Genre defying DWIGHT + NICOLE can trace their musical roots through blues, R&B, and soul with a little roots rock, alternative, and Americana sprinkled in. DWIGHT + NICOLE have been Nominated for 10 Boston Music Awards, 10 New England Music Awards, and 11 Daisie awards, winning multiple "Band of the Year", "Vocalist of the Year", "Best Blues/R&B Band", "Female Vocalist of the Year", "Blues Act of the Year" and "Video of the Year”.

 

Ritcher and Nelson met in Boston, Massachusetts fresh out of college. Cutting their teeth on the local club circuit, they each fronted popular area bands, and discovered a shared obsession of soul & blues greats like the Staples Singers, Albert King, and Etta James. They began singing together and developed a close friendship that grew over time culminating in the formation of Dwight & Nicole. They started out as a duo with Dwight on electric guitar and Nicole on tambourine, stomping their feet for the beat and singing in harmony. After a move to Burlington VT, they met powerhouse drummer Ezra Oklan (Nicole Atkins, Elle King) and the group quickly formed a trio with Nelson picking up the bass. Now they also feature keyboard wizard Leon Campos.

 

With numerous releases under their belts, their most recent “The Jaguar, The Raven, and The Snake” just received the deluxe treatment in August of 2024, with the addition of the single, “Saying Goodbye.” Produced by acclaimed producer Joel Hamilton and recorded at his Studio G in Brooklyn and Ocean Sound in Giske, Norway throughout 2022. Album tracks feature the band with guests the Daptone Horns and Arkai Strings, amongst others.

 

“Dwight & Nicole are my favorite new band!" - MAVIS STAPLES

 

"Dwight & Nicole are absolutely the real deal. They are carrying the torch.” - MELISSA ETHERIDGE

 

"A retro soul band, contemporary blues act, roots rock...R&B dynamo all at once...hypnotic." - BOSTON HERALD

 

On “The Jaguar, The Raven, and The Snake”:

 

"Sometimes musicians who write and record together have a chemistry that is undeniable and authentic, and the resulting music has that extra something special that makes listeners sit up and take notice. Husband-and-wife-led band Dwight + Nicole is the perfect example of this type of kismet – when they create music together, something marvelous and magnetic happens. Their new album, 'The Jaguar, The Raven & The Snake,' displays this full force, and the group just gave the album the deluxe edition treatment. They’re a little bit bluesy, a little bit R&B/soul driven, with sprinkles of Americana and roots on top and a classic/vintage vibe with rock and even pop touches, making for a genre-bending listening experience of the best sort.” - Amplify Music

 

"The best music doesn’t just sound great, but it also gives you an emotional lift, hitting in just the right place to soothe, comfort, or inspire. That is exactly what the music of Burlington, VT-based band Dwight + Nicole does. Listening to their latest release, 'The Jaguar, The Raven & The Snake Deluxe Edition,' is an aural ride of a wonderful kind – their exploration of emotions is a beautiful thing to behold, with moving, lyrical stories. The music itself is top-notch and borrows from many genres, creating a mix that incorporates Americana, vintage rock, blues, R&B, soul, and more.” - Vents Magazine