Drake Milligan Is Taking Country Global - One ‘Tumbleweed’ at a Time

Drake Milligan talks about his latest release Tumbleweed and returning to C2C Festival

He’s charmed the European hearts right from the spotlight stage to the main stage to now opening up for the headline C2C act, Drake Milligan is loved by the Scottish crowd and hot off the heels of announcing a tour in the fall, LiveWithLP sat down in Glasgow with Drake to find out how he's handling the worldwide stardom. 

Drake, before we get started. I think it’s a really important trait to have when you’re speaking to artists to be upfront and honest. So you have been listening to my voice for the last minute. And Spotify let me know that in 2025, I listened to yours for 932 minutes.

932?! 

You were my top artist of 2025

Well, to be fair, I think I listened to my voice more. 

I’ll give you a run for your money in 2026! But how does it feel when you see something like Spotify wrapped and realise how far across the world you have fans? Has it settled in yet? 

Oh no, I don’t think it ever will, but it's so cool. You know, it’s amazing what's happened over here. I play bigger shows than I do back home, so it’s crazy that we’ve caught on like wildfire - back home, we have fun, and we have good crowds, but it’s nothing like it is here in Europe. 

We go crazy for Drake Milligan, it doesn’t matter if it's the Long Road Festival or the back end of the year - we will have our tickets purchased! 

Yeah, Tumbleweed world tour is coming back - we’ve kicked it off already, and we will be back in Glasgow in November, which will be nice, in an even bigger venue. 

On the topic of Tumbleweed, a brilliant album that you dropped last year, like a pre-Christmas present. 

The team actually wanted to drop it in January, but I just wanted to get it out as soon as possible. 

See marketing 101 - release before Christmas, so people will buy tour tickets as presents. 

Haha exactly! 

But it was such a fantastic album, and the collaboration with Randall King is a favourite of mine - how did that collaboration come around? 

It’s such a catchy song, I wrote it a few years ago with Bryce Long and Luke Lloydan. We've been playing it on the road ever since. We were having so much fun with it, and I'd been waiting for an opportunity to record it, and I thought, man, how cool would it be to do a duet to make it more of a fun song with a party vibe. 

I wanted someone who was like a modern-day Buddy - and Randall is that Randall is from Texas, he’s been putting out new music for years - we actually shared the Spotlight Stage here three years ago, and it's cool I've not duetted with The Recklaws, Randall King, and now Shania Twain.

Oh, just dropping a few names there! 

It was a fun collaborative thing to do, and he was the first person I thought of when a duet came to my mind. I sent it to him, and he’s like, “Hell Yeah - I know what to do with this!” He is an icon. 

You mentioned there about the Spotlight Stage, which I must admit, whenever I’ve spoken to an artist, you have been the example of the evolution of the Spotlight stage - starting with a short set, returning to open the main stage and now opening for the headliner. Are you the king of C2C? 

I don't know about that, but I do love playing here - especially this arena. Last time I was here, I opened up the Main Stage, and I was surprised how many people in Glasgow showed up that early - usually you’re first up and people are still mingling in, but the arena was PACKED. I love it here, and I feel a lot of love here. 

I’ll admit, Drake, I may have told everyone in my section to make sure they’re here early to see you. You’re welcome. 

Appreciated! 

You have created such a fantastic following worldwide and especially here in Glasgow, the last time you played here at SWG3 with Luke Flear. Another headline show at the Academy in November, will we see a new side of your music in the Tumbleweed era, or still authentically Drake?

We’re still constantly evolving, I would say. We’re constantly changing stuff in the show and switching things around. We kind of did flip our set quite a bit to incorporate songs from the new songs, but we’re at an exciting time in the band because we finally have enough music to overplay a standard 60-minute set, but the problem is I can’t play everyone's favourites. So we have the bangers in there, don't worry! 

So everything from Old Flames Old Whiskey to the Dance of a Lifetime era? 

Yes Ma’am! 

You have got quite the catalogue under your belt now, and it must be a question you get a lot, but.. Is there a song that you’re just fed up with playing? 

Oh, there was a couple of years where I had to play Cowgirl for Christmas, and I love the song, but come on, guys, it’s July! 

People just love your sound and the energy you bring to a concert. It's a full-on show. Is there anybody on your radar that you think we should be keeping an eye out for? 

A lot of artists are on the C2C bill, which is exciting for you all. Emily Ann Roberts is one of those; she is incredible, and one I was looking forward to being here is Mae Estes, but she is sadly unwell. She is going to be a huge star. I mean, I am a big Zach Top fan, but I think everyone is now. I will say, though, I was an OG I was there from the start, baby! 

Tumbleweed has gone off in full force. I'm super excited to see what the rest of the year holds for you before you’re back in the UK. 

We’re doing a lot of shows in the States and then we’re going to Australia to play a few shows - lots of fun stuff and I’m just always thinking about the next step and the next record, so I will probably be writing a lot this year in between shows and of course, the highlight coming back over here playing some of the biggest rooms we’ve ever headlined so that's going to be a lot of fun. 

Drake Milligan returns to the UK in November. Tickets available here