Wayne Hancock

Wayne has been called "the master of Hillbilly swing," a "roots Renaissance man," a "country singer's country singer" and "Hank Williams meets Gershwin." But the phrase most frequently echoed throughout his career is "Wayne Hancock is the real deal." Joe Ely said it, Hank Williams III said it, Bobby Koefer from the Texas Playboys said it, as have countless music fans and writers when referring to Hancock's authentic and original blend of honky tonk, western swing, blues and big band that he calls "Juke Joint Swing".

Since his stunning debut, Thunderstorms and Neon Signs, in 1995, Wayne has been an anomaly among his country music peers. Wayne’s uncompromising interpretation of the music he loves is in fact what defines him: steeped in traditional but never ‘retro’; bare bones but bone shaking; hardcore but with a swing. Like the comfortable crackle of a Wurlitzer jukebox 45, Wayne is the embodiment of genuine, roof-raising, music that defies genres and expectations and just plain delivers the goods with a kick in the butt and a twist of the hips. With the blacktop as his muse, there is perhaps no more apt ambassador for the open road than Wayne. No surprise, since the two spend so much time together: Wayne routinely tours 200 plus days a year in his trusty van. Bringing his traveling Juke Joint Revival to every town between Portland, Maine and Portland, Oregon. Wayne and his band can turn any club into a dance hall where tables and chairs are an outright hindrance.

Various musicians drop in on Wayne's shows from time to time, but his core band for touring is comprised of three amazingly talented musicians, the crazed Izzy Zaidman on lead guitar, the rhythm slappin' Huck Johnson on Standup Bass, and steel guitar phenom, Tony Locke.