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.

Artist Name:  Sam Butler
Hometown: Essex, UK

What project(s) are you currently working on?

Working on releasing a couple of Singles, starting with ‘No mountains’ and then an EP further down the line. I recorded initially with the intent to release an Album but decided against it.

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

The moment someone had a genuine connection to a song I wrote, I thought then perhaps I could maybe do this thing.

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

As much as I would love to be paying bills with music spoils right now, that’s just not the case so I am an Electrical Engineer as well as musician but If I was not in pursuit of a career in music, I’d still be in the Military.

What is your favorite downtime activity?

If I’m not doing anything to do with music, I’m spending time with my Wife and kids.

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

Willow Avalon

Who is your favorite sports team(s)?

I don’t have one! I like sport, extreme sport and motorsport just don’t have a team

What is the last movie that you watched?

Warfare

What is the last album you listened to?

Cold beer and Country Music – Zach Top

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

Purgatory – Tyler Childers

What is the greatest country song of all time?

There are so many it’s impossible to choose the Greatest, however I personally think John Denver’s ‘Take Me Home Country Roads’ is definitely up there. It’s known around the world and I think whether your home is West Virginia or somewhere else wherever that may be, it takes you home.

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

I haven’t yet toured ( as a musician ).  But I would love to do a little tour in Texas.

What is your favorite meal?

Tapas

Who is your dream duet partner?

Tyler Childers

Who would you like to go on tour with?

Charles Wesley Godwin

What is your ultimate career goal(s)?

To play the Grand Ole Opry. That’s the dream

We originally posted this in January, but are now updating it with her updated list of tour dates.