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Swift Years
Folk Rock / Roots Music / Other

from the back porch to the front steppe



Quebec
Canada

Profile Views:  18669




Last Login:  7/11/2009
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   Swift Years: General Info
Member Since12/11/2006
Band Websitewww.swiftyears.com
Band Members BOB CUSSEN plays the mandolin (and anything else with strings) like a man with centuries worth of music inside him and only one lifetime to let it all out, his road-worn old Gibson always on the verge of spontaneous combustion. Montreal-based and of German/Hungarian descent, he was the founding member and leader of the White River Bluegrass Band, which, over the course of twelve years, produced three recordings, six European tours and made appearances at festivals, concerts and clubs across the U.S. and Canada, from the Western Arctic to the Magdalene Islands. He went on to become the 1985 U.S. Midwest Irish banjo champion. From 1992 to 1999 he appeared with his band the Immigrants, also known as Nobody You Know, playing extensively in the U.S. and Canada, producing several recordings. As well as Swift Years he is a mainstay of the Montreal Irish scene where he performs with singer-songwriter Belfast Andi. He also occasionally plays with Notre Dame de Grass. Bob has collaborated with a great many artists, including Tom Paxton, Jean Leloup, Kate and McGarrigle, Plume Latraverse, Karen Young, Michel Faubert, Lawrence Lepage, Claude Lafrance, Georges Langford, Garolou, Ian Tamblyn and the Venezuelan instrumental group Çavana. He has appeared on numerous CBC recordings, as well as many TV shows in Canada, Germany and Hungary. He has also recorded for the National Film Board. PATRICK HUTCHINSON grew up in remote parts of rural Scotland and England, before coming to Montreal in 1978 with a box of punk-rock 45s and an incomprehensible accent. Formative influences were his parents' love of folk/world music, and John Peel every night on BBC radio who could go from the Buzzcocks to the Bothy Band and Little Feat to Lee Perry without batting an eyelid. As a tasty, soulful, ensemble-minded guitarist he tips his hat to the likes of Ry Cooder, Steve Cropper, and Richard Thompson. Patrick was an original member of Top Ranking (Montreal's first ska band) in the 1980s, and half of minimalist torch-and-twang duo Bare Bones in the '90s, putting out several well-received albums and gigging extensively both alone and with the likes of Johnny Clegg, Procul Harum and Ani Difranco. SUZANNE UNGAR embodies the bass virtues of talking softly and carrying a big stick. Whereas bass players tend to be in the background in folk acts, Suzanne's silk-and-steel basslines are an essential up-front part of the Swift Years sound. Born in Budapest, Hungary, she lived in Europe and California before establishing herself in Montreal. She studied piano and classical guitar, before concentrating on the electric bass and becoming a part of the Montreal folk scene in the 1970's. She performed with the Jay Sewall Blues Band and the Celtic trio Anam Cara, and was member of the folk/rock group Harlequin for a number of years, as well as the R&B/pop group Random Hush. Suzanne has also performed and recorded with the New York artist Barbara Lewis and also the Irish/Gaelic singer Beverley McGuire.
InfluencesLots of old records on the Monitor label, with titles like "Dance, Gypsy!" or "Around the Samovar"; Hungarian fiddle masters like Yoska Nemeth & Sandor Lakatosh; bluegrassers like Greenbriar Boys & the Dillards; electric folkers like Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention & Alan Stivell; the Clash; Billy Bragg; Cream; The Corries; Lee Perry, Culture and pretty much all '70s roots reggae; Slim & Slam and all manner of pre-WWII hokum; et multiple cetera.
Sounds LikeThe house band in a joint where Woody Guthrie could trade licks with Johannes Brahms.
Record LabelFlaming Nora
Type of LabelIndie


