About
The Modern Bard is a folk singer for hire in Sydney, NSW.
Sea shanties, tavern songs, Celtic folk and fantasy ballads, sung by a classically trained guitarist and vocalist who also plays ukulele. The Modern Bard has a repertoire past 70 songs and a background that takes in musical theatre, composing and years of gigging. Historic pubs, wineries, breweries, distilleries, country weddings and festivals are where this one lands best. A standard booking is three fifty minute sets across roughly three hours, and you can pick themed sets built around one world, sea or tavern or Middle-earth, instead of a mixed run. Shorter one or two set bookings exist for festivals. Based between Sydney and the Hunter Valley, working across NSW. PA supplied and operated by the artist, who needs about two metres square and power, plus cover from sun and weather outdoors. Insured.
Watch
The show
One performer, three tools: voice, guitar and ukulele. The repertoire sits past 70 songs and pulls from traditional folk, sea songs, fantasy music and slower ballads, so a set can drift from a rowdy chorus to something quiet without feeling like a different act took over. The PA is his own and he runs it himself through the night. Sydney and the Hunter Valley are home, and work happens right across New South Wales.
On the day
Give them a couple of metres each way. floor, with a power point he can reach. Outdoors he needs to be out of direct sun and protected if the weather turns, so a marquee corner or a verandah is the safest bet.
Performance options
A standard night runs three fifty minute sets, which fills about three hours once you count the breaks. Shorter runs of one or two sets are on the table too, and those tend to suit festival slots or a ceremony where music only needs to cover part of the day. Weddings and one-off events get the arrangement built to fit the schedule you've already got.
Insurance and paperwork
Public liability insured
Song list
Alternative/selectable sets: Sea · Tavern · Celtic/Folk · Middle-earth · Mixed Sets 1–4
The Modern Bard Experience
Approx. 3 hours · 3 mixed sets
The Full Modern Bard Experience
Approx. 4 hours · 4 mixed sets
Songs of the Sea Set
45–50 minute themed set
Tavern Songs & Singalongs Set
45–50 minute themed set
Drinking songs, folk favourites, shanties and crowd-friendly choruses, with instrumental interludes and traditional readings.
Celtic & Folk Set
45–50 minute themed set
Celtic instrumentals, traditional folk songs and ballads, complemented by additional instrumental music, poetry and readings.
Songs of Middle-earth Set
45–50 minute themed set
Songs from and inspired by Tolkien’s Middle-earth, complemented by instrumental music and selected readings or poetry.
