Hardly Strictly Bluegrass!

We are so excited to be traveling to California at the end of this month to perform at the 11^th annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival on Sunday, October 2nd! The three-day star-studded event takes over San Francisco's Golden Gate Park with multiple stages and over 80 bands performing such as Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Earl Scruggs, Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, Robert Plant, Bela Fleck, and many, many more!

The Swanson Family Band from Florida, who released their widely successful second album Two in the Morning in 2010, are recognized as one of Florida's newest emerging bluegrass bands. The band features brothers Travis Swanson (16) on fiddle/vocals, Tyler Swanson (18) on banjo, and Eric Swanson (22) on mandolin/vocals, along with Megan Bradley (21) on guitar/vocals, Lynn Swanson on guitar and Richard Swanson on bass.  For more information on the Swanson Family Band visit http://www.swansonfamilyband.com/ and for more information on Hardly Strictly Bluegrass visit http://www.strictlybluegrass.com/

Jammin' in the Hammock Bluegrass Festival 2011 Swanson Family Band Photos

The Swanson Family Band had a great time and met so many new friends at the 2011 Jammin' in the Hammock Bluegrass Festival in Naples, Florida on the weekend of February 12 and February 13. Thanks to Rex, Barb, Herb and all of the other volunteers who made our trip the best ever, and all of the other bands, Tomorrow's News, Frontline Bluegrass, Bean Pickers, Wholetones, Pure and Simple, the Laws, and all of the fans who attended. If you have never been to Collier-Seminole State Park near Naples, Florida be sure to be there next year for this fantastic festival.

For more info on the Swanson Family Band visit www.swansonfamilyband.com

Swanson Family Band's Latest Album Review in Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine

The Swanson Family Bands latest album, Two in the Morning, received a great review in the Feburary issue of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine .  All the qualities of the album were touched upon in the review and even gave a new perspective to some of the contemporary bluegrass songs featured on the album. To see this review online you can visit Bluegrass Unlimited’s Review Page.  

Bluegrass Unlimited was the first of its type. Created in 1966, this monthly publication is dedicated to the furtherance of bluegrass and old-time country musicians, devotees and associates. It is filled with feature stories on bluegrass artists, a blast from the past of bluegrass artists and their effect on bluegrass music today, festival information, and what we’re most excited for this month, artist album reviews!

If you’d like to subscribe to this magazine you can visit their Subscribe Page and if you have yet to hear the Swanson Family Band then go on over to the website www.swansonfamilybluegrass.com and have a listen.

Jammin’ In The Hammock Bluegrass Festival

On the weekend of February 12^th and 13th., the Swanson Family Band will be performing at the 4^th Annual Jammin’ in the Hammock Bluegrass Festival.  It will be held at the beautiful Collier-Seminole State Park near Naples, Fl.  The Swanson Family Band will be performing on both Saturday and Sunday along with many other great bands. Other feature bands include Tomorrow’s News, The Laws, Pure and Simple, Frontline, The Whole Tone, and The Bean Pickers. To be even more irresistible, Sunday morning there will be a Southern Gospel open sing and jam for everyone to participate in and enjoy.

A rising bluegrass group from a small town on the west coast of Florida known for producing world-class bluegrass artists, the Swanson Family Band features Rick and Lynn Swanson on bass and guitar respectively, their sons Travis on fiddle and vocals; Tyler on banjo; Eric on mandolin and vocals and rounding out the group, adding female lead vocals, is the newest member, Megan Bradley.

For further detailed information and directions, you can visit the Collier-Seminole State Park  Events Page or you can call  239-394-3397  .

So bring your chairs and come out to see us, we’d love to see you!

Megan Bradley and Eric Swanson Appearing as duo at First Baptist Church Benefit Concert

When Megan Bradley and Eric Swanson take front and center stage together as a duo, what emerges is one of the sweetest, most soulful and hauntingly beautiful duets in the business. Their stage presence is warm and genuine, and Megan’s beautiful vocal renditions along with Eric’s artful mandolin arrangements breathe youth and energy into their performances.  

Mandolinist Eric Swanson has been playing bluegrass since the age of twelve and is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter. He is an accomplished musician and feels right at home with many other instruments such as guitar, dobro, octave guitar, and mandola. In addition to his musicial abilities, he is a senior at the University of Florida, majoring in Chemistry as a pre-med student.

Megan Bradley joined the Swanson Family Band in 2009 and first began singing harmonies and lead for the band at church.  Vocally, she was classically trained in high school and has been playing the piano since the age of seven. She has also recently learned how to play guitar. Megan is currently a junior in college, majoring in psychology with a degree in Photographic Technologies.

We hope to see you there in support of the First Baptist church of Crystal River and to hear great artists at work!

For more information:

call: 352-795-3367      

email: fbccr@firstbaptistcrystalriver.org 

address: 700 North Citrus Avenue Crystal River, FL 34428 

Megan Bradley
Swanson Family Band
http://www.swansonfamilybluegrass.com/

Fiddler Travis Swanson Dislocates Shoulder Causing Change in Band Schedule

In light of Swanson Family Band member Travis Swanson’s recent New Year’s weekend snowboarding accident which resulted in a dislocated shoulder, the Swanson Family Band regrets to announce it will not be appearing at the First Baptist Church benefit concert as originally planned.  The group greatly appreciates all of the get well wishes and support it has been receiving since the accident. Travis’ spirits are good, and he is looking forward to a rapid recovery.

Travis has been playing fiddle since age nine and provides some of the groups lead and harmony vocals.  He has penned many of the songs on our most recent album like "Two In The Morning" and continues to write more. Although the fiddle is his main instrument, Travis is also a multi-instrumentalist, and plays guitar, piano, mandolin, and drums. In his free time when he's not playing music, he plays competitive soccer, tennis, and golf. We hope in time that his arm will be back to normal so he can continue to all of those things again!

Once more, thank you for all the support and well wishes.