It's a case of art imitating life - or rather, the life imitating the art. Noah Kahan's fans have taken his music to heart, but in this instance, it's led to a spot of trouble for residents in Strafford, Vermont. The American folk-pop sensation has called out his dedicated followers after they've been repeatedly snatching the road sign on Alger Brook Road - a site directly referenced in one of his critically-acclaimed tracks.
The lyric in question - "Past Alger Brook Road, I’m over the bridge/A minute from home, but I feel so far from it" - has inadvertently become a rallying cry for fans to take a piece of Kahan's Vermont roots with them. But this behaviour is causing a right old headache for local residents and the town council, who are fed up with replacing the sign time and again.
Kahan's had enough, and he's not just calling out his fans - he's also offering to cover the cost of any replacement signs needed. "To fans travelling to the upper valley," he's posted on social media, "I've been informed that the Alger Brook Road sign in Strafford has been repeatedly stolen. It is a total disrespect to the folks who live on that road and a headache for the town to deal with." He's also taken the opportunity to remind his massive global fanbase about respecting his family's privacy and the sanctity of his origins, urging fans to leave them be.
As Kahan prepares for his global tour - which will bring him to the UK and Ireland in November - he's keenly aware that his music has a way of tapping into people's emotions. His new album, 'The Great Divide', is all about connection and distance, drawing deeply from his Vermont roots. And with its raw, introspective lyrics and folk-infused sound, it's no wonder British audiences fell for him hook, line, and sinker last time around.
The tour will be a must-see event for fans of Kahan - but in the meantime, perhaps they could let the good people of Strafford keep their road sign intact? After all, as Kahan himself has said, "it's not just about me - it's about respecting the place and people I care about."