Nick Charles.
It’s been decades since the Melbourne Age recognized Nick as “Australia’s virtuoso of acoustic roots and blues” and in those intervening years the legend has grown with every US tour, now totalling thirteen and every new acclaimed album, now more than twenty.
His influences are diverse. They range from his ragtime guitar heroes Big Bill, Blind Blake and of course Robert Johnson but include obvious references to players as eclectic as Doc Watson, Merle Travis and the modern school of John Fahey, Leo Kottke and others.
His songs have won countless awards including the Australian Song Contest twice, every conceivable Australia blues award multiple times, and festival song competitions in the USA. In late 2025 a track from his latest album Further Down the Line won the Victorian Blues award for song of the year. At the recent International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee Nick won “Best Solo/Duo” guitarist from a staggeringly large competitive field further highlighting his standing.