
Ward Hancock is a 30 year old musician, producer, sound system operator, DJ and mentor located in Darwin, Australia.
Having gigged in each state and Territory by the age of 23, Ward’s had an expansive career that has taken him all over Australia and the world, producing and playing in countries like Jamaica, Canada, East-Timor and Indonesia.
Career highlights include supporting the likes of Josh Pyke, Courtney Barnett, Sir James Morrison and Nicky Bomba… and in the producing realm, working with Jan Skubiszewski (John Butler, ILLY), Guus Hoevenaars (Courtney Barnett, Tones & I) and Flabba Hold (Roots Radics, Israel Vibration).
Boasting a combined listening count of 10 million streams across multiple original projects, Ward has been writing and producing music as a solo artist and as a band leader for over a decade… and after a stint in Melbourne, he’s back in his hometown of Darwin working with an array of artists with hugely varying cultural, musical and social backgrounds.
In 2023, Hancock along with fellow musician and producer Clarence Playford hand-built Darwin’s first Jamaican-inspired sound system, Speargrass Hi-Fi. Since then, it’s been the centrepiece of boutique gigs all around Darwin.
2025 and beyond is an exciting time for Ward as he continues to gig extensively, produce passionately and bring community together through music. His goals are to keep collaborating and with people from all ages, genders and cultural and social backgrounds throughout remote NT, South East Asia and the Pacific, as well as work locally with organizations like Melaleuca Australia, Tracks Dance Company and Darwin Festival.
List of Achievements
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Melbourne Ska Orchestra (2025)
Shaun Kirk (2025)
Tijuana Cartel (2024)
Vaudeville Smash (2022)
Kurilpa Reach (2021)
Band of Frequencies (2020)
Darky Roots (2020)
Echo Drama (2019)
Dubarray (2017)
Sir James Morrison Support (2015)
Courtney Barnett (2015)
Josh Pyke (2014)
Stillwater Giants (2014)
Worldfly (2013)
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Victoria
· The Espy
· The Evelyn
· The Corner
· Bar 303
· Sofar Sounds
· Bar Open
· Penny Black
· One Six One
· The Gasometer Hotel
· Bar Oussou
· + more
New South Wales
· Vic on the Park
· Steyne Hotel
· The Lass O’Gowry
· Station Bar
· Botany View Hotel
· Pacific Hotel
· Yulli’s Brewery
· Byron Beach Hotel
· + more
Queensland
· The Triffid
· Felon’s Barrel Hall
· The Brooklyn Standard
· Greaser Bar
· Solbar
· Sheoak Shack
· El Capitano
· Mandala Arts Centre
· + more
Northern Territory
· Darwin River Tavern
· Dinah beach Yacht Club
· The Cavenagh Hotel
· Sandbar (Casino)
· Nirvana
· Katherine Golf Club
· Deckchair Cinema
· Bustard Town
· + more
Adelaide
· Blue Bee Room
· Grace Emily Hotel
Western Australia
· Diver’s Tavern
· Shamrock Hotel Kununurra
· Halls Creek Roadhouse
ACT
· Smith’s Alternative
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Full-time working professional musician, producer, live sound engineer, early childhood entertainer (2023 – present)
Radio airplay: Triple J: Roots N’ All, Triple J: Unearthed, ABC Radio Darwin, PBS FM, PBS FM, Triple R, Noosa FM
· Written and released over 50 songs (2014 – present)
Produced (music) 4 out 5 of Vamp TV’s top community music videos – NT (2024)
Sound engineer for Lunch on the Lawn – NT (2024)
Indonesia and Timore-Leste (2) Production trips (2024)
Jamaica Production Trip: Ward Hancock Meets Delroy Melody (2022)
Nominated for best Reggae Act Music Victoria: King River Rising (2021)
Diploma of Music Production: Collarts – VIC (2020)
Produced in the following communities: Ramingining, Minjilang, Minyerri, Wadeye, Peppimenarti, Nauiyu, Tiwi Islands, Yarralin and Utju
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Darwin Festival – NT (2024, 2025)
Top Half Folk Festival – NT (2025)
Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival – NT (2025)
NT BBQ Festival – NT (2024)
Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival – NT (2024)
Full Moon Dance Party – QLD (2024)
Darwin Festival – NT (2023)
Multicultural Festival – NT (2023)
Tanglewood - VIC (2023)
Oops a DAISY – VIC (2023)
Melbourne Reggae Cruise – VIC (2020)
Splash Festival – VIC (2020)
Airlie Beach Festival of Music – QLD (2019)
Mordi Fest – VIC (2019)
Tumbarumba Festival – NSW (2019)
Pearl Park Festival – VIC (2018)
Out in the Open Festival – VIC (2018)
Perigian Originals – QLD (2018)
Scarborough Originals – QLD (2018)
Warandyte Festival – VIC (2018)
Old Bar Beach Festival (2017, 2021)
Cygnet Folk Festival – TAS (2017)
Bendigo Blues Festival – VIC (2017)
Garma Festival – NT (2017)