ABOUT

​​​M.E. Baird is a talent worthy of attention. Not only is he a critically acclaimed 'dark folk' singer and songwriter with a three-decade career, but he is also a visual artist whose work is as unique and captivating as his music. Looking at his body of work, you soon recognise a symbiotic relationship, rooted in storytelling, between his visual and musical worlds. From his deep, lamenting voice and beguiling songs to his thought-provoking artwork, M.E. Baird is an artist in every sense.  

 

Originally from Melbourne, M.E. Baird has lived in many places since, each a unique chapter in life and art and is currently pursuing a slower-paced life in the historic rural township of Bangalow, nestled in the hinterland of the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.​

​

"The slowly developing, intimately held tracks, which are neither folk nor country, but maybe a Cohen/Cave-inspired interpretation of both, are meant for the small, dark, alone spaces of your life. Being also a visual artist,  there is no surprise that his songs are often described as possessing a distinct visual richness and depth, where each song can be like a cinematic vignette."  ★★★★ - Sydney Morning Herald

 

LATEST IN MUSIC

Go back to 2021: M.E. Baird faced significant challenges, most notably a cancer diagnosis and the impact of COVID, which led to the cancellation of a tour and his musical plans. With two bouts and five years of treatment, he channelled these experiences into Spinning Man, a six-track mini-album. Spinning Man received immediate critical acclaim for its distinctive songwriting and a quiet intensity - 'a panacea for the chaos of life'.  Although touring was off the agenda, Baird managed three local release shows in 2024, which were heartwarmingly well received and praised for their emotional intensity and left-of-centre approach and delivery. Building on this positive response, Baird will return in 2026 to perform Spinning Man live in an expanded version, featuring new songs and a richer sound that includes drums, keys, and other sonic textures. 

​

​MUSIC BACKGROUND

M.E. Baird began his musical career in Melbourne in the late 1980s, as part of the St Kilda and Melbourne inner-city post-punk and rock scene. He has written, recorded, co-produced, and released five critically acclaimed solo albums, as well as various recordings under several band names. For a time, he also performed and recorded under the pseudonym 'LionelLee'. Early in his career, he was fortunate to share the stage with some of Australia’s most influential musicians, including Roland S. Howard, Spencer P. Jones, Chris Wilson, Ian Rilen, Brian Hooper and Ed Kuepper, all of whom had a profound impact on his career.

​

​​​