Overview
Join us in The Listening Loft for our monthly country music listening evenings, where the music and the stories behind the lyrics take centre stage.
Our November guest alongside our host Matt Hodges is the incredibly talented Jake O'Neill
Hailing from Burscough, Lancashire, Jake O’Neill is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most exciting names in the UK country scene. With a raw, gravelly voice, heartfelt songwriting and a sound heavily influenced by the likes of Chris Stapleton, Jake brings the spirit of modern Nashville to the UK, blending traditional country storytelling with a contemporary edge.
Jake first captured national attention on The Voice UK, where his powerful performance of Elton John’s I Want Love turned Sir Tom Jones’ chair. He went on to represent Team Tom through to the Semi-Finals, showcasing the distinctive voice and emotional delivery that have become his trademark.
Since then, Jake has gone from strength to strength, supporting acclaimed American country-rock outfit 49 Winchester, performing at some of the UK's biggest country festivals including Country to Country, The Long Road, Country Calling and FarmTrax and building an ever-growing following both at home and internationally.
With songs rooted in real-life experiences, love, heartbreak, small-town life and the timeless themes that make country music so powerful, Jake delivers a live show packed with big choruses, raw emotion and genuine country spirit.
Matt Hodges is a country singer-songwriter from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, who has spent more than a decade performing across the UK, Europe, and the United States. Influenced by artists such as Keith Urban, Luke Combs, and Eric Church, he broke onto the UK country scene with his 2020 debut single How Could You. Since then, he has released a string of successful singles, including Proud To Be Me, The Truths Behind Your Eyes, and Blue Ridge Road, earning a reputation for heartfelt lyrics, modern country sound, and energetic live performances.