Nelson-based, Chicago-born urban folk artist Daniel Orlick was once broke and homeless, trying to forge a music career against the wishes of strict religious parents.

"I was born on the fourth of July and wrote my first song lyrics when I was 10 years old for a school creative writing contest, a song about violence and war," said Daniel.

"I got an award, just a paper certificate, but it was enough to keep me going and I kept writing song lyrics and composing melodies in my head.

"I didn't get my first guitar until I was 17 and the first songs I learned to play were my own.

"I came from a strict religious upbringing and my parents didn't view music as an acceptable career path."

After life went downhill in his hometown, Daniel travelled to California determined to suceed.

"Nothing seemed to work out for me in Chicago," he said.

"I kept jumping around to different jobs, fell out with my parents and couldn't keep a relationship with a girl, then my car broke down on the side of the road when I had one dollar left in the bank.

"I know it sounds like a country and western song, but it's all true.

"The only thing that was going well for me was that I was writing a lot of songs.

"So my friend loaned me a couple hundred dollars and I jumped on a Greyhound bus to California with only a guitar, a skateboard and the clothes on my back.

"I figured I'd rather be broke and homeless in California than in Chicago."

He busked on beaches and streets and also took on a few temporary jobs.

Then he met a Lancashire girl, Cali, who was on holiday.

The pair married after nine days and Daniel came to Nelson.

Daniel says he draws influence from Bob Marley, Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer.

Despite having played Glastonbury, his career highlight is something much more ordinary.

"One day I was busking in California and a dirty and wretched homeless woman came up and expressed her appreciation of the music, then put two dollars in my case. She said it was all she had.

"That night several other people who were spending money all night on alcohol, drugs and cigarettes came to enjoy the music and dance, but gave nothing in return.

"I knew I'd hit that woman like no other that night."