After a decade away, Andy White is making his long-awaited return to Guelph — and he’s bringing new sounds, stories, and a little nostalgia with him.

The Belfast-born, Australia-based singer-songwriter will take the stage at artBar on Monday, March 31 at 6:30 p.m., in a special live performance celebrating the release of his latest album, Good Luck I Hope You Make It.

White, known for his poetic lyricism and acoustic folk-rock roots, has taken a bold creative turn with this new record.

“It’s more like spoken word with beats than a guy-with-a-guitar album,” he explained.

Even after 20 albums, two books of poetry, a novel, and a still-thriving podcast (“This podcast is only temporary“), White continues to evolve and challenge himself artistically.

Fresh off a tour through Italy, he isn’t heading straight back to Australia. Instead, he’s chosen Guelph as a meaningful stop — a city he hasn’t played in over 10 years, but one that still feels like a second home. He even gave a fond shoutout to the Guelph Mercury, reflecting on past visits and performances across Ontario, including stops at the Hillside and Mariposa festivals.

Opening the show will be his longtime friend Colleen Hodgson, who performs alongside Steve Koch in the Toronto-based folk duo He Mistook Her for a Swan. Their latest album, Lady Isobel, dropped in December and is available on Bandcamp and in select stores.

Throughout his career, Andy White has collaborated with musical icons such as Peter Gabriel, Sinéad O’Connor, Tim Finn (Split Enz), and Liam Ó Maonlaí (Hothouse Flowers). And closer to home, Guelph’s own Stephen Fearing — with whom White released two acclaimed albums: Fearing & White and Tea and Confidences.

Now, he’s bringing that legacy back to Guelph — not just to perform, but to reconnect, reflect, and share what’s next.

Tickets for the March 31 artBar performance are available online. If you’re a fan of thoughtful songwriting, inventive sounds, or just good company on a Monday night — this is the show to catch.