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Miles Calder began writing songs after he was given a copy of Ryan Adams’ Heartbreaker while drumming in indie-rock bands during his university years in Wellington, New Zealand. Drawing inspiration from Neil Young, Justin Townes Earle, Bright Eyes and Bob Dylan, as well as the sprawling natural landscapes that he was studying, the 25 year old has developed a skilful and distinctive Americana songwriting style with narrative lyrics. In 2013, his newly formed band Miles Calder & The Rumours self-released their debut EP, The Crossing Over: seven succinct country and folk originals exhibiting raw honesty and eloquent storytelling. The EP was nominated for the NZ Taite Music Prize (Best Album) and the RIANZ Best Country Music Album. The song ‘The Avenue' gained an honourable mention in both the International Songwriting Competition and the Unsigned Only song competition and ‘The Crossing Over’ was a finalist in The John Lennon Songwriting Contest. The band have since sold out a string