It was early 2019, in the bustling Arts Café in Montreal. English singer-songwriter, Lauren Housley and Australian troubadour, Nigel Wearne were both in town to showcase at Folk Alliance International.
Instantly hitting it off, Nigel and Lauren spoke about the future of folk music, the similarities and differences of their respective hemispheres and their mutual admiration of John Prine, all the while sharing their dry wit. After reconnecting in New Orleans in early 2020, they’ve kept in touch and have been scheming to join forces ever since.
At the core of their craft is their mutual love of storytelling. This special presentation sees intimate acoustic performances from each artist, in a celebration of cross-continental connection. Culminating with the locking of harmonies and melding of styles, Lauren and Nigel will close the show with a soul-stirring set together.
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⭑ ⭑ ⭑ Lauren Housley ⭑ ⭑ ⭑
Fresh from being awarded the prestigious 2022 ‘Bob Harris Emerging Artist’ accolade, Lauren Housley’s star is on the rise. 2023 is looking to be a hugely important one for Lauren and her band with a bold new line up, and brand new album on the horizon. Based in South Yorkshire, Lauren’s music deals with love, loss and the turbulence of growing up and learning about life, her music brings a refreshing air of optimism and heart-warming hope with an empowering belief in oneself to overcome obstacles.
“An Americana-tinged singer-songwriter with a Bonnie Raitt-style twang, a winning way with a yearning lyric. Housley is her own woman…she’s as convincing as they come.” Q
“A wonderful emerging Americana act, I really love her music” Bob Harris
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⭑ ⭑ ⭑ Nigel Wearne ⭑ ⭑ ⭑
Hailing from Gunditjmara country in the deep south of Australia, Nigel Wearne saunters after dark in the music of the night. Blending blues, folk and Americana-noir, he’s a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with diverse influences from Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Gillian Welch. A deep thinker and truth speaker with a penchant for all things peculiar, he sings of human frailty, grace and the cosmos; songwriting that cuts to the bone. 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 Australia’s AMRAP Charts. A storyteller at heart, Nigel paints lyrical pictures with “the narrative-fuelled prose of Paul Kelly” – Beat Magazine.
“One of Australia’s emerging songwriters” – Tone Deaf.
“A fine exponent of roots Americana” – Rhythms Magazine.