by It’s quite a while ago since I met British Gary Quinn in real life the last times. In September 2019, he supported Jillian Jacqueline and Lauren Jenkins in Cologne. Just a few days later, he played at the first day of The British Country Music Festival 2019. However, Gary is a big name in the domestic country music scene. He is not only one of the finest singer-songwriters of the genre in the U.K., he is also important as part of the management of the Buckle & Boots Festival. This year, the festival is expanding to Continental Europe the first time. A good opportunity to catch up with him in my new Spotlight interview.
Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Gary Quinn
FLYC: Gary, thanks for being at one of my interviews. How has 2026 been for you so far?
Gary: Thanks for taking the time to reach out again friend, It’s been a really strong start to the year. Straight away I’ve been back out playing shows, hosting events and building momentum from everything that happened in 2025. There’s a real sense that things are growing – not just for me, but for the UK and European country scene as a whole. It feels like a year where a lot of things are starting to connect.
FLYC: The Country To Country wave is over. We are now looking forward to the next major event, the Buckle & Boots. First, there will be the U.K. weekend near Manchester. You are one of the main organizers. If one has never been at a Buckle & Boots, what is its key character?
Gary: At its core, Buckle & Boots is all about community. It’s a proper fan-first festival – very welcoming, very personal, and built around the love of country music. You’ve got big stage moments, but also songwriter rounds, up-close performances and that real connection between artists and audience. That’s what makes it special. Buckle & Boots was built around great songwriting and creating a space where fans and artists genuinely connect. You’ll see big names, but also emerging artists, all sharing the same stage and atmosphere. It’s very down-to-earth – and that’s what people keep coming back for.
FLYC: Is there any act you especially look forward to this year?
Gary: There are always a few, but honestly one of the best parts is discovering artists in that environment. Seeing how audiences react to new acts is always exciting, especially when you know they’re about to take a step up.
FLYC: And then, Buckle & Boots goes on a debut – and has its first-ever spin-off in Aarau. How did that idea grow?
Gary: It came quite naturally. We’d built something strong in the UK, and over time we noticed more and more European fans and artists engaging with Buckle & Boots. The idea of taking that same ethos abroad felt like the next step. Conversations started with partners in Switzerland at Front Porch Entertainment, and it just felt like the right time to take that next step.
FLYC: Why did you opt for Switzerland – and maybe did not go other countries with decent country music markets, like Scandinavia or the Netherlands?
Gary: Switzerland offered the right combination of opportunity, partners and audience. Sometimes it’s not just about the biggest market — it’s about where you can build something properly and sustainably. Aarau felt like a place where we could create something special from day one.
FLYC: The date is a bit of unusual. The shows will be Thursday and Friday. Why did you go for that decision?
Gary: Partly to create something a little different, but also to fit into the wider festival, touring and venue calendar. It gives people the chance to build it into a longer trip or festival weekend, and it works well for artists travelling across Europe.
FLYC: The line-up for Aarau is a quite nice subset of the English one. Are there any acts you look especially forward to how the Swiss people like them?
Gary: I’m really interested to see how the U.K. artists are received. There’s such a strong pool of talent coming through, and it’ll be great to see how that translates to a Swiss audience. Keep an eye on Jake O’Neill.
FLYC: Apart from the new sister festival in Switzerland, how will the Buckle & Boots improve compared to previous year?
Gary: Every year we try to raise the bar – whether that’s production, artist experience or the overall fan journey. This year there’s a stronger international element, more variety across the line-up, and just a continued focus on making it the best possible experience for everyone involved. There’ll also be some special ‘one-off’ performances you won’t see anywhere else.
FLYC: Talking about you and your music. You toured quite intensively all over Europe. You even played at the Faroe Islands last year. How did that booking happen?
Gary: That came through connections built over time with Nashville Nights. One thing leads to another in this industry, and before you know it you’re getting opportunities in places you never expected. It’s a good example of how important relationships are.
FLYC: How was it like for you to play there?
Gary: Honestly, incredible. It’s one of those unique experiences — the setting, the people, the atmosphere. The audience was so warm and engaged. It’s definitely a highlight.
FLYC: Apart from the Nordic island, you also played in Denmark and many other places. Thus, I guess, you have a quite good view about the development of country music in Europe. How do you see it? Can the genre break through in some markets?
Gary: It’s growing fast. The U.K. has really taken off in recent years, and we’re seeing similar momentum in places like Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. I think country is becoming more accepted as a mainstream genre, especially with the blend of traditional and modern sounds. I think the key is that it’s becoming less of a niche and more part of the wider live music landscape. Different countries are developing at different speeds, but the overall trajectory is very positive.
FLYC: Artists like Gareth made it from Europe and established in the Nashville music scene. What, do you think, do you need to take this step successfully?
Gary: Consistency, great songs, and relationships. You need to be over there, writing regularly, building trust, and understanding the industry. It doesn’t happen overnight, but if the songs are strong enough, doors will open. Gareth is killing it right and flying the flag for Ireland over there. He made the decision to move and he’s reaping the benefits from it which is great to see.
FLYC: What are your plans for 2026? Any releases, tours, etc. planned?
Gary: A lot of touring across the U.K. and Europe, plus new music. I’ve got a Nashville-recorded album on the way, so the focus is on releasing that and getting out in front of as many audiences as possible.
FLYC: What has been the most special show you ever played in your career?
Gary: That’s a tough one, but getting to play the Bluebird Café in Nashville numerous times will always special. It’s such an iconic room for songwriters, and every time you step on that stage it means something.
FLYC: And a last one: if there was a third location you had to pick where Buckle & Boots will take place as well in 2027, which one would it be?
Gary: That’s a good question. Somewhere like Germany or the Netherlands could be really interesting — both have strong and growing country audiences. It would have to be somewhere where we can build that same sense of community. Perhaps some of your readers could let us know where we need to go next.
The Gary Quinn pictures have been part of my 2019 The British Country Music Festival coverage.
Follow Gary Quinn Online
Follow Buckle & Boots (UK) Online
Follow Buckle & Boots (Switzerland) Online
Buckle & Boots 2026
The Buckle & Boots Festival will kick off at the “traditional” Whitebottom Farm near Manchester at the end of May 2026. The week later, quite a lot of the artists will play on two days in Aarau, Switzerland.
| Fr 22.05.2026 – Su 24.05.2026 |
Manchester (United Kingdom) – Whitebottom Farm | |
| Th 28.05.2026 – Fr 29.05.2026 |
Aarau (Switzerland) – Aeschbachhalle Aarau |
Gary Quinn on Flyctory.com
Here are my postings related to British country music artist Gary Quinn:
Flyctory.com – My Favorite Songs 2020
Two new Flyctory.com-managed Playlists on Amazon Music and Spotify
My Country Music Picks (4th April 2020)
British Country Music Festival – Day 1 (13th Sep 2019)
Sound of Nashville Press Event & Logan Mize Concert (11th Sep 2019, Cologne)
Jillian Jacqueline & Lauren Jenkins (9th September 2019, Cologne)
The British Country Music Festival (Blackpool) – A Preview
Spotlight Interviews – British Artists
Here are all my Spotlight interviews related to the United Kingdom:
Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Gareth (March 2025)
Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Georgia Nevada (June 2024)
Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Twinnie (February 2024)
Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Vic Allen (19th January 2023)
Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Emma Stevens (4th February 2021)
Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Emily Lockett (16th September 2020)
Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Tommy Atkins (18th May 2020)
