Allie Colleen may live in Nashville, Tennessee, but the country artist has built a fan base by touring venues nationally and internationally.
The songwriter, who released the single “Boys Like You” in July, returns to the Lyric Theater in Blue Island, where she performed in January, for another intimate concert on October 20.
“We really enjoyed the scene. We liked the layout,” Colleen said of the venue with the slogan “Where Events Become Memories.”
“We never forget the places that treat us really well. »
Colleen, who sings and plays acoustic guitar, is backed by guitarist Will Beeman, bassist Logan Hatcher and drummer Brian Russell Collins.
“We’re releasing an EP in the first months of 2025 and we’re going to be releasing a big part of that EP. We’ve never played most of this stuff live,” said Oklahoma native Colleen.
Recorded in Nashville, the “Sincerely” EP features five songs, including the single “Grass on the Grave,” released in May.
Colleen’s tour stop in the Southland plus another headlining concert Oct. 26 at the Roof Garden Ballroom in Iowa offers a rarity.
“Those will be the only two places we can hear the EP. I’m excited to share this with both of these sites,” she said.
“We have a single that we’re also debuting here that will be out before the end of the year,” Colleen said of the single “Outlaw,” which is scheduled for release in November.
The show’s opening act is Nashville-based singer/songwriter Carter Winter, who released the single “The Otherside,” co-written with Colleen, in May.
The Ohio native then teams up with Colleen for an acoustic set, which includes his 2021 single “Love Like I Drink,” which features Colleen, as well as previously unreleased material they wrote together.
“When it comes to writing for other artists, it’s always a great privilege for me to learn more about the artist and their phrasing and storytelling. As a songwriter, you sit down and give ideas,” said Colleen, who wrote the Winter 2023 EP “The Cold West, Pt. 1.” 1″ with him.
“My last year of writing was very personal, so I didn’t write for many other artists.”
Colleen, who began writing songs at age 8, called Stephen Hunley and Eric Dodd, both Nashville natives, her dream team writers.
“These are two writers who worked really hard (to find out) how a 28-year-old feels about things,” said Colleen, who added that she also enjoyed writing with singer Carly Rogers.
Colleen composed “Halos and Horns”, which she cited as one of her favorite songs, with Dodd and Hunley. The 2022 single was produced by Lee Brice (whom she featured on her popular single “While We’re Still Friends,” released in February), Jerrod Niemann and Cody LaBelle.
“‘Halos and Horns’ really launched us into this cool sonic place. This was a step forward for us. It was my first millionth tattoo on Spotify,” said Colleen, who had a horseshoe permanently tattooed on her face after the track reached 1 million streams on the digital music service.
After performing the song on music podcast “The Bobby Bones Show” in 2022, hot singer and rapper Jelly Roll reached out to Colleen, leading to her being booked to open over 15 dates during the final leg of his The. Beautifully broken visit.
“It’s such a privilege. “Halos and Horns” did a lot for me. It’s one of the most authentic songs I’ve had,” said Colleen, who started getting tattoos when she was 18 and now wears sleeves on each arm.
“I’m so excited about this opportunity. It’s going to be so crazy. It’s really cool. We have 30 minutes each evening.
Colleen plans to perform “Outlaw” to the Jelly Roll audience during her set, which will likely also include material from her debut album, “Stones,” which she released in 2021.
“I love ‘Stones,'” Colleen said of the 11-track release, which includes “Playin’ House,” “Stones (I Don’t Give A),” “Don’t Give Your Heart to a Cowboy”, “Make Me a Man”, “Pink Lemonade”, “Only Oklahoma” and “Blame It on the Weather”, one of the few songs she wrote alone.
“The ‘Stones’ stories really mean a lot to me. “Stones” reflects Allie Colleen as a songwriter very well. I’m still very proud of “Stones”.
If you go: Allie Colleen
When: 7 p.m. October 20
Or: The Lyric Theater, 12952 Western Ave., Blue Island
Tickets: $30 to $39.95
Information: 708-972-0700; lyrictheater.com
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Originally published: