The Shires will be releasing their 5th Studio album on March 11th titled 10 Year Plan. The album features the brand new single I See Stars which premiered on Zoe Ball’s Breakfast Show on Radio 2 this morning.

I See Stars was written by Ben Earle and Jeff Cohen and is the perfect introduction to the new album.

Ben says, “We love the Coldplay/‘Greatest Showman’ vibes on this! it’s not trying to be clever, it’s just really uplifting and big and positive. It’s another one that has arena vibes – I can picture us being up there on a massive stage with everyone singing along.”

‘I See Stars’ is a bold introduction to ‘10 Year Plan’, a collection of songs which takes all of The Shires’ biggest influences and condenses them into one cohesive, confident record. Its title harks back to their modest goals when they first started back in 2012.

As Crissie Rhodes reflects, “We wanted to get our music to Bob Harris, and we wanted a thousand Facebook followers. At the time that seemed crazy, but Ben was committed to it.” He was proven right, as Crissie continues: “The number of people enjoying country music has exploded in the UK, but it still feels like an undercurrent. Even recently, we’ve had people come to our shows and say they were surprised, because they didn’t think country was for them!”

From the early Taylor Swift / Lady A country-pop euphoria of the opener ‘Cut Me Loose’ to the classic pedal steel guitar of the timeless closer ‘When It Hurts’, ‘10 Year Plan’ demonstrates that country delivered with ambition and accomplishment can cut through such stereotypes. In fact, that’s something the duo display on every corner, whether they’re layering their lush harmonies on ‘Sparks Fly’ and ‘Bar Without You’, collaborating with Beth McCarthy on the Civil Wars-tinged ‘Plot Twist’, or delivering rousing anthems such as ‘Skydive’.

‘10 Year Plan’ is now available to pre-order HERE. Formats include CD, LP, SD & HD digital.

Currently completing an intimate acoustic tour, The Shires will commence a major UK headline tour in April that culminates with a landmark London show at The Palladium on May 24th. Please see their website for a full list of dates and ticket details.

10 Year Plan’ tracklist:

1 ‘Cut Me Loose’

2 ‘Sparks Fly’

3 ‘Side By Side’

4 ‘Plot Twist’

5 ‘Ten Year Plan’

6 ‘I See Stars’

7 ‘Bar Without You’

8 ‘Baby We’re Rich’

9 ‘Skydive’

10 ‘Wild Heart’

11 ‘Forever Tonight’

12 ‘Peggy I’m Sorry’

13 ‘When It Hurts’

2022 TOUR DATES:

January 

27th       Sunderland, UK, The Fire Station

28th       Stroud, UK, The Sub Rooms

February 

1st         Glasgow, UK, Saint Luke’s

April

21st       Weymouth, UK , Weymouth Pavilion – SOLD OUT

22nd      Aberystwyth, UK, Aberystwyth Arts Centre Great Hall

23rd       Cardiff, UK, St David’s Hall

25th      Brighton, UK, Brighton Hall

27th       Basingstoke, UK, The Anvil

28th      Torquay, UK, Princess Theatre

30th       Stoke On Trent, UK, Victoria Hall Stoke

May

1st        Bristol, UK o2 Academy Bristol

2nd        Liverpool, UK, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

4th        Carlisle, UK, Sands Centre

5th        Gateshead, UK, Sage Gateshead

6th        York, UK, York Barbican – SOLD OUT

8th        Edinburgh, UK, The Liquid Room – SOLD OUT

9th        Aberdeen, UK, Beach Ballroom

11th       Lincoln, UK, Engine Shed

12th      Folkestone, UK, Leas Cliff Hall

13th       Bedford, UK, Bedford Corn Exchange

15th      Cambridge, UK, Corn Exchange

16th      Manchester, UK, The Bridgewater Hall

17th       Birmingham, UK, Symphony Hall

19th      Oxford, UK, New Theatre Oxford

20th      Guildford, UK, Guildford G Live – SOLD OUT

21st       Ipswich, UK, Regent Theatre

23rd      Nottingham, UK, Nottingham Royal Centre

24th       London, UK, The London Palladium