PRESS
"warmth flecked with grit... beauty awaits"​​
Rolling Stone
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"intoxicating New Orleans-tinged Americana... a bit of Waits, some Early James and C.W. Stoneking"
POST TO WIRE
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"an eruption of energy, rhythm and melody"
RHYTHMS MAGAZINE
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"Poignant and mysterious"
MAVERICK MAGAZINE UK
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"one of Australia's emerging songwriters"
​Tone Deaf​
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"Guitarist to Watch"
Australian Guitar Magazine
"decidedly Australian, a down-to-earth gritty edge"
The Box
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"Authentic and impressive"
DAVE RUBY HOWE, TRIPLE J UNEARTHED MUSIC DIRECTOR
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"Drawing Circles is a glorious cinematic journey, harnessing life’s irregular swells"
THE MUSIC
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"A great songwriter"
PAUL GOUGH, ABC Radio National
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"the narrative-fuelled prose of Paul Kelly"
Beat Magazine
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"a fine exponent of roots Americana"
​Rhythms Magazine​​
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"​a delicate heart and crisp guitar"
The AU Review
"Painting lyrical pictures"
The Mercury
BIO
AUSTRALIAN SINGER-SONGWRITER
LUTHIER & TRUTH SEEKER
“warmth flecked with grit… beauty awaits”
rolling stone
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Nigel Wearne saunters after dark in the music of the night, blending blues, jazz and Americana-noir. Hailing from Gunditjmara country in the deep south of Australia, he's a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with diverse influences such as Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Rickie Lee Jones. A deep thinker and truth seeker with a penchant for all things peculiar, he sings of human frailty, grace and the cosmos; songwriting that cuts to the bone.
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Nigel has toured Australia, New Zealand, the US, UK and Canada and he's performed at a long list of music festivals, including Cambridge Folk Festival (UK), MerleFest (USA), UK Americana Music Week, Old Settler's Music Festival (USA), Port Fairy Folk Festival (AUS) and Adelaide Guitar Festival (AUS).
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His sophomore album, Black Crow garnered wide critical acclaim including a 4-STAR review in Rolling Stone, a nomination for Best Country Album at the Music Victoria Awards and debuted at #1 on the AMRAP Charts. Singer-songwriter, luthier, poet and gleaner; Wearne paints lyrical pictures with “the narrative-fuelled prose of Paul Kelly” – BEAT MAGAZINE
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"intoxicating New Orleans-tinged Americana... a bit of Waits, some Early James and C.W. Stoneking" POST TO WIRE
“an eruption of energy, rhythm and melody” rHYTHMS MAGAZINE
“poignant and mysterious” MAVERICK MAGAZINE UK
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Check out Nigel's luthier work HERE.
UPCOMING ACTIVITY
2023 – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion (USA)
2023 – AmericanaFest OFFICIAL Showcase (USA)
2024 – Your Roots Are Showing OFFICIAL Showcase (Ireland)
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CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2023 – USA Fall & Summer Tours
2023 – Folk Alliance International OFFICIAL Showcase
2023 – UK Americana Music Week OFFICIAL Showcase
2023 – UK Winter Tour
​2022 – Music Victoria Awards Nominee – Best Folk Work for 'Above The Bit'
2022 – Australian Folk Music Awards Finalist – Contemporary Album of The Year for 'Above The Bit'
2022 – Folk Alliance International OFFICIAL Showcase*Virtual
2021 – Folk Unlocked Showcase*Virtual
2020 – Folk Alliance International Showcase, New Orleans USA
2020 – Canadian Winter Tour
2019 – Folk Music Ontario Showcase, Toronto CANADA
2019 – Canadian Fall Tour
2019 – Folk Alliance International OFFICIAL Showcase, Montreal CANADA
2019 – Canadian Winter Tour
2017 – Triple j Unearthed Winner – Port Fairy Folk Festival Competition
2017 – New Zealand Tour
2016 – 'Drawing Circles' Double Album Release
2013 – Music Victoria Awards Nominee – Best Country Album for 'Black Crow'
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FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
2023 – Cambridge Folk Festival (UK), MerleFest (USA), Mile of Music Festival (USA), Old Settlers Music Festival (USA), Healesville Music Festival
2022 – Adelaide Guitar Festival, Cobargo Folk Festival, The River Folk Festival, Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival
2021 – Port Fairy Folk Festival March Concert Series
2020 – Cygnet Folk Festival, Blue Skies Music Festival (CANADA)*Virtual
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, Bendigo Blues & Roots Festival, 2 Worlds
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
MUSIC
REVIEWS
THE MUSIC - HOWZAT
Drawing Circles Album Review - May 2017
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RHYTHMS MAGAZINE
Drawing Circles Album Review - November 2016
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JOELENE: THE COUNTRY MUSIC BLOG
Drawing Circles Album Review - November 2016
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Rolling Stone MAGAZINE
AUSTRALIA
Black Crow Album Review - January 2013
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RHYTHMS MAGAZINE
Black Crow Album Review - November 2012
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UNPAVED
Black Crow Album Review - November 2012
