Jay Allan

Bothwell resident Jay Allan, 31, started writing songs at the age of 14.

After releasing a record nearly 13 years ago, Allan told the Chatham-Kent Daily Post that “it was time” for him to compile a new album and share the songs he has written over the years.

“I never really quit writing,” Allan said of the time in between his last record. “I just had a lot of great songs.”

Armed with his music, Allan took a trip down to Nashville, Tennessee ‘the mecca of country music’ to record a new album with Canadian producer Murray Pulver, of Canada’s multi-award winning group Doc Walker.

“This is really my first big project,” Allan said. “It was great to go to Nashville and cut it.”


Allan said the album, entitled The Wrong Direction, is completed and is expected to be released in the early fall. The first single off the record “Rumourville” was released June 8 and according to Allan, it has received very positive feedback.

“It is starting to get a lot of radio play,” Allan said, adding that Rumourville is being aired on stations in every province in Canada. “We’re getting really good play in Northern Ontario… Kingston, Owen Sound, Haliburton. (British Columbia) is really eating it up too, which is great.”

No stranger to playing with “big acts”, including opening gigs with Julian Austin, Doc Walker and Jimmy Rankin, Allan has graced the stage at many local venues and festivals this summer in Chatham-Kent as well.

“I played out at the Boot Hill Jamboree, Blenheim Cherry Fest, at the Dresden Fair and the Car Show in Bothwell,” Allan said.

The Bothwell resident will also be headlining the inaugural Dresden Jamboree, and will hit the stage at 8 p.m. on Friday (August 14).

Following the release of his new album, Allan said he plans of “going on a bit of a radio tour in Ontario.

“We’ll push the new record… push the new single. Hopefully by then we’ll have another single released as well,” Allan said.

- Aaron Hall – Daily Post Editor

The inaugural Dresden Jamboree kicked off on Friday night, and continues this evening (August 15) at the Dresden Raceway.

Bothwell country music singer/songwriter Jay Allan headlined last night, and the response he recieved from his show was clear.Jay Allan is a star on the rise.
Several bands are expected to perform tonight.

- Aaron Hall – Daily Post Editor

"Jay Allan writes the sort of blue collar everyman songs that every ambitious singer songwriter aspires to, but few hit the the mark as successfully as Jay. He avoids the tired cliches "sippin' lemonade" and "fried chicken eating" that handicap many of his peers, marking him as above average with clever turns of phrase and melodies that would suite any contemporary country radio playlist."
- Patrick Duffy, Attention Design, Consulting CCMA Art Director




"Jay Allan is a rare breed in this day in age. He pens catchy, honest songs sung from the heart with no sense of pretense. What you hear is what you get.
Jay will take you in with his storytelling style and make you feel like you are a part of his journey. It is not often that someone comes across as genuine in spirit and talent as Jay Allan."
Murray Pulver,Doc Walker






"Jay Allan shows a lot of heart with songs like "Someday We'll Talk" and "Picture of Life" but also has fun with songs like "Shop"
I had a great time working on the record"
-Jason Gantt - Producer,Engineer
Love Monkey Studios, Nashville






- North Street Records