C2C BREAKOUTS RYAN AND RORY RETURN TO THE UK NEXT WEEK FOR THE LONG ROAD FESTIVAL
NEW SINGLE, ‘BEER WANTS ME’ SET FOR RELEASE AUG 28
Credit: Spidey Smith
LONDON, UK. – (August 21, 2026) – Following their breakout weekend at C2C: Country to Country earlier this year, Nashville-based duo Ryan and Rory are set to return to the UK next week, bringing their high-energy live show to The Long Road Festival on Sunday, August 30. Just two days before their return to the stage, the duo will release their brand-new single ‘Beer Wants Me’ on Friday, August 28, via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Pre-Save/Add here.
Built for maximum volume, ‘Beer Wants Me’ arrives in full throttle, with driving guitars and harmonica setting the pace for a feel-good country anthem primed to soundtrack tailgates, bonfires and late-summer nights.
The new single and UK return arrives just months after the duo made a major impression at C2C, where their packed-out side-stage performances earned standing ovations, widespread media acclaim and a wave of new fans across the festival weekend. Entertainment Focus hailed their performance as “one of the most iconic C2C side-stage performances ever,” while UK Country News declared them “one of the most exciting new acts coming out of Nashville.”
The release of ‘Beer Wants Me’ follows weeks of teasing from the duo – Ryan Follesé and Rory John Zak – , who have been building anticipation for their forthcoming project across social media. The duo recently archived their previous Instagram posts, replacing them with daily previews of unreleased music and a countdown marked “Day 1/9 of new music”, giving fans an early glimpse of what’s to come. ‘Beer Wants Me’ now becomes the first official release from this new era, with more new music set to follow.
Their C2C performances firmly established Ryan and Rory as one of the weekend’s must-see acts, showcasing their natural chemistry, musicianship and ability to turn a side stage into a full-scale party. In each set, the duo also surprised audiences with ‘Tonight Tonight’, the international smash hit from Hot Chelle Rae, the 2010’s pop-rock group co-founded by Follesé, who also served as its lead vocalist. The song electrified the crowd as Ryan and Rory launched into a playful “Who’s Louder?” singalong, transforming the performance into an interactive celebration of one of the defining pop-rock hits of the 2010s.
At their final C2C performance on the Holler Saloon stage, the duo received a standing ovation following a one-two punch of ‘Truck Stop’ and ‘Them Boots’. When fans demanded an encore, the only encore requested on the stage across the entire weekend, Ryan and Rory returned for ‘Heaven’s Got a Country Station’, earning a second standing ovation.
Their impact extended beyond the festival crowds, with Absolute Radio Country, Smooth Country and CountryLine all catching up with the duo during C2C, further cementing their growing profile with UK country radio.
Now, with ‘Beer Wants Me’ arriving just two days before their return to the UK stage, Ryan and Rory are entering a pivotal new chapter. Their appearance at The Long Road Festival will give UK fans another chance to experience the duo’s explosive live show as they begin unveiling the music that will define their next era.
Currently working on their first full-length project under BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, Ryan and Rory are building on the momentum of their C2C breakthrough with a new collection of music that promises to turn the volume up even further. With ‘Beer Wants Me’ kicking things off, their early success is proving to be just the beginning.
ABOUT RYAN AND RORY:
BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville’s breakout duo Ryan and Rory “are bursting onto the scene” (Country Swag) with their self-titled debut EP and viral momentum to match. Named a SiriusXM Highway Find, their high-energy track ‘Pour Decisions’ launched the six-song project, whic h includes the Billboard “must-hear” anthem ‘This Town’. They’ve continued to build buzz with ‘What’s Mine Is Yours’, a standout ballad, and the rowdy fan-favorite ‘Truck Stop’, alongside a growing online following. Ryan Follesé, an American Music Award-winning Nashville native and 2X PLATINUM-selling songwriter, brings a legacy of success as the former frontman of Hot Chelle Rae. Rory John Zak, a powerhouse vocalist and multi-instrumentalist from North Carolina, delivers harmonies and a magnetic live presence built across 300+ shows annually. They’ve toured with Sam Hunt, Jamey Johnson, Brett Young, and Tyler Braden, made their Grand Ole Opry debut, and were praised by MusicRow as “poised to make major waves.” With “commercial polish and honest storytelling” (The Tennessean), Ryan and Rory are “the next heir apparent to the country duo throne” (Country Swag). Recent releases showcase both heart and fun, including ‘Together Again’ (feat. Jamey Johnson), ‘Them Boots’, ‘Girls Are Pretty’, ‘Lawn Chair In The Living Room’ and ‘Wasn’t Thinkin’ and now we are looking ahead to their upcoming full-length project.
