Eight-time Music New Brunswick Award nominee Eldon Thiele (ZWERG) began singing onstage at the age of 3, and began studying piano at age 5 under the watchful guidance of his music teacher father John Betts. He later attended the prestigious Notre Dame D'Acadie music school, going on to win numerous 1st place awards at The Greater Moncton Music Festival. Much of Thiele's childhood was spent touring with his family's singing group The Betts Family.
At age 18, Thiele conceived his one-man band ZWERG, which has released 6 CDs to-date, as well as a DVD music video/single which aired on several times on MuchMoreMusic. His first two releases, Sepsis & To Myopic Mutts, were featured extensively on national radio shows Radiosonic & Brave New Waves, and were well-received by college radio. His more recent releases continue to receive airplay on CBC radio, among other stations in Canada and the U.S.
ZWERG has shared the stage with such musical luminaries as Jessica Rhaye, Matt Mays and El Torpedo, Wintersleep, Paper Beat Scissors, Coyote, Dennis Ellsworth, Jon Mullane, Mike Biggar, and April Wine's Jim Henman. He has played numerous acclaimed music festivals such as Pop Montreal, The East Coast Music Awards, and Music New Brunswick Week. ZWERG performs as a solo act, and also showcases with his live band consisting of Dan and Mike Bourgeois (The Melanie Morgan Band/Chris Cummings/George Belliveau), Danny Roy (The Melanie Morgan Band), and Robin Anne Ettles (Roch Voisine/Sol/Shaun LeBlanc). ZWERG presently performs 3 nights a week at the Bistro 140 in Miramichi, NB, and continues to tour and play festivals in Eastern Canada.
ZWERG's latest release is Whims 'N' Words (2012), an album of East Coast Canadian covers and original compositions inspired by ZWERG's life in Atlantic Canada. The album features appearances by John WD Mullane (In-Flight Safety), Robin Anne Ettles (Sol/Roch Voisine/Shaun LeBlanc), Dan Bourgeois (The Melanie Morgan Band/Chris Cummings/George Belliveau), Tim Isaac (Lovestorm/Isaac & Blewett), Stacy Ricker (Sol), Alex Madsen (The Divorcees), Dominique Dupuis, Mel Keith, Mark Gaudet (Eric's Trip/Elevator), Jessica Leigh Cook (Jessica Betts), Devin Quinn (Feedback Scars), Jordan Kern (Emm Gryner/Yacht Rock), and more.
Covers on the album include songs by East Coast favourites Wintersleep, In-Flight Safety, Stevedore Steve, Corey and Trina (Don Fulford), Cajun artist Zachary Richard, among others.
For booking info, please contact Tim O'Brien: tobrien@reborn.com
Description of ZWERG's Whims 'N' Words (2012)
ZWERG's "Whims 'N' Words" is a post-modern exploration of traditional and contemporary East Coast Canadian music. The first half of the LP, "Whims", consists of original songs inspired by frontman Eldon Thiele's life and loved ones in the Maritimes provinces, and Newfoundland & Labrador. The second half of the LP, "Words", consists of well-known East-Coast Canadian covers. "Words" marks a sojourn back into Atlantic Canadian musical antiquity, beginning in the present with modern pieces by Wintersleep and In-Flight Safety, slowly introducing more traditional musical mainstays, before ending in the deep, dark past with the rich folklore of New Brunswick's legendary "The Dungarvon Whooper".
The album features performances by many of Eastern Canada's most prized musicians, including John Mullane (In-Flight Safety), Tim Isaac (Lovestorm/Isaac & Blewett), Robin Anne Ettles (Roch Voisine/Sol/Shaun LeBlanc/Dangerous Parade/Mel Keith & The Strombachs), Dan Bourgeois (The Melanie Morgan Band/Chris Cummings/George Belliveau/Jean-François Breau), Dominique Dupuis, Mark Gaudet (Elevator/Eric's Trip), Jessica Leigh Cook (Jessica Betts), Stacy Ricker (Sol), Mel Keith, Devin Quinn (Feedback Scars), as well as Toronto's Jordan Kern (ARGYLE CLUB/Emm Gryner/ESCALATE!/Yacht Rock), among others.
On "Words", ZWERG covers songs by East Coast favourites such as Wintersleep, In-Flight Safety, Stevedore Steve, Corey and Trina (Don Fulford), Donald A. MacLeod, and Cajun artist Zachary Richard.
Instrumental versions of 12 of the songs are also available for digital download.
Album available for purchase at:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/whims-n-words/id507530938
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/zwerg4
Instrumental Versions: http://cdbaby.com/cd/zwerg5
ZWERG Whims 'N' Words - Press Highlights/Quotes
Get Out! Magazine (New York City's Gay Guide)
August 31, 2012
http://getoutmag.com/zwerg-whims-n-words/
"Canadian Eldon Thiele is the star of one-man band ZWERG. The singer-songwriter has been performing since he was three years old, and as ZWERG has released numerous critically acclaimed albums and videos, and has toured the continent." --Get Out Weekly
CBC.ca East Coast Music
Bob Mersereau
August 29, 2012
http://www.cbc.ca/nb/mt/east-coast-music/2012/08/music-review-zwerg---whims-n-words.html
"It's the innocence and happiness that's infectious here, as it is about [ZWERG] in person. Plus, there's no denying he can write a killer melody." --Bob Mersereau (East Coast Music, CBC.ca)
MusicNerd Chronicles/Here magazine
Ken Kelly
August 2, 2012
http://musicnerd.ca/zwerg-whims-and-words-waspy-mikmaq/
"Whims and Words is an original album concept from one of New Brunswick's arguably under-appreciated talents." --Ken Kelly (MusicNerd.ca)
CBC Podcast - Take Liberty
Jeff Liberty
January 31, 2012
http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningsaintjohn/columnists/take-liberty-1/2012/01/31/take-liberty-spotlight-zwerg/
"One of the most unique albums in recent East Coast music history. It's so wonderful to hear an artist creating unpretentious pop, music that's easy to listen to. The album has a very refined sound that feels bright, warm and optimistic; effervescent, as the songs weave playfully in and out." --Jeff Liberty (CBC Radio's "Take Liberty")
MarcAndrew.ca - Celebrity Playlist
http://marcandrew.ca/celebrityplaylist/zwerg/
"ZWERG continues to wear his heart on one sleeve, his soul on the other, with his passion showing rough and raw around the edges." --Marc Andrew (MarcAndrew.ca)
