LIVE REVIEW: COUNTRY CALLING 2026 - THE DIVE BAR & VIP STAGES - NICOLE ALLAN
Of the UK acts that #TEAMw21 had not seen before, top of the list was Nicole Allan. She had been recommended to us by a fellow UK performer, and her recent singles had rocketed her to the top of our must see list. The nature of Country Calling, with something excellent happening somewhere at all times, meant that we were a little tardy in arriving for her opener, which we were reliably informed was "Tomorrow Comes".
In her black tassled leather trousers, and blue waistcoat, sporting a hat and shades, she cut quite the figure. From the moment Nicole confidently started playing the next intro we suspected we might be in for something special and just the opening line of vocals confirmed it for sure.
Nicole's has a voice, that is built for country music, there is a rich timbre that immediately gives it that sound of authority. For "Used To Be", this song about about embracing change, it felt like we were already hearing a timeless classic and as she effortlessly eased her way through the vocal gears such hyperbole seemed less fanciful by the second.
Genuinely pleased to see such a supportive crowd of friends, fans and first timers, Nicole had an unreleased song ready for the occasion, where she could mentally snapshot this very moment. As she didn't give it a name we'll go with "Is This Possible?". It took her vocals to fearsome new levels, on a song that seemed to celebrate how far she had got so far. This however, is only base camp we suspect, and there is no telling quite where Nicole Allan might end up.
Self aware enough to reveal that leather trousers was a risky choice, she would turn "Madness And Money" into a singalong. Just an opening rehearsal was enough to ensure that the audience would clap along throughout as well. This stripped back version had both a soulful feel and a touch of white reggae about it. Immediately a crowd pleaser, Nicole would prove to be a natural host.
Her second ever release "Light Should Stay" came with the claim that you'd know it by the second chorus. This was initially a more quiet subtle, vulnerable Nicole, yet soon she seemed to be able to be able create the same intensity while creating more volume than it seemed that one woman and a guitar should be able to make, even managing to squeeze in a key change taking things further.
Her first ever solo release, a drinking song "Should've Known Better" was a rousing effort, it was a marvel to watch her once more speed through her delivery, while increasing her volume. This was built to played out by a full band on a main stage, and whose to say how long it will be before that happens, it even ended with a high kick. With just three minutes left, she then left us with a soul country ballad, "Time?" - our notes from the day have 5 stars next to it which seems fair not just of the song but the whole set.
Having been introduced to our latest live musical drug, we were desperately in need within hours of a further fix, and fortunately the VIP Stage was there to provide it.
It was a chance to hear another tune from Nicole's latest EP in "Put 'Em Up" but most of all it was chance to just sit back and enjoy a performance as a fan and sometimes sometimes that's enough.
The new festival song definitely received its second outing and again sounded fabulous.
It was undoubtedly another bravura performance, setting the bar high for Nicole for our future expectations.
Additional Photography Courtesy of DC Brown
