The Bads is a vehicle for the musical escapades of Brett Adams and Dianne Swann, created under the fiery skies of Waitakere, Aotearoa - New Zealand.
Most recently spotted impressing a sold-out house at Auckland’s Civic, as members of the Neil Young Live Rust tribute show, Adams and Swann confirmed their reputation as two of New Zealand’s finest musicians and performers. They are currently enjoying playing a series of stripped-back three-piece shows, with their regular bandmate and multi-instrumentalist, Dave Khan.
With four albums released to date, The Bads have an extensive catalogue to draw from with their song-writing abilities and depth praised to the hilt: 2017s Losing Heroes charted at #3 and received finalist status for the prestigious Taite Prize in 2018.
2005’s Earth from Space, and 2009’s So Alive, and 2013’s Travel Light all received accolades and chart placings and So Alive was nominated for the Best Country song and album.
The Bads love nothing more than headlining their own shows, and have some amazing highlights to speak of from their collective musical history: Travelling to Nashville to play the legendary Ryman Auditorium, opening WOMAD 2014 as ‘Tim Finn and The Bads’ and collaborating with Australian legendary songwriter, Don Walker in a series of shows. They have a long list of artists they have opened for, including Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Joan Armatrading, The Swell Season, The Jayhawks and Rodrgio Y Gabriela and Rodriguez.
Dianne and Brett are skilled music producers and have produced music for several TV Series, including Homegrown, Hunger for The Wild and Coasters. They have had songs feature in films and TV shows in New Zealand, Australia and the US
“Faultless” – Ambient Light Live Review.
Losing Heroes is the strongest, most cohesive collection of songs Adams and Swann have put together. It’s a worldly album, in which they pay homage to a parade of influences, from Brixton to Nashville. They reflect on the passage of time and the troubles of the planet. But when they sing “In this world of chaos keep your loved ones close” (in ‘Spinning Wheels Turning Tides’) they also offer a kind of solace.” Nick Bollinger RNZ
They are making music that is as good as anything I’m hearing – here and abroad. I wish them more than luck with this – their finest. They deserve an international following, a global audience; they deserve every success, hard-fought and well-earned. Simon Sweetman, Off The Tracks
BYO venue, glasses provided
