Adam Sweet delivers brooding blues and rootsy rock,
balancing richly detailed song writing with soulful vocals and expertly
piercing guitar work.
Taking his cue from the British blues boom sounds and rock
riffs of the 60s and 70s, the independent blues-rock guitarist and
singer-songwriter has carved out his own territory between classic rock, blues
and Americana. Since first taking to the live scene in the South West of
England at the age of 15 he has worked in various guises: solo acoustic,
session player and band leader. The result is a consummate ability to switch
from sensitive singer-songwriter to full-on blues rocker with ease, as
demonstrated in his countless live performances and his output as a recording
artist.
“Sonically, Adam is a guitar-slidin' force of nature whose
songs can fill a hall with their effortless verve. Ranging from quietly
desperate blues tunes to careening full-Alt rock, his approach is a testament
to the idea that less can, in fact, be considerably more. A young bluesman with
an ancient soul and a large presence in the here-and-now.”
Adam picked up a guitar aged seven but his interest was only
smouldering for the first few years. A spell studying classical guitar failed
to provide the spark of inspiration he needed but things began to change when
he started private tuition with Adrian John Loveridge, a veteran of the 1980’s Californian music scene who had
just moved back to his hometown of Lyme Regis, Dorset. Guitar lessons suddenly
got much cooler with tales of life as an LA session musician and Adrian’s gold
record gleaming on the wall. The breakthrough came when Adam’s new mentor took
him to see blues-rock band The Hamsters at Lyme’s Marine Theatre. Adam left
with Jimi Hendrix riffs ringing in his ears and was soon playing regularly on
the local circuit recreating the music of his newfound guitar heroes.
In the years that followed Adam performed countless gigs in
numerous bands where he honed his craft and found his voice before embarking on
a solo career…Adam Sweet at The 100 Club, London. (Photo: Tito Nicolau)
His acclaimed debut album ‘Small Town Thinking’, recorded
both in Devon and Nashville, was released at the start of 2014. The album
steadily gathered approval with Adam’s “Timeless” gift earning him rave reviews
including a full 5-star rating and Album of the Month award in Guitar
Techniques Magazine, praising the album for offering a “ whole new perspective
on the (blues) genre”.
Adam’s 2017 EP ‘Take Your Time’ was a stripped back acoustic
offering that perfectly captured the essence of his renowned one-man shows. It
was produced and performed solely by Adam and featured a track written with
founder member of Level 42 Boon Gould. Tracks from this release featured
heavily on BBC Introducing and received several accolades - “Wonderful rock,
blues and roots guitar and very classy arrangements” (Album of the Week, Laurel
Canyon Music).
In 2020 Adam marked his evolution into a fully-fledged
blues-rock artist with the release of his second full studio album ‘Sink or
Swim’, cementing his unique blend of blue-eyed blues and soulful southern rock.
Adam’s sound developed from working closely with band members Ian Jennings on bass (Jeff Beck, Robert Plant,
Ronnie Wood, Mick Fleetwood) and Garry Kroll on drums (Mark Ronson, Joss Stone,
Sandi Thom). Recorded with producer Josiah J Manning Kris Barras Band) at
Momentum Studios, Plymouth, the album captured the energy of the band whilst
always serving the richly detailed song writing. ‘Sink or Swim’ received
extensive radio play spending two months in the Independent Blues Broadcasters
Association Top 40 chart and was listed in the Top 3 Breakthrough Albums of
2020 by ‘Get Ready To ROCK’ and included in the Best Americana Albums of 2020
by Dutch blogger ‘Slim Chance’.
In July 2021 Adam released the single ‘Dead Flowers’ – this
cover of the Rolling Stones country-rock classic became a firm favourite during
the lockdown livestreams Adam was broadcasting from home during the pandemic.
By popular request he recorded the song, which also marked 50 years since the
release of the original. It stays true to Adam’s acoustic lockdown version,
with his band providing the rhythm section plus vocal harmonies by Alex Hart. The track was recorded, produced and
mixed by Adam at home whilst he and his band waited to get back out on the
road.
After the lockdown Adam focused on what he missed most
during the enforced downtime -playing live with his band! With his old friend
Paddy Blight (The Hoosiers, Wildwood Kin, Andy Timmons, That Pedal Show)
joining on bass and new recruit Thomas Hughes (Nektar, EddieFloyd, Geno
Washington, Danny Bryant, The Selecter) on the organ, the rejuvenated Adam Sweet
Band have been rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the tightest units on the
circuit.
In 2023 they were crowned Introducing Stage winners at The
Great British Rock and Blues Festival and have continued to build on this with
triumphant performances at venues and festivals across the UK, including
Sidmouth & Rye International Jazz & Blues Festivals, Jazz Jurassica,
multiple shows at Exeter Phoenix and supports for the likes of Wishbone Ash,
Kris Barras Band and Elles Bailey.
In February 2024 the band released ‘Live at Crescent
Records’ focusing on some of the favourite cover songs from their live
repertoire. Recorded and filmed live in one day in the stunning Wiltshire
studio, the session captured the magic of the band's onstage chemistry with the
accompanying series of YouTube videos clocking up over 80,000 views in the
first few months of release.
Their reputation continues to grow with every show and
recent performances have included the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, London's
iconic 100 Club and a headline slot at the Great British Rhythm & Blues
Festival in Colne. In 2025 they were nominated in the category of ‘UK Blues
Emerging Act of the Year’ at the UK Blues Awards.
In addition to Adam’s work as an artist and band leader he
is also an in-demand session guitarist and producer/engineer. He has played on
dozens of records and is rapidly gaining mixing and production credits working
from his studio in a converted Victorian Mortuary building.
PRESS QUOTES
“The Adam Sweet Band have rightfully earned their reputation
as one of the tightest live acts on the blues/rock circuit” Tuesday Night
Music Club (live review)
"One of the most promising acts I've seen in a while.
Not the usual formula blues/rock, this guy offers something different with
hooky songs, great playing and a decent vocal." Alan Bates (live
review)
“From his heartfelt song writing to stadium-ready vocals, it
is clear that Adam Sweet is a rising star in waiting. Sink or Swim is a
stunning album." Alan Cackett
"Adam Sweet is an undiscovered gem" Maximum
Volume Music
“There is an honesty and integrity to Sweet's delivery that
is very compelling and avoids
obvious cliché. One of the most enjoyable recordings I've
come across this year.” Fatea Magazine
"Stellar roots rockin!" Pete Feenstra
"A singer songwriter who has the chops, the phrasing
and evocative songs to make ‘Sink Or Swim’ a splendid example of contemporary
roots rock." Get Ready to Rock
“’Like It or Not’ cements Adam’s reputation for delivering
some of the sweetest blues this side of the Mississippi.” Jazz Jurassica
“With Adam providing suitably laid back vocals and a divine
guitar solo this is pretty much flawless, you could leave it on repeat all day
and never ;re of it.” w21 Music
“A very talented
young man who's not quite getting the credit he deserves at the moment. He's
right up there with Connor Selby and a few others. I like it Adam!” Harry
Simpson (Still Got the Blues Radio Show / Saltburn Blues Club)
“Adam's gift is timeless, and his is the sort of voice
you'll want to live with, the sort that'll only get deeper and stronger as the
years wear on.” The Blues Magazine
“He is simply among the most original and visionary young
musicians currently on the cusp of widespread discovery.” Alan Cackett
“Adam Sweet’s one of those undiscovered talents that, if
there were any justice, would have been swept up by Jools Holland’s researchers
long ago.” Acoustic Magazine
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