Biography

There’s something about living on the edge of the world that tends to encourage far-reaching perspectives. Canadian roots trio THE SWEET LOWDOWN (Amanda Blied, guitar; Shanti Bremer, banjo; Miriam Sonstenes, fiddle), based in Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, certainly understand this.
With the rough waters of the Pacific around them and the wilds of the Canadian North above them, The Sweet Lowdown have developed original acoustic roots music that draws from earth and sky. This is mountain music to be sure: mountains tied to the natural environment of the Pacific Northwest. As such, you’ll hear influences in this music as far-ranging as Appalachian fiddling, contemporary pop, Celtic jigs and that particularly Canadian blend of driving tradition and ground-breaking originality. The Sweet Lowdown draw from these influences, but are not beholden to them, and instead blaze a new trail with original songwriting and innovative instrumental arrangements.
Fresh off a tour with CBC's Vinyl Cafe, and quickly gaining critical acclaim for their newest release "Chasing The Sun" (produced by Adrian Dolan of The Bills,Ruth Moody Band), The Sweet Lowdown have accomplished much in past 5 years. Their self-titled debut album (2011) was nominated for “Album of The Year” at the Vancouver Island Music Awards (VIMAs), and their second album “May” won “Island Roots Album of the Year”, at the VIMA's, and earned the trio a nomination for “Vocal Group of the Year” at the 2013 Canadian Folk Music Awards. www.thesweetlowdown.ca.