“Nigel Wearne is a passionate and inspired singer songwriter. His finger-style musings and rants are eclectic and compelling, melding alternative country and folk. Nigel’s influences include Ryan Adams, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Kelly Joe Phelps and Gillian Welch. Equipped with homemade instruments, his organic stories and evocative lyrics deliver an honest performance in an exciting new age of folk. Nigel's album "From the door, she waved", is a tapestry of woven lamentation and contemplation with frayed poetic edges. Now with his new band including Mark Sibson on drums and Maree Daffy on double bass, Nigel’s music enters a new realm of energy, poignancy and passion. Be sure to visit www.myspace.com/nigelwearne for more insight.”

"You could describe the sounds created by Nigel Wearne as alternative rock laced with the soothing sounds of country roots and folk… haunted with personal truth and experience …" (Royal, Forte Dec. 06)

Should I start by introducing myself? ….Or should I just get straight into it? I won't pretend that someone else is writing this folks. But I guess if you're reading this page, you might be a little interested in my music or who I am. Either that or you're really, really bored.

As for my music, Autumn Royal from Forte in Geelong summed it up pretty well at the top. I would say that it depends what night you catch me. Solo shows often include folk stories, and my band shows tend to make whole lot of noise in parts. I play normal guitar, lap steel/Dobro/
Weissenborn etc. and write my own songs. I have a band and I also play solo. Alternative country/rock with some folky kinda shit I suppose. But that's a loose description. To give you a real idea, I should point you towards the some of the music that's inspired my journey.

I should mention that I grew up on a farm and my exposure was somewhat limited early on. However, it was during early high school that I found myself listening to early U2 which happens to be one of my favourite bands. 'Running to stand still', 'Where the streets have no name', 'Mothers of the disappeared' (Joshua Tree) are all songs that have moved me, as well as the obvious 'With or without you'. Early on I also found Pearl Jam, Queen and Cold Chisel. I also did the Led Zeppelin, Doors, AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix thing. It wasn't until my late teens that I discovered the sounds that really moved me.

Neil Young, Tom Waits Ryan Adams, Tex Perkins, Damien Rice, Matt Walker and Ashley Davies, Jeff Lang, Kelly Joe Phelps, Chris Whitley, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Richard Thompson, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley. These are the most obvious influences for my music. Many of these artists I discovered after I started writing songs. That was really cool because I liked the fact that I had similar ideas to those I'd never heard before.

I have also found immense pleasure in early roots, such as John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Miles Davis, James Brown, Woody Guthrie, Django Reinhardt and Robert Johnson etc. It really is humbling to hear the innovations of this time that are seldom replicated with the same tenacity, integrity and authenticity today.

I am proud to be part of the music community in this country and there are many Australian musicians that have inspired me greatly along the way. Darren Hanlon's 'Falling aeroplanes' was a song that blew me away with its simplicity, melody and heart. Matt Walker's version of 'Rocks
and Gravel' inspired me to play Lap-steel guitar and remains one of my favourite songs. Tex Perkins' 'Ice in the sun', 'Midnight sun', and 'Paycheques' are simply inspiring. Jeff Lang's 'I still see you' is haunting and familiar. Not to mention Don Walker's 'Flame trees' and 'Harry was a bad bugger'. Fascinating stuff. In the last few years I've had the pleasure of working and collaborating with Luke Watt who is an inspirational guitarist and songwriter. Recently I've also been mesmerised by the convincing songs of Jordie Lane. If you haven't heard his song 'Sweet somebody', you need to. Fantastic. Mia Dyson has simply blown my mind I could bore you with my CD collection all day, but I guess if you've skimmed or read this far, we're on a similar wavelength. You're alright.

To sum, up I'll finish with some of my most important realisations and discoveries. I've developed a fascination with Tom Waits that has taken me through a garden of flower sculptures made from rusty car parts and whisky bottles filled with gravel. Ryan Adams has taken me to Carolina, broken my heart and reminded me how important love is. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings have shown me how beautiful and retrospective simplicity can be. Kelly Joe Phelps has woven a tapestry with my heart strings and has taught me to be content with the simplest of pleasures. Damien Rice has shown me how unhappiness can change the world for the better. Jeff Buckley's version of 'Hallelujah' changed my life. Sigur Ros's 'Viorar vel til Loftrasa' ('Good weather for airstrikes') gives me goose bumps every time.

I think that's enough. Thank you for reading my ramblings. If you would like to hear something truly fascinating, go to www.rathergood.com/moon_song Otherwise, thank you for your attention and I would be delighted to see you at a gig sometime soon. Take care and be sure to drink lots of water.

Ciao.

Nige.