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   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jul 14 2009 8:00P
Green Room, with Richard Rigby/Dave McKell Montréal, Quebec
Jul 23 2009 5:00P
Somewhere in Abitibi Rouyn, Abitibi, Quebec
Jul 24 2009 5:00P
Somewhere in Abitibi Rouyn, Abitibi, Quebec
Jul 25 2009 8:00P
Wheel Club, with Hotcha! Montréal, Quebec
Jul 26 2009 8:00P
Cagibi, with Hotcha! Montréal, Quebec
Aug 15 2009 8:00P
Dazibo, avec Belfast Andi Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier, Quebec
Aug 22 2009 4:00P
Maromac, with Belfast Andi Val des Lacs, Quebec
Aug 30 2009 12:00P
Country en Ville Montréal, Quebec
Sep 11 2009 10:00P
Heart & Crown, with Belfast Andi Ottawa, Ontario
Sep 12 2009 10:00P
Heart & Crown, with Belfast Andi Ottawa, Ontario
Sep 26 2009 8:00P
Dazibo, avec Belfast Andi Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier, Quebec

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Session update, version '09  (view more)

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   About Swift Years
SWIFT YEARS cook up a potent blend of roots music from the old and new worlds, served with hot sauce and lyrics both sweet and sour. One-word description? Worldbilly: music that originates in the hills & backwoods of many nations, plugged in for a night on the town. SWIFT YEARS is the happy result of a chance encounter of three musicians who between them have played everything from Bluegrass to Reggae, via East European, Celtic and North African folk. The treatments of traditional material are marked by musical intensity and adventurous spirit, and the original compositions combine this with playful/serious lyrics that turn a satirical eye inwards as well as outwards. They have entertained audiences of all shapes, sizes, ages and persuasions (in English and in French), though on occasion have been reprimanded by the Folk Police for having too much fun. Swift Years have a sincere love for traditional music; but as a living changing entity rather than a museum exhibit, much in the spirit of the likes of Steeleye Span and Los Lobos. ......................................ET, EN FRANÇAIS............................... "Trio de folk (celtique, tzigane et amérique) à l'exentricité magique. Cosmopolitisme résume leur ouverture sans frontière. Déjà qu'ils-elle sont d'origines européennes diverses (Hongrie, Écosse, etc.), que leurs expériences les ont fait jouer blues, reggae-ska, folk et chanson avec bien du monde, que Montréal les habite, que leur virtuosité ne sert qu'à allumer humour et gouaille... Guitare, mandoline/banjo et basse sont les outils pour bourgeonner des trucs qui grouillent; telles La banqueroute d'Oscar Thiffault, des pièces traditionnelles ré-éclairées ou des compos inimitables de gouaille- Couldn't we?" - Ramon Vitesse, LE COUAC, Montréal *~!*~*!*~*!*~*!*~*!*~*!*~*!* WANNA PICK UP AN ALBUM? Drop us a line, paypal us, and we'll ship you one (or more...) Joe's Report and Three @ $20 incl. delivery, first one & Démo @15. Full info on track listings (also email contact, if you're not a myspace cadet) available at www.swiftyears.com. ENVIE DE VOUS PROCURER UNE DISQUE? Contactez-nous; nous acceptons paypal, nous allons vous envoyer une (ou plus...) Joe's Report et Three @ $20 incl. livraison, première & Démo @15. Informations plus amples sur les contenus (et addresse couriel, si vous n'êtes pas myspatiel) trouvable chez www.swiftyears.com *~!*~!*~!*~! Voici le bouton facile! Here's the easy button!
DCs Swift Years CDs
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ..font-size:10px" align="left"> cliquez ici pour plus de détails ...and on the telly with Belfast Andi:

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Swift Years has 843 friends.
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Swift Years's Friends Comments
Displaying 25 of 281 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Balkanizacija





Jul 8 2009 5:12 PM

forad copy
Kjartan Hallur





Jun 27 2009 12:22 PM

Photobucket

Finally I have some prints available for you.

Check out my RedBubble page.
Get yourself a sizzling hot print of your favorite piece.


Buy art
Cathleen Lesperance





Jun 11 2009 1:40 PM

merci! thanks for finding my music...your mother is a wonderful lady!! say hello for me.
stop by to hello anytime:)
Phil Murray and the Boys From Bury





Jun 2 2009 3:49 PM

Hi Swift Years

Just stopping by to say hello and give you some news. The new album 'Coolgilly and the Freakshow' from Centascope is now available worldwide from CD Baby and directly from the merchandise page of the official website.
You can also get the album from Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon and many more.

