Dwight + Nicole

American soul/blues band Dwight + Nicole has been touring the Eastern U.S. since 2017 filling clubs and gaining plenty of industry respect along the way. They have been nominated for nine Boston Music Awards, ten Daysie Awards, and ten New England Music Awards, winning “Band of the Year”, “Vocalist of the Year”, “Best Blues/R&B Band”, “Female Vocalist of the Year”, “Blues Act of the Year” and “Video of the Year”. They have opened up for their idols including Mavis Staples, who exclaimed “Dwight + Nicole are my favorite new band!” as well as Melissa Etheridge who said “Dwight + Nicole are absolutely the real deal. They are outstanding singers and songwriters, and I am proud that they are here. They’re carrying the torch”

Nelson and Ritcher met in Boston, Massachusetts when they were just out of school, both cutting their teeth on the local club circuit. They each fronted popular bands in the area, and discovered a shared obsession of soul & blues greats like the Staples Singers, Albert King, Lighting Hopkins, Jimmy Witherspoon, Roberta Flack & Etta James. They began singing together often, and developed a close friendship that grew over time. Eventually, forming Dwight + Nicole, which was in the early days, a duo group; Dwight on electric guitar, and Nicole on tambourine stomping their feet and singing in harmony. They began to tour regionally- writing together and developing their sound. After a move to Burlington VT, they met powerhouse drummer Ezra Oklan (Nicole Atkins, Elle King) in 2017 and the group quickly formed a trio with Nelson picking up the bass.

Their 2018 EP, Electric Lights, was recorded live to analog tape with multi-Grammy nominated producer Joel Hamilton (Aaron Neville, Tom Waitts, The Meters, The Black Keys) at Studio G in Brooklyn, NY. Hamilton has undoubtedly captured their sound and live energy. He also brings out their experimental side on Electric Lights. The EP has introduced the band to a new wave of fans as well as opportunities including their first major label distribution deal through Orchard / Sony Music. The year wrapped up with another Independent Music Award nomination, and the Electric Lights EP landing on several ‘Best of the Year’ lists.

They were back in the studio with Hamilton, writing and recording their full length album debut during the global shutdowns. The time off the road brought them to new territory as songwriters, and their live shows have grown to feature keys, backup vocalists and horns. Check out their latest EP “Further” released at the end of 2021. Here’s what American Songwriter had to say: “What’s so neat about “Further” is its sense of immediacy… there’s something about Ritcher and Nicole Nelson’s vocal performances that makes it feel so raw, so urgent” The Burlington Free Press has proclaimed it “One of the best EPs to ever come out of the Green Mountain State”.

Following the release of two EPs recorded with Hamilton, comes the highly anticpated debut, full-length studio album The Jaguar, The Raven & The Snake on May 19, 2023.

“A retro soul band, contemporary blues act, roots rock duo and r&b dynamo all at once, Dwight + Nicole have found that (producer) Joel Hamilton can capture their spirit on tape… and that can be heard on new single “The Next Go-Round. Written by singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist Nicole Nelson and based on a simple, hypnotic keyboard line she came up with, “The Next Go-Round” works nicely as a calling card for Dwight + Nicole’s sound. It resembles a gospel tune written a century ago and would also fit nicely on Brittany Howard’s experimental pop album.”
- Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald (review of the single The Next Go-Round)

“Notes of R&B and hip-hop with a smoothness that feels like cruising through the city on a summer night. The band layers on funky elements on guitar and organ, culminating in a mix of vocal harmonies and rich instrumentals that leave you feeling enchanted.”
- Glide Magazine (review of the single “Time)

“Give “Wait” a spin and, for at least three minutes and fifty seconds, all will be right with the world”
- Dan Bolles, Seven Days (review of the single “Wait”)