just love to earn enough to support our families doing what we love doing. To play a sold-out tour of smaller venues. To travel and see the world and have fans singing our songs back everywhere we go, that’s the dream.

Lainey Wilson is hitting the road in 2025 for her Whirlwind World Tour!

#with special guests ERNEST and Drake Milligan

Artist Name:  Owen Morton
Hometown:  Liverpool

What project(s) are you currently working on?

I’m currently in the process of promoting two exciting new singles, “Mine” and “Never Wanna Be Without You” which will hit the digital shelves on January 24th and February 14th respectively. I’m also preparing to release a couple of other new singles, which you definitely don’t want to miss, ultimately prepping the ground for my first EP release in the summer!

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?

I did this as a hobby for 6 years at first, starting as a timid teenager who could not sing to save his life. As I drifted between side hustles, business ideas, and jobs – singing country music was the one thing that remained constant in my life. I gradually became better and tried my luck at being a freelance singer during lock down in 2020, but it was only in October 2023 when I met my good friend Texas songwriter John Williamson (aka Swilson) through Fiverr, who chose me to sing on his debut country album ‘Backroads and Bonfires’. It was a success, and this was the first time someone unbiased ever told me, (to paraphrase) “kid, your good enough to make it”. Those words changed my life completely.

Using that album as a launchpad, I continued my journey as an artist by releasing my own stuff onto Spotify. I reasoned that this was a golden opportunity, which many artists would only wish for, so lets go for it. In the first year, I saw stream numbers hit over 400,000, and it became clearer and clearer that God had planted this seed in me all along – this was what I was born to do.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

I’m entrepreneurial at heart, so I’d likely be carrying on with what I was doing before: running an online marketing agency whilst working full time as a deckhand on the River Mersey! (I let the agency give way for the music, but I still work on boats!)

What is your favorite downtime activity?

Outside of music, I love hiking and pretty much anything outdoors based! That also includes cold water swimming… don’t judge me.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

Olivia Rodrigo…

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

I’m not a follower of sports, but honestly if I was, I’d be a Tennessee Titans fan! I went to see them play a couple of years ago whilst in Nashville.

What is the last movie that you watched?

Braveheart! Amazing film.

What is the last album you listened to?

Kameron Marlowe – Keepin’ The Lights On

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Easy, Twisters: The Album.

What is the greatest country song of all time?

Garth Brooks – The Dance. This was the nail in the coffin that made me adore country as a teenager.

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

Boise, Idaho, is heaven on earth in my opinion. As I have family there, I’ve been on multiple occasions. It’s capital city vibe with a small mountain town feel makes it a place I’ll never not love visiting.

What is your favorite meal?

Steak, eggs and avocado.

Who is your dream duet partner?

My female artist pick would be Lainey Wilson, male has to be the amazing Chris Stapleton!

Who would you like to go on tour with?

If I made it, I’d love to go on tour with the small artists who helped me find my own feet in the industry when I knew nothing. One would be the guy who helped me produce my first ever song called Sam Hinds. If you wanna hear my pick for top British country talent… it’s him.

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

Ultimately, I want to see how far I am destined to go with my music. That’s all I can ask for. I want to look back when my time is up and know with satisfaction in my heart that I made the biggest impact I could with the gift God has given me. Whether that means becoming a household name in country music, selling out stadiums around the world, or just being that one guy who plays your local pub on a humble Tuesday night – I’ll be happy.

Artist Name:  Sarah Louise
Hometown: Colchester, England

What project(s) are you currently working on?

Creating 10 original albums in 10 years I am currently releasing my 6th original album called Sunflower now, I am also writing one new song a day and trying hard to stay in creation as an artist without getting too weighed down by admin and all the self promotion that is needed for an independent artist.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music and when did you know?

I have always known I wanted to be a songwriter as it is all I have ever done, I always used to make up songs and poems for my friends birthdays and felt like something was missing in my life. I stopped worrying about what people think and just went with my gut feeling, gave up my job in a school 2017 and decided to go all in on my songwriting journey.

If you weren’t pursuing a career in music, what would you be doing for a living?

I did really want to be a drama teacher as I love helping children reach maximum confidence levels and think that this subject is so underrated in schools, it really builds so many skills to take you into adult life.

What is your favorite downtime activity?

I really struggle with downtime but when I can I love craft, running and hanging out with friends and family, making lots of yummy healthy food and making silly Tik Toks with my daughter.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

I think Adam Garcia I fell in love with him in Coyote Ugly ha ha

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

Well I am not really into following sports but I love to see a good team to do well and iI am really proud of Ipswich Town Football Club and how far they have come.

What is the last movie that you watched?

The Notebook

What is the last album you listened to?

Hummingbird – Carly Pearce

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be?

That is a really hard one but would have to say Come on Over by Shania Twain – it is so nostalgic for me and makes me so happy

What is the greatest country song of all time?

Another hard question but ‘Yyou’re My Best Friend’  by Don Williams was probably the first country song I ever heard my dad play on his record player when I was a little girl and it has set the bar high for so many things in my life. If I can’t have what he talks about in that song I don’t want it!

What has been your favorite city/town that you’ve visited out on the road?

Nashville hands down!

What is your favorite meal?

As sad as it sounds avocado and poached eggs and chili flakes on gluten free toast!

Who is your dream duet partner?

I would love to sing with Lionel Richie he was another amazing artist my dad used to listen to all the time, the soul in his voice just makes you feel like home

Who would you like to go on tour with?

Ed Sheeran, Lainey Wilson, Lauren Alaina, Carly Pearce, Alicia Keys, Alanis Morissette and so many more…do you think we would fit on the tour bus? ha ha

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

To tour all of my albums all over the world and to create music that makes a difference to peoples lives, I would also like to sing peoples favourite songs in my own style to help them relate to heartfelt lyrics