Over 50 Festivals and still only aged 20
Richard Perso, being an only child he always had to make up for his isolation by creating the same amount of mess as 3 kids. Therefore it was only a natural progression that led him to making as much noise as a 3-piece band. He doesn’t seem to have enough arms, legs or lungs to pull off such a physically demanding performance but that doesn’t stop him from playing 3 didgeridoos, driving a weapons cache of 4 overdriven acoustic guitars and somehow managing to replace the roll of a drummer with little more than his 2 feet. Having only picked up the guitar 6 years ago, it is fair to say that Richard Perso has achieved more in his short time than many musicians may ever dream of achieving. He played his first festival at the age of 15, won a string of competitions and awards at the age of 16, played at the Adelaide International Guitar Festival and The National Folk Festival by 17. At 18 he has added Woodford Folk Festival and New York performances to his resume, a further 17 festivals during 2009 as well as recording his Debut album in New York City which was released in March 2010. The momentum is building while the path Perso blazes is spreading. During recent performances, Richard has been voted by festival goers as one of the most popular acts, outranking many of the headline acts.

Richards festival appearances include: 2011 Harvest Festival, Culburra Beach Festival, Golden Horseshoe Festival, National Folk Festival, Yackandandah Folk Festival, Mt Buller Picnic In The Park, Carnivale Stomp, Melbourne Didgeridoo Festival, Moonee Valley Festival, Cool Summer Festival, Australian Blues Festival, Tamar Folk Festival, Illawarra Folk Festival, 2010 – Tarerer Festival, Sydney Blues Festival, Fleurieu Folk Festival, Turning Wave, AUSfolk , Mount Beauty Music Festival, Yackandandah Folk Festival, Wodonga Carnivale Spice, Tumbafest, Bruthen Blues, Tamar Folk Festival, 2009 Woodford Folk Festival, Majors Creek Festival, Maldon Folk Festival, Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, Newcastle Blues, Ostara Equinox Festival, Wagga Jazz and Blues (Best young performer for 2nd consecutive year), Mt Beauty Music Festival (voted one of the top 3 performers), National Folk Festival, Yackandandah Folk Festival, Wodonga Carnivale, Maitreya, Corinbank Music Festival, Tumbafest, Bruthen Blues, Federation Festival, 2008 Folk Rhythm and Life (FRL), Adelaide International Guitar Festival, Music Majic, Majors Creek Music Festival, Bidgee Blues Festival, Uranquinty Folk Festival, Wagga Jazz and Blues (Including Best Young Performer), Basin Music Festival Including singer songwriter award, Devonshire Blues, Yackandandah Folk Festival, Wodonga Carnivale, Lounging on High, Live and Loud, Albury Australia Day Holbrook BNS Ball, Deni Ute Muster 2007, Young Performers Beechworth 2007, Make Poverty History 2007, Wagga Jazz and Blues 2007.

And festivals coming up shortly include: Snowy Mountains of Music, Village Festival Yeppoon, Turning Wave Festival 2011, Caloundra Music Festival, Fleurieu Folk Festival 2011, Folk In Broke, Indiefest 2012, plus regular venue gigs.

Major awards include One of the 4 hot young guitarists from The Adelaide International Guitar Festival (while still aged 17), A finalist in the APRA development awards, The Liz Johnston award for vocal excellence at the National Folk Festival, Best blues performer Wagga Jazz and Blues 2008 and 2009, The Basin singer / songwriter award. Hot off the press as Richard has been invited back to Canada for festivals in July and August 2012.

Chris Atwell from Tamar Valley Folk Festival:
“We opened the festival with Richard
as we wanted to start the festival with a bang
and this was an understatement as Richard exploded onto the stage.
What an opening!”

Wendy Rudin - Spirit FM 92.3 and Blues judges commented on his Wagga performance quite simply with “He gives me goose bumps”. “Beautiful low range, and so young”.