Once, Under a Blue Moon

A term used to signify things that don't come around often, this Blue Moon show is an event that will happen but once in the history of mankind. As it's hard to be too frightened in jandal weather, Bill Hickman and The Dauphin of Mississippi intend to reimagine the themes of Halloween with visual aid, humor, and no shortage of heart. Featuring songs and stories from two critically-lauded troubadours, friends and storytellers whose lives are changing in major ways--one moving back across the world to a country on fire in the worst ways and the other having the world visited upon him in the best. They'll be accompanied by string-bending virtuosos Dusty Burnell (Frank Burkitt Band) and Dr. Giacomo Giorli the Crafty Italian bringing their musical landscapes to life.

Bill Hickman is an intense, lyrical singer/songwriter from Wellington, New Zealand. A long-serving stalwart of New Zealand stages, Bill has played in bands (The Shot Band, Billy Bones, Parcel of Rogues and King Lazy) and as a soloist all over the country and further abroad. A self described ‘folkie with a chip on his shoulder’ Bill’s songs run the gamut from murder and outlaws to absent friends, love and gratitude. With a strong, gravel dragged voice and country inflected acoustic guitar; fans of Warren Zevon, Johnny Cash and Townes van Zandt will find touchstones in his songwriting, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is a set of gentle melancholy, Bill's primary approach is ‘gutsy’. He has done his time howling above the barroom clamour and is always capable of stepping it up a notch when the occasion or story requires. You may have heard him recently telling stories on RNZ about robot sports fans in Japan or singing on Nights with Bryan Crump.

"Crossbones is the best NZ Album of the Year."
Shady, The Americana Show on Radioactive 88.6 FM

The Dauphin of Mississippi was raised in the wilds of southern Mississippi and moved to Wellington after a decade in Wyoming. Critics and audiences compare his songs to John Prine, Gordon Lightfoot, Leonard Cohen, Bonnie Raitt, and John Martyn. His first album, (2017's self-produced Prodigal Songs for the End of Days), a furious genre bending romp through an America collapsing under late stage capitalism, netted him WyCMA nods for Album, Songwriter, and Americana group of the year. 2019 's The Book of Vanities featured the likes of 14-time Grammy winner Dan Tyminski on fiddle and living Bluegrass meme Tony Wray on banjo and guitar.
This show is part of his "New Zealand Bucketlist Tour," a lap before moving back to the states. Bucketlist Item: Touch a Volcano.

“Great, great songwriter. Quite an ability to draw in listeners with narratives in the songwriting. Beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous.”
Grady Kirkpatrick, Wyoming Public Radio

"Treat yourself to an evening with a man who will definitely entertain you. He'll make you laugh, he'll take you deep and remind you that you have a soul."
Jamie Macphail, Sitting Rooms Sessions, Hawkes Bay

"OMG! Where has this guy's writing been all my life. Cracking tales delivered beautifully." Darren Watson, NZ Music Legend

"Plays a mean guitar and sings songs and tells tales that’ll have y’all laughing, crying, and all points in between! His songs are hugely literate and intensely melodic. But for that one lucky roll of the dice, he’d be known far and wide."
Rob Habers, Ambient Light, Auckland

"Like the love child of Ted Hawkins and Bonnie Raitt, delivered by Townes Van Zandt passing through on a train."
Brad Watson (novelist Ms. Jane, The Heaven of Mercury)

“One of those relaxed country voices that needs to be heard a fine songwriter melodic foot-tapping country music delight several quality ballads. Buy this album. 4.5/5 Stars”
Paul Riley, Country Music People Magazine (U.K.