“...A not-so-secret songwriting weapon...” – Bill Bentley, The Morton Report

Deren Ney is an Oakland-based singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. He is best known as lead guitarist and songwriter in Nick Bluhm and The Gramblers, one of San Francisco’s breakout Americana acts, who received widespread acclaim for their finely-crafted songs and bravura live performances, including high-profile main stage appearances at Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, late night TV show Conan, and their one-take Van Sessions performances on YouTube, which amassed over ten million views.

The popularity of the videos raised the band’s profile considerably, making fans of Cameron Crowe among others. Ney guest hosted SiriusXM’s JamOn and been a guest on the Howard Stern Wrap-Up Show.

After a stint as a duo with Bluhm, the two childhood classmates formed Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers in 2008. Ney’s guitar was a defining part of the band’s sound, often punctuating songs with his distinct, deft guitar playing, which Guitar World’s Alan Paul called “…snappy, pungent lead lines” .

Ney was a formidable songwriting force in the group, penning their highest-charting radio single “Waiting On Love” and favorites like “Carousel”, “Barbary Blues”, and “I’m Your Woman”.

Ney released his first single as a solo artist, “West Coast Mama”, in October 2019 on Volplane Records.