BIO
AUSTRALIAN SINGER-SONGWRITER
LUTHIER, POET & GLEANER
triple j unearthed IN 2017
rolling stone
Nigel Wearne is an Australian singer-songwriter, luthier, poet and gleaner. Equipped with personally handcrafted instruments, he melds finger-style guitar, 'up'-hammer banjo, piano and honest storytelling. Gleaning diverse influence from Kelly Joe Phelps, Gillian Welch and Townes Van Zandt, he tells stories of forgotten rebels, wandering poets and his love of eggs.
Nigel has toured Australia, New Zealand and Canada and he's performed at a long list of music festivals, including the Port Fairy Folk Festival, Cygnet Folk Festival and Queenscliff Music Festival. In 2019, he was an Official Showcase Artist at Folk Alliance International in Montreal.
From stories of social justice and observation, to emotional reflection and historical tales, Nigel draws inspiration from everyday people from all walks of life. Some songs are autobiographical and personal, but many are other people’s stories and an amalgamation of truth, observation, personal experience and fiction. For Nigel, music is a candid, human and important messenger for stories and moments in time.
His sophomore album, Black Crow garnered wide critical acclaim including a 4 star review in Rolling Stone and a nomination for Best Country Album at the Music Victoria Awards. Nigel’s current album Drawing Circles is a solo record that’s raw, compelling and reflective. A storyteller at heart, he paints lyrical pictures with “the narrative-fuelled prose of Paul Kelly” - Beat Magazine. “One of Australia’s emerging songwriters” - Tone Deaf. “Warmth flecked with grit… beauty awaits” 4 Stars – Rolling Stone.
Listen to Drawing Circles HERE. Check out Nigel's luthier work HERE.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2020 - Showcase Artist - Folk Alliance International, USA
2020 - Canadian Winter Tour
2019 - Showcase Artist - Folk Music Ontario, Canada
2019 - Official Showcase Artist - Folk Alliance International, Canada
2019 - Canadian Tours - Winter & Fall
2017 - Triple j Unearthed Winner - Port Fairy Folk Festival Competition
2017 - New Zealand Tour - North & South Island
2016 - 'Drawing Circles' Double Album Release
2013 - Best Country Album Nominee for 'Black Crow' - Music Victoria Awards
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
2020 - Cygnet Folk Festival
2019 - Troubadour Festival (CANADA), Maldon Folk Festival, Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival
2018 - Port Fairy Folk Festival, Cygnet Folk Festival, Wintermoon Festival, The River Folk Festival
2017 – Illawarra Folk Festival, Birregurra Festival, Blackwood Festival, Surrey Hills Music Festival
2016 – Adelaide Fringe Festival, Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival, Nightjar Festival, Wallaby Creek Festival, Tablelands Folk Festival
2015 – Blackwood Festival, Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, Happy Wanderer Festival, Mount Beauty Music Festival, Yackandandah Folk Festival
2014 – Cygnet Folk Festival, Majors Creek Festival, Fleurieu Folk Festival, Newstead Live! Music Festival, Boolarra Folk Festival, Blackwood Festival
2013 – Wallaby Creek Festival, Wirrina Bluegrass Festival, Kingston Harvest Festival, Kyneton Music Festival, Avoca Music Festival, Fiddlehead Festival
2012 – Port Fairy Folk Festival, Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Black Mountain Unplugged, JamGrass Music Festival, Folk, Rhythm & Life
