Jimmie Allen first came to the UK last October when he performed as part of Country Music Week. A definite highlight, fans have been keen for Allen to come back to the UK and there was quite a buzz when he was announced for C2C: Country to Country. Allen spent the weekend performing all over and last night he got a chance to bring his music to a packed crowd inside The O2 Arena when he performed on the Spotlight Stage.
Opening with American Heartbreaker, Allen silenced the audience as his soulful vocals soared through the arena. While his album has a Country/Pop production to it, Allen comes into his own live and that soulful quality to his voice sounds more powerful and free. American Heartbreaker is an upbeat number that picked up on the energy that Lyle Lovett’s Main Stage set left the audience with.
New single Make Me Want To came next and Allen admitted he still wasn’t used to referring to it as his ‘new single’ having been working Best Shot for so long. It’s another catchy Country/Pop number that’s sure to follow Best Shot to the top of the charts over the coming months.
Before performing Best Shot as his final song of the night, Allen told the audience that he’d worked every job you can think of as he tried to make it as an artist. He told us there’s no such thing as a bad job, encouraging people to proud of whatever they do for a living. That pep talk perfectly launched into Best Shot, which started an audience sing-a-long and got a huge reaction.
Allen is an artist that for me works better as a live artist. His vocals really shine during a live performance in a way that I don’t feel they are able to on his debut album Mercury Lane. I hope when he gets back into the studio he can really capture that free quality he has in his live performances as I think it’ll take him to the next level.
Set list: 1. American Heartbreaker 2. Make Me Want To 3. Best Shot Performance date: Sunday 10th March 2019
