HE’S taken a circuitous route to get here, but Nathan Carter is now thrilling audiences of every age and nationality with his music, writes Craig Campbell.
Born in Liverpool to Irish parents, he moved back to Ireland as a teenager, mastered the accordion, guitar and singing, and is now touring the British mainland to rave reviews.
From grannies to tiny tots, they adore him, with readers phoning The Weekly News to heap praise on him, too.
“At the concerts, I seem to have people of every age, and certainly not just Irish people!” laughs the easy-going 24-year-old. “And it’s great to hear your readers like me, too!
“I don’t know why I do so well, but I am totally gobsmacked at the number of people who come out to see me. It’s surreal, to be honest.
“We had done OK in Scotland, too, but recently I did my first gigs in England, and I have been absolutely loving it, because the people have been turning up.
“I guess they’ve seen us on the TV, through Skype and all the Irish channels and so on. I can’t put my finger on it! We look out at five-year-olds, teenagers, grans and great-grans.
“Last time we played near Liverpool, we had three ladies who had travelled from Germany. Unbelievable! I was born and bred in Liverpool, but moved at 17 to start my band and it’s worked out.”
So is he set to be the new Daniel O’Donnell, as some predict, or is that just the kind of thing they say about every new Irish singer?
“It’s certainly no insult to be described that way,” he laughs, “but we are very different.
“Daniel has gone and conquered, and so I have admired him over the years.
“I’d classify myself as a bit different, trying to modernise and bring this music to a younger audience, too.
“I love the musicianship as much as the singing.
“I just do what I do, and you just hope that people like it.
“I am signed to the Decca label now, who didn’t always have a lot of country or Irish acts, so it is an interesting time.
“Recently, they have signed a few of that kind of act, which is good for me. I would class myself between Folk, Irish and Country, and there is plenty competition out there.
“After doing well in the Irish music charts, it’s my real big ambition right now, to break into the British charts this year. My new album is just out, and the hope is we can get into the UK Top 10.
“That would be a dream come true, and it’s what I’m working towards at the minute.”
The new album, Beautiful Life, is out now, and you can find full tour dates at the website www.nathancartermusic.com/dates.
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