Swanee River is a powerful blend of soul, blues and rock and roll.
Hailing from the city of Derry, they began in September 2004 and drew their influences from a range of bands including Free, Led Zeppelin, Spencer Davis Group, UFO, Rory Gallagher, Humble Pie and Terry Reid.
They have since played over 200 gigs touring the length and breadth of Ireland, in towns and cities such as Dublin, Belfast, Galway, Dundalk, Limerick, Donegal, Lurgan, Draperstown, Downpartick, Warrenpoint, Killarney and their hometown of Derry. They have also been added to the small festival circuit playing in the Glasgowbury music festival Draperstown, The Derry gas yard Féile, the Derry blues and jazz festival, and the New Born Fest Downpatrick
Along the way they have graced the stage with the likes Duke Special(2007), Henry McCullough(2007), Taste(2008 where they got to play infront of world renowned record producer, musician and song writer Tony colton), Jaded Sun(2008) and 8 Supports slots with The Answer building up a steady fan base. They also won the Northern Ireland battle of the bands competition in 2006, picking up a cool £1000 prize money.
They have also been featured extensively in the press including the Derry Journal, the Derry News, the Irish News, Alternative Ulster, Radar Magazine and the Evening Herald (Dublin) receiving raving reviews from all papers/magazines.
On top of this, their two releases’ ‘Back to the Handlebars’ and ‘Baby Better Lady’ have been played flat out on the airwaves on a host of radio shows throughout Ireland including Downtown radio, RTE Radio 1, Radio Ulster ATL (including interview and feature), Maiden city fm (Derry local) 107fm (Ballymena local – interview and feature) and QUB radio.
Their groovy soulful feel to their music has captured the incredible following they now have and made people realize again that it’s ok to like rock and roll!!
Swanee River short promo biog – April 2007
Press clippings
- 'If anything the lights have skewed to an even sexier, darker red for the Derry foursome quickly refilling the venue with those who've stepped out to catch their breath....
They fire on into 'I Don't Love You Anyway' with little regard for those in close proximity and stamp their authority all over the fifth birthday bash.
Moneymaker 'Baby Better Lady' signifies the River's end is near at hand but not without one last almighty swell of mastery particularly from Horner, whose command of the stage is unique and overwhelming, delivering one last swanee charge....
Let Your Love Shine On me caps a night of raw brilliance Nial Kerr, Mid Ulster Mail
- 'Swanee River owe a great deal of who they are to the past and the past owes Swanee River for upholding it at such a high standard' World Renouned songwriter, musician and record producer Tony Colton (www.tonycolton.net)
- 'If there is any justice in the world, then Swanee River should make it to the top' John Wilson of 'Taste'
- ‘Swanee River have actually perfected that old fashioned rock and roll pre-Zeppelin sound, succeeding in tricking their audience into believing they’re at a real rock concert in the 60’s, loud proud and rather sexy too’ – Juliann Campbell, Derry journal
- ‘absolutely rockin’, the best local release this year, fantastic’ – Maiden City FM 106.2
- ‘it flirts between Cream and The Small Faces….its a while before they realise what a monster they’re capable of…Stevie Horner recalls Rodgers, Marriott and even early Clapton with his range and phrasing’ –Eamon P. Keyes, Fastfude NI Music scene, CD Review,
- ‘The songs, while never straying too far from their hard-driving bluesy roots, are another of the band’s strengths, showing a maturity and relative complexity that keep them interesting and leaving you wanting to hear where things will go next. The feel good fun of ‘There Ain’t Nothing Gonna Stop Me’ and the laid back Texan swagger of ‘Travelin Man Super Band’ are the highlights for me…. Full of bounce and balls, if you like your blues rock-hard, take a trip down the Swanee River’ –Tony Talbot (Head of Music Production N.W.I.F.H.E. ex NIMIC), a CD review for the Derry Journal.
- ....this is definitely a band to keep an eye on, I can see Swanee River getting loads of airplay, selling truck-loads of albums, filling arenas and headlining festivals well beyond these Irish shores in just a few years time. Great rock'n'roll, lads - I can't wait to hear more! - Rachel Blech, music broadcaster - RTE Radio 1
- Swanee River are one of the best bands around…..they blew me away…..is there a tighter band out there? I don’t know. – Jonny Hero, Downtown Radio
- Swanee River came and took over the Queens student union… surely one of the hardest working bands in the north at the moment….. their furious live reputation goes from strength to strength – Radar Magazine
Discography
- Back to the Handlebars E.P.
- Baby Better Lady E.P.
Tracks
(Back To The Hadle Bars)
- If you want some lovin’
- There ain’t nothing gonna stop me
- Travelin’ man super band
- Baby try to be cool!
(Baby Better Lady)
- Baby Better Lady
- I don’t love you Anyway
- Cold
All songs were written and produced by Swanee River.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
