When the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 saw lockdown orders put in place all around the world it was a crushing blow for the live entertainment industry. Overnight, musicians and other performers were left without the means of earning a living.

But, for Canowindra singer/songwriter Nerida Cuddy, the lockdowns had an unexpected and positive effect on her career, connecting her with new audiences and has led to her embarking on a tour to the UK.

“Covid was actually, for me, a time of opening a lot of doors,” Nerida said, although adds that it was all very unexpected.

During lockdowns in 2020, Nerida began making videos of her music for her Facebook page but then stumbled on an online group where other folk musicians were sharing their music.

“I uploaded something to that not realising that it was UK-based and people really responded positively!” Nerida said.

“They were all locked down for a lot longer than we were in Australia and I filmed most of the songs out in beautiful locations, like canola fields, or lookouts, or by the sides of rivers.

“I think they really loved how the songs are so deeply immersed in the Australian landscape and how it's different to their own and it invited them into my world in a really sort of evocative way, I guess.”

Nerida soon found herself being invited to contribute to virtual concerts on YouTube and to join folk clubs in the UK in places like Cornwall and Bristol, and in other countries. For the past two-and-a-half years, she has been a part of this online community, performing almost weekly for new fans all over the world.

But in two weeks’ time, she will be switching off her laptop and leaving our shores to perform live at festivals and clubs around the UK.

“I’m starting up in Scotland where I've done YouTube concerts for this folk club during their lockdown and then I’ll be mostly based in Bristol, but getting to Cornwell and to a couple of other clubs and festivals during that time,” she said.

“I’m excited to meet these friends in person… some of them have walked with me through hard things like when my Mum was dying, they were actually really good friends on the other side of the world. So what I’m really looking forward to is just sitting in their lounge rooms and hanging out in person.”

Nerida’s also hoping this UK tour won’t be her last.

“I’m also going to a folk festival where a lot of festival organisers go and my friends are going to introduce me to them so that hopefully I can line up a more expansive tour next time,” she said.

“My whole career has been as an isolated musician, living in a small country town and bringing up three kids, so it's been really fun and amazing that, from my little studio in Canowindra, I've been able to perform on the other side of the world. That's pretty fun, hey!”