The first ever episode of Cracking Country 615, with Sharon Curran and Allan Gildea, comes straight from Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, best known as the capital of country music. Here in the 615 district of the United States of America Sharon and Allan take a tour of famous country music spots, meet popular country music performers, visit local radio stations and try to find out how Northern Ireland keeps in line with changes in American country music.
There is no better place to start the programme other than at the Ryman Auditorium, also known as a modern church of country music. Built by Thomas Ryman in 1892, the Auditorium changed its name a few times since. Major renovations took place about a hundred years later and since then many major stars have played here. Sharon and Allan also stop for a chat at the WSM 650 with the radio station manager, Kyle Cantrell and at Downtown Radio with Trevor Campbell. Paddy O’Doherty of BBC Radio Ulster offers a Northern Irish angle.
This episode of Cracking Country 615 features music videos (for full list see 'Credits') and interviews with performers Faith Hill and Mark O’Connor.