Bonfire (CD)

Pioneering British country duo The Shires - Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes - return with their sixth studio album, Bonfire — a warm and joyous ode to letting go, coming together, and forging connection. Their first album since the release of their Top 5 hit 10 Year Plan four years ago, Bonfire combines the high-level musicality of singing around the piano with the togetherness of singing around a fire as the flames crack and the lightning bugs glow. An album determined to get fans to leave their worries behind for the duration of the carefully curated 12-track project, the ethos of the album is rooted in its escapist nature. Fun is prioritized over overthinking, multiple takes and layers of production as the duo allows instincts and intentionality to take centre stage. Featuring boot-stomping barn burners and stripped-down tearjerkers, Bonfire is joy in melodic form and a stark reminder of the power of music to bring us together. Out July 3rd.