Photo credit: Fiona Small

SHORT BIO

San Juan Island, WA-based power-duo Mandy Fer and Dave McGraw are back at it with a new sound, and a new name: Sway Wild! Their exceptional vocal harmonies, coupled with Fer’s pioneering electric guitar work, have become a vehicle to carry them around the world, sharing stages with the likes of Iron & Wine, Lake Street Dive, and The Wood Brothers. Sway Wild’s infectious sound explores the corners of indie-folk, rock, pop, and funk, but at its nucleus it is undeniably a music full of joy. It can squeeze the heart in your chest, it can draw tears from your eyes, and it can force you to get up and move your body; over and over, it somehow manages to do all three at once. Awarded 'Instrumentalist of the Year' by the Americana Music Association, Mandy Fer also tours as the lead guitarist for Amos Lee and Allison Russell and has recently performed with Brandi Carlile.

PRESS

"The night’s best speech was from Mandy Fer, who was named Instrumentalist of the Year (from Americana Music Association) where she spoke from the Ryman Auditorium stage about seeing very few female lead guitarists growing up, and how she wanted to inspire other people of all gender identities to pursue music."
— Rolling Stone

“Grooving...wistful, driving, and a masterful combination...velvety vocals over staccato guitar and light percussion capture your attention with Sway Wild.” 
— Parade Magazine

“Off-Grid Lo-Fi is chock full of roots-rich gems...Fer shreds...excellent guitar...a delicate blues madrigal...” 
— Acoustic Guitar Magazine

“...soulful songs, intuitive musicianship, and fine singing.” 
— The Telegraph (UK)

“...refreshing...stunning...some of the best I have heard.”
— No Depression

"...high energy (and) soulful... Like The Wood Brothers and Lake Street Dive, Sway Wild hones a universal likeability where uptempo anthems and melodic precision prevail. Fer is an impressive...[and] masterful guitarist...”
— Glide Magazine

“...stellar songwriting...exceptional guitar playing...”
— The Utne Reader

“...roots trailblazers Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer continue their upward stride towards artistic nirvana....scintillating...”
— PopMatters

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