I first met Alan in 2016 at FSA fest. I met him and several others at the same time, in fact I didn’t actually meet them. I saw them they probably didn’t see me but that’s when he came onto my radar. I had travelled from Southampton to near Blackpool on my own, not knowing anyone for the festival. I went on my own, but I didn’t stay on my own for long! After I got home I found out he lived really close to me!
The following year FSA Fest moved, it was the first year it wasn’t at Fort San Antone (the FSA of FSA Fest) it moved to Newark Showground. This is when I really met Alan, when he became that really, really annoying g*t in the campsite that was still playing his guitar and singing his heart out at 4 o’clock in the morning! Not sure how many times I heard Zac Brown Bands ‘Chicken Fried’!
The time when Alan grew enough confidence to perform by himself, to follow his dream, I think (personal opinion) was outside O2, Shepherds Bush queueing for Luke Combs. Alan was one of the first in the queue and he decided to entertain the queue for hours by singing Luke Combs songs (his Luke covers are incredible!).
The first time that Alan actually took to the stage with a band, to perform his own music was at Buckle and Boots 2019. He was on the Paddock stage. I was really nervous for him so goodness knows how he felt! I was so pleased that the tent was full. There was another act on the main stage, so people in the tent were there to see him, they weren’t there just because there was nobody else on. Alan sang his heart out and his reward was a standing ovation! I was so proud. His first ever performance in front of people who weren’t there just to see Alan, he was at a festival and he got a standing ovation.
The following Buckle & Boots (2021 thanks Covid!) Alan played the main stage he says that is his home, that’s where his heart is, that’s where he belongs! This time he reduced the crowd to tears with his rendition of Take Me Home, Country Roads which he dedicated to his Grandfather who had passed on, that was the only song Alan had sung to him just before he passed. This performance earnt Alan not only his second standing ovation at Buckle & Boots, but also he was the first ever non headline act to be called back onto the main stage for an encore.
I have seen Alan a few times since then as as I have said, he doesn’t live too far away from me. I have seen him perform acoustic and with the band. It is with his band he really comes alive!
On his 30th birthday in 2021 he opened Country On The Coast festival in Portsmouth. The following year he headlined the festival!
Saturday 24th February 2024. He played not only his very first headline show, but also his very first SOLD OUT SHOW!! What an amazing achievement for someone who has been on the circuit for YEARS but has only recently started to write and perform his own music.
There was a fabulous atmosphere and Alan made the most of it! He OWNED that stage, strutting up and down whilst singing and playing his guitar. He has taken the time to watch artists like Luke Combs, Garth Brooks and just recently Drake Milligan! He is incorporating a little bit if them into his set! We even had a costume change in the middle, what a diva!
The stage had steps down to the floor, you could just see Alan was itiching to walk down them & meet his audience – and he did, hugging his mum who was front row centre! He then walked down the front shaking hands & high fiving the audience.
The next time I saw Alan was at COTC. His set was late afternoon on the Saturday. He was one of only 2 acts that weekend that got people up on their feet and he was the only act of that two that didn’t tell people to get up on their feet. Right from the start of his set people were up and dancing!
Each time I see Alan I see a different set from him. Yes some of the songs are the same, they need to be he is performing his own work, but he mixes up the covers and he mixes up the show. At COTC this year he added the Drake Milligan bit I spoke about earlier. He was playing a rendition of Hound Dog, he slipped smoothly into The Bare Necessity and then back again. I mean first, who mixes Elvis and Disney? Genius! As if that wasn’t enough, in the middle he turned his back to the audience & did a little sexy bum wiggle!!
So am I looking forward to seeing Alan tomorrow at the Front Porch at the Long Road (6pm folks, make a note! YOU BET I AM!! I cannot wait to see what he has in store for us!
