British country duo The Shires, made up of Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes, have announced their first full band UK tour in four years alongside the release of their new album, Bonfire. The 12-date headline tour will see the pair perform a mix of fan favourites and brand-new material from the album, which celebrates themes of togetherness, escapism and positivity. Bonfire is set for release on 3 July across LP, CD (including signed formats) and digital platforms. Describing the project, Ben Earle said it is their most instinctive album to date, created with a focus on spontaneity and enjoyment over overthinking and heavy production. The duo have already shared the lead single “Getaway Car”, an upbeat and infectious track that captures the album’s carefree spirit. Since their breakthrough in 2015, The Shires have achieved a series of milestones, including becoming the first British country act to secure a UK Top Ten album with Brave, releasing the fastest-selling UK country album with My Universe, and winning a prestigious CMA award. Widely regarded as pioneers of the UK country scene, they continue to play a key role in the genre’s growing popularity and are now returning with fresh new music.