The first track we ever recorded.

This track appeared on a compilation called Home Grown Roots 3 and hasn't been released elsewhere since.

Playing on this track was Lyn Taylor on guitar and vocals, Nick Payne on guitar, backup vocals and tambourine foot stomping, Mike Kirkley on dobro, Richard Galluzzi on clawhammer banjo and Lindsay Mar on double bass. It was recorded by Russell Pilling at Damien Gerard Studios.

Given you can't get this track elsewhere, we're pleased to be giving it away as a free download. Just click the download button and enjoy!

Nick & Lyn

Rain

The first single off Nick Payne's upcoming debut solo album.

Combining an old-time tune with bluegrass banjo and some crazy, blues dobro, Old Sydney Town describes the hardships of a newly arrived convict in the penal colony of Sydney Australia in 1789.

Recorded in the lounge room of Dear Orphans' dobro player Jolyon Gray, this track was recorded in June 2014. The track was recorded live with only backing vocals and tambourine overdubbed later. The goal was to capture the spontaneity and energy that only comes from a live performance.

Featuring on the song are:

Nick Payne - lead vocals and Martin HD28V
Paul Sun - double bass
Jolyon Gray - dobro
Carlyn Chen - fiddle
And special guest Jenny Shimmin - bluegrass banjo

Recorded by Nick Payne and Lyn Taylor
Mixed and mastered by Glenn Santry at Heartbeat Studios

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Nick Payne is the lead singer and songwriter in Dear Orphans alongside his love Lyn Taylor. Dear Orphans can be found playing around Sydney, Australia and at festivals Australia-wide.

To keep up to date with Dear Orphans and news on Nick's forthcoming album please visit www.dearorphans.com.

Old Sydney Town

‘Rising River’ is a song steeped in the murder ballad tradition — it’s all there — the desperate man seeking vengeance, a bloody reckoning, a pursuit and the eventual suicide to avoid capture. The lilting melody, delicate harmonies and fiddle highlights serve as counterpoint to the violence of the story, we find ourselves singing along as we register what is actually happening to the characters. It’s a delicious counterpoint that is as old as bluegrass itself delivered in a thoroughly contemporary Australian voice.

Rising River

‘White Line Fever' is the new single from Nick Payne’s debut solo album “Rise Up Like A River”. Co-written with Benn Gunn a long time ago, this is a trucking song. Inspired by 70s trucker slang where you are hypnotised from prolonged night driving. Jy-Perry Banks from The Cruisin’ Deuces adds his musical magic on the pedal steel. This is the third single from the album, following ‘Rising River’ and ‘Old Sydney Town’.

Rise Up Like A River

Buy album

White Line Fever

ABC Illawarra interview with Nick Rheinberger Friday 31st August to talk about the upcoming Acoustic Cafe show at Wollongong Town Hall.

Courtesy ABC Illawarra.

ABC Illawarra interview with Nick Rheinberger

Connecting with the simplicity of life, while laying bare the bones of the human condition, is what Dear Orphans and their music are all about.

The band comprises singer-songwriters Nick Payne and Lyn Taylor, with Carlyn Chen (Fiddle) Paul Sun (Double Bass) and Jolyon Gray (Dobro), rounding out a unique mix of folk, bluegrass and americana.

The current lineup have been playing together since 2011 having played numerous festivals such as the Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival, Karuah Bluegrass Festival and Tamworth Country Music Festival, to name a few.

“Our music persists in a way that other music doesn't. It has the ability to stick with you for a long time. We are influenced by traditional bluegrass,” says Nick. He adds: "What I love about bluegrass is that it's music written by people battling with real life. And sometimes the reasons they are writing and playing that music are to rise above that and set their sights on something higher."