Michael Waugh’s insightful tributes to friends, family and parenthood are simultaneously deeply personal and nationally recognisable; we see our own brothers, parents, pubs, rivers, struggles and joys reflected in the faces of those characters who live large in Michael’s songs.  Michael is a songwriter’s songwriter, a compelling live performer and an extraordinary storyteller. Among his admirers are the legendary Eric Bogle, alt. country luminaries Shane Nicholson & Fanny Lumsden as well as Josh Cunningham from The Waifs. His 2019 album ‘The Weir’ received two Golden Guitar nominations  – Male Artist of the Year and Alt Country Album of the Year – as well as a nomination at the 2020 Victorian Music Awards. In 2022 ‘Dirty River’, Michael’s tribute to his home town of Melbourne from his most recent album ‘The Cast’, was voted Heritage Song of the Year at the Golden Guitar Awards. The album also received a Golden Guitar nomination for Alt Country Album of the Year as well as nominations in the Australian Folk Music Awards and the Victorian Music Awards. 

“Over the course of three previous albums Michael Waugh has established himself as one of Australia’s finest songwriters. With The Cast he ups the bar even further and then leaps over it. This album is right up there with the Swans 2005 Premiership team in terms of class, ability, character, depth, emotional content and sheer breathtaking displays of talent. I don’t offer higher praise.”
Stuart Coupe – author, music commentator and radio presenter

“When Michael Waugh opens his mouth, you should listen.”
Andrew McMillen – The Australian

“Michael Waugh is perched on a songwriting mountain not many of us could hope to climb.” 
Shane Nicholson 

“Waugh shapes and colours his songs with the kind of unique Australian qualities associated with Tim Winton and Paul Kelly.”
Rhythms Magazine

“Like John Schuman, Shane Howard & Don Walker – Waugh writes with passion and probity about his own country.”
4 1/2 stars, The Australian 

“Michael takes all these elements of the human condition and lyrically moulds them into something that is very special indeed, the mark of a compassionate and insightful human being and a gifted songwriter.”
Eric Bogle