A whole lot of people have never heard of me. To most of the people who have, I’m the frontman and creator of the OG’s of the Rockgrass genre, Hayseed Dixie. But I’ve been playing odd-ball music and talking incessantly about philosophy, politics, and religion since being born in the dirtiest trailer park on Dickerson Pike, Nashville, Tennessee on a rainy January morning in 1970.
If it is indeed true that “entertainment” comfortably affirms your own world view while “art” stubbornly challenges it, then I reckon what I do is best consumed with whisk(e)y in your coffee and without water in your wine, though other people will likely tell you something different. By all means, do roll your own. While most of my time during the past 25 years has been occupied sleeping it off, releasing 17 albums and playing 1,500+ live shows in 33 countries with Hayseed Dixie, trying with some limited success mein fieses deutsch zu verbessern, and much more successfully annoying the ever-loving Perkele out my wife, daughters, and dog, I have also made several assorted solo recordings as well as occasionally producing albums for other artists.
I’m a Champagne Socialiser (if somebody else is buying) and a Prosecco Socialist. Conservatively Liberal, I’m either a righteous dude or a vile virtue-signaller, depending almost entirely upon your own attitudes.
My favo(u)rite colo(u)r is cayenne.
My favo(u)rite wine grape is Grüner Veltliner.
My favo(u)rite saying is: “If it offends you, then it’s about you.”
Upcoming Live Solo Shows
I’m currently busy playing live shows with Hayseed Dixie in Europe and the US throughout 2024.
Past Live Solo Show Dates
I don’t play a lot of solo live shows, but for posterity, below is a listing of all past John Wheeler solo live shows in chronological order:
1. June 11, 2012 – London, England – The Borderline
2. August 18, 2012 – South Creake, Norfolk, England – Jelly Festival
3. October 19, 2012 – Milano, Italia – Bloom (w/ Johnny Selfish)
4. October 20, 2012 – Auer-Ora, Italia – Piccolo Teatro Auer-Ora (w/ Johnny Selfish)
5. October 21, 2012 – Vimercate, Italia – Villa Sottocasa
6. November 21, 2012 – Bristol, England – Colston Hall
7. November 22, 2012 – Exeter, England – Phoenix
8. November 23, 2012 – Salisbury, England – Arts Centre
9. November 25, 2012 – Stoke on Trent, England – Sugarmill
10. November 27, 2012 – Aberdeen, Scotland – Lemon Tree
11. November 28, 2012 – Glasgow, Scotland – Oran Mor
12. November 29, 2012 – Newcastle, England – The Cluny
13. November 30, 2012 – Pocklington, England – Arts Centre
14. December 1, 2012 – Holmfirth, England – Picturedrome
15. December 8, 2012 – Cambridge, England – The Junction (w/ Ezio)
16. January 18, 2013 – Oslo, Norway – Parkteatret
17. February 7, 2013 – London, England – The Borderline
18. March 10, 2013 – London, England – The Slaughtered Lamb (w/ Shovels & Rope)
19. March 11, 2013 – London, England – The Slaughtered Lamb (w/ Shovels & Rope)
20. September 3, 2013 – Tuesday – London, England – The Garage (with Heartless Bastards)
21. September 12, 2013 – Thursday – Tunbridge Wells, England – The Forum
22. September 26, 2013 – Thursday – Cambridge, England – The Devonshire Arms
23. October 4, 2013 – Pavia, Italia – SpazioMusica
24. October 5, 2013 – Cantu, Italia – All’unaetrentacinque Circa
25. October 6, 2013 – Cusano Milanino, Italia – Circolo Arci Agora
26. December 21, 2013 – Cambridge, England – The Junction
27. January 21, 2014 – Cambridge, England – The Devonshire Arms
28. April 18, 2014 – St. Ives, England – Rhythm at the River
29. June 7, 2014 – Cambridge, England – Strawberry Fair Portland Ballroom
30. September 27, 2014 – Cambridge, England – Earl of Beaconsfield
31. October 1, 2014 – Norwich, England – Blueberry Music House
32. October 2, 2014 – Cambridge, England – The Portland Arms
33. October 4, 2014 – Oxford, England – The Cellar
34. October 6, 2014 – Brighton, England – The Greys
35. October 7, 2014 – Nottingham, England – The Maze
36. October 9, 2014 – Newbiggin by the Sea, England – The Maritime Centre
37. October 10, 2014 – Warrington, England – 9 Gallon
38. October 11, 2014 – Bury, England – The Met
39. October 16, 2014 – Aberdeen, Scotland – Cafe Drummond
40. October 17, 2014 – Glasgow, Scotland – Pivo Pivo
41. October 18, 2014 – Edinburgh, Scotland – Henry’s Cellar Bar
42. October 19, 2014 – Inverness, Scotland – Mad Hatter’s @ Hootenannys
43. October 23, 2014 – Bristol, England – The Thunderbolt
44. June 23, 2015 – Cambridge, England – The Devonshire Arms
45. July 12, 2015 – Bourn, England – Willow Fest
46. January 12, 2016 – Evesham, England – The Iron Road
47. January 13, 2016 – Chester, England – The Live Rooms
48. January 14, 2016 – Newbiggin by the Sea, England – The Maritime Centre
49. January 15, 2016 – Glasgow, Scotland – Audio
50. January 16, 2016 – Aberdeen, Scotland – Cellar 35
51. January 17, 2016 – Edinburgh, Scotland – Bannerman’s
52. January 20, 2016 – Stowmarket, England – John Peel Centre
53. January 21, 2016 – Cambridge, England – Portland Arms
54. January 22, 2016 – Bury, England – The Met Arts Centre
55. January 23, 2016 – Bristol, England – The Tunnels
56. January 24, 2016 – Southampton, England – The Brook
57. January 26, 2016 – Cardiff, Wales – Clwb Ifor Bach
58. January 27, 2016 – Putney, London, England – The Half Moon
59. March18, 2016 – Cambridge, England – St. Paul’s
60. June 18, 2017 – Cambridge, England – Thirstyfest
61. October 14, 2017 – Cambridge, England – Cambridge Blue
62. January 13, 2018 – Leverkusen, Deutschland – Hüttenzauber am Silbersee
63. April 1, 2018 – Cambridge, England – The Devonshire Arms
64. May 3, 2018 – Banham, Norfolk, England – The Barrel
65. May 4, 2018 – Cambridge, England – The Portland Arms
66. May 9, 2018 – Bristol, England – The Tunnels
67. May 10, 2018 – Sheffield, England – Greystones
68. May 17, 2018 – Newcastle, England – The Cluny 2
69. May 18, 2018 – Edinburgh, Scotland – Bannerman’s
70. May 19, 2018 – Glasgow, Scotland – Ivory Black’s
71. November 1, 2018 – Milton Keynes, England – The Craufurd Arms
72. November 2, 2018 – London, England – The Slaughtered Lamb
73. November 8, 2018 – Birmingham, England – Glee Club Birmingham
74. November 10, 2018 – Liverpool, England – 81 Renshaw Street
75. November 15 2018 – Workington, England – Carnagie Theatre & Arts Centre
76. November 16, 2018 – Durham, England – Old Cinema Laundrette
77. November 17, 2018 – Bury, England – The Met
78. December 12, 2018 – Moers, Deutschland – Dschungel Club
79. May 17, 2019 – Runcorn, England – Runcorn Lodge
80. May 23, 2019 – London, England – Royal Academy of the Arts
81. September 26, 2020 – Schriesheim, Deutschland – SSV Strahlenburg
82. January 13, 2024 – Leverkusen, Deutschland – Hüttenzauber am Silbersee