The Heartland Roots Band is a British country rock group led by Adie Causier, who is the main songwriter, rhythm guitarist, and one of the vocalists. The band has been active in various forms since 2006, known for blending Americana, country, and classic rock influences with heartfelt lyrics and strong harmonies.
Rooted in authenticity and storytelling, the band have carved out a distinct place in the UK country and Americana scene—bringing with them a legacy of perseverance, transformation, and the enduring power of song.
They have a worldwide fan-base, and online sales and streams into the millions.
The Heartland Roots Band began its journey in 2006, born from the musical vision of Adie Causier and his wife Anna.
The original lineup included Adie (guitar, mandolin and vocals), Anna (percussion, whistle and vocals), Steve Furniss (guitar, banjo, vocals), Helen Butterfield (violin and vocals). They were later joined by Graham Wheatley on bass and Dave Bradshaw on drums. Early gigs reflected a humble, homespun Americana, folk and country sound, with the band steadily building a local following.
In 2014, a new phase began as the band restructured. Anna Causier had moved on to playing keyboards, and the need had arisen to bring in a top level lead guitarist, and for Adie to step aside from both lead vocals and lead guitar duties, and the decision was made to bring in a female lead vocalist. Adie and Anna were joined by Ken Askew on lead guitar, Ed Richardson on bass, Steve M Ward on drums, and Samantha Rafferty on lead vocals. This era saw an evolution in the band’s songwriting and professionalism, setting the stage for bigger things.
In mid-2017, Samantha Hobson joined as the new lead vocalist, with Steve Hurst coming in as lead guitarist. Richard Daniels filled the bassist role. The band embarked on a French tour in the spring of 2018 which became a defining moment for the band. During their travels, Adie and Samantha began writing together in earnest, penning early versions of what would become breakout singles Breaking Away and Gasoline.
After returning from France, the band brought in Callum Bishop officially as lead guitarist. Their energy caught the attention of London-based label Animal Farm, and in early 2019, they recorded their first four singles: Breaking Away, Gasoline, Hit Me Like a Freight Train, and Country Miles. All four tracks entered the UK Country iTunes Charts, with Country Miles peaking at number 4.
Momentum slowed in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens of shows were cancelled, and at the same time, Anna Causier was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The band went quiet while Anna underwent intensive treatment and recovery. As restrictions eased and her health improved, the band began to play again.
In 2021, Paul Harkins, an old school friend of Adie and a former child TV actor (notably seen on ITV’s Saturday morning show TISWAS), joined the band on drums. That same summer, bassist Richard Daniels played his final show for HRB while battling terminal illness. Paul recommended another old schoolmate, Nick Plews, as a replacement.
Also at this time , the band chose not to continue working with the Animal Farm record company. Adie Causier decided to instead form his own record company, ‘True Authentic’ and all releases since have been on this independent label.
In September 2021, the band won the first of five consecutive UK Country Group of the Year awards at The UK Country Music Awards.
The ‘Something Better’ album was released in 2022 to critical acclaim in the UK Country Music scene, and it reached number 4 in the Country Music Charts. Several singles taken from the album had also achieved high chart-placings including 2 number 1’s in the form of ‘Bullet From A Gun’ and ‘Pouring Out The Blues’.
In 2023, Lee Allen joined the band as the new lead guitarist and Steve Ward came on board as the new bassist.
The Heartland Roots Band were named UK Country Group Of The Year for the third year running at The UK Country Music Awards where their album “Something Better” was named UK Country Album Of The Year.
And it was four years in a row as UK Country Group of the Year in 2024.
The band have continued to grow musically, refusing to follow the many music and style cliches synonymous with the UK Country music scene, instead remaining truly original.
In 2025, their most ambitious project yet: the Starcrossed album. Lyrically and musically adventurous, it explored themes of fate, love, and perseverance—building on the emotional honesty and authenticity the band has become known for. The project was deeply personal, drawing on years of highs and lows.
In 2025, the band were named UK Country Group of the Year for the fifth year running.
Now featuring Adie Causier, Samantha Hobson, Anna Causier, Paul Harkins, Lee Allen, and Steve Ward, The Heartland Roots Band continues to evolve—anchored by heartfelt songwriting, resilience, and a shared belief in the power of music to tell true stories.
