Performer. Traveller. Yogi. Songsmith… Lover of Life.
BIO.
Mark Ridout sings rousing and uplifting folk-roots songs inspired by true love, travel and spirituality. Based in Byron Bay, his voice has been described as “hugely expressive” and “compelling” (Hotpress, Dublin), as well as “atmospheric and elemental” (Acoustic Magazine, UK).
Originally from London, Mark has supported Ed Sheeran and Kate Miller Heidke, sung with top electronic producers such as Jamie Stevens, Antix and King Unique and reviewed music for BBC Radio.
A natural troubadour and traveller, Mark Ridout’s rootsy sound has been crafted in the wilderness of India and Morocco and in the buzzing cafes and streets of London, New York and Barcelona. Along the way he taught music in psychiatric wards in London and in the disability services in Australia.
He shares his songs such as ‘Full of Love’ and ‘Great Ocean Sky’ in his home town of Byron Bay, where he recently performed a prolific 100 times over 100 days. Although he occasionally performs solo he now usually plays with his trio; joined by Damian on drums and Anthea on violin.
With fans such as Elle Mcpherson and Livia Firth and a new EP ready to release, this passionate songsmith is sure to lift hearts across the country.
My musical life in a nutshell: At a tender age I began learning the piano and the trumpet. After realising I wanted to ROCK! I learnt drums and started playing in bands making severe levels of noise and sweating a lot. This was so much fun, but I was also nurturing a more ’sensitive’ side that was itching to come out through short poems and rambles of writing. Through the natural course of things I found my first acoustic guitar which then became my main songwriting companion (as well as tea). This guitar went on to be covered in flags of all the countries it travelled to. I broke the back of guitar playing with a close friend whilst jamming out Radiohead and Nirvana songs when we were 13. We rented out a place in the Scottish highlands with the intension to go snowboarding, but when we found there was no snow, we spent the entire week singing and learning new chords. I carried on playing drums and electric guitar in rock and metal bands whilst developing my acoustic writing, untilthe singer-songwriter in me took over entirely. After studying the Psychology of Consciousness, working in mental health wards and gigging around Bristol and then London for the next 6 years, between travels to the East and releasing 3 Eps, I moved to Byron Bay, Australia. I started performing in the streets, markets, pubs and cafes of my new home, with my wife Ra, a Byronion, healer and newly budding cellist. We recorded an album called ‘Shen’ together in 2012, and she still joins me on stage occasionally, during my busy and passionate gigging schedule, in and around the Byron Shire. Also, revelling in the chance to travel for the Radiant Life festival in Port Douglas, a European tour and a tour of Bali. I enjoy a good film, eating, yoga, surfing, walking, the ocean & travel….but my main passion lies writing and performing the songs. I love the whole process: the excitement of the initial phrase, developing the idea, maybe leaving it for a while, helping it grow some more,relentlessly jamming it, watching the words come, and rearranging it. Once ripe, helping it find its way out into the world. People sometimes ask how I write. For me, the music always comes first. Not out of choice, but out of happening. When I come out with something exciting on the guitar, I play around with vocal melodies, and allow other sections to evolve from that…It could be one week or six months later I feel inspired to write the lyrics. Often much later than I might like! The words are formed to fit the intonation of the melody and the feel of the sound.
