Comment: If/when this is approved it should be moved to The Honey Badgers (band) due to possible confusion with Honey Badger (disambiguation) and redirects. - PhilDaBirdMan (Talk | Contribs) 01:54, 3 May 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest guideline, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Nigelbourn (talk) 04:42, 1 May 2026 (UTC)
The Honey Badgers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Genres | Blues, soul |
| Years active | 2016 (2016)–present |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | thehoneybadgers |
The Honey Badgers[1] are an Australian blues and soul band based in Adelaide, South Australia. They are the second Australian band to reach the Grand Finale of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.[2][3]
History
The Honey Badgers were formed in 2016 by Nigel Bourn on tenor saxophone and Benny Brown on lead vocals and guitar, who were soon joined by Peter Allan on drums and Peter Nixon on bass guitar. The line-up was expanded in 2017 by Tim Frears on vocals, trumpet, flute, and saxophone, and Geo Heathcote on baritone saxophone from McLaren Vale.
The ensemble won the Adelaide Roots and Blues Association's Memphis Blues Challenge in 2022, thereby qualifying for the 2023 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, United States. They performed at Beale Street venues and the Orpheum Theatre, finishing in the top six in the band category.[4] Their performance was described in the Sunday Mail, on 5 February 2023 while the Honey Badgers were still in the US.[5]
The band's first studio album, Shakin' (2024), received reviews in US-based Steel Notes Magazine[6] and Blues Blast Magazine.[7]
Musical style and awards
The Honey Badgers' style is a blend of blues, soul, and funk.[8]
The band won Album of the Year at the 2024 and 2025 Adelaide Roots and Blues Association (ARBA) Album Awards.[9] They also won the Most Popular Blues and Roots Artist award at the 2024 South Australian Music Awards.[10] The band's debut album, Shakin', was No. 1 on the Australian Blues & Roots Airplay Chart (ABARAC) and were placed on the charts for nine months.[11]
Touring and festival appearances
The band has toured Australia after returning from the USA in 2023 and festival appearances include:
Profile
A profile of founding member, Nigel Bourn, including details about the band's 10-year history, is included in Volume 6 of Pauline Baily's Blues Portrait series, expected in late 2026.[17]
Members
- Nigel Bourn: tenor saxophone
- Peter Nixon: bass and backing vocals
- Tim Frears: vocals, trumpet, flute, saxophone
- Peter Hollow: lead vocals, guitar
- Nick Southgate: drums (2024-present)
- Ena Faulks: baritone saxophone (2026-present)[18]
Past members
- Benny Brown, founder, lead vocals and guitar (2016-2021)
- Peter Allan: founding drummer (died 2024)
- Geo Heathcote: baritone saxophone (2017-2025)
- Matt Carson: drums (2020-2021)
Discography
Shakin'
- Released: April 2024
- Format: CD, digital
Live in Noarlunga
- Released: March 2025
- Format: CD, digital
Frank Sultana and The Honey Badgers Live
- Released: 2026
- Shakin' (2024): Debut studio album recorded over three years.[19]
- Live in Noarlunga (2025): Recorded at the Noarlunga Bowls Club; second round finalist for Best Self-Produced CD by The Blues Foundation.
- Frank Sultana and The Honey Badgers Live (2026): A collaboration with Frank Sultana (Winner of the International Blues Challenge in 2023)
A second studio album is scheduled for release in late 2026.
Chart Positions
| Title | Album details | peak chart positions ABARAC [20] |
|---|---|---|
| Shakin' |
|
1 |
| Live in Noarlunga |
|
3
|
References
- "The Honey Badgers Homepage".
- "IBC 2023 Placings" (PDF).
- "IBC 2023 Placings".
- "Media Coverage of IBC results".
- "Sunday Mail newspaper article". Facebook.
- "Steel Notes Magazine Review".
- "Blues Blast Magazine Review".
- "The Honey Badgers". Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival.
- "ARBA Awards".
- "2024 Music SA Award Winners".
- "ABARAC Charts 2024".
- "WBF 2024 Lineup Annoucement".
- "2026 Echuca Winter Blues Festival".
- "Agnes Festival 2026 Lineup".
- "PNBF Lineups".
- "Blues in The Vines 2026".
- "Blues Portrait Volume 6, 2026".
- https://thehoneybadgers.net/history-and-badger-players/
- "The Honey Badgers". Bandcamp. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- "The Honey Badgers Tunes & Charts". thehoneybadgers.net. Retrieved 19 May 2026.