Michael Waugh 'We Are Here' in concert

Painting vivid, joyous, funny & loving pictures of growing up queer in rural Australia, Michael has reinvigorated Australian folk and alt-country music

Stomping the Brunny Ballroom stage with his rainbow elastic panelled Blundstone boots, this is queer-country, queer as folk, and some of the best damned songwriting in the country. Painting vivid, joyous, funny and loving pictures of growing up queer in rural Australia, award-winning songwriter Michael Waugh has reinvigorated Australian folk and alt-country music.

Waugh is a multi-award winning songwriter’s songwriter, a compelling live performer and an extraordinary storyteller. Among his admirers are Josh Cunningham from The Waifs, iconic singer-songwriter Eric Bogle and alt. country luminary Shane Nicholson. He is the recipient of a Music Victoria Award (2018 Folk and Roots Album of the Year) and a Golden Guitar Award (2022 Heritage Song of the Year).

Michael’s forthcoming album ‘Beauty & Truth’ tells the story of his recent coming out. “This record is so very personal, so very important to me. It’s how I say to the world ‘here I am’ -and f***all of the voices in my head and from my past that told me that I couldn’t be loved if they knew the truth.”