Joshua Hedley & His Band Return To Australia In November With Emily Nenni

Australia's favourite Nashville honky tonk hero, Joshua Hedley returns to Australia on the back of his sophomore album Neon Blue, which was released in April on New West Records to universal acclaim in country circles. Accompanying Hedley on his latest headlining Australian tour will be down under debutante Emily Nenni, who comes from the Bay Area via Nashville, and who'll be here on the heels of her own second album On The Ranch, which is released today, November 4.

It only seems like yesterday that Hedley, in Australia playing fiddle for Justin Townes Earle, was dragged to the mic on the main stage at the first ever Out On The Weekend Festival in Melbourne. Everyone involved in Earle's band had told promoter BT of Love Police what an incredible singer Hedley was, and BT wanted to hear it for himself. The next year, 2016, Hedley was back in Australia on his first solo tour anywhere ever. 

A deal with Jack White's Third Man Records was just around the corner, followed by his brilliant debut, Mr Jukebox. Of course, BT and the Out on the Weekend audience only found out what the regulars at Lower Broadway Nashville honky tonk haven Robert's Western World had known for a decade or so. Hedley is the real deal.

Hedley is “a singing professor of country & western,” he declares on his raucous and witty new album, Neon Blue. It might sound like a punchline, but it’s not. An ace fiddle player, a sharp guitarist, and a singer with a granite twang, he’s devoted his entire life to the study of this genre.

His breakout debut Mr Jukebox showcased his deep knowledge of country music history, in particular the beery ballads of the 1950s and ‘60s. His mentors were George Jones, Ray Price, and Glen Campbell, but his most remarkable accomplishment was putting his own spin on their style. Neon Blue, on the other hand, examines a very different, often forsaken era: the early 90s.

Hedley's touring partner Nenni also knows Robert's Western World well, having spent years sharpening her chops there and at the smoky double wide trailer Santa's Pub. And like Hedley, Nenni has a unique approach. 

“What I love about country is the songs can be very honest and vulnerable, yet they’re beautiful enough to make you cry,” Nenni notes. “My music is sweet and sad, but I don’t take myself too seriously. It’s old school honky-tonk with a slightly different flavour.”

The California born and raised artist dropped out of college (where she was studying audio engineering) and saved up enough money to move to Nashville – despite not knowing a soul in the city – and eventually linked up with producer and frequent collaborator Mike Eli. The album was written during COVID on a ranch in Colorado where Eli's wife was wrangling.

Her own second album On The Ranch features 10-songs, including a must-hear cover of ABBA's Does Your Mother Know. It was produced by Mike Eli and Alex Lyon and follows Nenni’s 2017 Hell of a Woman LP as well as I Owe You Nothin’, her collaborative EP with Teddy and the Rough Riders, and 2020’s Long Game EP. Right now, Nenni is on tour in the US with Kelsey Waldon.

JOSHUA HEDLEY & HIS BAND, and Introducing Emily Nenni Australian Tour November '22

WED 23 - BRUNSWICK BALLROOM, MELBOURNE, VIC
THU 24 - BRIDGE HOTEL, CASTLEMAINE, VIC
FRI 25 - HOTEL WESTWOOD, MELBOURNE, VIC
SUN 27 - ARCHIE'S CREEK HOTEL, VIC
TUE 29 - ELTHAM HOTEL, NSW
 WED 30 - THE ZOO, BRISBANE, QLD

More information and ticket details via lovepolice.com.au

----------------

Keep up to date with Joshua Hedley, follow him on Facebook here.
Keep up to date with Emily Nenni, follow her on Facebook here.