New Orleans brothers Ocie and Wes – better known as folk duo Crowe Boys – just returned to the UK for the second time this year, and the pair caught up with Erazer to talk all about the growth of the country music scene this side of the Atlantic.
Chatting backstage at BST Hyde Park, where they had just performed in support of country music icon Garth Brooks, they told us what they love about a music festival.
“We just want to hang and have a good time and be around people that want to listen to music,” Ocie said. “It’s not quite so intense.”
In a set that featured songs from their 2025 debut album, Made To Wander, as well as a Snow Patrol cover, Crowe Boys’ Hyde Park appearance was one of two London concerts in one weekend, for they had taken to the stage at 26 Leake Street the night before.
The duo loved the UK crowds and were joined by other musicians on stage, despite only their band being right before the show.
“London always comes out for us,” Ocie said. “The gig was a bonding moment between us, our music and the people that support us.”
While on the road, the duo find themselves listening to music, with Ocie recommending his ‘really good friend,’ blues rocker Liam St John.
For Wes, he has been checking out the music of South African singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov.
“He’s been a favourite of mine for a while,” Wes revealed. “I would recommend all of his albums.”
Crowe Boys only recently visited the UK, and it was an appearance at C2C that gave them their first opportunity to perform in an arena.
“It’s cool to play in front of so many people,” Ocie said, “but I think our hearts are in shows like last night,” again referencing the 26 Leake Street performance.
“You can really be with [the audience].”
Although the country music capital is Nashville, Tennessee, Crowe Boys are based in New Orleans, Louisiana, the city where they find ‘peace and rest.’
“It’s a place for us to bounce ideas off people who genuinely just care about the art,” Ocie said.
“It’s a little bit difficult as there aren’t a lot of people who do folk or country.”
Noting the difference between US and UK crowds, including the 70-thousand-strong audience at BST Hyde Park, the duo said there are positives to performing on both sides of the Atlantic.
“In the States, we have a really good fanbase, but the scene can be a bit like ‘what do you have that’s new?’
“People here want to be a part of the moment a bit more. Both are beautiful in their own way,” Ocie noted.
With a heavy touring schedule filling out most of this summer, Wes said he ‘can’t say a lot more’ regarding Crowe Boys’ new music.
“We’ve been putting off releasing new things and riding low for a while,” Ocie added, noting that now the band are no longer with Universal Music Group, they have ‘about 20 songs’ they are sitting on.
“We’re not sure if they are all going to come out, but we have so much in store, and we’re so ready to share it with people.”
BST Hyde Park will continue over select days until Sunday, July 12, with appearances on the way from Pitbull, Lewis Capaldi, Mumford & Sons, Duran Duran and Maroon 5.
