Beans On Toast (aka Jay McAllister) put on a fantastic show in Nottingham last night,

Singing openly about politics, drugs and love, Beans On Toast is a refreshingly honest act. The set features some classics like ‘The Price of Rice’, and ‘Don’t Believe The Bullshit’, as well as some new material from ‘Rolling Up The Hill’, which will be released on 1st December, McAllister’s birthday.

Crowd participation is encouraged, with Beans On Toast coming down into the audience for a sing and a dance, eventually getting everyone to have a sit down pre-school story time-style whilst he chilled out in the middle. The audience sang the part of the accordion in the performance of new collaborative track ‘This Christmas’, written with Skinny Lister (currently on tour with Frank Turner).

Beans spent time explaining the meaning behind his songs, including an updated performance of ‘M.D.M.Amazing’, which now includes an anti-drug song jammed into the middle, apparently due to a kid coming up to McAllister claiming the song had inspired him to start using. “Ohhhh, Shit….no.”

Whilst McAllister is completely open about his colourful experiences, he’s not preaching the principle of drug use. The artist seems to just turn his life into material, and his songs are generally just sweet, funny, satirical renditions of life’s experiences and themes. All in all, a fun and uplifting evening, which will be one to remember.