Nick Peay

My sets are tailored to the event and / or audience. I try to build sets based on the theme of the event, or based on the type of event or audience. I may play a set of covers from the 50's and 60's and throw in a few originals, or I may do a set entirely of originals with a cover or two thrown in.

My cover song list ranges from 50's (Elvis, etc), to the 60's (The Beatles, The Monkees, etc), to the 70's (The Eagles, Hall and Oates, etc.). some 80's, and lots of 90's rock.

I can play up to about 4 hours worth of covers plus originals.

Nick Peay is a singer-songwriter from Louisville, Kentucky, blending folk, rock, and classic pop with a storyteller’s touch. Deeply influenced by The Beatles and the music of the ’60s and ’70s, his songs explore everything from personal experiences to fictional tales and social commentary.

Music has been a part of Nick’s life for as long as he can remember. He grew up listening to his parents’ vinyl records and mixtapes his grandmother made for him. He started with the clarinet in elementary school, but it was teaching himself guitar in eighth grade that really sparked something. By fifteen, he was writing his own songs, and from that moment on, music became more than just a hobby—it was a passion that never let go.

Over the years, Nick has played everywhere from small listening rooms to major festivals, including more than a decade at Abbey Road on the River, a massive Beatles celebration. He’s performed in cities like Nashville, Atlanta, and Chicago, but some of his favorite moments have been the intimate shows where he can really connect with an audience.

In 2018, Nick won first place at the Ferdinand Folk Festival’s songwriting contest in Indiana, performing his original songs “When You Can” and “90 Day Wonder.” He later recorded “90 Day Wonder” at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, adding his own moment to the venue’s legendary history.

Beyond his solo work, Nick stretches his creative muscles with two side projects: OK Zombie, a dark, moody, prog-rock-leaning project inspired by classic horror films and social themes, and The Colours of Kings, a synth-driven venture that pays tribute to the sounds of the ’80s. Each project lets him explore different sides of his musical influences, proving that he’s not just one kind of songwriter—he’s got many stories to tell.

Whether it’s through the raw emotion of his solo work, the eerie atmosphere of OK Zombie, or the nostalgic synth vibes of The Colours of Kings, Nick Peay is always searching for new ways to connect, inspire, and tell a great story through music.

I use a vocal harmony pedal for my performance. I plug both my guitar and vocal mic into it and control both volumes and reverb from there. From the PA, I just need overall volume and EQ.