Swift Creek

About

Kevin Brown Guitar, vocals. Kevin formed the Blue Moon Band in the late 1970's at UNC - Chapel Hill, along with Mack Bailey (current member of the Limeliters) and Jim DeWan (Chicago-based Irish musician). He has continued playing and singing through the years with various groups. Kevin is a songwriter whose works have been recorded by Glenn Yarbrough, The Limeliters, The Hard Travelers, Mack Bailey, Seamus Kennedy, Dick Foley & Terry Lauber (The Brothers Four) and Carl Allen.

Dennis Hoyle Bass. From his early years of practicing scales on the ivories, to honking the biggest horn in the high school marching band (that would be a tuba), to singing in the church choir, music has always been important to Dennis. After playing guitar in small groups and jams for over 20 years, he went back to his favorite low end sound and plays both electric and double bass. Most recently, he played for two years with a local band, doing numerous gigs around the Triangle and beyond. He is influenced by all kinds of music including folk, rock, blues, funk and jazz. His bass heroes include Paul McCartney, Jaco Pastorius and James “The Hook” Jamerson.

Ann Searcy Vocals, percussion. Ann grew up in Smithfield, NC and has been singing since childhood in school groups, church choirs and community choruses. She was instrumental in starting Swift Creek Revival after a successful two-year stint with a local acoustic group. Some of her vocal favorites are Emmylou Harris, Allison Krauss, Gillian Welch and Bonnie Raitt. Singing harmony is Ann’s “thing,” and she listens to the Eagles, CCR, the Beatles and plenty of bluegrass for pointers.

Chris Martin Guitar, vocals, harmonica. Chris’ love of music started at an early age in Wilmington, NC. He grew up in a musical home listening to his dad and relatives playing the music of Flat and Scruggs, Chet Adkins and Hank Williams. He began singing in choirs and choruses in junior high and continued to perform in ensemble groups and barbershop quartets in high school and college. After picking up the guitar, Chris played with couple of local rock bands for several years. Over the years he developed a deep appreciation for the harmonies and musicianship in Americana and roots music and has never looked back since. Some of his earliest musical influences range from Van Morrison to Jim Morrison and in more recent years from the Waifs to the Wilders.

Casey Elder Mandolin, dobro. Casey grew up in Forest, Va., playing both saxophone and electric bass in high school bands, and listening to a lot of Doc Watson and Muddy Waters. Bluegrass guitar was his next musical accomplishment, when attending Virginia Tech; followed by learning mandolin while living in Colorado in 2002. His favorites on mandolin are David Grisman, Chris Thile and Jesse McReynolds. After moving back east, he played with various honky-tonk, bluegrass and old time bands around Blacksburg, Va. and learned yet another instrument, the dobro.

Personnel

Kevin Brown: vocals, guitar, songwriter
Chris Martin: vocals, guitar, songwriter
Casey Elder: mandolin, dobro
Dennis Hoyle: Bass
Ann Searcy: vocals, percussion

Influences

Old Crow Medicine Show, The Wilders, The Steeldrivers, Red Molly, Cadillac Sky, Doc Watson, Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, are among our favorites. However, we try to make our sound unique...and mostly succeed!

What to Expect

Typical Gig Duration: 50 - 240 minutes

Swift Creek's unique approach to Americana music and love of playing for live audiences has made them a popular new band on the Triangle music scene. The band's upbeat music features originals, great bluegrass, honky tonk and folk/rock covers and old favorites with new spins.

From stirring old gospel numbers like No Hiding Place and Crying Holy, to Irish classics such as Coleen Malone, to folk/rock and bluegrass standards like Fox on the Run and Don't Think Twice....Swift Creek does it all, The band places equal emphasis on newer Americana artists including Old Crow Medicine Show, Cadillac Sky, Lucinda Williams, The Wilders, Gillian Welch and The Avett Brothers, as well as performing songs written by band members Chris Martin and Kevin Brown and local songwriter, Justin Robertson.

Swift Creek's trademarks are intricate 2 and 3 part harmonies and lively instrumentals featuring guitars, mandolin, dobro, bass, harmonica and percussion. They've got a great "roots" sound that audiences love.

Stage/Setup Requirements:
Swift Creek owns a complete, state of the art sound system. When utilizing a venue sound system, we work closely with the sound engineer to ensure the best show possible. Generally we need inputs for 5 acoustic instruments and 4 vocal mics.

Additional Notes:
Swift Creek has a state of the art sound system appropriate for most small to medium sized indoor and outdoor venues. If you have a house sound system we have experience working with sound engineers.

Set/Song/Sequence List:
A Sample of Swift Creek's repertoire is below. We are constantly adding new songs to keep our performances fresh and exciting!

Tell It To Me
Up on Cripple Creek
When I Drink
I'll Fly Away
Friend of the Devil
It'll Never Be Through with Us
The General Specific
Funnel Of Love
If It Hadn't Been for Love
Cryin' Holy
Folsum Prison Blues
Drinkin' Dark Whiskey
Old Home Place
I Want to Sing the Rock and Roll
I Would Be Sad
How Mountain Girls Can Love
Tear My Stillhouse Down
Colleen Malone
Rocky Top
The Way
Wagon Wheel
No Hidin' Place
Fox on the Run
Highway 81
Can' Let Go
Crop Comes In
One Love
Hey Little Darlin'
Summertime
Hangman
Senor
Don't Think Twice
On My Way
Rock Me Grandpa

Covers: Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Johnny Cash, CCR, The Band, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Wilders, The Steeldrivers, The Avett Brothers, Cadillac Sky, Fastball, Lucinda Williams and more. Originals by Kevin Brown, Chris Martin and Justin Robertson.

Performance Schedule

Past Booked Dates:

10-15-2011 — Wedding Reception
09-21-2011 — Rudinos Rooftop, Raleigh, NC
09-17-2011 — Ruckus, Cary, NC
09-10-2011 — Wedding Reception
08-27-2011 — Wedding Reception
08-19-2011 — Brightleaf Square Series, Durham, NC
08-13-2011 — Ramseur Lake Concert Series
07-30-2011 — City Tap, Pittsboro, NC
07-22-2011 — Bynum Front Porch Music Series
07-17-2011 — Wedding and Reception
06-25-2011 — Wedding Reception
06-17-2011 — Wedding Rehearsal
06-11-2011 — Wedding

Available for Your

Anniversary Party, Bar/Lounge, Birthday Party, Christmas Party, Club/Nightclub, Competition, Concert Venue, Convention, Corporate Event, Festival, Fundraiser, Halloween Party, Restaurant, Reunion, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Reception

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