THE SWAMP DONKEYS
Aaron Houston –Vocals/Guitar
Aaron Houston doesn’t just play the blues—he bleeds it.
As the fire and voice at the heart of Daddy Long Legs and the Swamp Donkeys, Aaron brings a storm of soul, swagger, and storytelling every time he steps on stage. His voice is all gravel and gospel—equal parts preacher and outlaw—while his guitar work burns with the intensity of a man chasing lightning.
Raised in a family deeply tied to live music culture, Aaron’s connection to blues and jazz runs bone-deep. He cut his teeth in smoky bars, backroom jams, and late-night stages, soaking up every ounce of raw energy and musicianship he could find. His formative years were spent running through venues and kitchens owned by his family, where blues, soul, and jazz were served nightly alongside red beans and rice. That early immersion forged an artist who doesn’t just perform music—he lives inside it.
Before founding the Swamp Donkeys, Aaron made his mark in a string of influential and diverse acts—including Extended Family, Kohji, G. Nunan, and many more. Each project added another layer to his style: funk-driven edge, jazz phrasing, soul sensibility, and a fearless improvisational streak. These chapters built the foundation for the raw, genre-bending presence he commands today.
Aaron’s playing is feral and instinctive, with solos that snarl and wail like they’re being dragged from the swamp. He sings like he’s got something urgent to confess and somewhere dangerous to be. Onstage, he’s equal parts frontman and force of nature—commanding, unfiltered, and completely locked in with the band’s dirt-stained, high-voltage sound.
Whether he's leading a stomp-down blues groove or channeling raw soul through an old tube amp, Aaron Houston is the living pulse of the Swamp Donkeys—a bluesman forged in fire, raised on rhythm, and baptized in feedback.
Jay McCay – Harmonica
Jay McCay’s harmonica doesn’t just sing—it howls from the depths of the blues itself.
With roots so deep in the tradition it’s hard to tell if he’ll ever surface from them, Jay carries the spirit of a hundred lost juke joints in every breath. His playing is raw, guttural, and relentless—a wild force that tears through the air like a storm rolling in from the bayou.
Jay’s connection to the blues runs beyond music—it’s in his blood, his bones, his very soul. Years spent chasing the authentic sound of the Mississippi Delta and the backroads of southern blues have shaped him into a master of his craft. Whether wailing mournful laments or unleashing furious bursts of energy, his harmonica channels the voices of the past and the fire of the present in one unbroken howl.
When Jay steps on stage, the harp becomes more than an instrument—it’s a living, breathing beast, snarling and screaming alongside the band’s gritty riffs and thunderous rhythms. His sound cuts through the mix, commanding attention and setting the mood for every song, every story.
In Daddy Long Legs and the Swamp Donkeys, Jay McCay is the primal heart of the blues—the wild river current pulling everything forward, dragging you deep into the swampy, smoky soul of the band’s sound.
Doogs – Bass
Doog is the thundering low-end engine behind Daddy Long Legs and the Swamp Donkeys—a bassist whose playing is so deep and grounded, it feels like it’s rising straight up from the earth itself.
With a tone as thick as molasses and a groove that locks in like a heartbeat, Doog doesn’t just hold the band together—he moves it. Every note he plays is soaked in soul and rich with intention, whether he’s driving a swampy backbeat or laying down a hypnotic blues groove that pulls the crowd into the band’s dark, dusty universe.
Before anchoring the Swamp Donkeys, Doog cut his teeth on the blues circuits of New Zealand and Australia, touring tirelessly and earning a reputation as one of the most solid and soulful bassists in the scene. His journey through music took him beyond local borders, touring throughout Asia with artists like Davis Hasslehoff, bringing raw, roots-driven rhythm to stages from smoky bars to festival mainlines.
Years on the road and in the pocket gave Doog an instinctive understanding of feel and flow. He knows when to hang back in the shadows, letting the groove breathe—and when to step forward, unleashing lines that push the song over the edge. His style is a blend of deep Southern soul, early electric blues, and a pinch of funk-laced swagger, all filtered through years of sweat, strings, and soundchecks.
In Daddy Long Legs and the Swamp Donkeys, Doog is more than the bassist—he’s the soul river beneath it all, the steady undercurrent that carries every riff, roar, and wail downstream into the band’s signature sound. Without him, the band would still rage—but with him, it rolls.
Stevie De Wild – Drums
Stevie De Wild isn’t just a drummer—he’s the thunder behind the sermon, the rolling storm that shakes the floorboards loose.
With a playing style that blends primal power, swampy groove, and razor-sharp precision, Stevie is the rhythmic backbone of Daddy Long Legs and the Swamp Donkeys. Every kick, snare, and cymbal crash feels like it’s carved from smoke and fire—pulsing with heart, soul, and just the right amount of danger.
Stevie's roots are tangled deep in blues, soul, and early rock & roll. He grew up chasing rhythm wherever it lived—on old records, in late-night jam sessions, and inside the bones of every beat that made a room move. His style is fluid but fierce: the kind of drumming that can whisper like a slow dance or roar like a freight train coming off the rails.
Before joining the Swamp Donkeys, Stevie toured across Australia and the underground circuit, building a name as a dynamic and unpredictable force behind the kit. His ability to lock in with a bassist like Doog and then explode into chaotic, soulful fills is part of what gives the band its unrelenting energy and raw, revival-style live feel.
In every show, Stevie doesn’t just play the groove—he summons it. He drives the band forward like a preacher possessed, laying down rhythms that thump in your chest and shake loose the dust in your soul.
With Stevie De Wild behind the drums, Daddy Long Legs and the Swamp Donkeys don’t just keep time—they raise the dead and march them down the muddy river of blues.
