Nick Foley is a recording artist, touring musician and tireless advocate for the classic Hammond organ sound. His love of the instrument began when he inherited a used Bontempi home organ and discovered the music of Deep Purple shortly after his twelfth birthday. Today he uses a Hammond XK-Pro with a Leslie 3300 rotating speaker as a touring rig and a vintage 1960 Hammond C3 with an original Leslie 122 for recording. For other classic and modern keyboard sounds he uses a vintage Fender Rhodes and a range of soft synths via ProTools.
He is the organ player in UK rock band Atack which released their debut album “Nine Lives” to rave reviews in November 2023. He has also played Hammond on numerous global releases featuring Dream Theatre’s James LaBrie (Hold Your Future), Dokken/Great White’s Andrew Freeman (Destiny) and Spanish vocalist, Gabrielle de Val (Stayin’ Alive). Nick is also a regular performer with the UK’s most faithful Deep Purple tribute act, Pure Purple.
His playing style is energetic, authentic and immersive, and he is the reigning champion of Hammond USA’s international “Riff Off Championship” having beaten organ players from all over the world in a public vote. Nick founded and administrates the online “Jon Lord Appreciation Society” which now has more than 17,000 members. His “Hammond-for-Hire” YouTube channel has nearly one million views and provides playing tuition, gear reviews and expert advice on maintaining and restoring classic organs. He has also worked with Hammond UK as a demonstrator at national product launches, with dealers including FairDeal music as a keyboard reviewer and with Lounsberry pedals USA as their UK endorsee.
Nick Foley is a recording artist, touring musician and tireless advocate for the classic Hammond organ sound. His love of the instrument began when he inherited a used Bontempi home organ and discovered the music of Deep Purple shortly after his twelfth birthday. Today he uses a Hammond XK-Pro with a Leslie 3300 rotating speaker as a touring rig and a vintage 1960 Hammond C3 with an original Leslie 122 for recording. For other classic and modern keyboard sounds he uses a vintage Fender Rhodes and a range of soft synths via ProTools.
He is the organ player in UK rock band Atack which released their debut album “Nine Lives” to rave reviews in November 2023. He has also played Hammond on numerous global releases featuring Dream Theatre’s James LaBrie (Hold Your Future), Dokken/Great White’s Andrew Freeman (Destiny) and Spanish vocalist, Gabrielle de Val (Stayin’ Alive). Nick is also a regular performer with the UK’s most faithful Deep Purple tribute act, Pure Purple.
His playing style is energetic, authentic and immersive, and he is the reigning champion of Hammond USA’s international “Riff Off Championship” having beaten organ players from all over the world in a public vote. Nick founded and administrates the online “Jon Lord Appreciation Society” which now has more than 17,000 members. His “Hammond-for-Hire” YouTube channel has nearly one million views and provides playing tuition, gear reviews and expert advice on maintaining and restoring classic organs. He has also worked with Hammond UK as a demonstrator at national product launches, with dealers including FairDeal music as a keyboard reviewer and with Lounsberry pedals USA as their UK endorsee.
Organ recording sessions
Remote recording sessions using my fully restored and professionally maintained 1960 Hammond C3 paired with a Leslie 122 rotating speaker cabinet, ProTools and a bespoke microphone setup.
Session rehearsal and gig work using my Hammond XK-5 Pro dual-manual organ with either an original Leslie 145 for smaller gigs or a current model 300 watt Lesie 3300 for larger stages.
Regular instrument reviews to help organ, piano and synth buyers plus in-person and on-video product launch demonstrations in the rock and soul genre for dealers and global manufacturers.
Playing tuition, gear reviews and expert advice on maintaining and restoring classic organs at the NickFoleyUK YouTube channel where the view count is currently approaching half a million.
The first two tracks are available on “Nine Lives”, the debut album by UK classic rock bane, Atack. Released in late 2023, the album is available in limited edition white vinyl, black vinyl and CD fomats as well as on all major streaming services.
The third track is “Hold Your Future” featuring Dream Theatre’s James LaBrie on vocals and was the launch single from the Turkish Delight II album by Khalil Turk & Friends. The final video is a round up of NickFoleyUK YouTube viewer questions following a review of the Hammond SKX-Pro.
If you want to discuss a Hammond organ session for a musical project or are struggling with any aspect of the Hammond organ sound, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line. If I’m able to help, I’ll do my best.
Likewise if you’re an instrument manufacturer or retailer in need of consumer feedback or launch support, I’m always happy to assist.
