When artists announce a collab tour, it’s like Christmas has come early – and that’s exactly how I felt when I saw Ashley Monroe and Fancy Hagood were teaming up for a run of European dates late summer. I chatted to the pair about their pending UK visit, love, music and who they’d love to collaborate with.
Firstly, what a time to be alive to say you’re getting to see not only Ashley Monroe and Fancy Hagood, but collabing together ON THE SAME NIGHT! What a treat – how did this opportunity come around?
Ashley: Me and Fancy have been friends for a long time in Nashville and we both decided you know what would be good, getting together after The Long Road Festival to visit a few spots – I’ve played Glasgow before in their Saint Lukes venue and Fancy has played over here too, so we’re super excited to see what the UK crowds are like again and get ourselves back to Scotland.
You’re both such incredible artists and so similar in many ways – but each has that unique artistic flair – how do you find it gelling together when performing?
Fancy: I’ve been a fan of Ashley for so long through everything from The Pistol Annies to solo, so to hear that you think we’re on the same level is absolutely an honour so thank you so much – we both have a passion for music and still delve into similar topics when creating music – and the fact that we’re such good friends helps but it’ll be interesting to see how the audiences in the UK take it!
You touched upon it there with The Pistol Annies, what a powerhouse super group and even yourself, Fancy, your collabs with TJ Osborne, Kasey Musgraves – the list goes on! Every time I log on to Spotify, I see a new dream collab pop up on my playlist – we love it! Who is the dream collab?
Fancy: Haha, I mean apart from each other..
Honestly, where do you start? I would have to say Mr Elton John – he is a queer icon and someone I have looked up to in forever – I was lucky enough to catch him in Nashville and what a performer – It would be a dream come true to collaborate with him – he certainly influenced my music taste and writing – he even had me on his Apple Music show playing my track Blue Dream Baby which still feels surreal.
How about you, Ashley?
Ashley: You know what I had this thought recently and know who I would love to collaborate with which would be random but – Mark Ronson – he is an incredible producer and artist and I would love to make a track with him – but honestly, and she wrote me a letter many years ago about wanting to sing together – but Miss Dolly Parton – it would be a dream to create something with her.
Hey – all I’m saying is a Valerie cover featuring yourself and Dolly Parton.. here for it?
Haha absolutely!!
We’re a week into the launch of your latest album (Tennessee Lightning). What reaction have you had so far?
Oh, it’s been incredible – my friends back home have found it to be my most in-depth album yet, and it’s been so incredible to hear people be able to relate to the album and find emotion in it – I’m excited to bring it over the pond and see people sing it over here!
Fancy – I swear it feels like only yesterday you dropped American Spirit. Is there anything on the album that you didn’t expect to take off, and it did?
You know what its crazy that I dropped that in 2024 and then a few months ago the deluxe – American Spirit: The Last Drag it’s been one of those projects that I’ve known the songs for so long and it took so long to get it together and release that it doesn’t feel new to me at all – but it’s funny the last time I was in the UK there was one night we were playing and my guitar wasn’t connecting so I was like cool let me jump in the crowd and do an acoustic – I went “this song is brand new song I’m gonna play” and they already knew the lyrics which was crazy – European fans just love love love music and I love that energy.
So you’re heading to The Long Road this weekend – now I have to say – country music in the UK – even in Europe has jumped up in popularity recently, and I love that for us! But this is my first time at an outdoor country event – how are you planning to spend it?
That’s so cool! I must admit it, as mentioned, Brits just love and embody the country music genre, and I love that – it’s always so great coming over here and seeing people just so happy to be at a live concert we love visiting.
There are so many great artists on the lineup. What can we expect from you both?
Ashley: You know, with me, I like to take it as it goes – play a selection of songs from across my records and just see where the vibes go! But right now, you should ask Fancy what he’s doing (our cameras are off)
Fancy: haha, I’m just in the chair getting some tattoos! Some tattoos are dedicated to my friends. I went through a bad breakup last year, and my friends were my rock, so this is dedicated to them!
So you can get Lauren Page tattooed on there, too?
Haha, yes, a huge chest piece saying Lauren Page got it..
We’re friends already, I love it!
Catch Ashley Monroe and Fancy Hagood at Saint Lukes on Monday, 25th August.
Interview by Lauren Page
