Darius Rucker

While still remembered best in the UK for his time in the 90s American rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, Darius Rucker has for sometime carved an impressive career in Nashville. Winner of several country awards over the last few years, he's one of the genres biggest stars. Homegrown Honey is the first single from his fourth country album, to be released in early 2015.

The song was co-written with Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum and Nathan Chapman and has the smooth and catchy feel that Rucker has now become renowned for. Perhaps wishing to break away from sentimental ballads, Homegrown Honey is more uptempo and places its tongue firmly in the cheek, with references to a good looking woman downing whiskey; "girl there ain't nothing hotter". It's hard to take a lot of pop-country seriously - and this is much the same.

Released a week later is the more saccharin What God Wants For Christmas, which is the kind of wholesome country fare, that raises a smile amongst those that don't 'get' country. There's mention for Santa, of course and Jack Frost - in a cliche ballad that his fans will adore. It's from the obligatory festive album that artists in Nashville have to do at least once in their career - and sometimes many many times. Not as good as his other self penned Christmas tune - Candy Cane Christmas - it is schmalz turned up to 11.But that's what country artists are good at it.

Rucker is also in the UK for some rare country shows, where he'll get to show off his great vocal and maybe revisit a couple of those country-rock songs from the 1990s that helped make Hootie a global smash.