Shaun Kirk

Shaun Kirk (born 1988) is an independent Australian soul and blues singer, songwriter, and musician. He has released four albums: Cruisin′ in 2010, Thank You For Giving Me the Blues in 2011, The Wick Sessions in 2013 and Steer the Wheel in 2014.

Career Shaun Kirk was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, in 1988 and grew up in the city's outer eastern suburbs. He first picked up a guitar at age 16 after his mother left an old nylon string in his bedroom in the hope that it would spark some inspiration. It did and Kirk now often jokes at his shows about learning Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" as his first song. He broke his ankle at age 17 and wrote his first song in a hospital bed while waiting for surgery. Soon after he began singing and playing in front of small crowds at blues jam nights across Melbourne, initially as a folk singer before developing a feel for the blues music. Over the years he has matured his performance and now accompanies his guitar with harmonica, stomp box, tambourine, high hat, cymbal, kick and snare drum.

In January 2010, Kirk launched his debut album Cruisin, and shortly after embarked on his first national tour of Australia playing at many of the country's regional pubs, cafes and festivals. The album won the 'Best Debut Album' award at the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society's annual VIC/TAS Blues Music Awards.

In August 2011 Shaun began working on his next album Thank You for Giving Me the Blues with Western Australian percussionist/producer Arunachala Satgunasingam. The album was released in December 2011 and by January 2012 had climbed to #1 on the Australian Blues/Roots Airplay Charts.

In December 2012 Kirk booked a session at the Wick Studios in Brunswick, Melbourne, to record a live CD/DVD called The Wick Sessions, which was released in March 2013.

In 2013 Kirk issued his fifth release, an EP titled Giving. It included the track "Give to the Needy", which featured part of Charlie Chaplin's speech from The Great Dictator.

Steer the Wheel, released in 2014, was recorded at the Wick Studios and was Kirk's first recording with a band, which included ARIA Award winning rhythm section Danny McKenna (drums) and Grant Cummerford (bass). The album debuted at #1 on the Australian Blues iTunes Charts – which all received strong airplay across Australia and internationally.

Kirk has received consistent airplay on national Australian Triple J radio and ABC Radio National, as well as on ABC Local across Australia;

Discography Studio albums 2010: Cruisin′ 2011: Thank You For Giving Me the Blues 2014: Steer the Wheel

Live albums 2013: The Wick Sessions (live in the studio CD/DVD package)

EPs 2013: Giving EP 2019: Shaun Kirk EP

Awards and nominations Music Victoria Awards The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006. Music Victoria Awards of 2014 Steer the Wheel Best Blues Album