The Woolpackers

The Woolpackers are an English country rock trio formed in 1996, consisting of Steve Halliwell, Billy Hartman, and Alun Lewis. All three members were stars of the ITV-produced soap opera Emmerdale, and their formation was an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of line dancing at the time. The group's debut single "Hillbilly Rock Hillbilly Roll" was released in November 1996 and reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart, marking a significant breakthrough for the trio. This success was quickly followed by their first album Emmer Dance, which peaked at number 26 on the UK Albums Chart just a few weeks later. The following year, they released their second single "Line Dance Party", which hit number 25 on the chart, and their second album The Greatest Line Dancing Party Album, reaching number 48 in the UK. Despite facing numerous criticisms of their style, The Woolpackers achieved notable success with both singles and albums being certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).