C2C: Country to Country Festival returns to London's O2 Arena for the fifth time in March and this year will see two Norfolk acts added to the star-studded line-up.

Eastern Daily Press: Photo of King's Lynn-born singer, Jake Morrell who will be performing at C2C in March. Photo: Matt WilkinsonPhoto of King's Lynn-born singer, Jake Morrell who will be performing at C2C in March. Photo: Matt Wilkinson (Image: Matt Wilkinson)

Singer Jake Morrell from King's Lynn and Norwich-based band Sam Coe & The Long Shadows have been chosen from over 700 applicants around the world to perform at the event.

The festival reaches more than 80,000 fans during its run.

Taking place between the 10-12 March, headline acts at C2C include Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire, Zac Brown Band and Hunter Hayes.

The two Norfolk acts will be performing on the festival's various pop-up stages located around the venue, which allow lesser known acts to showcase their talent prior to the start of the main arena shows.

Sam Coe, lead singer of Sam Coe & The Long Shadows said: 'This is an incredible opportunity for us to reach a huge amount of country music fans in the UK, over one weekend.

'To be offered a spot at this festival for the second year in a row is huge, particularly as the number of entrants this year had almost doubled to beyond 700. We're all so excited to reach new fans and meet other Country Artists at the C2C Festival, and have an added bonus that our fellow Norfolk Musician and friend Jake is going to be playing too.'

Jake Morrell said: 'The last eighteen months have been an exciting period for me with country music rising quickly in popularity in the UK.

'My personal journey began with an incredible opportunity to play live on Dermot O'Leary's BBC Radio 2 show. That in turn led to a performance slot at Glastonbury last year, a management deal, a German tour and now of course, performing at the Country to Country Festival in March.

'The C2C line up has got so many artists/friends who I've met playing on the circuit so I know its going to be a really special year!'

• Tickets for Country to Country are available to purchase online from c2c-countrytocountry.com/buytickets