To mark the release of ‘Brave’, the debut album from The Shires, presenter Simon Marlow invited the country duo to record some live tracks at the BFBS studios

The one-hour special with Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes will be broadcast on BFBS Radio at 1pm (UK) on Saturday 28th February and on BFBS Radio 2 at 7pm (UK) on Sunday 8th March.

Showcasing their contemporary take on country music, they perform three of their own songs: Nashville Greyskies, Friday Night and Made in England, plus a unique cover version of Dreams by Fleetwood Mac.

Simon said: “I wasso pleased to meet these guys. There’s such a buzz around them and I believe everyone will be talking about The Shires in the coming months.”

Ben and Crissie reveal that fate and Facebook brought them together, and how they were ‘spotted’ at a cider festival, earning them the first UK signing to the re-launched Decca Nashville label.

They discuss the experience of writing songs in Nashville, Tennessee, and how they found it a ‘humbling’ to perform at last November’s Silence in the Square, the annual Remembrance Day event held in Trafalgar Square.

The pair also pick some personal favourites that have influenced their lives and work, from Shania Twain, Lady Antebellum, Faith Hill, and Stevie Wonder.

The Shires’ debut album ‘Brave’ and their new single Friday Night were released on Monday 23rd February.

Watch The Shires singing Friday Night in the BFBS studios on the BFBS website at http://bit.ly/17MYzfU

BFBS Radio is available on DAB digital radio in the UK, on FM in the UK, on FM across the Forces world, on Sky Channel 0211, Freesat Channel 786, online at www.bfbs.com and via the free BFBS smartphone app.

BFBS Radio 2 is on FM across the Forces world and available via BFBS set top boxes. Selected programmes can be heard online at www.bfbs.com