BRETT NEWSKI - LIVE MUSIC AT ROCK RIVER TAP
January 17, 2026 7-10pm
Hosted by the Horicon Phoenix Program and Rock River Tap
“A collision of Hwy 61 Bob Dylan & 90’s alternative”
“I like the sound and the way he is forcing the world to contend with him.” -Brian Ritchie, Violent Femmes
Newski writes great songs and sings em like a champ. He could entertain Russian mob members in a Siberian prison and still come out on top. He’s that good. -Steve Poltz
Alt-Americana songwriter Brett Newski has been described as a “collision of highway 61 Bob Dylan & 90s alternative.” Newski initially gained attention touring in South Africa before building a career on the American songwriter circuit. He coined the term “ameriCONa” to describe his scrappy, outsider take on Americana rock n roll.
www.brettnewski.com
ameriCONa LP:
https://brettnewski.bandcamp.com/album/americona-pt-1-educate-freeloaders-to-buy-art
Solo performance of “Black Taxi Car” on South African TV Cape Town:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJbyyXsxJfr/?igsh=eGN4NGx0am9tOTNu
Known for his quirky lyricism, offbeat humor, and storytelling-driven sets, comparisons have been drawn to Tom Petty, Todd Snider, Cracker, with splashes of 90’s alternative. Newski has toured relentlessly, from Asia to Europe to the American Midwest, sharing stages with Toad the Wet Sprocket, Violent Femmes, Steve Poltz, Courtney Barnett, and Pixies. His songs explore mental health, the absurdities of modern life, and the grit it takes to stay hopeful.
He’s also the author of “It’s Hard to Be a Person: Defeating Anxiety, Surviving the World, and Having More Fun,” a mental health book turned cult favorite, and host of the podcast “Dirt from the Road.”
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