Cletis Carr
Americana | Folk | Blues | Songsmith & Storyteller

Perched atop the summit where Americana, folk, and blues collide, Cletis Carr is a master storyteller whose songs unfold like cinematic vignettes—woven through the soulful tones of acoustic steel-string and resonator guitars.

Raised in the U.S., Carr first caught fire with his 1980 new wave band Sneakers, kicking off a global solo career that’s spanned continents, twelve solo releases, and a string of critically acclaimed band projects.

Over the decades, Carr has shared stages with legends—Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello, Joan Jett, Nick Lowe, and more. A short vacation in Australia turned into a whirlwind of collaborations with members of AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, The Easybeats, and The Saints. He toured nationally with blues heavyweights Bondi Cigars and formed standout groups like Big Whiskey and Hillbilly Moon, both met with high praise.

In the '90s, a publishing deal with Warner-Chappell Music drew him behind the curtain as an award-winning songwriter and producer. Relocating to Nashville, he became a regular at iconic venues like The Bluebird Café and Douglas Corner, while co-writing with a wide range of artists. A return to Australia in 2001 saw him working with Liberation Music on a national promo campaign.

Carr has over 100 original songs released globally, dozens of covers by fellow artists, and numerous film and TV placements. His track "What About You" took home a 2003 ABC Music Award and closed the hit film Danny Deckchair (starring Miranda Otto and Rhys Ifans).

When the pandemic hit, Carr returned to his home studio. 2021 marked a creative resurgence, with new material featured on compilation albums and a fresh EP, Lurid Casino of Existence. In 2022, he dropped a follow-up EP featuring the single Hard Working People alongside rarities and live cuts. His 2023 full-length Trouble & Me leaned into blues-rock and drew rave reviews.

In 2024, Carr returned to Nashville where he's now working behind the scenes—booking and managing international tours for emerging artists. His 2026 release, Footsteps II, will be a long-awaited retrospective that traces his musical journey in vivid detail.

Now splitting his time between Sydney, Australia and Nashville, Tennessee, Cletis Carr continues to spin tales, stir souls—and yes, he tries to collect Australian wine, but the bottles rarely survive the week.