Even if I hadn’t known anything about The Shires, the amount of checked shirts in the O2 Academy on Saturday night was a bit of a giveaway. And, thanks to the likes of Lady Antebellum and shows such as Nashville, country music is currently undergoing a bit of a revival, certainly here in the UK.

John + Jacob, a duo from Alabama (who rocked the hipster look with matching brown suits and pencil moustaches), provided support. Their harmonies were fantastic (and quite Simon and Garfunkel-esque), as were their trumpet and harmonica solos. Whilst they’ve been in the UK before supporting The Band Perry, it’s through YouTube and Bob Harris’s country show that their success has grown more recently. Breaking the Law could well be hit, as could Ride With Me. They have reportedly been compared to The Everly Brothers (cuing a rendition of Wake Up Little Susie) but are frankly less restrained and more energetic. As a barometer of how good John + Jacob were live, I bought their CD without a second thought.

The Shires comprise of Crissie and Ben, a duo championed by Radio 2. His voice is soft (think Ray Lamontagne), hers confident and soulful. They opened with the popular Nashville Grey Skies – a song so catchy you feel like you’ve been singing it for years. Other highlights of the set included Friday Night, which had everyone dancing, the stunning Brave and forthcoming single State Lines. They also did an unusual cover of Islands in the Stream as an encore. Here are a couple of singer-songwriters that are reaping the rewards of their enviable talents and are clearly having the time of their lives doing it. The fact that they’re good looking as well probably does nothing to hurt their crowd appeal. What surprises many about The Shires is that they’re English (hence the name) – they’ve even written a song about it, called Made in England, perhaps to remind the casual listener that the Brits can do country too. And they’re going from success to success, as the first UK country act ever to have a top 10 album and a tour that sees audiences eating out of their hands. Perhaps, on this evidence, we really can build a Nashville over here and, as Crissie sings, “it’s about time”.