THE Shires, the bright new dawn of British country music, are to play York Barbican on December 8 in the only Yorkshire gig of their 17-date autumn tour.

Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle will be promoting their second album, My Universe, having previewed a handful of songs from the October 7 release when opening last Saturday's main-stage bill at the Platform Festival in their "spiritual home" of Pocklington.

They played Platform One at the Old Station in the afternoon, an early slot on account of having to head off to the Lakes Festival in Skegness later in the day, as they continued a run of performances at both Pocklington Arts Centre and last year's Platform Festival.

York Press:

The Shires, playing at Pocklington's Platform Festival on July 16. Picture: Tim Nicholson

Last year, The Shires became the first British country act to have a top ten album in their home country, matching Jess Glynne, James Bay and Years & Years in achieving a gold record with their debut in 2015.

They returned to Tennessee to make their sophomore album, My Universe. "It was great to go back to Nashville," says Earle. "This time we had a different approach as we knew it better and we practically lived there. We have friends there now and for some reason when you write and record there you just feel more inspired. It definitely comes through in the new music.”

York Press:

Ben Earle of The Shires at last Saturday's Platform Festival in Pocklington. Picture: Tim Nicholson

In an intense period of song-writing, Rhodes and Earle co-wrote some tracks with country music writers such as Kip Moore and recorded the album at Sound Stage Studios, following in the country footsteps of Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum. While in Music City, they also graced the stage of another Nashville landmark, the Grand Ole Opry.

Tickets for December 8 can be booked on 0844 854 2757 or at yorkbarbican.co.uk