David Hyams and the Miles to Go Band

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David Hyams and the Miles to Go Band - About David Hyams

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, dobro and harmonica, he has performed in a wide range of musical styles, from blues, pop/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 artists and also worked as sideman to a number of international acts, in 2005 touring Australia and Ireland with renowned 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. Live performances by his 7 piece "Miles To Go band" followed, the band soon becoming a festival favourite and 7 times nominated for "Best World Music Act" at the WA Music Industry Associations awards (WAMIs). In 2005, he released his follow up, "Knowing the Place", which also received widespread airplay, particularly in North America, where it was placed in the "Top albums and songs" of 2007 (compiled from the playlists of 149 Folk DJs). 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 3 times nominated for the WAM "Song of the year" awards, receiving an award in 1993. He was a finalist in the national MusicOz awards in 2006 and 2007, as well as the Australian Songwriters Association Awards in 2008. In 2009 he signed a publishing deal with Shock Publishing Australia.

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

He has been involved in community projects all over the state, having travelled to the Cocos Islands in 2010 to work with children in the Cocos Malay community. Over the past 4 years, he has been running songwriting workshops in several WA prisons, resulting in 55 songs being recorded - and including a collaboration with a women's choir in Boronia pre-release centre. A compilation album "Songs from the Inside" was released in May 2010, which includes 3 songs in Aboriginal languages and a song which has been used in offender treatment programs.

David has been a major contributor to WA's music industry - as a member of ArtsWA's contemporary music panel and a longstanding WAM board member, holding the President's position from 2006 - 2008. He remains on the board, with his contribution to the organisation and industry being acknowledged in 2010, when he was made the organisation's 3rd honorary life member.

From 2011-13 David worked as musical director on several shows in the Gascoyne region, and as producer and musical director for respected Arts company 'bighART' on the 'Murru' album project, written and recorded in the Roebourne community and prison.

He was commissioned to write music for the 20th anniversary of WA's Fairbridge Festival, which was performed with a 17 piece band and 80 piece choir at the 2012 festival finale.

David continues to work from his Fremantle base and released his third album "Travelling Bones", in 2013

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" (w 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
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"
2008	Australian Songwriters Asn. Song Contest, Finalist (2 songs)
2009	WAMI Awards, Nomination, "Best World Music Act"
2010	WAMI Awards, Nomination, "Best World Music Act"
2011	WAMI Awards, Nomination, "Best World Music Act"
2012	WAMI song of the Year, Finalist, Country category
2013	Tamworth Songwriters Association, Finalist

see list of albums produced by David...

see credits as film composer...

SELECTED WORKSHOPS

1994	Kununurra Youth services, Kununurra
2003-4	Fairbridge and Nannup Festivals - Album production
2005-6	Mantamaru Community (Jameson) - Music Skills development, Songwriting to recording
2007	Songwriting workshops Looma Community (Fitzroy Crossing)
2007	Artist in residence - Awesome Creative Challenge - Carnarvon
2006-10	Ministry of Justice - Woorooloo, Hakea, Casuarina, Albany prisons - Songwriting and recording workshops
2009	Rhythmsong Music Camp - guest artist/tutor
2009	Artist in residence - Awesome Creative Challenge - Pandanus Park
2010	Artist in residence - Cocos Islands Youth Music Project
2010	Nannup music festival - producer and guitar workshops
2010	South Halls Head - songwriting workshops
2010	Yamaji Yarning Songwriters Development Project
2011	Music Outback (APY lands SA) - Facilitator songwriting
2011	Burringurrah Remote Community school - songwriting workshops/Composing of school song
2011	Jigalong, Punmu (Western Desert) Communities - songwriting to recording workshops
2012	Fairbridge Festival 20th year - Commission of pieces/musical direction
2012	Gascoyne in May - Musical Direction of various shows
2012	2012-2013 "Healing songs", WA wheatbelt
2013	Roebourne Community for Murru album - Producer, Musical director
2014	History House Museum, Armadale WA - Artist in Residence