Letters of Support

Cosmic Scallywags ... represents a vital contribution to our cultural landscape, offering significant benefits to the arts sector and the broader community through its innovative blend of direct communication and interaction with multi-age levels of the public. His disarming approach and at the same time educational twists provide excellent community engagement.

        Within my own events, Reefman has beautifully woven more depth into the last of three decades of “Andrew Clermont’s International Supper Club” (of music) as well as critical parts of Woodford Folk Festival Closing Ceremony, Nicholas proves himself to be a boldly inventive and thought out contributor of fresh ideas and extensions of existing project paths. Thinking well outside the box and researching other members abilities and quirks to create and apply the best possible ingredients to take any project further. 

        Seeing those “penny drop” moments in a fresh crossection of audience grabbing onto the intention of the task or purpose of the performance piece is truly Reefman’s strength and delivery. 

        I’ve also witnessed him conducting one of his invented games to identify the story content of a multiple pieces of music and see the highly engaged audience and musicians feeling it as a highlight of their experience. 

       Speaking for the people I’ve seen involved with Reefman’s projects, we are all always looking forward to the next imaginings!

Niq is a favourite performer of ours at Maleny Folk Festival. We’ve had him a few years in a row because he always brings something fresh and engaging to the festival. At the latest festival (2025), he mustered a band (the Cosmic Scallywags) from other acts hired at the festival and created a unique show that was a highlight for many of our patrons. His compositions display an advanced degree of musicianship and storytelling and he writes most of the parts for his band members (Niq showed us one of his multi-coloured charts from the stage). Off-stage, Niq is frequently engaging with our patrons, and it’s not unusual to see him as a guest performer with other acts we’ve hired. He’s versatile, reliable and it’s wonderful to have him on the team. We trust him to delight our audiences every year and look forward to having him again in whatever form he proposes.

If you want something quirky but professional, Niq has the goods. I like his stage storytelling and how he engages and socialises with our audiences.  They love his renditions that combine established poetry (including Banjo Paterson) with original expressive music.  I’m curious to see his band creations unfold. Give a good artist extra colours and watch him create!  Niq has become part of the furniture here and it will be a boon to the country for his music to spread!

Niq is an exceptional musician whose performances demonstrate technical mastery, emotional depth, and a refined instinct for storytelling. Yet what truly distinguishes his practice is his ability to transform live music into an imaginative, participatory experience

Niq is a great addition to any festival or event that is looking for something fresh.  At Calm Events, that’s the sort of act we’re interested in. There’s enough generic and cover bands around. Australia needs dynamic and engaging performers.  We always get that with Niq.  He’s run themed treasure hunts for both the adults and kids (which have been engaging and a popular event), he’s built a musical and interactive wagon with his own original activities (which has been a curiosity).  His offerings are a fun combination of weird and wonderful, while being well constructed. We’re looking forward to having his Cosmic Scallywags band for our next festival and we’re expecting to see a theatrical and unique show!