Each year there are a group of emerging and rising artists that stamp their indelible mark across the side stages at the C2C festival in London. These are the artists that play stages like The Round Up, The Big Entrance stage or even the Radio 2 stage in the Indigo. Sometimes you stumble upon a set and are transfixed till the end, sometimes it’s an artist you’ve been listening to at home but never thought you’d get the chance to see live. Appearing on these stages can be a pathway to success at the festival too – just look at where artists like Russell Dickerson, Ashley McBryde and Drake Milligan started off playing.
So – here are the 5, with an extra special 6th inclusion, artists we feel are THE breakout artists of the 2026 festival.
Max Jackson
Max was everywhere at the festival and in London last week. From the Big Machine showcase to close of play Sunday, Max played, interviewed and smiled her way through what must have been an exhausting schedule. If you were lucky enough to catch one of her sets around the O2 you’d have been blown away by her energy, enthusiasm and talent. Playing songs from her recent ‘Dangerous in Denim’ album (Our review of that is here) Max commanded every stage she appeared on with engaging aplomb. We can’t wait to see her back over here as soon as possible.
Tyla Rodrigues
Another spearhead of the Aussie Invasion, Tyla is a wise head on young shoulders who is winning hearts and minds right now. She’s been quite prolific in the past couple of years in terms of the amount of music she’s released and she sings from a wise, intelligent modern outlook with a real old school sheen glazed across it all. We saw her on the Big Entrance stage and was also impressed with how she held a crowd with charm and humour too.
Hannah McFarland
We first saw Hannah supporting Riley Green last year and she was a delight. This weekend re-enforced our view that Hannah is one of Nashville’s most promising emerging artists. She made a strong impression during her appearances, showcasing the kind of honest storytelling and emotional depth that has quickly made her one of Nashville’s most exciting emerging artists. With a voice that blends vulnerability and strength, the Alabama-born performer delivered a set filled with heartfelt lyrics and melodic hooks that connected instantly with the crowd. McFarland has been steadily building momentum with songs that explore themes of love, heartbreak and self-reflection, and her performance at the O2 offered UK audiences a glimpse of an artist whose career is clearly on an upward trajectory. If her C2C set and support tour with Riley Green last year, was anything to go by, Hannah McFarland is a name country fans are going to be hearing a lot more of in the years ahead.
Ryan and Rory
Country duo Ryan and Rory brought plenty of charm and harmony to C2C Festival in London this weekend, delivering a performance that showed exactly why they are quickly becoming one of Nashville’s most talked-about new acts. The pair’s natural chemistry was evident from the moment they stepped on stage, blending smooth vocal harmonies with upbeat, relatable songs that felt tailor-made for a festival crowd. Mixing modern country melodies with a nod to the genre’s storytelling roots, Ryan and Rory created an easy connection with the audience and proved they are just as comfortable entertaining an international crowd as they are back home in the US. Their C2C appearance felt like the kind of breakout moment that turns curious listeners into new fans.
Benny G
Emerging soul-country artist Benny G delivered one of the most distinctive sets at C2C Festival in London this weekend, blending smooth soul influences with heartfelt country storytelling to create a sound that stood out across the festival’s packed side stages. With a rich, expressive vocal and an easy stage presence, Benny G moved effortlessly between tender ballads and groove-driven tracks, drawing in curious passers-by and quickly winning them over. The fusion of genres felt fresh without losing the emotional honesty that sits at the heart of country music, and by the end of the set it was clear that Benny G had left a lasting impression on the C2C crowd. For many in the audience, it felt like the discovery of a truly exciting new voice and one of the best singers of the whole weekend.
Special mention: Black swan outliers and ‘out-of-the-box’ adventurers – The Jack Wharff Band
Emerging outfit The Jack Wharff Band quickly became one of the most talked-about discoveries around C2C Festival in London this weekend, delivering explosive performances wherever they appeared across the festival’s side stages. Packed with energy and personality, the band brought a lively mix of country, rock and Americana influences that turned every set into a full-blown party. Their chemistry on stage was undeniable, with frontman Jack Wharff leading the charge with infectious enthusiasm that had crowds clapping, singing and dancing along within minutes. In a weekend packed with talent, The Jack Wharff Band stood out for sheer fun and momentum, leaving many festival-goers convinced they had just witnessed a future fan favourite in the making.
