Thom Swift

Winner of the 2008 East Coast Music Award for Blues Recording of the Year Winner of the 2008 Maple Blues Award for New Artist of the Year Winner of the 2008 CBC Galaxy Rising Star Award With his well-travelled guitars, rich and soulful voice, insightful writing and casual wit, Swift warms audiences everywhere he performs. In the spring of 2007, Swift teamed up with producer/engineer Charles Austin (Buck 65, Joel Plaskett, Matt Mays) to record ten original songs at Halifax, Nova Scotia's Echo Chamber Studio.

Winner of the 2008 Maple Blues Award for New Artist of the Year

Winner of the 2008 CBC Galaxy Rising Star Award

With his well-travelled guitars, rich and soulful voice, insightful writing and casual wit, Swift warms audiences everywhere he performs.

In the spring of 2007, Swift teamed up with producer/engineer Charles Austin (Buck 65, Joel Plaskett, Matt Mays) to record ten original songs at Halifax, Nova Scotia's Echo Chamber Studio.

Released in stores nationally on August 28 by Festival Distribution, Swift's much-anticipated solo debut Into the Dirt features some of Canada's top musical artists. Swift, who plays acoustic guitars, resonator guitars, banjo and mandolin on the recording, is joined by six talented friends, including 2007 Canadian Maple Blues Award-winning drummer/ percussionist Geoff Arsenault (Ray Bonneville, Mary Jane Lamond), Brian Bourne electric bass and chapman stick (Rawlins Cross, DRUM!), Chris Corrigan electric guitar (Rita MacNeil, Mary Jane Lamond), PEI songstress Rose Cousins vocals, New York blues artist Guy Davis on didgeridoo and harmonica and B3/piano legend Bill Stevenson.

From the brawny groove of the title track ?Into the Dirt?, which takes a dark look at the inevitable cycle of life, to the infectious ragtime-inspired guitar work showcased on ?Hackett's Cove Rag?, to the country-roots feel and dobro highlights of ?Crying Shame? to the uplifting stride piano piece ?My Sweet Baby You?, this is an album that will engage all who listen.

Drawing inspiration from finger-style master Mississippi John Hurt, the essential songwriting of Tom Waits and Emmy Lou Harris, the melodies of jazz great Charlie Haden, and his father's operatic voice, Swift delivers a distinctive blend of folk, blues, country and rag style.

"This album is about change and awakening. That's just life. When something changes, something new begins," reflects Swift.

Swift is also a member of the 2007 Canadian Maple Blues Award-winning and East Coast Music Award-winning trio Hot Toddy. With six albums to their credit and a career that spans over 12 years, the group is a regular on festival scenes. They have played the prestigious Newport Folk Festival in the United States, the Blue Balls Festival in Switzerland, the Vienna Jazz Festival in Austria, along with many Canadian jazz, blues and folk festivals.