Rhythm at...





Jun 1 2009 3:42 PM

Rhythm @ 100 Club, 100 Oxford Street, London W1D 1LL
Details: www.rhythmgigs.com
Those Darlins





May 28 2009 7:46 PM

Don Kerr





May 26 2009 5:11 AM

hey, thanks! i love that funtime oldtime music!

don
Mike MacDonald Rock





May 25 2009 2:05 AM

Pat,
Joe would be proud!
Worldly Savages





May 24 2009 10:46 AM

Great passionate music!
Musicalist





May 5 2009 4:55 PM

Wish that was me! No, that was Carl. I was already in and out of the band by then!

Ole Man Santo had me laughing out loud... I was reaching for my credit card before I even read your spiel.....Just brilliant!

All the best,

Derek. (Musicalist.)
HOTCHA!





Apr 29 2009 8:10 PM

Glad you enjoyed our new CD Dust Bowl Roots: Songs for the New Depression on yer trip back to MTL.
We LOVE yer music too! Gotta gig together when we come to MTL in July! HOTCHA!
POTION 13





Apr 4 2009 12:38 PM

Allo

comment ça va?? J'espère que tout va bien !
petite rappel pour notre prochain spectacle

Une belle journée ciao ciao
Naty bassiste
www.potion13.org


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Cabral Jacobs





Mar 18 2009 1:10 AM

loving your music, hope to catch Swift Years play live sometime, want more of your music!
keep on keepin' on!

HAPPY ST-PATRICK'S DAY!
Cabral Jacobs





Mar 18 2009 12:33 AM

Thanx for the kind words, Patrick! although my sole intention is to rejuvenate the ears, not to cause harm!

cheers! see ya later.

Cabral
Phil Murray and the Boys From Bury





Feb 20 2009 8:37 AM

The new album 'Welcome To Murraysville' from Phil Murray and the Boys From Bury is now available worldwide from CD Baby and directly from the merchandise page of the official website.

You can also get the album from Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon and many more.


jennifer carman





Feb 6 2009 1:12 AM

A pleasure!
jennifer carman





Feb 5 2009 4:11 AM

nice to meet you too...thanks.

Jennifer
the handkerchief revival





Jan 13 2009 4:17 PM

Thanks for the message. Eno is one of my heroes, as you could easily tell!

cheers,
Mike
Rhythm at...





Dec 20 2008 1:30 PM

Here's wishing everyone a tremendous time over the Festive Season and a Divine 2009... I know where I'll be on New Year's Eve (and Norman and Wilko and Monti).
What about you?!

http://www.rhythmat.com
Thegoodthebadandtheuglyuk





Nov 25 2008 4:06 PM

Is it too Early for Seasons Greetings yet ? :-)
hope alls well Pat
Venni





Oct 31 2008 4:09 PM

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Y'a des chances que je sois au Daz ce soir... J'ai bien hâte de vous revoir!

Bass and Skeleton Pictures, Images and Photos
Loïc Fanning





Oct 23 2008 10:30 PM

Heya guys,
Yup, I'm here too, all shits & giggles.
Cheers fer the invite Pat,
When are youse visiting us on our side of the pond?
Great music made here,
L
E.J.Brulé





Oct 22 2008 3:47 AM

send me a proper e-mail and i'll send you the poster for my show on nov.15th at the Paradoxe room here in the point.
They have an a/v school there and i'm shooting two shows for a dvd (or U-tube at least)
OKgiraffe





Oct 17 2008 1:49 AM

Hello Good Friends!
We're releasing our album Next Week!
October 22nd at Le Divan Orange
We're hoping you can swing by and pick up a copy...
Thanks and Take Care!
Kevin, Rosa, and Brandon

Photobucket
POTION 13





Oct 16 2008 4:15 PM

Exacrement, c'est un fait. Aussi une fille m'expliquait que ça permettait à son père d'aller travailler et de revenir le soir vu que c'était proche de Mtl...et lui, il donnait la chance à ses enfants de faire des activités toute l'été...au lieu de rester à balconville...
Vu comme ça...c'est logique...
À+ Danielle, Potion13
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