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ABOUT ME

Intricate finger-style guitar and dreamy vocals reflect the deeply contemplative and evocative lyrics of Melbourne’s Ernest Aines.

A multi-award winning songwriter, noting over a decade of experience, Ernest’s uniquely pure and thoughtful sound has enchanted both fans and critics across the globe.

Ernest’s journey began with busking on the streets of Melbourne, and progressed to him gracing the stages of celebrated events like The Australian Open, The Melbourne Grand Prix, The Port Fairy Folk Festival, Rockhampton Riverfest, and Canberra’s Floriade Nightfest. He has appeared on stage at Ararat Live, The Palais Theatre, and Northern Arts Hotel, and his indie-folk styling and unique vocal delicacy has been compared to James Taylor, Jeff Buckley, Ray Lamontagne and Bon Iver.

In 2021, Ernest was selected for the Sounds Australia Folk Alliance International Showcase, and Global Music Match,  achievements that would see his presence within modern folk grow exponentially in the months to follow.

He has since released three original singles from his highly-anticipated new album – a project five years in the making. The single ‘Rigged Games’ spoke volumes on behalf of Ernest’s unfiltered, authentic approach to the art-form, with live performance clips depicting a compelling devotion to the heartache and desperation of the writing. Along with the single ‘So Far’, the new music has amassed thousands of streams online, and Ernest’s second single ‘Yellowstone’ earned high-rotation at ABC Country.

Ernest has taken home multiple awards for songwriting over the years, beginning with an Apollo Bay Festival Young Songwriter Competition win back in 2010. He has since noted finalist positions at the International Songwriting Competition (2013), the Melbourne Songwriting Competition (2016) and theAustralian Songwriting Awards (2021), along with another win in 2020 for the City of Melbourne Online Song Competition. 2020 also saw him earn the runner-up position in the Cygnet Folk Festival Song Awards.

Ernest’s commitment to captivating live audiences has evolved to unrivalled levels, thanks to his consistency and unwavering skill for the process. 2023’s calendar is swiftly filling up, and he already has the St Kilda Festival, a Folk Alliance International Official Showcase and other performances in Kansas City, USA, under his belt. 
 

UPCOMING ACTIVITY
2023 
MAR  Playing F1 Grand Prix Melbourne
Upcoming: Release of debut album Spiral Bound

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2023

  • Jan - Newstead Live Festival (Vic)

  • Feb - Folk Alliance Int. Official Showcase, Kansas City

                - St Kilda Festival


2022

  • Finalist in Folk Category Australia Song Association Awards (ASA)

  • Release of song So Far mixed by Radiohead engineer Hugo Nicolson, release of singles Yellowstone & Rigged Games

  • So Far and Yellowstone added to high rotation ABC Radio Country & Grassroots

  • Port Fairy Folk Festival with band, Rockhampton River Fest, Floriade Nightfest with band (supporting THNDO), National Folk Festival, The Basin Music Festival

  • Sponsored by Cajun maker, Mark Aspland 

  • Folk Alliance International Showcase *Virtual

  • Regional gigs - played Ararat Live, Palais Theatre (Hepburn Springs), Northern Arts Hotel (Castlemaine), The Continental Hotel (Sorrento)

  • Played over 50 gigs in and around Melbourne

  • Played F1 Grand Prix & Aust Open tennis

 

2021

  • Folk Alliance International Sounds Aust. Spotlight Showcase *Virtual

  • Folk Unlocked Sounds Australia FAI Private Showcase *Virtual

  • Sponsored by Wild Dogs - Stomp Box

  • Global Music Match – selected and mentored by Sounds Australia & Lisa Shwartz (US team coach)

  • Isolaid Online Festival

  • Winner, City of Melbourne Song Competition (Heartwood)

  • During lockdown, live streaming gigs regularly on Instagram, “The Honesty Sessions” /collaborations to share streaming gigs, such as Iso Sessions. Approx. 20 live streaming gigs.

  • Runner up – Cygnet Festival Song Competition (Rivermouth)

 

2019

  • EP “Already Found” release

  • ​Westernport Festival, supporting The Badloves

 

2018

  • City Square Festival, Melbourne, supporting The Sunny Boys

  • Teaching songwriting in Brazil for the Locals Matter festival 

  • Sponsored by Melbourne’s Ian Yates handmade guitars.
     

2017/18

  • Teaching guitar en masse to Flemington kids to add music to their lives
     

2013 -2016 

  • Travelled extensively busking in New Zealand, Berlin, Vancouver, Montreal, and Tokyo.
     

2015

  • Nominated for Melbourne’s Best Busker Competition

  • Folk, Rhythm & Life Festival

 

2013 -2010

  • Melbourne Songwriter Competition finalist.

  • Mentorship with the Victorian Arts Council's “Push" campaign.
    "Rivermouth" on the of Jmag cover compilation (July).

  • Finalist in the International Singer/Songwriter Awards

  • 2010 – Winner Apollo Bay Young Performer Award

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