Rider Essentials: Angus Gill

Rising folk and country artist, Angus Gill, released his latest bluegrass inspired album, The Scrapbook, in 2021. The album debuted at #1 on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Country Albums Chart, #2 on the ARIA Top 40 Country Albums and #4 ARIA Top 20 Australian Albums (All Genres). It was also nominated for Traditional Country Album of the Year’ at the 2022 Golden Guitar Awards, where he took home the ‘Bush Ballad of the Year’ award for The Easy Way with Manfred Vijars.

After receiving a scholarship to attend the CMAA Academy of Country Music in 2012, Gill released his debut EP, Livewire in 2014. His self-produced debut album, Nomad followed in 2017. That same year he was named a grand finalist in the 2017 Toyota Star Maker competition.

In 2019, Gill released his second studio album, Welcome To My Heart, which debuted at #2 on the ARIA Country Albums Chart and was later nominated for ‘Traditional Country Album of the Year’ at the 2020 Golden Guitar Awards. That same year, he collaborated with the members of Paul Kelly’s band, dubbed Seasons of Change, on the critically acclaimed 3 Minute Movies. 

Gill has toured nationally and internationally several times, becoming one of the youngest Australians to perform on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee in 2019, as a guest of Nashville TV star Charles Esten. He has supported US country music superstar Kris Kristofferson, as well as The Black Sorrows, Glenn Shorrock, Rick Price, Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley, Sara Storer, Beccy Cole, James Blundell and others.

We caught up with Angus Gill to find out the things he always takes on the road with him for this week’s Rider Essentials.

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1. Reading Material

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is that writers must read. I’m not a natural bookworm, but I try to read every day. I also listen to Audible audiobooks when I’m on my afternoon walk, at the gym or on the road. I’m a fan of a good novella, because like a good song, they’re short, sharp and punchy. I can’t stand a slow burn book. People often recommend books to me and say, “the first 87 chapters are a bit slow, but hang in there, cos it gets sooo interesting.” Oh, spare me! 

2. Steamer

Steam is to a vocalist as one square of 95% dark chocolate is to a health nut… an absolute treat! I have a steamer called MyPurmist Free. Although *spoiler alert*, it wasn’t free. I like to fire up this sucker before I’m about to go onstage and then I trick my bandmates into thinking I need to be rushed to hospital. 

3. Nail Clippers

There’s nothing worse than getting ready for a gig, then glancing down to behold the sight of grotesque, overgrown, yellowish, dirt filled fingernails. You have to sort that shit out and fast! And what’s the one thing you can never find when you need ‘em… nail clippers. Some guitar players like ‘em long, but I cut ‘em right back to the quick. I don’t ever play till my fingers bleed… they do that beforehand. 

4. Tea

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a tea totaler. I haven’t had a drink since… about this time yesterday. I do love my tea, as long as it’s strong and full of milk that tastes like real milk. My favourites are the T2 Melbourne Breakfast and French Earl Grey loose leaf, which also means I have to lug around my own cup and infuser. And it would also come as no surprise that I have a 9V kettle permanently stuck to my centre console.  

5. In Ears and Neumann KMS105

In Ear Monitors are a must onstage. They beat singing through a foldback that has been covered in more beer, sweat and vomit than a nightclub floor [editor’s note: eww!]. They also save your voice and, best of all, they make the sound engineer really resent you! I also love my Neumann KMS105. A sublime microphone and if you want to sing into a cone shaped cesspit of filth, it’s best if it’s your own. 

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Keep up to date with Angus Gill, follow him on Facebook here.