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Darren Hanlon is an Australian singer-songwriter from Gympie, Queensland. Prior to becoming a solo artist in 1999, Hanlon was a member of Lismore indie rock band The Simpletons, with whom he released four albums and several EPs prior to their 1997 split. Hanlon also contributed backing guitar and keyboards for The Lucksmiths, The Dearhunters, and Mick Thomas. Hanlon describes his style of music as "urban area folk," and has been described by Pitchfork as having "distinctive narrative vision" in his music.
Hanlon is known for his engagement with his audiences, through his down-to-earth storytelling at live gigs. He has toured with the Weather Station, Michael Hurley, Billy Bragg, David Dondero, Tim Kasher, Violent Femmes, The Magnetic Fields, and Courtney Barnett. Barnett name-checked Hanlon as an early influence on her own writing. Described as having "a certain brilliance", Hanlon has also been praised as "a spectacular songwriter; able to create a whole scene from the sum of its subtleties and wit interspersed with poignant moments."
Hanlon's song "Punk's not Dead" was voted in at number 45 in the 2002 Triple J Hottest 100 listener poll. His song "Happiness Is A Chemical" placed at number 68 in the 2006 poll.
In 2015 Hanlon released his fifth solo album, Where Did You Come From? Songs were recorded in New Orleans, Memphis, Muscle Shoals, Nashville and Clarksdale, with an array of musicians he met along the way, from instrumentalists of popular music Spooner Oldham, David Hood, Howard Grimes, to unknown buskers and street musicians.
Hanlon performs Christmas concerts in December of each year, and has done since 2005. The shows, mostly held in churches and halls, routinely sell out each year.
Hanlon has a son with his partner US folk singer Shelley Short.
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