The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Nathan Carter
Whitehall Theatre, Dundee, November 8
He is the Irish country-pop crossover star who has previously beaten the likes of Drake and Beyonce to the top of the charts in Ireland.
However, ahead of his gig at Dundee’s Whitehall Theatre on November 8, Nathan Carter has been delighted to see a growing fan base across the UK.
The 28-year-old from Liverpool is coming towards the end of a 16-date tour which included Dunfermline’s Alhambra Theatre on October 26.
Now, following the success of his last album, 2017’s Livin’ The Dream, which went straight to No 1 in Ireland, he is looking forward to playing hits from that and his recently released album Born for The Road when he returns to Tayside.
“It’s a never-ending tour to be honest – we don’t get much of a break,” he said.
“But I love being on the road, I love gigging – it’s kind of what I feel I was born to do.”
Nathan sees working in the studio as a “necessary evil”.
“I always feel kind of claustrophobic when I’m in the studio,” he added. “I hate being in a studio for more than a day!”
However, he feels he was destined to work in the music industry.
Growing up in a house where Country and Western music filled the air, and with Northern Irish roots, Nathan was exposed to classic songs of Johnny Cash, Don Williams and Dolly Parton.
From the tender age of four, not only learning to play guitar, piano and accordion, which plays a vital part in his live show, Nathan quickly became head chorister in the Liverpool Boys choir where he toured the world and even performed in front of the Pope in Rome.
Returning to the Whitehall Theatre, however, he is looking forward to being reacquainted with his Dundee fans – and hopefully a few new ones, too.
“This will be our third year coming back now (to Dundee),” he said.
“We love coming back to Dundee. There’s always a great audience. And funnily enough, there’s always a lot of students come to the gigs with the number of Irish people studying there. It always makes for a mixed age group of an audience and a great night.”
Nathan has seen his popularity grow on this tour, with sold-out gigs in the likes of Inverness and Glasgow Concert Hall.
Nathan said of the tour: “We’ve got a six-piece band plus myself and a big lighting show.
“I’d like to think there’s something in the shows for all ages.
“Normally, by the last 20 minutes of the night, everyone is on their feet and dancing away.”
Nathan will be touring America in November, then back in Ireland for Christmas.