Biography.
Allan Webster was born in Wallasey, England, and began his musical education on violin and graduated to guitar, playing in his first band at the age of 14. He played the music of the era with a typical Mersey sound, playing at the same venues, namely the Cavern, in Liverpool, as the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and the Searchers. Allan emigrated to Australia in 1964, with his parents and 9 siblings.
Soon after his arrival he was once again playing in a band, named the “Road Runners”, which were highly influenced by the Mersey Sound also. They were a successful group for many years, eventually breaking away to form other bands, with usually two of the same members being in the band.
Allan has played in many bands over the years, but the last few years have been dedicated to Country Music. Rather a strange beginning for a country music artist. After forming a country band in Mt Gambier with the sole purpose of entering the band section at the Riverland Country Music Festival in Barmera, which they won, Allan was encouraged to enter the Male Vocal section at Mt. Gambier Festival. Taking out first place at this quest entitled him to enter the S.A Champion of Champions held in Adelaide in July 1999, resulting in him winning this title. This saw the beginning of his country music career with performances at the Queensland Champion of Champions in Brisbane. Other performances over the years include S.A Showcase Adelaide and Tamworth. Swapping the old “Mersey Sound” for a country twang has been a wise career move for Allan as in recent years he has become a successful solo artist, providing him with the opportunity to travel both interstate and overseas. Allan performs at Festivals in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, (were he tours extensively for 5/6 weeks twice yearly), and New Zealand
After performing at the Bay of Islands Country Rock Festival in New Zealand in 2005, he was invited back as the only Australian artist to perform at the Marton Festival in January 2006. This in turn led to being invited to the New Plymouth Festival of Lights, and Marton Festival again in 2007 & 2008. While in New Zealand Allan performed at the Hawrea, Taranaki and Merrylands and Pirongia Country Music Clubs, The Hall of Fame in Manaia, Ngaruawahia Bowls club and the Te Awamutu RSA. A report in the Australasian Country Music News praised Allan for his performance at the Festival of Lights at New Plymouth where he took to the stage for 90 minutes.
“He rocked through his songs, including “The Joker’s Wild” – the self penned song from his first album, with energy and enthusiasm. He also did justice to quieter songs, including one of his own sentimental compositions, “The Locket”, from his “Guitar Man” album. The audience was impressed with this Mersey – born “Aussie”. Allan has a dynamic stage presence and is able to keep his audiences attention.”
After his tour of New Zealand in January 2008, and his performances at the Marton Festival, Allan was nominated by Mr Bob Everhart, President of the National Traditional Country Music Association, to be inducted into “America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame” at Iowa, at the 33rd Annual National Old -Time Country and Bluegrass festival from 25th – 31st August 2008.
Mr Everhart said, “Allan attained a high status as a performer of classic country and bluegrass music and was more than impressed with his deliverance of Hank Williams songs”
Although Allan was unable to attend both the 2008 & 2009 ceremony , he felt honoured to be nominated and will be making every effort to attend next years festival to receive his induction.
Career Highlights.
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1996 – “Road Runners came fourth in the National Battle of Bands Competition in Sydney
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1998 – formed country band “Midnight Blue”, which won the band section in the Riverland Country Music Festival
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1999 – won the Male Vocal section in the Mount Gambier Festival
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1999 – won the S.A Champion of Champions title held in Adelaide.
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2001 – won the Riverland country music festival songwriting award for “Joker’s Wild”
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2003 – “Grandpa’s Words”, (co-written with former local, Gary Telford and recorded on Guitar Man album) was placed 2nd in the Australian Songwriter’s Associations 24th National Awards.
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“Grandpa’s Words” also winner of the S.A APRA song of the year, Traditional Section
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2003 – “Love On The Side”, written by Allan and recorded by Sandra Humphries on her “Every Road” album ranked 2nd out of 119 entries in the Tasmanian and New Zealand TSA songwriting awards.
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2004 – Co-ordinated the support artists to Troy Cassar-Daley at the Beachport Festival by the Sea.
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2005 – “Love On The Side” performed by Sandra Humphries and Bill Chambers won the TIARA award for vocal collaboration at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, NSW
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2007 – Mayoral Gala Performance. Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mount Gambier
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2008 – Nominated for induction into America’s Old Time Music Hall of Fame, to be held in Iowa at the 33rd Annual National Old-time Country & Bluegrass festival August 25th – 31st August 2008.
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2009 – Launch of new album, “Part Time Dreamer”
Over the years Allan has worked along side many artists, including,The Searchers, Gerry and The Pacemakers The Merseybeats and The Big Three, Freddy and The Dreamers.When overseas and interstate artists such as Lee Conway, John Farnham, Marcia Hines, Scott Brothers, Ray Brown and the Whispers, Denise Drysdale Ernie Sigley, Anatol Lowas, Franky Howard, performed in Whyalla in the 70’s, Allan with a band “The Dukes” comprising of John Caldwell, Harry Neil and Ken Webster and Brian Woodfield provided the backing. In recent years he has supported The Dead Ringer Band, Billy Bridge, Troy Cassar-Daley, Sandra Humphries, and James Ray, Dennis Morgan, Ann Pasco (New Zealand)
As past President and committee member, Allan is always willing to devote time to the younger artists in their preparations for Talent Quests or club day performances.
Allan is a versatile and professional performer with a wealth of experience. He has a dynamic stage presence and is able to keep his audiences attention. Allan is available for Country Music Festivals and Events.
