Have You Heard Of Country Music Singer Nathan Carter?

Nathan Carter is Ireland’s number one country music act and he's about to tour this side of the Irish Sea. I must confess that I hadn't heard of him before so I was keen to discover more...

My first surprise: as we started chatting I realised he has a Liverpudlian accent.

"I was raised for the first 18 years of my life in Liverpool although my parents are from Newry in Northern Ireland,” he says.

Is that why your tour is coming to the north of England?

"I have many wonderful fans in this part of the world. We will be playing Burnley, Huddersfield and Manchester to name a few and I am really looking forward to putting on a show that they will always remember.

"Being a northerner I know how enthusiastic and passionate the people here are about music.

"On the tour I will be supporting Claudia Buckley, a young country music singer from Galway, her dad is the famous singer Jimmy Buckley. I think Claudia is one of the best new country music singers, she will sing a few Dolly Parton songs along with some other classics."

Another surprise: Nathan tells me is that he has been selling albums, and making DVDs, and sell out concerts for over a decade.

"I have been on the scene for over ten years. My songs do not get played on the mainland and I have not been on television much either apart from appearing on breakfast TV with Lorraine Kelly and an interview on BBC Radio 2 with Jeremy Vine. However, my songs on social media have had over nine million views so somebody must like my music!"

Nathan grew up listening to country music - his family were big fans - and he recalls hearing acts like Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Jim Reeves, in complete contrast to bands like Oasis that his friends were listening to.

"Country music thankfully has had a bit of resurgence over the last few years with acts such as Ward Thomas and The Shires - even Kylie Minogue recorded an album a few years back that took inspiration from the genre."

The surprises are never ending as I learn he has sung in front of two Popes. Naturally he found it a bit nerve-racking.

"The first time I was only eleven years old when I sang for Pope John Paul II and I was part of a school choir. Years later I performed at a concert in Ireland for Pope Francis at a big concert with the Riverdance cast and Andrea Bocelli."

Nathan has also played the London Palladium, and tells me he was equally nervous.

"It’s a prestigious venue with acts such as The Beatles and the Rolling Stones having played there and Madonna did a residency. I have been lucky enough to play concerts many times at the Palladium."

As I have not (yet) been to one of his concerts, I needed to ask: what can readers expect?

"Graham, there is something for everyone in one of my concerts. They will experience an energetic show embracing the joy of country music. I will even be playing the accordion at some point during the evening.

"My audience tends to be an eclectic mix from teenagers right up to grandparents, everyone is welcome and I would say - come along - even if you have never heard me before you will hopefully enjoy yourself."

"I am really buzzing though to be going back on tour as the Lockdown just brought everything to a standstill, so I used the time wisely by recording my new album which took away the shock of playing over a hundred and fifty shows a year to then doing nothing."