Oliver Hunt didn’t find the confidence to sing out loud until he was 29. Now the North East singer-songwriter has a new EP on the way, a banjo in hand and a growing collection of songs about heartbreak, hope and the complicated business of being human. Ahead of his appearance at the I Love North Shields Vintage Market, we caught up with Oliver to talk about finding his voice, the records that shaped him and why there should always be a silver lining.
There are plenty of musicians who will tell you they knew from childhood that they were destined to be on a stage.
Oliver Hunt isn’t one of them.
He picked up his first banjo at 17, inspired by discovering The Avett Brothers, and felt the urge to write songs — but there was one fairly substantial obstacle.
He didn’t have the confidence to sing them.
In fact, Oliver says he didn’t even feel comfortable singing to himself out loud until he was 29.
Then, in 2023, something changed.
After joining Durham-based band Inglenook, his bandmates persuaded him to perform one of his own songs.
He hasn’t stopped writing or performing since.
On Sunday 25 October, Oliver joins the line-up for PLAY THE MARKET, our full day of live music at the I Love North Shields Vintage Market, created in collaboration with LLIVELY Music.
And he’s arriving at an interesting moment.
His new EP, Now Leaving, comes out on 1 November.
So before he takes to our stage in The Loading Bay, we wanted to find out a little more about the man behind the songs.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS NEVER HEARD YOU BEFORE?
Oliver: “I find it tricky to summarise.
“My music takes inspiration from folk and Americana influences such as The Avett Brothers, The Felice Brothers, Gregory Alan Isakov, Tom T Hall and Doc Watson, as well as less genre-defined alternative artists such as Dr. Dog and Vampire Weekend, and more story and narrative-based lyricists like Townes Van Zandt and John Prine.
“But I can’t say I necessarily sound like any of them.
“After gigs, people have made comparisons to The Velvet Underground, The Moldy Peaches and The Waterboys.
“So I guess, in summary: an acoustic, lo-fi, folk, singer-songwriter, alternative blend!”
That’s quite a collection of reference points.
But perhaps the fact that Oliver finds his music difficult to put neatly into one box tells us more than picking a genre ever could.
The common thread seems to be the song itself — particularly the words and the story underneath them.
YOU PICKED UP A BANJO AT 17 — BUT DIDN’T REALLY START SINGING UNTIL MUCH LATER. WHAT HAPPENED?
Oliver: “My musical journey took a little longer than usual to come to fruition.
“Having felt the desire to write and create songs after discovering The Avett Brothers, and having picked up my first banjo at 17, I didn’t earn the confidence to even sing to myself out loud until I was 29, when I had written a couple of songs that I liked.
“After joining the Durham-based band Inglenook, I was encouraged by my band members to sing one of my songs live in 2023.
“Since then I’ve not put the pen down and have been performing my own songs both as part of the band and as a solo act.”
There is something wonderfully reassuring about that.
Music has a habit of being presented as a race: start young, get noticed young, succeed young.
Oliver’s story went at its own pace.
The banjo arrived at 17.
The confidence arrived at 29.
And the songs were still waiting.
IF WE SHOULD LISTEN TO ONE OLIVER HUNT SONG BEFORE THE MARKET, WHICH ONE?
Oliver: “I released a song last year called Holding Out For You, which was a song written to myself.
“It’s about reflecting on the past, but also looking ahead to the future through a positive lens — that no matter what your future holds there WILL be something in it you love.
“Whether that’s your own self-made actions leading to something wonderful, or people you don’t even know yet who can do the same for you.
“I think that’s a message that people constantly need reminding of, because it’s a beautiful, but also very tough world out there.”
Perhaps that’s the line that gets closest to the heart of Oliver Hunt’s songwriting.
Not blind optimism.
Not pretending the difficult bits don’t exist.
Acknowledging them — and looking for whatever might be waiting on the other side.
His new EP’s title, Now Leaving, suddenly feels rather appropriate.
WHAT ARE YOU WRITING ABOUT NOW?
Oliver: “From a writing standpoint, my current musical inspirations haven’t changed much.
“It’s day-to-day lives, feelings a lot of us are collectively experiencing and navigating on a daily basis — financial stresses, love, heartbreak, human interactions and the special connections we are all capable of having with one another as humans.”
And what is he listening to while writing all of this?
Cornershop.
Oliver: “Musically, I have been enjoying listening to Cornershop, as I always do.
“Having been locked in on recording over the last couple of months, it almost opens your ears up a bit more to hearing everything that goes on in other songs.
“They’ve got some great tunes with so much going on, but never too much.
“Always the perfect amount of going on.”
That’s not a bad philosophy for making records either.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT WHEN YOU STEP ONTO THE PLAY THE MARKET STAGE?
Oliver won’t be walking into a room full of strangers.
Two other artists on our October line-up — Sam Bennett and Sam Shields — are musicians he’s recently shared stages with.
And he’s looking forward to hearing them again just as much as playing himself.
Oliver: “I’m really excited to be joining so many wonderful musicians.
“Having performed recently with Sam Bennett and Sam Shields, I’m excited to watch those guys again, as well as seeing some new acts I’ve not seen yet.”
As for his own set?
Oliver: “People can expect a mix of uptempo banjo tunes as well as some gentle, lyric-focused songs on guitar.
“A lot of heartbreak, but always a silver lining…
“Well…
“My EP is called Now Leaving after all.”
And when the music stops?
There’s the small matter of more than 50 vintage and antique traders surrounding him.
Oliver: “I’m also looking forward to seeing if I can snag any bargains.
“I love a nice vintage jacket!”
Oliver, you’re coming to the right place.
PLAY THE MARKET
This is exactly what we hoped would start happening when we began developing PLAY THE MARKET with Laura Rosierse of LLIVELY Music.
Musicians meeting other musicians.
People coming to see one artist and discovering another.
Someone arriving to rummage through vintage and unexpectedly stopping in front of the stage because they hear something they like.
And artists finishing their sets and disappearing into the market looking for vintage jackets.
Music shouldn’t just sit in the background of these Sundays.
It should be part of the reason they feel alive.
On 25 October, The Loading Bay will host live music throughout the day alongside more than 50 independent traders across Salt Market Social.
And somewhere amongst it all will be a musician who picked up a banjo at 17, waited another twelve years before finding the confidence to sing his own songs out loud, and is now preparing to release another collection of them into the world.
Maybe there’s a lesson in that.
You don’t have to find your voice at seventeen.
You just have to find it.
LISTEN TO OLIVER HUNT
Oliver’s new EP, Now Leaving, is released on 1 November 2026.
Before then, listen to Holding Out For You.
Follow Oliver on Instagram @oliverjhunt, find Oliver Hunt – Music on Facebook, and listen to his music on Spotify.
SEE OLIVER LIVE — PLAY THE MARKET
I LOVE NORTH SHIELDS VINTAGE MARKET — AUTUMN EDITION
Sunday 25 October 2026
10am–7pm
On stage: 12.40pm – 13.10pm
50+ independent traders · Two floors · Live music throughout the day · FREE ENTRY
Come for the vintage. Stay for the social. Discover the music.
