Legend has it, if musicians spend enough time around the roaring waters of Niagara Falls, they end up making music in various shades of blue. Brandon Agnew is an independent roots musician and a bordertown boy. His songwriting is inspired by everyday life in Ontario and shaped by time spent in New Orleans, Memphis and Buffalo. Fans of his music have compared him to Steve Earle, Kevin Morby and Sixto Rodriquez.
"Stories from the north, sounds from the south"
A lifetime ago, he wrote some songs in New Orleans, recorded them in Chelsea, Quebec and ended up in Memphis, with his buddy, Benny Gutman at the International Blues Challenge. But what happens in Memphis, stays in Memphis ... Tennessee.
He's released two albums (Mave's Variety + Aquarius Moon) in the past 3 years with The Pocket 4's as his backing band. Both albums were recorded live off-the-floor at Banquet Sound Studio (Owner: Nick Boyd - Hollerado, Anyway Gang) in Toronto with Producer, Joseph Stracuzzi as pandemic projects.
Of late he's played shows with Canadian touring artists Mariel Buckley, Nicolette & The Nobodies, Bobby Dove, Billy Rogers, A Sea of Gold & Burgundy, Soft Animals, Minuscule, The Woodshed Orchestra, Ian James Bain, Chuck Coles, Bent Neck & The Joints, Mike Lynch and Wax Mannequin, among others.
Brandon lives in St. Catharines with his partner, Jess, and their orange cat, Gemelli. He is a member of Folk Music Ontario and the Niagara Artists Centre.
He currently heads two original projects:
Brandon Agnew & The Night Shadows: A bluesy, swampy band channelling NOLA vibes with trombone and guitars
Brandon Agnew & The Euchre Party: A folky, Canadiana outfit reminiscent of bluegrass with banjo, mandolin and acoustic bass
All original, just like you ...
