Drew Nelson

Drew Nelson

Choose “Highway 2“, “Waiting For The Sun” and “Stranger” to hear tracks from Drew Nelson’s latest album “Beulah Land“.

For Drew Nelson tickets please CLICK HERE

A stunning talent from Michigan and a truly inspirational musician. Drew took audiences by storm in 2009 with his irresistable voice and simply brilliant songs and we are so pleased he is appearing at Grateful Fred’s on Friday 17th September.

 “The Immigrant Son is all grown up, Drew Nelson has produced a master piece.  “Dusty Road to Beulah Land” in my opinion will be the defining album of one of our most important new songwriters to emerge in recent years    Rob Ellen Medicine Music, Scotland

 “His songs sound like the rest of us feel. After so many years at the mercy of the high and mighty his characters are anything but defeated. They are dazed, angry, amazed and climbing.” John Gorka, songwriter

 “It’s just wonderful. He’s got such an intense and yet relaxed, intimate style. He really connects”  Frank Hennessey, Celtic Heartbeat – BBC Wales

 ”Nelson’s new album “Dusty Road to Beulah Land” is a rich and thoughtful book of stories. Reminiscent of early Spirngsteen, he has the ability to write with conviction about the struggles of hardworking men, the miner, the farmer, the steel plant worker, just trying to get by.  It’s not often that someone can so aptly give voice to other people’s lives, and make us believe every word.  The production is smart, and Nelson’s voice is warm and weathered.  This album finds the balance between struggle and grief and hope.” Meg Hutchinson, singer/songwriter

 “Drew’s songs have a dusty eloquence and a rural blue collar sensibility” Americana UK

 ”Every song bristles with sincerity, spirituality, and a keen insight about real life and real people that makes this the best acoustic singer-songwriter CD you’ll probably hear this year” – John Sinkevics , The Grand Rapids Press 

 “Simply one of the finest musicians I’ve ever seen. Seeing Drew is akin to a spiritual experience!” Charlie Money, music photographer

 Every generation has its poets; the writers, musicians, and lyricists who capture the spirit and longings of their time.  Those who give expression to our own personal memories and dreams as though they know us.  They tell our stories, giving us the words we need to celebrate or let go.  That is the soil in which singer/songwriter Drew Nelson has been toiling.  Legendary songwriter John Gorka said “Drew’s songs sound like the rest of us feel.  His characters are anything but defeated. They are dazed, angry, amazed and climbing”. 

Drew Neslon’s latest album, Dusty Road to Beulah Land marks a notable growth in his standing as a songwriter and musician. Each song brings another side of Drew to the forefront, expanding beyond his folk-singer roots to embrace wider genres.

In the follow up to Nelsons’ acclaimed independent release Immigrant Son, he proves he is not only a great songwriter but also a great storyteller.  Singer/songwriter Meg Hutchinson says  “it’s not often that someone can so aptly give voice to other people’s lives and make us believe every word.” Nelson’s stories are about the people we know, people we wish we knew, and who we are.

Within this collection of songs we find the displaced Detroit auto worker (Stranger), the love lost and wandering (Highway 2), the farmer watching his beloved landscape disappear before his eyes (Farmer’s Lament), the dazed blue collar worker shaking his head at bailouts and greed, and the deep respect and insight of Native American life and culture (Grandmother Moon, Raindance).   Drew puts his feelings, and ours, into words and music that capture the spirit and soul of the world around us all with a common thread – hope. 

“Drew Nelson’s songs move like the river under the ice. He writes like a man who has learned to make use of his setbacks, to become a voice of community and renewal,” says Andrew Calhoun of Waterbug Records. (Dusty Road to Beulah Land was released on Waterbug Records March /09)

“Early on every writer has to decide whether to try to get at the truth or just blather,” says Signature Sounds Recording Artist, Peter Mulvey. “As you encounter the characters on this record, it becomes clear that Drew Nelson has dedicated and re-dedicated himself to getting at real human stories. Some of these characters are him, and some are people he knows, and all their stories let us know that Drew is standing in the Midwestern cold, seeing and telling as clearly as he can.”

Drew grew up in Michigan, but escaped the narrow confines of his small-town, Midwestern upbringing by joining the Navy and traveling the world. He was able to see first-hand what was really happening in the world, and come home with fresh eyes to appreciate the realities of life in America. These experiences provided insight and understanding that have found an outlet in songs filled with discovery, revelation, and optimism.