Slaid Cleaves

With his musical roots extending back into his childhood, Slaid Cleaves experimented with his high-school garage rock band inspired by the likes of Springsteen. While studying English and Philosophy at Tufts University in Massachusetts, Cleaves developed his guitar skills through learning about the music of legends like Woody Guthrie and Chuck Berry. Whilst at university Slaid embarked on a summer holiday to Cork in Ireland where he was inspired to progress and hone his craft through busking along the city streets, ultimately deciding that the folk path was for him. Upon his return back to his homeland, Slaid struggled to make the break with his new inspired sound. Self-releasing his first cassette entitled ‘The Promise’ in 1990 soon started to get him noticed around town. After a brief stint with his rock band ‘The Moxie Men’, Slaid invested more time on his solo project moving to Texas. It was there that he was able to hone his craft as a songwriter, experimenting more with folk as he embarked on the touring circuit. With an abundance of anecdotes, Slaid relates to audiences on a deeper level with his incredible story-telling ability and his intoxicatingly soothing vocals. Playing his emphatic signature track ‘Broke Down’ touches the hearts of the audience as they cheer and clap throughout the song led by Slaid’s soft and raspy tone enough to sooth the warmest of souls.