Exclusively for Storyteller and Smiler: An interview with Andrea Young

Storyteller: Hello Andrea, we hope you’re well and enjoying your time in Europe. What’s on the agenda today, the day after your spectacular performance in Valencia, Spain?

Andrea Young: Today we’re travelling to Venice, where the next concert is taking place tomorrow. Basically, imagine lots of packing and unpacking, hectic airports and coffee to get us through it all ;) The audience in Spain last night was fantastic – people knew the lyrics to every song! We’re all looking forward to the concert in Italy and a three-week break at home to catch up on a few things.

ST: You’ve been on tour with Rod Stewart for quite a while now. Our readers would certainly love to know how you came to be part of the band. How did the opportunity to work with Sir Rod come about?

AY: I originally met some of the band members when the position was first advertised in 2016. It didn’t quite work out at the time, but I really enjoyed the time I spent with everyone and stayed in touch with J’Anna. Later that same year, I signed a record deal with my band, so I was grateful that things worked out in such a way that I could focus on my own music. Then, in early 2024, J’Anna and Rod got back in touch with me, and it was the perfect time for everyone.

ST: In your opinion, what is Rod’s most distinctive trait?

AY: Ever since I met Rod, I’ve been constantly impressed by his fearlessness as an artist. Creatively, he does exactly what he wants and doesn’t care what others think of it. He knows what his fans appreciate and delivers that at every show. What’s more, he’s got more energy than anyone else I’ve ever met!

ST: To us fans, the band – including Rod – always seems like one big family. And we know that’s really the case and that you all live by that spirit … What was it like for you when you first joined the band? Did ‘Grandad’ Rod take you by the hand and introduce you to everyone? Or how does something like that usually go?

AY: On my first tour, we had a rehearsal at the venue in Belgium, and everyone was so friendly and encouraging. Rod was thrilled with my sound and said I reminded him of Steel guitar, which I thought was a cool compliment, as I’d built my career in Nashville. That evening, he hosted a welcome dinner in my honour at a lovely little restaurant so we could all get to know each other.

ST: Has there been a gig so far that felt particularly magical to you? We can imagine it must be something really special for you to be on stage in the US with your friends and family in the audience, right?

AY: We’ve played several gigs that were on our wish list, but I have to say that Glastonbury takes the top spot. The connection with the audience was incredible and the energy was infectious. It’s also wonderful when my family comes to see me; the gig in Saint Louis last summer was a (very entertaining) home game.

ST: Are you a bit more nervous or tense than usual then?

AY: After the first few gigs with an artist, I don’t really get nervous anymore, but I have to admit I do get tense when the weather conditions affect my violin. It can be tricky to make adjustments during a show when you’re on a tight schedule. As for certain venues, it’s more about the excitement than anything else.

ST: Not only do you perform with Rod, but you’re also regularly on the road with the country duo ‘The Wildcards’. We can imagine that’s a completely different experience to performing with Rod. How do these gigs differ from one another? And what do you enjoy most about all your performances?

AY: With The Wildcards, we play our own songs, tell stories about the songs, and the show is all about us. My duet partner Ashley (Gearing) is one of my closest friends, and when we sing together, it feels so powerful, especially in many of the more intimate venues where we perform. We’re very much in tune with each other, so there’s plenty of room for improvisation – both musically and in our banter on stage.
With Rod at the helm, we’ve got a legend leading the way, and we play to sold-out arenas and at festivals with a large, supportive band and lots of brilliant crew members. Everyone in the team shares the vision of making every show as good as it possibly can be. There are costumes, dancing, huge stages with all the trimmings. Everything runs like a finely tuned machine. Every evening, the set list is packed with tried-and-tested, crowd-pleasing hits, and throughout the show, our star always ensures there’s plenty of variety and spontaneity.

ST: On your website, you’re also described as a singer and multi-instrumentalist. Apart from the violin, which other instruments do you play to perfection?

AY: I’ve been playing the mandolin and viola for ages, but in recent years I’ve particularly enjoyed playing the acoustic guitar and my tenor banjo.

ST: Let’s talk briefly about you as a singer: which song would you absolutely love to sing yourself one day and give it that typical Andrea Young touch – and why?

AY: I’d love to re-record a song I wrote called ‘Ghosts’. There’s an old version of it on YouTube with a different band I used to be in. I’d love to give the song a new twist.

ST: Your favourite place you’ve ever performed is…

AY: So far, the Hollywood Bowl, but I hope that with the postponed dates, I’ll soon be able to say ‘Red Rocks’.

ST: Which song from Rod’s setlist do you most enjoy playing? And is there a reason for that?

AY: I absolutely love playing ‘Maggie May’. It’s a classic, of course, but at the end there’s an extra section where I can play a solo.

ST: What projects are on your to-do list for this year and the years to come?

AY: I’d love to record some new music for the Wildcards and squeeze in a few gigs with other country artists between tours with Rod. All in all, I’m really excited to see where our RS tour family will take us in 2027 and beyond.

ST: What’s been your experience of Rod’s fans on tour? In your opinion, is there such a thing as a typical Rod Stewart fan, and what would they be like? And how do Rod’s fans in North and South America differ from those in Europe?

AY: I’ve found that all his fans are absolutely dedicated and enthusiastic, and form a very close-knit community. What I particularly love about the different geographical locations is that so many of them communicate with one another online by sharing photos and videos of their favourite moments so that others can enjoy them too. They’re one big family!

ST: Over the past few weeks, this story about oxygen and Rod’s health has been doing the rounds; numerous – often false – reports have been circulating in the media. To what extent has this been a topic of discussion within the band, and how does Rod himself deal with such fake news? Do you talk to him about it, or is what the media are reporting not an issue internally at all?

AY: It was quite unbelievable how much the oxygen story was blown out of proportion. Heat, altitude and air quality are perfectly normal risks for everyone at open-air events. The real focus for everyone on tour was on ‘pulling off the show’, and obviously the last few gigs have dispelled all doubts!!!!