Back on the wagon wheel

Nathan Carter’s only recently returned from a break in the States and already he’s back on the road. He’s spent more nights on-stage than off since 'Wagon Wheel’ became the sound of the summer 2012 - relentless touring helped the infectious Bob Dylan cover stay in the Irish charts for 47 weeks.

That such a sing-aholic takes a holiday comes as a surprise, that he managed to steer clear of Nashville when he was in America, opting instead for the bright lights of New York and Las Vegas. The capital of country music had already been ticked off Nathan’s to-do list last May, however when he jetted over to Tennessee for an intense song-writing and recording session.

“Having grown up on country music it was definitely a great ambition to get there,” says Nathan. “It was slightly different from what I had imagined. I didn’t really get that much time to do the sight-seeing things because I was recording. I enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong - I really enjoyed it and I’d go back again in the morning.”

Having just returned from America he observes how country music has a much more mainstream appeal there.

“The difference is that, over in the states, the most popular form of music is country music and always has been - much more than pop and everything else. Whereas in Britain and in Ireland country music is considered... it’s not that it is unpopular, it is not as well publicised on radio or TV. So for young people, they don’t see it enough, I   think.

It has started to change in Ireland in the last few years with the likes of myself and other young country singers coming on board - RTÉ have started playing us and Today FM, and iRadio would play Wagon Wheel and a few other songs, which is great that young people are now hearing it and seeing it on TV. I was very lucky to get on The Late Late at Christmas - I was on with Hozier and Take That - so it’s giving us a platform to be accepted, if you like.”

As a youngster Nathan bypassed TV and radio for his musical education - instead he delved into his Irish grandparents’ record collection. It was easily accessible, as they lived just around the corner from his home in Liverpool and was bursting with country stars Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers, Irish greats such as The Dubliners, and the showband big-hitters Joe Dolan, Dickie Rock and Big Tom.

“I was brought up on all this sort of stuff,” he recalls, “which was very odd for a young kid of my age because none of my friends would have been into that at all, but I loved it.”
So who’s he listening to now?

“I’m a big fan of a guy called Hunter Hayes, who’s big in the States and I’ve always admired Brad Paisley - I love his stuff. Of older country, my favourite traditional country singer would be Merle Haggard and then Johnny Cash.”

Nathan’s waging a two-pronged charm offensive. Of course much of Ireland has already submitted to Carter-mania, flocking to the shows and snapping up his five albums to date, but he has more work to do in Britain. An intense fortnight will see him cover a good chunk of England in March, and then he’ll take to the roads of Scotland in April and May.

“It’s the biggest tour I’ve ever embarked on in the UK. I’m releasing my first ever single and album in England with Decca, who I signed with last year. They have everyone from Rod Stewart to Tom Jones. Everyone - you name them, they’ve been there.”

'Beautiful Life’ is the title of the Decca album he’ll release to coincide with the tour, and on top of four new tracks it’ll include all the tracks beloved by his Irish fanbase - 'Caledonia’, 'Wagon Wheel’, 'Drift Away’, and he hopes they’ll have the British audience swooning too.

“We’re going to give it a good go and Decca are going to put a lot of money behind it, so fingers crossed.”

On the Irish front he has to meet the insatiable demand for live performances. His latest tour started in County Down on Friday, and sees him travel the country until the end of February - including two sold out shows in Cork Opera House and two more in Galway’s Black Box. This summer he has more festivals than he can remember and has a date in the Marque in Cork.

How many gigs does he expect to play in 2015?
“At least 150 if not more.”
Are you not worried about burning out?
After he finishes laughing, he explains: “To be honest that’s a lot less gigs. For the last three years we were doing 250 gigs in the year. Then we were on the dance scene, and the festivals. I suppose nowadays we’re trying to play the bigger venues.”

His Irish fans can also look forward to a new album in the pipeline - separate from the 'Beautiful Life’ album  - which should feature at least three of the Nashville tracks, and more from a new batch of songs he has brewing. But could any of them produce another crossover hit like 'Wagon Wheel’?

“Definitely yeah. I’ve been writing a lot in the last year. I have about eight songs that I’m pretty confident about, that will be on the next album. I’m actually going into the studio in February and will start recording and putting more tracks down - and there’s a good few songs I feel would definitely appeal to the younger generation, and the older. It’s not going to be aimed at a particular age group, but like you say, will have crossover appeal - hopefully - that’s what I’m trying to achieve anyway.”
Could it get to the stage that if you don’t have another crossover hit, you could grow to resent playing Wagon Wheel?

“Aw no, I could never resent it to be honest. No matter where we play it, there is always a massive reaction, and there’s that buzz around the stage. People from all ages love that song. It’s a privilege to perform it every night.”

Nathan Carter, the stellar Irish country singer performs in the Radisson Blu Hotel on Easter Saturday, April 4.
Tickets for the Athlone concert are available at hotel reception or Ticketmaster. Call 090 6442600. Doors open at 7pm with the show starting at 8pm.