Alfie Smith

Alfie Smith is a true modern day Blues Man, blending hard-edged Rock and Roll, Gospel, Folk and Jazz with Pure Primal Blues to create his own unique sound. He is adept at many instruments including 7 string slide guitar, banjo, guitar, 12 sting and lap steel. Alfie’s musicianship has earned him endorsements with Godin Guitar, Composite Acoustics, Eastwood and Stonebridge.

Alfie is a deep, passionate, brooding baritone in the vocal tradition of the old Blues shouters. 'Brass & Steel' is Alfie’s 5th CD, released in October 2008. It has 21 tracks and features Alfie and his band, The Hard Cases, on six of the songs. The Hard Cases are: Bob Doidge on Trumpet & Bass and James Richards on Drums. 'Brass and Steel' was Alfie’s 1st release with Busted Flat Records.

Alfie has been a featured performer at Mariposa, Festival of Friends, Home County, Eaglewood, Mill Race, Red Rock, Brampton, Niagara Blues Festival, Harbourfront Blues Festival, Octoberfolk, Orillia Spring Blues, Barriefolk and Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival.

Alfie was selected for official showcases at the O.C.F.F. and the 2005/2010 Blues Summit. He was nominated for Best Blues Album at the 2006 & 2007 Hamilton Music Awards and also nominated for Best Guitarist in 2007. In 2010 he was selected to represent the Toronto Blues Society at the Blues International Challenge in Memphis.

Press

"Hamilton is blessed with a wealth of great blues guitarists. None is better than Alfie Smith when it comes to the acoustic slide and he's got a voice to match." ~ Graham Rockingham The Spec

"Blues artist Alfie Smith is about as unpretentious as they come. Naming his latest album Brass & Steel was, therefore, an obvious decision given the Hamilton musician's skills at slide guitar, but the strength inherent to those two words is also a reflection of what Smith packed into its 21 performances.

Whether he's solo or with his band, the Hard Cases, Smith's powerfully soulful voice and muscular playing never betrays its roots in the Mississippi Delta, but at the same time could only come from someone with a tough working-class background." ~ Jason Schneider for Nightlife