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EW ZEALAND SINGER-SONGWRITER WILL SWINTON TOUR & LP
October 14, 2024 - November 16, 2024
Gravel-voiced singer-songwriter Will Swinton extends his head-turning singles streak with “Flames.” Blending folk, pop, and alt-country, the mood-setting song evokes campfires and open spaces as the Auckland artist sings of losing himself in the shadow of lost love.
After Will counts us in, he sets an ominous tone: “Held you in the darkest nights, you held me together in the cold / But the morning brings a different light, shows you things you never really know.” Soon, the kick drum kicks harder, the guitar gets more urgent, and Will lets out a howl amid electrified rumbles and gossamer atmospherics. He paints a picture of crushing loneliness: “And when you left, I kept the pain / Now I only feel alive inside the flame.”
It’s been a breakout year for the rising New Zealander. “Flames” follows hot on the heels of “Fall Apart” — with its heartfelt verses and hummable hook. Off the release POPCULTR praised “his evocative lyrics and distinctive sound,” and stated “he’s not just making waves—he’s creating a tidal surge of emotion and connection.” “Fall Apart” followed “Can’t Let Go,” an upbeat and undeniable folk-pop gem that finds Will navigating the complexities of a long-distance relationship. The latter came with an intimate video directed by the artist himself, plus climbed to #7 on the Hot 20 New Zealand Singles Chart and garnered praise from the likes of Sweety Highwho shouted out “Will’s signature sense of vulnerable songwriting [and] rousing, folksy sound.”
With these songs at his back, Will hits the road this fall as direct support on BabyJake’s anticipated Beautiful Blue Collar Boy Tour. Scheduled for 25 dates stretching across the US, the run kicks off on October 14 in Carrboro, NC, followed by performances in DC, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, and more. The tour concludes in Nashville on November 16. See the full tour routing below.
Will’s been on a tear. In June he shared “Letting Me Down” which, beyond piling up hundreds of thousands of streams, earned considerable critical acclaim. The Honey Pop raved, “It’s raw and emotional, and we can’t help but feel as if we’re going through the situation right alongside him,” while UPROXX placed the song on its “All The Best New Pop Music” list. Prior, he made waves with “Harmless,” inspiring Mundane Magazine to applaud his “powerful stadium ready voice,” and Happy Mag to declare, “Will Swinton cements his place among music’s upper echelons.”
All of that was in 2024 alone. Will closed out 2023 with opening on tour for Dermot Kennedy and releasing “Daydream,” which clocked millions of streams, hitting #5 on the Hot 20 New Zealand Singles Chart and racking up more acclaim, including a plug from Rolling Stone. Will released his debut EP Better Days in October 2023, which itself capped a flurry of momentum for the then fresh face. In 2022, his independent single “All For You” cracked the Top 10 of the Hot 20 New Zealand Singles Chart, while “Better Days,” “Wasted You,” and “Leave In The Morning” landed in the Top 15.
Beautiful Blue Collar Boy Tour Dates:
October 14, 2024 Cat’s Cradle (Back Room) Carrboro, NC
October 15, 2024 DC9 Washington, DC
October 16, 2024 (Le) Poisson Rouge New York, NY
October 17, 2024 Middle East Upstairs Boston, MA
October 18, 2024 Kung Fu Necktie Philadelphia, PA
October 19, 2024 Empire Underground Albany, NY
October 21, 2024 The Smiling Moose Pittsburgh, PA
October 23, 2024 Lager House Detroit, MI
October 24, 2024 Beat Kitchen Chicago, IL
October 25, 2024 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN
October 26, 2024 The Aquarium Fargo, ND
October 29, 2024 The Pub Station Billings, MT
October 31, 2024 The District Bar Spokane, WA
November 1, 2024 Madame Lou’s (Early Show) Seattle, WA
November 2, 2024 Shrine Social Club Boise, ID
November 3, 2024 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT
November 6, 2024 Mesa Theater Grand Junction, CO
November 7, 2024 Larimer Lounge Denver, CO
November 8, 2024 The Rino Kansas City, MO
November 9, 2024 Rose Music Hall Columbia, MO
November 11, 2024 Duck Room at Blueberry Hill St Louis, MO
November 12, 2024 Turntable Indianapolis, IN
November 13, 2024 Zanzabar Louisville, KY
November 14, 2024 The Masquerade (Purgatory) Atlanta, GA
November 16, 2024 Exit/In Nashville, TNPhoto Credit: Bryce Glenn
About Will Swinton
Singer-songwriter Will Swinton crafts relatable, soul-baring songs that other artists wish they’d written themselves — just ask Machine Gun Kelly, whom Swinton met by chance at an Idaho bar in July 2022. MGK was “intrigued” by the 22-year-old New Zealander — enough to invite Swinton to his Mainstream Sellout Tour show in Spokane, Washington. Independently Swinton achieved success with his July 2022 debut single, “All For You,” which hit No. 6 on the Hot 20 New Zealand Singles Chart, followed by the similarly refreshingly honest “Wasted You,” climbing to No. 15 on the same chart.
Altogether, he’s generated 100 million TikTok views and nearly 10 million global streams in the span of a year. Swinton’s emotionally tinged Better Days debut EP, further solidifies his unique sound and unquestioned potential for global resonance. Standout tracks like the title “Better Days” and the anecdotally vulnerable “Leave In The Morning,” produced alongside Rory Noble (Burna Boy, Ruel) illustrate Swinton’s refreshing musicality.
Hailing from Auckland, New Zealand the former trampoline park employee took a leap of faith spending all his savings on a lifechanging flight to LA chasing his music dream. Fast forward, he’s now signed to 10K Projects and Capitol Records enhancing his artistry. He garners acclaim from Rolling Stone, writes with the likes of Claire Rosinkranz, sells out headline shows in addition to playing a slew of global festivals and recently opened for Dermot Kennedy.