BY MICHAEL CHOWNE
A triumphant return to The London Palladium for The Shires on Wednesday 11th November 2026 for what was their third time playing this 2,286 seat venue, fully sold out.
11 years on from their first album, ‘Brave’, which led the way in the UK country scene, July this year saw the release of their seventh album, ‘Bonfire’. If this first full band tour for a while was meant to promote that album, it became more of a celebration of their history when Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes announced recently that they’ll be ‘taking a break’ at the end of this tour – we can only hope this is not the last time we see these UK country pioneers playing together.
This was the 6th night of a 13 date tour and whilst, of course, the new album was featured (‘Getaway Car’ is yet another song just made for live performances), there were many of the old favourites too. Playing mostly with a 4 piece backing band, ‘Naked’ was played with just the two of them, Ben on piano (which had been beautifully painted by Crissie’s sister). I’ve always loved the ballads – ‘Sleepwalk’, ‘I Just Wanna Love You’ (with a short Dolly Parton ‘I Will Always Love You’ tribute to round off that one) and ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’ (the first of a 3 song encore) were all exquisite. ‘All Over Again’ was every bit the favourite as I fell in love with this duo I first saw live in 2015 all over again. Then there were the party songs that had everyone on their feet joining in – ‘Lightning Strikes’, ‘Guilty’, ‘Not Even Drunk Right Now’, ‘Friday Night’, ‘A Thousand Hallelujahs’ and, of course, the iconic ‘Nashville Grey Skies’, UK country’s unofficial anthem and one of my favourite ever songs. It was fitting that they would finish with ‘Tonight’, the song where I first saw Ben and Crissie divide the audience into halves 11 years ago before all coming back together at the end. Superb, showing what performers this pair can be. I wish them both well for whatever they choose to do during their hiatus – I’ll be cheering them on for sure!
Earlier we had a really great, energetic half an hour or so opening set from New Zealander Kaylee Bell and a 2 piece band (with a little backing track). Kaylee has a really good voice and worked the stage, and the audience, very well. A good friend of former opener for The Shires Sinead Burgess from their Nashville days (where she first met Ben and Crissie), Kaylee now has a one year old son back home in New Zealand with her husband. Her 4th album, ‘Cowboy Up’ was released in September 2025 and is well worth checking out, along with her latest single, ‘Me For Me’, released in May this year.
As well as some originals, she gave us a fun medley including some Shania Twain, Dolly Parton, The Chicks and in a nod to playing in the UK, Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’ and ‘Hey Jude’ from The Beatles which had everybody singing along as any good opening act should do. Lovely to see Kaylee invited back on stage later to sing with The Shires too, showing what a class act that duo are.
