For anyone who has been a lifelong Neighbours fan. will realise that Dr Karl Kennedy, aka Alan Fletcher, is more than an actor with an army of fans, but also a talented musician as well as being a jolly nice chap. Having starred in the Australian soap for almost 30 years, Alan Fletcher has had a very interesting and colourful career, which has allowed him to pursue his own creative endeavours outside of acting. Drawing influences from the alt-country singers John Prine and Guy Clark, Fletcher is an established singer-songwriter, whose recent collaborations and album production with fellow Australians Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, has reinforced Fletcher’s Americana appeal.
Following the success of his sell-out UK tours and catalogue of music sales, including The Waiting Game (2005), Dispatches EP (2022), the Christmas songs: “If You Want A Happy Christmas” (2014), “Joey Loves Christmas” (2021), “Holding My Girl (For X-Mas)” (2023) and his latest album “The Point” (2023), Alan Fletcher continues to warm the cockles of hearts with his latest Christmas song “It’s Gonna Be A Good Christmas”. Released on 17th November 2023 , It’s Gonna Be A Good Christmas, is an alt-country Christmas cracker, that is classically crafted, with an off the wall spin of witty anecdotes and nostalgic narratives.
Through the earthy vocals and smooth delivery of It’s Gonna Be A Good Christmas, Fletcher is the everlasting gregarious poet, that shares his humorous tales of social gatherings over the festive period, with a tipple of laughs and infectious joy. As a singer-songwriter and instrumentalist, Fletcher has a natural quality and charm that draws you and makes you feel like you are a guest or bystander at one of his social events. A track steeped in sparkling sentimentality, It’s Gonna Be A Good Christmas is a wistful wonder, whose lyrics instantly make you feel connected and able to relate to his home-grown experiences.
Like all his songs, It’s Gonna Be A Good Christmas, sees Fletcher tap into his translucent troubadour timelines of past and present, singing from the heart, whilst shining from the memory moonbeams of yesteryear. As an artist, Fletcher is the real deal whose natural skill of drawing people in is captured in lyrics such as “the more the merrier that’s what we always say” and whose humour is hallmarked in the “It was a good Christmas, the house is pretty trashed, we all got shitty presents and we all got pretty smashed” . Along with the silky strums, dual harmonies and foot-tapping tinkles, It’s Gonna Be A Good Christmas captures the essence and spirit of Christmas with a soul familiarity that makes you feel like getting your glad rags off and having a good old knees up in the comfort of your own home.
“It’s Gonna Be A Good Christmas”, released on 17th November 2023, is available on all digital platforms and can be purchased via Lime Tree Music Alan Fletcher (alanfletchermusic.com)