Shawn Nelson Music

Shawn Nelson is a songwriter, musician and singer based in Austin who has been performing and making records for over a decade. The Austin Chronicle named his 2011's San Juan Street "one of the best country albums of the year."

“I'm just a Houston kid who's been lucky to write, play and record music in Austin for over ten years. I’ve been fortunate to play my music on all kinds of stages across the country and to release a few albums along the way. It's a labor of love and at this point, my life's work."

Over the years Shawn has released eight independent albums with various band mates – one with his first band, Crazy Chester; two with Shawn Nelson & The Ramblers; three under Shawn Nelson; one with Shawn Nelson & The Good Buds and one under 2fer1 with fellow songwriter, Graham Wilkinson, which was recorded at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, TN. Shawn is working on his ninth release with a fine group of string band pickers.

“I’m lucky to call the musicians who play on my albums, my friends. Every one of them is a fine soul and they believe in my music. I write most of my songs in solitude on a guitar or the piano, but for me, my music really comes alive when others are involved and that collective vibe and spirit is created - these guys make that happen and for that I am eternally grateful."

Shawn has shared all kinds of stages with all kinds of bands, from Gruene Hall with Asleep At The Wheel and Stubb’s with Drive-By Truckers to Shinyribs at Continental Club and Bungalow on Rainey Street for his weekly 2Fer1 show with fellow Austin songwriter, Graham Wilkinson. Shawn also holds down a weekly Tuesday residency with string band pickers at the second oldest venue in Austin, The Hole In The Wall.

"I’ve played my songs for many years in honky-tonks, bars, clubs, dancehalls, big stages, small stages, backyard parties, campfires, patios, hotel rooms, motel rooms, parking lots, farmers markets, flat-bed trailers, boats and even buses. Some of the songs are set closers, but all of them come from the heart and some of them are even true.”

2016 is proving to be a productive year for the songwriter with his songs featured on two upcoming releases from Austin artists, Graham Wilkinson and Samuel Grey Horse. Graham recorded one of Shawn's unreleased reggae songs, "I Am Not Alone" for his #Because Of You album and Grey Horse recorded the traveling country love song, "More Than California" off 2011's San Juan Street.

“I am a songwriter, singer and player. My main instrument is the acoustic guitar, a Gibson J-45. I call her The Workhorse and she earns every inch of that name. We have had a storied life together. She was actually stolen at a gig in 2015 and was returned to me by the Austin Police! When I was re-united with her, I realized that I am here on this terrestial plane to be a songwriter. I love to write songs and there's nothing better than playing my songs for folks, it’s what got me here and what keeps me going.“

Shawn and the group of string band pickers featuring Matt Slusher (South Austin Jug Band, Wood & Wire) on guitar, Fletcher Murchison (Will Dupuy, La Tampiquena) on mandolin and Morgan Patrick Thompson (John Evans, Asylum Street Spankers) on upright bass have recorded a live studio album slated to be released in early Fall of 2016.

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DISCOGRAPHY

Shawn Nelson - "You Are Me" (2016)
Shawn Nelson & Graham Wilkinson - "2fer1" (2015)
Shawn Nelson - "The Devils River" (2015)
Shawn Nelson and The Good Buds - "Enough" EP (2012)
Shawn Nelson - "San Juan Street" (2011)
Shawn Nelson - "Ain't No Easy Way" (2009)
Shawn Nelson and The Ramblers - "Live From Antone's" (2005)
Shawn Nelson and the Ramblers (2004)
Crazy Chester - "To Here From There" (2003)