Xavier Rudd (AU)

About

Xavier Rudd built his reputation as a genuine one man band, performing on didgeridoos, slide guitars, stomp boxes, djembe drums and harmonica all at once, drawing on folk, blues, reggae and Indigenous Australian sounds. His songs dig into environmentalism, Indigenous rights and spirituality, giving his work a weight that goes well beyond the acoustic singer songwriter tag. His 2012 album Spirit Bird is a highlight, inspired by an encounter with a red tailed black cockatoo in the Kimberley and featuring samples of 30 species of Australian birds. Over the years Rudd has shifted his sound in interesting directions, from the heavier electric guitars of Dark Shades of Blue to the upbeat, South African influenced grooves of Koonyum Sun, made with bassist Tio Moloantoa and percussionist Andile Nqubezelo. Tracks like Follow the Sun have stayed in rotation with fans for well over a decade, and a live version from Belgium surfaced at the end of 2024, proving the song still lands.