Based in Reading, Berkshire, rock covers band Swallow started life as the
brainchild of vocalist Jane 'Jetblack' Setter and bass player Diane 'Mistress
Mercy' Fox. Old schoolfriends and best mates, Jane and Di had only had
fleeting chances to play together (including gecko hunting in Thailand,
carousing in Hong Kong and numerous parties in Thanet - centre of the
universe!) until Jane moved to Reading. Guitarist Nick Martin and (very
recently!) drummer Adrian Ogden joined us, and Swallow is the result.
Our motto? "We just like to ROCK!!!"
Members of the band have played events such as the Hong Kong 1997 Handover to
China party at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the Johnny Walker 1998 Golf
Classic in Thailand, various Kent Beer Festivals, the 2003 Edinburgh Festival,
the Bracknell Jazz Festival and venues all over the Midlands, London and the
South East. Swallow has most recently played venues around Reading such as
The Eldon Arms, The County Arms and The Swan at Arborfield, and also appeared
at the Reading Beer Festival in
2003
and 2004
and the Lion Rally in 2005, 2006 and 2010.
Click on our pictures link for shots of the band in action!
Jane 'Jetblack' Setter (vocals):
Biker chick (I ride a Yamaha VS535 Virago), phonetician, sophisticate, babe,
intellectual, natural wit, vocalist extraordinaire, and extremely modest to
boot - Jane's got it all really. Described as an "exceptional frontwoman",
with a range and style which copes easily with the rigours of Robert Plant,
the attitude of Deborah Harry, the range of Rainbow's various vocalists and
the cool of Hendrix, it is Jane's versatility and stage presence which make
the Swallow experience one not to be missed. Jane also sings in original prog
rock band
Crimson Sky and for Run Like Hell,
featuring the Pink Floyd Experience, and even plays the tambourine ...
So come on down!
Diane 'Mistress Mercy' Fox (bass and vocals): You'd never guess this gothic chick had a very strict upbringing ... or would you? Dark horse Di's a bit of a celebrity on the Reading music scene; her activities range from bass-playing with Swallow, Aisle 22, Symphony of Pain and, formerly, the Jason Manners Blues Band, A F Harrold & his All Star Band, to working as a bass technician and merchandiser across Europe for the likes of John Wetton, It Bites, King's X, Arena, Pendragon and The Urbane. She has jammed with no less than Filmore Slim, aka Clarence 'guitar' Sims, at a Jason Manners gig in Reading's Purple Turtle. Di just can't stop herself from picking up her sexy little purple number ... and how grateful are we for that??
Nick Martin (guitar and vocals):
Nick started playing guitar a long time ago and hasn't stopped yet. His early
obsession with Deep Purple gave way to forays into Fusion, Art Rock, Melodic
Rock and eventually Prog (hurrah!). He has plied his trade at shows up and
down the land in bands such as
Medicine Man and
Merchant's Vice, sometimes even
to an audience. Nick suffers from GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and is never
happier than when he has a new toy to play with. Swallow are proud to say that
his playing styles run the whole gamut from A to B (and back again). That a
new guitar, Nick ..?
Adrian Ogden (drums): To lose one drummer may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two seems like carelessness. But that's how the band found Adrian, when he joined Jane in Run Like Hell, and a year later was recruited into Swallow as well. Having played rock, pop, blues and soul over the years - with local band Loose Tourniquet, The Briefcase Blues Brothers, and XTC tribute X-sTatiC among others - he's enjoying the chance to throw a bit of Prog into the mix as well. Adrian also plays with the Syn City Rockers, and when not behind the drums can often be found under a weatherbeaten panama hat.
View Swallow's current set list from HERE.
Friday 24th February 2012
The Eldon Arms, Eldon Terrace, Reading
From 9pm-ish
Click here for details
Saturday 3rd March 2012
The Good Companions, Woodley, Reading
From 9pm-ish
Click here for details
Saturday 28th April 2012
The Pond House, Oxford Road, Reading
From 9pm-ish
Click here for details
Saturday 12th May 2012
The Rolleston, Swindon
From 9pm-ish
Click here for details
Saturday 16th February 2012
Thatchers Tavern, Woodley, Reading
From 9pm-ish
Click here for details
Saturday 14th July 2012
The Eldon Arms, Eldon Terrace, Reading
From 9pm-ish
Click here for details
Last updated 24th January 2012
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