Richie Owens – The UK Pub Crawl 2026

Richie Owens returns to the UK with a deeply personal tour, the UK Pub Crawl, bringing the rich soundscape of Appalachian heritage to intimate venues across the country. Owens, a fifth-generation musician rooted in the traditions of East Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains, offers much more than a performance — he delivers a living narrative shaped by generations of storytellers and song carriers.

Raised within the very cultural bloodlines that gave rise to iconic Appalachian artists, Owens' music draws on old-time gospel, early country, mountain blues, and the folk ballads that chronicle the working-class lives of America’s heartland. His acoustic trio, including lifelong friends Bob Ocker and Joe Sharp, crafts an authentic sonic experience with guitar, mandolin, upright bass, harmonica, and layered harmony vocals, intertwined with spoken-word storytelling. This is music that honors the past while breathing new vitality into it.

The tour coincides with Owens’ acclaimed album Appalachia — Ballads, Bloodlines, and the Long Journey Home, a deeply reflective work exploring Appalachian identity and history through original ballads. It is complemented by the film project Smoky Mountain DNA: Family, Faith, and Fables, which together present a seamless artistic homage to the region's enduring spirit. As Richie explains, “I’ve been blessed to perform across the UK for over 35 years, but Smoky Mountain DNA has given those journeys a whole new meaning. Every show is now a chance to celebrate the shared heritage, music, and stories that connect Britain and Appalachia. I’m excited to bring this new chapter of that story to audiences across the UK.”

If you appreciate the heartfelt storytelling of classic Appalachian music combined with contemporary resonance, Richie Owens’ performances share kinship with the likes of Dolly Parton’s early influences and other roots-driven artists who cherish authenticity and narrative depth.

The Gait Inn, Millington, York

Set within the scenic East Yorkshire Wolds, The Gait Inn offers a welcoming traditional village pub environment, known for serving real ale and providing a genuine local atmosphere. Its rural charm and authentic character make it an ideal setting for Owens’ acoustic storytelling, where the close-knit audience can fully immerse in the heritage and intimacy of the Appalachian musical journey unfolding on stage.