REVIEWS
“The great marriage of words and music is too often discarded for the lure of making quick money in today's lucrative music market. But if you are willing to explore further beyond the tease of commercialism, there are still artists in this world writing and performing works of a truly exceptional standard, songs that inspire and touch us, melodies that will echo through the years. Nigel Foote is one of these artists" – Paul Jarman, Stix, July 2006
“Nigel is very important in the scheme of things, a gifted songwriter who can communicate the world’s despair in wonderful songs – an imperative contribution” – Dr Helen Caldicott, anti-nuclear campaigner
“This is what good songwriting is all about. Beautifully crafted songs ... wonderful musicianship ... worth the wait!” – Judy Small, singer-songwriter, 2006
“Nigel Foote’s long-awaited second album, Home By Dark, is exceptional. Nigel is a gifted folksinger and songwriter and consummate guitarist. The songs were written over the past ten years, and each one is inspired and beautifully crafted. One of our finest musicians” – Radio BLU FM, 2006
"In the style of Iron and Wine and the great Americana folk artists, Katoomba's own Nigel Foote is carving a spot for his own name in the wordsmith world that is the folk scene. Home By Dark is a collection of tales of lovers lost, secret rivers and gypsy laughter. Gently infused with stirring fiddle, slide guitar and low-breath harmonies, Home By Dark quietly matures to surprise you in it’s depth and intricacy. Recorded at Windwood Studios with producer Andrew Knight, and featuring Blue Mountains musicians such as Pete Drummond, Al Ward, Simon Watts and John Stuart, to name a few, the album is Foote's second release. Respectful of the past, yet always lyrically inventive, Home By Dark is beautiful, subtle and intimate" – Morris Bryant, Blue Mountains Review, May 2006
“This Australian’s tale (The Ballad of C. F. Martin) of the origins of Martin Guitars is the centrepiece of an album with radio friendly folk and Americana cuts. It’s a masterly crafted song, that although long, definitely deserves radio attention due to its epic nature” – Acoustic Rainbow,
AWARDS
2007 – Winner – Folk Award – Blue Mountains Music Awards
2007 – 2nd Place – TSA Songwriter's Salute – ‘Sleeping Like an Angel’
2007 – Finalist – Victorian & National Country Music Awards – 'Home by Dark'
2006 – Winner – Folk Award – Blue Mountains Music Awards
2005 – Finalist – Musicoz Awards – 'The Ballad of C F Martin'
2003 – Honourable Mention, John Lennon Song Contest – 'Just The Way It Goes'
2003 – 3rd Place – ASA Song Contest – 'Home by Dark'
2003 – 2nd Place – Musicoz Awards – ‘Martin's Song’
2003 – Finalist – ASA Song Contest – ‘She Wore No Shoes’
2002 – Presented with the Granville Medal, for services to the Granville Train Disaster memorial – ‘83 Ordinary People’
2001 – Finalist – Johnny Dennis Music Awards – ‘The Water Smoothes the Stones’
2000 – Finalist – ASA Song Contest – ‘Treasures’
2000 – Finalist – ASA Song Contest – ‘Home by Dark’
1995 – Finalist – ASA Song Contest – ‘It's a Sad Song a Broken Heart Sings’
1995 – Finalist – ASA Song Contest – ‘Shadows of the Moon’
1994 – Winner – Rudi Brandsma Award
1994 – 2nd Place – ASA Song Contest – ‘Dangerous Game’
1987 – Winner – PATER International Broadcasting Award – ‘Going Somewhere’
1987 – Winner – PATER International Broadcasting Award – ‘A Long Way from Parramatta Road’
1987 – Finalist – PATER International Broadcasting Award – ‘For the Birds’
1987 – Finalist – PATER International Broadcasting Award – ‘Watching Our Love Grow’
1986 – Finalist – Declan Affley Award – ‘Dangerous Game’
1986 – Winner – Literature Award, Penrith Community Arts Development Organisation – ‘Say No, Say No’
NOTE: In 1987, Blue Mountains City Council invited Nigel to place his anti-nuclear record, ‘Say No, Say No’, in the Halley's Comet Time Capsule, to be unearthed when the comet returns in 2061