ERIC Church – The Outsiders is the new release on the Decca label from this award-winning artist.

Originally from North Carolina, Church played in bars and formed a band with college mates called Mountain Boys.

After graduation, he became engaged and made plans for a corporate career, but when his bride-to-be broke it off, he headed for Nashville to develop his musical status and songwriting talent.

He landed a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music writing songs for artists including Terri Clark and Dean Miller, but it was not until 2006 that he recorded his debut album, entitled Sinners Like Me.

In 2011 his album entitled Chief debuted at No 1 on both the Top Country Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, selling 145,000 copies in the first week. It was named Album Of The Year by the Country Music Association and won a Grammy in the 55th Grammy Awards.

The Outsiders is a mix of styles of country rock, with influences of the outlaw movement. He says: “I really see this album as a game-changer for us. I want people to understand that we’re here and that we will be reckoned with. This record is what we’ve been trying to do all along.”

Having had a quick preview listen, I feel it will not impress the hard-core traditional country fan, but it will add to his everenlarging fan base.

There’s a taster on this weekend’s American Connection Show. Log on to americanconnection.euvue.co.uk for a listen as I’ll be featuring three tracks.

He is playing three dates in the UK this month, Glasgow ABC (Feb 27),The Ritz Manchester (March 1) and London Shepherds Bush Empire (March 2).