Thom Swift is a multi-award winning singer-songwriter who performs a distinctive blend of roots-blues. Swift is well known for his “sophisticated guitar-playing”, “earthy baritone voice” and “textured and truthful” lyrics.
The Fortunate Few, Swift’s third solo recording set for release March 5, was produced by Swift, engineered by Ed Renzi and recorded at Fortress Studios in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Featuring acclaimed musicians, Geoff Arsenault, Brian Bourne, Kevin Breit, Scott Marshall, Mike Stevens, and Bill Stevenson, the CD offers ten tracks, including a cowrite with renowned Nova Scotia songwriter, Dave Gunning.
Prior to his fruitful solo career, Swift played with blues-folk trio Hot Toddy for 12 years. As a solo artist, Swift has three previous award-winning recordings to his credit: 2007’s Into The Dirt, 2010’s Blue Sky Day and a 2011 children’s recording titled, The Wood Buffalo Youth Song Project.
Swift has played in support of John Hiatt, Dolly Parton, Bill Frisell and John Mayall and has performed at countless folk and blues festivals throughout Canada, United States and Europe. He also performed shows at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, co-headlined a sold-out show with Symphony Nova Scotia and represented Atlantic Canada at the 2013 International Blues Summit in Memphis, TN.
Photo credit: Evan MacPhail
An intensely energetic and powerful performer, Steve Marriner’s incorporation of various styles of Blues with that of rock n’ roll, has him night after night grabbing audiences from their seats and moving them to their feet.
Widely recognized as one of Canada’s finest harp players, Steve has toured and performed at prestigious festivals, concert halls and clubs in Canada, the US, UK and Australia with acoustic bluesman Harry Manx. He’s appeared on a number of other artists’ recordings including Harry Manx, JW Jones Blues Band, Steve Dawson, and Chris Kirby to name a few. The 24-year-old’s debut album Going Up (2007) showcases his range of talents with well-crafted original songs, strong vocals, dynamic harp and kickin’ grooves.
Enthralled with the harmonica at an early age, Steve studied the great Chicago harp players while immersing himself in the music of Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin’ Wolf, Lazy Lester and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. At age 14, he won the Ottawa Blues Harp Blow-Off and a spot on stage at the Ottawa Cisco Blues Festival, and they’ve invited him to play every year since. His notoriety as a seasoned harp player also netted him several nominations at the Maple Blues Awards. In 2004, the Ottawa native met bluesman Harry Manx who heard Steve and invited him to play on stage with him at the prestigious Chicago Blues Festival — of which he received a standing ovation.
Feedback from fans and industry insiders over the course of the world tour with Manx inspired Steve to book time in the studio and make a record of his own. Along with singing and blowing harp, he also features his guitar work on several tracks. Steve’s original tunes are delivered with passion and emotion. Rooted in the tradition of the blues while weaving elements of rock n’ roll, Steve’s role as producer allowed him to blend modern ideas with traditional sensibility to create an intensity that mirrors his own strong personality. The result is an album that touches on many of his influences while remaining as unique as its creator; diverse, energetic and dynamic.
This is sizzlin’, swelterin’ blues.
