Bernard Fanning had already won the hearts of Australians by fronting the chart-topping Brisbane alt-rock band Powderfinger for a decade and a half, but his 2005 solo debut Tea & Sympathy confirmed the lasting power of his intuitive songwriting and rugged vocal delivery. Lead single “Wish You Well” even conquered the publicly voted triple J Hottest 100. Since Powderfinger wrapped up in 2010, Fanning has balanced similarly thoughtful solo records with well-judged collaborations: his 2014 duet with country singer Kasey Chambers even became the title track of her acclaimed album Bittersweet. And in 2024, following a long period of relative quiet in the wake of 2017’s Brutal Dawn, he debuted a new project with Something for Kate’s Paul Dempsey: the playfully named Fanning Dempsey National Park, which began as a remote collaboration during lockdown. Whatever mode he’s in, Fanning can always be relied upon to mingle Americana and rock while tapping into a deep sensitivity that remains undiminished after more than three decades in the music business.