Dave McGraw, Mandy Fer and bassist Thom Lord will perform at Rainshadow Recording at Fort Worden State Park on Saturday. (Laura Totten Photography)

Dave McGraw, Mandy Fer and bassist Thom Lord will perform at Rainshadow Recording at Fort Worden State Park on Saturday. (Laura Totten Photography)

‘Sway Wild’ postpones concert to the spring

PORT TOWNSEND — Saturday’s performance of the trio of Dave McGraw, Mandy Fer and bassist Thom Lord — now performing as Sway Wild — has been rescheduled to March 23 because of bad weather.

Tickets already purchased for the concert will be honored on the future date or refunded.

The show will be at Rainshadow Recording at Building 315 of Fort Worden State Park, 200 Battery Way.

Tickets are $15 at sway wild.brownpapertickets.com.

The group is now transitioning to the new name of Sway Wild.

“Sway Wild is their own unique blend of indie-rock, folk and pop, influenced heavily by all the wild things around and within them — donkeys out the front door, whales out the back,” the group said in a press release.

Their latest self-produced and recorded release, “Off-Grid Lo Fi,” was recorded entirely with solar- and wind-powered electricity on a nearly uninhabited, remote, off-grid island in Washington, they said.

McGraw and Fer were invited to a seaside farm to care for four old donkeys and a flock of chickens for three months on a non-ferry-serviced island with a winter population of fewer than eight people.

Seizing the opportunity for a solitary writing residency, the duo loaded all of their instruments, minimal recording gear and groceries into a 16-foot aluminum boat and crossed the channel towards the U.S.-Canada border for what they called their “feral” adventure.

Pushing wheelbarrows full of provisions in their rubber boots, they made their way to a hand-built cabin where they recorded “Off-Grid Lo-Fi” in a living room overlooking the Pacific inland sea.

The recording setup was basic: no computer screens or editing; no auto-tune. All real takes.

The result is a 12-song album filled with harmonies, poignant songwriting, Fer’s electric guitar playing, acoustic guitars, percussion, cello and newly prominent banjo and piano (all played by Fer and McGraw).

Fer performs an extended guitar solo. McGraw’s songwriting riffs are on natural elements of the world around him.

McGraw spent a decade as a wildlife biologist, studying endangered birds in remote locales from the deserts of Mexico and the Grand Canyon to the mountainous rain forests of Washington.

McGraw and Fer joined forces in Flagstaff, Ariz., in 2010 before relocating to the Pacific Northwest in 2012.

The duo’s 2014 release “Maritime” charted at No. 1 on the EuroAmericana Chart for two consecutive months and was praised by The Telegraph for “… soulful songs, intuitive musicianship, and fine singing.”

The pair has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, sharing stages with such artists as Iron & Wine, Glen Hansard, Gregory Alan Isakov, Charlie Hunter Trio, Lake Street Dive and many others.

For information, go to their website at swaywild.com, email centrum recording@gmail.com or call 360-301-0291.

More in Entertainment

Two films to be screened next week at Field Hall

Films @ Field Hall will present two films next… Continue reading

“Cacophany” by Shirley Bomgaars will be on exhibit at the Port Ludlow Art League during December.
Port Ludlow Art League to host artist reception

The Port Ludlow Art League will host a reception… Continue reading

Sequim Arts Commission opens submissions for high school contest

The Sequim Arts Commission is accepting submissions for its seventh… Continue reading

Tigran Arakelyan will conduct a concert by the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra at Chimacum High School on Sunday.
Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra to perform Sunday

The Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra will perform its December concert… Continue reading

Buddy Mondlock will perform Friday at Rainshadow Recording at Fort Worden.
Buddy Mondlock to play at Rainshadow Recording

Buddy Mondlock will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at… Continue reading

Community plays, live music set on Peninsula

Stage performances, art walks and live music highlight this weekend’s events on… Continue reading

Craft fairs open this weekend across Peninsula

A variety of holiday arts and crafts events will be open this… Continue reading

Kings of Mongrel Folk to perform on Saturday

Mark Graham and Orville Johnson, the Kings of Mongrel… Continue reading

Mary Fahl will perform Sunday at Concerts in the Woods.
Concerts in the Woods set Saturday

Mary Fahl will perform during Concerts in the Woods at… Continue reading

Andrea Guarino-Slemmons has more than 30 years of experience in jewelry design. Her work will be on display on Saturday during the Port Townsend Art Walk at the Port Townsend Gallery.
Paintings, jewelry to be on display during art walk

A variety of artwork will be on view during… Continue reading

Port Townsend Main Street to host Holidays in PT on Saturday

The Port Townsend Main Street Program will host Holidays… Continue reading

Northwest Women’s Chorale to host concert Monday

The Northwest Women’s Chorale will present “Hark!” at 7… Continue reading