Yellow Eye Dunedin presents Swamp Thing returning south for February 2014 with the amazing Minnie Marks from Australia.
A brief yet highly lauded three minute cameo on a recent heat of TV1’S NZ Got Talent Oct 13th has led to a huge spike in interest and enquiry for the duo over the last few weeks – people want to know about these lads and unlike most on that show they have a history and depth to satisfy that initial enquiry .
Since forming in 2010 this power swamp stompin roots duo delivers and shares a wealth of experience to craft a primal blues flavoured music with a deep groove and soulful spook.
They’re the two left in the juke joint when the hurricane’s about to make landfall, when the revellers have gone home, sweat-soaked and exhausted. The bulbs are blown out, the floor’s full of glass, but two men are honour bound to keep playing, pouring their sweat into the parched earth like libation. In the best traditions of two man blues and roots, Swamp Thing is a duo that you know are playing to stay alive.
Swamp Thing will be featuring and promoting their recently released second album ‘Primordium’ on this second ever sojourn Southward in recognition that they are themselves growing and spreading their sound and selves right across the country building to bigger and better things .
It is just over a year ago that the duo played a number of Australian festivals and shows including WOMADelaide, Woodford Folk Festival, Blues at Bridgetown and Nannup. Now’s the chance for the South to sample the sight n sounds of these fellas especially if you missed their rip roaring debut tour back in August 2013 , they come highly recommended don’t miss it.
Opening for Swamp Thing on this tour is the amazing Minnie Marks from Australia.
This young singer songwriter guitarist multi instrumentalist from the mid north coast of NSW is playing to packed out shows and blazing a musical trail packing a percussive punch that far belies her years which has touted her as the next big thing. Minnie’s fresh groovy style showmanship and fearless obsession towards her music is pushing the limits of her guitar vocals and performance to new levels. While being compared to John Butler by punters her performances are like a pack of fruit tingles being thrown into a bottle of coke. With a smile as happy as the sunshine and a right hand like a machine gun Minnie is quickly making a household name for herself in the industry as the finest young guitar player in Australia.
“With an insane talent that’s out of control playing what she calls dirty sweet rock & roll this young singer/songwriter/guitarist/multi instrumentalist is pushing the limits of her guitar, vocals and performance to new levels which has touted her as ‘the next big thing’. ” www.minniemarks.com
Swamp Thing
I first saw Michael Barker about 15 years ago with Neil Finn when Neil’s first solo album Try Whistling This was released. Michael went on to be part of the John Butler Trio and the touring drummer for Split Enz. The other half of this special duo is Grant Haua. I have to be honest and say here that Grant has been off my radar for all of these years…but that’s been my loss. Grant’s contribution to the band is very impressive. His gruff swampy vocals and guitar licks gives one the impression that this guys from the deep south of the States and not little ol’ Rotorua. The musical grooves of Swamp Thing had me under their spell from the very first song.The chemistry here between these two musicians is perfect. They make the perfect gumbo with their deep rootsy blues and superb playing.
Michael Flynn 13th floor website review October 18th 2103 Titirangi Festival Show
http://13thfloor.co.nz/2013/10/20/swamp-thing-titirangi-music-festival-concert-review/
http://www.youtube.com/watch'v=LEN4X0iy8Qw
