Josh Mitcham - Not The Same Thing | Live Country Session

# Josh Mitcham Brings Raw Authenticity to Cannock Chase

When an artist can strip everything down to just voice, guitar, and honest emotion, that's when you know you're witnessing something genuine. Josh Mitcham does exactly that in this Grit Session, recorded live at the atmospheric Cannock Chase Forest during his maiden UK tour this spring. What unfolds is a masterclass in country songwriting told with the kind of vulnerability that feels almost uncomfortable to witness—the good kind of uncomfortable.

Hailing from the American South, Mitcham represents a new generation of country artists who've rejected the polish and production of mainstream Nashville in favour of something altogether more substantial. His music sits at the intersection of traditional country storytelling, Americana's rootsy sincerity, and the kind of poignant introspection that makes you lean in closer. There's a restraint to his approach that speaks volumes: he doesn't need bombast, because his songs are too smart, too felt, to require it.

"Not The Same Thing" is the centerpiece of this session, and it's a haunting reminder of what country music does best—it tells the truth. Filmed outdoors in the heart of the English countryside, there's something peculiarly apt about watching an artist rooted in Southern tradition perform in the heart of Britain. The forest becomes more than just a backdrop; it's almost a character in itself, the natural world echoing the emotional landscape Mitcham explores throughout this performance.

What makes this Grit Session particularly special is its intimacy. There are no studio tricks, no overdubs, no safety net. It's just Mitcham, his guitar, and the forest around him. You can hear every breath, every string bend, every moment where emotion threatens to overwhelm the performance. It's the kind of raw authenticity that modern country music desperately needs more of, and it's exactly why The Rugged Revival exists—to platform artists who prioritise substance over spectacle.

If you've ever wondered what country music sounds like when stripped back to its absolute essentials, when it's allowed to breathe and ache and simply be, then this is essential viewing. This is real country for real people.