Rupert Wates was born in London and studied at Oxford University. He began his full-time songwriting career in the late 1990s after signing a publishing deal with Eaton Music Limited. In London, he collaborated with top-tier performers before moving to Paris in 2001, where he formed his own quartet and began performing regularly. Since relocating to the United States in 2006, Wates has made his home between New York City and Colorado and has earned more than 50 songwriting and performing awards.
Performing an average of 120 shows annually across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, Wates prefers intimate listening rooms where the focus is on connection and storytelling. He was voted Artist of the Year in both 2013 and 2016 by Concerts In Your Home and was their most-booked performer for five consecutive years. In 2018, he was a finalist in the Kerrville New Folk Song Contest and named an Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.
The potluck is optional, but is a great chance to connect others in the audience and maybe even share a meal with the artist. It also helps ensure the artist isn't having to have a meal from a gas station. We'll provide the plates, bowls, silverware, napkins, and, if you need it, serving spoons. Feel free to bring anything you'd like--an entrée, appetizer, dessert, or drink to share. Bring something you will enjoy eating, because if you enjoy it it is likely others will as well.