You start small...
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You drive your neighbour to a guitar club because he doesn't like the dark. You end up running the club, and two more like it.
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You meet somebody at the club and form a duo to get gigs in just one local pub, and you kind of end up playing everywhere.
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You start an open mic night, and fifteen years later you've played 1200 shows. You form bands. You join a tribute band and play theatres and festivals. You meet your guitar hero, he gives you his blessing.
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You ditch your day job. You teach, run workshops, you blog. You meet like-minded souls and form bonds and then one day, you give yourself permission to write your own songs.
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And then it gets interesting.
About...
I'm a self taught D.I.Y. artist with influences mainly drawn from Americana and Alternative Country Rock, including Wilco, R.E.M. Grant Lee Phillips, The Record Company, Neil Young, NEEDTOBREATHE, Chris Stapleton, Calexico, Jason Isbell, Counting Crows and the many incarnations of Jack White. If I at any point manage to sound anything like any of these people, I'll be a happy man, but I'm not trying to specifically be like anyone else.
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I don't set out to write about anything in particular. Songs come, or they don't, but I try everyday, in one form or another. Most times I don't really understand what I'm writing about until well after the fact, but all the old suspects are there... the human condition, humour and fear, nature and the universe, love and heartbreak. I'm not ruling anything out though. I try to be emotionally honest, and I try to be positive, but it's not all about me, and some stories are just stories. Right now my mission is to try and present a selection of material that shows the range of my writing, whilst hopefully learning more about the recording process.
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I've been a guitarist, bassist, vocalist, casual mandolinist, and a few other 'ists' since becoming a full time musician in my mid thirties. I've played in all sorts of bands, but my current projects feel the most natural. REMbrandt, one of the U.K.s only R.E.M. tribute bands, and a country inspired covers band, The Alabama Stills, which has in turn spawned some other side projects.... I've been pretty lucky with whom I've got to play music with. Long may it continue!
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Interviews & Reviews...
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CANVAS REBEL US Magazine Interview February 2025.
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ILLUSTRATE US Magazine Interview May 2025.
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".....find a growing sense of hope and positivity. The music is simplicity itself, bare and intimate, carrying the listener through soft moments of feelings. You get to witness it as they form, floating in it, with it. A country folk song that traces the small and simple things that end up becoming big, beautiful things." Whistling Traveller Sept 2025
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" .....this single is a must listen. (Stay On The Line is) More than just a song, it's an invitation to wait out the silences and find meaning in the spaces between words" Apricot Magazine Sept 2025
"...Westingway has recently released his new single, Stay On The Line, which marks a shift from his usual guitar-led sound to a more piano-centered approach. It’s a personal piece shaped by recent life changes, echoing real conversations and emotional transitions. The track leans into introspection, blending Americana and alt-country rock influences with stripped-back sincerity." Tunesaround Sept 2025
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"....'Grace' is a song about doing whatever it takes to get back to someone—or something—you’ve loved and lost. It’s the kind of theme that’s universally felt, and Wheeler doesn’t dress it up with unnecessary gloss or forced sentimentality. Instead, he leans into the rawness of the emotion, creating a song that feels like a late-night confession on a long drive home...." Haymai.com June 2025
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"...sincerity, a dash of rough charm, and a voice like a cozy flannel shirt - worn in and ageless..."
'Grace' Lost In The Manor June 2025
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"...A masterclass in emotive folk rock layered with subtle country textures. From the very first strum, the song envelops listeners in a soundscape that feels both timeless and intimate...." 'Grace' Music Evolution May 2025
"...Through a melody of Alt Country and Indie Rock this project has made us feel excited, we have adored the warm and reflective rhythm that it presents, without a doubt Westingway is distinctive and offers a very cozy soundscape..." 'Grace' End Sessions May 2025
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"...By immersing the listener in a rural and, country setting, the track's bucolic style ends up being a consequent sensory experience..." 'Grace' Roadie Music May 2025
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"...'Grace' arrives with a focus on country, but not in it's conventional way. It carries an alternative vein which excels in mixing electric and acoustic elements...." Music For All May 2025
"...poignant lyrics and rich, eclectic arrangement...." 'Horses' Songplode April 2025
"...Hailing from West Sussex, Westingway has released the Americana single, ‘Horses‘. It is fuelled by charming performances, engaging lyrics and a thoughtful arrangement. ‘Horses‘ is a single that will have you reaching for the repeat button this April." FV Music April 2025
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Without Whom... etc...
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This music wouldn't get anywhere without Jeff Clark. He's like a silent partner... who's rarely very silent. He didn't want a mention. Tough luck, Jethro. Any and all good things should go Jeff's way.
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I'd also like to thank Steve Twinley from 'Learn To Drive'... a brilliant musician and a constant source of knowledge and enthusiasm in the field of home recording.
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And to my ever understanding family and friends, who might not really understand everything I do, but generally let me do it anyway. You are appreciated.