Alan Blackshaw
“Australia’s answer to Gordon Lightfoot. Alan has many tales to tell.”
The South Coast Register
Alan Blackshaw is a singer/songwriter who has been writing and performing for over 20 years. His songs come from the heart.
His songs reflect a keen eye for observation. They cover a broad subject range revealing that Alan is unafraid to write and sing about the issues he considers to be important.
His songs reflect a passionate and thoughtful approach to life and cover such issues as: love, loss, suicide, mental illness, domestic violence, futility of war, celebration of life.
He is a performer strongly grounded in the folk tradition of the singer songwriter.
Alan Blackshaw grew up listening to folk and country music. His earliest influences were the great singer songwriters of both these traditions. Of importance were Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bruce Cockburn.
Like many others his first experience as a performer was in a high school band playing mainly cover songs and performing at local parties and dancers. Although the music played did not reflect his musical interests it ignited in him a desire to play music.
While studying to become a teacher he became a regular performer at music evenings at college. It was here he first began performing folk music and writing his first songs.
After teaching for short time he returned to study music. During this time Alan formed part of a folk music trio, Witchwood, playing traditional music and originals songs. This trio performed around the Goulburn area in NSW and at the Tasmanian Folk Festival at Longford. When the band decided to call it a day Alan concentrated on his own songs and performances with the occasional stint playing bass and guitar in various bands.
In 2008 he recorded and released his first CD - “Maybe This Year”. The album represents a collection of songs written over a number of years. He is currently performing songs from this album, as well as a number of other songs at concerts throughout NSW.
A thoughtful singer/songwriter - not to be missed.
The South Coast Register
Alan Blackshaw is a singer/songwriter who has been writing and performing for over 20 years. His songs come from the heart.
His songs reflect a keen eye for observation. They cover a broad subject range revealing that Alan is unafraid to write and sing about the issues he considers to be important.
His songs reflect a passionate and thoughtful approach to life and cover such issues as: love, loss, suicide, mental illness, domestic violence, futility of war, celebration of life.
He is a performer strongly grounded in the folk tradition of the singer songwriter.
Alan Blackshaw grew up listening to folk and country music. His earliest influences were the great singer songwriters of both these traditions. Of importance were Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Bruce Cockburn.
Like many others his first experience as a performer was in a high school band playing mainly cover songs and performing at local parties and dancers. Although the music played did not reflect his musical interests it ignited in him a desire to play music.
While studying to become a teacher he became a regular performer at music evenings at college. It was here he first began performing folk music and writing his first songs.
After teaching for short time he returned to study music. During this time Alan formed part of a folk music trio, Witchwood, playing traditional music and originals songs. This trio performed around the Goulburn area in NSW and at the Tasmanian Folk Festival at Longford. When the band decided to call it a day Alan concentrated on his own songs and performances with the occasional stint playing bass and guitar in various bands.
In 2008 he recorded and released his first CD - “Maybe This Year”. The album represents a collection of songs written over a number of years. He is currently performing songs from this album, as well as a number of other songs at concerts throughout NSW.
A thoughtful singer/songwriter - not to be missed.