Time: 9:30 p.m.
Cover: $15

www.http://thomswift.com/

Multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Thom Swift performs a distinctive blend of roots-blues. With 12 albums to his credit, this Halifax-based musician is known for his “sophisticated guitar-playing”, “earthy baritone voice” and “textured and truthful” lyrics.

When he released his solo debut Into the Dirt in 2007, Swift’s musical reputation had already been established with over 15 years of touring and recording with the acclaimed blues-jazz group, Hot Toddy Trio. With nine recordings and multiple awards and nominations, the group toured nationally and abroad, opening shows for artists such as Dolly Parton, Bill Frisell, Juan Martin, Steve Gibbons and Guy Davis.

Into the Dirt was a landmark record for Swift, picking up an East Coast Music Award, a Canadian Maple Blues Award, a Galaxie Rising Star prize and two Music Nova Scotia Awards, including Musician of the Year honours. Listeners were pleased to hear Swift’s soulful voice in a fresh musical context, blending his vivid story telling and his blues and roots influences in new combinations for a rewarding aural experience. Blues Revue praised it for its “dark, brooding, pop-inflected tunes that sit atop rich, multi-textured arrangements, elevating each composition beyond anything seen as fleeting.”

In 2010, Swift released blue sky day (GroundSwell/Warner). The day of its release, he performed in Vancouver as part of the 2010 Olympic celebrations and was soon chosen by CBC as one of Canada’s top songwriters as part of the 2010 Great Canadian Song Quest. Swift was nominated for a 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Producer of the Year and won Music Nova Scotia’s 2010 Blues Recording of the Year Award. He was also nominated for three 2011 East Coast Music Awards, including Factor Recording of the Year, Male Solo Recording of the Year and Blues Recording of Year.

Like Into The Dirt, blue sky day was produced by Swift and his good friend, Halifax-based engineer/producer Charles Austin (Buck 65, Joel Plaskett). Featuring 11 original songs and a cover of The Carter Family’s “No Depression In Heaven”, blue sky day features multi-instrumentalist, J.P. Cormier, blues-roots artist, Matt Andersen along with Swift’s band, the El Caminos: Brian Bourne (bass and Chapman stick), Geoff Arsenault (drums and percussion), Chris Corrigan (guitar) and Bill Stevenson (piano and organ).

“…rich, textured songs,” said Socan’s Words and Music. “…Swift writes from a well-earned place of domestic contentment, tapping his folk, jazz, funk and blues chops for a dozen great tunes,” said Penguin Eggs, “…impressive guitar work and soulful baritone voice,” said Canadian Musician and Roots Music Canada wrote, “…his always-expressive vocals are at the forefront of his solo career – every bit as important in the mix as his sophisticated guitar-playing.”

In addition to strong airplay on CBC Radio right across the country, blue sky day earned a spot on Earshot’s Folk/Roots/Blues chart at campus/community radio. Swift’s song “Killer” was added to heavy rotation on Halifax’s Home of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Q104, and secured a spot on the active rock radio chart in Canada. The song also hit #1 on the East Coast Countdown, which is heard on stations from Newfoundland to Nunavut.

In March 2011, Swift and fellow Nova Scotia-based musician, Keith Mullins embarked on a new album project. They visited ten schools in ten days in Northern Alberta and each morning they worked with a small group of students to create a song from scratch. Exploring themes of love, family, strength, community and heritage, the student’s voices were recorded, followed by the songwriters’ voices and instruments.

Funded by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, 10 songs were written, performed, and recorded to create The Wood Buffalo Youth Song Project. Produced by musician, Steven Bowers, along with Swift and Mullins, the recording was mixed and mastered by Dave Gunning.

Swift recently co-headlined a concert with Symphony Nova Scotia in November, is touring western Canada this winter and is currently writing for his next recording, set for release in the spring.

Swift tours solo and with his group, the El Caminos.

Fairly Odd Folk http://www.myspace.com/laurenmannmusic

  www.laurenmannmusic.com

Lauren Mann - Lead Vocals / Piano / Ukulele
Aaron Fraser - Drums
Hammer Clark - Bass
Mike Pardy - Guitar / Acoustic / Organs
Zoltan Szoges - Melodica / Glockenspiel / Percussion


You may have also seen these people perform as the Fairly Odd Folk:

Carissa Webster, Erik Horstia, Jon Purshke, Andrew Dullum, Adnrew Hamil, Distance Bullock, Elliot Mann, Jon Seib, Brett Baird, Gretyl Baird, Jemma Reeves, Tim Reeves.
In a world where the gift of simply appreciating music seems to have been lost, it takes something extraordinary to capture the heart and the attention of listeners. Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk do just that. From captivating indie folk-pop melodies to an authentic and energetic performance, you’ll get drawn in to the music and won’t be let go anytime soon.

What began as a simple solo project in the summer of 2008 has, over time and travel, evolved into a powerful and dynamic folk-pop experience. Lauren Mann, the namesake and forerunner of Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk, has brought an eclectic, passionate, and, as the name might give away, fairly odd group of musicians alongside her to bring greater instrumentation and dynamic to her captivating music.

Lauren’s start as a musician came long before she ever thought it as a viable career. Her parents enrolled her in classical piano lessons at the age of five, and she faithfully continued, reaching grade 8 Royal Conservatory, until it became tiresome and she found she was losing her love of playing. She ventured into jazz training and gained a refreshing perspective as well as a strong technical foundation.

After years of training, Lauren started looking for opportunities to play her own growing repertoire of music. She started with house concerts, local all-ages shows, and coffee shops, and as she became more connected in Calgary’s notable music scene, soon graduated to larger and more prolific venues, including the bi-monthly Market Collective and a Shot At The Dark showcase at the Cantos Music Foundation. In spring 2009, Lauren completed a four song EP with songs she recorded on her own, as well as some with local Calgary producer Andrew Hamill. A few months later she put out another self recorded EP and continued to sell these at shows.

As Lauren’s songwriting continued to develop, she wanted to reflect that in the live atmosphere with more instrumentation. She began collaborating with friends and formed, not a band, but more of a collective of transient artists that took her music to the next level. “I like seeing what other people, who are masters of their specific instrument, can bring to the songs I write. With such an ever-changing group, it means the songs are never the same. Not to mention that there’s such a greater energy with more people on stage that makes it so much fun.” One such friend that Lauren played with for a number of months came up with the idea of the Fairly Odd Folk, and although it was something of a joke, it stuck, and it now represents Lauren and her troupe of musicians.