RealTracks Artist Bio: Oliver Swain

Hailing from Victoria, British Columbia, Oliver Swain is a Juno- and WCMA-nominated roots artist whose deeply felt vocals, instrumental versatility and documentary-style songwriting have placed him firmly in Canada’s folk and Americana landscape. He spent more than a decade honing his craft with some of North America’s most respected roots bands — including The Duhks, The Bills and Outlaw Social — before striking out on his own and releasing his acclaimed solo album In a BIG MACHINE (2011).

Drawing on field-research trips into the Appalachian mountains and the Mississippi Delta, and steeped in old traditions yet fiercely contemporary in voice, Swain brings banjo and upright bass to bear on songs that resonate with wilderness, human longing and sonic roots. His live performances, often described as “beautifully played… each song a mini-masterpiece,” have hailed him as one of the most compelling voices in Canadian folk music.

When he’s not recording or touring across Canada, Europe and Australia, Swain lives in his native Victoria and contributes to the community as festival artistic director and session musician, ever-evolving but always grounded in the traditions that inspired him.
https://oliverswain.com/