Acclaimed Australian folk singer-songwriter Ernest Aines has returned this month with his latest single, Just Once, set for release on 23rd May, alongside a new run of UK live dates that will take his spellbinding brand of soul-stirring folk to churches, concert halls and intimate venues across the country. Aines, who has built a devoted UK following across three previous sold-out tours, will mark his fourth visit to the UK in just 18 months with a string of shows stretching from Plymouth to Liverpool, Cardiff to London. The tour will showcase new material, including the emotional weight of Just Once – a quiet, slow-burning meditation on unrequited love and emotional distance.
Ernest Aines
Just Once finds the thirtysomething Melbourne-hailing musician at his most vulnerable, channelling the ache of invisible devotion with lines like “You’re an anaesthetist – what a waste without love if I don’t feel it” and “I can’t do it all by myself.” Featuring his signature fingerpicked guitar work and a voice full of soul and sincerity, the track captures the heartbreak of standing in someone’s shadow, desperate to be chosen — just once. Pre-save the new single here.
Aines’ new material continues to cement his reputation as one of Australia’s finest folk exports. Drawing comparisons to Nick Drake, Ray LaMontagne, Bon Iver and Jeff Buckley, he was nominated for Australian Artist of the Year at the Folk Alliance Awards in both 2023 and 2024. His 2023 debut album Spiral Bound won critical acclaim from Americana UK, who praised its balance of introspection and exuberance.
Live, Aines is a commanding yet understated presence, armed with just a guitar and stomp box, weaving intricate melodies and lyrical depth with ease. His previous UK tours saw standing ovations and high-profile appearances, including a BBC live session, a set at Cambridge Folk Festival, and a confirmed spot at Celtic Connections.
This spring’s tour includes standout venues such as SJE Arts Oxford, All Hallows Church in Liverpool, and Cardiff’s Dora Stoutzker Concert Hall. UK fans will be among the first to hear Just Once and other unreleased songs performed live, marking another chapter in the fast-rising artist’s international journey.
Upcoming UK Tour Dates:
MAY
20th – Methodist Central Hall, Plymouth
22nd – St Mary’s Church, Bathwick
24th – The Deanery Theatre, Swindon
28th – SJE Arts, Oxford
31st – Dora Stoutzker Concert Hall, Cardiff
JUNE
2nd – Crescent Theatre, Main House, Birmingham
3rd – The Y, Leicester
5th – Victoria Hall, Bolton
6th – All Hallows Church, Liverpool
7th – Victoria Hall, Sheffield
10th – St Giles’ Church, Camberwell, London
Girlpuppy At London’s Lower Third – A Shimmering Study In Emotional Honesty
Share Thing