Veronica Swift

You can’t help but be excited when talking about Orlando singer songwriter Cat Ridgeway. Her infectious energy and contagious enthusiasm in everything she creates is electric, while her passion and commitment to her music radiate through her fiery blend of indie-rock and punk with hints of dream pop and folk. A skilled lyricist and melodist, Ridgeway is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who can play guitar, harmonica, trumpet, trombone, drums, piano, mandolin, and bass - sometimes playing three instruments at once! Ridgeway, along with the revolving members of her touring band, The Tourists, create a sweaty, energetic, exciting party with each live show. It’s not uncommon to see them play musical chairs as they switch places and instruments on stage. Expect the unexpected. With Sprinter, Ridgeway’s upcoming 2025 album release, she draws the listener in as she strives to understand life’s trials and emerge with a better sense of perspective and self. Ridgeway, along with Mike Savino (Kishi Bashi, Tall Tall Trees), played multiple instruments on the album. Mastered by Joe LaPorta (David Bowie, Foo Fighters) and mixed by Dan Molad of Lucius and Coco (JD McPherson, Here We Go Magic), Sprinter features all-star players including Claude Coleman, Jr. (Ween) and Josiah Wolf (WHY?) on drums, and Adam Schatz (Sylvan Esso, Japanese Breakfast) on sax, among others. Her first single “Epilogue,” is a stomp and holler-esque punk rock explosion hinging off a recklessly played, overdriven banjo. Named Orlando’s “Best Singer-Songwriter” three years running and “Best Rock Act” twice by Orlando Weekly, Ridgeway has played many notable stages and festivals (30A Songwriters Festival, Okeechobee Music and Arts Fest, and House of Blues Orlando), supporting and sharing bills with acts like Lucy Dacus, Sylvan Esso, Houndmouth, and Arcade Fire, among others. With Sprinter, Ridgeway is poised to catapult herself onto the national stage.

Having been known to the world as one of the most dazzling and versatile performers of her generation with “a miraculous voice, musical ability and technique, as well as an innate gift for entertaining a crowd” (Wall Street Journal), Veronica Swift showed in previous years that she is more than a jazz singer. During the 2023-25 years, Swift and her multi genre band performed for audiences all over the globe seeing a rising demand for her dynamic, electrifying performances. It was in this era that she was also given the honor of Knight in the order of arts and letters from the French Republic. Her debut Mack Avenue award-winning release ‘Confessions’ (2019) secured her a spot at the podium amongst the greatest jazz singers of her generation. She then demonstrated her flare for conceptual cycles and keen arranging with her 2021 release ‘This Bitter Earth’ which not only gave a glimpse into her rock influences, but automatically touched up upon some of the harder truths of being a woman. On her most recent 2023 album, simply titled ‘Veronica Swift’, she spreads her sonic wings even further exploring a “TransGenre” concept that includes more expansive range of influences than ever before: French and Italian opera, European classical music, industrial and punk rock, funk, and vaudeville. Swift’s recent collaboration with drummer/producer, Brian Viglione (The Dresden Dolls) allowed for her creativity to flourish, and as she continues her artistic journey, she brings this multi-genre experience to you along with the music from her upcoming original project titled DAME. She is joined on stage by Kyle Reinhart (guitar), Alexis Angel (keyboards/guitar), and Jonny Heinz (bass).