About Ben’s Country Music Show

Ben’s Country Music Show – Celebrating 18 Years of Great Country Music

Ben’s Country Music Show is the UK’s longest running independent country music radio programme. In 2026, the show will celebrate 18 years on air, a milestone marking over 1,500 hours of radio written, recorded, and produced since its launch in 2008. Each week, the show delivers the very best in country, Americana, roots, and bluegrass to audiences around the world.

Each two-hour episode is packed with the latest news, exclusive interviews, album features, and occasional special documentaries. Recent highlights include documentaries on the history of CMA Fest, the life and career of Loretta Lynn, Ken Burns’ Country Music series, and the story behind Johnny Cash’s legendary performance at Folsom Prison.

A wide range of artists have appeared on the show over the years, including Matt Stell, Logan Mize, Lynn Anderson, Charlie McCoy, The Shires, Lindsay Ell, Jerry Vandiver, Caitlyn Smith, Gretchen Peters, Michelle Wright, and many more.

Ben’s Country Music Show is well known for championing songwriters, spotlighting new talent, and connecting fans with emerging artists from the UK, the US, and beyond.

Regular features include Album of the Week, Songs from the Vault — shining a light on classic and often forgotten tracks — and the weekly UK Country Albums and Radio Charts, keeping listeners up to date with the latest releases and No.1 songs and albums.

In May 2025, Ben’s Country Music Show will celebrate an incredible 17 years on air — making it one of the longest-running, continually broadcasting, and most respected independent country music radio programmes in the UK.

About Ben Atkinson

Ben R. Atkinson is a broadcaster, academic, and musician.

As a broadcaster, Ben has been a familiar voice on independent and community radio since 2008. Training at the Lincoln School of Film and Media and later with the BBC, he has hosted drivetime, breakfast, and magazine shows, as well as written and produced notable radio dramas and documentaries. He has presented Ben’s Country Music Show since its inception in 2008 on stations in the UK and internationally.

An acknowledged expert on American country and roots music, Ben has appeared on the BBC, spoken at international conferences, and served as a guest lecturer. His PhD research focuses on the experiences of women in Nashville’s country music industry from 1990 to 2024, examining the impact of cultural shifts, technology, and advocacy movements. As part of this ethnographic study, he spent 12 weeks living and working in Nashville.

A self-taught musician, Ben plays guitar and mandolin, with a deep passion for American roots music, including country, folk, and Americana. His second album, Country Folk, was released on January 17, 2025.