As 2017 gets underway, so does the opportunity to sample new music at live venues. Andy Howells shines the light on five rising acts that have been working at their art for some time are making exciting new soundwaves in the world of music.

Arizona based singer/songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews visits the UK next month touring with her new album, Honest Life. Courtney who has been a session, backup singer and guitarist for nearly 40 artists including Jimmy Eat World to Damien Jurado will plays Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach on February 28.. Visit clwb.net for details.

A Cappella Country stars Home Free make their second visit to the UK later this month and will play Cardiff’s Glee Club on January 25. Known for their trademark renditions on today’s biggest Country and Pop hits, the five-piece vocal group, who hail from Minnesota, shot to fame in the US having won NBC’s Spin-Off, are celebrating the re-release of ‘Full of (Even More) Cheer’, their most recent album, which debuted at No.2 on the Billboard Country Charts. Visit ents24.com for ticket details.

Chesterfield’s Blair Dunlop visits Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach on February 2 in support of his new album Gilded, which follows on from Blair’s 2014 release House of Jacks. Blair won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Horizon Award in 2012 following the release of his debut album Blight and Blossom in 2012. Visit clwb.net for ticket details

Chart-topping UK Country music stars Ward Thomas play Cardiff’s Tramshed on May 17. Hampshire’s Catherine and Lizzy Ward made history when their second studio album, Cartwheels, reached the top spot in the U.K. Album charts last September and became the first ever UK country act to achieve the feat. Visit livenation.co.uk for ticket details.

Finally, London based duo Ben Moorhouse and Leo Duncan, aka Ten Fé,will play Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach on March 11 in support of their new album ‘Hit The Light’. The album is the result of 4 long years’ of work, which has led the duo from busking on the London Underground, through a bedroom in Birmingham, to eventually recording in Berlin. Visit clwb.net for details