FOLLOWING their performance at Country 2 Country, Chase Chafin of 49 Winchester, sat down with The National to discuss the rise of Country and Western culture across Scotland, and what makes Scottish crowds special.
From Dolly Parton performing in front of Queen Elizabeth in Glasgow in 1977 to a televised concert at Falkland Palace by Johnny Cash in 1981, Scotland has played an important part in the global growth of country music for decades.
The genre continues to reach new heights in popularity across Scotland as the biggest names in country like Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs and Shania Twain have performed on the biggest stages in recent years.
Despite their shared history, their trajectories couldn’t have been more contrasting as Celtic and traditional music has taken a backseat whilst country is one of the leading genres globally.
Over the weekend, one of the big events in the country calendar came to Scotland as Country 2 Country lit up the OVO Hydro with headline performances from Lainey Wilson, Dierks Bentley and Cody Johnson.
Joining the stacked line-up was the rising alt-country band, 49 Winchester – who previously performed in Scotland in 2023 as they supported megastar Luke Combs on his European tour.
Only two years have passed, but 49 Winchester’s Chase Chafin felt there has been a noticeable boom in popularity of country across Europe and Scotland in that time.
“You can tell that there’s an excitement around country music and people across Europe and the UK are really starting to get interested in it, and the fanbase is growing. It’s an interesting time to be doing this,” said Chafin.
The artist remarked that the growth of country is not just a phenomenon in the UK but also in its birthplace in the United States.
“It’s growing in the US as well and it’s diversifying, it’s not so one-lane about what can be country music and what can be popular in that realm,” said Chafin.
“There are people from all parts of the genre who are finding success. It’s really cool and we are all about pushing the genre in different directions.”
The popularity of country music is nothing new in Scotland as legendary artists like Patsy Cline and Shania Twain (above) have had huge fan bases with the older generations for decades.
However, the country scene has been reinvigorated for the younger generation in recent years with the rise of globalisation. Whether it’s from TV shows such as Yellowstone or mainstream stars such as Harry Styles, Post Malone and Beyonce, the genre has attracted a whole new global audience.
The new generation of country fans are in full voice as they provide the artists with a memorable atmosphere, especially in Scotland.
“The fans are awesome," said Chafin. "They are definitely here to have fun and are super receptive. It’s one of our favourite places to play in Europe."
“Just seeing the audience’s reaction and everyone singing along, they are a little more lively than in some other cities. Overall, Europe has a reputation for being a little reserved whilst American audiences can be a little loud and reactive but Scotland and Ireland are the most receptive and everyone is having a good time.”
The rise of popularity in country across the nation has influenced other aspects of Scottish culture from fashion to nightlife.
For example, the famous Maggie May's in Trongate was recently renovated to Maggie's Rock 'n' Rodeo – taking inspiration from Houston Rodeo and Nashville dive bars. The bar holds weekly line dancing classes, Bull Riding and a menu inspired by American cuisine.
In the video, Owner and Country enthusiast Kaitlyn Debiasse said: “Glasgow is a cowboy city. The sense of humour and the fierceness to live in your truth are all cowboy virtues.”
She also believes that country and western style is not just a trend but instead, it’s a lifestyle. And it’s hard to argue with Debiasse as more musicians flock to perform in Scotland – including 49 Winchester with an upcoming headline tour in October – and more companies tap into the growing appeal of the genre.
