David Hyams is one of Western Australia's most accomplished composers, producers, and multi - instrumentalists. Playing acoustic, electric and steel guitars, as well as mandolin, bass and bouzouki, he has performed in a wide range of musical styles, from blues, rock and country to the progressive folk of popular WA acts Devils on Horseback, The Press Gang and Reel to Reel.

A respected session guitarist and producer, David is known for his work with a range of Western Australian singer songwriters, including Lynn Hazelton, Lara Stephen and Bernard Carney. He has also worked as sideman to a number of international artists, and in early 2005 toured Australia and Ireland with acclaimed Irish performer Sean Keane.

In 2000, David emerged as a composer and artist in his own right with the release of his critically acclaimed debut "Miles To Go". The 13 track instrumental album attracted considerable radio airplay across Australia and a string of great reviews at home and abroad (read reviews). Live performances by his 7 piece "Miles To Go band" followed, the band soon becoming a festival favourite and nominated 3 times for a West Australian Music Industry Association (WAMI) award. In October 2005, he released his follow up album, "Knowing the Place".

David has composed for documentary and feature film, with his music being aired on numerous TV soundtracks. He also wrote the title song to the Australian feature "Mad Bomber in Love" which received high rotation airplay on ABC radio. As a songwriter he has collaborated with many artists and has been nominated in the WAM song contest on 3 occasions, with an award in the folk category in 1993. His track "Flat out like a lizard drinking" was a finalist in the recent 2005 awards and is featured on the 2006 WAM CD compilation.

David has had a long involvement with WA indigenous musicians, including Peter Brandy from Kununurra, Kerriane Cox and the Young Guns (Wyndham). He has worked on a number of projects with Aboriginal and regional communities, most recently as a co-ordinator of a community music project in the Central Desert community of Jameson (Mantamaru) in 2005 and 2006.

David continues to work from his Fremantle base as a full time musician, composer and producer. He is a member of ArtsWA's contemporary music panel and longstanding WAM board member, being elected to the President's position in April 2006.

In the 2006 Port Fairy Folk festival, he was featured as part of the "Maton Guitar Experience" concert, alongside such luminaries as Harry Manx, Bruce Mathiske. Michael Fix and Andrew Pendulbury. see photos

Awards

1993 WAM song contest, Second Prize, Folk category (with Lynn Hazelton)

2000 WAMI Awards, Nomination "Best Original Folk Act"

2002 WAMI Awards, Nomination "Best World Music Act"(with Tok Pan Tok)

2004 WAM song contest, Finalist, Country category (with Lynn Hazelton)

2005 WAMI Awards, Nomination, "Best World Music Act"

2005 Australian Songwriters Asn. Song Contest, Finalist

2005 WAM song contest, Finalist, World/Folk category

2006 WAMI Awards, Nomination, "Best World Music Act"

2006 Music Oz awards runner up – Instrumental category

2007 WAMI Awards, Nomination, "Best World Music Act"

2007 Music Oz awards finalist – Instrumental category

2008 WAMI Awards, Nomination, "Best World Music Act"

Selected Albums Produced

1990 Devils on Horseback: Scatter The Mud

1995 Lynn Hazelton: Living Water

1998 Steve Hammond: Naked Heart

1998 Peter Brandy: Kimberley Backroads

1999 David Hyams: Miles To Go

2000-1 Lara Stephen: Deep Dead Blue

2002 Feathers and Tributes: Bernard Carney

2004 West: Bernard Carney

2005 Knowing the Place: David Hyams

2007 Peter Brandy: Long Time Ago

Selected Filmography - click here for a full list

1989 Visual Instincts: Contemporary Australian Photography - SBS documentary series

1992 Mad Bomber in Love - feature film

1992 Dream Rider - short feature film

1996 Silk and Steel - ABC TV documentary

1996 Artists Up Front: Josie Ningali Lawford - SBS documentary

2001 Miles To Go - documentary

2003 No Frontiers - Travel show for RTE Television (Ireland)

2004 Little Creatures - national cinema promotion

2005 Sex sells - feature film currently in pre -production

Workshops

1994 Kununurra Youth services, Kununurra

1996 Night of the Dusty Moon, Community music Project

2000 WAM workshops - songwriting, producing

2003 Fairbridge Festival, Album production

2004 Fairbridge Festival, Album production

2005 Nannup music festival, Album production

2004 Araluen Folk Festival, Album Production

2005 and continuing - Mantamaru Community (Jameson), Songwriting to recording, performance and music business skills

2006 Ministry of Justice - Songwriting workshops - Woorooloo and Hakea prisons

2007 Looma Aboriginal Community – Songwriting/recording

2007 Awesome Arts Carnarvon Community Residency