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“One gifted sonofabitch” – that’s how Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange describes Rupert Wates, the London-born, Oxford-educated singer-songwriter who now makes NYC his home.

In London, he collaborated with top-tier performers before moving to Paris in 2001, where he formed his own quartet and began performing regularly. Since relocating to the United States in 2006, Wates has earned more than 50 songwriting and performing awards.

His music is an eclectic blend of acoustic, melodic art/folk infused with elements of jazz, vaudeville, and cabaret. He has released twelve solo albums, each earning critical acclaim and international airplay. His songs have been covered by artists across the UK, Canada, and the U.S., with two full-length tribute albums—Crazy Puzzle (2015) and Wide Open Heart (2017)—produced independently by other performers and composed entirely of Wates’ material. In 2016 alone, over 20 cover recordings of his songs were released.

He was voted Artist of the Year in both 2013 and 2016 by Concerts In Your Home and was their most-booked performer for five consecutive years. In 2018, he was a finalist in the Kerrville New Folk Competition and part of the Grassy Hill Emerging Artist Showcase at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.

Performing an average of 120 shows annually across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, Wates prefers intimate listening rooms where the focus is on connection and storytelling. Stuart Markus adds, “His Oxford intellect shines through in his lyrics, but his songs are eminently relatable. You’ll come away very glad you went.”

Here are links to some videos: https://www.rupertwatesmusic.com/