STARTING TODAY HUGO DUNCAN’S BRILLIANT NEW COLUMN WITH THE INSIDE TRACK ON COUNTRY MUSIC
It is perhaps appropriate that I start my very first column with someone who is at the very top of the country music tree. Since taking the first tentative steps in his singing career in the province some seven years ago, Nathan Carter has climbed to great heights. And tomorrow I will have the privilege and pleasure of performing alongside him at a major country music spectacular at Shamrock Park, the home of Portadown Football Club.
When Liverpool-born Nathan made a few appearances as a youthful solo artiste while still in his late teens, no-one could have predicted the success he would achieve.
It was the success of his single Wagon Wheel that played a big part in bringing him to a much wider audience and right now he is not only a giant of the country music scene in Ireland but he is also hugely popular on the continent.
Tomorrow, though, with his new bright new bouncy single Give It To Me proving hugely popular and looking destined to take his career up a further notch, Nathan will be the centre of attention at Shamrock Park in an ambitious venture that is expected to attract thousands of people.
Indeed, Give It To Me looks as if it could prove one of the hits of the summer, if I am to judge from the number of requests I am receiving on a daily basis to play it on my Radio Ulster programme.
Nathan (right) has pushed out the boundaries of country music to such an extent that major outdoor events such as tomorrow’s extravaganza have replaced the more modest carnivals and concerts that formed part of our summer entertainment itinerary for many years.
Now things tend to be done on a bigger scale but, even though he has embraced super-stardom, the modest and unassuming Nathan has never lost the common touch, and that’s why other artistes always feel very much at home in his company.
Tomorrow singers such as Susan McCann, Crawford Bell, Barry Doyle and Boxcar Brian among others will get the opportunity to perform alongside him.
I must say I am particularly looking forward to singing a few songs and having the craic with the crowd in Portadown.
We will endeavour to set the atmosphere, and you can be sure that Nathan will take things to the next level in his usual highly professional manner.
I always find it interesting to note how the generation gap can be overcome when it comes to shows such as this.
While Nathan continues to conquer new horizons, Susan McCann is still going strong after four decades. She is still singing
He’s a superstar, but he’s modest, unassuming and has never lost the common touch
as well as ever and always puts her own particular stamp on shows.
She certainly put her own stamp on my head when, during a trip to the US with the Top Rank Allstars in 1977, she gave me one of the best haircuts I’ve ever had — and I didn’t even know that she was a qualified hairdresser!
Obviously the organisers are hoping that the weather remains favourable so that the crowds will flock to Shamrock Park and, assuming they do, you can be sure of one thing — all age groups, creeds and classes will be represented.
For me that has always been the enduring characteristic of country music — it knows no barriers of any description, it is open to all and enjoyed by all.
I have absolutely no doubt that I will see further evidence of this tomorrow when the emphasis will be very much on providing top-class entertainment.