Bill Hickman

Bill Hickman plays Kumeu Live on Saturday 28th September celebrating the release of his new album Crossbones.
If the smokier, darker edge of alt-country is where you like to dwell, if the likes of Steve Earle, Michael Stipe, Bruce Springsteen or Elvis Costello feature heavily on your favourite playlist then it’s time to meet Bill Hickman. Bill Hickman and Cameron ‘Dusty’ Burnell will play Kumeu Live on Saturday 28th September celebrating the release of his latest album ‘Crossbones’.

Bill’s new album ‘Crossbones, in part funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2018, celebrates all that is Bill, blending alt-country and roots music influences with his harder-edged musical back story. ‘Crossbones’ brings a journey from the sweet to the anarchic from the alt-country ballad, through pop, kick-arse country to hard-hitting alt-rock.

Crossbones 2019 ‘it’s like the worlds of grunge and Americana-infused modern country have never been closer’ (S. Sweetman, Off the tracks)
Ghost of Smoke 2010 ‘Over the space of just five songs he shows us what makes genuinely great roots music so utterly compelling’. (C.Haze, Spoke Magazine)

Wellingtonian Bill Hickman has a voice that has you coming back for more, like a great shot of coffee it’s rich, dark, smokey and sexy as hell. Having sung over many a noisy bar he can belt it out with the best of them but he can equally deliver an achingly beautiful ballad.

Bill will be joined Cameron ‘Dusty’ Burnell, one of NZ’s busiest sidemen on Mandolin and slide guitar (Frank Burkett Band amongst many others). The show will feature Bill’s strong gravel dragged voice, intimate song writing and country inflected acoustic guitar. 

Bill Hickman is a long serving stalwart of NZ stages and bars, having played in bands (The Shot Band, King Lazy and Parcel of Rogues) and as a soloist all over the country and further abroad. Over the years he has opened for a wide diversity of acts from metal's Pantera to alt country royalty Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ debut tour of NZ ‘Bill had the unenviable task of playing to an audience desperate to hear the headliner, but over the course of three sold out nights he got up and stunned not only the audience but also the main act themselves’. (C.Haze, Spoke Magazine)

‘Bill Hickman is a magical craftsman of songs. He will leave you spellbound. A must see.’ (C. O’Shea, Americana Show, Radio Active)
Head to Kumeu Live for an evening of acoustic roots with guts, gravel and smoke with the Bill Hickman. Saturday September 28th, doors from 7.30pm, show from 8.00pm, tickets at ‘Under the radar’.