Hot Water Music's Chuck Ragan talks his latest solo album 'Love & Lore' and playing The Long Road Festival 2025 • Festivals • DIY Magazine

If you ever need proof that cowboy boots aren’t just a very chic fashion accessory, then heading to this year’s edition of The Long Road should do the trick. The ultimate celebration of all things country, Americana and blues, the 2025 event will once again be returning to the gorgeous environs of Leicestershire Stanford Hall for three packed days of music, and probably a hoedown or two.

Headed up by Drake Milligan, Midland and the UK’s own James Bay, this year’s bill also boasts performances from the likes of Seasick Steve, Janet Devlin and Alana Springsteen (not that Springsteen, sadly), as well as the incredible Chuck Ragan, who’ll be returning to this side of the pond for the second time in 2025. Ahead of his visit, we caught up with the Hot Water Music frontman to discover a little more about his recent solo album ‘Love and Lore’…

Late last year, you released your most recent solo album ‘Love and Lore’. Can you tell us a little bit about how you brought the album together? What sort of headspace did you find yourself in during the making of the record?
Just like any project we begin, it starts with whatever is most current and exciting as well as relevant to us. [Frequent collaborator] Todd Beene was involved early on and throughout, but in the end became a very integral part of this record that would not have been the same without him. As far as the headspace goes, there was much reflection three of some trying times in both personal and business life and what better way to get through things like that then putting energy into the song?

It’s your first solo release in a decade and has been in the works for quite a number of years now; what was it like to piece it together over a longer period of time than some previous releases? How do you think that approach ended up shaping the album?
For the longest time, it was very frustrating that this record took so long to see the light of day, but in the end, we’re pleased that it rolled out the way that it did. I don’t believe the record would’ve been what it was without all the hangups and roadblocks, we had along the way up until the release date.

You had also been working on Hot Water Music records and have been focussed on your fly-fishing business and family life in the time between solo releases; what’s it like having these different varied outlets to explore your creativity and art? What sort of impact do you think that has on you as an artist?
Working towards a balance between providing for my family and doing all I can to stay true too those duties and keeping home financially stable through independent work while still being somewhat present can be difficult. Devoting all my time to music and touring would make me completely absent from my family. At the same time I’ve spent well over half of my life building a career that I both enjoy and it’s hard to fully walk away from. Having the different outlets definitely keeps life interesting, though, to be honest, I’d much prefer more time with my family, especially through my son’s childhood years.

Back in spring, you returned to the UK and Europe for a run of solo shows; how did those go, and how was it getting to air some of the new songs live?
Playing the new songs has been a thrill and we look forward to every chance we get to do so. The shows were great; Todd Beene and I had a wonderful time with Nate Bergman along the way.

You’re heading back over here this summer, too, to play at The Long Road festival. How do you find festival performances in general, and do you approach them any differently to your usual live sets?
I enjoy festival settings just as much as I do up close and personal shows. I enjoy the diversity of both. We are extremely excited for The Long Road Festival and I’ve heard great things from friends about the festival and are very much looking forward to being a part of it.

The Long Road has a real focus on championing country, blues and Americana music - how does it feel as an artist who operates within many different genres to be welcomed into a space such as that?
We take great pride in what we do and care very much, and along the way we’re extremely honoured for any chance to share something that we believe in, no matter what the genre.

Have you got anything else exciting up your sleeve for the rest of 2025, going into 2026?
We’re always riding and always looking forward to having a part in creating new music. There’s talks about bringing The Revival Tour back which is a collaborative showcase tour that I ran from 2008 to 2013 to multiple countries and hosting a wide range of songwriters and artists. We’ll see if we can pull it together again.

Chuck Ragan will play The Long Road Festival, which takes place from 22nd-24th August 2025 at Stanford Hall, Leicestershire. Find out more and get tickets at thelongroad.com.

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