Nigel Wearne & The Spectres

Nigel Wearne & The Spectres saunter after dark in the music of the night, blending blues, jazz and Americana-noir. Swathed with rambunctious horns, Gretsch guitar, drums and double-bass, they’ve got a retro vibe that smacks it straight back to the ’60s. Hailing from Gunditjmara country in the deep south of Australia, Wearne is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with diverse influences such as Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Rickie Lee Jones.

Wearne has played some of the world’s most prestigious music festivals, including Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, MerleFest, Cambridge Folk Festival (UK), Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion and Philadelphia Folk Festival. In 2025, he also won the Telluride Blues Challenge at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival.

Wearne’s 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. His 2023 album The Reckoning received back-to-back nominations for Best Blues Work at the 2023 & 2024 Music Victoria Awards and a 4-STAR review in The Australian.

“Rollicking, rumbling, sneering and reflective, ‘The Reckoning’ is a full band explosion of songs, stories and musical mayhem. Think after dark jazz club meets Ennio Morricone with a dose of soul and rock ‘n’ roll. “Intoxicating New Orleans-tinged Americana… a bit of Waits, some Early James and C.W. Stoneking.” – POST TO WIRE

“Tailor made for fans of Tom Waits… with fire and brimstone lyrics that recall Nick Cave.” – Rhythms Magazine

FOLK ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL 2026 SHOWCASES

Wednesday 21 January
11:00pm – 11:25pm Access Gypsy Wagon Video
12:00am – 12:30am Midwood’s Music Emporium

Thursday 22 January
10:40pm – 11:30pm Sounds Australia IN THE ROUND (NOT LISTED ON FAI)
12:00am – 12:30am Sounds Good Tiki Room

Friday 23 January
10:30pm – 11:00pm free Range Records Presents

Saturday 24 January
8:00pm – 8:25pm OFFICIAL SHOWCASE Waterbury
1:50pm – 12:10am ComboPlate Booking
12:40am – 1:10am Sounds Australia Private Showcase